2 months old

July 25, 2010- Brazos is 2 months old now and growing bigger every day.  We survived colic (not extreme, just rather fussy throughout the day) and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  But he still has some screaming fits throughout the day so we are looking into that because it is different than the fussy colic he had.

He is starting to smile and that has been fun.  He is almost sleeping through the night...he sleeps about 8 hours but it is from about 9pm-5am so we're working on shifting that.

The two month well-baby visit is not until the first week of August.  So for now the only stat is from a doctor visit July 13th:

Weight- 11.8 pounds

i'm not a rainforest kid, i'm a cowboy!

July 19-23, 2010- The annual Vacation Bible School at our church this year was Sonquest Rainforest.  I sat out with helping this year for maternity leave and missed being there.

Pecos has attended the last 3 years but only in childcare while I helped out.  This was his first year to participate fully.  In preparing for the week we listened to the music that would be part of the week of fun.  One of the songs was about the theme of the week- Rainforest.  The night before VBS I was putting Pecos to bed and I told him he would have so much fun at the Rainforest Bible School.  His reply- "But Momma, they are just gonna have rainforest toys there and I'm not a rainforest kid, I'm a cowboy!"  How do you respond to that?

So the next morning we picked up his best buddy Jace and headed to church.  The photo on the left is them together on the first day- don't they look thrilled?  And on the right is the last day- much more visible enthusiasm.

One day Pecos came home and told me the nuns had some toys with sticks for their hands.  Huh?  After my friend Tori shared a photo it all made sense- puppets!

 

The closing program at the end of the week is always fun.  And I was curious to see if Pecos would stand up with the group and participate...he tends to have stage fright in front of a crowd.  But how exciting for me to see him get up there to sing and dance. 

 
Well, actually he sort of sang but didn't do any of the motions to the songs.  He takes after his father in that regard.  Casey would much rather take a beating than get in front of a crowd and participate in any sort of theatrical performance. So as everyone else put on a show Pecos stood front and center and watched the crowd.

There was one particular song the pre-k group performed that involved hunching down then jumping up.  He was a star for that one.

 Brazos came along to enjoy the show, I mean be held by Oma. (Another photo by Tori- she's the best at capturing these candid moments!)

And did I mention MiMi was also here for the week?  She is spending her retirement with us every chance she gets.  Which means I get all the work done around the house that I never seem to get to anymore.  I keep a running list of things to do when she visits. 

The grand finale of VBS is singing at Mass on Sunday.  Once again Pecos ended up front and center to watch the crowd while everyone else provided the entertainment.  Which I guess all goes back to his original take on the Rainforest- "I'm a cowboy!"

Another discovery of the week was the need for Holy Water.  On our way to Mass after the week of VBS went something like this:

     Pecos declares: Rats! I forgot to get a can!

     Me: A can?  For what?

     Pecos: To get some holy water!

     Me: Really? Why do you need that?

     Pecos: So I can bless myself!  They told me at VBS I can get

          some holy water at the church to keep in my room to bless

          myself.

We found an empty water bottle in the car on our way to Mass and he promptly filled it up so he could bless himself at home.  And he does.  Every  night before bed and several times throughout the day.  He even blesses Brazos and me.  If I let him take it outside he would probably bless Widow Maker.  And the cats.  And anything else within sight.  I think it is a very good outcome of VBS.

pecos' showing debut

July 9, 2010- Pecos made his cattle showing debut at the Gelbvieh Jr. National Show in College Station, TX.  Why at the Gelbvieh show?  Two words: opportunity and timing.  Uncle Duke and Aunt Shannon have been involved with the breed and helping out some junior members for the past several years.  Since the national junior show would be in Texas this year and they would be there with a heifer available for pee wee showmanship and Pecos was at the right age to want to show we took advantage of the opportunity and timing. 

Here's some scenes from the practice session in Mason a week prior to the show.

And here's Pecos arriving at the show on Thursday for another practice session.  Since the heifer- Wendy- is red Pecos insisted she needed a red halter.

A last minute strategy session with dad and Uncle Duke....as in if they ask what kind of heifer you have don't tell everyone she's really a Red Angus!

Entering the ring...a proud moment to see the 4th generation of my family at the end of a show halter.  

 Looking for the judge...

The interview portion went something like this:

Jr. Director: What is your name and where are you from?

Pecos, as he grabs hold of the microphone:  Pecos Worrell from Harper, Texas! (very clear and loud- a future in public speaking perhaps?)

Jr. Director: What's your heifer's name?

Pecos: Wendy

Jr. Director: What do you like about her?

Pecos: Roping calves. (He thought they asked what he likes to do, not what he likes about the heifer)

Jr. Director: Is there anything you don't like about her?

Pecos: She licks!!

A ribbon in the pocket and a trophy in hand- first time out was a success!

Had to take an official photo at the backdrop.

And of course, every champion needs to celebrate. 

Drinking Dr. Pepper out of his trophy cup.

The trophy is proudly on display in Pecos' room.

Although Pecos had a great time showing and says he wants to do it again sometime, this is what he really loved the most.  The Happy Toy Maker had his merchandise for display and entertainment for the kids.  It was hard to pull Pecos away from here long enough to show.  Here's all the boys in the play pen.

4th of july extravaganza

July 4, 2010- The children's parade in Fredericksburg was first on our agenda for July 4th.  Each year Casey tries to out do himself in building an entry for Pecos.  Remember the rocket horse last year?  This year it was a double challenge to try and figure out how to incorporate Brazos.  And of course if it doesn't involve a horse, saddle, rope or all three then Pecos just isn't that interested. So Casey spent all day and night working on this...

The quest for an award at the parade all started out 4 years ago when Pecos was not quite one year old and we decorated his stroller and went to the parade.  Pecos won the award for 'Mr. 4th of July'.  It was a much smaller parade then and not many "float" type entries; mostly bicycles, strollers, and wagons.  Now there are over 100 kids and all sorts of interesting entries.  And Casey's competitive spirit just won't let him simply decorate the wagon and have fun.

Last year Pecos won the award for 'funniest' and Casey thought that wasn't appropriate.  I on the other hand thought it was fine and Pecos of course was just happy to sit on the saddle of his rocket horse and enjoy himself.  Two years ago we skipped the parade because we were vacationing in Maine and I'm sure if we could have found a children's parade there he would have come up with something for it.

Casey was on a mission this year to win back the title of 'Mr. 4th of July'.  I'm not sure why he thought this particular idea would do it because I thought we'd be back in the running for funniest again.  The judges and Casey must have had the same idea because sure enough, Pecos won 'Mr. 4th of July'. 

Brazos should have received recognition for the youngest participant because there were certainly none younger.  However, you could hardly see him inside the covered wagon.  When I asked Casey why he didn't make the ends of the wagon a little more upright rather than angled out he said he just couldn't compromise the integrity of the wagon!  Would someone associated with this parade please encourage the organizers to either do away with the awards or give more of them- I'm not sure how many more years I can stand this!

Here's Mr. 4th of July getting ready for the parade and posing for about the 100th photo within 5 minutes. 

Following all that excitement we spent the afternoon at home and then headed back in to Fredericksburg to see the fireworks.  Brazos fell asleep before it all started so he missed out on his first fireworks display...maybe next year!

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?