Peden's Place

Gorgeous Millie Valentines Party

2012-02-11T21:23:00.008-06:00

Made me Smile

2012-02-06T15:00:00.002-06:00

I have to share something that absolutely brightened my day today.

As I was putting on Colin's shoes this morning he turned around and gave me a big hug. I said, " I love you Colin." He then replied, "Luv you back, mama." Ahhhhhhh, it was the sweetest thing I've ever heard!

Colin's Standing Long Jump

2012-02-05T12:11:00.001-06:00

NY, NY

2012-02-03T15:44:00.043-06:00

It was time for a girls trip - I haven't had one of those in quite a while (well in 2.5 years to be exact)!!! Lately I've felt like my position as a toddler mommmy leaves little to no room for "me time"...manicures, happy hours, vacations, etc.

However, I was finally mentally ready to take a trip and leave Colin in the capable and loving hands of dad. So my sister, mom, grandmother and I hit the streets of New York to see and do everything we could pack into a three day trip.

That's right, three days to spend with three generations of women in my family! How rare is that? And let it be known that having my grandmother (who will turn 90 this year) on the busy streets of Manhattan did NOT slow us down one bit. In fact, I had to keep up with HER most of the time.

One night in particular we found ourselves at McDonalds in Times Square at 1 am. I was starting to feel the fatigue set in...my back, legs and shoulders ached after walking ALL day from lower to upper Manhattan. After finishing our cheeseburgers, my grandmother said, "Well, what shall we do next?" This comment immediately gave us all a renewed sense of energy. At least enough energy to catch a cab to get back to the hotel. :)

Top of "The Rock"

Drinks at The Plaza Hotel

Trump Tower where The Apprentice is filmed

Catching a NY Taxi (and living through the death-defying experience)

Carriage ride through Central Park

Learning the subway system

Wicked WAS amazing!!!

The Apple Store

FAO Schwarz to get Colin a NY souvenir (no I did not buy the $250K piano)

The front steps of The MET

The Saks ON 5th Avenue, yes the one with an entire floor filled with designer shoes!

Times Square (at 1 am)

Rockefeller Plaza in front of the ice skating rink

Beautiful and Powerful 9.11 Memorial

Dylan's Candy Shop

Mom's First Cosmopolitan - Cheers!

Houston Zoo

2012-01-23T15:17:00.013-06:00

Our wild adventure at the Houston Zoo with cousin Charlotte...

Christmas 2011

2012-01-08T22:11:00.009-06:00

Here is a video of Colin discovering his presents from Santa...

And Colin opening his stocking...

One of Colin's favorite gifts - a ramp for his cars!

Another one of Colin's favorite gifts - an ab roller (just like the one he always steals from Grand Beebs.) Later Christmas morning, Colin challenged Beebs to an ab roller race.

Cousin Charlotte taking a break from unwrapping her presents.

Daddy wearing Colin's Spider Man mask.

Cousin Charlotte wearing Colin's Spider Man mask.

Colin's reaction to everyone wearing his Spider Man mask.

Uncles Trey and Tracy trying to put together the new plasma scooter...toy installation is NEVER easy! (And these guys remodel homes in their spare time.)

Colin's face saying, "Is it ready yet? What's taking SO long?"

Mommy and Colin sharing a Christmas cookie.

Look at these adorable place cards from Peden Christmas lunch.

Uncle Will and Colin.

My Favorite Things

2011-12-19T22:43:00.027-06:00

Who out there is missing the Oprah's Favorite Things Episode this Christmas? Maybe reading this post will help fill the void this year (impossible, I know.)

I'd like to bring all you Oprah fans...Jolyn's Favorite Things 2011! This is a list of things I LOVE and some that I LOVE to wish for - it's kinda like a virtual letter to Santa.

I wish I could give all my loyal blog readers one of each of the following...

1. Tervis Insulated Cups
This will be your favorite beverage glass (especially if you get the Longhorn design.)
2. Cashmere Scarf
The only thing better than getting this scarf would be a class on how to tie it.

3. ipad
idie for the ipad. ilove it.

4. Wine Saver Vaccuum
I'm notorious for opening a bottle of wine and pouring only one glass. Wasteful? Very. Do you have a toddler? And a husband who works late? Please don't judge. With this handy gadget, you can have a glass of wine on Wednesday night, one on Thursday AND one on Friday too (if you don't cheat and have 2 or 3 on Thursday.)

5. Tory Burch Flip Flops
Has Tory Burch made anything that is not fabulous? Answer: NO. Even her flip flops are fantastic.

6. Kai Fragrance Gift Set
I hope Santa has a tuck load of these gift sets in his sleigh because amazon.com is sold out of them right now.

7. Jonathan Adler iphone Case
Yes please! If you've ever grabbed someone's phone because it looked EXACTLY like yours then you need one of these too!

8. Michael Buble Christmas Album
You'll actually look forward to wrapping those Christmas presents if you add Michael to your holiday playlist. If you have TONS to wrap, press repeat.

9. Frye Boots
Do you know that show called Hoarders? I could hoard Frye boots.

10. Babyliss Hair Dryer
I'm cheating on my Chi with my Babyliss. The best way to start a day is with a good blow dry, no?

Happy Holidays

2011-12-17T22:13:00.002-06:00

From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love, David, Jolyn, Colin (2) and Monster

Christmas Party

2011-12-17T21:50:00.007-06:00

I know this is Santa's hectic season, but he's never to busy to stop by the Gorgeous Millie Christmas party...

and help kids make Ginger Bread Houses...

(Colin ate a bunch of candy and put a few pieces on his house too.)

What a fun party! Check out my favorite "treat platter" complete with flashing, battery-operated lights!

Fall Colors

2011-12-17T20:32:00.005-06:00

We've had some amazing fall color this year despite the extreme drought in the hill country.

It seems like mother nature changed our landscape overnight, however, most of our beautiful fall palette is now on the ground. These ornamental pear trees are so colorful it's like they are on fire this time of the year.

Colin's Aquarium

2011-12-11T21:44:00.011-06:00

I'm always in need of projects or activities that I can do with Colin - especially on rainy, cold days. If I don't think of something engaging by 9 o'clock, then we usually end up stuck in front of the tv until I can think of something more interesting than watching the Disney channel!

Today we made an aquarium, complete with rocks and vegetation. This activity was worth blogging about because it held Colin's attention for a record breaking 30 minutes or more. I picked up some plastic frogs and turtles at Michael's and dumped them into a plastic container filled with water. We had a lot of fun decorating the aquarium and we even "fed" the frogs (I used rice but you could use just about anything: cheerios, oats, etc.)

Rein-Beer

2011-12-11T21:34:00.005-06:00

I saw this on Lauren Conrad's blog, and I thought it was the cutest idea! David and I went to a holiday party this evening, so I brought Rein-beer as my hostess gift. I bought Snow Day which is a spicy pale ale made by the same company that does Fat Tire. You can get any seasonal beer if you want to be festive, or it would work well with plain Rootbeer if you want a non-alcoholic version.

Happy Birthday David

2011-12-08T16:30:00.004-06:00

What do you get a guy who has everything?

Colin and I had fun singing to David at breakfast this morning, and Colin even helped blow out the candle. We love you!!!

