Reese is almost 1 year old!

Reese turned 11 months on December 21, 2008. It doesn't seem possible that we are getting ready to celebrate her 1st birthday on January 21, 2009. Wow!

Here's what Reese has been doing lately:

1. For the past few weeks she has been picking out her pj's before bath time. I open the drawer and lay out two sets of pj's, lean her down so she can reach and ask her which one she wants to wear "the pink snowflakes" or "the red and white stripes". She will grab the pair she wants to wear and I close the drawer. She doesn't always use the same hand, so I really think she is selecting her choice for the night.

2. Reese loves to pat us on the face, arms and chest. It's so sweet. I love it when she pats me.

3. Ever since Reese was sick with a virus and cough she has been sleeping with us. It started when she would wake herself up coughing in the middle of the night and would need a drink. That progressed to her sleeping with me while Matt was in Rhode Island and now she doesn't want to go down in her bed. We let her cry it out a few nights in a row, but by the fourth night I couldn't take it any longer. The next two nights I laid her down in our bed at 8:30 and she went right to sleep. I know she needs to sleep in her bed for multiple reasons, but I'll be the first to admit that sometimes it is easier to just put her in bed with us. I really don't mind only having one foot on the edge of the bed to sleep on when Reese pushes her way to my side. We'll keep working on it.

Does she look comfortable or what?

4. Reese ate spaghetti and meatballs for the first time! She has also eaten (in tiny portions) chicken, stew meat, hamburger meat, ham, cornbread, watermelon, pumpkin bread, apples, bananas, fish tacos, bread/bun, black eyed peas, potatoes and french fries. She is also mastering picking up the food and feeding herself.

5. Reese likes to walk behind her toys, Grandma's vanity chair and anything she can stand behind and push. She'll be walking on her own any day now.

6. During bath time, Reese has learned to reach for the knobs and turn them. She also reached and grabbed our bedroom door knob the other day. Luckily she wasn't able to turn it yet.


7. Reese still loves bath time! She can't wait for me to undress her so she can dive in!

8. Reese still loves the laptop (we almost bought her one for Christmas, but they don't make them for 12 month olds). I am guessing she is about to reach for it in this picture. Anytime we open up the laptop she races over and stands up trying to touch the keys.

9. Reese loves to help and be in the big middle of everything I do. She loves to sort (or toss) laundry and stir (grab the fork) cornbread mix.

10. After we took down the tree, Matt had the best idea ever. . . since we don't have space in our house for a play room, we built a play corner within our living room. (I must admit before having Reese, I was one of those people who thought I'd never have tons of toys in my living room. How silly of me! It's great! Reese can play and entertain herself right before our eyes. I love to get down and join her.)

We do have to watch the Reese with the blinds; they are a fun object to pull.

I must say, I love her big head (and little butt). I had a big head as a child, so she must get that from me.

She likes to sit between these toys and play with them at the same time.

The play table has a caterpillar eating an apple. It sings a song we have come to enjoy, "I'm the little caterpillar, I'm the silly caterpillar, eating apples all the time, it's a specialty of mine."

Reese loves to make music on her piano.

So content.

Now that I have briefed you on what Reese has been up to, I have to start planning Reese's big first birthday party!

Merry Christmas!

Reese helped me wrap a few more gifts before Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is almost here baby girl.

A funny shot of Reese taking her bottle in the high chair.

Christmas Eve . . .

Matt, Grandma Ruth, Reese and I went to the Children's Mass at Saint Vincent de Paul on Christmas Eve. The church was packed and was standing room only by the time we arrived. Reese did well and enjoyed looking around at all of the children and people who were celebrating mass.

After mass, we changed clothes and headed to Mom and Sam's for a Mexican dinner. Grandma made enchiladas and Mom and Sam made pinto beans, rice and queso. Felicita had given us homemade Guatemalan tamales which were a great addition. Matt contributed Chuy's chips, salsa and creamy jalapeno sauce. I slaved over Costco pies.

Here is Reese with Grandma Fredda gazing at all the presents under the tree.

Mom swung Reese back and forth and Reese loved it!

When we got home, we sat out milk and cookies as we anxiously awaited Reese's first visit from Santa. We quickly changed into our pj's and hopped into bed as visions of sugar plums danced in our heads.

Christmas Day . . .

We woke up early on Christmas Day to find that Santa came!

He must have enjoyed the milk and cookies.

Merry "First" Christmas Reese!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Mom and Sam came over and we opened our stockings, had Sam's famous bubble bread and opened lots of gifts.

We agreed that we were blessed and had so much to be thankful for this Christmas Day.

Reese loved her piano!

And her books!

We helped Reese open her big gift from Grandma Fredda and Grandpa Sam.

A fun activity table!

Reese helped Daddy open his gifts too.

Our camera died mid morning, but we got most of the morning on video! (So one of my new year's resolutions is to be more organized and to charge my camera and my phone more often. My phone also died which is why I didn't make any calls or texts until late that night.)

