Last weekend and week in January...and a little into February

OK - so it has been a little while...almost 2 weeks...and let me tell you Kegan continues to learn and do....and take cute pictures!!!

Let's start way back two weeks ago. Whataburger has my absolute favoirte sandwhich out right now...the Honeybar-b-que Chicken Sandwhich, to be exact and since it is out for only a limited time we have gone...a lot! Anyways, Matthew and I did not want to keep the yummy joy to ourselves so we tried to share a little with Kegan, who DID NOT want mom or dad to feed him...he wanted to hold and eat it on his own. This infact is something that is popping up a lot now...Kegan prefers to feed himself and is not always so apt to eat food that is fed to him...so we are still trying to eat healthy, but he does not just reach out and grab the veggies on his plate...or the meat...if he could I think he would live on bread, fruit, milk, and more fruit...alone. Anyways...here he is feeding himself the sandwhich. He did quite well, really....take a bite - chew and look around the resteraunt...take another bite, ect.... Why is this a big deal you might ask that he chewed and then would take anther bite....well....Kegan has a history of cramming as much food as he can into his mouth, if not being closely monitered. I guess he is growing up!


Taking a bath - Daddy did his hair! Nice!

Now after a nice bath he usually goes right to sleep...not always, though. Here, Matthew had some distractions to going to bed.
Kegan is sharing a sherburt pop with his dad.

Forget dad holding it....Kegan can do it on his own! Yummy!

Of course....after a little sugar...he is STILL not going to bed....so Kegan and Matthew play some!

Videos of Kegan playing with his Daddy. (Please excise the Christmas tree and start in the videos...that is where one of the trees stopped before it made it to the atic.)



Friday, January 25th we headed up to Wharton to visit with my grandparents, my parents, and then on Saturday, my Aunt Betsy, Wendy and Karsyn, and my cousin Lynne and her crew.

Below is a picture of Kegan's famouse "look" that he will give people. He does give it a lot to get a laugh from people, but trust me, he gives it when a look like that really means something. Example...while at the libray today a little boy walking in his path and stopped him from going and Kegan gave that little boy, "the look". Oh....we have our hands full!!!
It starts with an eyebrow raise and then....if things persisit...

he lowers his chin to his chest and gets the mouth involved in "the look"...

After a nice nap in the car he was ready to get out and give smiles and not "looks" to Grandma and Pappa. We enjoyed visiting with them that evening and have a GREAT dinner Grandma prepared. She made some stuffing, which Kegan loved and could not eat enough of that night. I was even able to sneek some chicken in the bites. Kegan also learned that he really liked cherries...a red fruit he really had not had by itself. Once he tired it though...he wanted more and more of the red fruit in the fruit salad and would open his mouth anythime the fruit bowl was passed infront of him. Kegan also got to sit at a big boy booster seat, with no belt to hold him in, and eat from the table, and not a tray. He did GRAET in it. It helped that the table hit right at knee level, which kept him from sliding forward. After some more playing...and a little walking between Matthew and Pappa, he took a bath and was ready for bed.

Video of Kegan walking between Matthew and Pappa. He had done it a number of times before I thought to grab the camera...so he is a bit wobbly at this time. (He is better now - I will try to get an updated video up, soon)

Goodnight Pappa!

My parents got in later that night so they woke up and entertained Kegan, with my grandparents, Saturday morning, while we got to sleep in a little. Later that morning, my Aunt Betsy came and then Wendy and Karsyn showed up. Kegan and Karsyn were happy, once again, to see each other. I promise, they know who eachother is! As always, they were fun to watch play together. After another yummy meal from Grandma's kitchen, we put the kids in the pack-n-play to play and they were a hoot. Kegan had his blanket in there and Karsyn would take it, so Kegan would tuuuuug on it...get it back....they would laugh...Karsyn would tuuuuug back....get it...laugh...they were rolling all over that thing. It kept them, and us, entertained for quite a while!
Karsyn has all the blankets...is laughing...and Kegan is preparing pounce!
What a big laugh!