Children's Art Wall

2011-12-07T16:05:00.008-06:00

This is something I've been wanting to do forever! It was a super-easy project, and it had such a big, personal impact on our space. All I did was "shop the house" for black and white frames to make a collage. Luckily I had a several different frames in a variety of shapes and sizes (mostly from Aaron Brothers.) Then I scoured the clutter piles in our house for Colin's old artwork (I had to get him to make a few more pieces bc I like having current hand/foot prints.)

Colin is so proud to have his artwork displayed - I already have plans to grow the collage to the full length of the wall. The best part is that once the frames are hung, all you have to do to update the collage is pop out the old pictures and insert new ones (as your young artists grows up.)

As I child, my mom always framed and displayed my art projects. I remember being so excited to bring home a frame-worthy painting to see if she would add it to the wall. Now I think displaying your children's art is one of the coolest things you can do to make your kids feel like they've been included in "decorating" your home.

Intruder

2011-12-05T23:17:00.005-06:00

I can still feel the tiny hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up. David just discovered this in the garage...

Luckily we got him out without too much hissing (on the part of the possum.) Note to readers: Promptly close your garage doors after taking out the trash to avoid "an intruder" of your very own.

Three Little Words - Spoken!

2011-12-05T14:16:00.004-06:00

I had to blog document this because I don't want to ever forget it! Yesterday Colin said "Love you Mama" for the first time. It was so sweet and made me smile all day.

We were all sitting on the couch, and I was giving Monster a big hug and I said, "I love you Monster." Then Colin leaned over and hugged me and said "Love you Mama." I heard it. David heard it. Even Monster heard it. Made my day! :)

5 Highly Inappropriate Elf On The Shelf Ideas

2011-11-30T22:49:00.010-06:00

This blog post makes me positively giddy for starting the Elf on a Shelf. Because David and I are really awesome and creative parents, I'm sure we are going to have some fun with this too! These are a few of my favorite inappropriate elf ideas...
Elf on a Bender

Hangover Elf

Crime Scene Elf

Toe Tag Elf

Closet Crossdresser Elf

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

2011-11-27T22:22:00.019-06:00

I could not wait to put our Christmas decorations up this year. After all, I haven't seen them in two whole years! Last year I made the difficult decision NOT to decorate in order to protect Colin (and my ornaments) from total destruction. But this year, I was chomping at the bit to bring all the holiday decorations down from the attic. After all, I missed seeing my reindeer statues, snowy villages and those handsome nutcrackers!
To be honest, taking out my decorations, was like opening presents on Christmas morning. As I unwrapped each ornament, I smiled. I had almost forgotten how beautiful they all were and how happy and festive it makes the house feel.

Colin (now 27 months) can distinguish between "toys" and "decorations." And he only needs a gentle reminder 1-2 times a day not to touch (or climb) the Christmas tree. Despite his new found "maturity," I decided it would be best to decorate the house during nap time. And when Colin woke up, he saw our Christmas tree for the first time and said "Awwww, it's boot-e-full"(melts my heart!) Then we spent over 30 minutes inspecting every corner of the house for more new decorations.
It didn't take long for him to find the remote controlled Polar Express Train Set, a gift from his aunt Ducky on his first Christmas. Between the Polar Express and my Snowy Village Train, I think I can safely say that we have delighted sweet Colin with the joy of Christmas (Santa + trains = Colin's heaven on Earth)

And if that weren't enough, I think this is the year to start using the Elf on a Shelf. The premise behind the book and the elf doll is that Santa sends one of his elfs to watch the children during the day. Then the elf reports back to Santa every night on who was "naughty or nice." How cute and clever is that? I'll try anything that encourages good behavior, and if it works, the elf might stick around way into 2012. haha

So it's Christmas time again at the Peden's house!!! And I have a feeling this year might be our best holiday ever. Because what's more special than seeing your child's excitement on Christmas morning? Baking cookies for Santa? Reading Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Going to the children's service at church? Having kids is kinda like being a kid again. Does that make sense? It's been a long time since someone believed in Santa around our house. Let's hope it lasts! ;)

Quiche

2011-11-26T22:26:00.005-06:00

Someone's been baking this Thanksgiving...drum roll please...surprise, it's me! Don't get too excited, I'm not confident enough in my abilities to tackle turkey and dressing or pumpkin pie, but I have been working on a "beginner level" by testing out my skills on a very tough critique...a toddler who thinks that a cracker makes the perfect meal.

This is an easy mix-it-up-in-one-bowl-and-cook recipe. I've found it's a good way to sneak eggs and veggies into a delicious cheesy creation. I highly recommend it to anyone with kids or husbands who think they don't like quiche.

Ingredients:
* 2 cups milk
* 4 eggs
* 3/4 cup biscuit baking mix
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 (10 ounce) package chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained
* 1 cup cubed cooked ham
* 8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10 inch quiche dish.
2. In a large bowl, beat together milk, eggs, baking mix, butter and parmesan cheese. Batter will be lumpy. Stir in broccoli, ham and Cheddar cheese. Pour into prepared quiche dish.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes, until eggs are set and top is golden brown.

I usually don't take pictures of food (most of my cuisine doesn't exactly live up to a "Kodak moment") but how pretty is this?

Touch-A-Truck

2011-11-22T15:21:00.016-06:00

Around our house we "worship" cars and trucks. Just can't get enough of 'em: big trucks, small trucks, dump trucks, trash trucks, firetrucks, the list goes ON and ON. So we decided to participate in Touch-A-Truck this year. I did the logo, collateral and signage, and Colin...he literally touched ALL the trucks!

BTW, if you have a truck-worshiper in the family, this is a book you should buy!

Colin's 2 Year Pictures

2011-11-09T12:29:00.012-06:00

Getting pictures of our busy toddler is nearly impossible with the old point-and-shoot camera. So I rely on my friends who own the awesome ($$$$) Nikon cameras to snap pictures of Colin on the move. The only problem was that I didn't have any family photos. It's hard enough getting a solo shot - much less getting a good pic of all three of us. So I called a professional! (And I'm so glad I did.)
Christi Cosper with Candid Chic Photography took Colin's 2 year pictures, and we love them! She was wonderful to work with - and now we have a frame-worthy family photo. Her website is: http://www.candidchicphotos.com

Engagement News

2011-11-04T16:30:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Nancy and Ryan!!! If you haven't heard by now, Ryan is officially going to be "uncle Ryan" and my sister-in-law (Fancy Nancy) has the rock to prove it! David and I couldn't be more thrilled, and we can't wait to celebrate.

Moms vs Dads

2011-11-04T16:21:00.003-05:00

(I got this email forward today and immediately decided it was blog worthy stuff:)

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her night solution and age-fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed?"
"I'm on my way," she said.

She put some water into the dog's dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was off. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, and straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed!" And he did. Without another thought.

Trick-Or-Treat

2011-11-01T08:08:00.004-05:00

We had SO much fun Trick-or-Treating last night! Colin was literally running from house to house saying "more treats!" It was SO cute. Here is the video I took of his first trick-or-treat (our super sweet next door neighbors).

