The Huthouse

5 years of Tradition

2010-12-11T08:41:00.002-06:00

Christmas Tree Farm: Cman 9m, 21m, 2.5y, Cman and Baby Girl 3.5yr/7m and 4.5y/19m

The Swings

2010-12-11T08:31:00.002-06:00

Awhile back Papa had rescued a poor lil' metal swingset which has been a favorite for both the kids over the last few months but as Cman's solo swinging skills improved it was evident we would need something a bit sturdier. Tackling this project over a few weekends was great fun for the family as we dug and played in the holes, erected the structure and then mixed concrete to ensure that this swingset isnt budging. We are thankful for the help of PaPa and PapPap who helped us built the swingset that let's them touch the treetops!

Memories

2010-11-10T13:23:00.003-06:00

After a rough week we decided to scrap our weekend camping trip. Neither of us were looking forward to the work involved or weather since the cool front had overnight lows forecasted in the 30s! We decided instead to do a little relaxation and fulfill one of Cman's long time requests. He has had a fascination with all things water related for quite some time and so we packed up and headed to Sea World for the day. It was a perfect day! The weather was pleasant, we had a front row seat at every show, no lines for any of the rides, and more importantly we saw the memories and magic in the kids eyes that we remembered from our own visits as children.
While we enjoyed every exhibit and show feeding the dolphins and of course the "Shamu" show were definitely the favorites for the children.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-10T13:16:00.002-06:00

Both the children really enjoyed trick or treating in our neighborhood! Cman was the "Boy Wonder" and Baby Girl was an "Angel" which is very fitting with her new toddler tude! She enjoyed her first sucker and Cman actually gave up most of his pile to the "Switch Witch" who came in the night and traded most of the candy for some Lego Vampires.

Sunday Swim

2010-09-27T07:47:00.002-05:00

We walked to the lake yesterday so that Cman could swim. The weather was perfect and we were both quite content to relax, feel the breeze and sift through the rocks on the shoreline.

Summer in Summary

2010-09-08T22:10:00.003-05:00

Where O' where did Summer go? I hope you will forgive our hiatus from the blog as we were trying to transition into our new routine with my working at the "farm school" and us all trying to enjoy some lazy days. The slideshow below is just a snapshot but hopefully sums up everything we have loved about this Summer!

We spent lots of time outdoors! Tending to the garden and harvesting tons of fresh peaches. Swinging in the yard while enjoying the butterflies. Boating and swimming in the lake with friends and family. Mornings spent kayaking around town and picnic lunches at the park.

We spent lots of time together as a family! Movie nights with a carpet picnic of homemade pizza or fresh popcorn. Game nights playing soccer, croquet, or board/card games. Daniel teaching Cman how to play Chess while I enjoyed a good read and watched from the couch. Father and Son playing disc golf together. Evenings cooking and then enjoying a family dinner while we watched the hummingbirds gracing our feeder or the dragonflies dancing all over the yard.

We also hope to continue much of this routine or daily rhythm in our home. We are feeling settled and looking forward to Fall. With the cooler weather we anticipate even more time enjoying the great outdoors with some camping, hiking and kayaking on the horizon and a fall garden waiting to be planted.

Climber...

2010-06-09T07:42:00.003-05:00

Birthday Girl

2010-06-09T07:26:00.000-05:00

Catching up...We celebrated Addie's first birthday last month with family! It is amazing to me that this past year went by so quickly.

Growing...

2010-04-13T14:03:00.003-05:00

The children arent the only thing growing at the Huthouse. We expanded our garden last month by pulling out our raised bed, tilling and then adding all our good compost. We also put a picnic table behind the garden area for dining al fresco so we could take advantage of the beautiful sunset over our neighbor's farm. We received plants and transplants from family and friends including the hanging basket of strawberries from Aunt Kiki that Cman has been checking religiously. The wait paid off and as pictured above the Cman won the strawberry lotto this morning. We are also looking forward to squash, cucumbers for pickling, carrots, radishes, tomatoes, greens, jalapenos and wee watermelons if all goes as planned. We also added mint and cilantro to our "herb bucket" which already has basil, thyme and rosemary from last season. Happy Harvesting to all our fellow Spring Gardeners!

Kayak Campers

2010-04-10T22:46:00.003-05:00

Since getting our own kayak we had been itching to go camping! Easter was the perfect opportunity due to the long weekend and warm temperatures. We had family join us and friends visit us during our stay to keep us sane. Highlights including kayaking, campfires, and beautiful bluebonnets but little did we know when selecting our waterfront campsite that the carp were spawning. Between the giant carp slapping in the water and our restless children we didnt find ourselves well rested. I am sharing only a few snapshots of the trip as my camera batteries were dead only a few hours into our trip.

A Whole New Boy

2010-03-23T09:02:00.004-05:00

As most of you know the C-man recently celebrated his 4th birthday! There have been so many changes in such a short amount of time. My chubby cherub with round cheeks and a full tummy disappeared with the last growth spurt and a long lean little boy remains. The overgrown mop on top was buzzed down like "Dada's" at his request and it has transformed him into a whole new boy.

We have entered a new territory filled with action figures, lego sets with lots of little pieces and stories or pretend play involving superheroes, villains, dragons and the dark side. Nap times are mostly a thing of the past and we often wonder where he seems to put all that food. Underneath the surface I can still see my lil' cherub when he slows down after a long day as he curls up for cuddles and storytime but we are also enjoying getting to know this new little boy.

Brotherly Love

2010-03-19T07:31:00.002-05:00

Baby A is finally at an age where she and Bubba can play together. It is hard convincing him not to scream so closely to her face when it elicits such a belly laugh from his sister. Lately every time we are in the car she reaches out her hand for him to hold or if they are feeling spunky they start trying to high five each other and then these giggles are heard coming from the backseat. As parents it is this sort of interaction that just brings us sheer joy. We figure we will enjoy it while it lasts!

A Full Tummy

2010-03-04T07:35:00.002-06:00

Food has always seemed pretty simple to our family. You get hungry, prepare some food and eat it, right? We have always strived to prepare fresh and healthy meals, snacks, etc. and even more so after having children. However, since Baby A has started eating more and more solid foods she has started to have a number of symptoms. After discussing it with our pediatrician at her 9m well-check it became clear that she likely had some food issues that were worth exploring. I felt that at the very least her symptoms warranted a elimination diet to see if we could find the culprits and eliminate her symptoms. Since her Daddy has had some food intolerance issues from childhood through adulthood we thought he could benefit from doing the ED diet too, since I am breastfeeding I am also following the diet and well Cman is along for the ride to try to make this somewhat complicated journey as simple as possible. We have been keeping a detailed journal of our foods, symptoms, medications, etc. and already some patterns have begun to emerge. For Baby A it seems she cannot tolerate milk but some hard cheeses in small amounts seem to be an exception. Both Daddy and baby girl seem to have a reaction to wheat/gluten and possibly soy. For two weeks we have all been gluten-free, Baby A and I have been dairy-free too and then of course there are the normal food restrictions for a child under a year of age such as no nuts, citrus, berries (except for blue), and no egg whites.
Suddenly "food" in our house has become a bit more complicated. It requires a bit more planning and preparation but I will do anything to help us all get healthy, happy full tummies.

