Hard, easy

Weston is 9 months old today & so I am doing some navel gazing & contemplating the past several months. My how things change!

Some things are much easier. Being able to feed everyone basically the same foods, giving the kids a bath together, watching them play & genuinely enjoy each other. Setting Weston down & knowing he can sit & crawl on his own. Asking Reese to help, having her entertain her brother (a task where she excels).

Some things are hard. Weston has 8 teeth. Sharp little razors embedded in his mouth, making nursing almost impossible (I'd love any advice on weening an older baby; do I start in with the yogurt/whole milk mix or do I have to push formula, which he hates? I'm pumping again but don't want to do this pump-bottle process for 3 months even though it's so much fun). Putting him down & realizing he's shot halfway across the room and is trying to shove fistfuls of dog food in his piehole. Still not sleeping through the night. Dealing with Reese & her outbursts, which I know mean she feels like she isn't getting enough attention.

It's such a balance. A constant wave of shifts & changes. Harder & easier all at once.

And then I look over & they're sitting together on the floor, belly laughing at the Backyardigans, and I think: when did that happen?













How & when did they get so big? And of course it takes my breath away, makes me laugh all at once....and I feel the very slightest twinge of sadness as they pass into the next phase together....

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Out of control!

Reese jamming out to Under the Sea in the car yesterday.


We were rushing through the pouring rain yesterday, trying to get to the car. I was barking orders to run, run, we had to hurry & get inside. Meanwhile, Reese's rainboots kept slipping off & she was generally having trouble rushing. When she got in the car, she announced, "Well, you were a little bit out of control.". Oops! Patience, Mama....


In the meantime, here's what little Weston has been up to lately:




















He is mobile! Crawling, cruising, contemplating steps. It's exhausting! And hard to keep up with him! You'd never know he was sick, he's so busy...

Crappy croup

Whew. What a crazy holiday weekend! The kids were sick at the end of last week, but Weston got especially ill overnight on Friday and we ended up at the ER for his severe croup. The stridor was freaking me out, he was gasping so hard. They gave us some medicine that really helped him, thank goodness.
Throughout our 4 hours there, he was amazingly good despite a lack of sleep & being so sick.




In fact, the hospital staff even commented that he was one of the happiest, sweetest kids they'd seen. Guess most patients aren't in the best of spirits (understandably)!




He's definitely on the mend & we've had 2 decent nights since then. Big thanks to my aunts Kathy, Becky & Janise for all of the help (David was out of town).

Goodbye croup! Don't come back!

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MDO, day 1

Guess who started Mother's Day Out today? (Hint: it's not me)



We weren't planning to start him until next year, but he was accepted into a program about which I have heard numerous rave reviews. To hold our spot, we had to enroll...so Weston will be going once or twice a week for a couple of hours at a time (luckily they are very flexible on scheduling the infants). He is with 4 other babies and did great today, by all accounts! What a sweet boy!

Flip out!

Reese & sweet bud Ainsley after their first gymnastics class together last week! Needless to say, R loves it & cannot wait to go back! Yea for fun activities with great friends!


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Pre-K girl!

Back to school has been a breeze for R this year! She returned to the same program she was in last year, which we all love! She knows the routine there and almost all of the kids in her class returned, which is fun for her.

First day of school? No problem!





She's also taking dance and gymnastics lessons this year. I am actually shuttling two other friends from school over to dance lessons, which is a blast for the girls. They are so cute getting ready and chattering in the car on the way over. Pics will come, someday!

Summer recap

It's a blog back-log! Or a smorgasbord of blogging! Or a mishmash of procrastination! Whatever, I'm finally getting around to recounting our summer adventures. Let me tell you, we have had a fine time this summer. Perhaps a little crazed and overscheduled, but fun times all around. Let's relive it, shall we?


First trip was to the Bahamas.

We had a jolly good time, as evidenced by our little Weston man.


Lots of water play: Reesie on a slide...


...and Weston in a makeshift tub.


We loved every minute of that trip!


The view from our room!!! Um, when are we going back??!!




Reese turned 4 this summer!

We started the celebration with a Disneyland/California trip! Thanks, Ma Pam and Papa!

Sunny, warm...er, rainy, cold California (which was a lovely break from TX heat)


At DL, R met royalty:




And we rode SO many rides! Including her fave, It's a Small World...

Disney was a blast! Can't wait to go back!

And I made everyone get in a planned family pic right at Weston's naptime, which of course went oh-so-well. I mainly succeeded at making everyone crazed, except for W, who was disgusted and refused to play along.


The only halfway decent one...


Thanks, Ma Pam and Papa! We had so much fun!


Then, we got home and had R's ballerina birthday party.
The birthday girl, taking it all in.


Lots of sweet friends came for the party, which included a dance lesson, a pinata, playing and cake. So much fun!








On our final trip, we visited David's folks in Cashiers, NC!
While we were there, we got to visit with David's aunt & uncle and his cousin & his family. I'd say that Reese and her second cousin Melinda got together quite well! Like peas in a pod, running around shrieking, dressing up and playing princess. they were so cute!


We hiked up to a zip line one afternoon for a quick zip through the woods and also climbing on the rock wall.





Such a fun time! We also spent time at the ranch and farm. Here are a couple of pics of R & daddy SUPing and Weston contemplating olive growth....





What a wonderful busy summer we had! Reese went to five different camps and so now I have some good ideas on future summer activities. She loved them all! We had wonderful trips and kept super busy, to the point where I honestly feel like I am still catching my breath....but all worth it for the great memories!