Colin's favorite candy of the night was lollipops, and he refused to share with us. He said, "share Col's tummy." We laughed so hard.
Here's another "approach..."

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T09:28:00.002-05:00

We all stocked up with healthy treats (some not-so-healthy) for the trick-or-treaters.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Got Stains?

2011-10-24T21:46:00.005-05:00

I'd like to share my new favorite product...drum roll please...Clorox2 Stain Remover!!! This little jewel (with foaming action) is worth its weight in gold when it comes to getting tough stains out. Now I'm going to sound like their spokesperson, but "It's safe on colors too!" Go get a bottle (or two), and you'll see why it's my favorite new product.

The Colin Test: This is the aftermath of a "light snack"...can you imagine a spaghetti dinner? Result: This shirt actually came out of the wash looking like new.

Here's the little mess maker in his clean white shirt ready for a nap. It's hard work testing new cleaning products.

Haunted House

2011-10-19T21:24:00.007-05:00

I just can't resist decorating our whole house for Halloween. I know it's somewhat cheesy, but I'm a kid at heart when Halloween rolls around. I've already made 2 trips to Michaels and 1 to Target just to browse this year's skeletons, witches, and goblins. If David would turn me loose, I'd probably turn our front yard into a haunted house.

Colin LOVES the "spidey" hanging on the stone column. When I take it down he wrestles it repeatedly. In fact, he may have torn a leg off during the last match.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-11T16:31:00.008-05:00

What does a 2-year-old little boy do at the pumpkin patch? Run, climb, throw and BOWL with the pumpkins! I'm surprised we didn't get kicked out of the pumpkin patch this year. Luckily no pumpkins were harmed in the process of taking our pictures...

Colin is 24 Months

2011-09-25T23:00:00.004-05:00

Here's what's new with Colin...

- He can put 2-3 words together, and he learns new words everyday (almost every minute.)
- He knows his name "Col" and that he is a boy.
- He tries (sometimes successfully) to put on his clothes, shoes and socks AND he can take his diaper off!
- He can go tee tee in the big potty but prefers to do it in the grass outside.
- He can jump and spin in circles until he falls down and says "dizzy."
- He loves chalk, markers, and crayons. He says "draw Elmo mama" when he wants to do coloring books.
- His favorite places are the park, the pool, and the playground - although he says "stay home" a lot.
- His favorite foods are yogurt, pancakes, pizza, mac & cheese and popsicles ("pops.")
- He imitates everything David and I do and say. He says, "I do it!" almost 100 times a day.
- He likes to play with other kids and talks frequently about his friends: Torin, Whit Whit, baby Char and many others from school.
- He is starting to understand sharing and taking turns (he screams "Col's turn.")
- He likes to play games with other children ("chase" and "seek.")
- He LOVES mama and daddy and will run to us for hugs, kisses and cuddles (we LOVE this too!)

Colin's 24 month doc appointment:
Weight = 24.5 lbs (5-10%)
Height = 34 in. (25-50%)
Head = 50 cm. (75%-90%)

Biker Dude

2011-09-22T20:33:00.006-05:00

Now that the temperature is in the low 90s, we can comfortably take Colin on bike rides again. He LOVES to wear his red helmet and scream, "Daddy fast, Mama fast, Col fast!!!"

Breakfast

2011-09-21T11:46:00.002-05:00

I've been making the same old boring breakfast lately (David says I'm "stuck in a rut.") I recently stumbled on these Cinnamon Raisin Bagel Thins - and they are awesome!!! I highly recommend you give them a try if your breakfast routine is getting stale. AND if you haven't tried Starbucks VIA ready brew, grab a caramel flavored pack and wake up to instant satisfaction! I'm not usually a fan of instant coffee but this may change my mind for good. Enjoy!

Touch-A-Truck

2011-09-19T22:36:00.003-05:00

Does your child love trucks? Come to Touch-A-Truck!!!

Saturday, November 12, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Bridgepoint Elementary School
6401 Cedar Street
Austin, Texas

At this event, kids can see, touch, and climb into various vehicles: fire truck, ambulance, recycling truck, Hummer police car, limousine, RV, and many more! Food and beverages will be available for purchase, along with a bounce house, face painting, and hair feather station. Join us for a fun Saturday! All parking will be at Riverbend Church, right next door to Bridgepoint Elementary School.
*All proceeds benefit the Austin Children's Shelter. Admission $5/ child (accompanying adults are free.)

Up All Night

2011-09-16T09:38:00.003-05:00

I was really excited about this new show on NBC, but I was disappointed with the first episode. It was kinda dull and boring. Honestly, I'd rather not be "Up All Night" watching bad tv. Did anyone else watch it? I usually like Christina Applegate, but this one might be a dud.

Stickers

2011-09-15T22:03:00.005-05:00

I recorded this clip just to hear Colin say the word, "stickers." It's so cute that I almost don't want him to ever learn how to pronounce it the correct way. Is that terrible? Does anyone else have favorite words that their children say? Oh, another one of my favorites is "please." He says "peas" when he really wants something. That one little word will melt my heart (and better judgment) and grant him just about anything he wants. I'll try to get more of Colin's vocabulary on video, but I might have to translate a little bit.

A Peden Favorite

2011-09-15T21:54:00.005-05:00

I showed Colin how to make Rice Crispy Treats today (Daddy's favorite.) It was so cute to hear him run around and say "Col cook, Mama cook!" I think I've tricked him into thinking that I can actually cook.

My favorite part...licking the spoon!

The World Through Colin's Eyes

2011-09-15T12:00:00.004-05:00

David likes to gives Colin the Victoria Secret catalog when it comes in the mail. It's a funny inside joke between the two of us because if a brunette is on the cover, Colin always says, "Mama!" If you know me, I am anything but a curvy, lingerie-clad model type. But David always laugh and says, "That's right buddy."

Well this week the catalog came and the cover featured a beautiful blonde with long wavy hair. Colin took one look at the image and said, "Aunt Steppy!" We just giggled and immediately called to tell Stephanie that Colin had paid her a nice compliment.

My Beautiful Niece

2011-09-11T13:40:00.007-05:00

I'm using my blog as a brag book! Here are some recent pictures of my sister Stephanie, brother-in-law, Chris, and my beautiful niece, Charlotte (14 mos.)

??Questions??

2011-09-10T15:53:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning Colin woke up with two very important questions:

Colin: "School?"
Me: "No school today, 2 more days until school."
Colin: "Party?"
Me: "No party today, buddy."
Colin: silence
Me: "Everyday is wonderful but some days are just extra special so we have parties!"
(This certainly made an impression on my party animal.)
Colin: "Whit (Colin's friend Whitney) party! Slide! Pool!"
Me: "Yes, like Whitney's birthday party."

We have been going to so many fun birthday parties that Colin thinks life is a BIG party. :)

Poop

2011-09-08T12:18:00.012-05:00

We have been talking a lot about poop in our house lately. First, we got some great books for Colin's birthday. Much to David's dismay, they are all about poop. Colin LOVES "potty talk" and every time we read books he asks for them by name. If you have the stomach for them (and a sick sense of humor) here are Colin's new favorite books...

