Rodeo Time!

Today we went to the Houston Rodeo and had a great family day! Colton had his Wranglers and boots on and was ready for a fun day!! We didn't have tickets to the show, we just enjoyed a day on the grounds. We looked at all of the vendors booths and saw many animals.

We started the day off trying to find a parking lot. There are so many different lots but it seemed like we, the normal public, couldn't get into any of them. We have no clue who they were saving the lots for but apparently some special folks. We finally found the "yellow lot" which was $12, much better than the $20 lot!! We had a little way to walk but not bad. We bypassed the tram and got our exercise plus there were screaming kids on it. We were just as happy walking over to the grounds.

Back up just a bit... As we were driving up to Reliant I asked Cody who was performing today. Well we weren't sure so he handed me his phone and had the Houston Rodeo app opening up! Ha!! So guess who it is... Selena Gomez!! Oh wonderful! We pick a beautiful day to enjoy the Rodeo along with every other teeny bopper in the surrounding Houston area!! This should be interesting since we are wanting to do all of the kid stuff!! It wasn't too bad when we got there but it ended up getting pretty crazy!!

Colton chilled in his stroller taking in all of the new sites. We got to the gate and he wanted to get out and walk, so we let him walk. He was absolutely precious walking on the grounds in his boots and his little Wrangler bum! He did great walking and enjoyed looking at everything and saying hi to people.

We checked out a few vendors and then headed on over to check out the animals. We saw all of the different kinds of rabbits and we even got to pet a couple different kinds. He enjoyed petting them and actually tried to take one of the rabbits cheerios to have as a snack for himself.

After the rabbits we checked out the chickens. We see chickens and roosters when we go to our local nursery for plants so this wasn't too new for him. He was very concerned with the structure of the cage though, he is definetley his father's son! He did keep trying to put his fingers through the fence and even tried to feed one of the chickens his pretzel. Then we checked out the chicks hatching. Its very cool to see them in an egg and then poke out right in front of your eyes!!

Off to the Birthing Center!! I love this part!! We saw a few calves that were a few days old, piglets that were two days old and baby sheep that were a few days old. There were many other cows, pigs and sheep that were about to give birth. Its a very cool part of the rodeo and something you don't get to see very often.

We saw some big longhorns and Colton just stared at that massive animal through the railing. And No, Uncle Lanny, this doesn't mean that he is a Longhorn fan it just means he is eyeing that big ol animal thinking he looks tasty! :)

We then checked out the petting zoo and Colton walked around with no fear. He was checking out all the animals and enjoyed petting some of them. We saw a baby goat that was 2 weeks old, he was getting a bottle right by where we were. After the trainer left I was kneeling down and he hoped right up in my lap just like he was doing to the trainer when he was getting fed. Colton leaned up against me and we petted him. He petted some more goats and a pig and even a llama. I'm pretty sure he liked the llama the best, maybe because he was big like Dakota and Leland. He was grabbing up for his face and having a good ol time with him. He even gave him a hug around his neck!!

We got little man some lunch and walked around looking at more booths. He did great considering we missed nap time and he didn't fall asleep till 3 in the afternoon!!

He slept on our long walk back to the car and all the way home. We even stopped at Fish Gallery since we were on that side of town and picked up a sucker fish and a pearl fish. We love this fish store and won't buy fish anywhere else.

It was a great day as we always have together. I can't wait till next year when he will be talking more and understand more of what is going on.

18 month pictures

We took Colton's 18 month pictures in Old Town Katy. We went to the MKT caboose and to Heritage Park. It was a blast! We all had a lot of fun and I really enjoyed taking the pictures and editing them. After we took the pictures we went to a local park and checked out the putt putt course, playground, lake for fishing, dog park and swimming pool. All of this was free! Well, we are paying for it through our taxes. It was a really cool park and Cody is ready to go back and take Colton fishing. This weekend they are stocking the lake so we will need to go soon!

 You gotta love a Wrangler Bum!!

 Katy Ad

 Wrangler Ad?!

