7 months and the RODEO

I am still having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that Wyatt is 7 months old. Honestly, I still can't believe we have a baby! HA! (Yes..I am still working on the traveling post..a lot happened blowout, bumper falling off, etc, and I want Wyatt to know all the details of his first few weeks!)

The little guy is full of life babbling up a storm, constantly moving, and I believe will be crawling in the near future. He has 9 teeth and prefers his food to have some substance..none of this thin stuff! He is hilarious when he eats and after each bite will make a noise of yum, ummmm, yum ymm, and mmmmm. He is currently eating rice and oatmeal cereal, applesauce, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, yellow squash, green beans, sweet peas, avocado, pears, banana, and cantaloupe. He has tried oranges and strawberries but I am waiting on those a little longer. Daniel and I both swear he said mum mum or mumma the other day while I was preparing his breakfast. He is eating 3 meals followed by a bottle and "snack" bottle in the afternoon. He is doing really well with a sippie cup and we are offering it at meal time and "snack."At his 6 month check up he was 20lb 2 oz and had a height of 26.5 in. He is wearing 3-6 month clothes, 6 month, and some 12 with room to grow because it has been so hot. We are using cloth diapers so the disposals I buy last a long time and I always get at least one size up, he is in a 4 and they are large but he doesn't mind! He is still a pretty good napper. One in the morning, another mid, day and then one long late afternoon. I think the midday nap might be coming to an end because it seems to only really happen if we are out and about. He will nap in his car-seat like a champ and it makes life so much easier when running errands. He loves his bouncy seat (thanks Andrea) and jumping up and down either on our laps or in this big bouncer (that is what we call it..thanks Michelle) as well as dancing. He thinks peekaboo is hilarious, any tickle game, and clapping. He loves being on the floor playing with toys he loves trucks, small cars, blocks, his steering wheel, and crinkly things. The floor is also a favorite spot so he can roll around, get up and rock in the crawling position, and play with the dogs. Hershey is completely in love with him and can't lick his feet enough. He loves going on runs and riding in the stroller. I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time outside.

We decided when we heard the rodeo was coming to town we were game and it just worked out that Professional Bull Riding was on the same Saturday as the barbeque cook-off. We had a blast! Wyatt loved dancing, looking around, and was such a good boy he even took a few naps. We arrived early enough to walk around before PBR started. The work that goes into the cook-off is amazing..its like full on restaurants and bars are built for show! We walked around the carnival and he just took it all in.

The bull riding was really fun to watch. I had not experienced professional bull riding in person and it is just as much fun as I thought it would be. A guy from AR won so I really felt like it was a win win! As we were leaving we stopped at the wine garden and listened to Charlie Robinson (a Texan) sing My Hometown! We had another great weekend!
I hope this post made sense..I have a horrible sinus infection and think I am finally starting to turn a corner on it! Regardless I had to get this posted...what the fans want..the fans get! HA! Hope you are great!

Valentines Day and Sickies

One word that pretty much sums up this past week is rain! Are we back in Oregon? It sure feels like it! Wyatt has been sick from the constant ups and downs in the weather, so he and I have been trying hard to stay home as much as possible.

We had a great Valentines day. I was spoiled with lots of love from my guys! We stayed in this year (due to sickies) and had a scrumptious dinner! Wyatt had a great first valentines day complete with applesauce! He loved it!


This weekend the weather was still blah so we spent it organizing...yes, yet again, lunching, and hanging out. sitting like a big boy
Daniel loves to get on the floor (what we have) and play with the little guy on the weekends as much as he can. Well that and watch Texas anything. :)

It is not supposed to rain this week and we are ready to get out and explore!! I am thinking a first trip to the park, several runs, possibly a picnic. How are you guys?

Quick Hunting Trip

This past weekend we decided to take a trip to AR so Daniel could go hunting with my dad. Daniel was able to take off Friday so we had a 3 day weekend with my parents. We got in around 3 am on Friday morning and were honestly exhausted. Friday we didn't do much at all besides relax, laundry, play with Wyatt and go to dinner. Rivertowne bbq is fantastic in Ozark if you are ever looking for a place to eat! :) People come from all over!
My mom got out the my childhood highchair. I think it is very special that Wyatt is getting to use and play with some of the same things in the same house I grew up in! :)
Here he is enjoying peas for the first time.

Saturday morning the guys headed to the preserve. Hershey even got to go hunting and apparently did really well. Makes a mama proud! HA! The guys were gone until dark and had a great time!




We had a birthday party for my dad that night complete with Chicken and Dumplings and my dads favorite- white cake with white icing! We had a great relaxing weekend and Wyatt got lots of snuggles and kisses though it was fast and furious!

