Thoughts on a Tuesday...

Here's a list of what's been going on, and random thoughts on my mind... and my thoughts are all over the place.

***  Braden can officially "swim".  He can't swim the length of the pool by himself or anything, but he's doing awesome.  We're so proud of him and he LOVES the pool.  Good thing since we're there at least three, but usually five days a week.

***  Vivian is at an awesome age.  Not totally mobile, but able to get around and play well.  Her personality is starting to show.  She has five teeth and working on a few more, and while she's cute and fun... it's not as cute and fun when those teeth bother her at 3:30 in the morning.

***  Chad is having a summer of fun.  When he's not doing projects around the house or coming to the pool with us, he's spending three weekends (within seven weeks) with friends for two bachelor parties and a wedding.  I'm happy for him... but of course I appreciate when he's here on weekends to help out and spend some time with the kids. 

***  As a fun payback for all the weekend time away, I'm off to Vegas with 12 girlfriends in August.  And it just happened to work out I'll be with friends on my birthday!  I am so, so, so, so excited about this obviously, and I am kind of dorking out about the whole thing. 

***  I knew that my husband liked that I blog... but he's pretty annoyed I've been such a slacker the last two months.  Add that to a few kind emails I've gotten and I know I need to write more.  It's not for lack of having things to share!  I just don't spend as much time on the computer as I used to, and there are two little people that keep my pretty busy!

***  Chad already wants me to get Vivian's hair cut again.  I'm trying to explain it's just an awkward growing out phase and we just have to wait it out.

***  Braden went to the dentist today.  I didn't realize what a great photo op it would have been and cursed myself the entire time.  It just won't be the same the next time when it isn't the first time. 

***  I've had the pleasure of joining the neighborhood ladies as a sub for their monthly Bunco three times so far.  Like the game, love the fun night out of the house! 

***  At the last Bunco game one of the women mentioned she has three daughters, two of them are in high school and love to babysit... waaa-hooo!  FINALLY, we can do date nights... and double date nights... and better yet.  They live three doors down.  Chad can just walk them home at the end of the night!

***  Although we may have figured out child care so we can go out on the town...  We still haven't solved the problem that one of us have to get up with our children in the morning after a night on the town.  Those "discussions" deciding is never really the finest moments of our marriage.  Especially when we're "deciding" in the morning when they wake up, and we're both "tired". 

***  But I think the pros of getting out as a couple makes it worth it. 

***  Big B is a "kid" now and not a toddler anymore.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  Seriously, he'll be four this year.  What? 

***  I got sucked into watching three hours worth of Bachelorette stuff on TV last night.  That's pretty much all I have to say about that.  Thankfully the season ends next week so I can stop wasting away my entire Monday night... until next season.  (I think I'm passing on the whole Bachelor Pad show).

***  Shutter Island... I really liked the movie. 

***  We are a Netflix household.  Chad manages the whole process, he's a movie freak.  He will watch ANYTHING.  That includes a foreign language Kung Fu movie made before we were born (yes, seriously he did two weeks ago).  I am not a die hard.  I am picky about what I will decide to commit to for my entire evening.  Chad watches the movie the day it comes in and has it in the mail the next morning.  I don't... I know it's annoying that I do it on my time, but isn't that the advantage of the whole process?  My point... I don't really have one.  

***  It's come to my attention three times over the last week I haven't seen "Gone With the Wind".  I'd like to ask Chad to get it on Netflix... but how am I going to know if it comes in randomly on a Thursday night it's a good night for me to commit to the longest movie ever and make sure it's back in the mail the next day? 

***  The End.

First Trim

I'm about a month behind on getting this up here, but still worth documenting.  I really wanted to wait until Vivian was a year old before her first haircut.  (Braden didn't need a haircut until he was 18 months old).  She was born with a full head of hair and it was increasingly becoming a hot mess, so I gave in and went the week she turned 9 months old.  It looked much, much better to get her hair cleaned up.  I feel like by the time she has her first birthday she'll be in desperate need for another one. 

I don't know it yet, but I'm about to get "my hairs cut" this morning!

At the hair salon... last shot before.  See all that clumpy mess!

Such a trooper... and loved sitting in the fun car

I'm making a super silly face here... but I'm just so happy the hair is out of my eyes!

Much better

I'm pretty cute with my "new do"

Miss Vivian is growing up!

Our sweet Miss Vivian is 9 months old!  Where the heck does the time go?  She's in a major teething spurt right now, but managing as best she can.  We stopped nursing five weeks ago, and she's finally sleeping entirely through the night (no more 4am feeding... yay!).  This is such a great age, starting to show some personality.  Her favorite person is her brother... he cracks her up on a daily basis.  Most days when she wakes up from her afternoon nap, Braden is the first one up stairs and loves to put on a show for her, jumping around, singing, he knows his audience! 

She observes from her crib... completely focused on her hilarious brother

"See Mom... when I jump around and act crazy... Vivian laughs!"

"Mom... that boys cracks me up!!!"

Sassy girl showing off her pearly whites

9 month dr. appointment... 20 lbs even (70th %) and 25 1/2 inches (5th %).  But when Chad and I measured her she was closer to 26 1/2 inches... either way, she's likely to be short like her momma! 

As a point of comparison... at Braden's 9 month appointment he was 24 lbs, 6 oz and 29 1/4 inches.  Vivian seems like a peanut compared to him!

Below is a quick video I got yesterday of our little lady!  She's growing up!  I am in ZERO rush for her to start walking.  Not that she'll walk this month or anything, but it will be here before I know it!  The video is 50 seconds long.

