Goin' to Texas, GTT

In mid-February, Erik, Sheila, and Everett traveled to Texas.

Everett was an excellent traveler charming suspicious fellow airplane passengers and nice flight attendants with smiles and snoozes along the way. In Texas, the trip started in Austin where we spent time with Paw and Babi. While there, Erik was busy, clad in overalls, spending time in warmer weather by cutting cedar at his dad’s house.

Don’t worry, his other leg isn’t missing because there was an “oops” with the chainsaw.

We also spent time at Uncle Brent’s so we could visit

with him, Aunt Jessica, and the cousins Clara and Daisy.

It was at Clara and Daisy’s house that we were introduced to “High School Musical.” All it took was groovy tunes, subtitles to the songs, funky moves, and Clara and Daisy to get us all singing and dancing to the music. Everett, asleep for the showing, will just have to find out how good it is later.

Albritton Clan

Towards the end of the trip, we traveled to Waco for the Albritton Family Reunion. All of Mom’s sisters were there as well as Grandpa and Grandma Albritton and Great-Grandpa Albritton. The cousins hung out and everyone laughed at their antics.

While there we went to the Mayborn Museum at Baylor University, and Mom enjoyed the music room, especially.

RRRRUUUUNNNN!!!

This place is cooool.

On Sunday, there was a Valentine celebration (complete with a dress code), and we enjoyed good fun and conversation. Amazingly, all the babies went down for naps at about the same time. So, Valentine lunch ended up being pretty tame.

The Group at Church on Sunday

I'm ready. Where is everyone else?

The end of our trip was extended because of the icy weather in Washington, DC. When we did arrive home, it was to be greeted with 8-10 inches of ice and snow surrounding our cars and covering every surface available.

As Everett has now visited the family and tasted a bit of his parents' roots, he is ready for his next visit, complete with overalls, where he will help Paw and Dad cut some cedar, maybe.

Newest Discovery

Well, he finally did it.

He looked into the mirror and saw that cute baby looking back at him.

Other milestones include chuckling, ticklish feet, and a recent weigh-in of 15 pounds and 15 ounces.

Winterized Everett

Winter Finally Comes to the DC Area

and Mom does what she can to keep me warm.

Mom tells me that I look cute in this. I have my own doubts.

It snowed several times this week, andMom thought she would be really clever in keeping me warm and saving some bucks on a snowsuit.

This is Mom's version of a snowsuite (cast-off Halloween costume).

She was right. It worked.

Don't worry. Dad bought a snowsuit for next winter 'cause who knows what costume she would choose next.

Play Time With Everett at 3 Months

As Preemie Everett is more and more awake as the weeks progress, he is learning to play and have fun with Mom, Dad, and friends.

Everett says bibs are very versatile.

Though he is a fan of this game, he also likes to wear it as a cape.

Tummy time is more of a hit when lights can be added. If there are lights around, Everett is staring at them. His favorite lights are the ones in Cosco.

These are Everett's friends.

He mercilously bats them around and likes to kick the elephant incessantly.

Everett plays a fantastic mimic game where he sticks his tongue out after you stick your tongue out. This picture is especially funny because it was one of the first times Everett started the game instead of us.

Everett and his LADYbugs. He loves to smile at them, talk with them, and enjoy their company. Laying on the changing table is one of his favorite hang-outs and a sure way to get him to stop crying.


Though Everett prefers to talk to his ladybugs, he favored Mr. MIT Beaver and me with a story this morning. Cracks me up how his babbling includes hand gestures.

Everett loves to listen to music: Primary songs, songs from the '40s and '50s (especially Sentimental Journey and I Want To Ride That Glory Train), songs from the radio (Mom's junk top 40 songs), and Dad's relaxing music.

This CD is the current running favorite right now. He likes the beat on the song Lo Kanta.

Everett all tuckered out after some good playing.

Everett's Blessing Weekend

This past weekend, Everett was blessed at church. Friends and family came from near and far to be a part of the event. The weekend started with dinner on Friday and seemed to revolve around watching cute Everett, eating, and getting to know each other.

The blessing on Sunday went well. A more comical moment occurred when it was time to bless Everett. Erik went to gather at the front of the congregation . . . and forgot to take Everett with him.

Everett, a talker from the beginning of his life, made sure he had some say in the blessing by coughing delicately twice adding a gentle sigh of "ahhh" at the end. And, yeah, all was caught by the microphone and heard through-out the chapel.

Group Photo at Church

We've posted the "cute" pictures from the rest of the weekend.

Gettin' love and lunch with the ladies. (Everett with Auntie Debbie and Mom.)

Had a great snooze Sunday morning thanks to Aunt Megan.

Had a great snooze Sunday evening thanks to Uncle Greg.

Pictures with the Grandmas

Everyone is laughing in this picture because Everett is copying her by sticking his tongue out when she sticks her tongue out. Excellent game to play.

Pictures with the Grandpas

Sunday Lunch Entertainment

(Provided by one of Everett's Baby Buddies)

Start of the Smiling Days

Everett's First Smile

December 27, 2006

Though he has been semi-grinning for a couple of weeks, when I woke Everett up this morning (one of the first mornings he woke up without crying) he threw a couple of smiles at me. I just happened to have the camera in my hand because I thought he was looking extra cute at the time and wanted to take some pictures of him waking up. So, I caught his first "all out" smiles in digital format. (Some of them are blurry. He wouldn't smile at the camera, just me. So, I was trying to keep eye contact with him while keeping the camera pointed in his direction.)

Enjoy--I sure did!---Sheila