He has her somewhat pinned down...can he get it?

Got it! Weeeee!

I must say, the best pinn down came when Karsyn climed on tip of his back, laid down, and patter her booty, like she was saying "That's right...we know who the champ is here and don't you forget it!"
Aunt Wendy is showing Kegan a knew...and noisey...toy she brought for him...thanks Aunt Wendy!

Look at the camera...

Grrr...

Karsyn is trying on a pair of my boots! Nice fit...huh? She was trying to not too successfully, walk in them....hahah....she is so cute!

It was time to get the babies out for a while so we took a walk around the neightborhood...thanks to Aunt Wendy who thought to bring the wagon for the babies.

(babies, Grams, Wendy, Aunt Betsy)

Kegan is investigating something through the holes in the bottom of the wagon.

As you can see from these smiling faces...the babies had a lot of fun! Both of them love to be outdoors!

The outside fun did not stop when we got home...we played some more in the front yard.

Kegan was facinated by this garden hose. I love the look on his face...it makes me laugh each time I look at it.

We then went to the backyard and swang a little.

Grandma, Kegan, and Grams

Later that afternooon, my cousin Lynne and her three girls (Toir, Kaycee, and Julianne - Lance was not able to make it) came by for a brief visit.

Kegan helping Kaycee unwrap her birthday gift. He still loves wrapping papper...well, ripping wrapping paper.

That night my parents exchanged Christmas gifts with Grandma and Pappa (they had not see eachother since before the holidays). Kegan once again felt the need to help make sure everyone knew how to unwrap their presents.

Helping Pappa and handing the paper to Grams, who is sitting behind him. He had his system down as he helped everybody.

At dinner, he of course...insisted on feeding himself. I have found his real thrill is holding the spoon, so sometimes I let him hold a spoon while I use another spoon, to actually get the food in his mouth and not on his nose....as shown below...or on the floor. He is content with this agreement for now...he gets a spoonful in his mouth...I get five to his mouth...then he gets another one. He is getting better at it...but I don't think he could fill himself up on how much makes it to his mouth when he does it on his own.

I thought this was a funny face.

Finger foods...he can do that VERY successfully.

We left Saturday night, after he bathed and get ready for bed. Here Grams and Kegan are snuggling. Kegan fell asleep in her arms while we were visiting a little more before we left for home.

Sunday was church and some time spent with his grandparents down here. Monday came and we had a pretty calm week, just enjoying playing and getting messy.

Sharing an apple and peanut-butter snack, with his mommy. (I said earlier that he is not a huge meat eater, but he does peanut butter pretty good and it has the protein he needs...so we do peaunut butter occasionally.) I am sure you can tell...as you probably guessed...it is VERY messy!

Matthew has not started planting yet so we are using this time to go and meet him for lunch while we can. Below Kegan and Matthew are playing around at the Cafe. Kegan is shirt-less because he decided he could drink out of a cup and spilled it all down the front of his shirt.

Later that week we were up at the Cafe, again, and he Kegan walked...a little further than he had been...once again, to Mr. Choppless...and of course for the audience applauding him in hte Cafe!

Friday, Matthew called and said his brother gave him some tickets to the San Antonio rodeo, so I quikly got up packed and Kegan packed. We were going to the rodeo and Kegan was going to spend the night with his Grandma and Grandpa. Mrs. Setliff came and picked him up and we picked up some friends of ours and were off to San Antonio. We headed back home Saturday evening, after a wonderful quick weekend get-a-way, to pick up a little boy who sounded like he had his own wonderful weekend! They said they enjoyed him so much...and I know he enjoyed the time with them, too!