18 month Stats!

WOW!! I can't believe Colton is 18 months!!! That is crazy!!! He is doing wonderfully and has grown up within the past month. Since his surgery he has been eating more, talking more, learning more words and much happier!!

He had a great 18 month check up besides getting a shot. Dr. K is so happy to see clear ears and a clear chest! I think we have finally fought the RSV and hopefully have to stay away from the breathing treatments for good! He has grown since his last visit to the doctor!! Here are some of the things he is doing and up to at 18 months!

• Weight: 26 lbs 7 oz - 60th percentile
• Height: 33 1/4" - 75th percentile
• Head: 19 1/4" - 75th percentile
• Loves his fish tank and stands on his stool and watches them all the time saying, "ish"
• Loves bubbles and learned how to say, "bubble"
• Can point to his ears, eyes, nose, head, feet, cheek, mouth, teeth
• Loves to read!!
• Knows what is hot and he will say, "hot" and hold his hand up
• Says please, thank you, more, ball, dadda, mama, fooball
• Whenever he sees a dog he says, "woof woof"
• Points to baby, duck, dog
• Loves Dakota & Leland and hangs out with them all the time
• Sleeps with his monkey
• Loves being outside and exploring new things
• Shoots the deer with his hand and says, "bang!"
• Discovered his shadow

Of course there are more things, and as I'm typing this I am drawing a blank. But I can see that he brings so much joy to our lives!! He is such a blessing!

Daddy measuring Colton on his new growth chart

 18 months already! Time has flown!

 Discovered his shadow

 Chasing his shadow trying to catch it!



Surgery Day!

The time has finally come for our little guy to get tubes and his adenoids taken out!! Constant ear infections, fluid in his ear and on and off antibiotics since November, if not before then, has been pretty rough on him.

Dr. K finally said it's time to go talk to an ENT!

Dr. Jakob was reccomended by Dr. K and she is Amazing!! She is an Aggie so of course she is going to be great! :) I have talked to many people that have her and they love her just as much as we do! She looked at Colton and knew his history with ear infections and said he needs tubes! She looked in his throat and asked if he snores. I told her he does at times and breathes very heavy at night. She said she was going to take his adenoids out too which will help with that and also help with sinus problems! I did find out at the appointment that ear infections and needing tubes actually run in the family. I had no idea!!! Poor little guy got this from me, not Cody. I feel so bad, but I am so thanful for this surgery!

The morning of the surgery we had to be at the hospital at 6:00 a.m.! We were there and ready to go, both of us were very anxious! I knew it was going to be hard seeing your child go off for a surgery and to be completley put under. Once we were there and they wheeled him off from us I had no idea how hard it was going to be! He got some good drugs before he left us so the separation was no big deal for him. It helped that he wasn't screaming leaving us.

We waited patiently for about 20 minutes or so and then Dr. Jakob came out and said everything went well!! Quick surgery!!! We went into recovery and were there when he woke up. It was hard seeing him hooked up to the machines but it was a relief seeing him there ok.

That day he slept almost the entire day, they gave him lots of drugs that really knocked him out! Vallum, anesthesia, morphine and tylenol! Holy moly, that is a lot for that little body! He did well at home that day and went to school the next day!

One Week Follow Up Appointment!

Dr. Jakob said everything looks great! We could already see a huge improvement in him! He was talking more and responding more! He had a few rough nights and we weren't sure why but we found out his molars were coming in! Well that explains it!! He took another hearing test and it the results were great, much better than the first hearing test he took! It's amazing what this surgery can do to kids!! I'm so glad it went well and that he is talking/babbling more!

He loved this machine and wanted to do it over and over! The nurse said that she has never had a kid want to do it over and over! 

 The meds are kicking in!

 Giggling at himself!

 Waking up slowly.

 When he woke up he was not a fan of the IV at all!



Snow in February!