Snow Day

2010-03-04T07:23:00.002-06:00

After a sunny weekend that had us pulling out our shorts we awoke to an overnight cold front that brought lots of snow and sleet to our home. The kids were quite content to watch the snow falling from the window while we made a warm pancake breakfast. Soon after Cman was ready to head outside. He harvested the fresh snow from the backyard and soon we had bowls of snow all over the countertops. I decided we would do a little snow science by using different methods to find the quickest way to melt snow and this kept him occupied for quite some time. After some play indoors and a hearty lunch Cman and Papa Hut headed out into the front yard to build a snowman which was aptly named, "Frosty"! One or two days of snow is a fun novelty but anything more and we are moving to Mexico.

Lil' Picasso

2010-02-17T21:27:00.003-06:00

I was cleaning my kitchen and turned around to see that my lil' picasso had crawled from the living room where I left her to the easel in the kitchen, she then pulled herself to stand, grabbed a piece of chalk and scribbled back and forth on the chalkboard. I tried to grab my phone to catch a photo of her in the act but she was then promptly busted by her Bubba who told her that chalk wasn't for babies. His posture with arms at side and jaw jutted out as he called her name is too funny.

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

2010-02-17T21:20:00.003-06:00

Overheard.
Cman to friend: Lets be potheads!
I turned around and there they were, potheads in my kitchen!

The story below is from Cman's teacher at school. Guess who the little boy in the story might be...hmmm?!?!

On Wednesday, we were playing a version of "freeze dance" where you dance when the music is playing and freeze when it is off. I told the children that when the music stopped, we were going to lay down, pretend to sleep, and make snoring sounds. One little boy came over to me, "I can't really snore 'cause I don't have my tonsils or adenoids anymore."

Miss Independent

2010-01-25T08:21:00.005-06:00

Seems that Baby A is just growing at warp speed. She is nearly 9m now and is fiercely independent. She has been army crawling for awhile but now also gets up on all fours. As you can see from the photos she is learning to pull herself up to stand. We are enjoying watching the excitement on her face with each new achievement. I had planned to make her baby food just like I did for her big bubba but she has wanted, from the very beginning, absolutely nothing to do with purees or having someone feed her. We just went straight to finger foods and despite the fact she has no teeth she can quite easily consume just about everything we eat. Since she wouldn't let us feed her with a spoon I broke out the toddler spoons this week to see if she would feed herself. She was making quite a mess in trying to get it on the spoon so I started helping load it up for her but she has quite a temper and of course Lil Miss Independent wanted to do it all on her own.

G is for...Grandparents

2010-01-25T08:04:00.006-06:00

Mama's cousin Steph, pictured above with the good looking guy in the superman tee, recently came ot visit us for the weekend. Steph and Mama wanted a chance to catch up over the weekend so Dad and my awesome grandparents took over for the weekend. Papa and Julie took me to the circus. It was my first time under the big top and I loved every minute. The clowns shot giant silly guns, I won the cotton candy eating contest, rode a pony and enjoyed a spectacular show. I also visited the 2010 Boat Show with my Nunna, PapPap and Dad. Most of you know that for me a trip to the Boat Show is right up there with the circus. Being the veteran that I am now I knew exactly how to board and captain all the boats. I had my eye on a pair of children's skiis and hope to be spending lots of time on the lake this Summer. I LOVE my GRANDPARENTS! Oh and I think Mom and Dad love them almost as much.

Fun n' Games

2010-01-01T12:37:00.002-06:00

The long winter break gave us time to enjoy some fun and games! We all headed out for some bowling which was interesting for a frame or two but then I wanted to go into the Astroblast nerf ball shooting room and so Mom and Dad indulged me. Another evening Mom and Dad were out and so I headed out to Dave and Busters with Nunna, PapPap, Aunt Kelly and Friends! My Nunna scored some game cards as a gift and so I played just about every game they would let me play. I cant wait to go back!

Scenes

2010-01-01T11:17:00.003-06:00

Scene 1: Could you look a little bit more excited?
Scene 2: Okay, I think that is enough excitement.
Scene 3: Sissy is concerned while Cman just chuckles at himself.
Scene 4: Cman comforting and assuring Baby A that all is well.

Bubba and Sissy

2009-12-22T23:24:00.002-06:00

This is a typical day for us at the Huthouse as it is just absolute necessity for us to all be out of doors every day. Even if I have to pay later due to a bad cedar allergy season...it is worth it!

I am really enjoying the interaction between Cman and Baby A these days. She is a little explorer and fearless. He is the doting older sibling wanting to direct, assist or do anything to elicit a laugh. I often see her searching for him when he steps out of her view or when we call him by name. She is putting together so many sounds and like Mama and Dada she has taken to calling her brother Bubba. I asked what he would like to call her and he said Sissy. So that is how they came to be, atleast for the moment, Bubba and Sissy.

Oh Christmas Tree!

2009-12-07T06:53:00.003-06:00

This past weekend we took our annual trip to Elgin to procure our family Christmas tree! Our first trip was for C-man's first Christmas in 2006 and well it has become a bit of a tradition since.
Upon arrival at the tree farm this year we found that the drought had taken quite a toll but we were committed to supporting our local farm and were sure we could find a suitable tree.

A brief hayride takes us to the back of the farm where we unload, saw in hand, to commence the search. One is too crooked, too short, too fat but while searching there is plenty of hidden entertainment. Tetherball, hay bale jumping, swinging, tractor driving and of course the biggest source of entertainment for Cman was sawing on the stumps that remained in the field.

Finally we spot "our" tree! After sawing down we pay the farmers and strap it to the top of the family truckster. Last stop, also Papa Hut's favorite part of the day, is a BBQ lunch at Southside Market. We rotate between the Meyers and Southside establishments which both claim to provide Elgin's best BBQ. We decided this year that while Meyer's has the allure of tukey, great sides and dessert that Southside's brisket and sausage cant be beat.

Baby-A and C-man slept the entire trip home and then we spent the remainder of the evening trimming our tree.

Pigskin

2009-11-30T08:36:00.002-06:00

Mystery Photographer

2009-11-23T21:35:00.002-06:00

I occasionally find in the midst of downloading photos a few shots from a mystery photographer and this is a collection of my favorites.

Camping-Colorado Bend SP

2009-11-16T07:56:00.003-06:00

C-man's Colorado Bend Camping Trip Top 10
1. Sleeping in the Tent
2. Kayaking
3. Playing with Friends
4. Marshmallows and Campfires
5. Climbing on Fallen Trees
6. Exploring Nature
7. Croquet
8. Watching "Baby-A" try to eat Leaves
9. Camping Food
10. Peeing in the Woods

Pirate and Pumpkin

2009-11-09T23:21:00.002-06:00

Pirate and Pumpkin enjoyed a spook-tacular Halloween! We visited Mama M and family for a relaxed pre-trick or treat gathering! She always puts on a show for the kidlets which included a dramatic reading of Where The Wild Things Are! A lil' later we headed over to the Brown houshold for a group trick or treat in their hood. The Papas took the boys trick or treating which involved lots of running and screaming while Mamas and Babes camped out in the driveway to pass out candy.