Where to Begin...

Longest Blogging Hiatus Ever.  For those of you that care... I'm sorry.  We've been so busy and I have so much to share it's been a little overwhelming.  Rest assured I'll get it all done this next week now that I've uploaded pictures and can pull myself together.  In the meantime... here's a few photos.

An American pasttime and some hometown pride...

Houston is home to the Astros... which are in the same division as Chad's beloved Chicago Cubs... which means they travel here twice a year for a series of games.  We won't be in town when they come in the fall so it was important to get there this time.   It was a bummer that the Cubs lost, but a nice day anyway.  I already can't wait for next years series when we have to have come Chicago friends visit at the same time!

Minute Maid Park offers affordable ticket options.  While they weren't the best seats in the house, we had a clear shot of the game and were on the first level.  Just $20 a ticket, and that included a hot dog, chips and a drink.  Because the park is a dome (which in this heat is a brilliant and completely necessary), however it had a completely different feel.  I felt like I had walked into a night game at just 1:00 in the afternoon. 

Go Cubs Go!  Number one! (keep a positive attitude Braden, what a cute and naive little Cubs fan)

Big B watching the game.  As if Chad didn't love him enough already, Braden says "Hey Dad, I can't wait to grow big and strong so I can play baseball!"

Miss Vivian enjoyed the game as well.  She is wearing the same outfit that Braden wore to his first Cubs game in June 2007!

A true Texas holiday weekend BBQ

I must say... this whole living in Texas thing is working out pretty well.  One of the perks is we've met a great group of neighbors.  We were invited to join on on their Memorial Day weekend BBQ.  The brisket was on the smoker by 7am... and the other main dish was Beer Can Chicken.  We did potluck for the apps, sides and desserts.  I'm thankful for baby monitors that work from a longer distance (like all the way in our neighbors back yard).  After we got the kids to sleep we stayed up quite late with the neighbors and adult beverages. 

I don't think Braden talked to me for three hours.  He was having so much fun with all the other kids.

Hey, look at this... a slip and slide!

Braden and his friend next door, Mallory.  She's four and he just loves her to pieces. 

How do you keep a baby cool outside in the Texas heat?  Well thanks to the experienced moms here we took good care of Vivian.  Under a UV shade... check.  Drinking water... check.  Wetting down her head to keep it cool... check.  Sticking her feet in water... check.  Who knew?  She stayed pretty comfortable and was in a good mood all afternoon! 

Chicago will always be "home".  But for the first time in more two years, hanging with neighbors, kids playing hard outside together, on holiday weekend, eating some Texas smoked BBQ... things felt right. 

Sandcastle...

After such a great trip to the beach with friends I wanted to take Chad there too.  Big B was so happy to go back.  Braden got to make his first sandcastle with his dad... and as an observer of the project I think Chad enjoyed it just as much as he did! 

Alright Dad... enough goofing around.  It's time to get to work on the sandcastle.

Meanwhile... I had my eye on this one in the shade.

Quite curious about the sand. 

Hey sneaky girl... I see that smirk.  I suppose it's time for me to put down the camera and get my little lady back under the beach umbrella.

Much better, back in the shade.  A few side notes... first, her hair is out of control.  I'm trying to hold out to 12 months so she can get a cut and have some shape to it.  But it's getting harder, it's really long and it has a mind of it's own.  Second, this is a pretty common look these days for Vivian, as she's teething and she's pushing her gums together.  Those top two teeth have been working our poor girl for awhile!  Hopefully they will make an appearance soon.

When I pop back over the other side... Braden seems to have completed his version of a sandcastle with the castle mold still in the sand.  He's giving me a look like, "Dad is still doing something... what's taking him so long?"

Chad is taking this seriously.  He's making a foundations so Braden can decorate.

The finished product.  Braden was happy to help out at the end.

Vistors

We were lucky to have a house guests from Illinois come and stay with us... The Funks!  Kristy, Ben and their baby girl, Isabel came and we had such a great time with them!  We met in Galveston and went to the beach, our friend and sorority sister, Kristin and her two children also joined us.  What a fun day!  We spent the rest of the time relaxing around the house, out to lunch one day and to a nice park.  Evenings were some of my favorite time... outside in nice weather with many beers and good conversation!  Here are a few pictures! (If you are interested in looking at the entire album, click here.)

Searching for seashells

Miss Vivian loved having her feet in the water.  Are you noticing the wonderful baby chunk on her thighs?  Seriously, I have had more than three people stop me in the store ask me if they can grab them!  If you like it... stay tuned, you're about to get a few more good shots.

Braden and his buddy Ava... this was most of their day... chasing each other and running circles in the water

These three babes born within 9 days of each other! From left to right, Vivian (09/19/09), Luke (09/18/09) and Isabel (09/10/09).  This may be the pictures of all pictures demonstrating Viv's baby chunk.  She's standing right next to babies her age!

Close up of Izzy and her sparkling blue eyes... she's a very sweet and well-tempered babe.  I predict she'll be an early walker too!

Here I think Isabel is wondering what Viv has in her hair and when she'll get one!

Vivian loves, loves the swing!  She has her own way of holding on.  It looks a bit reckless, but I tried to get her to hold on with both hands and she would have none of it.  According to Vivian, the higher and faster the better.

I enlisted the help of a professional... Big Brother loved to push his Little Sister!

Thank you to the Funks for a great visit!  We'd love to have you again!  :)