Come see our new digs!

We have a new blog-home. It is at www.thebates2006.blogspot.com

Come by and see us sometime!

Put me in Coach...

 
I'm ready to Play! 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

 
I know it's early, very early, but we got our pictures taken today and I'd thought I'd post them. As you can see, I've included Thomas' first Valentine's picture. What a difference a year makes! 

My First Taste of Birthday Cake...Mmmm!

 
 

I'm One Today!

Yes, today is the Very Big Day! Thomas Patrick is One! It is hard to believe it has already been a year since the day of his birth. What a year! I have really enjoyed sharing Thomas' life with all of you through this Blog, and plan on continuing to do so. I'll keep you posted, and I will post more pictures throughout the weekend -- his Birthday Party is Saturday.

Santa Baby

What a great Christmas! Christmas Eve with Nanny and Poppa, Aunt Goo, Uncle Mike and Kenny, Michael and Preston (Michele and her family were with Eric's family) and Christmas Day with all the Bates (except Bob, who had to stay in California due to his work schedule.) Thomas didn't quite get the gist of all the presents, but he sure did enjoy having all his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents around. He is a very lucky little boy! His mommy and daddy are pretty lucky, as well!

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas

This was taken at my Mom and Dad's house. We spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with Tom's Family.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving! What a great holiday! Ours was wonderful. As you can see, Thomas had a little too much turkey!

We got to spend our day with both sides of the family; however, because Patty's boyfriend, Brandon, was in a serious motocycle accident the day before, we did not get to see her. We were lucky to enjoy our many blessings and thankfully, Brandon is doing much better as of the writing of this entry.

Bathtime!

I love to take a bath -- even if it is in the kitchen sink!

My First Halloween

Happy Halloween! 
We had so much fun! We went to Nanny and Poppa's and to Nana and Pawpaw's.

I'm Still Standing

 
...and cruising and crawling and going and going and going! 

A teaser

 
Can you guess what I am going to be for Halloween? Come back in a few days to see. 

Sunday

 
Here's Daddy and Thomas wacthing the 'Boys play ball. As you can see, Thomas is not that into it just yet. Go Team. 

Morning!

 
It's a little blurry, but this is Thomas in the morning. This is the face that makes me, the "hit-the-snooze-button-for-the-5th-time,-please-don't-make-me-get-up-girl" get up out of bed smiling wide. It is one of the best parts of the day -- seeing his little grin. 

Howdy Folks -- Welcome to the State Fair of Texas

 

That's what Big Tex says when you see him at the State Fair. The State Fair is truly an event! We love it. Since Tom and I met, we haven't missed a year. (Granted we have only gone 3 times together now, but I bet we have each gone about 20 times before that.) This is Tom and his dad smiling big. It was a great day.
Yes, it like walking through infomercials gone mad, but it is so much fun. You see all the stuff you can't live without (but find a way to somehow manange!) and you eat stuff you would never dream of in real life. Sausage on a stick, cotton candy, and corny dogs (ok I'd eat that in real life, but never do.) They had fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches this year. Last year it was the fried Twinkie. I wonder what the rave will be next year. I can't hardly wait! 

I'm Standing!!!

HeeHee -- Look at me! 

And, for my next trick... 

The Most Catholic thing

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is the adoration of Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. In the many Churches that have this adoration, the Eucharist is displayed in a special holder called a monstrance, and people come to pray and worship Jesus continually throughout the day and often the night.

Source

Adoration of Jesus Christ is something very new to me. Even being born and raised a Catholic, I had never heard of such a thing until I attended a retreat just a few short years ago. It is a wonderfully peaceful, moving time, especially when it is done in conjunction with the retreat. A room is prepared as the Chapel. It is dimly lit with candles and soft music plays in the background. You sit and pray. There is no moderator. There is no schedule. There are no readings. There is a adoration/meditation guide I have used for this and it is beautiful. Every time I read it, it is though Jesus is speaking directly to me. He's asking me questions about those I love and about myself. "What do you want for those you love." "What do you want for yourself." He reminds me that he is a loving, generous God, and that what he wants, is for me to be happy. Just like my folks.

Funny, we think that God's commandments (and Mom and Dad's rules) are/were there just to take all the fun out of life. But, they are not. Just like Mom and Dad wanted the best for us, so does God. Those rules are there for a reason. Break them and you will suffer --not so much because you will be punished by our parents or the Lord, but that you will suffer the consequences of your actions. Those actions will come back to haunt you either today or way down the line.

Being in Adoration reminds me of that. It reminds me that His love is never-ending and that His gifts are limitless. All we have to do is ask Him. And love Him.

The Strip

 
What a neat vacation Tom and I had this past weekend. An adult vacation withOUT Thomas. I didn't realize how much we needed it. Oh how I missed my baby. I knew he was not only "just fine" with his Aunt Goo, but that he was being loved and doted on more than you can imagine....

Winner, Winner -- Chicken Dinner!

  As we were sitting in the Las Vegas airport, we heard the bells and sounds of the slot machines...the words "Wheel Of Fortune" (we call it "Wheel of Torture!") kept calling Tom. He said he didn't "have the feeling," but he wanted to play one more slot machine. Good thing he did.

I can do it!

Yes, he can. Thomas is crawling. It is the beginning of the end. The end of plopping him on his blanket and knowing that he'll stay put. The beginning of my baby becoming mobile. He's so excited. He can get things, those things that have seemed so far away. They're not any more. The scary thing is that -- tonight the first time he has crawled -- he is already trying to climb up the step to the dinning room! (We have a sunken living room). Let the games begin!

The Carpenter or How to Live Life

This was passed on to me and I think it says a lot.


An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes,
but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He
resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an
unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the
house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter.

"This is your house," he said, "My gift to you!"

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was
building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting
less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we
have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do
it much differently. But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said.

Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you
live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

GRRRR...I'm gonna get you! 

I just sat up -- all by myself!