I must send out a special thank you to Mama Tanya for all of the wonderful photos above! :)

Half-Birthday!

2009-11-03T07:49:00.004-06:00

We can hardly believe it has been 6 months since this joyful child has joined our family.
She is an extremely agile, roly-poly child that is always wearing a smile. She is mastering sitting up and like everyone in our family is heartily enjoying her introduction to the culinary arts.
She loves fresh melon in the mesh feeder and has had the obligatory guacamole. She didnt seem to enjoy it nearly as much as her brother but dives right into everything. She is very determined and of course her brother's silly antics elicit many a belly laugh!

Happy Half-Birthday Baby Girl! We love you so much!

Hallow's Eve

2009-10-30T14:03:00.002-05:00

Halloween is on the horizon! I asked Mama to help make some decorations to scare Daddy when he got home from work. I made bats and ghosts to hang and then we used some felt fabric and velcro we had on hand to make a skeleton puzzle. I named him "Skeletor" and enjoy quizzing everyone on the various bones. Daddy brought home some pumpkins and I used lots of sharp things to help carve them. We also visited the pumpkin patch and then today I practiced for the big night tomorrow by donning my pirate gear and trick or treating at the local library. We heard a spooky story and I filled my treasure chest. Cant wait for tomorrow!

Here comes the sun...

2009-10-27T13:02:00.002-05:00

On a recent rainy day without any prompting from us Cman went to the chalkboard and drew a "sun smiling with rays".
I had been patiently waiting for him to find his inner artist as I love drawing, painting and pretty much all things art myself. This is the first representational figure that I have witnessed him drawing without any prompting.

Dont worry, I am not delusional and know that he is ALL boy and so physically full of energy that it is often hard to get him interested in doing anything artsy-craftsy for long. I hope though that some day his drawing pad and colored pencils can become a companion.

Hole in One...

2009-10-19T18:33:00.003-05:00

We took Cman out to enjoy a favorite pastime of ours, putt-putt! We have battled many a friend or family member on the course and decided it was time he started practicing. His technique was a cross between the putt-putt power shot and field hockey but fun was had by all and even Baby-A was looking to get in on the action. I see lots and lots of putt-putt in our future!

The Monkeyhouse

2009-10-13T08:57:00.003-05:00

We recently took a trip to the Cameron Park Zoo! It is "zoo weather" and we all like the ease of navigating this particular zoo and it seems to be a perfect size for spending a few hours with preschooler and baby in tow. The only "animal" we captured photos of was this monkey playing in the new asian forest exhibit area.

Brotherly Love

2009-10-12T20:04:00.001-05:00

Tub Time

2009-10-05T13:41:00.003-05:00

Poor Baby-A didnt stand a chance...
luckily a little water over the head didnt phase this water baby!

Quiet Time...Shhh

2009-09-23T08:59:00.002-05:00

Cman is hitting the age where napping is directly related to the amount of activity he has in the morning and so we have decided to move towards instituting quiet time. Everyone needs a bit of down time and so we have a 45min. period of "reading" books or such and sometimes this results in a nap and sometimes it doesnt. We had been setting a timer so that he could see when time was up but the other day the timer mysteriously disappeared.

Scene: Mama and Cman, Living Room and Papa, on the computer in the bedroom

Cman: Where is my timer?
Me: I dont know. Go to your room and we will let you know when quiet time is over.
Cman: But how will I know when quiet time is over?
Me: Okay, here I will set an alarm on my cell phone and it will beep when quiet time is over.
Cman: What does the beep sound like?
Me: (demonstrates beep, lies cell phone down and leaves room)

Scene: Minutes pass, everyone enjoying "quiet time", suddenly Papa phone rings

Papa: Hello! (Answers phone without looking)
Cman: Hey Dad!
Papa: Colton??? Where are you?
Cman: In my bed, Is quiet time over yet?

Cousins

2009-09-14T16:53:00.003-05:00

We packed up the car and headed to Big D for a quick over-nighter at Grandma's to see Aunt K and our new baby cousin. Best part of the trip, other than our traditional "czech stop" kolache pit stop, was getting the awesome pirate hat. Arrrr...ye mateys!

Caped Crusader and Urban Cowboy

2009-09-01T16:38:00.002-05:00

One-Third

2009-08-31T14:16:00.004-05:00

"A-baby" had her 4M well check today and I quickly realized that one-third of her first year has already passed. Doesnt help that being both a girl and second born has put her, in comparison to her brother, so much further ahead developmentally. She is a pleasantly plump 16lbs. 3ozs and remains right on track with her growth curve. She rolls from tummy to back, back to tummy and is starting to try to scoot around. She vocalizes often and is described by friends, family and her teachers as "all smiles".

Speaking of school, she is finding her routine and settled in nicely with her mates. She is smothered with love from her teachers who are amazed at how much she resembles her Papa. Of course she enjoys hearing Cman and the opportunity to catch a glimpse of him during the day. It is hard to recall life before she was here as she is so loved by her Papa, Mama and big brother!

Arrrrr....

2009-08-24T07:18:00.002-05:00

Taking on the Twins

2009-08-24T07:13:00.002-05:00

While Daddy and C-man were having their dude weekend us ladies traveled to go celebrate a very special preggie mama and stayed with Mama's Cuz and the "twins"! Taking on the twins was no small feat and as you can see in the photos I was quite beat.

Dudes

2009-08-15T13:31:00.003-05:00

Cman and I have had many a dude night but last weekend we had a dude weekend which consisted of lots of guy stuff like a visit to Uncle Kyle's to eat fried catfish and rock out, a workshop at Lowe's to build a wooden powerboat, tilling out back to expand the garden and then half a day spent kayaking, playing and having a picnic at Zilker. We enjoyed kayaking together so much that we went out again this morning hence the different colored kayaks in pics below.

Baby-A: What a difference a couple months make!

2009-08-03T14:15:00.006-05:00

One Month

Three Months

Well Baby-A is officially 3 months this week and is the most mellow baby you shall ever meet.
Lots of smilin', talkin' and rollin' going on these days and she of course is just in love with her silly older brother.

Foam Pit, Foam-erator and Faux Moustache

2009-08-03T14:00:00.006-05:00

Above photo courtesy Tanya G.

We have been focusing on time with fam, friends and having FUN! Photos above are from a birthday party at the gym where I spent most of my time in a giant foam pit, a lazy day after swimming at the pool Mama and I made Foam-erators out of old water bottles so that we could make super snakes out of the foamy bubbles and last but not least is a recent playdate with one of my pals where we got a little silly with the play-doh.

