Leap Year

What did you do with your extra day?
We played dress-up...say "hello" to Queen Beatrix.


Bix sampled new foods. She likes the catfish, and the couscous...she savors every bite...especially the mum-mums.


We had a great day! I even had time for two posts. Hope you enjoyed your extra time.

I am So Lucky

I get to spend most of my time with this...


Bix loves her Daddy and so do I. They always have so much fun together.

Morning Coffee

If you haven't had yours yet...have a cup with Bix.

Big Fun in LA

We spent the weekend in Louisiana seeing relatives, and getting a minivan...yes, we say "hello" to being a minivan family. I am officially a minivan-driving-mom-on-the-go.
Bix had the best time of all (big surprise). She played with Aunt KK, the Monster, CiCi, Pops, Grandmommy, and even a little bit with Hershey.


She showed off her walking skills...even her one-handed walking with the hippo.


Pops let Bix try on his hat, and CiCi let her chew on some measuring spoons. (amazing what entertains a one-year-old)


Then it was on to the REALLY big fun...BEADS!!! Bix could have played with them forever...


she did play with them until she was in a daze.


It was time to come home and Bix was ready to ride in the minivan. Fortunately she had tired herself out, and she slept most of the way.

Quack-Quack

Bix is learning a lot about animals. Flashcards, books, videos, visits to the pond or the park. One of her favorites is the duck. She can say "duck", but more often says "quack" when she sees one. Now Bix is learning to talk to them. By next season, she will be a pro with the duck call, and maybe even go hunting with her Daddy.

C is for Cookie

That's good enough for Bix.

Mama is so Proud

It isn't often Bix will leave a hat on her head, but lately "hat" has become one of her favorite words, and leaving it on for few minutes is part of the fun!

Tennis Anyone?

Bix is all for it! She went over to the club to visit Grandma and all the tennis ladies..she had a blast.
She tried to grab every tennis ball she saw.


She sat with Grandma and watched some very exciting points.


Then Grandma showed her the pictures of the Club Champions (who did win the doubles title in 1991?)


Bix had enough. If she couldn't get out on the court and play, she wanted to go home.

Happy Presidents' Day

Bix tried to call the President, but she couldn't get through. Oh well, she will keep trying...

Fun With Charlie

That's what Bix had last night. They explored and ate and played. As you can see here, they also listened intently to our conversation.


Charlie is very good at sharing his toys, however, I think he has now put it in Bix' head that she needs to take a trip to the Magic Kingdom. I'm pretty sure I heard her try to say something that sounded like "Mickey."



Thanks for a great evening Brady, Michelle, Charlie, and Stacey! M-I-C--see you real soon...

My Funny Valentine

She is hilarious, and so much fun. Every day brings new excitement, sometimes challenges, and always more and more love.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Toddler Years Have Begun

Can you believe we got this on film already!? Bix is really starting to take to this whole walking thing. We aren't sure what she's doing with her mouth, but it looks like Bix will be able to "walk and chew gum" after all.

Big Things Are Happening

Bix took her first steps. Yes, you read that correctly...she took three steps from her daddy to the sofa. We were all so excited. She then proceeded to repeat the feat several times. YAY, for Bix!!!
We did not catch this first time on film, but will try to get it soon. As you can imagine Bix was very proud of herself.


This morning we went to the doctor for her one-year check-up. Everything is a-ok. She is on track for everything developmentally, and she is very healthy (now that she is recovered from the stomach bug). Bix is now 31 inches tall, and weighs 21 lbs 14 oz. She is still on the long and lean side of the baby chart.
While at the doctors Bix also very bravely faced down some needles. And for those of you who are wondering, yes, she did get her MMR. (if you have any questions, click on this.) With my background in public health and understanding of autism spectrum disorders, I have always been a proponent of vaccines.
OK, that's about as serious as we get here. How about one more shot of the "toddler".

The Longest Weekend

Friday was a long day...Bix was sick several times and never did get the spring back in her step. I was feeling a bit guilty for over indulging her at her party. Alas, my guilt was for naught...on Saturday both Mommy and Daddy became gutwrenchingly ill with the horrible bug that had attacked Bix. I won't go into detail, but we both wanted to die (or at least now we know what dying feels like)
This is about the most we did all weekend...


If it hadn't been for Grandma, I don't think we would have made it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
We are starting to feel better, but I think we'll take it easy today, and stick to toast and applesauce.

What a Party

Bix had a great celebration!
The food, (oh, the lure of the cupcake)


the presents, (thanks Aunt Liz and Stacey)


friends, family, (well, there were other people here, but we seemed to only take snaps of the birthday girl)

more food, (thanks for that king cake CiCi and Pops)


and more presents. (Too-Too, Poppo, and Grandma...you are too much)


After we got her cleaned up, Bix wanted to keep on partying.



The party in her tummy evidently continued through the night. At 3:45 am we woke up with a screaming, sick baby. She then also got sick at 5:30, 7:30, (poor thing) and again when we tried a little drink around 10am. Too much partying...we have all been there.
Bix is now taking a nap, and we expect that she will be feeling better, and ready to play with all her new toys this afternoon.

More Birthday Fun

Check out more of Bix' birthday wishes, click here too! (you may have to scroll down a little bit to see her)

Happy Birthday!

Ashton Kutcher, Chris Rock, Bix, James Spader, Eddie Izzard...what do they all have in common? That's right, they share this wonderful date as a birthday. Those guys are so lucky to have that in common with Bix.
Can you believe that Bix has come all the way from this...


To this..



In one short/long year. Such an wonderful journey that gets better every day.

Someday we would like to share this blog with Bix...so if you could, leave her a message, a birthday "hello", something to make this day even more special.

The Party's Over

Bix was quite upset when she found out that Mardi Gras was the end of a month-long celebration.


Once she found out that she could still play with her beads and wear her crown...life was good.

Mardi Gras 2008

Wild Weekend

Bix had so much to do and celebrate. Saturday was Dallas' first Mardi Gras Parade! A crowd of 5,000 was expected, and we helped make up the actual crowd of over 35,000. Bix loved the lights, music, people, and of course the beads.


She also had her first experience with DART...while not as fun (or polite...do men not give up their seats for ladies with babies anymore?) It was thrilling because it was packed with people and you know how Bix loves to work a crowd. (but you can't really tell from this snap because she is a little dazed, and very tired)


Then on Sunday we had the big game. Bix enjoyed the party at Stacey's, all the people and food. It was all we could do to keep her out of the swimming pool...that gal loves the water.


A busy, festive weekend was the perfect way to start off the week...Birthday-Week that is!

Happy Talk

That is pretty much all Bix wants to do these days...

She is also getting better with specific words...

What do you think? How is she doing?