Also on the subject of poop, we had an interesting run-in with one of our neighbors this week. Let me first say that we love our neighborhood and almost everyone we have met is SO warm and friendly...except one "special" neighbor.
We take a family walk every evening (David, Colin, Monster and me) complete with the BOB stroller, water bottles, bug spray, flash lights and doggie bags. We always pick up the Monster's poop (which Colin is quick to point out) and Sunday night was no exception.
As we were walking past a particular house on our street, a grumpy neighbor (who will remain nameless) was glaring at us from her window. She immediately opened the door and yelled, "I assume you pick up after your dog!" David and I kept walking, not quite sure why someone would be yelling at us (the model citizens that we are.) Then our crazy neighbor started running after us screaming, "Don't walk away while I'm talking to you." My stomach sank because I knew this comment would not be tolerated by David.
David immediately put the brakes on the stroller and turned around. He said, "You are very rude." Which was followed by "I'm just protecting my property sir." David then said, "Well go back to your property." Then I heard some snide remark from her about "...interesting way to raise a child...blah, blah, blah." Now THIS comment got under MY skin. I probably should have held my tongue, but my blood was boiling at this point. Then I said loudly, "Lady, I'm going to poop in your yard if you don't leave us alone!" Pretty classy, huh?
I have a feeling we won't be invited to her holiday party this year. And I'm 100% okay with that! Although she may be getting one of these from Santa...plus a bag of coal...I mean poop.

School

2011-09-08T09:44:00.006-05:00

Colin started pre-school today, finally! He's feeling much better, but as I predicted David and I are coughing and complaining. I popped two Advil on the way out the door and David grabbed a box of tissue. We were absolutely determined to get our boy to school today!

As we were walking into the building he said, "Mama shop, Daddy work, Col go school." Just melts my heart! I guess I need to get to the mall quick because I don't want to disappoint (we all know he's talking about the HEB.)

Thanks Amy for Colin's new backpack and matching lunch box!!!

Mr. Messy

2011-09-07T13:59:00.005-05:00

Sometimes life is messy...especially after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

First Day of Preschool

2011-09-06T13:51:00.005-05:00

ABSENT! That's right, Colin was absent the FIRST day of school. This is the day I was looking forward to ALL summer, and Colin was sick with a runny nose and a low grade fever. I have to admit that I was SO ready to have a few hours to myself that I thought about taking him anyway and using the old "it's just allergies" excuse (not seriously but the thought did cross my mind.)

That kind of attitude certainly won't earn me "room mother" for the year. After all, a few more days at home with Colin won't hurt anyone. Well...I say that as I'm being sneezed on and used as a human handkerchief. Something tells me that I am going to be sick on Colin's second day of school. :)

Here is a pic from meet the teacher night. Who looks happier, Colin or mommy?

Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

2011-09-06T09:51:00.004-05:00

For Colin's birthday party, I made oatmeal muffins instead of cupcakes - partly because the party started at 10 am but mostly because Colin LOVES eating them. I even added a little cream cheese frosting to make them more festive.

Here is the recipe! One bowl - minimal mess. Enjoy!

Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix well:
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg (or 1/4 cup yogurt)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
A few dashes of cinnamon

Fold in 1 cup flour gently, just until mixed (over mixing will make them gummy)

Put in muffin cups (2/3 full or so) and bake at 350 for 22 minutes or until lightly browned and set.

Potty Time

2011-09-03T21:54:00.006-05:00

Colin went to the bathroom on the BIG potty for the first time EVER, and I'm still cracking up about it.

Colin: "Col tee tee!" (As he knocks on his diaper.)
Me: "Do you need to go tee tee?"
Colin: "Yep."
Me: "Let's go put the tee tee in the potty." (I carry Colin to the bathroom expecting screams of protest.)
Colin: "I did it!" (Arms up in the air while I hold him to make sure he doesn't fall in).
Me: "Yea!!! Good for you Colin. I'm so proud of you. What a big boy!"
Colin: "Mama's turn!"
Me: "Do you want mama to go potty?"
Colin: "Yep." (I proceed to empty my bladder - but I really didn't need to go.)
Colin: "Daddy's turn!" (I'm laughing so hard inside but I try not to show it.)
Me: "Okay, go get Daddy."
David: "What? You want to watch me go potty?"
Colin: "Yep."
David: "Okay buddy, just for you." (The door closes and I hear a delighted Colin flush the toilet.)

*For all of you who know David, this is a major personal space violation. But he made an exception for Colin, and I have a feeling this is just the beginning.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Birthday + Anniversary = Party Time

2011-09-03T07:57:00.014-05:00

A lot has been going on lately – me sitting at my computer hasn’t been one of them - now I’ve got this crazy backlog of photographs and things I need to blog about.

I will FIRST say that our sweet and feisty little Colin turned 2 last Sunday! Doesn’t seem possible does it? Wasn’t he just born? He keeps me on my toes at all times. He’s matured into a kind yet rambunctious, independent yet needy, two-year-old, with absolutely no shortage of spunk. We celebrated his birthday at Gorgeous Millie with over 50 of our closest friends and family. It was my best party to date. Colin had a blast and the 2 empty bottles of champaigne would say that the adults had a nice time too. I decorated the room with a Cars theme (Colin's favorite). Gorgeous Millie provided a brand new tire swing, car ramp and car-wash tent. The place was decked out to delight a car-crazed, 2-year-old boy.

In other news, David and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. We took full advantage of having my family in town for Colin's birthday party, and we checked OUT of the birthday festivities and checked INTO the Hilton for some R&R. We don't get out as a couple very much, and we were way overdue some adult time. It was a fabulous evening in the company of old friends. There’s just something special about old friends. These are friends of David's from grade school and friends of mine from college. They remind me of being younger and staying up late, so much so that we pretended to be young and stayed up really late, or maybe it was early. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we drank some more, took a few pictures, laughed really hard, and had an absolutely wonderful time.

The next night was Colin's actual birthday so we took him to Chuck E Cheese (Colin's request.) He starts out by asking for "pizza" then "play" and the last clue is "mouse." Put the puzzle together and you get a 2-year old requesting a restaurant that he has only been to once - I guess it really made an impression.

Happy Birthday Monster

2011-08-22T07:51:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Dog Ball!!! We love you so much it's silly.

Monster is 8 years old today (although she will always be a puppy in my eyes).

Weekend

2011-08-14T22:02:00.002-05:00

Hoping everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Lexi, Whitney (Colin says "Whit-Whit") and Colin enjoying their ice cream at Chuys.

Kiddie Table

2011-08-11T14:48:00.004-05:00

Colin had some of his friends over for dinner last night. Look at them sitting at the kiddie table like they are all grown up.

Confession

2011-08-10T22:38:00.004-05:00

While I'm "blog documenting" I figured I would confess to a little mommy moment that's worth sharing...

Last week I was driving home from Houston with both Colin and Monster. Colin had finally conceded to take a nap on the 3 hour road trip to Austin. Thank God! It's not easy to get him to nap but I continue to try. I like to drive long distances at nap time so it shaves at least 1-2 hours off of Colin's car trip.

Typically, when I am driving by myself I don't make any pit stops, especially if I have both babies sleeping. It creates a logistical nightmare for one person, but this time I had to make an exception. After all, I had been chugging water to combat the 105 degree heat (packing and loading the car at noon is like taking an hour long bikram yoga class). So I had to GO...and BAD.