Friendship

2009-07-28T09:20:00.003-05:00

One of the best things about this age, 3, is watching the C-man form friendships. While he has had many friends from school and from my Mothers' group for quite some time it is only recently that he has formed some "true" friendships. These two characters, in the lovely photo captured by Mama Melissa, play so well together, talk non-stop about each other and often can only be separated by one of us Mamas physically removing them.

Follow-up

2009-07-21T07:41:00.002-05:00

So we headed out for my 2 week post-op appointment yesterday. The doc said I still have some swelling and raw areas but I am well on my way to being fully recovered. In another week or two my voice should be back to normal and I should hopefully re-gain all of the weight I lost too. I have been cleared to swim as long as I wear my earplugs and since I have outgrown my last set I got to choose a new pair and picked pink, of course. The upside to this recovery is that I am now sleeping soundly without any pain, snoring or sleep apnea issues. Recovery has been a long road but left lots of time for me to bond with baby sister and play with Mama.

Recovery

2009-07-15T11:12:00.003-05:00

So while the first photo may not be great I would like to point out the two large lumps with a lil' black space between them, those were my tonsils. Shortly after baby sister was born Mom and Dad took me for a routine check-up with the ENT and mentioned how bad my snoring and sleep apnea had gotten during that visit. It only took a quick glance for the doc to identify the problem. I had what they call "kissing tonsils", named such because they become so enlarged they are touching each other. Unbeknownst to all of us these mammoth tonsils had been causing a whole host of issues with the most serious being oxygen deprivation and lack of REM sleep.

I had both tonsils and adenoids removed on July 6th and after a brief 24hr. stay at the Children's Hospital I came home to recover. Recovery has been anything but easy. It has been 10 days now of medicines, frustration, interrupted sleep, and pain. I was finally able to eat something for the first time today but Mom and Dad say I am letting a real opportunity pass me by because I have no interest in consuming ice cream, pudding, jell-o, etc. I should be heading towards the tailend of my official 2 wk. recovery period but I have a feeling it will be just a bit longer for me to get back to myself and all of us to get back into our normal routine.

Bye, Bye...

2009-06-22T07:48:00.000-05:00

CURLS!! I refuse to let anyone but Aunt Katie cut my hair. So while we were visiting this time Mama and I decided to take it all off.

Bedheads

2009-06-16T15:41:00.000-05:00

Another bonus of Mom being on maternity leave is that we can spend leisurely mornings in bed and I love to maul...uh...I mean cuddle with baby sister and Mom. Oh and I let Dad stay because he says it is his bed.

Lake Rat

2009-06-09T15:29:00.000-05:00

Now that Summer has officially arrived I am living the lake life. Between regular excursions on the boat with my Nunna and Pap and lakeside picnics with both family and friends Dad says I am becoming an official lake rat. Gosh I've never seen him more proud!

Lazy Days

2009-06-09T15:12:00.000-05:00

Over the last month we have all been enjoying some lazy days at home adjusting to life as a family of four. I am really enjoying the lounging, playing outside and tackling some of those creative projects mounting on my to-do list.

Safety First...always wear your helmet when playing at dusk.

No need for a bed just pull up some carpet.

Ahhh...been begging to do a lil' squirt bottle painting since last time.

May look like scribble scrabble to you but coloring with these window crayons is allowing me to expand my mind.

It's official...

2009-05-14T14:28:00.000-05:00

I am a BIG BROTHER! Almost 2 weeks ago I met my little sister, Addie, for the first time.
I think she is MY baby but Mama says I have to share. She sleeps alot, even through my loud antics and close-talking. Daddy stayed home and we played the first week and this week I have had lots of special time with Grandma during her visit but starting next week it will be just Me, Mama and Baby Sister!

Top 5 things I learned about babies this week:

1. You cannot poke them in the eye.
2. No putting your fingers or anything else in their mouth.
3. Only adults can carry a baby.
4. Never, never shake a baby.
5. and when their cord falls off they get a belly button.

New friends...

2009-04-30T11:23:00.000-05:00

Mama and I spent our day together this week lunching and then ventured over to the bookstore to put the gift card I got for my birthday to good use. For a long time now the favorites in my collection have been mostly the Curious George series and anything by author Richard Scarry.

We headed over to explore the section of paperback beginner books today and I pulled out Little Bear by Else Minarik and Stuart Sets Sail by Susan Hill. Stuart, Little Bear and I were instantly friends and so it didnt take long for Mama to realize that these classic series would have to be added to the favorites pile for our nightly rotation.

I'd never...

2009-04-14T15:45:00.000-05:00

been to the Krispy Kreme donut shop and neither had Mama so after I requested donuts for my mid-morning snack we both took off for a warm sweet treat! While delightfully enjoying our donuts Mama suggested that we should do something else I had never done.
For this particular adventure I asked to go see a movie just like "George" in one of my favorite books. We headed downtown after a quick appt. for Mama and decided to catch the IMAX 3-D "Under the Sea" movie. Ocean creatures are one of my favorite things and so I sat stunned BUT did jump out of my seat and hide my eyes a couple times at the up-close 3-D action. After 45min. of stillness I was full of energy and a bit hungry so we called Dad and met up at Zilker Park for a picnic lunch and just a bit of playtime. After a full day we headed home and I plopped down as we hit the door for my afternoon siesta.

Love,
The C-man

Egg-cellent Easter

2009-04-13T08:13:00.000-05:00

We had a nice relaxed Easter this year that involved lots of Egg-cellent fun! After breakfast I colored some eggs, helped Mom make muffins and then went out to play in the mud and puddles leftover from the rain with Dad. After lots of playtime, lunch and a loooong nap I awoke ready to hunt for the eggs that Mom and Dad had hidden.
Finally, a bit later I took all the shells off my eggs and crushed them up to make an Easter art masterpiece. It couldn't have been a better Easter!

Backyard Retreat

2009-03-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

We usually spend so much time touring the parks that I havent spent much time exploring my own backyard. This year in anticipation of being a bit more homebound with the arrival of my lil' sis the parental units have been making the backyard a great place for me to retreat.

The retreat includes a sandbox that Dad built (with help from PaPa), a climbing dome and will be finished up this week with a large outdoor chalkboard that needs to be mounted on the fence. I am also responsible for the Spring garden and will be tending to the veggies and watering our fruit trees. The peach tree already has some pretty flowers and so I am anxiously awaiting juicy ripe peaches.

Year in Review

2009-03-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

THREE!!!

2009-03-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

The weather and my health thwarted our plans for a cookout with family but it didn't stop us from celebrating my birthday! Today I am "3" and so we celebrated with a blueberry pancake breakfast and I got an awesome red rocket "big boy" bike from Mom and Dad.

Mommy & Me

2009-03-10T15:40:00.000-05:00

Mom and I headed out this morning to spend the day together. First stop was the Zach Scott Theatre Children's Production of "Home Sweet Home"! This was my first time seeing a show and I really enjoyed the puppets and silly songs.

