13 Months & Merry Christmas!

On Dec 22nd Baker turned 13 months old!! Can you believe it? He is officially into his one year old stage of finding his vocal chords with loud random screams and squeals. He does this at home, while playing, in the mall, or when we are out to eat. I've learned to just let him go. I just can't make him "be quiet" at this age. Boys will be boys! However, lately he has been pretty fussy since he is getting more teeth in. Is left 1st molar is pretty much in, his right lateral incisor is still coming in and now today (12/27) his right 1st molar is starting to break through. He seriously cannot catch a break! He is crawling everywhere and getting into literally everything (even the dog's water bowl - ha!). He still isn't walking. He walks really well with assistance but shoes really slow him down. He'll get the idea sooner or later. He is growing up so fast so I am cherishing the moments right now where he isn't able to get up and "run away."


Our little cowboy.

Here are the dogs - all 3 of them together harmoniously! This is on one of the trails through my parent's neighborhood. Miller loved it.

Going for a walk with the pooches!

Drinking his milk as a 13 month old - yes, that is a bottle but we are slowly making a transition to use it less and less...well almost. :) He doesn't really use a pacifier except to go to bed and he is actually weaning himself off that so I say if he wants the bottle a little longer then he can!

We had a great first Christmas back in South Carolina. It was our first one being home in over 3 years. It was so nice to not have to skype or do the present exchange over the phone! We had decided to spend Christmas Eve with one set of our parents and Christmas Day with the other. We've never had the chance to be with both families or either of our families during the holidays so this was a first and while it was hard to decide what to do, it worked out great! Christmas Eve we spent the day and evening in Camden with Gordie's family. We did a family first together and shot some bow and arrows in their wooded backyard. It was pretty fun and definitely interesting (I found out I seriously would have not lasted in the old days since I can't shoot them worth a darn!) Everyone else did really well and at least hit a target or two. Me on the other hand...well let's just say at least one of my arrows hit the rectangle but no where near an actual circlular target. Maybe next time! Gray (Ashley's husband was the real winner. He got a bulls eye!) We ate a wonderful dinner and spent the evening playing mexican train. We were going to go to midnight mass at the Catholic church in Camden but Ashley, Gordie's Dad, and Wesley were sick or getting over sinus issues and Baker was fast asleep too early that evening that we decided against it. We WILL be going to church next year! We usually go every year that we didn't get to go last year due to Baker being too little and then we didn't go this year so next year is a must! We woke up to loud Manheim Steamroller music being blasted downstairs. It was actually cute and pretty funny. It is a Moore tradition to come downstairs to that song being played. Gordie even told me one year his mom was on an exercise bike pedaling to the music when they were little. Too funny! We gathered around the fire and exchanged presents. Baker got tons of presents and is now officially spoiled! We had a delicious brunch and then headed to Columbia to spend Christmas Day with my family. My mom made a wonderful dinner so we were getting our fair share of good home cooking -- we haven't had such good meals in so long! We did the present exchange with my family and prior to doing so I was in such a bad mood. No one understood why but I wasn't about to tell them what was bothering me! Well, when Gordie opened one of his presents he then understood why I was so upset. We had forgotten his camera back in Camden and of course I was seriously upset about it because I got him a tripod and I wanted him to be able to test it out!! He loved to take pictures of the moon and all sorts of daytime photography shots and he couldn't get a still enough picture with his hands so all I heard for months is how he wanted a tripod so I found a good one for him and kept it a secret. :) Everyone got such great gifts! We are seriously blessed to have such a great family and extended family. Enjoy the pictures...


On Christmas Eve Baker got to have one of his presents early. It is one of his favorite new toys - The Johnny Jump Up!

Holding Gamma's BB and looking up at me wondering is it really Christmas Mama?

Is it true Mama, Santa really came?

Oh my, look at all his presents!

Opening one of them. I think this one is his ABC wooden blocks that he loves!

Merry Christmas Miller! Poor sweetheart spent his morning in the kennel while we opened gifts. He thoroughly enjoyed his presents outside (tennis balls and knotted ropes are his best friends).


Focusing on his new toy - his basketball goal. He is a little hesitant of it. He couldn't wait to have it when it was in the box under the tree but I think the lights on it are distracting to him. He'll definitely warm up to it though!

His in the zone face

Daddy, Mom, & Tim!

We found out Baker took a liking to mustard pretzels!? I loved them when I was pregnant and still love them so I suppose he got that from me!

He is actually digging in the bag for one here. Ha!

Pretzel face

Tim showing Baker how to play music on his new toy Santa got since he loves the real piano.

What a face!

Yes Mama, I can multi-task!

Santa brought Baker a toy boat for the bath tub and he wanted to play with it so we got him in the tub!

He doesn't look too enthused here yet.

Now he warmed up to it and loves it

Playing around with his mohawk

Me and my big boy who has the look of "uh, mom!" on his face. Ah, I love it.

I have more pictures to post but have to get them off my parent's camera - To be continued. I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas weekend like we did!