I've already been off on vacation in mind and spirit, but today we are actually physically heading out as well. We are off on a 10-day west coast sojourn, where we are planning beach time, lots of tourist-y activities and a break from the heat, unless this continues to happen. Grrrr. That's actually the second half of our trip, so maybe everything will settle down before we get there. I think we've already put in our quota of sweltering 100+ days this summer.
I am going to attempt blog entries (maybe, kinda sorta) while we're away, but if not, I'll just do an update when we return.
See you on the flip side!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Paddle boards and princesses
Aunt Teeno, Bain and Mary Blake came to visit last weekend and we had so much fun with them! In the process of having fun, I managed not to take many pics....
But I did get some of David and Bain paddle boarding, and the rest of being spectators while they were out on Lady Bird Lake.
We went to a fun birthday party at Circle C pool today (what a great pool!) and R scored a late b-day gift from her friend Cayden. He knows what makes R tick, obviously! Reese is pretty thrilled with her new Ariel costume and crown/earring set.
She is her father's daughter! How much of David comes through in this picture???
And then she goes back to being a proper little princess....
Health update: My OB is really worried about swine flu hitting pretty hard, and fairly soon. She told us to wash our hands as much as possible this summer and fall, and to report any flu-like symptoms immediately. Apparently, there's a 21-yr-old girl who is struggling to survive here in town after coming down with an especially bad case. Our doc told us that she's getting tons of emails from the CDC and the like, and oddly enough, our local paper ran an interesting article about the resurgence of the swine flu pandemic the day after our doctors appointment. Since it didn't ever "go away" like a normal flu does during the summer, they are bracing for the worst this fall. Anyway, do what you will with this info, but I know that I will be carrying some hand sanitizer and using it liberally after going to Target and HEB....
But I did get some of David and Bain paddle boarding, and the rest of being spectators while they were out on Lady Bird Lake.
We went to a fun birthday party at Circle C pool today (what a great pool!) and R scored a late b-day gift from her friend Cayden. He knows what makes R tick, obviously! Reese is pretty thrilled with her new Ariel costume and crown/earring set.
She is her father's daughter! How much of David comes through in this picture???
And then she goes back to being a proper little princess....
Health update: My OB is really worried about swine flu hitting pretty hard, and fairly soon. She told us to wash our hands as much as possible this summer and fall, and to report any flu-like symptoms immediately. Apparently, there's a 21-yr-old girl who is struggling to survive here in town after coming down with an especially bad case. Our doc told us that she's getting tons of emails from the CDC and the like, and oddly enough, our local paper ran an interesting article about the resurgence of the swine flu pandemic the day after our doctors appointment. Since it didn't ever "go away" like a normal flu does during the summer, they are bracing for the worst this fall. Anyway, do what you will with this info, but I know that I will be carrying some hand sanitizer and using it liberally after going to Target and HEB....
Friday, July 17, 2009
Updates
Well, I am experiencing HUGE waves of relief this morning! We opted to have an amniocentesis test last week, due to an increased risk of Down Syndrome (my PAPP-A level came back really low at .23) (that measures protein in the placenta--still something we need to keep an eye on). We finally got our results back and the baby has no chromosomal problems, no spina bifida and is definitely a BOY! Thank God. Waiting for news like that can be excruciating, especially when you realize the office closes at noon today and doesn't re-open til Monday--but we did hear back from them, 10 days after the test. WHEW! I think we'll have to keep an eye on the PAPP-A situation throughout the pregnancy and we'll follow our OB's guidance on that, but for the time being, I am going to relax and enjoy the reassuring news!
In other medical news, R had her 3-year well-check. She's doing great on all fronts, is right on target with everything, and is "socially mature," according to our doc. She weighs 27 pounds (25%) and is 37 inches tall (50%), so her proportions are evening out from the days when she was 5% weight and 75% height.
Here's a pic of R at ballet class on her b-day. We gave her that beautiful ballet costume. She looked FABULOUS, if maybe a little over the top...and was quite proud of herself!
In other medical news, R had her 3-year well-check. She's doing great on all fronts, is right on target with everything, and is "socially mature," according to our doc. She weighs 27 pounds (25%) and is 37 inches tall (50%), so her proportions are evening out from the days when she was 5% weight and 75% height.
Here's a pic of R at ballet class on her b-day. We gave her that beautiful ballet costume. She looked FABULOUS, if maybe a little over the top...and was quite proud of herself!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Beautiful birthday girl!
Our precious daughter turns THREE today! I can't believe she's a 3-year-old! Yippee!
To celebrate, we had a birthday bash this past weekend. It was a ball! We had a great time seeing so many fun people--we have such great family and friends--and it seemed like the kids were having a blast. It was pretty hot by the end of it, and I definitely needed some rest the day(s) afterward, but all in all, I'd say: SUCCESS!
(Photography credit goes to Cord Shiflet and Mark Kitchen--thanks SO MUCH y'all!)
