8 Months!

I really need to get my booty into gear and get these monthly posts up quicker because now I have a bunch of pictures and thoughts ready for the next month's posts.  Anyway, here's our little guy at 8 months.  What a cutie.

Thomas recently got introduced to table food and is absolutely loving it.  He's tried black beans, bananas, cheerios, those little yogurt snacks, string cheese, blueberries, and cooked carrots although I cooked them weird so they weren't as big of a hit.

He still isn't crawling, but he's a happy little guy and he's started turning around in circles really slowly.  At least he's loving tummy time.  Crawling will come sooner or later and that's totally fine with me... especially because I know that as soon as he starts crawling and getting busier, I'll wish he'd stay in the same spot for ten seconds.

The little man loves bath time and gets excited to see "Mr. Starfish" every night.  He also LOVES his daddy and always goes crazy with his flappy arms when he comes home.

He's starting to really like playing with other kids.  One of his favorite friends is Annie who is just about his age.  They are so cute together.  He also loves his cousins Eliza and Jonathan.  I love that he loves everyone.

Poor Thomas also keeps getting stuck on his tummy while he's in his crib.  I lay him down on his back, he flips over almost immediately, gets stuck and cries, and then finally (FINALLY) falls asleep.  It's so sad to hear him cry for so long.  I tried to flip him back over for a while, but after walking in so many times and it not helping I gave up.  Luckily, this little phase only lasted for a few days.  Now he can flip back over, but he seems to like sleeping on his tummy for the most part.

Thomas is such a joy.  He's definitely a people person and a little cheeser for the camera, the people at church, and for his mommy.  We love him so much.

8 Month Pictures

Yes he's licking the swing.  And yes even though it's gross and I probably should've stopped it, I had to take a picture.  It's just so him. 

Random pictures from this month...

Chowin down on some Mum Mums

Don't think I'm an awful mom because of this picture.  There was one day last month where I was really sick and felt awful all day so Thomas and I watched cartoons.  This was a preview and he didn't sit in front of the TV like this for very long at all, but I thought it was hilarious and pretty dang cute.  

Lovin' his juicy grapes 

Selfie time with Mama

This cheesy little grin kills me.  He just smiles so hard he looks mad.  

This is the day we went through the carwash.  His face in this picture always makes me laugh.  He was so in awe until I started vacuuming on our leather seats.  The squeaky noise make him cry like none other which was so out of character. 

Oh and here's evidence of his OBSESSION with tags.  

And I had to add this little video because I LOVE when Thomas is happy and I go into his room after he wakes up from a nap.  Matt and I used to fight over who got to go in and get him :)

Funerals & Family

Recently my Grandpa Decker passed away. He had struggled with alzheimer's for about twenty years and although his body was always pretty strong, his mind has been gone for quite some time.  It was a little strange, but when I found out that my grandpa had passed away I wasn't sad, I was happy.  I am so glad that he and my grandma have been reunited.  I know that families are forever and that they have more work to do together.

Anyway, the funeral service was scheduled for February 28th, so Thomas and I flew in to Mesa on Thursday evening to be there. Matt wanted to come, but he couldn't come on such late notice in the middle of such a beyond busy semester.  That night we went to The Pita Jungle with my sister Sarah, stopped by and visit taught one of her sisters, and then she and I hung out for a while after putting the little guy to bed.  Oo and I even got to meet her new boy Blake.  I knew him back in the day, but I haven't seen him for like ten years so that was fun.  

Then on Friday I got to go to Pei Wei for lunch with two of my best friends Shauni and Jessica.  It was so fun to hang out and talk to them.  Thomas was loving them so much and it was cute to see them interact with him.  I'm so grateful that even though I live in another state, I can still stay close to my best friends.

That night we had a big Decker get together with 26 of the 27 grandchildren, all 5 of their children, and some of my grandpa's siblings and family.  It was great to see all of my cousins and catch up with them.  After eating a nice catered dinner, each family had a spokesman who shared some of their family's favorite memories about Grandpa.  It was sweet to hear about why everyone loved him so much and how much he influenced each of his children and grandchildren.  My family had been texting back and forth in a group text about memories we had about him right after he had passed away and it was fun to hear about all of the fun memories we each had of him.  Rogers Clair Decker truly was a remarkable man and I am so grateful that he was such a hard-working, loving grandfather.  

On Saturday, the funeral service was held and it was a really special day.  I really don't like funerals because they make me so sad, but this funeral made me happy and although it was sad to know I won't see my grandpa again for a while, it was really neat to hear about the incredible life that he lived.  It was also really sweet to hear my brother Paul say the opening prayer, my brother Tim sing in a quartet, and my mom give my grandpa's life sketch.  My family has always been really close, but it was neat to see everyone come together to honor our grandpa.

Schmidt Clan

Most of the Decker grandkids. 

After the funeral we all hung out and partied.  We had games of Kub going, Cafe Rio brought in for dinner, and a bunch of family hanging out having a good time.  After a few hours of playing with everyone, the "Sassy Six" made a getaway and went to go do a little hanging out.  It had been several years since my sister Sarah, my favorite cousins, and I were all together so we had to take advantage of the situation.  Ever since I was like seven years old, my cousins and I have made up dances pretty much every time we get together.  This time was no exception so we got our booties into gear and made up a funny dance together.  It was so fun... just like the good old times.  I am so grateful for these girls.  They were a big part of how I grew up which is apparently sassy haha.

Over all it was an awesome weekend.  I really wish that Matt could've come down with me, but his classes have been so crazy this semester and he couldn't miss school.  He's only taking two classes right now, but his professor is a perfectionist and expects so much from his students.  It's been a rough semester for all of us, but there's only six weeks or so left.  I'm so grateful that Matt is so diligent with his school work and his research.  Sometimes I wish that we could take breaks and go on trips together, but we'll have to save that for the summer when he's doing research.

Cutest little cousins.  We love Maxy boy.  He's about a month older than Thomas and he was attempting to teach Thomas to scoot around.  Thomas tried to grab on so Max could pull him, but his plan didn't quite work out like he hoped it would.  

Here's Nate & my dad playing some Kubb.  There was a lot of Kubb action going on over the weekend.  Unfortunately Dave and I lost.  He loves being on my team... just like when we were growing up :)

Papa & Mr. T.  I'm so grateful my dad loves Thomas.  He's a great grandpa.

Chatchin' some rays before going back to Utah.

Love my Elena girl and her box house. 

Elisabeth & Max.

Nay & Max.  Nate & Elisabeth are such great parents.  Matt and I have great examples to look up to.  I hope I raise them right and have a girl that loves "dopies" and storm troupers like Elena does :) 

Kenzie <3