4 years

That's how old my biggest baby is. He's 4. F-O-U-R. So weird to say that. And to type that.

Drew is such a special kid. He's so smart, it freaks us out a bit every so often. The kid can do 100 piece puzzles, all by himself. He beats me at Memory, which is hard to do because I've always been very good at it. He knows words to all these songs, and loves to sing. He knows all his letters, upper and lower case, can spell a few words and recognizes some, too, so he's very close to reading. He is one of the 'clowns' in his class, and loves to make his friends laugh. He's very independent, dresses himself every morning, plays well by himself, and goes right up to anybody on the playground to make friends. Clearly his mother's child. :) He LOVES his baby brother, except he calls him 'Baby' a lot, instead of Alex. The day before he turned 4 (about 6 hours before, actually), he fell running in the house (big no-no) and split his chin open. Got 3 stitches. It was our first trip to the emergency room, which I think is pretty good for a 4 year old boy who likes to do things on his own.

He's a precious boy, so tender and sweet, loves to snuggle with his Mama, but to rough-house with his Daddy, too. I love him so much, and thank him every day for making me a Mama!

Man, time flies

Actually, my main reason for not posting much is that my blog account is totally messed up and not in sync with everything, so I have to log onto this crazy account. Anyway.

I had to blog today because there's lots to catch up on.

One, Drew turned 3 last Friday. No longer a Terrible Two! Although he never was that terrible, actually. He's a precious little boy. Talking up a storm, very clearly. He knows his letters AND the sounds they make! He's a puzzle-working FIEND. Seriously, he's working puzzles right now for 5-7 year old kids. ~jawdrop~ Oh, and his favorite color is orange. A fact I like to remind Joel of as much as possible. He sings little songs to himself as he's playing. He's obsessed with cars still, but has recently been into Thomas the Train and loves to build train tracks with his daddy. He's a joy to be around, actually. I couldn't be happier or more blessed.

Two, I've started my own business, which is keeping me busy in start-up mode. Exciting stuff!

Three, I'm having another baby! In June! A boy! More excitement!

Four, and the main reason for posting TODAY and not, you know, yesterday or tomorrow:

SNOW!!!

For the 3rd time this year! Crazy El Nino!

Our back porch. This is about 2pm this afternoon, 3 inches on the top of that table.


'Artistic' shot of the crepe myrtle seen on the left in the above picture. Look at it just stacked up!


It's been snowing since before I got up at 6:30, there was already an inch by then. It is TOTALLY not Texas snow, either. Big, fat flakes, kind of wet, but otherwise I'd swear I was in the Colorado mountains or something. Straight-down snow, no blowing or drifting. It's not sticking to the roadways and paved surfaces (yet), otherwise this would be a giant mess. But for now, as I'm sitting in my house watching it all day, it is GORGEOUS. And I love it!

On the way to school yesterday

Isn't he getting so big? My goodness, where does the time go?

A Little Bit of Spring For Ya

Bubbles fun!


Family Easter

It's finally finished!

My sweet Mama drove all the way from Wellington to bring us our newly-hemmed curtains this week. Why were they in Wellington getting hemmed? Because it was all of $20, that's why. And why didn't she just mail them, you ask? Because the postage would have been WAY more than $20 for those heavy, bulky curtains, completely defeating the purpose of sending them home with her in the first place. That, and she brought some plant cuttings from her yard to start in mine of honeysuckle and lilacs that have been in the family for a few generations now (how cool is that?). Oh, and she just HAD to see Drew Bear, too. But the REAL reason was the curtains.

So now the dining room is officially finished! Well, at least until we get the trim painted and the piano from Bubba's Mom. But that's not happening for a while, and are just bonus, so I'm sticking a fork in it anyway.

BEFORE:






AFTER:









I like it way better, don't you? Don't you want to come over for dinner now?

Skiing Is Not For Drew

This snow stuff is fun and all, but....



can I go back inside where it's warm?

I have a problem

Have I mentioned that I'm a snacker?

I'm a SERIOUS snacker. Frankly, it's just that I like to eat good food. But, I also inherited my father's love of snacking. Diets? PAH! I can never do it, because I can't keep from snacking. So, I eat small meals to make up for it. Most of the time. And, I try to snack on healthy things.