After the show we decided to hit up the nearby P.Terry's Burger Stand and let me say if you haven't hit this Austin original you need to check it out! We enjoyed burgers, fries, shakes and the good company of friends. Mom asked my shake preference and of course I picked my favorite "flavor"....pink! They have outdoor seating and a little sandpit that I had to make a stop at before heading out.

After a leisurely walk we hopped back into the car and headed home. I promptly fell asleep and enjoyed a lengthy nap at home. Now that is what I call a day well spent!!

Just another day at the "Farm"

2009-02-18T14:22:00.000-06:00

I love my school, buddies and being OUTSIDE!!

Squeeze...

2009-02-03T21:12:00.000-06:00

Today we had some buddies over and Mama came up with this cool activity to let me squeeze as much as I please. Recently I have been caught squeezing out various bottles of glue, lotion, shampoo, etc. but apparently this is against the rules. Now I have my very own squeeze bottles to empty as many times as my lil' heart desires.

If you take a boy to the Boat Show...

2009-01-19T08:45:00.000-06:00

...it is guaranteed to be a good time!

Check out this Boat Motorcycle...SWEET!

Maybe we need a Pontoon-er for anchoring in a cove and chillin'

Look, this one has a sink!

I like the view from this Outrigger...perfect for fishing!

Wait a minute...this Ski Boat is what I really need!

Who Am I?

2009-01-12T07:16:00.000-06:00

A Dark Knight? Couch Potato Gamer? Handy Contractor?

Men at Work

2008-12-31T20:20:00.000-06:00

Daddy, Mommy and I have been VERY busy during the break trying to make room for Baby Sister's arrival this Spring! I helped measure and hammer together the new desk from IKEA using some of the tools my Papa got me for Xmas.

All I wanted for Xmas....

2008-12-31T20:16:00.000-06:00

was a L-O-B-S-T-E-R! Thank You St. Nick!

Holiday Hoopla

2008-12-15T14:17:00.000-06:00

So the Holiday Hoopla officially began this past week and we kicked off the season by visiting the Schlitterbahn Hill Country Christmas on Saturday with Nunna, PapPap and some of Daddy's cousins. The place was lit up all over with faux snow, a live reindeer and roasted corn. Nunna thought that no holiday outing would be complete without a glowing light sabor for the children and so I especially enjoyed attacking innocent spectators.

Sunday morning we made a visit to see Kris Kringle and although not scared like last year I was a bit stunned to be in the big guy's presence. Mama Melanie took some pics and once we get a copy I am sure Mom will be posting or sending to all. Oh and I asked Santa for a lobster for Xmas and he said if I had been good maybe I would find one Xmas morning. That made me happy as a clam but Mama seemed less than happy for some odd reason.

Today we woke up and did a little holiday baking. I sampled it all but nothing was better than licking the bowl after we made gingerbread cake. We grabbed that gingerbread cake, a barrel of hot cider and bundled up to have our own private snow day with friends. I think Mama spent so much time trying to keep up with me and keep from slipping on the ice and snow that the only pic she caught was of me wet post playtime. Hopefully some other mamas caught pics of us sliding on the ice, throwing snowballs, making snowmen and trudging through the icy powder pile.

Looking forward to more Holiday Hoopla this week as we visit the Trail of Lights and then our first Xmas celebration will be with the Hutlocks next weekend so I can practice for the real thing!

Robby....

2008-12-09T15:44:00.000-06:00

Dad and I broke out the odds and ends Mama had saved up around the house and created my new friend...Robby the Robot! I got to use these awesome glitter glue pens and spend time being crafty with Dad.

Traditions

2008-11-29T23:23:00.000-06:00

So we headed to the Elgin Xmas Tree Farm for our annual sacrificial tree tradition! Since 2006 we have made the trip to Elgin to choose n cut our own tree and then on to the Southside Market or Meyer's to fill our bellies full of BBQ. Seems there is always a bit of a mist and this weekend was no different with a shower or two drizzling above BUT I got to hold a bow-saw and run around like a wildebeast so rain or shine it is always a good time.

Driving Mr. C-man

2008-11-20T10:40:00.000-06:00

Traveling from Home to school this morning!

Cman: Ouch!
Mama: What happened?
Cman: The lobster pinched me.
Mama: What? Where did the lobster pinch you?
Cman: Well he wasnt trying to pinch me he was trying to pinch the straps.
Mama: Why?
Cman: To get me out of the carseat.
Mama: You better tell him you can't get out of the carseat while I'm driving.
Cman: Lobster, You better not do that! Not safe. Policeman will pull us over.
(all this with a very serious face)

Peed my Pants

2008-11-19T15:07:00.000-06:00

So my itty-bitty sicky gave me his cold over a week ago. I am generally so healthy that when it comes to having any kind of chronic symptoms I tend to whine and complain way too much.
It has been over a week of humidifiers, essential oils, cough drops, soup, hot teas, and snot out the wazoo.

So I wasnt going to discuss it any further but today I draw the line.

Generally my cough is worse in the evening with the added congestion but now it feels like something is constantly in my throat. I mean people, as of yesterday I have started wearing pantyliners because well coughing fits and pregnant lady with little bladder dont mix. One of the damn perks of being pregnant is that I dont have to deal with the monthly visitor and all that crap but here I am wearing friggin' pantyliners.

Friday Night Lights

2008-11-12T15:00:00.000-06:00

Last Friday we headed over to our local high school football stadium to see Domi in the marching band. I had heard the band earlier in the year when Mama rolled down the window and had been dying to see Domi and the rest of the band ever since. We packed up some kettle corn, warm apple cider, a blanket and enjoyed the chilly TX evening. Friends and Football, what else could a guy want?

Thanks to Mama Andrea for catching these shots of me and Dad at my first game!

Camping- Jim Hogg Park

2008-11-10T06:59:00.000-06:00

We decided last week to have an overnighter this weekend at the campsites out near Lago so that Nunna and PapPap could come down and join us for a bit. We found out on Saturday morning that for the first season ever they had closed the camgrounds until next spring.
All geared up for Marshmallows and sleeping in the Tent we decided to head for G-town and find a campsite on the lake. Nunna and PapPap were already looking forward to hangin' with us and so they packed up their gear and joined us a few hours later. Due to the burn ban ground fires were prohibited so we improvised and made a nice little campfire in the grill provided at our site. There is a nice trail system that connects all three parks in G-town that is nice for hiking and mountain biking. We didnt veer too far off the trails because we were warned that it was deer hunting season and that hunters were on the nearby private property. It was a chilly evening but we layered up and kept warm in our tent.

2008-11-05T09:03:00.000-06:00

C-man and A-man were playing together yesterday and Mama Tanya captured this priceless shot of him giving attitude. That is what happens when a toddler wakes at 5am and then refuses a nap!

Trick or Treat

2008-11-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

I was SO excited to go trick or treating that I put on my Monkey suit the second we got home!
We went to run one quick errand and by the time we returned it was dark enough to make the rounds. I really liked getting a close look at all the Halloween decor and tried to roll one of the giant globes or pumpkins a few times before the parentals made me stop. I didnt hesitate in either greeting neighbors with a trick or treat and the occasional more casual, Do you have candy? I raced and darted skipping down the driveway with a Thanks and Happy Halloween to all before moving on to the next house.

