Date

This morning I had a very special breakfast date. Not with my husband, but with my first born boy.

For a few days now, he has been proclaiming that I am HIS Mommy NOT Kiery's. And that Logan is KIERY'S Dada, NOT his. Things have been really great with his transition into big brotherhood, but something has been going on. His ownership of me really hit home that I need to start spending more time with him alone. After enough acting out and possessiveness of me, I asked him if he wanted some special time with just him and Mommy and he got pretty excited about the idea.

So yesterday we made a date for this morning. Dex is in love with pancakes from Kerbey Lane, and it is their birthday this week, so they have pancakes with frosting and sprinkles on them... and I've been planning on taking him all week. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.

We woke up this morning and got ready. He got himself dressed, with shorts and shirt on backwards obviously and we headed out. It was so nice to be able to just listen to him. His imagination is out of this world. Because while this was special mommy and Dex time, his imaginary friend (George the dragon) came with us too. I got to listen to how he sees the world where newspaper machines are robots, and his boots are dragon boots while George's boots are big brother boots. He got to hold the buzzer and we sat side by side in a booth where I learned that his favorite color is blue and gold like his eyes (and George's eyes are brown so his favorite color is brown.) His favorite movie is Yo Gabba Gabba and his favorite song is the "Ouch It Hurts" song. His favorite Muppet is Kermit and he likes to wear red socks because they are "Go Red Sox" socks.

He ate pancake bites at the same time I ate mine. He wanted water in a cup with a top so it didn't spill. As he sat next to me, he grabbed my hand to hold and said "I love you Mommy".

I am so excited that he is old enough to care about spending special time together, and I can't wait for all the adventures we will have.

*Pics are taken with my cell phone- sorry for the quality

Deckie got birthday pancakes and Mommy got regular

Keeper of the buzzer

Friends

Last week I was so lucky to have two of my friends from home come and visit for almost a week. They were here to celebrate Deckie's birthday (his party anyway) and Easter and love on my children and family. It is an amazing feeling to have people around that love your children (almost) as much as you do. 

While they were here we had a mostly family friendly vacation. (That may or may not have been interrupted by some margarita time) We went to Zilker, splashed in Barton Springs, walked around South Congress, attempted- and failed... again- to see the bats, and ate a lot. One of our best afternoons was spent hanging out in a field at the park for three hours while pretending to be robots and throwing balls for Deckie to chase. 

I am so lucky to have these amazing women in my life. They are willing to spend their vacation time chasing my children and teaching Kieran how to mimic someone that is sticking their tongue out at them. Volunteering to hang up streamers, hide eggs, and push double strollers. And we'll just say that what happens on 6th St stays on 6th St. 

Thank you both so much for coming and making our lives that much better. 

SXSW

As many of you know, Austin just hosted SXSW- a huge music festival. Having small children, we obviously did not get to partake in much of the craziness, but we did get to participate a little bit during the day. Logan wasn't feeling very well, so I took the boys out to meet up with our friend Janet on South Congress to check out the happenings.

Dex was pretty stoked to get to listen to music and dance around. He pretty much made everyone's day with his spinning and his booty shaking. He even got a special solo performance by a man on the street playing guitar. (And then learned how to put a dollar in a hat). He also got to walk Janet's dog, Kismet.

This was followed by my first experience eating pizza at Home Slice. It was delicious. My belly is rumbling thinking about it.

We are very lucky to be living in such an artistic area. I love getting to introduce Dex to museums and music and all the different walks of life there are here. He is definitely a free spirit, and I love seeing him dance with no abandon.

Getting his groove on

This curl kills me

Janet and Kismet

He picked flowers and wanted one in his hair

Our Visit With Jessica

Please note that I am attempting to get bigger pictures in here and I'm working on it... but I'm actually having a lot of difficulty so please bear with the terrible current state of the layout.








This past weekend we were lucky enough to have a visit from our good friend Jessica. AKA Declan's Fairy Godmother. We had a grand time playing in fountains, parks, and across downtown (and across 6th street on Friday night). We ate tacos, BBQ, and ice cream. We watched movies, napped, got pedicures, and went to art museums. Pretty much... we did it all. I can't even express how nice it was to have a friend from home here. I got to show her around, but it was also just so nice to have someone here that I could just be totally 100% comfortable with. It didn't matter if we wanted to nap or go out... no one felt pressured to do anything and it was perfect.

We all had the best time (even in spite of a random puking bout by the boys in the middle of the night one night) and we will miss her terribly. We love you Jessica!

The Rodeo!

Yesterday I got to spend some actual quality time with my boys. I feel like this really hasn't happened enough recently. We hopped in the car and headed out to the rodeo. Now, I'm not really sure I feel like we went to the rodeo. All that stuff happened later in the day and cost more money. It was more like we went to the fair. But it was still a good time walking around and watching Dex experience all the sights and sounds.

Enjoying his pizza

He really wasn't so into the petting zoo. I think he doesn't like it when there are small animals on his level. They freak him out a bit.

Waiting for his pony ride. 

LOVING the pony ride. He was laughing so hard he could barely stay on the pony.

My little cowboy.

