McAllen

On Friday we flew down to McAllen to be with Brandon's family. Their dog, a german shorthaired pointer, had puppies last week. There are 9 of them, and it is very amazing to see the mom dog take care of her babies... Are they cute, or what? Notice the green one? He came out green. If we took it we would name it Elphaba. Elphie for short. Brandon, Gates, and Uncle Peyton...

DeeDee and Pops got Gates this push/ride toy, and it is official, she loves it!

Dang it, I did not take any good pictures. We had a great time, and enjoyed seeing the southern family members. We even talked about moving there, it was afterall, 92 degrees on Saturday!

Christmas Day!

So Christmas Day we went out to Granbury and spent the day with my parents and my brother, and his wife and their three kids. We had a great day. Christmas is also mom's birthday so we had a birthday lunch and cake, as well!

Charlie and Gates swinging !!

Paper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ribbons!!!!!!!!!1

Brandon has always said that he wants Gates to be a softball player... Most of you know that this is not my plan for my sweet ballerina, anyways check out her swing??????? Brandon's grandmother gave her a ball and bat! (which was nice, and awesome since we all know I wasn't going to buy her one ;)

Christmas Morning

We stayed home Christmas Eve so that Gates could wake up and celebrate Christmas at our house! In this picture Scrabble was telling her that Santa came, and hurry come and see what he brought! Almost there...

a bit overwhelmed...

I love my new table! Thanks Santa!!!!

The Jesse Tree Complete!

We finished our Jesse Tree, and we had so much fun reading about the ornaments and looking forward to Christmas. It will be even more fun when Gates can do the activities. Thanks again DeeDee...

Grandear and Bopop with their grandkids. Raedyn, Gates, Charlie, and Rhylie!

Santa Came

Santa came! I can not wait for Gates to wake up and see that he has been here!
Look, he dropped off something big and special for mom and dad, too!

Merry Christmas

Tonight we went to Carianne and Rodney's house for the Rapp Family Christmas. This is Brandon's mother's family. Yes, Rodney is also on the father's side, this is Brandon's double cousin.... We had a great time catching up, and we enjoyed a fun game of Family Feud. Gates was a little cranky tonight, because she has an ear infection. She did pretty good considering it was past her bedtime, and she was not feeling well. She did not want to be held by anyone besides mom and dad, and I felt sad about that. She should be all better in a couple of days!!


Here is a good shot of GG MeeMaw, Brandon and Gates, Becca and Laura. Gates was borrowing Clayton's little toy, she seemed to enjoy it, although she was a little small yet...

The only shot I got of both the kiddos.... It is hard to catch them both!

OK, is this beautiful or what? Carianne made this stocking for Gates. It is going to hang at MawMaws house, with the ones she made for Clayton and MawMaw and ChaCha. Thanks Carianne, for the special gift!!!

Me, Alison, Becca, Brandon and Gates, Laura, and Susan. Just a sidenote, being around all of Brandon's sisters makes me feel really.... old.

This is Mr. Oakley posting...a rare occurance I know. Just thought I would take a quick moment to reflect on the honesty posting. Here goes...

1. While I can see why Mallie says she thinks she is a democrat, I never thought I would hear her admit it.

2. Feelings hurt...very much people. Be fragile with my wife!

3&4. Catch 22?!?! Bad customer service = no water at Chili's within 45 seconds of sitting down. She has threatened to leave - trust me on this. Beware servers!

5. Keeping in touch with friends is one of my favorite traits about my wife. To say she is good at this is an understatement. Also, Mallie LOVES checking the mail. Take a moment and jot down a note to her instead of an email one day. We both love getting something besides a bill (as we all do I'm sure)!

6. I can think of two situations where someone acted like it was the first time they met Mallie. Funny enough, it was the same person(s) who acted this way. It's one thing to forget someone's name (one of my faults), but at least pay attention to SOMETHING about the people you meet!

7. I remember that shakey voice, and it did start with "I have to tell you something". I love you too my dear!

8. Everything she says about not being laid back is true.

9. Everything she says about doing it herself is true. I would like to add that if she offers or asks me to do something it must be done within 45 seconds (see above reference to Chili's) or she will be mad that it's not.