We were also able to see the McMillians while in town..and darn it if I didn't get any pictures! They are neighbors and Ben and I grew up with them. They are special to me and love Wyatt very much! Thanks again to my parents for letting us come in and take over..like we always do!
We love you guys and hope to see you again soon!

Celebrate...

Daniel is officially finished and I am so proud of him. He may not have gone the traditional route as he enlisted in the Navy, worked, went to school to be a therapist, got married, then we hit the road...but he did it! It has been a challenge to manage work, marriage, traveling, pregnancy, a newborn, the dogs, our friends, etc but he hit it out of the park! We both agree it is time to have some fun....
Daniel I love you and am so excited that now you can just spend time with us! :)

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
Dr. Seuss

Adventures of new food...and T minus one week!!

We celebrated with brownie cake on Sunday evening as a little late 6 month birthday for Wyatt. You can pass on a time for cake...right?!?!
Monday I headed back to Daniel's sisters house to keep her kiddos for the night while she worked. They were all good although, I will say I was tired because adding in 5 extra kiddos will wear a girl out. The oldest ones were a huge help especially when I would ask questions like..what do you eat for breakfast, do I make it, where are the diapers, where are your shoes, what do you wear to school, who wears what size, do I fix your hair, you gave them candy..how much, how does your mom warm up milk? HA! Everyone has their way of doing things and I didn't want to mess it up! One of the little girls didn't want to go to sleep, which is normal, but asking if we can party at 4 am...whew. All in all they were outstanding and I would watch them anytime!

I took these last weekend and thought they were so cute..this may the little one that didn't want to sleep! :) She loved dressing up her Uncle Daniel....


So we have been on the rice cereal bandwagon for almost a month when it became apparent something needed to change. He was hungry! To be honest this is the same reason we started rice cereal when we did. He ate the cereal like a champ so I began researching new food options. Pulling from my nutrition background I knew I wanted something with protein and not just carbohydrates and not sweet as to "delight" he pallet. I ended up going with butternut squash. We Skyped with my parents while he took his first bite. At first he wasn't so sure but ended up loving it. We started slow because I was afraid of tummy troubles however, we had none! We have since moved onto avocado and a love has been born.


Daniel has one week left of school we could not be more excited! Whew! I hope that when Wyatt starts school the calculus concepts will not have changed again! HA!

And just in case you have been wondering we haven't forgotten about our other babies....they are so mistreated!

6 months

I can't believe Wyatt turned 6 months on Saturday. I really feel like I was just pregnant and leaving the hospital with a new baby. In all honesty though, we have a had a lot going on and are having to hold on and treasure the moments and milestones. We are in the depths of medical testing for Daniel. Luckily it seems as though we are a little closer to a diagnosis which ultimately, could still go many ways but we are hoping for the best. This has brought with it several levels of stress and challenges..but what doesn't!! We are riding this roller coaster as it comes! :)

After a stressful week, we decided on Saturday morning to head to Moody Gardens for the day. I had not visited before but Daniel went several times with his Mi-mommy as a kiddo. We had a blast! I loved more than anything spending the day with my boys. A storm was rolling in from the Gulf and it was amazing! We spent several hours looking at fish, animals, plants, etc and then ended the visit with a quick walk on the beach. Wyatt laughed a lot and talked with us all day. It was a great way to spend his 6 month birthday! We stopped by Daniel's sisters on the way home and visited with them for a few hours. We enjoy being able to see them and Wyatt gets in some play time with his nieces and nephews. Sunday was a day of homework for Daniel. We both can't wait until this class is over!
So far this week has been super busy thus...a late weekly post. :) We had major rain and as a result discovered several new leaks in places completely fine before. Daniel has contacted the manufacture and we are hopefully making some headway. I am so frustrated and started looking again at 2013 models online. I was completely against trading this one in as I feel that if you spend a ton of money a product should be reliable..well I am almost over that after 4 years! Well, I mean I am considering it! HA! I bet Daniel is screaming FINALLY!!! :)
Anyway, hope everyone is doing great! We started Wyatt on real solid food this week...so fun pictures to come! :)

Week 2 Flying High...

A new found love?



Yep - I think the belly laughs say it all!

About the only thing that will keep this little guy happy while more teeth (six) come in ...time outside and flying! Yep- we do this a lot! :)

Also- as promised a few pics of the new "layout." It isn't exactly how I want things (and unless we get a new 5th wheel it never will be) as I never unpacked the picture frames, kitchen stuff, etc when we arrived. We have a ton of items to get fixed/replaced on the 5th wheel- blowout repairs, leak issues, slide issues, carpet and wall issues, lights not working, propane and water heater glitches, and general carpentry things that have fallen apart..(yes I said fallen apart) so I decided to wait. We also have plans to possibly move parks..we are the youngest couple by about 40-50 years. The logistics of moving at the right time, figuring out how long the 5th wheel will be at the dealer, ordering parts, dealing with the warranty company, finding a place to live, and the rotation assignment has just been unworkable. We both hope that very, very soon we can figure all of it out. Daniel and I are ready for a time when we do not have to deal with major issues from this 5th wheel!!




