3.13.2010

The Rodeo. (Texas Style)

The story continues....

We all headed out to the famous Texas rodeo Friday morning. Warm weather + sun + family = a good time. We ate delicious bbq and saw all different animals. The highlight was the petting zoo where Jacob could actually walk around with the baby goats, pigs, etc... and feed them food. I can't lie and say I was not nervous as we trampled through animal mess and dirty fur... but Phil kept things pretty much under control. After we were sufficiently tired, we headed out to our hotel. An oil spill on the highway, an event that the newspapers deemed a "Perfect Storm," caused our expected fifteen minute drive to turn into a two hour ordeal. We had just enough time to check in, get showered, and dressed before we headed to the temple for Shabbat Services. Needless to say, the traffic was not over. Every street was gridlocked and we pulled up to the temple just as services were ending. It became quite comical to hear everyone's stories about their driving disasters. My parents got hit by a driver that had fallen asleep at the wheel and we are thankful that they were not hurt. We were much in need of mexican food and margaritas by the time we actually arrived to the rehearsal dinner. Let me just say that today we refused to go anywhere by car and spent the day taking walks outside and shopping!


Tonight is the big event!





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Up, Up, and Away!

I had this vision that traveling by plane with our little man at twelve months would be as easy as it was when he was four months. I was very wrong. To start with, our plane was delayed. So my plan of feeding Jacob on the plane to occupy us for at least ten minutes failed. We walked up and down the area around our gate while we were waiting. This is perfect, I thought, he will be so tired, he will just fall right to sleep when we board. I would give him a bottle during takeoff and he would drift away to dreamland. Wrong again, Mommy. He starting drinking the bottle as the wheels starting rolling and then wanting nothing to do with it. It's not that he was bad on the plane. Just squirmy. Philip and I passed him back and forth (and back and forth again) and then up to Aunt Lindsay and Jonny and with twenty minutes left on the plane, the little booger fell fast asleep.

I wish I could write that this was our only minor bump in our trip. We then had to deal with our rental company that didn't have a toddler car seat that we reserved, so we had no other choice but to shove Jacob in a pumpkin seat that he outgrew three months ago. We then met our enemy for the rest of the trip: Houston traffic. When we finally arrived at Matthew and Robin's at midnight, we did have such a great time playing poker and seeing the family (we always do, of course). More to come on our adventures from Friday...









Being passed back and forth on the airplane between Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Lindsay, and soon-to-be Uncle Jonny!

Spring has Arrived

It was 60 degrees this morning. We didn't follow our usual morning routine. We didn't build with blocks or play the piano or read books; we didn't even eat breakfast on time (we even skipped coffee for mom); we went directly outside to play. No shoes allowed.

Jacob was a little unsure of the wet grass between his little toes....

He smelled the flowers and trees, just like his Yaya taught him.

And he got dirty. And this reminded myself to allow him to get messy and play mud and discover the beauty in things that might not seem so pretty.

Our first year together. Joined at the hip. Figuring everything out together.

And as I scrambled to get the above shot, Jacob was already trying to wiggle out of my arms, to discover things on his own, to walk on his own two feet... Thank goodness he still needs a hand to hold...

And we sat on our porch, watching our calm subdivision after everyone had left for work and the children had left for school. I wonder where those little feet will go... up and down soccer sidelines, through school hallways, graduation stages, wedding aisles.....

3.9.2010

Time for New Shoes!

Today was a big day for the little man! I realized that I could no longer shove Jacob's chunky little feet into his shoes and so we headed to Stride Rite to get some new ones. I was lectured by the sales lady that his old shoes were way too small, too narrow for his feet, and did not give him enough support for as much as he was walking. I nodded my head and took my scolding. Bad mommy. It turns out Jacob is a size 6 (he was in a size 4 - oops) and he needs extra-wide shoes. I thought all toddlers' feet were as chunky as his, but I was wrong. I was told I am only to buy extra-wide shoes for him. We decided on the cutest pair of "approved" shoes, the only problem being that the velcro ones had to be shipped over from another store. We pick them up tomorrow. Until then, I will take the mean looks from any other individuals that believe I am a no-good-shove-your-baby's-fat-feet-into-too-small-shoes mom.

3.7.2010

3.6.2010

It actually felt like spring today! We took Jacob to a birthday party this morning for his friend and they danced and sang songs (Jacob had two bites of birthday cake). We then headed outside to Queeny Park this afternoon. The little one did not stop smiling. He went down the slide, climbed up and down the stairs, kicked around the soccer ball, bumped his head on the ground, recovered, and then ran around some more. It amazes me how intrigued he is at every little thing. He appreciates every little rock, every stick, every new object he encounters. He observes his environment and then takes off to test it out....

3.5.2010

Who Said I Couldn't Cook?

A delicious Ricotta Cheese Cake. Baked with love by Yours Truly.

Spring Yet?

We are tired of cold weather! We are ready for warm weather and ready for our cruise in June. I decided to try Jacob's swimsuit on him that arrived the other day. We went with a plaid Polo one. It's quite cute on him, especially with his little belly sticking out. Phil saw the picture below and asked if Jacob always sat this still for me when I shoot him. Yeah, right. I proceeded to show him the pictures that follow...



Off the little guy went running into the kitchen to play one of his favorite games....


Such fun.

Bell-A-Roos

When my sister and I were tiny little tots, one of our many ways to occupy ourselves would be to create our own restaurant, Bell-A-Roos. We had an exquisite menu created (at least five different options) and we would allow our family to order from the menu so that we could prepare amazing food for all to enjoy... until we didn't want to clean up the mess we made or moved onto the next project.

I'm not quite sure my love of cooking followed me over the years. While picking Jacob up from my parent's house today, my mom asked me what I was "cooking for dinner." I almost laughed. No, wait. I did laugh. "Steph, you really should start preparing some dinners." She didn't mean anything bad from this; just that, well, I should take on the "mom" role of cooking. Growing up, family dinner was an important part of our every day lives. Regardless of what was going on (and with four kiddos, we were always busy), my mom always prepared a home-cooked meal for us. We would sit as family, eat, talk, yell, laugh, cry.. most importantly, we would do it together. I always knew that when I had my own family, I would want these family dinners to continue in my own house. While I may not be the best cook, I can promise that I am going to learn.

Starting tomorrow night.... because tonight, I took a lasagna out of the package and popped it in the oven. We did, however, sit and eat as a family.