Brenton started getting really sleepy in his bouncer a while ago so I took him out and tried to hold him to get him to go to sleep for a nap. He started screaming like he was starving, but was so tired... I got out his food and started to feed him and by the end of the first jar his eyes were shut, his was nodding, but he was STILL EATING! hahaha....literally the boy was sleeping and eating at the same time. He made it part way through his bananas and that was it.....I tried to wipe off his face gently and he was out like a light!

So....here are some more pictures (none from the sleeping eater, but others!):

First-- daddy's art show-- thanks to all who came! I think it was a great success and built some more confidence in Travis. By the way- that's what the family picture on the last post is from.

Second-- our friend Areli had her birthday party at Wichita Gymnastics Club and Brenton made a great gymnast! He LOVED the trampoline, and did pretty well on the balance beam too! Ok...so he had a little help...but check out how cute he is! He didn't even break a sweat in his church clothes!

Third--we ventured out to a WSU basketball game last week-- Brenton loved all the BRIGHT yellow that was EVERYWHERE and all the clapping and noise. He is already demonstrating that he is 100% B-O-Y.

Fourth-- one of my favorite places: the zoo! It was over 60 degrees here yesterday and BEAUTIFUL so like millions of other smart people in Wichita- we went to the zoo! Brenton loved it way more than last time-- he was awake the full hour and a half we were there and watched all the animals and people he could see. He especially loved the goats because, like our dogs, they come right up to you and try to lick your hands. He also loved the penguins because of how fast they would zoom by him in the water and he had a front row seat for all the action. He also made friends with someone his size...the little Simba! FYI: We have a zoo membership and can take a guest any time so please call us-- we love to go!

Here's a recent family picture:

Food, food, food!

We are having so much fun watching Brenton try new foods-- well, at least I am. :) At this point, Brenton eats more vegetables and fruits than his daddy...hehehe. His favorites so far are sweet potatoes, corn & sweet potatoes mixed, squash, bananas, and pears. He'll also eat mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, green beans), but the carrots seem to have adverse reactions so we don't give him carrots so that rules out the mixed veggies too. He likes peas and applesauce too, but not as much as the other stuff I've listed here. He's also eating oatmeal now instead of just rice cereal and so we've been mixing those together to give him a variety. One thing is for sure- he does NOT like green beans by themselves. Every time we have tried green beans he ends up coughing, gagging, choking, and crying hysterically. Strange? Yep, I thought so too....but I have tried on more than one occasion so for now- NO green beans! I tried peaches for "dessert" today at lunch and he did not seem to like those, either. I think maybe they were too tart...he kind of was making puckering faces. We'll try them again another time....

Overall, though he is a VERY good eater. He is doing great with the spoon and sometimes we use a fork if he's getting something from our plate and does just fine with that too. He ALWAYS thinks he needs to be eating when we are eating...so sometimes we have to be creative. Brenton really wants to be drinking from our cups, too-- especially ice water! (I know...can you believe he likes it that cold?), so we'll probably break out the sippy-cup pretty soon. Oh yeah....and he definitely likes mashed potatoes and any kind of gravy-- table foods here we come!

One more thing...

Ok-- two more things:

1. I have to give a little praise for my little sister-- she gave such a great testimony at her baptism. At 16 she was able to stand up in front of the congregation and talk about (rather have our dad read about) her faith being tested when my family moved to Tulsa. She said she was so angry with God for pulling her away from everything she'd ever known-- family, friends, school, youth group....and then her faith was strengthened as God showed her a new life in Tulsa. She's found that God's plan is always better-- and for that I am thankful! Now...let's all try to catch up a little!

2. I just have to share our Sunday School lesson with you from yesterday-- basically along the lines of what I posted above. What can you identify as a "turning point" in your faith? When did you know that God is real and faith is necessary? Live like you mean it. Change is the only thing constant in life so you better hang on to your faith because it might be a wild ride!

MORE PICTURES!

