Rodney's 31st Birthday!

Sunday was Rodney's birthday. Tyler and I decided to take him to the fish store and get some new fish for the saltwater aquarium. We found three new ones and a new piece of coral. I've attached a couple of pictures from the day. After we got home, Tyler took a nap while Rodney put the fish in the aquarium and I straightened up the house. Grandma & Pepaw Jochec & Uncle Jake & Aunt Sara picked up lunch at Willie's Icehouse and brought it over to celebrate Rodney's birthday. We visited for a little bit and Tyler played with them and then we had a relaxing evening.

Reading the birthday card from Tyler

Tyler and Rodney at the fish store

First trip to College Station

We had a busy (but fun) weekend last weekend. We went to Jake & Sara's Friday night for some good ol' beef fajitas. Tyler enjoyed watching Dixie & Dusty (their lab & rat terrier), but the dogs really didn't know what to think. They wanted to play with him, but will have to wait until he gets big enough to play (and I'm sure at that point, they'll be running and hiding from him)!

Saturday morning we got up and packed up the car for Tyler's first trip to College Station. We arrived in CS a little after the game had started (can't seem to get anywhere on time these days) so we had to park at the very top of the parking garage. I'm sure we looked VERY out of place walking from the garage to the tailgate spot as I was pushing Tyler in the stroller and carrying 2 bags while Rodney had two chairs, Tyler's play pad, and his bouncer! We had Tyler all decked out in Aggie clothes, though! He was such a good boy out there, playing with everyone and not being bothered by noise and other kids playing around him. He did get a little fussy because he was sleepy, but I just put him in his stroller and pushed him around the parking lot for a little bit. He fell asleep and took a little catnap. After the game, we hung out for a little while and then headed back to Katy. As soon as we got home, we changed clothes and got back in the car to go to Jarrod's 30th birthday party! I got to see little Tessa - she's so tiny compared to our chunky monkey (granted Tessa is 3 months younger than Tyler). After about an hour, Tyler started getting sleepy so we called it a night and headed home.

What a weekend - we all slept like rocks Saturday night. By the way - Tyler has slept thru the night every night (except 2) for about the last 6 weeks. Watch, he'll be up all night tonight! ;) Grandma & Pepaw Jochec came over Sunday evening and watched Rodney carve his first pumpkin. It was a beautiful day so we all went outside and sat on a blanket. Tyler enjoyed it and felt the cool grass with his hands and feet for the first time. He didn't seem to be bothered by it but did have an unsure look on his face at first.

Katie was in town for a conference, so I headed to the Galleria with Tyler Monday afternoon. We shopped around until Katie's flight landed and she arrived at her hotel. I went and picked her up to have dinner at America's. The food was wonderful and it was great to see her and for Tyler to see her. After dinner, Tyler and I went back to her hotel to hang out a little longer. Despite it being close to Tyler's bedtime, he was in a good mood and smiled, laughed, and rolled over for his Aunt Katie.

Tyler has started reaching his arms out to go to another person. Rodney was holding him when I got home from work one day and he reached his little arms out like he wanted me to hold him. It was so sweet! He's still trying to learn to crawl and can scoot around a little. We also think he may be getting teeth sometime soon as he's starting to show some of the signs - time will tell! He's laughing more and more - not only when being tickled, but also when you make funny faces and sounds at him. He has brought so much joy into our lives!

He is going to be a pumpkin for Halloween! I can't wait to put his outfit on him - it's absolutely adorable.

Trying on his outfit for pictures

Photo in Aggieland

Hanging out with Daddy

Chillin' at the tailgate

Already popular with the ladies!

So tired from a busy day

Getting ready for Halloween

"What is that touching my toes?"

The Hicks family's first pumpkin

No, we didn't coordinate our clothes.

Hanging out with Aunt Katie

Five month birthday

This past month has been full of new and exciting moments. Tyler began laughing right around 4 months. We all had our first hurricane experience with Ike on September 13. Tyler did really well - I don't even know that he knew we had a hurricane. Aside from the fact that he slept in his pack and play in our bedroom, things weren't really too different for him. He definitely enjoyed the fact that Rodney got to stay home with him more since his office was closed for a few days.

Tyler surprised us the day after the hurricane when he rolled over from back to tummy for the first time! Rodney caught it out of the corner of his eye and sure enough he did it again (and again and again)!! Now it's hard to keep him on his back - he almost immediately rolls to his tummy. He's desperately trying to crawl, but is quickly frustrated by his own physical limitations. He can scoot a little and can rotate his body around to where he's facing a different direction than when we laid him down. He has learned how to pull his knees up under him, but does not yet have the strength to get that big belly up off the floor. Speaking of big belly, at his 4 month check up, he weighed 16 lbs 7 oz (90th percentile) and was 25 1/2 inches long (75th percentile). Depending on the brand, some 6-9 month outfits are a little snug!!

Tyler was baptized on September 21. He fussed a little at the beginning of the ceremony, but did okay for the majority of it. When Father Jack poured the water on his head, he wrinkled his eyebrows and had a look that said "What in the world is going on?". We enjoyed visiting with our families after the ceremony.

I went back to work on September 23 so Tyler had his first week at daycare. We had a little bit of a rough start (I guess as expected), but things seem to be getting better. The ladies call him "The Gerber Baby". He caught a cold that Thursday, so we've been fighting a stuffy nose and a cough for about 10 days. It seems to be on its way out though... Work for me has been good - though I miss him all day and wonder what he's doing, it's nice to have some time for myself and to interact with other adults.

Tyler found his feet about a week ago. He loves to grab them and try to pull them to his mouth. When he has socks on, he'll pull it off his foot and chew on his sock! He's still drooling tons, but no teeth have popped up.

His sleep schedule is wonderful! He generally goes to bed around 8:30 and will sleep until we wake him up (usually around 6:00 on days that I work).

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful & healthy baby!


The night that Ike rolled in

Fun times with Daddy after the hurricane

Enjoying the jumperoo - although he hasn't actually jumped yet

Tyler's baptism with Father Jack & Godparents Uncle Jake & Aunt Sara

Wearing his John Deere hat from 'Great' Aunt Susan

Tyler & Rodney downtown for the Race for the Cure

Playing with his feet

Rolling from back to tummy