Busy Month!

What a busy month it has been!  It has gone by so fast.  I can't believe it's already nearly November!!  Where did 2010 go???  Well, our dear little guy is now 16 months old and "Mr. Independence"!  He loves to go exploring on his own and often refuses to hold our hand, even when going down the steps on the porch or over the curb!  Even when he falls down and scrapes his knees or hands he still gets right back up and keeps on truckin'.  The only thing that has slowed him down lately is teething.  Apparently getting in molars and canines is very hard work.  Our poor little normally happy and silly guy has been a big grump off and on for the past month.  He is one that we definitely know, without a doubt, when teething is happening.  He gets all of the "in some cases" symptoms like change in appetite (he only wants to eat popsicles), crying, not sleeping well (thankfully just at naptime and not at night), drooling, excessive thirst, diarrhea, etc.  It's miserable for us all!  We're hoping all these teeth hurry up and pop through soon so we can enjoy a few months free of teething . . . until the second year molars start coming through . . . Ugh! 

Caleb's favorites this month include running, climbing, reading books - especially The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See.  He also enjoys looking at books with real life pictures instead of illustrated ones.  He lately has taken a real liking to Sesame Street and Elmo or "momo" in particular and points to the TV every morning to show Mom that he wants to see if Momo is on.  :)  Caleb still likes to eat.  He is working on using a spoon himself but he still thinks it makes a better drumstick than something to eat with.  During mealtimes he has begun to show us he's done by throwing all of his food across the room.  If you have any bright ideas for how to quell this behavior . . . please share.  When he looks up at us with those beautiful little "puppy dog eyes" and that sweet, yet mischievous smile, and says "Uh oh!", it just melts our hearts.  It's a good thing he's cute . . .  :o) 

We had the pleasure of attending two family reunions this month.  The first one, the McMahon reunion, takes place at Fort Parker State Park on Saturday night for a hot dog roast and follows on Sunday in Bremond, TX for a pot-luck lunch.  I (Aliceson) have such fond memories of spending the night camping out at the lake, roasting marshmallows, fishing, paddle boat rides, hiking, waking up to pancakes around the campfire the next morning, and just spending time with family that we didn't see often.  Although our reunion has dwindled in attendance in the past 10 years or so, we still enjoy going (and staying in a hotel these past few years rather than camping out).  So good to see everyone!  The other family reunion we went to was for Kyle's family.  This reunion only takes place every-other year so it was great to catch up with some people that we haven't seen in two years.  Hard to believe we were just a family of two at the last reunion!!  While we were in Brenham that weekend we took the opportunity to get together with Kyle's sister, Kelee and her family and take his parents out to lunch to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary!  We went out to the Brenham Airport to eat.  I have never seen Caleb so excited!!  He LOVED the airplanes!!!  We also stopped by the Niemeyers for a quick visit and wished them a happy 33rd wedding anniversary!  What a wonderful, loving example they both are to us. 

Ok, enough talking . . . here's what you came for.  New pictures! 

Whassup mah homies?

Helping Mommy shuck corn to put on the grill for dinner.

Enjoying the spoon as a toy much more than as a feeding tool.

Watching the train go down the tracks in Bremond with Paw Paw. 

Caleb with cousin Kimberli.  She's got three boys herself so he knows when he's in good hands!

McMahon Family Reunion.  5 generations all in one place!  Front row - Caleb, Aunt Edna (95+ years old), Paw Paw Warren  Back row - Mimi Niemeyer, Paw Paw Niemeyer, Aliceson, Kyle

Running around outside enjoying the beautiful Fall weather.

Being a nut!  Ever since I got this seat down for Ava, Caleb has loved sitting in it and getting stuck.

Caleb with his two cousins, Mallory and Luke

Mallory is such a great big cousin!

She loved showing Caleb the airplanes as they were about to take off.

Look how happy he is to be at the airport! 

I just love this picture of all three generations of Lueckemeyer boys!

"Look Mom, a stick!"  Caleb loves to pick up sticks and leaves on our daily walks outside.  He also loves to go pet the neighbor's rock that's next to their driveway and  look for their cat, "meow", as Caleb calls her.