10. I like your chin, but support your view. If you wish to have the surgery done, we'll need some bailout money. Thank God for the democrats!

Honesty. Well, I was tagged to say 10 honest facts about myself. This is much harder than I anticipated. Yet, here I sit in the middle of the night thinking of my ten things!

1. I am probably a democrat. I was raised by republicans, and most of the people that surround me are republicans. Yet, most of the time I find myself thinking on the left.... Don't worry, mom, I hardly ever vote....

2. I get my feelings hurt very easily. Really, this is retarded, it is mainly an internal issue. I just get them hurt over dumb things...

3. I HATE bad customer service. I tend to be mean when I get bad customer service. Brandon hates being with me when I lash out...

4. Sometimes I provide bad customer service. Isn't this terrible? I mean the same thing I despise, I sometimes also do. :)

5. I really like to keep in touch with people. I enjoy writing letters and I enjoy hearing how people are doing.

6. I really, really, hate when people do not remember me. I mean when I have met someone 6 times and they say something like,"oh nice to meet you". I like to tell them that we have met, and try and list each and every time that I can remember meeting them. I am not sure why it is such a pet peeve, but I HATE it. Honestly, it probably goes back to number 2.

7. Brandon is the first person that I said "I love you" to. I was pretty sure he was going to say it back, but I remember saying something like, "I have to tell you something"....

8. I am not laid back. Some folks that do not know me well, think I am laid back. I am uptight. I worry, I freak, I clean, and I am very particular!

9. Most of the times, I would rather just do it myself. This applies to almost everything. Remember back in school, working on group projects? I hated group projects. I would rather just do it, and do it alone!

10. If I were to have plastic surgery, I would have a chin implant. I hate how my chin sort of just drops into my neck. I would love to have a well-defined chin!

A few things I have noticed about babies...

1. They really do love to play with electical cords. Everytime she goes near a cord, I just picture that cat from Christmas Vacation.....

2. Once they learn a new skill, it is all they want to do. Gates LOVES to pull up, on the table, chairs, my legs, the toilet.... what have you!

3. Their noses just get snotty sometimes. Before I was a mom, I would see a snot-nosed kid and think to myself, "just wipe his nose, already".... now, I know, it just isn't that simple...

4. dogs love baby toys.... and guess what? That's right, babies LOVE dog toys.

5. Also, before I was a mom I would see those play areas in a mall and think, "I would never let my kid play there, think of all the germs...." Now, she plays there. And LOVES it!!!

I was tagged :)

8 tv shows I watch
1. The Bachelor
2. Survivor
3. Amazing Rach
4. The Office
5. The Biggest Loser
6. Privileged
7. Law and Order SVU
8. Greek......
and the list goes on and on and on...

8 favorite Restaurants
1. McAlisters
2. Panera
3. Chilis
4. PF Changs
5. Pei Wei
6. Camilles (sadly, this is located in DFW airport)
7. Carinos
8. Buffalo Wild Wings

8 things that happened today
1. Gates took a nap
2. My dog tracked mud in all over the house
3. I yelled at dog
4. I talked to my friend Courtnee
5. I havent yet, but am going to wrap Christmas gifts
6. Watched Mommas Boys
7. Said a prayer of thanks that I am not married to a Momma's Boy
8. My mom called.

8 things I look forward to
1. Christmas
2. Sunday
3. Going to McAllen the weekend after Christmas
4. Christmas Eve, when my family comes over to our house
5. Our trip to Miami
6. 2009
7. getting the mail each day (I know, I know)
8. Brandon getting home

8 things I wish for
1. a million dollars
2. Happy, healthy family
3. Nice crews to work with
4. My dogs to stop digging up my yard
5. that Gates would enjoy napping (like her mommy does)
6. my ears would never block again
7. I could go on a reality tv show (and not look retarded)
8. I would never be tired again

8 people I tag (even though some have already been tagged)
1. ruth
2. Katie
3. Jenny
4. holly
5. Anne Marie
6. Amy
7. Michelle
8. Kim

Yesterday was Gates's 8 month birthday, also we went to celebrate Christmas with Brandon's extended family. Here is a picture with Mawmaw and all the kiddos swinging away in the backyard. So serious...

laughing at dad

Here are a couple of pictures I took, while trying to capture a Christmas card.

isomil DF
If your kid (probably a baby under 1) gets diarrhea, use this special formula! It works so good.

