San Diego! Stop 1: Coronado Island

We just got back from our 1st official vacation as a family of 4 (not counting visiting family)- a week in sunny San Diego!  Trey had a 3 day conference there so we decided to go early and make a vacation out of it.  It was f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!  This mama would definitely move there in a heartbeat and I'm sure my boys wouldn't object either.  Perfect weather, clean sandy beaches, attractions galore!  There's just one problem- it's too far from Texas=family. 

Both boys were great on the airplane!  While they both have flown before, it has been awhile.  Charlie was super excited to fly and even more so when he saw he had a TV with headphones! 

Henry snacked, napped, and looked out the window!

The rest of the day we spent getting acquainted with the city, a little grocery shopping, and settling into our new home for the next week which was in the heart of the historic Gaslamp district downtown AND walking distance to the water! So fun.

The next morning, we drove over to the charming island of Coronado to show the boys a real beach!  Charlie was SO excited as soon as he set foot on the sand.  He kept saying, "C'mon Mama! Let's go! Let's go find seashells!" 

I absolutely cannot believe how big my boys are getting.

We spent the next hour or so playing in the sand, collecting seashells, and trying to convince Charlie to walk in the water!  He's a smart one.. That water was COLD! 

We loved watching our boys explore and play together. 

Henry sat happily in the sand- played a little, ate a little.  :)

He even gave us some baby supermodel poses!

Trey took the camera so I could be in a few pics.  Doesn't happen often, folks! 

A nice lady offered to take a family pic of us, which is not easy to do. Thank you nice lady!

Boys playing in front of the historical Hotel Del Coronado

This was such a fun day. 

That night the hotel delivered milk & cookies to the room for the boys.  Boy oh boy, was that a treat!  They were beside themselves! 

 

More San Diego fun to come!

Henry is 11 months old!

My last monthly post for our Henry- because in one month he will be a ONE year old!  Unbelievable!

We haven't been to the pedi since he was 9 months, so I don't have any official stats on his growth.  But he is a big boy- anyone can see that!  He weighs around 21 pounds. 

Developmentally Henry is very different than Charlie was.  I think most of that is due to his very laid back personality.  Charlie was always wanting to move- even if you were holding him as a small baby.  Henry is perfectly content sitting back and watching the action- mostly his big brother!  He is in awe of him.. it's so sweet.  He has his little swimmers crawl down but is not close to walking- at all!  He loves to stand up- giggles the whole time which is super adorable but can't quite pull up on his own yet.  We aren't complaining though- he will walk/run in his own time and we are LOVING the non-mobile stage! :) 

He also has 0 teeth still!  They have to be coming.. poor baby is definitely teething.  Wonder if he'll get a tooth for his birthday? 

Henry is still the best sleeper.  I hope this is just his personality and not just a stage!  He is the easiest baby to put to bed, and when he wakes up this is the sweet face you see!

One beautiful Sunday we went to a park to take Henry's 11 month photos!  He had just gotten his 1st haircut :)

Did this duck just photo bomb my sweet baby's picture?

This baby brings so much joy into our days.  He was definitely Heaven sent.

Can't wait to celebrate his 1st Birthday!



Our Dada is 30!

Somehow it happened.. we are both now 30.  No longer in our 20's.  Yikes! 
Another year of life given to us always deserves a celebration- and our Dada is no exception.  We wanted him to have a special day!

We made (one of) his favorite breakfasts- Chocolate Chip Pancakes! Always a huge hit around here.

Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday & have birthday (pan)cakes!

Please excuse the bed hair going on here. 

Poor Charlie was convinced it was his birthday and wanted us to sing to him so badly.  I wasn't going to lie to the kid- so after a mini meltdown we assured him his birthday is next and we will sing to him soon.  He just loves birthdays- the candles, the cakes, the gifts.. everything! 

That evening, Grammy came over to babysit the boys and we had a night out with our friends!  We had such a great time.. so many friends (old & new) came out to celebrate with Trey- He really felt the love! 

Here's a few pics of our night out... forgive the poor quality- the iPhone does what it can (not much).

 One highlight of the night?  Watching Trey ride a mechanical bull.  Hilarious.  The birthday boy got special treatment- we let made him ride that thing for15 min!

