Merry Christmas Y'all!

Brody's first Christmas was wonderful! We spent the days with grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and (lots of) dogs too! Brody soaked it all in and was spoiled rotten, which was no surprise.

We hope all of your holidays were as joy-filled as ours.


Brody showing off the loot from his stocking. Note the fancy bib and froggie "boxers!"

His first clubs. These might be his favorite gift. He crawls around with the clubs sticking straight out of his mouth. Very safe.

Brody in Pop's lap, next to Clare. Jane and Sydney are sitting with LoLo.

Clare and Brody are so funny together. He is fascinated by her. She calls him Bobo.

Brody, Jane, Clare and Sydney in front of the tree after a packed Christmas Day.

Brody meets the Man in Red

We've moved!

Brody, Nathan and I made the cross country trip last week and we are back in Dallas! Brody and I flew home with most of my family who had come out to Michigan over the Thanksgiving holiday to help us move. Nathan and Zeke made the long drive to the Big D.

For now we are staying with family while we search for our new home. It feels good to be back in Texas, although we are already missing the wonderful friends we made in Detroit.

What a Monkey!

Brody's new favorite pastime is "feeding" Nathan and me whatever he is supposed to be eating. He grabs his peas, cheerios, green beans or whatever is on his tray and holds it out to put in our mouths. It is really so funny!

Fall in MI

Fall in Michigan means:

bundling up

visits from friends

Jenny & Derek



(Chris) Green & Sonya



Sonya & Jenny

trips to the cider mill

Brody's first apple cider donut


Brody learning to crawl

is this the face of a troublemaker?

who, me?

What could be better?

Brody got a new pair of shoes today.

And his first balloon.

I've had 10 minutes of peace to add this post, while he plays with his new toy.

What could be better?

Although he is now eating his shoe!

Brody says it's been too long!

I've definitely fallen behind on blogging lately, everyone. Sorry! Here is the latest on Brody.

• He is eight months old.
• He says "da da" and "ro ro" and "MA" but the last only when he's mad and yelling, so that doesn't make me feel very good!
• He has six teeth. Four on top and two on the bottom.
• He just started barely crawling yesterday. He only gets arms and knees moving in unison for a moment or two before giving up and rolling where he wants to go, but he's getting there.
• He weights 25 1/2 pounds...more than the average one year old.
  
• He still has the bluest eyes you've ever seen (see below for proof).
  

In Jennings family news, we've decided to list our home in Royal Oak and try to get closer to home (Texas). The market here is pretty rough, so it could take some time, but we're cautiously optimistic. If you were looking to visit Michigan and wanting a place to stay, come and see us soon!

Colorado

Over Labor Day week Nathan, Brody and I went to stay with LoLo and Pop at their cabin in Colorado. Hayley, Casey, Clare, Jane & Sydney met us there and it was a wonderful week. The tone was a little different than in years past with three babies and a 2 1/2 year old, but it is still our favorite getaway and it is such a blessing to be able to spend the time with family.

Brody had a fun week. He really enjoyed LoLo and Pop's swing. He watched Pop catch a fish in the creek and even grabbed a fin!

Nathan and I had a great time with Chuck and Lometa, Hayley and Casey. LoLo and Pop were kind enough to babysit (yes, all FOUR!) so we could go to a couple of dinners with Hayley and Casey. The boys played golf and fished and the girls all went into town for lunch and a massage. I think in the end everyone had just the vacation they needed and I'm already thinking about next year!

Brody waiting for the action in the "baby pit."

We tried to have a photo session with the babies one afternoon. About 90 pictures later this is the closest I found to three smiles!

Sydney, Brody, Jane

The other 89 look like this...

Sydney, Brody, Jane

Or this...

Jane, Brody, Sydney

Brody and LoLo are still having fun!

Jane, LoLo, Sydney, with Brody in the front

Nathan and Brody early one morning.


Brody can hold himself up!


All four kids on LoLo and Pop's bed. Not the greatest picture, but one of the few Clare would participate in! Notice Brody's arm around Sydney! So cute.

Clare, Jane, Brody, Sydney

Fun one morning with LoLo and Clare.


A great shot of Jane. I love that wrinkled nose.


A rare smile from Sydney. I think it's because she is escaping the "baby pit."

Brody, Sydney, Jane

Rub a Dub.

Sydney, Brody, Jane

I'm sure he'll kill me for this pic one day!

First season opener

Today Brody gets to enjoy his first Cowboys season opener. As you can see above, he's prepared. When he woke up this morning, the first thing he said was that the Boys road to Tampa begins today. A new fan is born.

Photo Session

I know it's been too long since I've posted. It seems like a lot has gone on!

Let's see...
- Brody has two new teeth! The bottom center.
- Brody's uncle Andrew and his girlfriend Chelsea came to visit. We all had a great weekend.
- Brody had his first "real" pictures taken. Here's a sneak peek, but there are a lot more.

http://mod4.com/blog/2008/08/baby-brody/

Halfway

Happy Six Months, Brody!
Now blow out those candles.

This Little Light of Mine

Yesterday was Brody's first outing to church! He had lots of attention in the nursery (when we checked in there were three very cute girls and he was the only baby!). I think he enjoyed himself for the most part and it was great for Nathan and I to start getting plugged back in.

Roly Poly

This was a big week for Brody. He started rolling over! Monday night he rolled over from back to front. Then on Tuesday morning he started rolling over from front to back! He is still a little smoother going from back to tummy. He has a tendency to get stuck on his stomach and forget he knows how to fix it. He loves to roll over in his crib at bedtime, get stuck and start panicking, so we have to go in there and roll him back over.

He continues to be more and more engaging. After a few minutes no one is a stranger and he is full of smiles for all. He has become very easy to make laugh, too, which is just so much fun (see "compressed air" below for a demo!).

hey ladies

The Miracle of Compressed Air

It's a bit tough to see it, but I'm spraying him with compressed air. He obviously likes it.

So blessed

We are just so lucky we get to raise this boy and see his smiling face every day.

Back to Texas

Nathan, Brody & I went back to Texas this past weekend. Nathan had a training in Dallas, so Brody and I decided to hitch a ride home. It was a great visit. Brody did much better on the plane so we are less nervous about traveling with him in the future. We took him to some of our favorite places...Blue Goose, Zorbas and Mi Cocina. Yum.

Some new things about Brody...
- he is eating solids. he LOVES sweet potatoes, but hates peas.
- he is sitting up incredibly well, but still won't roll over!

on Opa's chair

on Opa

laughing with DD

lounging on Gamma & Granddaddy

killer smile