I'm Back! And Florida update....

Wow, long blogging break! Lots has happened. We're having a great trip to Florida. First, we were in the Ocala area. Reese met a new friend, a miniature donkey named Donny. Oh, Donny, where are you????

There you are!

Daddy helps feed Donny.

We visited Silver Springs Amusement Park, where we went on a glass-bottom boat, a "jeep safari", saw many different animals and about 5,000 aliigators and crocodiles. But the highlight for R were the two carousel rides on what she decided was "MY horse". Waving at the camera.

There's Mommy taking pictures. AGAIN.

Here's an emerging blog category: My Child Gets in Hotel Furniture, Part 2
These are the dollies riding the "Train"--what, you can't tell?

And sleeping soundly this morning. In her own bed. Separate from me.

We've moved on to Captiva. More updates to come. More speedily, too. I promise!

Comin' Back from Cali

Okay, so I haven't had much to post about the past couple days--and all free time is spent dealing with hyper-needy students right now. Sheesh, you'd think that it was nearing the end of the summer session or something....
Here's a pic of R and me having breakfast at Torrey Pines.

We went to visit the fabulous Birch Aquarium later that day. Reese LOVED the sharks. They were her fave. So we couldn't get good pics at the tanks but here is the cheesy tourist photo-op afterward.

We came to Pasadena on Wednesday. Yesterday, Dad had a very stressful board meeting--but it all went really well. Mom, R and I just chilled out. We went on a walk through the amazing neighborhood surrounding our hotel and then spent three hours at the pool. Reese really had a "swimming" breakthrough--she was doing great in the pool. I think we're ready for our lessons to start.
Here's R's trick--she loves climbing in the bedside cabinet in my parent's hotel room, shutting herself in, and then saying "TA-DA", before she opens the door again. The timing is a little off but it's still really cute.


So that concludes our CA trip. We're about to head back to TX for a few days and then I'm off to FL. But first, back to my work email....

San Diego/La Jolla

We're spending a few days in SoCal with my folks!
Here's what we've done so far:
Checked out Mom and Dad's apartment in San Diego--they lived here 38 years ago!

Checked into the Torrey Pines Lodge. We checked in about 30 minutes after the US Open finally ended--it was held at the course at our hotel. Here's the view from my room--the 18th hole! Must've been quite the room to have had!

This morning we went on a private tour of the SD Zoo. We got to go "behind the scenes" to see the back areas and even fed several of the animals. Here's one of the tigers, Denai, in the holding pen. We also got to see three brand new tiger babies that are not on view yet. The pics didn't turn out, but they were so cute!

Here's R and Papa Mike feeding the Okapi.

The baby panda was up and frolicking this morning--which was quite a treat since she usually sleeps 20 hours a day!

Mama and Baby panda were playing--Mama kept pushing the baby down the hill-it was really funny.

Feeding the giraffes. Did you know adult giraffes only need to sleep for as little as 10 minutes but only up to 2 hours per 24 hours??

Feeding the camels--they were SO sweet and gentle. A little slobbery, and they tried to reach over and kiss us while we fed them. Not what we expected from camels.

And one of the elephants after her water and dirt bath. :)

It goes without saying that the SD Zoo is an amazing, absolutely beautiful place. We were so impressed by the extensive habitats for all of the animals and the very specific care for all of the species, along with the Zoo's efforts towards recycling, reuse and sustainability. We learned a lot. And had a blast. I cannot decide who had more fun--the toddler or the adults!

Double posting day!

To make up for the lack of posts in the past week, and also the fact that I will be mainly out of town the next 3 weeks (but still hopefully posting somewhat), I am double posting today! Yippee! Hooray! Cue the confetti!
Mainly because I also have to share these pictures that make me laugh. Or at least sort of snicker.
Pics from R's second boating trip (b/c I forgot the camera the 1st time--a total F in Mommy 101):
Wind in the face

Sort of acknowledging me

Just another day out boating, ho hum

These make me laugh b/c she looks so non-plussed by the whole very cool, very fun situation. I swear my child smiled today! She really did!

There was also some swimming with Papa

and splashing.


Not to mention Mommy pushing R up to RW park for some playtime earlier. Is that an action-packed, fun, SMILE-INDUCING day or what??
On our way back from big D yesterday, we were talking about recording all the funny things kids say and how so much of it is forgotten. So I am going to try to remember to post some of them. Like today, when we were almost to the playground, R realized where she was, gasped and shouted, "OH PARK!!! I FOUND YOU!!!!" Totally cracked me up.

She was an American Girl

Reese and I had a fun-filled weekend trip to Dallas with Gigi, Aunt Teeno, and Mary Blake. We stayed at the Westin Galleria (loved it) and had a wonderful time visiting American Girl to pick out dolls and have a lovely luncheon in early celebration of R's b-day.
Reese was pretty psyched to spend time with big cousin MB. They had quite a time together.

R wanted to do everything that MB did.

Did I mention she wanted to do everything exactly like MB???

We enjoyed the "heavenly beds" at the Westin.....some of us had more opportunity than others. Ahem.

Mommy, can you pleeeeasegetmydolloutanyfaster?????

MB posing sweetly with her AG doll, Kit. She was such an attentive and caring big cousin all weekend.

Reese in a "more candid" (read: wouldn't pose) picture with her AG doll Lucy. She was so excited to have this doll--she absolutely loves her and will not go to sleep without her.

MB and Kit at lunch.

