A day at the zoo

Jarrod had the day off so we headed to the Cameron Park Zoo.  What a beautiful day to be outdoors!  Here are my favorite little bugs:

GIDDY UP!!

The zoo is very impressive and they seem to add a couple of new exhibits each time we go.  Some of Emma's favorite attractions included the monkeys, bats, giraffes and fish.  She was a litte apprehensive of the lions after we witnessed one let out a tremendous ROARING performance.  (Yikes!)

This was Owen's first time at the zoo and he was such a good boy!  For the first hour or so he just relaxed in the stroller and took it all in.  It wasn't long before he was ready to get out and roam!  We only had to back track for a shoe and he only chunked his snack trap inside the elephant's gate once. 

It is so amazing to watch the animals dwell and interact with one another.  Check out the jaguar perched on the rock behind Emma!

Owen was very interested in this turtle.  He especially loved the reptile area and even did his best to bother the snakes. 



We had an excellent afternoon and hope to visit again soon :)

Seventeen months

Owen is seventeen months old!  He had a visit to the pedi last week (viral cold) and weighed exactly 23 lbs!  At that visit Dr. G mentioned that he is teething like crazy all over, which may be to blame for serious tantrums all day long.  He has started majorly screaming when he doesn't get his way....and if it goes on for several minutes he even starts stomping his feet!  He certainly has figured out how to get our attention!

He has recently developed a LOVE for basketball.  He makes hand motions for dribble and shoot!  He gets excited and squeals when he sees it on tv.  He attended his first Yoemen basketball and baseball games this past month.  He also enjoys watching football game film with daddy. 

He has started biting and hitting.  As soon as he gets his hands on a toy bat or spatula he likes to hit.  He doesn't bite often, but will sneak one in when it is least expected, especially with his poor mama.  I think he thinks it is our game.  When I say "no bite" he giggles and tries to do it again.  Lovely.  He is still very sneaky and mischevious.  Just look at this:

He still loves being outdoors.  Recently he has discovered how to push the plastic kid picnic bench beside the wooden swing set.  He climbs all the way to the top...very quicky and quietly.  He is still working on depth perception but is doing okay.

He still doesn't sleep through the night.  I'm SO thankful he cannot climb over the crib railing (Emma wasn't much older before she had to transition to a toddler bed).  I don't even want to think about that day.  Fortunately he still takes two naps each day.  He goes down around 10am and often sleeps about an hour and a half.  He also takes a mid afternoon nap but fights it and usually sleeps less than an hour.  He goes to bed around 8pm, wants to be up for good by 6am and wakes up numerous times in between.  Yawn.

Owen still isn't talking much but we know that one day this will change and he won't zip it :)  He says "boof" for please.  He has started shaking his head "no" and grunting for "yes".  To help get dressed  he puts his legs into pants and his feet into shoes.  One day we were preparing to leave the house.  Jarrod told Emma to find her shoes.  Owen immediately made a mad dash for the bathroom and grabbed his shoes which had been left there the evening at bathtime.  He just started giving kisses.  They are open mouth but I will take 'em!   

Picnic at the park

The weather has been BEAUTIFUL over the past few days.  To me, this (mid 80's) is perfect.  A few degrees warmer and I am not a happy camper anymore ;)  Today we packed a picnic lunch and headed for the park. 

After eating and briefly fighting visiting with a family of bees (yikes!) the kids headed to play!  These cute Texas benches are all over the playground area. 

 

Owen loves to climb!  Here his dad is encouraging that behavior.  Soon I will really have my hands full!

Owen really wanted to climb as high as his sister!  I'm scared sure it won't be long :)

It's amazing to watch Emma grow and progress in motor skills!  Be sure to check out the photo right below it too.  So bittersweet....

March 2011

Sept 2008

Where does the time go?  It seems like just yesterday I took photos of Emma in the park the week we moved to Cameron.  It's incredible what a difference 2.5 years makes.  Just check out this combo.....

March 2011

Sept 2008

This very well may be my favorite photo of the day:

We enjoyed our time outdoors today and look forward to many more outings this Spring!

Duck, Duck, Goose!!

Yesterday we went out to a local park with some friends to feed the ducks.  The geese out there are a bit aggressive and somehow always seem to be starving!  The kids were a little nervous and finally decided to feed them from the truck bed :) 

We all enjoyed a long walk around the water and decided to take kites next time!  It's fun to enjoy time with another coach's family, especially with the long hours of track season.

Seventh Heaven

This past weekend we celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary (3/6/04).  While these seven years have really flown by I can't remember not being married to Jarrod.  In fact, we have finally been married for as long as we dated!  On Sat evening we enjoyed dinner at our favorite restaurant, Outback Steakhouse.  It's so nice to go out just the two of us every once in awhile.  It was a good break from wiping faces, bribing with goldfish and taking numerous potty trips :)

Here is a walk down memory lane:

Early 1998 ~ one of our very first photos

Troy HS prom May 1998 ~ our 1st of 3 proms

Aggie ring dance Spring 2003 ~ shortly after becoming engaged

Our wonderful wedding party ~ oh my how we have all grown up!!

My dad & I right before walking down the aisle :)

Ahhh...a kiss from my prince charming!

In the limo on one of the BEST days of my life

Honeymoon in Jamaica (can't wait to return to celebrate our 10th!)

And look at us now :)

We count our blessings every day.  One of the BIGGEST blessings is our marriage.  I love, love, love being married to Jarrod.  He makes life FUN and balances me out perfectly.  Each day I feel as though I am in the middle of a fairy tale and I pray for MANY more anniversaries to celebrate together!

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ~Ephesians 5:22-33

Laundry Lurker

Owen often likes to "help" with the laundry...

He thinks, "Gee mom, this sure looks like a lot of work!"

"I'm out of here...."



If only I could teach him how to match up socks!!

Upward bound!

Emma's favorite restaurants are McDonald's and Chick fil A....and not just because of the food :)  For months now Owen has worked very hard to try to make it up the first of a series of large steps to climb up the play land.  Today he finally succeeded!!  Once he made it up the first step, he climbed the others like a pro!  Sorry for the fuzzy photos but I only had my phone!

He was sooo proud of himself!  He even paused here each time on the way up to show off :)

Here is his serious concentration face:

The boy loves, loves, loves to climb!! 

This was right before he went down the slide! 

My sweet baby is quickly turning into a big boy.  So bittersweet!!