Let this be proof that we do get to go out without kiddos at least 1 night a year. ;)

The next day Charlie helped me make his favorite cake- Italian Creme! 

That night, we celebrated with family, fajitas, presents and CAKE!

Grammy & Henry :)

 Now our boys are next- can't believe Charlie will be 3 and Henry will be 1 in just WEEKS!

Cousin Visit!

We spent a lovely Saturday with our sweet cousins in Buda!  It was a much overdue visit.. and although it was short, we made the most of it.  Sarah is 8 months pregnant and we are anxiously awaiting the birth of our sweet baby boy cousin in April! 

It was kind of a dreary day so we spent most of it indoors playing.  Charlie loved all of Alice's toys- even though most of them were pink! ;)  He did get introduced to Play Doh for the 1st time.  Not sure how I missed that FUN activity!  He just *may* be getting some for his 3rd birthday. ;) At least all of his cookie cutting experience helped him know exactly what to do! 

Alice was so sweet to share all of her best toys with him... including this super cool Toy Story tent filled with balls :)

After a yummy lunch we made a palette on the floor and had quiet time.  How sweet to see them all laying together!

Then, we decided some baking would be fun (when is it not?) so we let them make Red Velvet cupcakes with SPRINKLES!

Cute Henry was happy as can be just watching the big kids!

This boy is definitely my kid.

Before we had to head back to Houston, Alice gave Henry his 1st Tea Party!  It was the cutest thing. 

She is going to be such a sweet big sister to her little brother!

We can't wait to meet him.. he'll be here so soon!

Hello 2012! (January Recap)

Hi blog.  Long time no see. 

I have been in a blogging funk lately- so much going on and ironically so much to blog about... but I keep putting it off!  You know when you have so much to do that you get overwhelmed and you don't know where to start?  Yeah, it's like that & this is me trying to end it.  Plus, someday in our future I may look back at our blog and wonder what on earth we were up to January 2012! 

2012 has already been filled with family & fun.  Early January we traveled to Bastrop to celebrate a late Christmas and Heidi's birthday.  Betty/Bebe also drove in from Midland.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous so we headed to McKinney Falls State Park for an afternoon.  It's such a great place to go and hike around & have a picnic!

Charlie was in Heaven.  He explored and ran his little legs off!  He climbed on the rocks, got wet and skipped rocks.

Henry enjoyed being outdoors and with good company.   

I have a feeling we'll go back there a time or two!

Bebe decided to come back to Houston with us for a week!  It was such a blessing to have her company & help because Trey traveled for work most of that week and we were having our kitchen remodeled!  (That deserves its own post later).  Anyway, with contractors in & out of the house we needed to be elsewhere.  It was a crazy, but FUN week- the boys were never bored!  We spent a day at our wonderful Children's museum and another at the zoo.  (Surprise, Surprise!) 

Given Charlie's recent obsession with trains we just had to ride the train at Hermann Park!

 Charlie was just a tad excited! :)


The zoo never disappoints... especially on a sunny day.  A sunny weekday when it's like we have the whole zoo to ourselves and Charlie can run free!  He had a new love for the otters this visit in the Children's zoo.  Henry was happy as can be (as usual!) observing from his stroller.

As an afternoon special treat Charlie had Dippin' Dots for the 1st time!  He even shared some with his baby brother.

The next week was taken from us by an evil stomach bug!  Poor Henry was host to his 1st virus and it stuck around way too long forcing us to cancel every activity and playdate we had for over a week!  We also had a lot of rainy days so all of this kept us indoors.  Not enjoyable when you have an energetic toddler!  Days like that we turn to crafts and BAKING! 

 This kid l-o-v-e-s to be in the kitchen & baking, especially sugar cookies he can cut out!  He's actually really good at it... and I like to make these with him because he can do almost all of it himself.  
We made some colored sugar glaze that he could just paint on.

My boys enjoying their cookies! 

One pretty Sunday afternoon Trey decided to take the boys to the park in the wagon- Henry's 1st time to ride in it!  

Is this kid for real?  The face, the cheeks, the belly.. ahh I love him.

 He seemed scared at 1st but that didn't last long.

 He loves doing anything with Charlie.

   Sweetest boys. 

Now that February is here and halfway over, we are in Birthday Season!  Trey's 30th as well as planning our boys' 3rd and 1st birthdays!  HOW can that be?