The best gift of all was that Reese let Sam hold her much of the morning. It was a special moment for them and Sam was thrilled. -- Sam started his second round of chemo three weeks ago and this one hit him hard. He has been so tired this time. We hope that means it is working to shrink the cancer in his lungs. He has also been having pain in his back, legs and feet as he has cancer in his bones near his spine. Sam had an MRI earlier this week, so we hope the doctor will prescribe radiation to alleviate the pain. Positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated. --

Christmas in Abilene & Brownwood

On Friday, December 19, 2008, Matt, Reese, Grandma Ruth and I headed to Abilene for the weekend to celebrate Christmas. Mom was sick with a sinus infection and was not able to join us.

Matt and I both went to work in the morning, so we did not get on the road until 2:30 p.m. That put us in Abilene around 9:00. Can you guess our first stop? Taco Bueno, of course!

After grabbing our favorite fix we headed to Aunt Jamie's where we stayed for the weekend.

On Saturday morning, we went to visit Grandpa Jack and Norma and deliver their Christmas gifts.




Grandpa Jack told us all about his Navy Service and his far east cruise on the USS Estes from 1954-1955. Grandpa (aka Bobby Jack Hambric) served as a Petty Officer 3rd Class on the ship.

At the end of the cruise he was given this yearbook so to speak which documented the entire trip including his ship mates, the countries they aided, the people they met and helped along the way. This was the first time Grandpa showed the book to me, and I appreciated it so much. It really helped me to envision the work he did while on the ship. What a true piece of history!





Here is a map of the countries the ship sailed to and from.



Here is a photo of the ship.

And here we are with Grandpa Jack.

And Grandma Norma.

After our visit with Grandpa and Norma we went to lunch at El Fenix, another favorite.

We spent the rest of the afternoon running errands in preparation for our evening with family.

Everyone came over to Aunt Jamie's to celebrate Christmas with us since we would not be in town on Christmas Day.

Here are Lexi and Reese. Lexi is getting so big and is absolutely gorgeous!

Here are Reese, Lexi and Slaton.

Reese loved playing with the kids!

Reese and Mommy.

The kids are getting ready to open Christmas presents.

Reese takes a break to try on Mason's cowboy hat.

And to play with one of her favorite toys. Yes, the water bottle.

Lexi's gifts from Reese.

Slaton's gifts from Reese.

Reese opening her very first Christmas gift.

She needed a little help from Lexi.

A new toy nursery rhyme book from Slaton!

The next gift was from Lexi. I love the red and black wrapping!

A little more help from Lexi and Slaton.

A beautiful pink cross and dish set that reads, "Jesus Loves Me".

Here are Lexi, Reese and Aunt Alyssa reading the new book. You can tell that Reese is enjoying it.

As usual Reese did not let many people hold her. However, she sat with Lexi and Mason.

And Aunt Alyssa, even though she seems reluctant. Weston and Evelyn also stopped by later in the evening.

Sunday morning was cold at Aunt Jamie's house. Reese had to wear her toboggan until the house warmed up from the cold night.

Grandma Ruth and I visited her church, River of Life, on Sunday morning and came back to find Reese and Daddy sound asleep.

Sunday afternoon we went to Brownwood to see my Dad and Dana. Joe, Angela, Kyler, Tyler and Riley joined us. We snacked on lots of Dana's homemade goodies and had Betty Roses bar-b-que for dinner!

Here are Reese and Riley.

Apparently Reese still likes dogs. Sissy made her giggle.

Reese and Papa Larry (notice Dad's camo).

I love you Papa Larry!

Dad opening gifts.

Reese received her first baby doll from Papa Larry and Granny Dana, a precious moments baby that plays "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

Kyler taking a picture of Riley opening his gifts. Unfortunately, we did not get a family picture.

Reese also let Angela hold her.

Reese found my gift bag and shook the Starbucks gift card out.

I told Matt that my Dad would hook Reese up with her first camo gear and I was right. My Dad loves to hunt deer, dove, quail and just about anything, so I knew he would buy Reese her own hunting gear. (Um, I think we'll have to add some pink boots, so everyone will know she is a girl).

Reese received lots of fun and educational toys this year.

We headed back to Houston on Monday morning. As always, it was a quick trip!

We stopped at Storm's in Hamilton for a cheese burger. I love this picture because it captures Reese's new laugh. Now she will laugh when she wants your attention or she thinks something is funny. It's like she knows something that we don't. I don't know how to explain it, but it is another new thing that shows she is growing and getting her own personality. And she curls up her nose when she giggles. It is so cute!

Like Mother, Like Daughter. . . Reese loves to people watch.

We made pretty good time and arrived back in Houston around 6:00 p.m. I had Tuesday (and the rest of the week) off work and spent most of the day doing last minute shopping and wrapping gifts.