So far the pictures I've posted are from our trip to Tulsa for Aunt Maranda's baptism and a few from Christmas. The rest of these are of my makeover (thanks, Travis!), Brenton eating his first teething biscuit and some sweet potatoes (his favorite), and his first trip to Chuck E. Cheese with some of mommy's cousins! Oh yeah-- and let's not forget his new John Deere cowboy boots-- you've heard of the naked cowboy, right?! Uncle Tim got him those boots....all he needs now is a hat! There are also a few of Brenton just being...Brenton. He is sitting up really well, but still doesn't seem to mind crashing over to the side or on his face...maybe someday he'll start picking himself back up! Brenton is weighing in at about 17 pounds, 10 ounces now and is over 26 inches long. It is getting harder to get a good measurement of his length because his legs are moving constantly! He is squealing like crazy now and chattering up a storm. He loves peekaboo, the itsy bitsy spider, I'm a little teapot, twinkle twinkle little star, the abc's, and his favorite is when I sing him "sugar pie, honey bun". Too bad I only know 4 lines to that song! :) He has been having a great time with Daddy while he was on break from school, but Travis started classes again today so we are both missing him.

On a different note-- Travis' senior art show is this Friday evening at the Firehouse Gallery (just east of the NuWay on Douglas in the Delano district-- yes, above the liquor store) here in Wichita if you'd like to come support him. I am pretty sure it starts at 7. Unfortunately it is only up for one night- we'd love to see you there!

PICTURES!

5 months!

Brenton is 5 months old today and since the last time I actually got a few minutes to post on here a LOT has happened! Brenton's first Christmas was a blast-- he successfully made it through like 5 million Christmas-es and ended up with some great stuff. Thanks so much to everyone who listened to our requests-- Brenton now has clothes to last us until he grows again! Oh yeah...and of course like a billion new toys! :) Brenton is sitting up really well now, but still falls over when he gets too excited or tries to lunge for something. He doesn't quite seem to have the "I have to pull myself back up when I fall" reflex yet. He NEVER wants to be laying down now, though-- he insists on sitting up or standing all the time. He is so cute! We can already hold his fingers and stand him up and he will move his feet to take a few steps toward something that he wants....or start jumping up and down (probably because he loves bouncing in his rainforest bouncer). So many things (as I always say) are changing....he doesn't like his "baby" car seat, he wants to sit up and look around even when he is eating, he is picking things up, etc... wow! I still can't believe it! A couple of weeks ago we were at Great Grandma and Grandpa Hinkle's eating dinner and as usual Brenton was sitting up on my sister's lap as he refused to be left out of the 'action'. All of a sudden as we were talking he reached out, put both hands around my sister's cup (full of water), picked it up, and put it to his open mouth!!!!!! INCREDIBLE to watch-- he is so smart.....and obviously ready for some new challenges. Brenton also had his first taste of one of the greatest foods in the world that night-- mashed potatoes! He did great...so we started feeding him baby food shortly after. We are still trying to get consistent with a routine at this point, but he is getting better with the spoon all the time (with the exception of wanting to do it himself) and definitely prefers the good stuff- like mashed potatoes- over the baby food. I don't blame him! He is definitely starting to eat more as well....so we are trying to add more options than just milk.

Travis and I had a great Christmas as well....of course most of our attention was on Brenton....and for some reason Santa couldn't fit us a new house into his sleigh-- I guess we'll have to wait for the Easter Bunny. ;) Travis' time off from school has been great-- Brenton is enjoying having both of us around-- when the new semester starts I think we are going to have some more adjustments to make.

Today was a great day for me-- I got a makeover! Travis nominated me for a makeover at a salon and spa here in town and out of a whole stack of applicants I was selected! I had a great time, it was really nice of Travis to do that for me. Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that you can see the before and after of my makeover on KAKE News at 5pm next Monday, Jan. 14th. hahahaha....try to "miss" the before picture....it's not so great!

Now for the good stuff....let me see if I can get some more recent pictures up soon! We misplaced our camera between Christmas Eve night and Christmas day night so I will have to have our parents email us their pictures. Everything else is still in the camera waiting to be uploaded.......