Texas had a major artic/winter blast in February. Here in Katy they were predicting a fair amount of snow but unfortunately we never saw snow but we did see ICE! School was canceled and we were already planning to go to San Antonio that weekend to see Lady Antebellum at the Rodeo with Lanny & Holly. San Antonio got snow and we were on our way there!!! We were bummed it didn't snow at home but thankful we would see it in San Antonio. We headed out around 1 on Friday. Most of the roads around town were shut down because of the ice. We made it out of town staying on the access road for a little bit. We were very careful and made it to San Antonio safely!

Snow was still on the ground in areas and the snowman that Reese & Riley built was still in the driveway. Colton had a great time playing with the snow. He loved stomping on it and eating it! It was a quick trip but a lot of fun! It was great to see some of the siblings and let the cousins play together!

Colton checking out his first little guy snowball, and of course he had to try eating it!

 Riley, Snowman, Colton & Reese

 Mom, I'm stomping on the snow/ice!!

 It's cold out here, but I'm having fun!

 Colton & Riley. They look so much alike!!

 Cruising!!

We are BACK!!!!

I know it has been quite a while since we have blogged. I am back and ready to share with everyone what has been going on.

Things are going great and Colton is doing so well!! Cody and I are loving every minute with him and enjoying watching him grow and learn new things!! He has grown up quite a bit within the past month or so.

Nothing new going on with us. Daily life is the same, but we seem to be a little more active since Colton loves to be outside and play! We have been spending a lot more time outside and enjoying the nice weather and our neighbors.

Colton is at a new daycare this year and we couldn't be happier. He is at a church that is right around the corner from my school. We were so thankful there was a spot open for him. This school is very popular with people on the waiting list all the time. God was looking at for us and knew that he needed to be in a better place. His teachers and the staff are amazing. They love Colton and he loves them! When we pick him up it takes forever to leave because he has to wave and say bye to every room and everyone. He is quite the social boy, I just don't know where that comes from! :)

I hope you all enjoy hearing what happens in the Crosland household!

February 2011

A few pictures from February...

Smiling and so happy sitting in Me-Mommy's rocking chair. We are so thankful that Me-Mommy, Cody's Grandmother gave this to us. Me-Mommy Crosland is Colton's Great-Grandmother. We are so thankful that she gave us this rocking chair. We love the creek it makes, it's very special to us.

Enjoying rocking like a big boy!

Sitting on Dakota, a common thing he does. 

Lots of love for Dakota!

Daddy & Colton wrestling in the kitchen. 

Trying to get something off the counter. Look closely at the clear tub he is standing on. He is one clever boy!

We got him a new growth chart. This is the first time we measured him. Don't worry his heels did go to the wall just not in this pic I had to go help. Since we measured him he loves to go up to it and stand at it with his back to the wall and his hand on his head. He wants to be measured All the time!! 

We went to Cody's bosses families ranch out in Brookshire (right outside Katy). We went to get some manure so we could plant our tomatoes in the backyard. Colton got his first up close view of a cow! He was very cautious and that it was pretty cool. He kept pointing at him.

Looking back at me making sure it was ok.

Checking the cow out. 

He has an obsession with his belly! He shows everyone, even strangers his belly. He lifts his shirt and points to it!!! 

Our neighbors, Jack, Steph & Jackson have a two seater bike with a baby seat on back. We thought we would try it out one night. It was both of ours first time on a two seater, pretty fun!!! We have the same seat on the back of Cody's bike. Colton Loves to go for rides!!! He will even fall asleep sometimes when we are riding. 

Sweet boy!

Camo hat, camo sunglasses and his cute smile and my favorite little dimple!!! When he smiles real big he has another dimple under his left eye on the corner. 

Loving on his two favorite buddies. Watching some Handy Manny and drinking some milk.

Relaxing and playing on Mommy's iPhone.

I was finishing putting away some laundry in Colton's room and he had left. It was pretty quiet so I had to see what he was up to. He took his laundry basket and this is where I found him!! He is all about the water & ice machine in the door of the fridge. We are having to lock it so water doesn't get all over the floor! He is very clever!

Then he decided to sit and play with his Leap Frog alphabet.