Morgan's Cousins

My sister, who is super-mom, just took the kiddos on a bike ride today. Here's Darby and Bret. I love it how they start off all happy and then have HAD ENOUGH as the pictures progress. Ahh... the attention span and stamina of a child. It's nonexistent.

I know that he is screaming his head off in this photo. But... doesn't Bret have the best hair ever?!?!?!

Through His Eyes For the First Time

Everyone says that one of the most amazing thing about having children is the ability to see things through their eyes. Almost every experience is a new one. I saw that in Morgan's eyes this afternoon as we were playing in the front yard. There were a bunch of crows crackling at each other. I told Morgan to look at the birds. He was totally fascinated. I saw in his eyes what everyone had told me before I had him. EVERYTHING is new for him. Even the birds that we are so used to hearing every spring. He sat totally still for a short while. Then, he started yelling and pointing at the birds. Of course we had to run after them. They flew off and he laughed his head off. I love watching Morgan see everything for the first time.



He grabbed a leaf when I wasn't looking and tried to eat it. Yesterday I looked all over for my grocery list. I looked at Morgan just in time to see him puke part of it up. You would think that my little paper/leaf eater isn't a picky eater... wrong! Here's the look of protest he gave me at lunch today when I tried to feed him anything healthy. All he wants are Cheerios. I forced a container of green beans and half a serving of carrots down him before a full on protest began. I'm sure they taste much better than leaves and paper!

This is his "new" vintage high chair. I still need to attach the straps (on order). I just love Craigslist! He already has a fabulous Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair. But, it doesn't come with the tray. I'd like for him to learn on a tray before banging up our dining room table. Right now he still won't eat too many foods with chunks in them. He only has 4 teeth. He pretty much just likes to throw everything on the floor to the dogs. They of course love it. The dogs come running every time we even get near that high chair.

Dallas Blooms! At the Dallas Arboretum

Melissa, Kimmie, Christi, my mom and I took the kiddos to Dallas Blooms! at the Dallas Arboretum this afternoon. It was Tiny Tot Tuesday. They had a petting zoo, a train, face painting and crafts. Our kiddos are still a little too young for some of the activities. But, they had a great time anyway.

Morgan loved watching Chase splash. Here's a great video.

Here is Kimmie's little boy Chase. He is such a doll and getting so independent. This shot shows his independence. He does NOT like getting back into the stroller. He wants to walk everywhere!

GG took Morgan in to the fountain. He just got a little wet.
Morgan did not like sitting in the flowers. He must have allergies like mom and dad. But, I actually like the crying photos. I think that they are hilarious!

He's clapping... "go Dallas Stars!" He's actually wearing his Michigan t-shirt from Grandma Marie.
Melissa & Gerry's little boy Benjamin came with us also. He is wearing his cutie pie little Easter outfit. Melissa was able to get some great Easter photos. They did have an Easter Bunny on site. But, they wanted $15 for one picture.
GG took Morgan into the petting zoo. He was a little freaked out at first. But, he eventually warmed up to the sheep.

He drank out of a cup for the first time. He didn't spill ONE drop. We think that is because the drink was basically all sugar.
Here's a better shot for your viewing pleasure!
This photo of Wyatt cracks me up! I just love his little shadow. Christi let him run into the fountain. Then he started crying. Maybe next year Wyatt.
This is video of Morgan's first time on a lawn touching grass. he doesn't know what to think. Excuse our laughing in the background. This is safe grass. The grass in our backyard is filled with doggie land mines.

Playdate with AJ

A few weeks ago Morgan and I met up with Amy, Kevin and baby AJ. Amy, Kevin and I were the best of friends when I lived in Denver. Kevin and Amy ended up moving to LA and within the past year mvoed back to Dallas. AJ & Morgan are only 3 months apart!

AJ showed up his really cool touchdown! trick. They basically live right on White Rock Lake. The driveway deadends on one side to the biking and running path! It is such a cool location. We took the boys to the park.

This is Morgan's first (well, seconds later second... I couldn't get the camera turned on in time) time to go up stairs. AJ was showing the little man how it's done.



Now isn't this the cutest video you've EVER EVER EVER seen. AJ is giving Morgan hugs and kisses. I just melt when I watch it. If you had know Amy and I back in the day... you would have never seen this coming!

GG's Easter Egg Hunt

GG told the Easter Bunny that we were having lunch at our house on Easter Day. We went to church that morning. Morgan had a great time as always. He is such a good baby. I could hear all the other babies screaming. But, he was so happy to go and play. Alice, Chris, Hillary, John and mom came over for a nice lunch. I kind of botched the crab cakes. Oh well.

They were sooooo difficult to find!



Oh... and they are filled with... Cheerios! Could a baby's life get any better!?!?!

Flower Mound Easter Egg Hunt

Mary, Ben, Christi, Julie, Matt, Dan and myself took the babies to the Flower Mound Easter egg hunt on Saturday before Easter. They just pretty much throw the eggs on the ground. It's not much of a hunt. And, that's how I remember it when I was a kid. We took Morgan in his new car and he got a balloon. He LOVES balloons. They always have them on the aisles at the grocery store and he totally freaks out. I actually bought one for him this morning. But, it popped when it hit the ceiling at home. He can play with a balloon for a really long time. I should actually buy them more often because it gives me some free time too!