Sunday we went to church, enjoyed a church-wide bar-b-que, a concet put on by a gospel quartet (Kegan did WONDERFUL for the hour long concert) and split the afternoon and super-bowl watching between time at some friends house and time at the Setliff's. That night after the game was over Mrs. Setliff and I were playing with Kegan had started to have him walk between us. He was/is getting better and able to walk further and further....then he had a FIRST: He fell down while walking, but instead of crawling the rest of the way, he sat up, pushed up on his legs...used everybit of balance and strenght he had, and brought up his torso to where he was standing, again. Summerized: This is the first time he has gone from sitting to standing with out pulling up on something or with-out help form someone...he did it all on his own. This was not just a one time deal either...he did it a number of times last night....and then he did it once today with me. I can see his walking just over the horizone...

Today, Kegan had some penut butte and apples again...and once again got a tad messy!

After lunch today we ran an arrend with Matthew, into Corpus.

Just sitting on the counter...waiting with dad....and getting very dirty!

Luaghing...(See that shiny silver thing in his hand...that and other parts to it were what made him so dirty...and he loved it!)

While out in one of the barrings (peice of equipment) shops Kegan did walk from me to a chair (he previously has only walked between people) and even ventured....very shortly, walking away from the chair to the middle of the store and when he fell...he did not crawl but rather picked himself up to walk.

Other new updates:

1.He says a word that pretty much sounds like duck when he pulls out a toy duck he has.

2.When he sees a fish...anywhere...whther it is pointed out to him or now and he makes he version of a fish face.

3.Him and I were looking at a doggy once and I showed him how to pant and so now when he sees a dog he will often times stick out his tounge like he is panting.

4.Still lvoes to brush his hair - Now anything that we call a brush or resembles a brush or comb, he will try to brush his hair with.

5.He can tell you where his head, feet, nose and sometimes his tummy, are.

6.He knows where his socks and shoes go. You can ask them and he will hold up his feet or look down at them...or you can hand him hos socks/shoes and he will try to put them on his feet. The socks are challenging, but he does put his foot in the hole in the shoe where the foot goes!

7.We have started to try and learn how to use crayons...but he is still not totally interested in sitting that still yet.

Busy Sandwhich

Two busy weekends with a busy week sandwiched in between!

Let's go ALL the way back to Thursday, January 10. We were having some of our friends over - Scott and Stacy and their little boy Gus, so I was busy cleaning the house and fixing a meal most of the afternoon. Well, Kegan - who has become obsessed with stirring things/pretending to stir things - decided he need to help me. He is actually quite good at moving to spoon around the bowl and this is good and all until it comes time for him to try and feed himself...then ALL he wants to do is stir and not worry about putting any in his mouth...ohhh....

He first decided to help by checking to make sure I had cleaned under his toy slide and climb and to make sure all exits were working properly before Gus arrived.
Peek-a-boo! Looking good in here mom!

Hmmm...I wonder if I can fit through here?

Here I go out...

and then right back in.

After a full inspection of the toy we were off to cooking.
Stir...stir...

Looks yummy, huh mom?!?

Taste a little!

If the cooking thing doesn't work out for him, he could easily become a musician. Not only does he like to stir...but he loves to make music with bowls and spoons. It is funny to watch: the noise of the spoon hitting the bowl is quite loud and he blinks real big, each time he hits the bowl, like the noise is surprising him.

Scott, Stacy and Gus arrived and the boys were ready to eat.

After eating the dad's took the boys to play while Stacy and I cleaned up. Eventually the boys wondered into the kitchen area with us to play. Trying to catch two boys playing together - not easy - so this is what I got. Gus is actually walking very well, but I did not get a picture of it - he never stood in the same place long enough! In the next two pictures they are playing with a musical doormat Grandma got us. Kegan was NOT very good at sharing...as you can see by his face in the second picture.


I thought this was a cute picture of Kegan playing at the fridge with his fridge farm, later that evening. He LOVES the music it plays!




