"I've Been Watching You Dad, Ain't That Cool?"

We had Walker's pics made with Santa at Neal and Tara's house Saturday. After our experience there, I am not sure we'll be taking him to have pictures made that we actually have to pay for. :) We did manage to get this cute shot, thanks to one of our cousins.







I don't normally let him get this "into" his food. But, Friday nights at our house are special...and this was Friday night. With very few exceptions, we have a family night on Fridays. This week Cliff brought home dinner...and Walker got his favorite fries-the one's from Chick-fil-a.













Walker wants to do everything he sees his daddy do. How at such a young age, he can already know that Daddy is who he wants to be when he grows up, is beyond me. But, the kid's got good taste...and good discerment. That's all I have to say! Here he is with Cliff's newest hat on. Cliff wears this hat backwards alot. Apparently Walker does too. :) He doesn't wear ALL hats backwards-just the one's he sees his Daddy wear backwards. He will put this on his head a million times a day. Cliff came home one day and it had peanut butter all over the rim. Happened before I got home too...that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!


While playing basketball recently, because they still do that EVERY afternoon, Walker picked up the habit of running past the goal and then quickly making a sharp turn back to shoot. Cliff's done this for effect several times and always makes lots of noise, etc...Walker imitates him and it's HILARIOUS!


As soon as Cliff walks in the door, Walker is running to the playroom. That's there special place. Sometimes, it's "no mommy's allowed..." They have to pet the "dee-ah" and then play basketball.

We had a good weekend. Friday, Dad and Kathy came to visit right before Walker was getting ready to go to bed. Well, that put an end to bedtime. :) Long story short, Walker literally BEGGED to go home with them. I don't know when he reached the ability to do that...but after many "goooo" "papa" "gooo" "papa" rounds and him standing and pulling on the door, we let him go. I was sad and missed him so much but he was home early the next morning. We had a fun day Saturday. We went to see Santa and then got together with Dad's side for Crystal's birthday. We were supposed to do that Friday and plans got changed and that ended up working out better anyway because Walker was still feeling pretty miserable on Friday night.
Sunday we went to church but Cliff's mom kept Walker at our house. Cliff was leading out worship during the song Marvelous Light because our minister of music was playing an instrument and I was running the slides for Cliff. I didn't want to miss hearing him sing!

Just a few other random things...

• Walker says "ba-ooooow" for blueberry now. It's pronounced kind of like this: ba-ooh-a
• He has grown rather fond of walking backwards and has gotten pretty good at it. He mastered running forwards a long time ago, but now he's getting pretty close to running backwards as well. Track star, maybe?
• He's "broken" into the gate that previously kept him from the computer and kitchen trash can. He moves it clear away, gets behind it and then pulls it back...he can do it in a second flat too. Quicker than we can get from the sink around the counter to get him.
• This kid has mad motor skills. He gets individually wrapped Rice Krispie treats (which he LOVES to snack on) and tries to open them. He does it exactly how he sees us doing it-finger and thumb of one hand going one direction and finger and thumb of other hand going other direction and then he pulls. Those packages are pretty tough and he hasn't ripped into one yet...with his hands anyway. But I think it's pretty cool, he knows the method to get in.
• He's been cutting all 4 molars at once. So, the other night I pulled out the baby orajel, which we haven't used in ages since teeth never really give him a problem. He liked how it tasted because he proclaimed "num num!" and then proceeded to try and get more from. Well, I put it up and out of his reach...or so I thought...but a few minutes later when I was standing over the computer checking email, I hear an evil little laugh and then another. So, I turn around and he's holding the container of orajel up at me and when I said something to him, he turned around and took off running...I'm telling you, he is all up in the midst of "testing" us to see what will happen IF...
• He now will climb up on the couch and just sit and watch TV. Again...like his daddy. :)
• Uncle Stephen shot an 11 pointer the other night before we went out for Crys's birthday. When we all went out to the truck to check out the deer, Walker proudly proclaimed "DEE-AH!" This is the first time I've heard him say it outside the playroom where we have one mounted, I think...

I think I've turned into the mom I didn't think I'd be. And...I'm happy with it. :) We've grown a little more accustomed to letting Walker stay up "past his bedtime" on the weekends. This was always a treat I enjoyed growing up and it was a big deal to me. Walker's always been that kid who was never really thrown off or affected by a change in his sleep schedule other than maybe getting a little cranky if he misses a nap. So, it works for us and we get to enjoy lots of special times with family, friends and our own little family that we don't get to have on weeknights. He always gets his 2nd wind and sometimes doesn't even get tired.

The holidays are among us. We have Thanksgiving, Cliff's birthday, Christmas and New Year's coming up. I know this year will be the most fun year yet...I can't wait!!