Catch up!

It's been a busy summer! I've been working more, and Noah has been having a blast at the baby-sitter's house with his friends. He talks all the time about Adam and Madison, who are Samantha's kiddos, and Noah's very best friends. And they love all love Noah too.

One day we had a friend from the Kindermusik class and a friend from church over to play and the three boys had a great time.





Noah is doing great with speech therapy and is making some strides. Nikki, our therapist, is very impressed with his memory and ability to sit still and focus when they are working together. He is adding lots of new words to his vocabulary and is doing better with asking for things and is starting to try more 2-word sentences.

When he figured out how to climb out of bed, I bought a crib tent. :) With all the sleep issues, we just weren't ready to add that to the mix. It works so well, I see no reason to switch beds anytime soon!

Also, Noah is back on the pacifier for sleep. After 10 weeks of little to no napping and very early mornings, I couldn't take it anymore. It took awhile before he even wanted to use it again but he has since resumed napping and is doing pretty well. Not sure that he is getting a lot more total sleep per day but this is an improvement and I am hopeful that he will eventually start sleeping til at least 7:00am again! And I don't care if he sleeps with a paci till he's 20. :)

We had several days over the last week with Jeremy's mom in town and it was wonderful having Mamaw around to help out. Unfortunately, this is the only pic I took but I did get a couple of cute videos too.

























Noah has developed a love for whales and dolphins since we visited Sea World. We watch the Shamu show on youtube pretty frequently. This is the part where the audience waves their arms and shout "Shamu, Shamu!" along with the trainers and the whales splash everyone. Cracks me up.

Noah has also developed a love for Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy after seeing a little bit of Kermit on one of his Sesame videos. So Mimi bought him some DVDs and he begs to watch "The Muppets Take Manhatten" all day long! I love that he chose Kermit on his own. Most 2-year-olds love Elmo, but how many have an addiction to Kermit? What a little individual. :)

Our boy is too sweet these days. He gives lots of hugs and love and recently learned to do the "smack" when giving kisses. I personally think they are the best kisses ever.

Let Freedom Ring!

We really did the 4th of July holiday weekend up big this year, at least as far as traveling goes. But first, here are a few pics from the previous weekend, when we visited Williamson County Park on Sunday afternoon, and enjoyed riding the train and playing at the Quarry splashpad. The Quarry is Cedar Park's new million-dollar splashpad and it is pretty cool, in both senses of the word. :) Sorry, we didn't take the camera out there, so no pics. I am excited for friends/family with children to start visiting us so we can take kiddos to all the fun places around here! (Hint, hint!)

Waiting for the choo-choo train to arrive.

All aboard the Cedar Rock Railroad!

Boys just love trains.
On to the 4th of July weekend. The three of us headed out to ABIA on Thursday, after Noah got a good nap in, and flew out to Tulsa, where we were picked up that evening by the Nutt's and driven out to Grand Lake. (Side note: air travel with a 2-year-old is not nearly as easy as it was with an infant. Noah was not at all pleased that the flight attendant told him to sit in his own seat, with his belt on, at all times when the fasten seat belt sign is on. I recommend avoiding the anal retentive flight attendants at least. He did love seeing the airplanes and I think he understands now that he actually flew on one and that we went "up, up, up!" in the sky. :)

Anyway we arrived late at this amazing house at beautiful Grand Lake that was loaned to us by a friend of a friend of the Nutt's. It was a big party with us and several members of Brian, Stacie, and Rylie's family. And I think everyone had fun. Noah and Rylie got along great and gave each other lots of kisses. :) Unfortunately, we did not take too many pics out there and are hopeful that Stacie will send some our way. ;) There were some really cute ones of the 2 little ones and this was really their first time spent together.

No, he is not naked here, just looks that way!

Saturday, we drove to Fort Smith, AR, to visit with Jeremy's parents and grandparents. Mandi, Dom, and Sophia happened to be there too and the kids had a lot of fun together.

On Monday, we headed back to Tulsa for the night and flew home on Tuesday morning. As usual, it was one of our whirlwind trips but we all had a blast. Noah even did a good job sleeping! And everyone spoiled us with all the food and accomodations. :)

My only disappointment is that Noah's 3rd 4th of July has passed us by and he still has not seen a fireworks show! I've always been afraid he wouldn't make it staying up so late and this year he probably could have done it but we couldn't manage to fit a show in our schedule. A must for next year!

Happy Independence Day!

Up from San Antone!

Finally, I finished uploading the pics and have a few minutes, hopefully, for narration! This blog needs some updatin! Plus, we leave in 2 days for Adventures with the Nutts in Oklahoma/Adventures in Arkansas. Hmm, another trip with the Nutt's that I will procrastinate and never blog about? We shall see...

Anyway! The first weekend in June, the Erwins and the Barclays ventured out to God's country for a few days, also known as the Hill Country of Texas. One of my favorite places. Well, really, we ventured to Sea World, but we also made a swing through the one and only Utopia, TX on the way home.