Friday morning - off to Pasadena to see Meme and Poppa and my parents. We had to stop and get gas before we left and when I got back in the car to wait while my gassing was pumping, THIS is what I saw Kegan doing...and laughing about it! GROSS! (I am sure he will love this when he gets older!)


We got to Meme and Poppa's that afternoon and hung out and visited with them. I ran to the grocery store for them and to pick up some stuff for my mom to make lunch the next day, while Kegan stayed with Meme, Poppa and Carol (the home nurse). By the time I got back home, Meme and already given Kegan a bath and was getting him dressed and ready for bed. I don't know who was more wet - Kegan or Meme. The next morning Grams and Grandpa were there and Kegan was excited to see them. Mom, Meme and I hopped in the car to go pick up Karsyn while my Dad and Poppa had baby Kegan duty. When we got back to Pasadena Kegan was asleep, but not for long. He must have knows Karsyn was there...and eating. Once again though, they saw each other and started smiling and laughing and saying something to each other. Through the course of the evening they even started to show affection to one another - they gave hugs and even little kisses to each other. At one point in time - as told by my uncle, Poppa, and dad Karsyn gave Kegan a hug, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek then she turned and gave him a kiss on the lips. Then, later that evening, he had given her a dirty look when she was tyring to play with him, so she walked away...well my sweet little boy crawled over to her after a little bit and gave her a hug...awww!
Playing in the back yard. Kegan crawled up and down and up and down this little pathway for quite a while...till he noticed the flowerbed full of dirt that just really needed to be played in....


Ok - something I would like to point out: The pictures above were not taken that far apart from one another - check out the range of facial expressions!

Taking time to play inside.
Kegan is trying to show Karsyn how his tractor works...she is obviously NOT interested and actually looks a little bored by the lesson...haha...poor baby boy.

In the picture below you see Kegan just chillin' with Poppa. It was so sweet, I sat him up there and Kegan just laid himself back into Poppa's arms...as happy and content as he could be. He is chewing on a back scratcher that was sitting on the table by the bed. (I know...super safe...)

Playing some more...making a mess! He loves to tear paper and is very good at it after all the practice at Christmas.

He would blow on the window and then look at the condensation he left and blow on it again - it seemed to fascinate him.

I love this look - such a look already of attitude toward mom for taking a picture. Can't you just hear him..."Aww...Mom!"

Making a mess on your own is a lot of fun, but...

making a mess with your cousin is even better. (You can then share the blame!)


Kegan and I headed home late Saturday evening, got up the next morning, went to church and then had lunch at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Matthew was having to get some stuff done, so Kegan stayed at his grandparent's that afternoon while I went home and got some chores done around the house that are easier to do with out an extra set of "helping" hands.

Monday came around and we ran errands with Matthew doing farm stuff and getting more things ready for the livestock show. Here we are in the office of one of the committee members getting some paperwork done, and prizes ordered. Kegan did pretty good...in the picture below he is starting to look a bit perturbed, though. Actually, this is a pretty good picture of his new favorite face to give people. He will furrow his brows, bend his head down low to his chest, and stare. Then, if he is really giving you "the look", he will raise one eyebrow at you. Many people laugh when he does it, so I would be tempted to say he thinks it is funny...but boy can he give it to you at the right time when he is truly mad about something!

One of our errands was going to Cavenders to get Matthew a new belt (him and Kegan ended up getting matching belts....TOO CUTE!!!). Kegan ended up with a new pair of Wranglers, too! The highlight of Kegan's evening - playing on the big boot!


Tuesday evening his Aunt and grandma watched him while I went to the show barn and sat up his play and sleep area and did some computer work for the show. Then, Wednesday morning we were up bright and early for the first day of the show and there till super late...and continued this schedule through Friday. He had the day "off" on Saturday because his grandma kept him all day to let him roam and play at her house. He actually did very good for the three days he was up there. He had a pen to play in, (see below) his pack'n'play for sleeping, and had plenty of entertainment with committee members, wives of committee members, older youth that we know, one committee members mom, and his aunt Stephani, who would all come over periodically and take him out and about, either holding him or pushing him in his stroller, to see the projects and all the animals.
In the cage!