Does this scary Santa head bother anyone else? It really ticked our little baby off, didn't it!!

Gates is digging the swing at the park. She likes adventure. At least that is what I think, my mom asks me how high I am swinging her... No Worries, mom, she will not wrap around the poll. That was always my goal as a kid, I wanted to go so high, that I would loop around, like on the Shockwave....

Gates is really getting to the age where she enjoys taking a bath. She has a little duck and a squeaky fish, and she likes to splash around with both. Tonight, the noise made Scrabble (our beagle that hates baths) come into the bathroom. Scrabble was observing the bath, and I thought she was thankful that it was Gates and not her. I took Gates out and the next thing I knew, Scrabble was swimming around in the tub trying to get that duck! It was so funny.

Advent Jesse Tree

Donna gave us this gift over the weekend. It is a small Christmas tree. In the tins are individual ornaments that she made and wrapped. On the first day you open one and read a devotional, some Bible verses, and sing and pray together as a family. We went ahead and started tonight, because we will be gone tomorrow. Day 1 is a globe, symbolizing God's creation. I had never heard of anything like this, but always loved having Advent Calandars as a kid. This will be even more fun for Gates (and for us). It will give us time each day to celebrate Christmas, and the meaning behind the holiday.

pulling up

Our baby is pulling up.

New Stocking

Gates's godfather is my dear friend Mark. Mark is like a brother to me, and I am sure he will continue to be a special person to Gates. Mark's mom, Julie, is also a very special friend. I have known her well for many years, and just am so lucky to have her. She made the most wonderful Christmas Stocking for Gates. She has been working on it for months, and stitched it all by hand! Mark brought it over and delivered the special gift to Gates.
Gates and Mark. Scrabble is so jealous.Gates could not take her eyes off of Mark.

The beautiful stocking! The snowflake that says Gates, also plays music!

Happy Thanksgiving (2 days late)

We went out to Garland for a great Turkey Feast. It was wonderful to see all the family, and for Gates to meet a lot of them. Everything was so fun, and I was bummed to leave such a party, and head to work.

Do you always try and remember to give thanks and remember all of the things that you are Thankful for on Thanksgiving? If not, you should ; )...
I am thankful for all of the obvious things, and this year I was thankful for a few more.
I was (and am) thankful that I was not bipolar and unmedicated. If I were bipolar, I would hopefully try and stay on the meds. I had a small (bizarre) run-in with a bipolar girl on the plane...
I am also thankful for the Doubletree cookie. It really was just the right treat before I hit the sack. In addition to my cookie, I am thankful for the other flight attendant that abandoned her cookie, and therefore I was able to eat 2.

Gates found these maracas at MawMaws house! How much fun, these proved to be!Zak, Tucker, Pops

MawMaw, Pops, Aunt Terri, and Gates!!

Dee Dee and Pops with Gates

Zak and Brandon

Learning to Pull up on this fun table! Thanks Maw Maw for having such fun toys!

bathtime at the campground

These were also taken in the "cabin" again, thankful that we were not in a tent!!

We went Camping

Last weekend Brandon, Gates and I met the Hake family in Beaver's Bend OK. It was so much fun, and so beautiful. It was cold, and luckily we were not camping in tents in the wilderness. The Hakes found us the wonderful "cabin" and we had all the comforts of home.
Here we have Jenny, Jon, and Brandon out by the fire. Brandon LOVES camping and making fires. Smoke goes towards beauty, Jenny kept reminding us that as she was coughing it out of her face... ;)

We were greeted by this guy. Brandon was so brave and picked it right up!

Actually, this was mounted on the wall, but while we were watching a very scary movie (that Jon slept thru) a real raccoon scared the bejesus out of us by jumping onto the trashcan and getting out food...

twins....

Dads and daughters