Ty's first visit to Aggieland

The Spirit of Aggieland

From the outside looking in, you can't understand it.  From the inside looking out, you can't explain it.

Aggie babies don't stand a chance.  Inevitably, they will be dressed in maroon, taught to say Gig 'Em, and will learn to sing the War Hymn before they are two.  Brainwashing begins at birth, and being an Aggie isn't just a thing to do, its who you are.  My son already bleeds maroon.  He never had any other options.  In fact, when I found out I was pregnant the first time (2yrs before Ty), the first things I bought were Aggie onesies.  First trip to College Station when I was pregnant, I bought some more onesies and a pair of shoes.  In fact, Ty has 6 Texas A&M onesies in his drawer that currently fit him.  He needs an Aggie ball cap though.  That, we're missing.

All of that said, I was beyond excited at the thought of introducing Tyler to one of my most memorable places...the Texas A&M campus.  I always get excited being back.  Then I'm immediately dumbfounded at how much things have changed, and quickly realize that it has been 13 years since I first started my Aggie journey, and almost 10 years since I graduated.  We traveled back this time to attend an Aggie baseball game, which I hadn't done in many years.  My parents, Jeremy, Nicole, and Addison joined us.  We walked campus and took some pictures of the babies.  Those will show up again at their graduation parties...Tyler, Fightin' Texas Aggie c/o 2033, and Addison, Fightin' Texas Aggie c/o 2034.

my old home...

 my little Aggie

 Addison in front of Sbisa

 they moved Fish Pond!

Military Walk

Century Tree

I guarantee this picture is WAY different than any taken during their college days!

Jer & Nicole 

We visited the Sull Ross statue.  Aggie tradition says to place a penny on his foot before you take a test  for good luck.  Yes, you still need to study.  I will admit...I put a lot of pennies on his foot my freshman year, and I'm pretty sure it didn't work at all.  Nevertheless, its a rite of passage and the babies are learning early!

We also went to see the newly renovated MSC.  It was bittersweet.  The MSC is very nice, but certain changes just made me sad.  There's no longer a post office there.  I had a PO box there for years.  When you mailed out from that station, the stamp said Aggieland, USA.  After we moved off campus, I took many naps in the flag room.  I'd end up with gaps of time between classes and didn't have time to go home so I'd go chill out on a couch.  The couches are much nicer and cleaner than anything I slept on.  LOL.

Rudder Fountain

MSC

 new Flag Room

 Ty and Addi in front of the bookstore

Ty and Addi already found a great place to study down in the basement!

 study buddies!

Before lunch we headed to to see the new Aggie Ring at the alumni center.  I walked until a similar ring at Ring Dance back in 2003.  Can't wait for Ty to have his own Aggie Ring!

The babies also had their first visit to Northgate, and we had lunch at Fitzwilly's.  We may have just been the only people in the restaurant since graduation was the two days before and it was Sunday morning at 11am.  Anyone left in the vicinity was most likely still nursing last night's hangover.

Olsen Field got a bit of a makeover too.  It has a new facade, Blue Bell Park, and it was quite nice!  Ty sure enjoyed it!  By the time we made it to the actual game, the babies were losing steam.  Both had been spectacular all day long, especially considering neither had a nap.  We all took turns walking around with them throughout most of the game to keep them happy.  By the 7th inning stretch, both were out cold!

We learned that maybe next time, a trip to campus and lunch, or maybe just a game would be best for the little guys.  We're still a long way from either one of them making it through their first Aggie football game!  Plus I'm not ready for fork over $80 for Ty's ticket just yet!  Already looking forward to his next trip!

11 months

Tyler is eleven months!  Our sweet boy is growing up so fast!  This time last year, I was getting bigger by the day and growing more anxious to meet the boy that stole my heart.  I sit here and look at the pile of birthday decorations and supplies that litter my dining room table, wondering how in the world a year has almost passed.

No pediatric updates till next month, but my best guess is Ty weighs around 21lbs.  I do believe he's working a bit of a growth spurt as we speak...the boy's food intake is ridiculous.  We're still sitting pretty in 9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.  Ty seldom wears shoes, but when he does manage to leave them on, he wears a size 3 shoe.  He has tiny feet.  No teeth to talk about, but that doesn't stop Ty from eating pretty much whatever he wants.  We're considering Ty the Toothless Wonder for a new nickname!  He still eats purees so I can make sure he's getting enough food, but with each meal, he eats whatever we're eating (mostly fruits and veggies, cheese and crackers, and chicken or turkey).  One thing he does not care for is hamburger meat.  I think its a texture thing.  He still wont eat eggs either.  He still thinks that when a person in his vicinity is eating, he too must eat.

first taste of jello

Ty waves hi and bye-bye (he was doing that last month, but I failed to mention it in the update).  He says momma very clearly now and sometimes dada and Laila.  He prefers to be standing while he plays...plays, gets into things, whatever.  And man alive is he into everything.  We turned around yesterday to find him sitting on the dishwasher door.  As soon as he can grab on to something, he's standing.  It doesn't  have to be a stable surface either, his balance has improved greatly in the last month.  He even lets go every now and then without realizing it.  His longest independent stance has been a good 10 seconds.  He walks along the coffee table and couches, grabbing anything and everything in his path.  He is still very orally fixated too so that means whatever he finds immediately goes into his mouth.  This month alone he's eaten (or attempted to eat) dog and cat food, dirt, mulch, rocks, Laila's rawhide, and a roly poly.  Yes, a roly poly.  And I freaked out.  Cooter watched the whole thing.

crawling through the chairs just doesn't work!

first time to play with sidewalk chalk

thinks the dishwasher looks like a good place to play

caught pulling Bobbie's flowers

if you look closely, you can see the evidence...he ate dirt.

Ty's first birthday will be upon in a few short weeks...  Taking pictures of Ty these days is more about capturing the moment than striking a pose or getting him to smile.  He's way too busy!