R, just a smidge excited about her bday cake. And the singing. And the candles. She is obsessed with "Happy birthday to you" and singing it about just about everyone she has ever met. So this was something else.

A big thank you to Gigi for planning such a sweet and special trip for us gals.

We had a great time with everyone!

Team Mel & Shel: Double High Fives!

So, along with 2,998 other women, Melanie and I completed our first Danskin triathlon today! Go, us!

Hey, Mel + Shel = Shmell. Maybe that's why Reese is plotting her escape and avoiding the camera.
We had awesome cheerleaders--check out the inspiring signs
The Mehta Cheering Section:


Papa Mike and Reese (boggled by what on earth might be happening and why she was involved as well)

Ma Pam, Gigi and Poppy were also there, as well as Chad and his entire crew cheering on Christy and her sister.
Reese thought playing with Caitlin was way more fun than watching mobs of sweaty people. She'll change her mind. Maybe. Here are the future triathletes!


So here's my full account for those who are interested.
I get up at 4:55, a full 5 minutes before Melanie is supposed to arrive at my house. We make our way over there, bleary eyed and a little anxious. After taking care of various preparatory transition matters, we watch the first few heats take off, and subsequently, the first of the elite athletes swim in as they finished that leg. We look out at the swim course and say, "That's not so bad." Famous last words, right?
So it's coming to our turn, and after some wise words from Danskin pro Christy and watching Melanie almost get bounced from the heat line-up (number issues, quickly resolved--I totally was prepared to go down with her though, really), we get in place. Exit anxiety, cue full blown NERVES. We hold back a little and start off to the side and in back. Now, keep in mind that I have been practicing freestyle somewhat regularly for the past three months. I freestyle all of 50 yards and flip into the backstroke position. Eventually, I get into a pattern: 15 backstrokes--flip over--5 breaststrokes--do it again. Next year, I will be placing much more training focus on various strokes. Another observation: when you are in the water, the course seems so. much. longer. than it does from the land.

But happily, I eventually make it out of the water, leaving plenty of opportunity for swim time improvement next year. And as soon as I step out, I see the Mehtas and Chad--that was a really fun surprise.
The bike ride was pretty fun, with a few tough hills, but all in all, a good, fairly hard workout. Lots of "good jobs" and "way to gos" hollered all around. I also saw Ma Pam, Papa and Reese as I was heading out, which was great, except Reese was already in the "where am I and who are you" mindset.
After we started into the 5K, which I must say was approached as a very respectable jog/walk, we were almost giddy. Or was it loopy? Anyway, time flew as we jogged on flat and downhill parts, cheered for the bikers as we passed them on a steep hill (us down, them up), and even ended up jogging up the crazy hill at the end, due to a very motivating (but not in an obnoxious or scary way) volunteer. She basically wasn't going to let us walk, telling us we couldn't really say we did the Danskin if we didn't run the big hill (which, speaking for myself, was actually kind of my plan), and--here's the clencher--she jogged with us as she motivated us. How can you say no?

"Who's glad to be done with the race?" (look closely)
Crossing the finish line and seeing everyone was such a great end to a challenging but very rewarding day. Good times all around, and watch out Danskin 2009--I think Team Shmell will be back!

Friends!

We've had a super fun morning over here--our friends F & A (and baby F too!) and their mommies M & S came over to swim and play. We all took a dip in the pool, despite the rainy and gray weather. Here's a pic of F, R and A cold chillin' by the pool. It just doesn't get any cuter than these precious bathing beauties!


A's mommy S made Reese these super adorable bloomers with her name on them! Of course Reese was being modest and didn't give me a full view for the camera. That's a good girl. But we do love the monogrammed cute-ness! So exciting.


I think Reese is down for the count for a nice, long nap. Score for Mommy! :)

Toddler reality

This is this morning, about 30 minutes ago. I am in the background, preparing a syrup drenched waffle for the munchkin. And yes, those are bubbles. Bubbles and waffles in the a.m., people. Seriously!

Alas, it was not enough....we are starting to have regular doses of 2-yr-old antics. Lest it seem like we're shiny happy people all the time around here.

And if that dress looks familiar from, oh I don't know, the previous post, it's because it is one of 3 dresses that Reese insists on wearing repeatedly. While shunning all the other cute, under-utilized dresses in her closet.
Every morning she wakes up and announces, "I want to wear dress. Polka-not dress." (which is what you see) I think maybe it would be easiest for me to go back to Target and load up on these dresses. That is, until she changes her mind and gets tired of this and likes stripes or something. Or maybe, maybe (I'm stretching it here) pants and shorts....

33, yippee!

A pic of Reese and me yesterday. It's a great pic of Reese. My face looks oddly pasty and ghostlike due to the chemical free Burt's Bees sunscreen I had just put on. For some reason, chem free s/s leaves a thick film that is especially unattractive in photographs. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Here are three generations of R and B gals on my b-day....

We're all saying something, which is why our mouths appear to be hanging open.
In all seriousness, thank you to my wonderful family and friends for making my bday such a fun, relaxed one. I've had a great week and a fantastic bday! xoxo

Reese, phone call on line 1

I think we have a good idea of what some of Reese's preteen and teen behavior will be like....she loves to talk on the play phone. The convo usually goes like this: "Hi Daddy/airplane/RJ/tree (these being recent examples)" pause pause

"Reesie.....how you dooooooooooooooooing" followed by inappropriately loud laughter

"Doing greaaaaat. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Bye."
Wonder where she's getting this?