Happy St. Patrick's Day!

11 Months

Say whaaaat?  11 months?  How did that happen? 

Yep, Brock is 11 months old.  I'm freaking out a little (really, a lot but I'm trying to seem cool) because that means in less than one month, he will be ONE. 

This has been the most amazing journey and I literally look forward to every single day.  During the work week I only see Brock a couple of hours each morning before rushing off to work and by the time I get home, he's asleep.  It's been a hard year on me in that regard but I think that is why every waking moment I do get with him, I cherish.

So what's this incredible little person up to these days?

Crawling.
Lifting himself up to stand.
Trying to dunk his head in the bath (it freaks me out so we still keep him in his baby tub inside the tub).
Falling down thinking it's hysterical (most of the time).
Head butting my face.  Seriously, I think he thinks this is a sign of affection.
Pointing to everything.
Making funny faces.
Babbling.
Screaming.
Throwing food.
Giggling uncontrollably.
Smiling, smiling, smiling.
"Reading" books (chewing them mostly).

Here are a few highlights of the past few weeks.

Reading David Gets in Trouble with Daddy

Studying flashcards with Mambo, his monkey.

Standing up while making a funny face.

Playing with his toys.

Standing up against the coffee table.

Sleeping.  Ahhh, finally through the night!



Bubbles and Babbles

One of Brock's favorite pastimes is taking a bath.  He could literally stay in his tub for hours, if we allowed it.  In fact, when we try to take him out, he protests.  Crying and pouting is involved.  After regaining his composure, he will stand up peering down into the tub longingly looking at his toys.

Our Nanny, Cris, gave him bubbles for Christmas and he LOVES them.  Let's hope Brock continues to love bathing because I can't stand a messy kid!  :-)

He's also become quite the curious little fellow.  His senses are in full bloom and it's so endearing to watch him discover all the little details we take for granted.  Our voices, our fingers, the sounds around us.  I just love watching his face light up or his nose wrinkle when he is trying to figure out what "that" is.

When I need to get his breakfast ready and pack up his food for the day, I plop him on the kitchen floor with a few toys and let him go nuts.  He loves to "talk" to me while playing with his toys.  Babbles to my ears...

Farewell, Unlce Moe

On January 15th, this world lost an amazing man.   Brock was lucky.  He and Uncle Moe had some time together to bond before he got too sick. 

Uncle Moe, you will forever be in our hearts. We love you, always.

Christmas 2010

Okay, okay, a little late.  I'm just now getting some free time to update the blog.  Sorry folks!

Brock's first Christmas wasn't as fabulous as I'm sure he would have wished.  The poor kid had a miserable cold and cough. In fact, so terrible that we ended up taking him to the Emergency Room at 3:00 am when we returned from visiting our family. His cold and cough seemed to be getting worse and his breathing was labored.  The doctor gave him a breathing treatment and sent him home with an inhaler to help keep his airways open.  By the first week of January, he was feeling well again - until the next cold.  But that's a story for another blog posting.

For now, let's focus on the merrier moments of December.  Christmas.  Seriously, you would not have thought Brock was sick. This kid had on his game face the entire visit at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  He laughed, played and smiled all day/night.  When the wretched cough would stir, the whole room froze in disbelief that he was actually sick.  In spite of his nasty cold and cough, he managed to enjoy his visit and loved all of his Christmas presents.

He Scoots!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j62Ux8nKb4

Goodbye 2010

Another year has passed and what a year it has been!  I enjoy reflecting back each year on monumental things that occurred in our lives and cherish those memories.  Here are a few of my favorites...

• We had a baby!  It's a boy! - in case you haven't been reading my blog (shame on you!)

• Our friends and family continue to stay healthy and happy, which we are thankful for every day. 

• On Brian's work front, Stewart Audio had a pretty decent year in spite of the economy.  We hope they continue to stay in an upward trajectory in 2011 and beyond. 
• I enjoyed my first school year at BUILD and continue to find an intense passion in what I do.  I hope my passion stays ignited as the years pass. 
• Uncle Bobby had a birthday party that was incredibly delicious.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Celebrating his birthday while enjoying 13 courses at Manresa, how could it not be delicious? 

• Brian celebrated a milestone birthday

• As a trio, we ventured off on the weekends to visit family and friends in San Diego, Costa Mesa (where Brock took his first dip in the swimming pool!), Lodi and the beach (grandma and grandpa's!)

• Brock attended his first wedding in Yosemite.  What an amazing weekend of fun and festivities.  Not to mention, the bride and groom were stunning.  :-)

• Stanford football season started and Brock joined us at many a home game cheering on the team.

• We actually took Brock to visit Santa at the Stanford shopping center - but this picture is from a professional photo session we had for our holiday card (which we never sent out, sorry!)

• On a sad note, we lost an Aunt and Uncle on Brian's side of the family.  It's never easy losing a family member and to lose two in one year was heartbreaking. 

What are we looking forward to in 2011?  More adventures with Brock, of course!  Perhaps he will ring in the new year by crawling (he's soooo close!)?  By this time next year he will be running...yikes!

Farewell 2010 and cheers to a FANTASTIC 2011!!!