Did you notice..baby girl Hershey in every picture? Its a small place and she can see me from any location but that won't do...she's always under my feet!! Regardless I still love her!

Lots of hugs from us!

Week 1...as promised

Happy New Year! We were in Austin to celebrate the new year and Christmas with Daniel's family. (More on that in the long catch up post.) We spent new years eve with the Casey and Calvin, an evening out with dinner and a movie MI4. To be honest, I am not a movie person unless it is a good comedy...but I did however, enjoy this one. :) We had a fantastic time catching up! My parents (well really my mama) kept Wyatt for us at Ben and Ann's house. I am pretty sure she had lots of help.... however, she was the one that was still awake when we came to pick him up. She said he was fantastic and just slept, ate, played, then fell asleep after watching a little football. Leaving him for this long was a biggie as this was the longest time I would have been away from him. I did fine and only texted to say that I was putting my phone on vibrate. I am so glad he was good. Poor little guy is getting 4 teeth and has been a little grumpy. I don't blame him, I would be as well!! Thank you all for watching him. I know he was well loved and had a great time!

Sunday we met the Shellenberger family for lunch. We always love getting to see our friends while in town, though its always fast and furious. We also visited with my family before leaving and stopped by Casey and Calvin's house to pick up some yummy fish. Thank you to Daniel's mom for letting us come in again and spread out at your house!
This week has been very low key. We unpacked, played lots of fetch, spent a lot of time outside, played with new toys, and enjoyed being "home." I also worked on organization and a new layout of the 5th wheel. We really don't have that many options but, I wanted to try something new. Wyatt has lots of fun toys from Christmas and I really wanted to keep the bouncer inside instead of having to take it apart (which is easy but still) and store it in the cargo trailer every evening. I still have to take it apart due to space but, it is much easier to slide it in its new space inside! I figure I am always moving things around so why not continue :) I will post pictures when I am completely finished!

Daniel also started his last class! We celebrated with cheesecake after a hard week of his class. As what seems to the norm with school..this last class is the hardest! He can do it and I am so proud of him for what he is accomplishing!
Watching the Hogs play in the Cotton Bowl and take home a win!!

As for Wyatt he is a growing, cereal lovin, talking, rolling, stomach sleeping, bouncer loving, teething machine, that is trying to crawl and never stops moving. We. love. it! He is playing more and more with his toys and really enjoys the ones he can grasp and move on his own! He loves to giggle and will crack up over anything! He really is a lot of fun at this stage and I know it is going to get even better.

I will leave you with a predicament I caught Wyatt in this week...

Until next..or hopefully sooner if I can ever get all the pictures uploaded for the catch up post..live it up and stick your fingers in your nose!
Melissa

Happy New Year

Whew Wooie....this year flew by. This year was truly an amazing one for the Basham's. We were busy traveling a lot with two cross country moves followed by several quick unexpected moves. Yes, they were stressful but the adventure and memories were worth all the obstacles. It did come with medical hiccups and bumps but, what year doesn't always seem to be filled with some sort of surprise. We were blessed more than we ever thought possible with the arrival of Wyatt G.P. He continues to fill our hearts with gummy smiles and belly laughs every day much more than we ever imagined. We were fortunate to play in the ocean, snowboard, hike, travel, and explore in parts of the country that were new to us! Hershey girl once again made her mama and daddy proud by winning in Dock Diving competitions in 2011. Chance...well he was just a lover as many know! We were not able to see our friends and family as much as in the past due to the majority of the year being so far away...but at least we did get to see many of those that we love. The holidays this year were all amazing spending time with our loves and experiencing many firsts with "The W" (as Daniel and I jokingly refer to him). Ultimately this year was outstanding regardless of the bumps we encountered.

And since clearly I am not going to ever get around to ordering New Years cards..


HAPPY NEW YEAR! We hope that 2012 brings each one of you much joy and happiness.

So with that, I leave you with a promise. I am going to make the resolution of a 52 week project. This year I will post at least once a week. I did this in the beginning and it was so much easier than going back and trying to cover a few weeks..months at once. Some weeks will be short with just a picture and others more in-depth. Its not about me taking more pictures, as I assure you that is not the problem. The little guys life and our travels are well photo documented!! I just know this will keep me on track. We are busy while living on the road and I want all of it to be in a book so that one day..when we do stop living the life of "gypsies" we can look back and truly understand what an adventure we were living!

And yes..I am STILL working on a post to backdate our travels up to now..its almost done and it. is. long!!

Happy New Year! We love each and every one of you!
Daniel, Melissa, and Wyatt