Cord caught an overview of the party. We had a big pink princess/castle bounce house, a new playscape (gift from Ma Pam and Papa), a bubble machine, bubble pools, a misting fan and of course, cake! Here, you can see a bit of the bounce castle and some of the guests...
Mark snapped buddies Reese, Kellen and (I think) Emmylou in action, bouncing away!
Reese at the top of her the slide on her new play set (Cord's pic). Wearing a princess crown, natch. Tatum and Kellen waiting their turn behind her!
Sharing the crown with sweet friend Tatum.
A truly happy child!
Daddy and Reese preparing for the big blow-out!
Check out the look of concentration.
Preparing mentally...
Blowing out candles!
Wishes will come true!
Now let's eat it!
I forgot to take a pic of the cake (OOOOPS), so here's a close up...
We have been continuing the celebration by doing a delayed gift unwrap. I highly recommend this approach (which I am guessing most parents opt for after seeing a massive mountain of gifts). Each day, we have opened a gift or two every few hours or so. Reese then plays with the new toys for awhile, Mommy writes appropriate thank you notes, and we are all happy. This way, she opened gifts on the party day, yesterday, and we just finished up opening our last party gift this afternoon. It has been really fun and made all the gifts more special. And the process more sane.
For the rest of the big birth-day, we are going to dance class and then out to the ranch for a very small family dinner and swimming. And then we will have sufficiently celebrated the passing of this milestone--our little girl turning 3!
To celebrate, we had a birthday bash this past weekend. It was a ball! We had a great time seeing so many fun people--we have such great family and friends--and it seemed like the kids were having a blast. It was pretty hot by the end of it, and I definitely needed some rest the day(s) afterward, but all in all, I'd say: SUCCESS!
(Photography credit goes to Cord Shiflet and Mark Kitchen--thanks SO MUCH y'all!)
Cord caught an overview of the party. We had a big pink princess/castle bounce house, a new playscape (gift from Ma Pam and Papa), a bubble machine, bubble pools, a misting fan and of course, cake! Here, you can see a bit of the bounce castle and some of the guests...
Mark snapped buddies Reese, Kellen and (I think) Emmylou in action, bouncing away!
Reese at the top of her the slide on her new play set (Cord's pic). Wearing a princess crown, natch. Tatum and Kellen waiting their turn behind her!
Sharing the crown with sweet friend Tatum.
A truly happy child!
Daddy and Reese preparing for the big blow-out!
Check out the look of concentration.
Preparing mentally...
Blowing out candles!
Wishes will come true!
Now let's eat it!
I forgot to take a pic of the cake (OOOOPS), so here's a close up...
We have been continuing the celebration by doing a delayed gift unwrap. I highly recommend this approach (which I am guessing most parents opt for after seeing a massive mountain of gifts). Each day, we have opened a gift or two every few hours or so. Reese then plays with the new toys for awhile, Mommy writes appropriate thank you notes, and we are all happy. This way, she opened gifts on the party day, yesterday, and we just finished up opening our last party gift this afternoon. It has been really fun and made all the gifts more special. And the process more sane.
For the rest of the big birth-day, we are going to dance class and then out to the ranch for a very small family dinner and swimming. And then we will have sufficiently celebrated the passing of this milestone--our little girl turning 3!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The constant is change
I've been thinking about how there is such a rhythm, a true daily pattern, to our lives so much of the time. But then I stop and consider all of the things that have changed lately and it always surprises me. It's really a lot! While our family has settled into a lovely, comfortable daily existence, there are some major shifts that pop into my head.
And of course, everything that I reflect upon ultimately comes back to Reese and what she's been doing.
We've added preschool (which will be changing yet again this fall), dance lessons and swim lessons into the mix during the last year. She's transitioned into her big girl bed, and while there was an adjustment period, she's doing a truly amazing job of falling asleep on her own at night (after stories, songs, hugs and kisses) and staying there until a very, very reasonable hour in the morning. We've mainly lost a reliable daily nap (parents everywhere flinch at that bit of news). But it really isn't all bad, it turns out--we can run errands in the afternoon, or swim, or just relax. And she doesn't get overly tired by evening, but she is ready for sleep, which comes to her pretty quickly once she's tucked in.
She decided she was ready to be potty-trained last month and rather than a weeks-long battle (which I half expected as inevitable), she was doing it like a pro off the bat, a few scattered accidents aside.
She really amazes me, not only with the precocious things she says and the unexpected things she does, but with her willingness to adapt and try new things. She's such a sweet little girl, she loves her family and friends tremendously and cares about everyone in her life in a way that I didn't realize was possible at the age of (almost) 3. And she's so caring in her interactions with her sweet little friends, her relatives, even friends' younger siblings. It fills my heart and makes me so proud to watch her interact and be such a delightful and conscientious little human being.
Which is so reassuring, because we will be adding a little boy to the family come December. I'm 15 weeks pregnant! And Reese truly could not be more excited--she's almost been visibly aching for a younger sibling for some time now. I have no doubt she will be caring, careful, nurturing and attuned to the new guy once he arrives--she already talks to him, hugs and kisses him and "feels his hands" (not really, but I'm not correcting, and I cannot wait until she really can!).
