Saying Goodbye to Grandpa

Gregory Rodriguez Senior

1915 - 2008

This morning, we said goodbye to my grandfather, Gregory Rodriguez Senior. He was such an amazing man and he leaves us with many fond memories. Grandpa was a World War II veteran, a commited husband and father and an incredible grandfather. This picture was taken in 1944. Grandpa had just turned 29. He was writing love letters to my grandmother, who he would eventually marry. Grandpa leaves behind his wife Esther, three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. We love him and his legacy will live on forever.

Growing Landry - Three Month Birthday :)

The year of your first child's life is like your first year of marriage. You celebrate every month! And so we're celebrating Landry's birthday each month. :) We went out for BBQ tonight! Here are some snapshots of Landry's progress: from being born one month early due to a condition called "Inter-Uterine Growth Retardation" (IUGR) to where he is today three months later. Fortunately, despite the lower levels of blood and nutrition he received from the placenta towards the end of Angie's pregnancy, Landry appears to be completely healthy and normal. Most IUGR babies do fine and eventually catch up to their peers in weight and growth. So far so good! Great job Landry! He is a remarkable little boy and we feel so blessed.

Cousin Lucas' First Birthday

Cousin Lucas had his very first birthday this past weekend - and it was Landry's first "cousin" birthday party! :) However, the next day, the Cows didn't show up against a very good Giants football team - and so a promising season has very suddenly ended. So the weekend was both wonderful and a bit of a bummer. Whenever the Cows lose, I tend to "make up for it" by spending more time being productive and less time following the season / playoffs. That way, there is always some good that comes out of a disappointing loss. My attention now is on continuing to build Plano Life into the company I know it can be while doing some marketing consulting work on the side. Angie is on point with Landry, and she is so amazing with him! I've got Landry duty tomorrow, however - his 3-month birthday!

Daddy's Chores / Landry's Progress

House Rule #1: When Landry gets a bottle, Daddy gets a bottle too

Landry's "after meal" sleeping position (notice "unbuckling" of pants)

Looking at Mommy tonight after late dinner

I have bottle duty every night. It's one of my "baby chores." Angie might argue that it's my ONLY "baby chore," :) - but hey - it's a very important one! Of course, I welcome bottle duty because when Landry gets a bottle, Daddy gets a bottle too. It's a house rule that I instituted way back when Angie declared, "Greg, I'm going to teach you how to do the bottles." And so we negotiated, and this rule was the outcome. While the "bottle for bottle" rule works out quite well during the evening hours, Shiner Bock doesn't taste as good at 3:30 in the morning, or just before heading to the office. And I've never been one for beer at lunchtime either. Nevertheless, it's a rule I can live with - and so I'm not complaining too much. Of course, I'm KIDDING about all of this (most of it). :) Landry is doing quite well. He turned 12 weeks old yesterday and has BALLOONED to a healthy 10 lbs 6 oz - a full six pounds heavier than his birth weight. That's eight ounces per week - or slightly more than one ounce per day! Of course, it WAS the Holidays. And Landry wasn't the only one that gained six pounds during that time period. :) And no, I'm not talking about Angie! Thanks to mom's Christmas cookies, pralines, pecan pie and all of my bottles with Landry :) I've also put on about six pounds since Landry was born. But nobody's oooing and ahhhing while praising me for that accomplishment. As dad said last time we had dinner at their place, "Greg, it's not all about you anymore." You know dad - you're absolutely right. It's not about me. If ever there is an event that makes you realize that, it's having a child.

The Best of Christmas, 2007

These moments are so precious! The most wonderful thing about the Holidays is everyone coming together to celebrate God's gift of love to us and our love for each other. Landry got to meet Aunt Lizzy for the first time along with Grandma and cousins Heli, Ben, Adrian and Sheri. Other memorable moments included: Mom opening her 8x10 of Landry (which she carries with her everywhere she goes...Mom - we gave you a wallet size too!), Angie unwrapping her opal pendant necklace (Landry's October birthstone) and seeing the flood of kids' presents under Uncle David & Aunt Amy's Christmas tree! It was even more fun to watch everyone OPEN their presents! What special times! Oh - and it was Christy's birthday yesterday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CJ!!! Now, and almost as importantly, :) we can turn our attention to the NFL playoffs. The Cows haven't looked too good over these past few weeks. Hopefully, they can TURN IT ON when it counts next weekend! With Landry cheering them on, I have high hopes for Tony Romo and the Cows this year! GO COWS - and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!