baptizing brazos

June 26, 2010- We baptized Brazos in Fredericksburg on June 26th.  We were so honored to have our good friends, Scott & Mignonne Frantzen, as Godparents for Brazos.  And another friend, Deacon Denis Link did the baptism for us in Fredericksburg at St. Mary's Catholic Church.  We chose to do the baptism in the original church building and it was so peaceful.  What a great day for Brazos to receive his first Sacrament and begin his walk of faith in the church.   

"John answered them all saying, I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.  I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."~Luke 3:16

one month old

June 25, 2010- Wow! The first month with Brazos has gone by fast.  We've really enjoyed having a baby around the house.  Pecos is the best big brother we could ask for.  He is so proud and protective and very helpful to me.

Here's a few stats from his one-month well-baby visit:

     Weight- 10.85 pounds (61%tile)

     Height- 23.25 inches (85%tile)

     Head Circumference- 38.5 cm (42%tile)

swimming lessons

June 21-July2, 2010- Pecos took swimming lessons for the first time.  Well, actually, he took them last summer but at his age it was with a parent in the water.  And for him it was just play time but I guess that is okay.  This year was the real deal- no parent in the water and too deep for him to touch.

This lifeguard was assisting on the first day.  Pecos asked me "why that boy teacher's skin is all brown?"  After holding back a laugh I just told him it was because he doesn't wear enough sun screen.

Here he is, hugging the wall with the other kids.  After a few minutes the other kids realized they didn't have to hold themselves quite so high out of the water.  But not Pecos, he wasn't lowering himself down into the frigid depths. 

So he stayed like this for the first week of lessons.  I just knew his elbows would give out and he'd scrape his chin on his way down.

And here is the future Michael Phelps with his teacher practicing some splashing- I mean kicking.

When I took swimming lessons as a kid we always got a special treat on the last day.  Mom would take us to get donuts when we were done.  Not sure why donuts were the chosen treat but it might have something to do with the location of Donut King right next to the pool.  Anyhow, I thought I'd continue this tradition with my donut-loving offspring.  But on the last day of lessons it was rainy and cold and I just couldn't bring myself to make Pecos freeze through it.  So we skipped the lessons and just got the donuts!!

road runner

June 25, 2010- Look what was on the back porch today.  Pecos asked if he could rope it.  I said, "Sure, good luck!"  He tried, but like the coyote, Pecos just couldn't get that road runner!

mutton bustin'

June 18, 2010- Pecos made his mutton bustin' debut at the Peach Jamboree in Stonewall, TX.  And this debut was a surprise for us.  We've talked about mutton bustin' many times and he has several rodeo blooper dvds that has them on it.  So we've had several discussions about mutton bustin' and riding when he gets bigger.  We were even at a rodeo in Junction in May and we asked him if he wanted to do it but he said no because he 'needs to get bigger and practice'. 
So when we left the house to head to Stonewall I didn't even grab my camera.  With a newborn, a diaper bag and stroller I figured I had enough to tote around.  And since we were just going to watch I figured I didn't need a camera.

As the rodeo was about to begin they announced to come sign up for mutton bustin' and Pecos proclaimed that he wanted to ride.  Casey and I looked at each other and said "yeah, right!"  So just to humor him we went over and paid the $10 to sign him up.  And he was too far down the list to go in the heat before the rodeo performance.  So we thought surely he would watch them and decide he didn't want to do it.  Wrong!  He analyzed each rider and declared if they were good or not.

When it was time for the second heat of riders we thought surely he would back out.  Casey took him over behind the chutes where the saddle bronc riders were warming up and told Pecos that all of them started out riding in the mutton bustin.  That got him excited so into the arena they went with the other contestants.  Casey thought Pecos would want to wear his cowboy had instead of the required helmet and since we had already signed our life away on a liability release he asked Pecos if he wanted to wear his hat but he said no he'd go for the helmet.

As I was watching from outside the arena I watched the first 5 or 6 sheep leave the chutes and they were all going at somewhat slow speed.  At the same time Casey watched the next batch get loaded in the chute and had his eye on the one crazy one in the bunch hoping Pecos wouldn't get it.  But of course that's the one they loaded for our buckaroo and it shot out of the chute like a rocket!  Pecos was halfway down the arena before you could blink!

As Pecos prepared to go Casey got him on the sheep with a hug around its neck as far as his little arms would reach.  He told Pecos to ride all the way to the end until the sheep stopped.  And as they left the chute Casey gave Pecos a swat on the rear and said "Ride 'em like a world champion!"

And they sheep ran straight down the middle of the arena with Pecos holding on for dear life.

When they got about halfway down the area Pecos rolled off the side and hit the dirt.  Then he just layed there for a few seconds until the clown helped him up.  There were tears...I don't think he expected to go so fast or hit the dirt so hard.  He scored 86 points!!

  

Casey made his way to get Pecos and told him he rode just like Casey Tibbs and Bruce Ford.  Through the tears he told Casey he wasn't gonna do that anymore!

He got a plaque which he calls a trophy.  It is hanging proudly next to his bed.  He said he wants more trophies to hang on the wall.  Casey said you have to ride again if you want more trophies and he said okay. 

It was a great experience as you can tell.  And an expensive one since I had to purchase photos from the rodeo photographer.  Oh, and Casey promised Pecos that if he was one of the winners he would get him a buckle.  So we've got one of those on order too! 

naked newborn

June 3, 2010- What is it about a naked newborn that is so precious? Well maybe not everyone thinks it is precious, but I sure do.  And so does my good friend and extremely talented photographer, Tori Faulkner.  She did beautiful maternity portraits for me and now she has captured Brazos as a newborn and a few with his big brother Pecos.  You can see more of her amazing work on her website at www.barnraised.com

I'd actually forgotten how much I love a newborn baby- the sounds they make, the way they curl up and sleep, the smell, the cry they make, their total and complete dependence on someone- even the diapers and attention they demand.

As for the photos, I don't know if I can pick a favorite one of Brazos.  I love them all and will have to figure out how to make money grow on a tree so I can buy all of them!!

 

 

 

The saddle scene...these are Casey's favorite. 

Serious skin-to-skin.   

Simply Brazos:

Here's Brazos in his Christening gown.  Casey calls it a dress.  It is the same gown that Pecos wore for his Baptism and now Brazos will get to wear it too. 

Some with mom...  

Boot scootin' Brazos.  No shortage of boots to choose from.  The gold tops were Pecos' first pair of boots.  The tiny short brown ones were Casey's first pair of boots when he was a child.  And the cactus and indian boots are Casey's two current (non-work) pair.  His Beck work boots were just too worn out to make it into the photo.  And notice my boots are not pictured...they are neither custom made nor special.

This is our favorite photo of the two boys. 

Leather and a baby.  These are the chaps that Casey made and wore when he was cowboying for a living. 

This one with his tongue sticking out is funny because one of the last ultrasounds we had of Brazos before he was born showed him doing the exact same thing.  A glimpse of the personality to come perhaps?