The sounds of Beckett

Here's just a taste of the sounds our precious baby has been making! So talkative! The loud sound is the heater that's in our bathroom. He seriously loves that thing! I think both the sound and the warmth. Anyhow, enjoy! There are more videos to come...especially some of Taylor Joy's wonderful singing! Stay tuned!

These are my newest absolute favorite thing! MMMMmmm! Just looking at the box makes me drool. Seriously if you haven't tried these you should go buy some today! They are yummylicious! They say "lightly cinnamon" but I always try to find the ones that are COATED with cinnamon. Those are the best! I could literally eat a whole box at one sitting. I guess that's okay since they are Wheat Thins? I mean, it must have wheat and whole grains in it, right? I hope that logic works! Tell me if you buy them, try them and like them! And if you ever want to make me smile, just bring me over a box!

More Church!

We just pulled in from church and Taylor Joy started crying saying, "More church, more church!" I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm for our church, Living Hope. Although I know they do wonderful things in the preschool and teach a fruitful lesson every time she is in there, I certainly hope she keeps that same wonderful enthusiasm for the church throughout her life.

This spring our pastor, Butch, has actually been preaching a series called, Ekklesia, which is the greek word for "church" (basically, a group gathered together, not the building) used in the New Testament and calling us to the standard of the church body that the Bible has for us. I encourage you to click on the link to our church, click on Listen Online and start listening to the sermons today!

Oh, and after Taylor Joy stopped saying, "More church!" she went on to say, "More Daddy, more Daddy!" I'm quite sure that her enthusiasm for her daddy will last for the ages...

Don't Forget!

TO VOTE!

If you live in College Station or Bryan, the details are below. For the rest of you, just check your local newspaper or online news! Early voting is the best bet (in my opinion...)

And you get a really cool sticker!

Early voting places and times

Early voting in the March 4 Democratic and Republican primaries begins on Tuesday and will continue through the weekend until Feb. 29. Any Brazos County voter with a current voter registration may cast an early ballot. No reason needs to be given.

Any registered voter may vote in either primary, but not both. Should there be a runoff in either party, voters who vast a ballot in one party's March 4 primary may not vote in the other party's runoff.

Hours for early voting are:

• Tuesday through Friday-- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Saturday -- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Sunday -- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Monday through Feb. 29 -- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters may cast a ballot at any of the five Brazos County early polling places:

• Brazos County Courthouse, 300 E. 26th St., Suite 108, in downtown Bryan.

• Arena Hall, North Earl Rudder Freeway at Tabor Road in Bryan.

• Galilee Baptist Church, 804 N. Logan St. in Bryan.

• Brazos Valley Bank, 430 Texas 6 S. in College Station.

• The Memorial Student Center on the campus of Texas A&M University.

Happy 2 Months, Beckett!

Beckett Cole is now TWO MONTHS OLD!

I actually feel like he is older than that...maybe just because he's so big, but he's also 9 weeks old tomorrow. On Monday he weighed 14 POUNDS! I just couldn't believe it. I said to the nurse, "No he DOESN'T weigh 14 lbs.!" and she thought I was seriously doubting her weighing skills. I was just so shocked!

He honestly has the sweetest personality. He is smiling, cooing and talking like nobody's business. He loves his mama. And I love that he loves me so much. It literally takes me picking him up to make him stop crying and saying anything to him to make him smile. He absolutely melts my heart.

I never knew what all the fuss over baby boys was about (since I adore little girls!) but this baby boy is so cuddly and sweet and I now understand the sweet bond between a baby boy and his mama. Not that it's better in anyway, just completely different...I love them both SO much!

Here are some pictures to keep the grandparents happy!

A Valentine's Helper (and Recipe!)

I made some Valentine's shortbread cookies and I had a wonderful helper by my side...the one and only Miss Taylor Joy.

First, we had to put on our aprons...she was insistent on that. I didn't mind since mine is pink! Just like my mixer and Taylor Joy's! Sweet Erin Whitley brought over a matching pink mixer for Taylor Joy. She adores it!

After we made the dough (it was pink, by the way) I thought Taylor might have fun holding it and shaping it like playdoh so she sat down in her seat, smooshed it once and then shoved the whole thing in her mouth! So much for that! Then she started saying, "More playdohs, more playdohs!" I couldn't help but laugh.

Anyhow, they turned out nicely and they taste good too! Here's the recipe. It's super easy!


Valentine Shortbread Hearts

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon red food color
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening
Sprinkles/icing for deco if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Beat butter, powdered sugar, almond extract and food color in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in flour and almonds.

2. Press dough into heart shapes, about 1/4 inch thick.

3. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool on cookie sheet 25 minutes; carefully remove from cookie sheet to serving platter.

4. Place baking chips and shortening in microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on Medium-High (70%) about 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until chips can be stirred smooth. Drizzle over shortbread.

5. Use sprinkles if you want and then I used some icing to write names on them and things like, "Be Mine", "I Love You", etc.

Taylor Joyisms

Today Taylor Joy has started to say, "Hey Dude!" to everyone and everything in our house, including Beckett. I don't even know where she heard that from...who says that? She also calls him "Buddy Boy" sometimes, which I just think is hilarious.

The cutest thing she has done with Beckett was yesterday when she saw him spitting up and yelled, "SPIT UP! BURP RAG!" and ran to get a burp rag and then ever so gently wiped his lips for the tiniest bit of spit up. After that she held his hand and said, "Pray." That sweet little girl wanted to pray with him! So we said a little prayer of thanks for buddy boy.

Her favorite thing to do with Beckett is to share with him and once she has shared one thing and I tell her, "Oh Taylor, how sweet!" she goes and gets a million other things to share with him until he is surrounded with her sweetness!

They sure are livin' up to their precious little shirts...