Notice, he was not suffering...he had carpet down and plenty of toys.

Wednesday he even had a playmate - a girl, no less. Her mom was helping out with the show, too.
Checking her out. (Isn't she cute. I had to laugh - when I got out the camera she walked over and gave the biggest smile...like, hey, I know what to do when I see that thing.)

Taking her hand.

Giving the kiss.

Feeling so proud of himself!

He also entertained himself some by pushing his stroller around. He loves to push anything around that he can walk behind and push, now. Small steps to getting closer to walking.

Aunt Stephani raised pigs in high school, so she knows a lot about the pigs and their temperaments, so she found Kegan a nice mellow pig that he could pet (the pig belonged to some youth from out church).


Thursday, they sift the pigs (decide which ones can go into the show and which ones way too much/too little or have some sort of defect to where they can not show. Anyways, we went over to watch this while Aunt Stephani explained to me how it all worked, Kegan decided he wanted an up close look at things, so he lined himself up with all the dads and other "big men" who were along the gate checking out the sifting of pigs...it was cute...all these tall quys in boots and Wrangers, then Kegan in boots and Wranglers, and then back to tall guys in boots and Wranglers.

Lookin' good all dressed up in his western wear!

Now- the best part of it all for Kegan - the big tractor sitting right outside the door to the "office" we were in.


After church and lunch on Sunday we all came home and took a much needed nap! Today and yesterday have been days of just trying to get back to a regular schedule.... We are looking forward to the rest of this week. Thursday we are going up to the school I worked at for a former co-workers baby shower and that evening we have a Chat N' Play. Then Friday, we are off to Wharton for another fun weekend!

Walking update:
He is still not walking consistently enjough on his own for me to say he is walking, but, he did walk to me TWICE tonight while we were over at some friend's house. Joe would put Kegan down and tell him to walk to me and Kegan would take 3 or 4 steps toward me and when he got close enough would grab onto my arms. I honestly think the child just loves and audience - he walked in the middle of the cafe, in the church nursery and hallway, and then over at the Newcomb's house - never just for mom and dad. oh! He can do it...he just needs to decide when he wants to take off on his own and make it his form of transportation!

Other updates:
I would not say he is talking really, but he is getting consistent with tones and sounds that he uses for certain objects. For example: Every morning and after every nap, he wakes up, I pick him up, he points to his tractors, and says t...and then a two toned syllable something, so we go get a tractor. He does consistently say Da or Dada when he sees or hears Matthew. When he wants a ball he says something resembling the word ball, but nothing anyone else would really understand. He also makes a pretty consistent "d" sound for dog, too. Then, today we were looking at a picture with some dogs in it and he made a sound like "woof". I can tell though, he is REALLY trying to communicate with "words" though. He will point at things and start saying something over and over again...like I should know what he is saying. He will also start rattling off sounds when you ask him questions...or at times just randomly start "talking". Now, communication in general, he is actaully pretty good at it. You can ask him yes and no questions and he will shake his head one way or the other. If he is not interested in something he will shake his head "no", turn his face away, or push it away with his hands. He does not shake his head "yes" often...many times becuase he will just "do" the action if it is a "yes", but he has shaken his head "yes" a few times when all we needed was an answer.
I can tell him to pick something up for me and he can do it. Example: "pick up the ball" or "pick up the tractor". Today he dropped a jar on the ground (it was empty) so I told him to pick it up...and he did...and then throw it away...and he did when I opened the trash lid. One more thing, when putting on his shoes today I had one in my hand and I gave it to him and asked where is show went and he put it over on his foot...obviously not with his foot in it, but it put the show on top of his foot...it was so cute!

Sorry this got a bit wordy at the end...just so much has been going on and he is learning so quickly!