After weighing my options: 1. Pull over on the side of the road OR 2. Wake Colin up to take a bathroom break. I decided to improvise! (This is where it gets embarrassing). Every parent knows it's not easy (or sanitary) to drag a toddler into a gas station bathroom and it's not safe (or even legal) to leave him in the car alone.

So I made the decision to drive through Jack in the Box and order a large french fry and an empty cup. This way, both Colin and Monster could remain asleep while I relieved myself. Then we could peacefully continue our drive back to Austin. That was the plan. I made an excuse at the Jack window about how I was going to give water to the dog. Was that obvious? Do they get crazies like me all the time? I bet they were onto me. Anyhoo, I pulled into a spot WAY away from all the traffic and contorted myself into a position that was not at all natural and relieved my aching bladder. Success - and I had baby wipes - an added bonus.

I could still hear Colin snoring and my plan had worked. Well almost. I was left holding the bag (so to speak) more like the cup. What am I going to do with this? I am certainly not going to drive away with it in an actual drink holder and risk spillage.

My next step was my fatal mistake. I made eyes at a garbage can and ran quickly to dispose of my evidence. With one click of the door handle, Colin moaned and rubbed his eyes. He was awake! Rats!!! I stopped abruptly hoping he would go back to sleep but the damage had been done. I had literally peed in a cup - in vain. That's a pisser.

I drove the rest of the way back to Austin listening to a Thomas the Train DVD. And of course, once Colin was awake, he made me share my french fries with him.

Terrible Twos

2011-08-06T23:03:00.003-05:00

I wanted to blog document something - all parents/caregivers to toddlers can relate to this - I just witnessed a 15-20 minute temper tantrum that ended with Colin vomiting on the floor. He literally cried so hard he made himself puke. Call it a hunch, but I think we are approaching the terrible twos I've heard so much about.

You can't seem to rationalize with a toddler near the age of two. We were "arguing" over Colin wanting to eat a popsicle for breakfast and I said "no" (like any good, sensible parent would say). Nothing could comfort him, no cheesy song and dance, not even a good bribe. Usually cartoon time will turn any frown upside down. Not this time. Not even Mickey, Daisy, Donald or Goofy could help me. Colin was furious with me, and I was determined to stay strong. This is when I started to hear cries and screams turn into dry heaves and well, you know what happens next. :)

I know I'm not the first parent to witness such a thing. Lord help me if this continues to happen over the course of the second year. I think I'm going to blame it on Colin waking up on the wrong side of the crib. It happens to the best of us, right? Sigh, I'm SO in for the terrible twos!

The Great Pack and Play Escape

2011-08-06T22:08:00.008-05:00

All Colin's climbing practice has provided him with excellent upper body strength, coordination, and sense of balance. Translation = Colin can now flee any Pack and Play with ease. What does this mean for me? Oh s#$%, now what? A toddler bed with a padlock? A size 2T straight jacket? A baby monitor with infrared motion detection? I hope Babies R Us sells such a thing!!!

Let me describe Colin's "Great Escape"...

It all happened during nap time. I was staying at my parents house this week. I put Colin in his PnP and jumped into the shower thinking I had an hour or so to bathe, eat lunch, nap, etc. WRONG. When I was toweling off and about to dry my hair, I heard Colin playing up stairs (Note: Colin's room is down stairs). Not believing my ears, I ran into Colin's room only to find an empty PnP. Heart racing, I rushed up the stairs, dripping wet in my towel, to discover Colin casually talking to my mom during her afternoon conference call. OMG!

Colin had successfully accomplished the following: scaled the PnP, opened the bedroom door, and climbed the stairs all by himself. He then communicated to my mom that he had a "stink" "poo" and he needed "help" - all while "knocking" at his diaper (this is now the universal sign to open something). At this point I exploded in laughter, totally unable to punish Colin for his mischief. Even my mom had to prematurely end her conference call.

The Great Escape was a great effort to get a clean diaper. Can you blame him?

Rockport

2011-07-28T14:00:00.008-05:00

Recently our family had the opportunity to take a little vacation (or vay-cay, as I’ve been calling it) to Rockport. We have not gone anywhere this summer, and we were due some days of fun away from home. Thankfully, Pappa D and Letty just remodeled their precious beach house, so we loaded up our car and hit the road.

Colin had a blast! We took him to the beach, on a boat ride, and taught him how to fish in the pool. He even found Aunt Fancy's old barbie dolls (complete with the sporty red barbie convertible).

Colin's First Beach Trip

2011-07-28T13:39:00.008-05:00

Introducing Colin to the Rockport beach was so much fun. He took one look at the water and said, "da pool." We were camera ready to capture the picture perfect moment. Nothing is more precious than babies at the beach.

His favorite part was the sand and his least favorite part was ALSO the sand. It's super fun when you don't mind being dirty and building sandcastles but when you want to eat a snack or rub your eyes, it can be slightly annoying. Sand + sunscreen = a sticky hot mess. Colin repeated, "dirt" and "mess" probably ten times before we packed up and called it a day.

Helmet Head

2011-07-17T23:02:00.004-05:00

Sunday night we went to Best Buy to check out new vacuum cleaners. Our current Hoover model "sucks at sucking" (as David likes to say). I can think of over 100 better ways to spend hundreds of dollars - rather than on a vacuum - but it is one of those things that you can't live without, especially when you live with a dog and a toddler.

We were walking out to the car when David and I grabbed our hats (bad hair day for me and a weekend wardrobe staple for David). Then Colin said "hat" and "too" and pointed to HIS head. I think he wanted to be part of the club. Well we don't exactly have a hat or ball cap for Colin. So we looked around and for an adequate substitute and grabbed Colin's bike helmet. Happy to feel included, Colin smiled and laughed and headed to the car all dressed and ready.

Here's Colin at Best Buy with his helmet head. What a cutie! I can't wait until he wants to dress himself - what will he come up with then?

Backyard Makeover Week 4

2011-07-10T10:43:00.011-05:00

The backyard is finished!!! Let's take a look back at where we started...remember when the yard looked like this?

Drum roll please....now it looks like this..

Here are the pictures of the progress:

Here is the view from the patio...

Here's the sandbox nook...we're not quite finished with this corner.

Colin's Animal Sounds

2011-07-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

Colin's First Boat Ride

2011-07-08T21:30:00.003-05:00

Colin's first time on Lake Austin! He cried a little at first (mainly because we made him wear a life jacket), but once we got moving he never looked back.

Notice David wearing his life jacket so that Colin would see it was "cool."

Backyard Makeover Week 3

2011-07-06T21:01:00.006-05:00

We have plants!!! I felt like it was Christmas morning as they started unloading the truck from the nursery. Planting makes such a BIG difference - everything should be complete by Friday. I can't wait!!!

Children's Table

2011-07-06T14:20:00.004-05:00

Colin now sits at David's childhood table! When we were in Houston last week, Tish pulled it down from the attic and showed it to Colin. He smiled (knowing it was intended for him) and sat down like he had owned it for years. It's so cute how children love things "kid size." Living in an adult-size world can be tough when you're only 3 feet tall.

