Bryce & Brennon

You love Hannah!!  She can make you laugh no matter what.  So glad you have her to teach you things.  She's 3, so the concept that you're 1 and can't walk and talk and eat the way she does is a little hard for her to grasp.  It's so funny how she tries to feed you things or pick you up, or try to get you to play with her "big girl" toys.  You're not quite there yet...but you'll get there!

Ok...so here's the deal...you've been "able" to walk for a while now.  However, being able to do something and actually doing it are two different things!  You would take a few steps then flop down.  You would walk holding onto my finger, but without my finger (which you didn't even really rely on by the way) you would refuse to walk.  Everyone else seemed to be worried that you weren't walking yet, but not me!   You have been showing out at home for a while now, but not in public.  In the last week you have grown four teeth and gone from taking a few steps without mommy to running around the living room.  I wish that we could put video on the blog because it is hillarious to watch you!  You take the tiniest, fastest little steps with your arms stiff, straight out to your sides like a zombie!  It is so cute!  You truly are a bundle of joy! - Love, Mommy

Last night I went to hear Paula White preach in Texarkana with the girls, so Josh picked you up from Dayschool.  He called and told me after he got you that you had bitten another one of the children.  I felt so bad!  So today when I brought you I asked one of your teachers about it.  She said that you were trying to love on him and just took a big bite out of his forehead.  I checked out his little forehead and sure enough it broke the skin.  I'm so sorry Cooper!  I hope this will not be a trend and was truly an accident! - I guess getting 4 teeth in one week can do a number on you...you just had to test them out right?!

Today we went to your Daddy's work party.  We had a good time.  Your little gums are still swollen from the large amount of teeth you've gotten in the last week so you are still a little cranky.  But still, the food was delicious and it was fun to see everyone. 

You are now 13 months old and are completely hillarious!  I can't even remember all of the funny things you say and do but I wanted to write down some of my favorites so that 20 years from now I'll have them on paper.

You love Christmas lights and call them "spots".  Don't know where it came from but it's oh so cute!

When Daddy tells you "No", you stop what you're doing then look at him and shake your head up and down and say "yes".  When Mommy tells you "No", you smile and keep doing it.

You love to immitate people when they sneeze.  When someone sneezes, you laugh and then pretend to sneeze yourself, then of course laugh again.

You try to trick Abigail, if she's playing with something that you want, you pick up something, give it to her and take what she has. 

You shake your booty when you hear music that you like.

You clap for yourself when you want us to acknowledge that you did something great.

You want to push the buggy at Wal-Mart or Target and push your stroller whenever I want you to ride in it.  Everyone that sees you doing this laughs because you look so funny.  You're just so tiny pushing such big things.  And to add to the scene, the entire time you're pushing, you look at your feet.  It's just a hillarious sight!

To sum it up, you're perfect in every way.  The funniest baby I know, and a genious!  That's what I think anyway! ;) - Love you! - Mommy

Tonight we went over to Mimi and Papa Don's and you had such a good time playing with Abigail.  After we fed you guys dinner you were playing on the floor and you messed your pants...and I mean messed them good.  You were already in your pajamas and I didn't bring anything else for you to wear so we had to put you in one of Abi's nightgowns.  It was pale pink and hillarious to see on you!  Her socks didn't fit you so you had to wear her, of course, PINK houseshoes.  We just had to take pictures!  Sorry Josh! :)

Today we went to do some last minute shopping at the mall.  And guess what?!  Someone does NOT like Santa!  I thought that we'd stop by and get your picture taken with Santa.  You DID NOT want to sit in his lap.  You looked at me in terror.  I was laughing but I really felt bad.  The girl taking the picture asked if I wanted her to keep trying to get a good shot and I declined because I could not put you through that!  Don't want to scar you or anything.  But then he gave you a sucker and you were all better. 

Then we went to Cavender's boot city (I know I'm a Texas girl but they actually have some really cute stuff - cute toys for kids too) and you found a horse that you just loved.  I might have to go back and get it for you.  It was not a rocking horse but a bouncy horse.  It had a stuffed animal's fur but was hard so that you could sit on it.  It was connected to wooden edges by some bands and you just sat on it and bounced and bounced.  I, of course, had to take a picture.  Love you - Mommy

Friday we made a little day trip up to Daisy, AR to visit Nana and Papa and have Christmas with the Puttman family.  We had such a great time.  We don't get to see that side of the family as often as we would like so it is always a pleasure.  There were so many babies and boys EVERYWHERE.  Out of 10 great-grandchildren there are 7 boys and 3 girls and another boy on the way.  (Betsy and Simon are expecting in January)  So as you can imagine there were lots of sports being played.  Nana and Papa got you a snare drum, tamborine, maracas, and a harmonica.  You are so cute playing all your little musical instruments.  We had great food and great fun.  Thanks Nana and Papa.

Grandpa and Granma Allen and Uncle Jason came over on Saturday, Christmas Eve.  They only got to stay for a few hours but they brought you a Tumbling Tigger.  It is the cutest thing ever.  You guys had a good time playing with it.  You are always the center of attention when they come around....you're the only little one so you show out!  Thanks for yet another good time.

On Christmas Eve we always go to Nana and Grandy Milam's house.  It's a tradition.  We eat dinner, sometimes play games, we used to go carroling, open presents, and talk about Christ's birth.  This year with 2 babies, we didn't go carroling or play any games.  But the spirit of the season was still the same.  Grandy's steaks were great as always and we laughed and talked about old memories.  I hope that when you are older you love this tradition as much as I do.  Of course you received gifts.  Aunt Rhonda, Uncle Michael, Amy, and Beth got you a programable Elmo.  He says "Hi Bryce, let's play" and "Bryce love Abigail, Elmo does too".  You program him to say things like your favorite foods and color, you can even program him to have a schedule and when it's time to go to bed he'll tell you and when to eat or play.  It's just so neat.  Nana and Grandy got you a guitar so with the drums and other musical instruments you got you're going to be a one man band.  With all the noise makers you got for Christmas I'm just going to let you keep them at their houses so they can enjoy them as much as you do.  Just Joking!!  Thanks everyone.   

Merry Christmas, Bryce!  This was the second Christmas of your little life.  Last year, however, was very different than this one.  You were not even 2 months old last year and this year at 13 months it was a big change. We woke up on Christmas morning and opened your presents from Santa.  Then we went to Mimi and Papa Don's house and opened more presents.  Around lunch we went to see Pawpaw and, yes of course, more presents.  You're one lucky kiddo!  Aunt Kaci and Uncle Britt were there and we were so happy to see them.  Then, Christmas night we went back over to Mimi and Papa Don's for a big Christmas party.  This was such a wonderful Christmas filled with love, family, and the appreciation for God's perfect gift, Jesus.  Thank you for making Christmas more than I ever imagined.  I love you.  Mommy   

It was such a pretty day here today.  It was about 65 degrees.  I just had to post these pics.