The countdown is ON

We went to the doc today to check on the baby and have an official c-section date of September 21st!!!! We are super duper ecstatic and I cannot wait to find out if this little person is a boy or a girl. My bets are a girl but we shall see.

It is funny how different it is this time knowing we are having a c-section instead of going 2 weeks past our due date and praying every day that my water would not break in the office.....

Here fishy fishy

Matthew completed his second round of swim lessons last month and loved almost every minute. He loves the water and it is my goal to get him in the pool at least once a week. Here are a few pics from our water adventures.

Walking in to lessons with Dad on the first night...

Blowing bubbles.

Kitchen Help

Several months back I taught Matthew to move the chairs from the dining table into the kitchen to help me when I was trying to cook, wash dishes, make lists, etc, etc. This kid is now incapable of walking by the dining room table without moving a chair. In fact, he moves them into the bathroom, his room, our room and the office. Sometimes I wonder why I teach him things because inevitably it comes back to bite me.

It is sweet that he wants to "help" but squeezing soapy water out of the sponge onto the floor is only cute the first 20 or so times.......

11 YEARS!!!!!!

We made it......11 YEARS....and counting.

8-8-98......wow we look young!!

It is hard for me to believe that it has been 11 Years since William and I became man and wife. So many things have happened that I never saw coming but I am proud to say that I would do it all again in a heartbeat.


In honor of this anniversary.....here are 11 Things I have learned in the course of our marriage.

1) Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder.....but you can get away with eating a can of veggies for dinner when the hubs is not home.

2) Men, at least mine, do NOT pick up on subtle hints. If you need him to do something, you must ASK.

3) My big tough guy is not so tough, especially when it comes to watching his little boy explore his world.

4) Jewelry is highly over-rated....just ask the fish in the Guadalupe River.

5) Laughter is absolutely the best medicine....for anything.

6) Enjoy every moment because they are oh so fleeting.

7) Change is good/bad/inevitable. It keeps us on our toes, shows us what we are capable of and makes us who we are.

8) Family is important but so are those friends who love you like family!!

9) He does not generally care what color you want to paint the room, as long as he does NOT have to do it.

10) Money does not grow on trees nor is it worth fighting about. Make a plan TOGETHER and life is good.

11) Marriage is hard work but it is the kind of work that makes you feel good when you look back and see where you have been.

Let's Go RED SOX

In lieu of a traditional summer vacation for various reasons we decided to go see our beloved SOX take on the Atlanta Braves. We decided to go to 2 games and wondered just how smart we were in taking a squirmy almost 2-year old to a baseball game...in 98 degree heat.....150% humidity.....with a 8-month pregnant mommy.

We stayed at a hotel within walking distance of Turner Field. We realize now what a great choice that was, sitting in a hot car in traffic after the game would have been absolutely brutal. The hotel pool was also a life saver, not to mention the cleansing affect of the chlorine. We were some nasty sweaty peeps....

Matthew's first peek at a Baseball Game.

Happy Camper....thus far. Wondering when the promised hot dogs will arrive?

Admiring his Papa....he thinks that guy hung the moon.

The famous "funny smile".

While the first game was pretty easy.....the second game started at 1 PM.....which is sacred nap-time hour. We wondered how that would work and had already come up with a plan for me to head back to the hotel should the meltdown begin. We were pleasantly surprised...Matthew fell asleep in my arms before the game began and slept for about an hour. WOO HOO!!!! Of course when he awoke he was ready to GO GO GO. Thank goodness for the generous space that Turner Field has dedicated to smokers....with picnic tables and shade. We stayed busy and I bribed him with his very first FUNNEL CAKE and real COCA COLA. Talk about a sugar high.

Naptime....thank goodness for Willie's UV Shirt which provided much needed shade!!

The whole (HOT) crew!!

Bye Bye Turner Field

Making the trek back to the hotel.

Cooling off!!!!

Drying off....

All done....now to figure out dinner!!

The Watermelon Crawl......

I realize that I am blessed that I have a child who will eat just about anything. I hear stories of kids who will only eat two or three things and I continue to be thankful for my healthy eater.

Matthew's first fruit was watermelon and they were fast friends. This admiration with watermelon has not waned....he still loves it and I am thinking that it is now an outdoor fruit....as I really do not think cleaning up sticky watermelon juice could as much fun as watching it run down his belly....and into his diaper....and onto his feet.

Two pieces....two hands.....if you know Dad you completely understand this theory!!

Muppet looking on...knowing that her time is coming.

Such determination....usually reserved for more intense activities, like playing tractor.
Oh, and some juice running down the tummy....

Seriously wondering how it got on the feet.....again a salivating Muppet waiting to pounce.

I just love this picture....had to share.

Hope your summer is full of delicious adventures!!!

We charge more when you help.....

After 10 years of working for a service company, we joked about the fact that when we sent a technician to a customer who had been "working" on their problem themselves, it tended to be a bigger mess due to their "help".

I have learned this lesson in a completely new way since my little helper arrived in the scene. The boy loves to "help" in every way imaginable.

- Is convinced that he can steer the lawnmower much better than I.
- Wants to wash his tray off after meal times and then the floor, the cabinet, the dog, etc, etc.
- Helpfully points out dirt on the floor I have missed when sweeping....or simply running through the pile....which of course encourages Muppet to do the same.
-Loves to play in the kitchen sink "washing" dishes or simply squeezing the suds out of the sponge.