Here we are the first night, eating at the famous Casa Rio Mexican restaurant on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Noah was furious with us for putting him in his stroller and not allowing him to dive into the river. Fortunately, he settled down inside and loved the food!

I love that in this picture, Madison looks like "la-tee-da", Jeremy is bored to tears, and Noah is doggedly attacking a quesdilla with a knife.
After dinner, the Barclays retired the tired young man and missed out on most of the Riverwalk action. Too bad because I love it so.

Scott and Madi did the boat thing.

Random pic of Papa and Noah playing remote-controlled car on the back porch of the house we rented. Sorry, there are a couple of random pics throughout and its just too laborious for me to rearrange them into the correct order.
This tree outside the Alamo is awesome. It was transplanted here, at the age of 40, in 1912.
The Alamo. You haven't aged a bit.
Saturday afternoon, we all ventured out to Sea World. I got a one year pass with free parking and Jeremy got a Fun Card for 2011. Noah is free. Glad we did this because Noah LOVED it and I can't wait to take him back.

Here we are at Dolphin Discovery, feeding the dolphins. $6 for 4 sardines has never been so priceless. Noah went from angry, tired, hot boy to absolutely delighted when he saw them.

So cute.

Growing up, I dreamed of being a dolphin trainer. Then I met Chemistry 101. Maybe Noah will share this dream and I can live vicariously through him.

Saying bye-bye to the "poppins", as he sort of calls them.

We then were being roasted alive, so we headed for the water park and found a great place for Noah to splash, the Lil' Gators pool.

Yes, we were hot enough to sit down in the toddler pool (AKA peepee pool). Feel sorry for my parents, who were very fully clothed.

The Shamu "Believe" show. Noah loved it and yelled "Wooo!" everytime the whales jumped. (This show was much cooler when the trainers actually got in the water, mind you.) He sat almost completely still and watched everything. It melted my heart to see him so thoroughly enjoying this.

After this, we called it a day and headed home with my heat-stroked mother in tow. It was still great fun, despite the heat. Thinking September or October will be great! :)

Monday morning, my dad, brother, and myself took Madison and Noah to the San Antonio Zoo.

Taking in the sights. Noah most loved the train, I think. He has become a bit of a train fanatic these days.


Random pic. Reading "The Goodnight Train" with Mimi. Best bedtime story. Ever.
Madi and Noah eating lunch and watching a DVD together.
Another random. We headed back to Sea World (minus Mimi) on Monday afternoon and Noah just had to have a souvenir. Well, maybe his mom just had to get it for him.
A little spaghetti dinner.
Back on track. Sea World, Monday afternoon.

Madison beckoning Noah to join her in the Sesame Street Bay of Play, a glorified spray park. He was having no part of it.

Ah, much more his speed. We finally found an "under 3" section. However, it meant Madi was not allowed to play with him, so she was a little sad.

Watching the Azul show. Beluga whales, porpoises, and acrobatics. Noah loved this show even more.

On Tuesday, we were all supposed to journey to Utopia to visit my great-Aunt Elaine at her ranch. However, I didn't realize quite how much car time would be involved, and Noah was completely exhausted by this point (he got up at 4:45! one morning and would not go back to sleep, plus naps were not good), so I sent him home with Jeremy and the rest of us journeyed on.

The place where time stands still. A little bit at least.

So beautiful. I am enchanted by this place.

Sweet Elaine. So good of her to entertain us. She is fit as a fiddle and sharp as a tack.

I came home and told Jeremy that one day I want to have a ranch in the Hill Country too. And we can keep animals there and just have someone tend them for us, while we visit on weekends. He thinks that is a jolly good idea. ;) However, I also want a beach house, so we'll see what wins out!

We all had such a fun time, despite the weary Barclays. Thanks Mimi and Papa! Next year, maybe Padre Island? :)

Happy Summer from blazin' hot Texas, y'all!

Happy Four Years!

Though our actual anniversary is June 2nd, Jeremy and I celebrated early this year. Terry and Debbie came down for Memorial Day weekend and were kind enough to watch the little one while we snuck off for an overnight in downtown Austin.

On Saturday afternoon, Jeremy and I headed down to South Congress Ave to do a little shopping...or maybe just doing our part to Keep Austin Weird. I made out like a bandit. :) Jeremy bought me a necklace, Amy's Ice Cream t-shirt, and a silver and peridot (our birthstone) ring and earring set from a little jeweler set up in his tent. We walked, sweated, shopped, sweated, stopped for a drink, sweated, and settled on having dinner at Moonshine Grill.

We had a great time. Unfortunately, these were the only pictures we took all weekend. Jeremy woke up Sunday morning with Noah's stomach bug, so we delayed our cookout for another day. Then, Debbie became sick with something even worse late Sunday night, so they hurried away Monday morning. Our house was a contaminated zone!

We still had a lovely anniversary and were so thankful to be able to get away for a little while and enjoy it! Thank you Mamaw and Papaw; we all loved seeing you and Noah had a wonderful time with you!

Wherever you are, enjoy some ice cream!