Easter Memories

It seems that as parents we are always striving to make sure that our kid "had a better life than us". It's the common thread that I often hear among parent circles. But, I have no idea how to even go about surpassing my childhood. It was ideal. It was perfect. It was a Donna Reed dream. Easter is one of my favorite childhood memories.

Every year we would go to the Easter egg hunt at the Dallas Country Club. It was crazy! I had what I thought was the most beautiful Easter egg basket in the world. The basket was skirted in pink netting and the handle was wrapped in pink satin. It had plastic bunnies and chicks wired to it. I could fill that sucker up tons of times at the DCC Easter egg hunt. They didn't even hide the eggs. There must have been hundreds of thousands of pieces of candy scattered all over the lawn. You couldn't even look one foot without coming up on another piece of candy.

I remember dying eggs with my mom while standing in our orange lacquered kitchen chair. I'm sure everyone remembers the water, vinegar and little color tablet. I'd always try to hold that little flimsy wire loop just the right way so that I could get one color on one side and another on the other. And, in the "advanced" egg dying stages of my childhood I figured out how to hold the egg in longer to get darker or lighter colors. Ahhh... childhood!

Back in my days people really didn't wear white until after labor day. Now that has all changed. We always had a new dress for church and shiny white patton shoes and white tights. Those white tights were always so uncomfortable. Somehow the crotch would end up closer to my knees than the designated spot. It created a sort of waddle effect. Take a look at 5 year old girls wearing those thick white tights. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about!


My Grandmommie was always so on top of the holidays. She has six grandchildren. She bought everything in six's. We spent many Easter's up at the ranch. Grandmommie stocked the bunny trail for the big hunt. But, this wasn't just a little egg and candy hunt. There were REALLY GOOD finds along the way. My cousins and I looked forward to this every year. It was just like Christmas. Of course there was always a Godiva bunny for each of us at the end of the trail.

So, as you can see, I have a pretty tough act to follow. I hope to build as many memories with Morgan. We are taking him to the Flower Mound Easter festival tomorrow. I'm hosting a luncheon for the family at our house. I need to tell dad and Dan that they need to start clearing a bunny trail at the other ranch for future Bunny Trail hunts!

Look What My Hubby Gave Me for Morgan's Birthday!

Dan is such a wonderful husband. He always gives the most wonderful gifts.

Our family used to vacation in Colorado every year when I was growing up. I rode the same horse, Bo Jangles, year after year. I had one of his horseshoes with the years I rod him painted on the front. My childhood house burnt down when I was in high school and the horseshoe was one of the things I lost. I casually mentioned this one summer when Dan and I went to the livery in Estes Park. That Christmas... he gave me another horseshoe. He is so sneaky! He called the livery and found out the years we were there and they painted another one for not only me... my sister too!

Well, Dan proved to be a great gift giver once again. I of course wasn't expecting anything for Morgan's birthday. But, he gave me this beautiful card and white gold and diamond necklace for Morgan's 1st birthday. You can double click on the images below to bring up a larger image to read the sweet letter he wrote from Morgan.

Morgan's 1st Birthday Party at Petland

Ok, I know that I should edit out more of these photos... but I can't! We took so many photos that day. Morgan had his 1st birthday party the day after his actual birthday because his birthday fell on a Friday this year. We love love love Petland. It is the best pet store in the world. Petland is an actual pet store. It's not just a pet supply store like Petco or PetSmart. Morgan and I often go there to play with the tons of animals they have. And they have the odd animals that you don't usually see... like chinchillas, ground squirrels, monkeys and tons of other unique pets. All of the birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and small rodents are in open cages. I just reach in and grab whatever I want. They also have little rooms to play with the puppies. We rented out their birthday room for his party. We had 11 babies and their parents. It was so easy. They gave us three staff members to run the party. They handled everything. I didn't even have to serve the cake or drinks. After a tour of the aquarium room they brought in different groupings of animals. The kids had a ball!

Above: Bruce Morgan (dad/grandpa) and baby AJ. Kevin and Amy Smith, Jenna Lummus in the chairs on the left and Scott Heal and baby Wyatt on the right.
Here's Morgan in his 1st birthday shirt with a guinea pig. I forgot his name. But, the staff members had named all of the animals.
Above: Becky Rasdall & Robin Kelm show Eva and Zoey a guinea pig
Above: Julie Kerper and baby Leah, Gaby Wiszberger and baby Natalie, Christi Heal and a screaming baby Wyatt.

Andy Wiszberger (in background). Dan and Grandma Lynn holding Morgan. The girl in tan is one of the event people. She is showing the babies an African Grey.

Yummy! Everyone had blue cup cakes and Morgan had his own white "smash cake". Moms called me the next week with reports of blue baby poop... ewwe!
Grandpa pretends to take a bite from Morgan's hand.
The setup was so cute. Morgan even had his own special 1st birthday hat.

Above: Becky with baby Zoey, Robin with baby Eva and Kimberly with baby Sarah
Above: Andy with baby Natalie
GG with baby Morgan and Dan
Top: Grandpa Bruce, Grandma Lynn and Kevin Smith

Bottom: Mary Kidder with baby Calvin, Amy Smith with baby AJ, Irma Ramsey with baby Ariana, and Dan with baby Morgan

Here's the video of Morgan digging into his cake!