First Real Snow

Baby it's cold outside

It's FREEZING here, but it hasn't scared us off the mountain. We have been boarding/skiing up a storm, but we sure have had to bundle up. Luke has his first cold so the only snow he has seen is from the window. He seems better today, so we're hoping to go sledding with him tomorrow. It's the first time he's been under the weather like this so it is extra sad for me to see him this way.

Telluride...

The snow falling down...I was waking up in that sleepy little town...

Merry belated Christmas

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Things got busy after we got back from Oklahoma. Christmas was so special with Luke here this year. We got to spend lots of time with both of our families, and Luke LOVED all of the attention. It was so fun to start a few traditions as a family this year, but know many more will be made in years to come. I hope you all had a joyous Christmas celebrating the birth our our Savior.

I will have a plethora of pictures coming because I got the gift of my dreams - a Nikon D80 - for Christmas/Birthday from the Merricks. I have been so excited I can hardly put it down. We are in Telluride now with my family enjoying skiing and snow so I promise some cute snowbunny pics soon.

Eleven??

Where have the months gone? Luke is 11 months old and I feel like I just gave birth yesterday. How does that happen? I am about to have to tell people I have a one year old!! Whoa, I am a grown up now whether I was ready or not. I wouldn't trade it for the world, and can't imagine our life without Lukey now. What a gift?

We're back in the Woodlands, sans Michael who comes home Friday. Finally. It feels great to be a little stationary now, and we have found a sub-lease in Houston that looks like it's going to work just perfectly. So friends in H-town, we've missed you and can't wait to be back for a bit.

First Snow

It snowed in Oklahoma today!! Not a ton, but enough to stick on the ground. To think Grand Rapids, Michigan could be where we're headed in April (Michael's got an interview there next month). I'm pretty sure we would be shoveling more than this from our driveway.

This was just a warm up for Luke though, getting ready to head to Telluride after Christmas. You can't see them in the pictures but I even put gloves on Luke's little hands. Now I know why mittens are better than gloves for babies' hands. It was tough to get his little fingers in there.

UW and "Fart Knocker"

When we first got here Luke Willard wasn't sure what to think of Ole UW (Uncle Willard) but I can say with certainty that he is quite a fan now. UW is a bit of a pest to little Lukey, thankfully he thinks it's pretty funny. He's given Luke the nickname Fart Knocker of which I am hoping doesn't stick. (I don't think I've written the word fart on the blog before and it looks pretty funny).

Saying Cheese. The Willards have the same goofy smile in this picture.

Head-butting

Texas on my mind

Foreshadowing. More in to the wrapping paper at this age.


Uncle Jono and Stephanie

Hanging with Dad.

Luke and I are headed HOME on Thursday!! Michael will be home for good the following week, and I can't wait. Although I'm not sure what to call home anymore, I'm still a Texas girl, of that I AM sure. :)

We have had a great time in OKC, and Saturday we had a big birthday bash for Michael, his Uncle, and Grandma. Luke was quite the party animal staying up way past his bedtime and waking up when he realized he was missing out on some of the fun. Getting ready for his own birthday bash I suppose. He's almost one - unbelievable!!!

The Elf's-Still think this is so funny

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Funny Boy!

He was being so funny the other day when we were eating lunch. I swear he is going to be a little comedian.

If you couldn't tell already, I found the camera cord. :)

Swinging.

It is COLD in Oklahoma! But yesterday we got outside for a bit and went to the park. It doesn't look like it in these pictures of mr. serious, but I promise I wasn't torturing him. He loves the swings, so much his knuckles turned white. :)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

You are the best Daddy there ever was! You are my favorite "play machine." Thank you for working so hard to make a life for our family. I want to grow up to be just like you.

I love you, Luke

Giving of Thanks

Well we are on our last stop of this whirlwind of traveling in OKC. Although it has been a little rough at times, we sure have a lot to be thankful for. The Lord has certainly taken care of us this Fall via some very generous family and friends, thanks to you all!

Michael was unable to get home for Thanksgiving so Luke and I met him in Ardmore, OK to spend the day with his grandparents and aunts and uncles. We are now staying with Uncle Willard (Luke Willard's name sake) and Aunt Debbie and having a great time with them.

I have misplaced the camera cord so my usual plethora of pictures will be lacking until I can locate it. This one was from Nanny and Grandad's house on Thanksgiving.

First Date

We had a fun weekend back in Fredericksburg for my friend Michelle's Bachellorette party. Luke got to spend the weekend with my mom and his future girlfriend Mary Margaret (and her grandma) out at the ranch too.

Great Great Pawpaw

I'll post more on this later, but we had the chance to get a picture of five generations of McMillins/Merricks in Fort Worth last week. How sweet is this one of Luke looking at his Great Great Grandpa?

Luke loves the slide

I took Luke to the park on Friday and found the perfect baby-sized slide for him. I realized our baby is getting big when he started scooting himself forward to go down without my help. It caught me by surprise that he would even know how to do that. We went back today with Michael so he could see. Thought the grandparents would enjoy it too.

He's not so big that he doesn't need to be sucking his thumb while sliding though.

Will walk for ice cream

and for my Grandmas....



Lots of videos from us, the Vagabond Merricks, lately. The more stationary Merricks and Langleys are requesting some more videos of Luke walking since they aren't able to see this first hand right now.

We miss all of you!!

One more

Walking??

Lately he has been getting a lot more confident and sturdy with the steps. I feel like he turned a leaf tonight though and was walking all over the place. I was finally able to get some decent footage.

Slow down Lukey. We will be chasing you soon enough.

Learning to share

Being the headstrong firstborn that he is, I was already starting to worry a little about Luke's ability to share. I am proud to say he is catching on quite nicely. We'll see if this continues when it's a brother or sister that he needs to share with. For now this makes us happy.

rascal

Luke has been testing his limits with me lately. Well, he doesn't really know what he's doing but he has been getting into everything!

He wants to be right in the middle of it all to "help." In this case, he wanted to be right on top. Don't worry, I scooped him up right after I snapped this picture.

Missing the Turpins

This was taken on one of the last nights we were out at the ranch. We miss the Turpins! Weatherford is great but we don't have anyone to bake cookies and play with. Thanks for the pic Katie!

New Look - Rocker Baby

Luke got a new do today.

Michael has been using some hair goo lately because he has finally let it grow longer than the buzz cut!! Hooray. So I decided to try some in Luke's hair. How big does he look?

We went on a run this morning so I had to try out his "running" shoes for the first time since they finally fit. Thanks Hannah!

Curious.

Defensive Lineman???

A sweet reunion

We were away from Michael for almost a week and this little boy was happy to see his daddy yesterday. (so was his momma).



Excuse the red eye, my computer's on the fritz but this is too cute not to share.

Moooo

Happy Halloween a little late.

This is what our little pumpkin was....

Every Cowboy needs some Wranglers

Before I signed up to come live out in the country for a month I should have asked if there was a Target within a 20 mile radius. This city girl needs a Target. Nope, not here in Fredericksburg. :) I would have come anyways because this month has been wonderful, but in all seriousness, I miss Target.

I failed to think about October being chilly when I was packing for me and Luke, and it HAS been pretty cool the last couple of weeks. So, yesterday we headed in to town to find some warmer clothes for my baby. We ended up at Walmart and found the perfect pants. WRANGLERS for babies.

Check out his cute little cowboy tush.

Carmel Apples = Fall