Riding his tractor

So all in all it was a good day. Once the sun was too hot and there were too many people, we ate our last ice cream cone and headed home. We thought Dex was going to pass out as soon as we got in the car, but we had another thing coming. He spent the ride home singing. At first I couldn't tell what he was singing but I thought I recognized the tune. After a few minutes I figured out he was singing "Farmer in the Dell." Once I figured that out, I knew he was singing a song they sing in his class about shapes. But, how cool is that? Without knowing the words I recognized his tune. I guess there's some musical talent in him! (Oh, and then he didn't nap and didn't go to sleep until about 10pm. I guess the rodeo riled him up too much)

On another note. Tomorrow we go to the Dr and if all goes well, we find out the sex of the baby! Wish us luck. Any takers on what it will be?

Holiday Ramblings

Still fighting with AT&T to get our internet settled. A bit frustrating, but what can ya do. I guess the neighbor's spotty stolen internet will continue to suffice for the time being.

Two weeks and one day until Dex and I are East Coast bound. I am SO excited to see my family and friends. Like unbelievably so. However, I do have one minor thing that I'm a little nervous about. The weather! This East Coast girl has gotten pretty used to THIS kind of weather...

Right Now	Next 36 Hours

	Tonight	Tomorrow	Tomorrow Night
Fair	Partly Cloudy	Mostly Sunny	Partly Cloudy
61°F	57°	77°	40°
Feels Like: 61°	Low	High	Low
Past 24-hr: Precip: 0 in Snow: 0 in	Chance of Precip: 20%	Chance of Precip: 20%	Chance of Precip: 10%
Wind: From S at 3mph	Wind: SSW at 9 mph	Wind: SSW at 9 mph	Wind: NNE at 14 mph

Seriously. 61 at 9pm. And tomorrow is a high of 77. Really not sure I can go back to...

Right Now	Next 36 Hours

	Tonight	Tomorrow	Tomorrow Night
Cloudy	Clouds Early / Clearing Late	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy
38°F	31°	42°	29°
Feels Like: 30°	Low	High	Low
Past 24-hr: Precip: 0 in Snow: 0 in	Chance of Precip: 20%	Chance of Precip: 20%	Chance of Precip: 20%
Wind: From NW at 12mph	Wind: NW at 13 mph	Wind: WNW at 18 mph	Wind: W at 13 mph

High of 42? I don't know about that. I'm not sure I have located enough long sleeved shirts yet.

I cannot wait to share how much my little man has grown. In the last four months he has truly become a real toddler. When we left he was walking but just barely. He now runs everywhere he goes. His smile is one of the biggest I've ever seen and I'm constantly getting compliments on how good and happy he is. (Though trust me... I also know the tantrums well... he just mostly saves those for mommy and daddy) I can't wait to have brunch in Brookline and patron the Starbucks in Newton. We will see all kinds of babies in Guilford and snuggle with Nana in Franklin. We'll see the sea on the Cape and the mountains in Vermont. I am so excited to remind my boy of his roots. Even though it hasn't been that long. He's little and I'm sure he won't remember.

He gets to experience the Christmas I grew up with. Christmas Eve with my mom's family and opening ONE gift (even though mom pretends EVERY year that we won't get to). Christmas day with my dad's family. The craziness of the Yankee Swap and so many kisses and cousins that are just his size. He will actually care about Christmas. He will touch every decoration he walks past and bounce to the music. I'm sure he will make cute faces all day that will reward him with sweets that my family will sneak him. He will unwrap his gifts and play with the wrapping paper. He will love to watch the Christmas movies that I grew up with. I can't wait to share it all with him. It stinks that Logan won't be with us to celebrate it, but it means that we get an extra Christmas when we get back. Once we leave Logan will be busy building this...



!!!!!! For our return. SOOOO excited for Dex to see it when we get back. The best present ever. (Thanks grandma!)


Also... on a slightly different note. I've been saving for awhile. Graduation money, birthday money, etc... and I think I'm almost on my way to...



A new camera. I've been thinking about it for a long time, and I think that I'm really ready to make the commitment. I don't know when it will happen exactly, but I want to be able to take great quality pictures of Declan and get more into it. If anyone knows anything about cameras, I'm definitely taking advice on what I should be looking for.

So all in all, I'm happy to be going home soon. Not so psyched for the weather. But ready to take on the holidays. And so ready to get to show it all to Dex. Love to all and can't wait to see those that read this back home!

Adventures

So the internet will be back in full force as of next week, making this easier to keep up with. We have been a busy little family recently. I am so excited to have had so many adventures and even more are coming up.

Last weekend we went to Dallas. While we were there we visited Logan's family and friends. Declan had a blast. Logan's stepmom showed Declan how to start using a violin and it was absolutely amazing to see him be so interested in playing an instrument. It sent my mind off in daydreams about what he will be one day. We also had a great time hanging out with Jenny and Abby. We slept over their house on Saturday. There was a great family dinner, and lots of playing and giggling between the two cousins. We stayed up much too late playing horses and watching movies and eating popcorn. It was so nice to have Declan have another kid to run around with, ensuring my thoughts that there needs to be another child along the way.

We spent the next couple of days going to work and school and recuperating from the lack of sleep from the weekend. Declan now loves going to school. He has learned to say "Jacquie," his teacher's name, and loves to blow everyone kisses as he shouts "bye bye" at them.

Tomorrow Logan's mom comes to town so even more adventures are surely on their way.

And the even bigger news is that in a month Declan and I will be taking a trip home! Two weeks on the East Coast for these two. So everyone at home that reads this... get ready.