Cars 2 The Movie

2011-07-03T22:10:00.005-05:00

Our first theater experience with an almost 2-year-old went incredibly well. We went to Gold Class Cinema - AMAZING - we ordered dinner and drinks throughout the movie. Colin loved it. He was so enthused about the movie that he would scream "cars" after every preview. I don't think Colin would sit through just any movie but this one was right up his alley (and mine)!!!

Carrabba's

2011-07-01T21:25:00.004-05:00

I could NEVER get David to take me to an Italian restaurant, but now that Colin has a new love for spaghetti, he has conceded to going. I was in heaven - salad, wine, pasta, garlic bread - mmmmmm, my favorite! Colin thought it was pretty fantastic too. He also decided that it was easier to slurp his pasta "Lady and the Tramp" style rather than to use his fork. Every time I tried to "pre-load" a noodle onto his fork, he would scream "mine" and dive in for more. We always share our food but evidently not at Carrabba's.

(After I cleaned him up) I got an after-dinner-kiss for dessert.

Welcome Emma Rylee Goldstein

2011-06-30T15:32:00.002-05:00

Our friends Robyn and Brian welcomed a baby girl on June 28th. Baby Emma weighed 6 pounds 13 ounces and measured 20.5 inches long. She arrived a month early but is doing great - check out the new family pic!

Backyard Makeover Week 2

2011-06-28T13:53:00.008-05:00

Lots of progress in the backyard this week! The retaining wall is completely installed and the stone bench is finished. Also, take a look and see if you can find the berm...you can't (can you tell I'm happy about that?!?) The grade of our yard has been raised almost a foot higher. We now have a nice, flat play surface - it makes it look so much bigger. Lastly, the turf is being installed this week and next. It's hard to believe it's fake grass because it looks SO real.

Houston Children's Museum

2011-06-27T10:11:00.007-05:00

We spent 2 days at the Children's Museum last week. It was SO fun and a perfect escape from the 100 degree Houston weather. There was a special room just for "tots" (under 3 years) and Colin and cousin Charlotte thought it was the best!

Colin took a new friend on a drive.

Letty gets hugs from Charlotte.

Cousins playing together!

Beware of Ants

2011-06-22T21:51:00.004-05:00

When you pick the perfect spot for the baby pool, be sure to check for ants in the surrounding area. I sat right down in a pile and it literally set fire to my leg. Unfortunately this is what happens when you get ants in your pants...OUCH!!!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T22:59:00.002-05:00

Happy Father's Day Beebsey!!! I love you soooooooo much! xoxo

Ahhhhh Summer

2011-06-19T22:16:00.002-05:00

Hope you are staying cool and having a good one!

Birthdays

2011-06-19T21:45:00.006-05:00

I've realized that having kids means that you go back to having/attending birthday parties. Now that we are getting into our 30's (sounds crazy even as I type that number) we typically don't celebrate a birthday with a big party: themed invitations, cake and ice cream, balloons, party favors, etc. Honestly, I kinda missed the festivities, but I had grown accustomed to having a few close friends over for dinner, and a glass (or bottle) of wine was just as tasty as a slice of sheet cake.

Well not anymore - bring on the party planners and the sugar high of another year gone by. We have attended some of the most fun birthday parties recently. Colin's friends are the coolest (keep in mind they are all between the ages of 0-2)! We have been to parties with petting zoos, parties with bounce houses, parties with pools, parties with the ice cream truck and parties with petting zoos, swimming pools AND the ice cream truck. Talk about raising the bar from my childhood "decorate your bike and ride it around the neighborhood" party. These days, that party theme would get a blank stare from a bunch of kids waiting for the circus to show up and paint not only their faces but the whole town. haha

Well I enjoyed my bike party, and I'm sure Colin will enjoy whatever we do no matter the scale of the celebration. All joking aside, we have been having a lot of fun and my mind is spinning with ideas for how to plan Colin's second birthday party. It's coming up in August so stay tuned! BTW, these picture were taken by the "professional photographer" hired at the last party we attended. ;)

Catching Up on Some Reading

2011-06-19T21:38:00.005-05:00

I caught Colin reading one of my Junior League magazines, and looking very interested (I might add.) To be honest, I don't even read the articles as much as I look at the pictures to spot my friends - it's a slow read most of the time. :)

Colin flashed a big smile at the camera when he realized he was being photographed. And yes, he is sitting on the coffee table.

Spa Buddy

2011-06-19T21:28:00.003-05:00

Colin's hooked on the day spa! It was bound to happen with my long addiction to keeping my nails perfectly polished. Colin has been with me to the nail shop a few times now, but this was the first time that he wanted to sit in his OWN massage chair with the "mote" (remote control). He even took his shoes off to get a little foot bath (we are in the "monkey see, monkey do" phase of life.) But I drew the line when he asked for toenail polish...so instead I painted his fingernails. :)

Backyard Makeover Day 2

2011-06-14T21:15:00.003-05:00

Backyard Makeover

2011-06-13T13:03:00.007-05:00

It's day 1 of our backyard makeover. Now that our new fence is installed and stained, we are starting the stone work.

Hopefully it will look a lot like this when we are finished - stay tuned!

A Day In My Life

2011-06-06T20:52:00.017-05:00

Good morning!!! My morning starts off with my baby alarm clock (Colin's cries for rescue out of the crib). I am not a morning person so this is not my favorite part of the day. However, it does put a big smile on my face to be greeted by my sweet boy. I grab him and take him to our bed for a 30 min snooze while we watch Mickey Mouse on (cringe) the Disney Channel. I remember when my morning routine consisted of watching the Today show while I tried to pick out my best outfit for the day...ahhh, memories. Back to my new reality - full-time motherhood - I skip my shower, throw on an old tee shirt and saunter to the kitchen.
Colin's best meal of the day is breakfast so I try my best: cereal, yogurt, and scrambled eggs. All of this for me too plus my "eye opener," vanilla coffee.

After breakfast, dishes and throwing in a load of laundry, it’s off to our first activity of the day - Hoppin' House! Colin had a blast climbing in and out of the bounce houses and going down the slides. I get my work out too while I jump and climb for a full hour.

On our way home, we stop at the grocery store to pick up some items for dinner.

And of course Colin asked to ride in the car.

Then it's home for lunch, a nap (for Colin) and a chance for me to check email, return phone calls, clean the house and rest for a while. Fingers crossed Colin will sleep for 1-2 hours.

When Colin wakes up from his nap, we go to Lowes to buy flowers for my new hanging baskets and porch pots. I do love home improvement projects!

5:45 I start cooking dinner. I am trying to cook more, but I am always a sucker for the same 3-5 meals: tacos, burgers, pizza and grilled chicken (is that considered cooking?) David returns home from work around 6:30. We all eat together and then play for another hour.

At 7:30 it’s time to walk Monster and get Colin in the bath and ready for bed. We read books, sing a song and it's lights out for Colin and time for me to finally unwind after a busy day.
9:00 David and I clean the kitchen and watch tv. We are hooked on a few shows (like 10-15 to say the least).
10:30 I crawl into bed...I hear my phone...emails, texts, messages...I decide to go to bed and read them in the morning - I have a hard time doing that. 11:00, I close my eyes and fall fast asleep.

