Happy Thanksgiving!

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with our siblings! Sean & Jessica (Ryan's brother and his wife) flew up from Oklahoma and Aubyn & Scott drove down from Canada with my niece (also known as their daughter), Evelynn. The meal was a group effort and turned out great. The leftovers were equally satisfying today! We are thankful for our family and the blessing of fellowship together during this holiday.

Uncle Ryan & Evelynn

Rooke has started hugging/cuddling his stuffed animals. He surprised us by giving his little cousin one of those hugs!

Rooke loves his Uncle Sean . . .

We had a little accident while doing some shopping.

A Busy Week

We have had a busy week! Nana flew in for a visit, so Rooke and I went up to Canada with her. How many trips do you have to take to another country in one month before they offer citizenship?! Anyway, Rooke loves his Nana! It didn't take him any time at all to warm up to her and we are sad to see her leave tomorrow.

Ryan took these pictures while Rooke was cracking up at Nana making silly noises. She has no problem making a fool of herself for the sake of her great-grandson's laughter!

In Cananda . . . Nana getting to hold her great-granddaughter for the first time. I love the way Evelynn is looking up at her!

Evelynn wasn't that interested, but Rooke seemed to like Nana's toy!

At my sister's graduation from her post-graduate education program. She finished!!

Mr. Walker

Since taking his first step three weeks ago, Rooke has become a professional walker. He doesn't like to crawl unless absolutely necessary and makes sure to get his daily laps around the kitchen and living room in each morning.

Taking a break from the walking to check out a book . . .

Here you go, Grammy Deb! Some snippets of our little walker. The jingle noise is coming from the "tail" in his hoodie.

My Boy

If Ryan were doing this post, that would be his title. Rooke loves his dad and Ryan loves his son. It's a nice combination!

Rooke and I went to Ryan's school to have lunch with him . . .

Walking along campus

If Ryan has anything to do with it, Rooke will be brewing the coffee for him each morning by the time he's one.

Into everything!

The Face of a Drummer

Before taking my mom to the airport earlier this week, we all went out for an early breakfast.

Contemplative Rooke.

Is this Ryan Payne's son, or what?!

Rooke does this face a lot: sticks his bottom lip out, scrunches up his nose and eyes and breathes in and our through his nose loudly. It's pretty funny, but hard to catch with a camera. . .

Just a random video from dinner this week. Rooke's got skills!

Another Trip Up North

Rooke and I headed back up to Canada this past weekend. . .

He loves to clap his hands when people ask him to or when he's happy about something

Sweet Evelynn (look at her hands!)

K-Kaye and her grandkids

There were better pictures from this pose, but I love it that Rooke and Evelynn are looking at each other in this one

It was wonderful to see Rooke warm up to and love on his K-Kaye during her visit from London.

On His Own

It's official. Mark it down. Rooke is walking at nine months! KKaye got him to take his first steps last week while we were in the hospital visiting Evelynn, but he has gained more and more confidence each day since then and is now cruising around as if he owns the place! He's gotten better even since these video clips. This morning, he went from his bedroom, down the hall and into the kitchen to find Ryan!

The Harvest Festival

I've never been a big fan of Halloween. Ryan isn't either, and his mom knows this about us, so she sent Rooke this cute onsie to wear on the 31st. It says, "This is my costume." Perfect. I was totally fine taking him to the church harvest party wearing his orange "costume". But we ended up with a real costume, borrowed last minute from Scott's sister. I have to admit, it was a pretty fun Halloween night seeing Rooke dressed up as an octopus!!

This was the expression he had most of the evening. Not too many smiles, but he walked everywhere checking it all out (and scoring us some candy!).

My mom did the cake walk with him! He held her hand and walked around the circle with the rest of the kids - pretty cute.

Rooke and his "cousin-in-law", Reuben, who let us borrow his costume.

Another little friend, Josiah, who was born two weeks after Rooke.

I Love my Niece

This is a long post . . . I had too many pictures I wanted to share and didn't want to decide which ones to cut. Rooke and I had a great time in Canada with Aubyn, Scott, my mom and little Evelynn.

"Hey Rooke . . . how big is Baby Evelynn?"
Ok, maybe not that big, but you get the idea . . .

Her first bath . . . she didn't make a sound, much like Rooke's first bath at home.

It was great having other people around to help entertain Rooke. . .

Isn't she beautiful?

It hasn't been that long, but I had already forgotten how much newborns sleep!

The family of three just relaxing at home . . .

Rooke loves his K-Kaye. She was teaching him animal noises. They were working on the fish face in this picture.

This picture of Evelynn reminded me of one we have from when Rooke was one month old. They must be related!

Every now and then, Rooke would show a little interest in his new cousin. Unfortunately, that interest turned into a smack in the head for Evelynn a couple of times.