January 2012 Highlights

- Our family adjusts to our normal routine in Irving after a month of travels.

- Brian returns to the VA for the month. He has lots of CALL.

- We visit the Dallas Zoo to see the giraffes, elephants, owls and goats.

- Catie and Brandon go to their first movie at a theater-Beauty and the Beast.

- Catie and Brandon visit Texas Discovery Gardens to see beetles and butterflies.

- Catie starts a dance class at the YMCA. She picks out a pink leotard for her dance attire.

- Mommy continues to grow larger and larger. She is 27 weeks pregnant.

- Grandma Linda and Grandpa Mike visit for a few days. We enjoy several lunches out with them and we visit a tasty candy store.

- Catie and Brandon get haircuts.

- Catie and Brandon make a “Thunder Cake."

- Our family visits the park several times in the unseasonably warm weather.

- Grandpa Bob and Grandma Judy visit for a day. We have a wonderful breakfast at Central Market.

- Uncle Brad and Ginger visit for several days.

Our January was alovely month and I usually don't say that about the typical gloomy January. We loved the beautiful warm weather that provided us the opportunity to play outside so often. Our month brought us calmly into the New Year as we adjusted to our life home in Dallas after a busy, travel-filled December. Brian's crazy schedule started up again, so we have been savoring our family time even more. I have at most 11 more weeks of my pregnancy, which simultaneously elates and terrifies me.

Catie loves her new dance class, reading all kinds of books and learning her letters. Catie has started retelling books to Brandon and it is amazing to watch the literary language she uses as she tells her brother the stories. She has been using all kinds of big words in her daily speech. She told me she felt "ecstatic" a few days ago. She absorbs all the new words she learns like a sponge. Catie has also learned how to put her own shirt on by herself. She is becoming more independent every day.

Brandon continues to talk more and more. Some of the things he likes to say include:

"No say that." This is spoken whenever he wants me to stop saying something.

"Knick, Knack, Patty, Wack."

"________ scare me." (big slides, barking dogs, bugs)

Brandon loves to read books about cars, trucks and boats. He has also figured out how to climb out of his crib, but he has been choosing to stay in it at night. We will see how long this new arrangement lasts. Brandon has learned how to climb into his car seat independently, which helps me out considerably.

Our family is ready to welcome February.