Play Doh

2011-06-01T14:38:00.007-05:00

I had to check twice to be sure I didn't misspell "Play Doh" and sure enough it is in fact "Doh" not "Dough." Duh, right?

Anyhoo, Colin loves his Play Doh. His favorite part is rolling all the colors together and smashing them back into different cans. This is hard for me to watch! As a child, I was so OCD with my Play Doh that I didn't want to mix the pretty colors. I gasped and cringed when Colin smashed the turquoise Doh into the brown can, but I showed great restraint and let Colin play HIS way (later I frantically tried to separate all the colors).

He and my mom (GaGa) had a ton of fun making Doh jewelery. And yes, I have to keep a close eye on Colin because he does try to sneak a pinch into his mouth every now and then. But who doesn't? Eating Play Doh is a Pre-School right of passage, and every self-respecting American toddler must try it - multiple times - to be sure that every color does in fact taste terrible. There is something so great about the way Play Doh smells - it sure doesn't translate to the way it tastes. (Cringe) I could get lock jaw just thinking about it right now.

2011-05-30T21:41:00.009-05:00

Are you Pinning yet? Yes, "Pinning." As in Pinterest - the web's most delicious collection of imagery and vacuum of precious time. I could (and do) spend hours pouring over images - from fashion to interior design to kid's toys - selecting my personal favorites to add to my Pin Boards. To say it's addictive is an understatement. Pinterest is the new "Oprah's Favorite Things" but digital, organized and constantly being updated. Here are some of my recent pins:

Love this for a boy's nursery...

I have to get one of these...

Colin could spend hours playing with this...

I still love a great stripped tee...

Light fixture I like...

Whistle Blower

2011-05-23T22:39:00.004-05:00

I took Colin to Zilker Park's Barton Springs Pool today. It's officially summer and time for some fun in the sun. And you can't be in Austin's 90 degree sunshine unless you are near a freshwater spring.

Colin splashed around in the water and played with his shovel and bucket. This kept his interest for a few minutes, but he quickly grew tired of it. Then he started looking for more physical challenges - like climbing on the surrounding rocks. This quickly got the attention of not ONE but TWO lifeguards. They each shot an evil eye at me, and blew their whistle to scold my little billy goat for his wild ways. Sigh - he's not even 2 years old and he's getting "the whistle" at the pool! We were there for almost 3 hours, and I didn't hear a single other person get in trouble.

Sweet Colin - I'm SO in for it! This child is a daredevil, explorer type with no fear and an insane amount of energy. He will definitely need his beautiful smile and cute personality to get himself out of whatever trouble he climbs into. I'm a sucker for his infectious grin, and I'm sure I won't be the only one (lifeguards aside).

Help in the Kitchen

2011-05-22T21:23:00.004-05:00

Tonight was a classic example of too many cooks in the kitchen. David and I had to be careful of who was underfoot as we rushed around making dinner. Tonight's menu: turkey cheese burgers (my favorite) and sweet potato fries (Colin and Monster's favorite).

2011-05-11T14:24:00.000-05:00

Okay. I'm only going to watch this video ONE MORE TIME. And then I'm going to quit. It is freakin' hilarious - I just had to share.

Special Delivery

2011-05-08T10:18:00.002-05:00

My Mother's Day Flowers - what a nice surprise.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-06T22:30:00.007-05:00

Moms are the best - especially MY mom. She has taught me so much, especially as of late with the little guy around. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't call her every day (yes, I call her EVERY day - sometimes multiple times a day) to ask some frantic question, tell her a funny story or vent my about my frustrations. I love you mom! Thanks for everything - especially being one of my best friends.

Happy Mother's day to all moms, new and old, this Sunday!!!

Want Another Bedtime Story?

2011-04-26T21:16:00.003-05:00

When Goodnight Moon just isn't cutting it! LOL

A new dad and novelist wrote a bedtime story to warm the hearts of sleep-deprived parents everywhere, Go the F@#k to Sleep. It's already in the top 300 on Amazon.com - must be f@#king hilarious! haha

Here’s a sample:

“The cats nestle close to their kittens.
The lambs have laid down with the sheep.
You're cozy and warm in your bed, my dear
Please go the f@#k to sleep.”

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T21:49:00.017-05:00

Wishing you lots of this...

And this...

This Easter weekend!

Tish surprised her boys with Confetti-Filled Eggs (Cascarons) after brunch at Soleil.

Check out my simple and easy Easter decorations: A $6.99 Lilly from Randalls in a hand-painted, ceramic pot.

And my antique bread tray from Round Top used to display my Easter egg collection.

Oh! And my sweet neighbor dropped this off at my doorstep this morning for Easter breakfast - homemade blueberry muffins with strawberry jam. The Easter bunny really does exist. Thanks Kristin!!!

Now off to bed to read one of Colin's favorite books - Happy Easter everyone!

Bathtime

2011-04-18T14:18:00.004-05:00

Partnerships for Children

2011-04-13T22:20:00.006-05:00

This weekend I volunteered at the Partnerships for Children, "Under the Big Top" Gala. It was a huge success, and the committee of amazing volunteers raised money for a great cause. The mission of Partnerships for Children is to help abused and neglected children in the Austin area.

As a new parent, it was difficult to hear stories about children who are abused, neglected, hungry, and live without clean clothes and basic necessities. This organization does wonderful things to help these children and make a big difference in their lives. Congratulations to the 2011 Partnerships for Children committee!

Here are some fun Annie Ray pictures from the event...

Colin and GaGa

2011-04-13T21:59:00.003-05:00

Colin was so excited to see grandma today. He was going out of his way to get her attention. He started by showing off all his toys, then he demonstrated his 20-word vocabulary by reading his favorite books and pointing out every object in the house (over and over). If that wasn't enough, he laughed, danced, and cuddled all the way to 9 pm when he very assertively pointed to GaGa to "put him nite, nite." This kind of behavior will definitely score him a toy or two.

Cheetos

2011-04-12T21:10:00.003-05:00

Colin has discovered my second favorite food group (second only to Chick-fil-A).

*Note the "cheetle" on his face and hands. (This is a common side effect when eating cheetos by the mouth and/or handful.)

Strawberry Pickin'

2011-04-05T11:14:00.006-05:00

Look how cute my niece is? (I had to "blog brag") She went strawberry picking this weekend!

Daddy's Boots

2011-04-04T21:19:00.005-05:00

Colin can now wear his vintage boots - I call them "vintage" because they belonged to David and that means they date back to about 1978 (about when Jesse James roamed the wild west). They are well loved but still in great shape and ready for the next little cowboy. Now all Colin needs is a big hat - and maybe some pants! haha

Backyard Playscape

2011-04-02T22:09:00.005-05:00

There's something about being outdoors that stimulates Colin's physical exercise. Whether it's the effect of the fresh air or the reaction to the sunlight (my child may be a human solar panel), I don't know. But take Colin outdoors, and he immediately starts to run, skip, climb and jump.

