Kyle's First Christmas

Lynsey and I were truly blessed to have our first Christmas as a family - it was brilliant! Kyle was in excellent form and took great delight in opening his presents and enjoying the wrapping! :)

Big boy car seat

Kyle graduated to his 'big boy' car seat which faces forward this week. He absolutely loves it, but we are a little worried that he wont be keen to sleep in the car anymore.

Kyle's first teeth

Kyle has recently cut his first two teeth - he now has his own toothbrush and toothpaste. He also decided to bite Daddy tonight and even drew blood :)

Go Aggies!

Kyle proudly wearing his A&M shirt after A&M beat Texas in the Thanksgiving football game. Apparently they were playing at a stadium named after the little guy!

Happy Thanksgiving

One of our favourite things about our time in The US was the Thanksgiving holiday. It is really great to take some time to realise all that we have, be with family and be grateful - I also love it because it hasnt been highjacked as a huge commercial deal.

We plan to institute it in our family moving forward. So this weekend, we had a makeshift thanksgiving - most importantly, Kyle had his first thanksgiving. It is almost impossible to get a lot of the traditional thankgiving food (like pumpkin pie) so we just did thanksgiving dessert. Next year we will get it all sorted out properly.

one last cute pic!

just love this pic and wanted to post it!

lynsxxx

The most overdue post ever!!

Ok, first of all... apologies for not updating you guys for ages! We still have no internet at home and apparently it might be another 3 weeks before we can convince someone to connect it for us!It has been a ridiculously busy time, but it has been a lot of fun, here are a few of the many things that have been going on:

Kyle update
Kyle is doing brilliant. He is now officially eating solids, sitting up by himself and sleeping 12 hours through the night!!! It has been really incredible to watch him develop so much in such a short time. He has settled in really well to being home and has lots of new friends. He is loving spending time with his Grandparents and family.

A new home
We are really enjoying being in our new home. We are still in mid-chaos and there are a couple of rooms which are off-limits because of the amount of boxes and junk that we have piled up.

Freezing

It is definitely a bit of a shock to be back to a freezing cold climate. This morning it was -1 degrees celcius (30 degrees F) and I was scraping the ice of the car before I went to work. It has been pretty bright and therefore easy to deal with.

4 Generations of MacDonalds
One of the coolest experiences of being home was the opportunity to go and see Lynsey's extended family. Kyle got to meet his great grandparents - what a massive blessing to have 4 generations of the family together!!!

Anyway, that is a bit of an update of the past few weeks - we will post more pictures of the house once it gets in a little better shape.

So long Houston

Well it is finally here, we left Houston last Friday (after an unexpected extra day due to flight cancellation) and arrived safely back in Aberdeen on Saturday. It is a very strange feeling, we are excited to be home and all that comes with being close to family and actually setting up home properly but we are really sad to leave all of our friends and a life that we love in Houston. Right now it feels like we are on holiday (apart from the fact that we are hemorrhaging money like crazy on house fittings and 2 new cars) but I am sure that reality will kick in over the next couple of weeks as we move into our new house and I go to work.

Our first transatlantic journey with Kyle was pretty smooth. He was a total stud and was really relaxed for the whole trip. He slept well, was not at all bothered by flying and was in a good mood to be greeted of the plane by a swarm of family and friends.

Kyle helped pack bags with us:

Was happy on the plane:

And is now confused about the idea of having to wear layers of clothes:

We have so many wonderful memories during our time in Houston and so many things to say, so I will keep it brief. Our 2 years in Houston included some of the most significant times of our lives.

• We have learned so much about our faith and have loved every minute of being part of HFBC - we will always consider them family and extremely near to our hearts. We have overcome some significant hurdles and have felt protected all the way through.
• We made some friendships which were truly incredible. So many of you have opened your lives to us during our time in Houston and we a sure that those friendships will continue regardless of the big ocean in the way. See next post for more details!
• We have really learned a lot about ourselves, our marriage and how much we enjoy doing life together. I have the most incredible wife and it has been great fun spending so much time together over the past 2 years.
• We have brought back a wonderful dual citizen! Kyle is such an amazing gift and we are incredibly blessed to have been entrusted with him

To our friends and family in Houston, thank you for all that you have taught us, for how you have loved us and for doing life with us. Know that there is a bed waiting for you in Scotland any time!!

On a lighter note, here are some fun things (and some not so fun at the time) that we will always remember:

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo - the only time when we were allowed to act like Cowboys and not be laughed at. We loved that whole deal.
• Thanksgiving - both with the Hennings and on the farm with the Sanders. What an awesome holiday.
• A&M football - it is a little weird, but we loved it! (or at least Col did :)
• Going to the Astros games, especially getting to go to the World Series - now there is a memory!
• Getting stuck in Hurricane Rita traffic for 7 hours (that was NOT fun, it should have taken 45 mins!)
• Walking over the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco (and knowing that Lyns was 4 weeks pregnant!)
• Eating dinner in Grand Central station, New York
• Having breakfast at Smoothie Island Grill (and lunch...and dinner...and take out...)
• Walking memorial park
• Visiting Wimberley and Gruene TX
• Lynsey's baby showers
• Driving from Oklahoma through 'the worst ice storm in 20 years' (such an exageration!)
• Taking a horse carriage ride around San Antonio on a winters night
• Weekends at the lake house in Alice, TX
• New years day 2007 snowboarding in Keystone, CO

As you can tell, this list could keep going forever and this is officially our longest ever post... :)

we'll be home 2 weeks today!