Once we got home Dad raided my bag for all things chocolate and then I traded Mama a few things for a surprise bag with some fun treats. I grabbed our bowl and sat by the door waiting for trick-or-treaters but I guess being the last house at the dead end with the prior 4 not passing out candy left us out of the action as I only got to answer the door twice to hand out the glow in the dark stuff and lollipops that we picked out for Halloween. Oh well, guess that means more for me!

Love,
The C-man

It's official...

2008-11-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

Well I am not entirely sure what the big deal is but everyone seems to be super excited that I am officially out of the pull-up diapers and wearing my big boy undies. A little over a week ago I told Mama I didnt want to wear those itchy pull-ups to bed and so she let me wear my undies and here we are a week later after having had outings, playdates and three school days with minimal accidents I can safely say I have hit Potty Pro status.

Auto-pilot

2008-10-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

How soon body and mind forget all those "lovely" things that came as part of the whole pregnancy package. One part that has recently surfaced and is far worse than last time is the short term memory loss. I am stocked on post-it notes at my desk and seriously contemplating wearing a wire so that I can playback all recent conversations.

I am simply running on auto-pilot with my physical actions often totally unrelated to any mental activity. Case in point: While at a friend's house last night I went to throw something away and immediately went for the pantry. I dont even keep my own trash in the pantry but am somehow compelled to look there first. I was pointed in the proper direction as to where to dispose of my item but then went towards the pantry again no less than five times in search of the trashcan.

My husband has also deemed me the repeater as I immediately ask the same question twice in a row truly unable to remember if I have already asked him.

So what was I saying?!?!

From the Backseat

2008-10-24T10:35:00.000-05:00

C-man: I wish I had a trumpet. (as we drive past Cedar Park High School)
Mama: What would you do with it.
C-man: Play music like Domi.

C-man: Mama we have passed 2 Sonic's.
Mama: yes we have.
C-man: Should we get a slushy?

Pumpkins and Painting

2008-10-23T10:57:00.000-05:00

Fall has finally arrived and so Mama and I have been having a little Fall fun! I did a little pumpkin painting at home after making a trip to a local nursery pumpkin patch. Then I attended an art playdate with friends where it was "All About Orange"! We wore orange clothes, experimented to find out that yellow and red make orange, used other orange art mediums and then my favorite part of course was eating orange snacks. Mama and I were in charge of snacks and I helped by using the pasta cutter to make orange cantaloupe circles. This weekend we may even squeeze in a trip to a nearby farm for some more Pumpkin fun and then of course we will be carving them up for Halloween which I am eagerly anticipating.

Happy Fall to All~
C-man

P.S. Thanks to D's mama Melanie for the awesome pics from our Orange Playdate!

Before and After

2008-10-13T16:01:00.000-05:00

About a month ago I decided I didnt want to sleep in my room anymore! Couch...yes! Guest bed...yes! Mom and Dad bed...Yes! My Room...NO way!

So weekend before last Mom and Dad started talking up getting a new big boy bed and then we all hopped into the car to venture to IKEA for Step 1.
I selected this simple little white number you see in the second picture. We realized it wasn't fitting into the SUV and so we headed to get PaPa's pickup and then ventured back to IKEA!

Step 2 involved picking up a mattress and at the second stop Mom ad Dad pulled the trigger on the factory special.

Finally we got to Step 3. The parental units told me I could pick out my very own bedset.
Mom urged me to get the Ocean or Construction vehicle theme but I instantly gravitated towards Spider-man. The big boys at school l0ve Spidey and well I want to be just like them.
So Dad and I convinced mom to buy the Spidey sheet set.

I decided to cut them a break so I walked right into my bedroom after the new bed was assembled and went right to sleep and have been doing the same every night since!

Spidey is my Hero

2008-10-08T11:47:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is true I generally despise all character oriented items but my little man has developed quite a liking for Spider-Man as a result of a school friends' endless collection of all things Spidey.
This past weekend we made a last ditch effort to get C-man sleeping back in his room by letting him choose his own big boy bed and sheet set. The simple IKEA frame was perfect and I had all these visions of him picking out a sea monkey or transportation theme bedset BUT once he saw the Spider-man sheet set it was all over. Looking at the pleading faces of not only my son but my husband I succumbed and now must agree it is the BEST thing ever. For 3 straight nights he has walked into his room, climbed into bed and gone to sleep within 5mins. or less. After almost a month of bedtime battles he has gone back to my soundly sleeping son because "Spider-man is strong and can protect him from monsters."

All hail to the Mighty Spidey!

aka The Boss

2008-10-01T19:18:00.000-05:00

Yep! Read em' and Weep folks because I am going to be a BIG BROTHER but more importantly the "Boss"!

Mixology

2008-09-21T22:53:00.000-05:00

Wash.Rinse. Repeat. Okay so maybe those aren't the directions I followed exactly but I love to dump and fill using any containers or substance I can get my hands on so mama rigged up this little activity which I spent quite some time enjoying.

Mama started me off by getting 4 empty glass jars and a small pitcher of water which I then distributed among the jars. After I was satisfied with that task I moved on to my next objective.
Using a bit of food coloring and some plastic chopsticks I created the perfect hues in 3 of the jars choosing to leave the last one clear. Mama asked what I thought would happen if I mixed the water from any number of the jars and so I had to give it a try. Aha...yellow and blue makes green and of course the green stayed green but changed hues which prompted me to mix further until all the water in each of the jars were an identical hue. Finally, I decided I would put the lids back on the jars and do a little drummin' with my chopsticks...ahhhh....music to my ears. Clink. Clank. Ting. Bing. I am liking this mixology thing!

Mama Moments

2008-09-21T22:43:00.000-05:00

As a mama I think we all have those "moments." You know... the ones that make all those late nights, poopy pants and less than desirable duties of mamahood SO worth it!

Today I had one of those heart-melting moments. My little man out of the blue told me he had a secret for me and as I bent down closer to hear his whisper I heard him softly pause while saying, " I...love...you!"

The fact that he rarely whispers anything and came up with this special secret all on his own had me beaming for the entire day.

Quotables

2008-09-19T12:40:00.000-05:00

Daily Conversation:

Scene: Living Room

Me: Standing on my Head

Mama: Sitting on Couch

Mama says: Oh are you gonna do a little yoga?

Me: Uhhh...this is Pilates.

Favorite Sayings:
Please dont tell me that!
How was/is your day?
I dont want you to get the poop out.

It's my Potty...

2008-09-07T21:40:00.000-05:00

Wish these peeps would get off my back.
I think Mama is tired of me going back and forth between wanting to pee in the potty and then wanting nothing to do with it for days at a time BUT I just say "It's my Potty and I'll Pee when I want to!"