So I've decided that Colin needs a backyard playscape! The only problem is that we have a SMALL yard and a BIG project ahead. Did I mention that we have a berm in our backyard, a 25-year-old dilapidated fence, a mosquito problem and a jungle of overgrown trees? That said, I'm not afraid of projects - especially after remodeling our entire house. But this won't be as simple as buying a playscape at Toys R Us and putting it together. I will need to harness my creative side and start thinking like a toddler!

As usual, I found lots of great inspiration online. We don't have space for the usual "playground kit," so I'm thinking of hiring a carpenter to build a small rock wall, a slide, and a sand box. Hopefully all this research will help turn our backyard into a place where Colin can fight off villans, run from monsters, play tarzan and make mud pies. Check out this site where I did some of my research: http://www.bearsplaygrounds.com/access_freestanding_images/freestanding_components.html

If you have any ideas please let me know! I'm entertaining all ideas - even David's idea to turn the yard into a batting cage with fake grass and a rock wall in place of the siding. :)

Welcome Jonah Braden McCarley

2011-03-29T12:57:00.007-05:00

I'm so happy to introduce another little guy to our group...

Christiana and Jared McCarley had their baby, Jonah, on Thursday, March 24th at 2 am. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches long. He was originally due on my birthday (March 21st) but he didn't make his worldly debut until 3 days later. He looks a lot like his dad with blue eyes and lots of light hair. In fact, he has so much hair that Christiana and Jared are having fun making baby mohawks. What a beautiful baby!

Furry Babies are The Best

2011-03-17T21:42:00.007-05:00

Monster, have I told you lately that I love you?

I often feel like I have two children (one 7 year old and one 18 month old). People always tell me that older siblings help care for the younger ones, and the same is true in our family. Monster accompanies me when I put Colin to bed, and as soon as she hears Colin's cries from the monitor, she races up the steps to get him. Monster's "Lassie-like" personality reminds me of Nanny from Peter Pan who looked after the Darling's children.

Taking care of a baby sure wears a dog out...

I agree completely!

Fun at Amy's Ice Cream

2011-03-17T21:35:00.003-05:00

Colin on a sugar high...

Amy's Ice Cream

Library Card

2011-03-16T14:24:00.002-05:00

I am now a proud member of the Westbank Library! I haven't been a library cardholder since grade school and A LOT has changed since then. The Laura Bush Library is SO fabulous - it doesn't smell like a library, it doesn't look like a library and it's so high tech! You can reserve books/movies online and pick them up via the drive through. How's that for service?
Plus, they offer tons of activities for children: story time, music, crafts, even bed-time story time where they provide milk and cookies.

See you at the library!

Preschool Drop Out

2011-03-10T13:07:00.002-06:00

I've made the decision to take Colin out of Mother's Day Out. He was having a terrible time adjusting and the separation anxiety was extremely difficult. I gave it 3 weeks, but it was taking a toll on him in other ways and that was upsetting to see. He was clinging to me at music class, at gym class, and he was having a difficult time taking naps and going to bed at night. So now my goal is to restore his confidence and get him back to his happy independent self.

As for my independence, well let's just say it was fun while it lasted. We will try again in the fall when he turns 2. I think I was more ready for preschool than Colin. :(

Happy to be home!

Colin is 18 Months

2011-03-08T13:31:00.004-06:00

In this picture, Colin had just stolen a bag of popcorn from the kitchen table. We were having an Oscars party, and he ran to the closet to hide and eat (a slight variation of "hide and seek"). He had almost gotten away with the greedy stunt when David tracked him down due to the incessant giggling coming from our closet.

And yes, popcorn IS considered a choking hazard for kids under 2 years old. ...And the award for worst parent goes to... ME!

Well, despite my parenting flaws, Colin has made it to 1 1/2 years old! :) Here's what's new...

- He can now say about 15 words
- He walks, runs and can climb the stairs one foot at a time
- He loves to look at books and name things that he sees
- He enjoys using crayons and scribbles away
- He has discovered Disney! We have purchased the movies, "Cars," "Toy Story," and "Finding Nemo" and he loves them. In fact, at Target he now points to all the toys that are related to the movies.
- We started a class at "Little Gym" where he is learning how to swing from the bars, walk across the balance beam, and do rolls on the mat. And yes, it is ALL I can do to hold myself back from participating right along side him. I had to twirl on the beam today.
- Mother's Day Out is not going as well as I had hoped. Colin has terrible separation anxiety and I was called to pick him up early last week. :(

Colin's 18 month doc appointment:
Weight = 22 lbs 6 oz. (10%-25%)
Height = 32.375 in. (50%)
Head = 49.25 cm. (75%-90%)

Kite Festival

2011-03-06T21:05:00.010-06:00

If you thought kites were boring (confession, I kinda did), this festival will convince you otherwise! Picture this: thousands of brightly colored kites flying high in the sky in the shadow of the Austin skyline. It made for an incredible view!

There were demonstrations by professional kite flyers, kite battles, kites choreographed to music, and massive kites ranging from 40 to 90 feet in size. There were also plenty of other activities such as face painting, a rock wall climbing, moonwalks, and plenty of tasty food. Personally, I would have gone just for the dog watching. After just two hours, I saw 4 Great Danes, 2 Italian Greyohounds, 1 Whipit, and 2 Mexican hairless dogs. Colin and I got pictures with a couple of his favorites!

Next year I'm definitely going to bring a kite, a picnic lunch and a chair and stay all day! It was SO much fun!!!

Colin and the pony (I mean Great Dane). This dog was 1.5 years old and weighed 150 lbs. Note, Colin is 1.5 years old and weighs 22.5 lbs.

Colin and the smallest dog we saw - a Chiwawa in a basket.

Colin on the volleyball court (aka, giant sand box)

David with his pinwheel!

I wish this last picture was of Colin with a kite but he still loves his BOB (Big Orange Ball) the best.

Colin, if I could buy that for you, I would...

2011-02-23T21:49:00.003-06:00

That was obviously posted by David.

Nature Walks

2011-02-23T21:04:00.005-06:00

The Austin Country Club Golf Course is closed on Mondays for maintenance, so Colin and I like take "9 hole" nature walks. He loves running up and down the hills, and he especially loves the sand traps. I'm teaching him to identify and say: tree, bird, grass and dirt. He could care less about everything previously mentioned - except for "dirt." Why does this surprise me? He gets both hands covered in soil, sand, mud - you name it - and enthusiastically says "ert, ert, ert!!!"

Next on Colin's list - learn to climb trees!

Welcome to Mother's Day Out

2011-02-16T12:00:00.002-06:00

Colin was recently accepted to mother's day out on M/W/F from 9am-1:30pm. The school had a mid-term opening, and we were first on the wait list. Hooray!!! I am so excited (and I'm sure Colin will be too)! We took a tour of his classroom today, and he didn't want to leave the toys and activities. The kids were doing an art project, and Colin stuck his hand in someone's fabulous finger painting. Can you imagine a room full of toddlers and wet paint? Those teachers must be saints! There are 8 children in his class and 2 teachers.

To prepare Colin for his first day of mother's day out, I ordered a Mickey Mouse backpack. How cute is that?

Colin Does It Again!

2011-02-16T11:56:00.004-06:00

He fell sound asleep with food "in hand." This time he was munchin' on McDonald's french fries. Oh well, more for me!