The USO Tour.
After much debate, we decided to go to a USO Tour on base. The debate was not about whether or not it would be good (which it was of course), but about whether it would be too loud for Ezra, whether we would be sitting or standing, how long the line to get in would be, etc. We decided to just drive by and check it out. The parking lot at the hangar didn't look too bad, so we thought we'd chance it. The line was insane! But as we got there a little late (and were at the end of the line), we weren't standing there for too long before they started to open the doors and let people in and the line began to move. A friend who was considerably farther ahead of us in line was gracious enough to save us seats in the bleachers (thanks Elisa!!!). The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff opened the show and introduced Ronan Tynan, one of the famous Irish tenors. He sang at President Reagan's funeral. He sang an Irish folk song, God bless America, and Amazing Grace. It was great.
Then he introduced Miss America whose 5 minute, brainless speech is not even worth mentioning. It was bad.
Next came Lance Armstrong who had both a funny story to tell, and meaningful comments to make which was MUCH better. The pictures are not the best quality. If you double click on the picture, you should be able to see it a little better. It's him. I promise.
Lance introduced comedian Lewis Black. He was funny, but he was told to keep it "PG13" as there were families in the audience. That threw him for a loop and we could tell he was a little out of his element as he floundered for things to say that wouldn't get him into trouble.
Next, some would say, was the main attraction, Robin Williams. He was very, very funny as always. We were not disappointed. It was a little difficult for him to make his act family friendly too, but he pulled it off and was much more funny than Lewis Black.
Rock star Kid Rock was next. He played 5 or 6 songs or so and then as a finale, Robin Williams came back out and they did a duet in which Robin Williams played the harmonica. It was awesome.

It all made for a very enjoyable afternoon. And it was free!! Ezra was very good. He actually ended up falling asleep during Kid Rock of all things. :)

Ezra's 1st Christmas in Houston. Since Ezra had no prior present unwrapping experience, Nana wrapped his gifts in a single layer of tissue paper. It still took him several gifts to get the hang of it. He was more intrigued by the crinkly paper than the present inside. In many of these, you can see the intense concentration on his face. Learning something new isn't easy.

This picture on the left shows a little bit of Great-Grandma Atherton trying to lend a helping hand.

Toys, books, cars galore!

These are just a couple of random pictures from our time spent in Houston. The first on the left is Ezra's first balloon.

Next is a picture taken on Ezra's 1st Thanksgiving with his Greer cousins.

Underneath, Ezra is riding frog in the play area at The Woodlands Mall.


On the left is another picture of Daddy and Ezra. They are reunited after another month of forced separation.


On the right, Ezra thinks he can wear Daddy's big boy shoes.




Back on the left, Ezra is fascinated by some Alpacas at Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, TX.

Last but not least, is a picture of manly kill at the ranch. A 7-point buck.

Big Baby News!

I had an ultrasound today. We were expecting to just hear the heartbeat and see a picture of the baby, but the OB clinic just got brand new equipment and were able to see EVERYTHING. Including our son's boy parts. Yep, we're having another boy. I guess there's always a chance it could be a girl and that blip between his legs was just some random, matter floating around in there, but the Dr. was fairly confident.
We don't have a scanner, so I'm afraid these pictures of pictures are horrible quality. You may have to use your imagination a little. The first picture on the right is looking down on the baby's front. His head is the round part on the right and then the other 4 white parts are his limbs. This picture is particularly cute (if you could see it in greater detail like we can), because you can very distinctly see his 5 little toes on what appears to be his right foot.
The picture on the left is his not-so-subtle boy parts. We are looking up from underneath him. The big round part it his bottom. The two pointy things on either side are his legs, and the round thing in the middle is the "goods".
We are more than thrilled to have another boy. Positives: It'll be fun to dress our "Irish twins" alike sometimes. We already have almost everything we need. I already know how to take care of a boy. I'm sure they will be best of friends (and worst of enemies on occasion). More trips to the ER, but less attitude. And much, much more!
I decided to put a belly picture on here for good measure. If it appears a little misshapen, it just because of my shirt. Also, I lost about 2 lbs in the last couple of days because I contracted the virus that Mike, and Ezra and just about everyone else here has had. It wasn't pleasant.
Anyway, this definitely means we are NOT finished having babies (as if there was any doubt). If we ever have a girl, she will have at least two older brothers to watch out for her. Watch out potential suitors!

