Thank Goodness He Looks Like His Momma

"Hairstyling 101"

In the past few weeks, Jaxson has really begun to grow a head of hair that most men dream about. It took a while, but now that the beans have sprouted, you can see a change daily. He is beginning to look more and more like a child, and less like a baby. It is amazing to watch the transformation. Both Robyn and I said it looked liked he had grown when we saw him this afternoon compared to when I dropped him off at Birdie's (his school teacher for those that don't remember the early days of blogging) this morning. Not sure if it was the hair that threw us off, or the fact that it looked like he had grown a few inches and added a few pounds. Maybe Birdie is feeding the kiddo's meat and potatoes instead of formula and "1st Foods" from Gerber.

So, with all this hair growing, we couldn't help but try out a few styles and see the varying personalities and attitudes for our Little Bambino.

Mr. Business, "Let's make a deal."

So, like where's the party buddies.

"You know, Albert Einstein had hair like this."

"Well, the market seems to be increasing, but I would keep the trend of buy low, sell high."

The Day In Pictures

Jaxson loves these guys....

"I need some testosterone, too much estrogen for me."

"Oh geez Boo, must you do this in front of all these girls??"

"Dad, put the freaking camera down, please - I beg you."

Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter

Congrats to Jacob and Esther on your new life as a family. On April 21, Jacob and Esther were married at the Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth in a beautiful ceremony where the love and respect between the two showed and was so profound that everyone, even Father Todd, was moved during the ceremony. Seeing two people that obviously love each other unite in marriage is one of life's little moments and gifts that are just too beautiful to try and put into words.

The passing of Kleenexes between the two was absolutely perfect, and only added to the joy that

was felt in the church.

After the wedding we all headed to the reception that was held in a small renovated church directly across the street from Joe T. Garcia's, a staple in the wonderful atmosphere of Fort Worth. With dancing, laughing, and a few salude's that were heard through the crowds, J&E began their new live in a wonderful way.

Congrats to each of you again, we all love you and we hope you are enjoying the beaches of Jamaica.

Field of Dreams

Parking: $12

T-Shirts on "T-Shirt Tuesday": $4

Cotton Candy: $3.50

Taking your son to his first Rangers game: Priceless

Thanks to Christian, Karla, and Beckett for passing along some great seats to the Rangers game tonight. Jaxson was able to go to The Ballpark in Arlington to attend his first Rangers game. It was an absolutely beautiful evening for baseball, considering it was snowing 72 hours ago.

Outings to the ballpark have definitely changed since last year. Instead of downing a cold brewski before we head in, we now let the little guy slam down a bottle of formula to hold him through the game. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. He seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds, especially the lady a few rows back that started happy hour a little too early today, but hey, she kept him entertained for a few innings.

Heading back to the car, we couldn't help but stop at the Dr. Pepper Youth Ballpark and let the Little Bambino dream of one day stealing second, or throwing out his first runner. Oh the days that lay ahead are exciting and beautiful.

Welcome to the wonderful world of baseball Jax.

Jax the Friendly Ghost

I think this kiddo is about as far from scary as you can get. What is scary, is how much our little bambino is growing. Not only is he beginning to understand "peek-a-boo" and reaching to pull of what ever is hiding him, but he is almost to the point where he can old his own bottle.

He amazes me everyday and my day lights-up each morning when he smiles his first smile, giggles from his belly, and when he and momma drift off into dream world together. I wish I could get into that head of his and see what he is dreaming. He looks like an angel and you can just feel the innocence and peacefulness when you watch your own child sleep.

They say that time flies when you are having fun, and if you can believe it, Jaxson turns 7 months old tomorrow.......

Happy Easter

To all our wonderful families and friends who are a part of this blog and make posting fun, Happy Easter and we love you all.

This rabbit wasn't in Wonderland

Sorry Alice, but this rabbit is in our world.

We awoke this morning to same strange pawprints left in our entry way by what looks to be a rabbit. Even stranger, he left some gifts and eggs for our little bambino.

Poor little guy, must have thought the eggs that were left were from the Cadburry Bunny, but these were just plastic - no creepy egg-look-a-like center that is basically a massed produced "sugar bomb."

Bluebonnets and Baseball

What better way to ring in Easter weekend on Good Friday than Jaxson dawning his baseball jersey and sitting in a patch of bluebonnets. Truly one of the great traditions along Texas highways and rest stops, is plopping the kids in the bluest of blue flowers and snapping their first experience with the state flower. I don't think we could have picked a more appropriate and picturesque "Texas" flower scene, with the bluebonnets, warm sunshine, and a rusted steel pipe fence in the background.

"Ride little horsey..."

Not sure if we have a future bull rider or bronc rider in the family, but Jaxson held on for more than eight seconds when Megan gave Jaxson a ride on her knees. He must be a natural, he just laughed at her and begged for more.

Network via Blogging

I am a sucker for blogs. Good or bad, it doesn't matter. Being a "part-time" blogger myself (which is basically a grown up version of a diary where the big kids don't laugh at you or beat you up), I enjoy searching the web looking for interesting blogs. Even if the material in the blog isn't great or down right sucks, the small idiosyncrasies that each blog has over the next keeps my curiosity flowing.

The only real way to find a good blog is to network from one blog to the next through links or, like in my case, "Blogs Worth Reading." Today, killing some time in between checking items off my to-do list, I came across Sweet Juniper.

Sweet Juniper is a nice mixture of photos, commentary, and links to interesting sites. I have to say I was entertained for some time going wondering through the different "categories" and discovering a little bit about this mysterious Juniper (sweet name by the way).

Who thought a lawyer from San Fransisco could be interesting......