Bunny Love

2008-09-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

At school we are preparing for our transition to the new location in only a few short weeks.
We are going to have quite a menagerie of animals including dwarf bunnies. Two bunnies came to stay with us at school until the move to the "farm" and I am in bunny love! After reading a bit about the bunnies in our new bunny book at school I convinced the teach that I could feed and pet this little ball of fur. Hmmmm....cant wait to meet our next animal "Lucy" the pot-bellied pig!

Absence...

2008-09-07T21:05:00.000-05:00

Absence really does make the heart grow fonder! After spending last week in DC I missed my "boys" something awful and was glad to return home to happy hearts and hugs.

However, there are a few things I will be missing this week!

Maid Service
Laundry Service

Great Restaurants & Big Fat Expense Account
Uninterrupted Reading for Pleasure
Awesome Public Transit aka Metro
History, Culture and the View of DC lit up at night!

Until we meet again my fair DC....sigh!

D is for...

2008-08-30T21:30:00.000-05:00

Dude Nights! When Mama is away Daddy and I play! He is a real trooper and will do just about anything I ask. Here we are in the "boat" donning our "Captain hats" and you cant see it well in this photo but the string tied to the caterpillar is the "anchor" he made for our boat and the blue ball in back is the engine. He will even lay on the pad in my room until I fall asleep but as you can see last time he was the one to pass out first and he snores like a freight train.
Let's hope he can hang for "Dude Week" next week while Mama is in DC for work!

Dream Job

2008-08-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been merely browsing and come across an ad for a job that you new would be just perfect for you? Maybe it wouldnt pay the bills or the hours were horrendous so you didnt apply but just knew you would be the perfect candidate for the job?

Well I have been searching for jobs for my other half and today came across one of those ads! There are so many reasons why this job wouldnt work me. One being that I already have a job and carry our family insurance benefits and the other being that I imagine it doesnt pay squat.

So you ask, did I shoot them my Cover Letter and Resume? You bet your arse I did!

No "Awake" Zone!

2008-08-21T11:48:00.000-05:00

Last night Mama and I were playing with my "boat" and loading up all of my favorite animals for a ride. A few minutes later I covered my animals with a blanket (aka playsilk) and put my finger over my mouth to tell Mama...Shhhh...because the animals were sleeping. Mama asked why all the animals on the boat were sleeping and I replied because it is a no "awake" zone!

My hat is old, my tooth is gold...

2008-08-20T10:58:00.000-05:00

Some of you may be familiar with this text from one of our favorite Suess books around the house and this week I am feeling a bit like this cat because I am now sporting a gold tooth. No it isnt a flashy grill like you may see on the BET video hour but the cost might be just about the same.

In the whole effort to take care of myself I now have a hefty bill for the services of my eye doctor, dentist and physician. I went for dental appt. 2 of 4 this week to get my gold tooth and 2 additional fillings and left with a revised treatment plan and prescription for Vicodin. One of those small fillings on my front tooth now requires a root canal and porcelain crown because the tooth is too small to be saved. Now the tally is 2 down and 3-4 more appts to go...arghhh! Frankly I am scared to go in and replace some of the other cavities for fear that it will only require an addendum to my lengthy treatment plan.

So next Tuesday I will be getting the root canal/temporary crown and chasing my vicodin with a stiff drink all before Noon....GOOD TIMES!

I wanna be...

2008-08-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

...a DIVER! I caught a glimpse of the Mens Olympic diving last night and was totally entranced. I watched intently as they climbed up the ladder and dove into the water and let out a squeal of delight and laughter as they plunged into the pool. I became extremely sad when Mama told me the diving was over and something called Beach Volleyball appeared. Since then I have been practicing my diving from the living room sofa ensuring that my toes are precisely on the edge before diving to the floor. So for this week anyways I want to be a diver BUT the parental units said they also compete in swimming and we all know I LoVe swimming so stay tuned!

Please...

2008-08-08T12:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, I am going to post this because Mel asked real nicely!!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6am

2. Diamonds or Pearls? Not one for jewelry but I will say Diamonds because my first Xmas gift as a married lady from the hubby was a pair of diamond earrings that I always wear in my 2nd hole.

3. What 2 things do you always have with you? Cellphone, credit card. Ditto!

4. What is your favorite TV show(s)? Major Surfer since we gave up DVR but I am watching this season of Project Runway, Flipping out, alot of Bravo, FoodTV and Discovery.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee. Maybe a granola bar on workdays.

6. What is your favorite book? Hmmm...this is tough. I will say the Black Dahlia but Kitchen Confidential or Bone in Throat would be up there too. Oh and pic for Mommy lit would be I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids.

7. What is your middle name? Marie

8. What food do you dislike? Pate and Foie Gras

9. What is your favorite CD? Again, not very good with picking just one. Currently, something by Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dandy Warhols, Ruthie Foster, Ladytron, NIN, Chili Peppers...

10. What type of car do you drive? The Rodeo...Yeehaw!

11. Favorite sandwich? 3 cheese and mustard grilled....mmm.

12. What characteristic do you despise? Shallowness.

13. Favorite item of clothing? Hoodie!

14. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? Italy

15. What color is your bathroom? White Walls w/ Chocolate Brown and Green stuff

16. Favorite brand of clothing? In a perfect world....Betsey Johnson but usually end up at Target or Old Navy.

17. Where would you like retire to? Near the Water and a Major City but not in the City

18. What was your most recent memorable birthday? I havent done anything special for a bday in a LONG time.

19. Furthest place you are sending this? No clue!

21. Who do you least expect to repost this? I don't think this applies.

22. Person you expect to repost first? Or this!

23. Favorite saying? You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose BUT you can't wipe your friends under the table. My Dad always said this to us and it still elicits a laugh.

24. When is your birthday? January 4th

25. Are you a morning person or a night person? BOTH

26. What is your shoe size? 9

27. Pets? Sheeva the mutt

28. What did you want to be when you were little? An artist

29. How are you today? Draggin a**

30. What is your favorite candy? Anything Sour Gummi

31. What is your favorite flower? The ones I can keep alive outside.

32. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? September 2nd, Going solo to DC for work

33. What is the last thing you ate? Fixin' to eat Las Manitas...thank you officina.

34. What are you listening to right now? Co-workers chatting in the hallway.

35. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Black, and yes I know black isnt technically a color.

36. How is the weather right now? Hot hot hot.

37. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Volunteer for Work

38. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Uh, DUH!!

39. Favorite soft drink? Only when I eat Mexican Food for lunch and I get a Jarritos Mandarin or Strawberry Fanta.

40. Favorite restaurant? Best would be Le Reve in San Antonio or Vespaio but most frequented would be Jardin del Rey.

41. Hair color? Brown

42. Sibling(s). Bro, 3yrs. younger and Sis, 10 yrs. younger

43. Favorite day of the year? Christmas Day because it is always spent with Family.

44. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie's

45. Summer or winter? SUMMER

46. Hugs or kisses? Hugs unless it is my hubby.

47. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla

48. Do you want your friends to post back? Yup.

49. When was the last time you cried? A couple of weeks ago when we thought my mama might have cancer...shes in the clear now

50. What is under your bed? Disassembled changing table and toddler bed mattress.

51. Who is the friend you have had the longest? My Cousin Steph and Friend Vania

52. Favorite smell? Grapefruit, Clean Sheets from the Dryer, Fresh Cut Grass

53. What are you afraid of? Losing a loved one but I am not one to dwell.

54. Plain, butter or salted popcorn? Kettle or with Veggie Delight

55. How many keys on your key ring? Not many.

56. How many years at your current job? 2yrs.

57. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.