Ezra is 9 months old (last week--I'm a little behind on the blog...).

Ezra has a great time over at Meme and PapPa's house.

Especially, when it includes wheel barrow rides and playing the organ. He was a little unsure of the wheel barrow at first, but once he got the hang of it he LOVED it. He gets really excited when he sees the wheel barrow coming his way.

Confirming that Ezra is indeed an Allison, he loves music. He rocks back and forth to songs on the radio, on TV, or even when he hears someone sing or whistle. He bangs away on the organ like a mini Jerry Lee Lewis and rocks back and forth like Stevie Wonder (only Ezra is NOT blind).

And the new baby...

The tale of Ezra verses the ladybug.

It started out innocently enough... A ladybug lit on my hand (perhaps thinking that my nails were its friends). I thought that it would be fun to let Ezra play with it (under my close supervision of course). Ezra was fascinated by its fast movement crawling up his arm and around his fingers. He tried to eat it a couple of times, but I stopped him in the nick of time. We put the ladybug on his head and he smiled as it tickled him. I put it back on his hand and in a second, Ezra had put the bug in his mouth. I was freaking out, and desperately trying to dig the poor little ladybug out of his mouth. We could tell he was more than a little surprised that something was crawling around inside his mouth. I finally retrieved the ladybug and then Ezra started to cry. I think he was just very worried by the whole situation including the fact that Mommy was freaking out. Thank goodness ladybugs aren't poisonous!

In Italy, I had ordered a cow costume for the Harvest Festival at church. However, it arrived a day after we left for Houston. Mike brought it with him to Iowa and mailed it to us in Houston. But by that time, I had already been shopping and purchased a giraffe costume. The giraffe costume was much cuter than the cow, so much to Mike's frustration :) Ezra was a giraffe for his very first Harvest Festival celebration. Actually, he was the cutest giraffe EVER!

Here's a little update on the new baby. Yes, Ezra's already having to share the glory. :)

Good news!! We are expecting another baby. I know, we wait 6 years to have the first one, and now they're just popping out right and left. Mike and I have always wanted to have kids that were close in age and Ezra is such a good baby that it encouraged us to have another. No doubt we will both be very busy the first several years, but we are excited and hopeful that they will have a very close bond.

We found out about a week and half ago. I really have no symptoms, but it had been a month and a half since I stopped breast feeding and I hadn't had my monthly visit so I just thought "what the heck". Since they determine the due date by the first day of your last menstrual cycle, they had to use the measurements from the baby to determine the due date. They said it's pretty accurate and determined that I was about 5 1/2 weeks along. I'm due on June 15th, but we're hoping for a June 14th baby in order to make about 4 or 5 funny coincidences. As long as he/she isn't late like Ezra!

Mike's hoping for a girl this time around, but I'm really fine with either. We have lots of clothes for a boy and I could dress them in matching outfits. :) But a girl would be fun too.

Anyway, that's the news. Oh, and we're in Houston until December 12th.

The stairs at my house are dangerous. Mike and I have fallen more than once, but never with this result. That's not to say that mine is the worst injury that's come from falling down the stairs. My mother-in-law did break her foot by falling down the stairs during her visit to our house. I am choosing to say that this bruise is on my lower back. I was carrying Ezra (he was fine), so in an attempt not to break my son, our combined weight hit the stairs at this point. Mike rushed to our rescue when he heard the crash. Ezra was crying, but he was just scared (me too!).

I decided to take a picture of Ezra to put on here, so it wouldn't just be pictures of my "lower back". Here is Ezra with his new best friend. His pacifier. He has grown a strong dependence on his pacifier in the last week or so. He hardly ever took it until I stopped breastfeeding a a month and a half ago. Then we were giving it to him only when he was going to sleep. Now he wants it almost all the time. Ugh. I think he's teething, so hopefully it's just a phase. Oh well, there are worse things that having a kid who likes his pacifier.