Cuirous About His Dreams

Robyn snagged this photo, and I have to say it has moved up in the ranks as one of my favorite. Jaxson has taken a real liking to Curious George. Not sure if it is because they kinda look the same, or if he is just a "curious" boy, and this is only foreshadowing of the mischief that our little buddy will be getting into in the near future.

All I ask is that you don't swing from any tree limbs or light poles until you are at least 2 years old.

Everybody in th pool....

On the way home Saturday, we decided to make a quick stop at the Fort Worth Water Gardens to see the new renovations and experience this little gem in Fort Worth.

With the tragedy that happened there a few years ago, the city has done a fabulous job of integrating a memorial for the people that lost their lives, while not taking away from the design that Phillip Johnson designed a few decades back. The sun was out and the water was running, and the photo opportunities were endless.

Springtime in the Park

The beginning of a great new tradition may have set it's first foot forward today. The Long Family, Jamie Hughes and her son Bailey, Jamie Graham and her daughter Kennedy joined the Wheat clan for a play date at Trinity Park this afternoon.

The weather blessed us today with clear blue skies and a sense of refreshment in the air after the wind and rain from last night. The kiddos enjoyed each other's company and kept themselves entertained while the adults got some much needed adult communication. The baby gibberish was limited to anyone under 8 months old...

Thanks to everybody for joining us today, we had a blast and look forward to many more dates in the future.

Run for H.A.N.K.

With the Fort Worth Police Department, and especially the Nava family holding a spot in our hearts and minds, Robyn, Jaxson, and I hit the pavement to raise money for the Helping Another Next of Kin (H.A.N.K.); a foundation that helps support the families of slain officers from the Fort Worth Police Department. Henry "Hank" Nava was shot serving a search warrant almost 18 months ago, and his wife Teresa started the foundation to help families that experience the same tragedy she did.

FWPD has a special place in my heart. My mother works with the FWPD on a daily basis at her office and also spends countless hours volunteering for DART and other miscellaneous organizations that helped to make Fort Worth one of the greatest cities. My mom is also very close to the Nava family and was a close personal friend of Hank. Giving to H.A.N.K. and the FWPD is the least that we can do.

God bless all the men and women in uniform, you keep our families safe and allow us to enjoy living our lives and not worrying about being safe. Stay safe and thank you all for doing what you love to do and not asking for anything in return.

Last Man Standing

What once was an endless supply of naturally produced food for our little buddy has now come to a bitter sweet ending. Tonight, March 30 2007, Jaxson will consume his last bottle of "Milk-o-Mom."

While Robyn has officially been done breast feeding for a few weeks now, the surplus in the freezer has occasionally been used in emergency situations or while momma was out of town. So, through this process, what have we learned? Following are a few discoveries that I have made over the past seven months.

1. Every man, yes that means you, at some point will taste breast milk. Not sure if it Newton's 10th Law of motion, or just a sick game that our forefathers play on us, but at some point we as men will taste the milk. Mine came unassumingly one night while feeding Jaxson some cereal. Curious what it tasted like, my man curiosity got to me and I put a little bit on my tongue thinking the cereal was made with cow milk. Wrong. The next day when I told my lovely wife what I had done, she mentioned to me what the "recipe" for the cereal was. And that is how I discovered what Milk-o-Mom taste like.


2. Breast milk really does produce happy and healthy babies. This is very evident in the two kiddos that I know best that spent their first few months of life getting their resources from momma. Beckett and Jaxson are two of the happiest, loving, and healthiest babies I have ever seen. Not sure if it is the bonding that takes place between mom and baby that produces this or maybe it is the natural chemistry make-up of the milk, or a combo of the two - but it really does produce beautiful babies.


3. Last, but certainly not least is the theory of watching a boiling pot. We all know the saying, "A watched pot never boils," and this is so very true. When you are standing glaring at a bottle warmer at 2:15am wondering when the little orange light will turn off signaling to you that the milk is ready, it really feels like the next ice age will be here before the bottle is warm and ready to go. Never stand and watch, walk the kid around the house, solve the mystery of where Jimmy Hoffa is buried, or read War & Peace - anything that will be quicker than standing and waiting.

To all the new dads, soon to be dads, or any male that is someday planning to have kids - print these lessons learned out and put them away somewhere. You will be back and you will agree with all three.

Cheers.

Nice Gums....

If this doesn't brighten your day, then you need some help.

(Robyn gets the credit for this photo)

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Besides being baseball season, spring is my absolute favorite time of year. The smell of rain after an afternoon shower, green grass, blooming flowers, blue skies, yadi...yadi...yadi...

With a good day of work behind me and several successful meetings with clients, I get to come home to a smiling happy boy and a beautiful wife. After wrapping up dinner we decide to get in a quick walk before the sun goes down, because it sounds like has stopped raining outside....

Well, the rain didn't stop. And this is the photo that tells the whole story....

"But mom, I thought you said we could go outside and play..."

"Put Me In Coach, I'm Ready To Play.."

With softball season in full swing now, Jaxson was able to make it out to the field last night to see his daddy and his fellow "Blue Collar Ballers" pull out a come from behind when in the bottom of the fifth inning. Maybe it was his presence at the field that lifted the team's spirits enough to keep the bat's hot. Can't you just see the intensity on his face as he cheers fanatically as his old man is up to bat.

Concentration is Key

Even though our little buddy can sit up for extended periods of time on his own, sometimes he still needs to concentrate extra hard to make sure he doesn't lean to far in any one direction.

He has learned that his arms don't need to stick out perpendicular behind him to keep his balance, and he is now able to play with toys simultaneously while watching mom and dad act like idiots trying to make him smile for the camera.