My problem is that I CAN NOT give up carbs. I've tried, and then I just crave them more. My OBGYN actually told me I should maybe steer clear of them when I was pregnant with Drew, because of the copious amount of weight I'd gained in just 3 short months. I laughed in her face. She might as well have told me to stop eating altogether.

Right now I'm inhaling a bag of Sun Chips. They are SOOO addicting, my friends. Try them, you'll see. I dare you to eat just one.....handful. Oh sweet mother of all that is good and pure, I'm about to gain 2 pounds. At least they are multigrain.

D

Bubba's Sis is playing this fun game and I decided to play along! Here's how you do it: Tell me by leaving a comment on this post, and I will assign you a letter. Then post ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter on your blog. Explain the rules with your ten things and when others comment requesting a letter, assign one to them; thus, the chain continues.

BS assigned me the letter D, so here goes!

1. Drew Bear, of course! Happy Birthday to my first born!
2. Dancing
   
3. Diamonds
4. Daisies
5. Daddy Don
   
6. Dallas
7. My new Deck
8. Dreams
9. Dogs
10. Drama (in the movie department, not in my life!)
    

The End of an Era

Today is the last day my baby is an actual baby. He turns 2 tomorrow, and will officially be a 'toddler.' Not that he hasn't been acting like a toddler for the last few months or so. Heaven help us.

Lately, though, he's been all sorts of fun. The language has just EXPLODED onto the scene, and he has started saying things in sentences. Sort of. There is DEFINITE noun/verb/adjective usage going on here. Mainly these little blurbs have to do with him 'wanting' something, but hey, it's a form of communication we hadn't had previously, so I'll take it. His little personality is coming out now, too. Big time. He is such a card, and loves to laugh. And sing. Seriously, I'll start singing him little songs, and he already KNOWS most of them and will at least get most of the tune right, despite not getting all the words. I have hope for his singing career. Guess day-care's done a better job with songs than Mama has. :( Bad Mama!

I'm honestly sitting here thinking how is it possible that he grew so fast? Where did the time go?

What A Day!!

The inauguration hasn't even happened yet, and I already have tears in my eyes just thinking about it! What a historic day. What an incredible thing that in our lifetime we would elect a black man to be President of the United States. He just came out of the White House with GWB, and I am just so thrilled that I'm able to watch this!

Chills just go up my spine when I think about it. Despite how you voted or your particular politics, I hope we are all able to recognize how cool this is and revel in the pomp and pageantry of today.

The Ultimate Life-List

I feel the need for a new blog post, as the new year has come and gone and it's damn near mid-January already.

But, as I'm feeling less-than-inspired, I stole this one from Bubba's Sis. I'm shameless, I know.

--------------

Here's what you do: Copy and paste to your blog then boldface the things you've done.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity (to clarify, I have given to charity many times, just not more than I could afford)

7. Been to Disneyland/World

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning (not that I recall)

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (only because it wasn't open when we lived there!

18. Grown your own vegetables (Do herbs count?!)

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (nope, too expensive, but I HAVE been to Venice)

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (nope, but I've seen it live and in person!)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business - (I'm counting starting my own branch of a business!)

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the paper

85. Read the entire Bible (most of it, so I'm counting it!)

86. Visited the White House (the outside of it, we couldn't get a tour!)

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee--it's not pretty, I'm allergic!

100. Became a child of God

Happy New Year and All That Jazz

We had a fabby Christmas, Santa found us in Houston after all, despite the warm, humid, rather nasty weather. I think he flies through south Texas in his skivvies. It was great, we really enjoyed spending time with our family. It was a relaxing week.

Now we're sitting on the couch with Mimi and Papa and watching the New Year's Eve festivities on TV and drinking champagne and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Drew Bear is in the bed, and all is right with the world.

I'm looking forward to 2009. 2008 was good to us and I can't wait to see what happens in this new year.

I wish you and yours a very safe and happy New Year!!!

TOUCHDOWN!!!

'Drew, they just scored a touchdown!'

(His response):


Isn't he just the cutest thing? Don't you want to root for 'his' team?

Yeah, I thought so.

Coughing

There is nothing worse than the sound of a persistent cough. Especially if it's your child's cough. And especially when it sounds like a barking seal.