58. How many towns have you lived in? 5

59. Do you make friends easily? I would say No.

Pokin' Pattin' Rollin' Kneadin'

2008-08-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

One of the things you can find me doing at school during the day is pokin', pattin', kneadin and a rollin' the dough. I love the smell of freshly baked bread and get to take it home that is if I dont eat it all beforehand.

Campout

2008-08-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

I have been just dying to go camping but Mama said that she was dying from the heat and so we compromised! We pitched the tent in the backyard and waited until dusk to campout. I enjoyed hearing all the night noises of owls, crickets and the cow in the adjacent farm. The absolute best was getting to stay up later than usual to catch a glimpse of the stars which are plentiful out in our neck of the woods. Since we had the tent up we invited our friends to join us the next morning for a weiner roast, storytime in the tent and some solar-powered s'mores......delish!
While I enjoyed the campout I can't wait for another camping adventure this fall.

Depressed and Shrinking...

2008-07-30T14:29:00.000-05:00

So I visited the Doctor's office a few hours ago only to find out that I am depressed and shrinking! I had suspected the depression which is such a huge word and has SO many implications. The fact that I have no previous history of depression could suggest an adrenal, hormone or thyroid related issue, all of which I was tested for OR it could just be depression.
I always thought of someone with depression as being really sad and unable to function but it isnt that way for me and apparently isnt that way for many others who suffer. So I am awaiting test results, googling like crazy, evaluating therapists and trying to come up with a plan of action. My doctor suggested an anti-depressant in the interim but I politely declined at this time wanting to do a bit more investigation first. I have a family history of thyroid issues and mental illness though not specifically depression so at this point it is a toss up. All I know is that I dont feel like myself and the fatigue and lack of motivation is not something I am willing to live with right now.

More importantly...I am SHRINKING...okay maybe not shrinking but significantly shorter than I believed. I had a physical as a teenager and was told I was 5'8" and then my height was checked again when I got my first drivers' license and again I was told I was 5'8" so my whole life since I have believed myself to be 5'8". Imagine my surprise when they checked my height and weight today and she said okay, 5' 6.5" and notated my chart accordingly. I looked at her puzzled and repeated 5' 6.5", are you sure? She looked at my chart and said, Yep, looks like you were marked at 5' 6" during your last visit! Not only do I not feel as tall but imagine what that does to my already obscene BMI. So I remain in disbelief and think that my doctors office should double check their "height marker" before they mislead any other unsuspecting women into believing they are shrinking.

The Good, The Bad and the Stinky!

2008-07-29T13:12:00.000-05:00

So we all know that part of being a Mama is that you gotta take the good with the bad but the STINKY is where I draw the line. We have been gradually potty training the C-man and he is a habitual pooper, once after breakfast and once after his nap so trying to spare a poop incident in the big boy undies I have been waiting until after his morning BM to let him wear them.

As I do a little last minute tidying prior to our playdate I smileat him happily playing in his room and move on to the kitchen. A few minutes later he comes running out and sayds, "Mama poop on the floor!"

It takes several minutes for me to come out of my stupor and walk into the room where there is indeed POOP on the floor. Apparently after pooping in the big boy undies he pulled them down to dump his load and then pulled them back on and tossed a Jumbo Elmo on top of part of the pile to hide the poo.

So I spent the next 45mins. cleaning the stinkbomb that included carpet cleaner and dirt devil spot scrubber for the floors and then a rinse off in the tub for the C-man since he was a big pooball from the waist down.

I tell ya' it is days like these, right mamas?

Going Childless...

2008-07-23T14:19:00.000-05:00

Going childless makes me feel so naked. After almost 2.5yrs I can barely remember what it was like before I had the c-man at my side. This weekend he will be going to stay with his Nunna and PapPap overnight for a trial run. They have been begging for quite some time and while our budget doesnt allow for a fancy getaway we decided that it might be nice to have an evening to ourselves and agreed.

This isnt the first time I have left him or anything but this will be the first time he has been with anyone other than the husband or myself overnight. I have already prepared a checklist as there are some things they just cant seem to remember. I know g-parents are supposed to spoil their grandchildren but when it results in immediate intestinal distress it isn't fun for anyone.

Not sure what exactly we will do with ourselves?!?!

i-Ride

2008-07-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

Mama and I were inspired by our friends to dump the pump and ride the bus! For our maiden voyage we decided to take the bus to visit Phil (Phils Icehouse) and Amy (Amy's Ice Cream) because what is better than sandwiches, corn dogs, sweet potato fries and a "Coconut Ice" after a long journey. I LOVED riding the bus and heard Mama remark that we would we need to do this more often. I cant wait for our next adventure!!

Off the pill...now what?!?!

2008-07-16T13:18:00.000-05:00

No I am not trying to get pregnant...just experimenting at the recommendation of a friend to see if my overall mood was improved. Well I don't know if it was the pill or something else but I feel SO much better! I have been happier, hornier and more energetic in the past few weeks than I have been over the last 2 years! I had taken the pill for 10yrs. prior to getting pregnant without any problems but as we all know the hormones drastically shift after having a baby.

So here is the dilemma...I need some form of birth control that doesn't make me feel like a worthless piece of crap! I know that my OB/GYN will just recommend another pill and I am not sure I want to go through the emotional roller coaster of trying umpteen times to find the "right" pill. My husband wont last much longer with using condoms and when I attempted to try an IUD it fell out because I fall into the less than 2% of women that it doesn't fit for anatomical reasons. I am afraid that I am probably too lazy or not in tune enough with my body to attempt natural family planning. We want to expand our family one day but until then what else is there....ughhhh?!?!

Smitten...

2008-07-14T14:28:00.000-05:00

So I just returned on Sunday from a 4 day visit with my cousin. I went to give her some much needed relief from the sleep deprivation and daily duties involved with caring for her 7 week old twins. I was SO smitten with these 2 babies, one boy and one girl, as different as day and night.

I started to remember those first few months of motherhood and how hard it was to adjust to the transition. I realized I had this confidence in myself now that I had admired in veteran mothers when I was a new mom. I didn't know I had that confidence but knowing it is there now makes me feel proud. We spend so much time as mothers second-guessing ourselves and counting the failures but what we should be doing is looking for the successes.

This job of mothering ain't an easy one but I wouldnt trade it for anything!

Summer Lovin'

2008-07-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

Im having a blast! I love everything about summer. The swimming, time with friends, picnics, parks, just being outdoors and of course the summer treats like frozen custard, fresh fruit popsicles and staying up late some nights to hang out and grill with family....ahhhhhhh!