“Hurry Hurry Howertons…no slowing our roll”

Why is it so hard to say no sometimes?! The simplest little word and I can’t seem to get it out! Sometimes I just don’t want to miss out, other times I feel guilty, obligated….ugh! What I AM saying no to in turn is rest. We’ve turned into the Hurry Hurry Howertons…no slowin’ our roll!” I’m challenging us to a Saturday off…can we do it?! Make plans with nobody outside of our home?? Update soon…

Feels like I’m walking in a pina colada!

I made it to work surprisingly fast and easy this morning. There were few on the road and the highway was fine for driving. Jon was sweet to help guide me out of the driveway and onto the street, that is until he pelted a snowball at the back of my 4Runner…scared the crap out of me! HE ofcourse thought it was extremely funny, LOL…silly boys! I was sure I had hit something til’ I saw him cracking up in my rearview mirror to which I then shook my fist at him ;-)

My trek from the car to my bldg at work seemed like it took longer than the drive in did! The snow made it feel like I was walking around in a huge pina colada that was melting fast, hehe. I was thankful I wore my tall boots! The Mocassins I chose to sport yesterday worked as fabulous sponges for the snow to soak into.

I will say the drive was actually quite GORGEOUS!! This is definitely the most snow I’ve ever seen in DFW…I think we got over 9” the news said?!? There were kids sledding down the hills along West 820 and my cube-neighbor at work showed me pics of him taking his 4 yr old son snowboarding at the golfcourse...SO CUTE! It makes me want to go snow skiing! I forget how beautiful the snow is and how much it brings out the young kid spirit in us all! It’s really wonderful when the temperature is still in the 40s and the snow is deep enough to play in like today!!

Looking forward to getting off work and going home to build a snowman!We did get some play-time in before I left this morning. Jude could barely hold his eyes open it was so bright out! He cried more than anything but it was really fun to get him out in it and take some pictures. Bentley LOVED being able to run around and get all wet and seemed to be posing for the camera…he was fun to watch!

DFW Winter Wonderland

It just makes sense that my first week back to work would include a blizzard! I mean why not, right?! LOL. I'm looking out my window at work watching huge flakes come down and It's absolutely gorgeous! Isn't it so neat how snow can make something ugly so pretty with just a partial - inch covering?! It really does feel like a wonderland! :-)

The weather stations are saying it will last for a while and I just saw online that Keller ISD is releasing early and cancelling classes tomorrow. I am dreading my afternoon commute back home wondering just how many hours it will take??
It was far from an easy task leaving this morning w/both Jon and Jude cuddled up asleep all warm and snuggly. I'm thinking tomorrow I'll stay with them!

Gorgeous Fort Worth Trees, Our house this morning & Jon's car - So thankful I park in the garage! Thanks babe! ;-)

Hoping everyone stays DRY, WARM and most of all SAFE today!
*HUGS*
Brooke

Word With Friends - iPhone App

One word, ADDICTING!!! It's Scrabble on the network. You can play with other iPhone friends back and forth from anywhere. Dangerously consuming, LOL! If you haven't tried it, I dare you... AND when you do, find us and we can play :-) My username is BrookeHowerton. Jon's is JoNate14.

Recent Pics of Jude

Jon & Jude

Our Lil' Monkey...errr, Chunkey Monkey

Eating Like A Champ!

If you've had a conversation with me in the past 2 months you know I have been pretty focused on "growing the baby" as the pediatrician and hospital staff advised. We officially switched to formula per the Lactation Specialist's advice a couple weeks ago which was an extremely hard decision & transition for me! Jude was all about it though and very obviously appreciates the easy flow the bottle offers! :-)
I've made many trips up to Baylor to just have him weighed for peace of mind this past month. Well, mission accomplished! He's eating like a champ and weighed in at 10.19 lbs (wearing his onesie) at his pediatrician appt last Friday (2/5). YAY! He's getting bigger everyday now it seems! He went from gaining nothing for 3 weeks to gaining nearly 2 lbs a week!! Way to go Jude!

Team Howerton

Team Howerton ~ Jon, Brooke and Jude

I'll just start rambling b/c that's the easiest thing for me at this point ~ this whole blank template staring at me is intimidating! LOL. I've thought about creating a blog for a little over a year now but Jude's arrival has prompted me to actually do it! I'm proud to officially finally have a "BLOG" to share. YAY!!!


SHORT VERSION of how we became...

I met Jon at a Cross Canadian Ragweed Concert almost 5 years ago. Looking back I have no idea how we ended up dating with Jon being so shy and myself being so far from that...hence the public blog. ;-) I went w/a girlfriend of mine & he was there with several of his friends (one that was dating my friend). Neither of us were looking for a relationship but somehow left that night smitten with each other.
We dated for a little over 3 years...thru Jon's grad school, my many job transitions, apt to house moves, etc. Jon finally proposed 2/29/08 at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine over dinner. I was SHOCKED and couldn't hold back my happy tears. I had been waiting for this day and couldn't wait to marry my best friend! We made our calls to family and shortly after decided on 09/06/08 for the wedding date and asked Jon's dad, Stan, to marry us in our Keller church home (Northwood).
We spent our first year traveling and building a home together. We considered our dog, Bentley, our child and spoiled him willfully. We decided we were ready to the idea of having a baby around February-ish of 2009 and stopped preventing, which most will tell you..."That means you're trying"...they would be correct! I went to the Dr in April so sure that something was wrong w/me....like Cancer wrong with me, LOL. Nope, I was just pregnant! :-D
I couldn't even wait to tell Jon in person, I blurted it out on the phone as soon as I left the appointment! I was so nervous excited that I couldn't hold it in! I was dying to hear his reaction and have someone to share with. He was equally thrilled and we started picking out names together!
In some ways the pregnancy seemed like it took forever and in others it flew by! Jude Kaylor Howerton arrived 5 lbs 9 ounces on December 14, 2009. He was perfect!! :-)
Being so early in the "Parenthood game," I am still completely on cloud nine! I can't get enough of either of my boys and am so blessed to have such a healthy and happy family!!

Warmly,
Brooke