That was Tuesday. We promptly visited the dr. and got some drugs to fend-off the nasty Croup Cough. Which seemed to work, as the Bark went away by Thursday.

But the Bark has been replaced by the Chest Cough. It's raspy and violent and you can just tell it hurts him to cough. My poor baby. He's been coughing a lot the last 24 hours.

So here it is Saturday, and we have a touch of bronchitis in our house. Not good. Especially since we have social plans both tonight and tomorrow that we have now had to cancel. Oh well, those are the breaks. We're on antibiotic now, so hopefully he is better by Monday. Or at least Wednesday, because I don't want a sick baby on a major holiday.

Pure Joy

My Little Traffic Cone

As this was the last year that we could impose whatever we wanted our child to be for Halloween, Bubba and I chose a Traffic Cone! It was all Bubba's idea, I just made it a reality using my skills in cutting fabric and foam core, and wielding a hot-glue gun. I'm a stud, what can I say.

The straps were much shorter earlier in the day, before he wore it at school to trick-or-treat. So we had to pin them up before he walked down the street. But, he CAN walk in there, his little feet are poking out of the bottom, I promise.

He was the hit of the street, we were so proud! And he did great, didn't try to take it off once!

Random Thoughts

• I've been under the weather the past few days, but I think I'm finally over the hump. However, yesterday I was having one of those Scarlett O'Hara days. You know, 'I can't think about that right now. I'll think about that tomorrow.' Yep, that was me yesterday. Mainly because I was so fuzzy-headed and foggy that concentrating on anything was just not happening.
• I love that it's officially 'Fall' here in North Texas. The trees are actually trying to turn colors! GASP! And it's cool! In fact, I'm wearing a sweater today! But that could be because not only does my office need additional cooling in the summer from a window a/c, turns out it needs additional heating. Guess a Target run for a space heater is in my future.
  
• I watch these two squirrels in my back-yard chase each other and bury damn nuts in my flowerbeds and yard all. day. long. Seriously, where do squirrels get their energy? Must be from the damn nuts...
• I finally finished Munchkin's Halloween costume for this year. Pictures to be posted after the fact, but I'm quite proud of myself for making it all from scratch. Yes, BS. I have Scratch in full supply at my house. ;)
• Why do things seem to happen all at once?
  
• I almost never feel 'busy' anymore. Not like I used to. Motherhood has definitely made me slow down a bit. But when the above happens, it seems to overwhelm me more.
• However, I seem to be better at time management when I have lots to do. If I only have one thing to do, I seem to procrastinate more. Why is that?
• When was the last time you had a really passionate, earthy shattering kiss? Yeah, I can't remember either. Need to speak with Bubba about that.
• Have you thought about Christmas yet? Yeah, me too. It's inevitable.
• I haven't baked in forever. I miss it. I really miss my famous Snickerdoodles. Must resolve this before the holidays.

That is all. I know I had a few more of them up there in the recesses of my gray matter, but I fear the fogginess has taken over yet again.

Deck Project, Day 7

Friday, October 17th

We're done! Well, Jimmy's done. That's him playing guitar enjoying the new deck. Did I mention he's a fantastic musician? I love just sitting listening to him play and sing. Bonus if it's with my Mama and Papa. They used to all play/sing together when we lived back in Austin when I was a wee babe. That's how long Jimmy's known me.

Anyway, we are likely going to stain it, but that won't happen until next week, so I'm considering us done! I'm so pleased, it's exactly what we wanted, and better than we pictured. That second bench that Jimmy's sitting on is actually moveable, so we can put it where we want as we need to. Cool, huh?

Now we just need a few more chairs to welcome friends when they come visit! And maybe a table so we can dine al fresco on occasion. Or all the time. The weather's perfect for it now.

Thanks again, Jimmy!

Deck Project, Day 6

Thursday, October 16th

It rained off and on all day yesterday, so there was a bit of a delay, but Jimmy still managed to finish the decking and build the bench! Now all that's left is the build the steps and put up the lattice on the bottom so that critters can't get under there.

Deck Project, Day 5

Wednesday, October 15th

We sat out last night while Jimmy played guitar, drinking wine and enjoying the lovely view of the full moon. Ah, bliss.