I took this photo literally the moment we told her she was going to be a big sister:
I can't really write anything that expands upon the enthusiasm, excitement and curiosity you see there. She's going to be a natural, wonderful big sister. I can't help but think: "What a lucky little boy, having such a fun and smart big sis!"
Since we told her the news, she's going around, and lieu of introduction, telling people, "My mommy has a baby in her belly. A little brother!"
I figured since the world was finding out, one introduction at a time, I could help out a super-proud big-sis-to-be by spreading the news a little bit more about another change, but this one much larger--the blessing of a baby on the way.
And of course, everything that I reflect upon ultimately comes back to Reese and what she's been doing.
We've added preschool (which will be changing yet again this fall), dance lessons and swim lessons into the mix during the last year. She's transitioned into her big girl bed, and while there was an adjustment period, she's doing a truly amazing job of falling asleep on her own at night (after stories, songs, hugs and kisses) and staying there until a very, very reasonable hour in the morning. We've mainly lost a reliable daily nap (parents everywhere flinch at that bit of news). But it really isn't all bad, it turns out--we can run errands in the afternoon, or swim, or just relax. And she doesn't get overly tired by evening, but she is ready for sleep, which comes to her pretty quickly once she's tucked in.
She decided she was ready to be potty-trained last month and rather than a weeks-long battle (which I half expected as inevitable), she was doing it like a pro off the bat, a few scattered accidents aside.
She really amazes me, not only with the precocious things she says and the unexpected things she does, but with her willingness to adapt and try new things. She's such a sweet little girl, she loves her family and friends tremendously and cares about everyone in her life in a way that I didn't realize was possible at the age of (almost) 3. And she's so caring in her interactions with her sweet little friends, her relatives, even friends' younger siblings. It fills my heart and makes me so proud to watch her interact and be such a delightful and conscientious little human being.
Which is so reassuring, because we will be adding a little boy to the family come December. I'm 15 weeks pregnant! And Reese truly could not be more excited--she's almost been visibly aching for a younger sibling for some time now. I have no doubt she will be caring, careful, nurturing and attuned to the new guy once he arrives--she already talks to him, hugs and kisses him and "feels his hands" (not really, but I'm not correcting, and I cannot wait until she really can!).
I took this photo literally the moment we told her she was going to be a big sister:
I can't really write anything that expands upon the enthusiasm, excitement and curiosity you see there. She's going to be a natural, wonderful big sister. I can't help but think: "What a lucky little boy, having such a fun and smart big sis!"
Since we told her the news, she's going around, and lieu of introduction, telling people, "My mommy has a baby in her belly. A little brother!"
I figured since the world was finding out, one introduction at a time, I could help out a super-proud big-sis-to-be by spreading the news a little bit more about another change, but this one much larger--the blessing of a baby on the way.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
U-S-A!!!
Happy 4th of July, y'all! We kicked the day off on a festive note already: the Rollingwood 4th of July parade rolls right by our casa, so R and I set out our lawn chairs and absorbed the patriotic passers-by.
Preparing for the parade. This has been a big topic of convo in our house for a few days now. So R was excited. And had practiced waving her flag...
...and her "parade wave"!
I put down my camera so I could wave to the police car, the vintage cars carrying current and former mayors and council members (Rollingwood is its own little city, after all), the swim team, the Brazilian samba band (a tad random but awesome to have a band marching through, and dancers as well), and the fire truck. Big time! We are at the very beginning of the parade and are the first house with a child, so we get absolutely PELTED with candy. That was exciting! Reese could really appreciate all of the aspects of the parade, and she actually sat in her chair for awhile after it was over, probably willing it to start over. It was (as always) really fun and cute.
Here's a funny Muppets video--for those of you who were/are fans! I love Beaker and Chef! Too funny. Also, the slo-mo pics of hot dogs behind them...
Happy 4th to everyone! Get in some water, fire up the grill and celebrate!
Preparing for the parade. This has been a big topic of convo in our house for a few days now. So R was excited. And had practiced waving her flag...
...and her "parade wave"!
I put down my camera so I could wave to the police car, the vintage cars carrying current and former mayors and council members (Rollingwood is its own little city, after all), the swim team, the Brazilian samba band (a tad random but awesome to have a band marching through, and dancers as well), and the fire truck. Big time! We are at the very beginning of the parade and are the first house with a child, so we get absolutely PELTED with candy. That was exciting! Reese could really appreciate all of the aspects of the parade, and she actually sat in her chair for awhile after it was over, probably willing it to start over. It was (as always) really fun and cute.
Here's a funny Muppets video--for those of you who were/are fans! I love Beaker and Chef! Too funny. Also, the slo-mo pics of hot dogs behind them...
Happy 4th to everyone! Get in some water, fire up the grill and celebrate!
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