Hard to believe but we'll be home in no time at all. We're very excited to be heading home and yet very sad to be leaving. We really need to start packing what is left (it's a thought!) but we keep buying new things (because it's cheaper here you know!! :o). It is starting to feel very final so Col and I have started making plans for our return trip (?Thanksgiving'08)..makes us feel better anyway!

Anyway...I think we'll leave a final blog goodbye to Houston much closer to the time and instead update you with some recent pics! Kyle continues to be such a joy and blessing to us and others! What giggles and smiles he gives us these days. He weighed 17.05lbs on Monday at 16weeks, and we measured him at 27" a couple weeks ago!! God has been so good to us with this amazing wee (or not so wee!) gift!

My 'Tag' Answers!

I have been tagged by lovely Michelle! I don't normally do this but thought it would be quite fun! Ok here it goes:

The Rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

*I am a professional doodler! I doodle on anything and everything. I'm at my worst when I'm on the phone. My favs are my signature and hearts. I prefer doodling with a black pen but a nearby red/blue pen or pencil works just as well.

*I ALWAYS leave a 'polite' bite at the end of every meal. Apparently if we all left a polite bite at the end of every meal we would reduce our calorie intake by 100 big ones in a week. However after having Kyle I do believe I need to leave more than one polite bite :o) Ha!

*When cutting raw chicken for casseroles etc I use scissors. Col thinks that it is disgusting and completly unhygenic but I do scrub my scissors well after using them... it just makes it nice and quick. I think it frustrates him more when I use them to cut wrapping paper for pressies tee hee!!

*I was asked out on a date by the Mr Ben & Jerrys manager in Houston. I was getting bunko gifts for the girls retreat and he gave 20 free scoops (very kind). He was also going to give me a gift token of a years supply of ice cream! However, after he asked me to dinner over the phone, and I politely declined (explained I was married but didn't have the heart to tell him 5 months preggers!), I never saw my years free ice cream!! Tee hee...in all fairness I was wearing a big hoodie when I met with him at his ice cream store....BUT secretly quite chuffed!! Hee hee!! Go preggy lady!

*I eat whipped cream from the can, but I only allow myslef this pleasure once a year

*I think I have a candle obssession...candles, candle holders etc

*Whitey. My beloved teddy bear. I LOVE him. He came with me from Scotland and will indeed return ( although Col claims he got his green card while here and will stay - Ha! I think not!). I have had him sine I was a day old. He looks well loved (because he is!), though Col says he looks "rank", "bogging", "bug ugly" - a little harsh I think! Anyhoo....he no longer sleeps with me but in the drawer next to me (kept slightly adjar so he has oxygen to breathe). If I can't sleep he does come into bed with me. I try and get him back in his drawer before Col wakes up but the tell tale stuffing gives it away.

*I have a dual citizen baby...a wee scottish/american toot. I think that's cool and he just got his American passport!

I think that's 8 facts to pass a few minutes of your time.

OK, I'm tagging Whitney, Julie and Jeanae!!

Kyle's first ball game

Last night we went to see the Astros play the Cubs for Kyle's first baseball game. Kyle was all decked out in his astros gear and Daddy was proudly sporting his new customised shirt which was a surprise gift from our dear friends the Jordans - y'all are awesome! :)



Pity that our presence did nothing much for the score - Astros lost 6-2

Uncle Scott & Auntie Rach

Uncle Scott and Auntie Rach came into town this week to be our last vistors in Houston (unless anyone fancies a sneaky trip in the next 4 weeks :)

Kyle is already a huge hit and he is really comfortable with his new buddies. It is a total blessing to have them here and to get some quality time together. Lots of sun bathing, pool swimming and huge meal eating has been done!

A crawler in the making?

Kyle has really started to enjoy his tummy time a lot more and is beginning to really get the hang of the positioning. I think we have a crawler in the making.

Bubble Goatie

So Kyle has been changing a lot recently and developing some new 'skills'. One of these is to blow bubbles. I bet that the books have never seen a baby create a bubble Goatie before! Check out what Mummy found when she came back to Kyle in his swing this week:

Some new photos

We thought that some of these new photos were cute!

Go Bumbo!

Yesterday, we gave in and bought a 'bumbo' - it is absolutely hillarious and Kyle loves it! We think he looks so funny in it:

For the ultimate bumbo adventure, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5dPMtuZsCw (courtesy of Auntie Sarah) - this guy evidently had too much time on his hands, but I have to give him props for the effort!

a few more pics....

I was ready to start my day but daddy doesn't appear to share my enthusiasm!!

in my car seat raring to go

my profile

Hello Auntie Cath!

A quick hello to Auntie Cath who has just gone all high tech with a new computer (obviously so she can keep track of the goings on with Kyle :o) Here was Kyle on Monday very pleased with ones self now that he officially weighs over a stone at 10 weeks!

Kyle meets Jaffy

Today Jaffy and Kyle were officially introduced!

Everything was going well until.......

Kyle got a wee bit peckish...

....and latched onto poor Jaffy's nose!

Needless to say Jaffy was nae too happy!

But they resolved the wee mix up and are best buds!!!!!!

Well.....

Jaffy's poor ear!

Water baby

Yesterday was a major mile stone for Kyle - his first proper dip in the pool :) As you can see from the photos, we had a lot of fun! (possibly more than Kyle).