Daily dose of Adorable

There isn't a day that goes by that we don't have an impromptu photo shoot around here.  With the help of my trusty iphone, Lillian is possibly the worlds most photographed child!  My mom lives in one part of Alabama and my sister in the other and I"m here in Texas, it's imperative that they get a photo daily.  Otherwise, how would they see what this adorable baby is wearing on a daily basis.  

I don't know that I'll ever get tired of making her picture.  It still thrills me to death when she smiles at me.  My mom jokes with me that I have my own little baby doll but seriously.  We play dress up, swap headbands and play "house" together every day.  Sounds a lot like a living baby doll to me!  So many of the outfits she's wearing are over 30 years old. They were mine and my sisters when we were babies.  Mom kept them all and now our daughters are getting to wear them!  I love to see her in these vintage pieces!

We are really enjoying bathtime these days.  At first, she thinks i'm trying to scald her, even if the water isn't hot!  She soon realizes that she likes it and starts cooing at me.

It's hard to believe 2 months have passed.  Lady Lillian did better on her 2 month photos than she did her first!  

She's a pretty cute chick!
Right now she's waking up once a night around 3-5am and then getting up around 7am.  She's usually back down for a nap by 8:30am.  She prefers to eat every 2ish hours in the daytime but she's a FIRM believer in her self imposed 8pm bedtime.

Baby blue eyes!  I don't know if she'll keep the blue eyes but for now, i sure love looking into these baby blues!

This bubble suit was mine, probably at around 6 months.  

I'm telling you right now, this is the sweetest, most cuddly, loving smiling happy little baby girl ever!  She loves to be close and closer to you.  She smiles with a big open mouth first thing in the morning and she thinks the baby in the mirror is EXTRA cute!

We recently started taking mother daughter selfies and it's become a bit of a habit.  I'm pretty sure you'll be tired of them before long.  I'll try to refrain from publishing too many of them but I can't make the same promises about cute photos of her.

But when you're this cute, how can you help it?  

Zoo Boo

The boys "pawpaw" was visiting last week.  The lucky thing about him being retired is that he can pretty much fly here to visit anytime he wants.  He tells Lincoln that retired is "drinking coffee and eating chocolate."  I'm just glad he gets to do what he wants and that he wants to see US!!
He also came to visit us back during spring break.  I had a newborn and the boys needed some entertainment.  That's when this zoo trip fiasco first began.  We decided on a tuesday that it might be a good day to head out to the Houston zoo.  It wasn't too hot and I could push the baby in the stroller.  We packed our lunch and set out for the interstate.  As we were driving along Jackson said he didn't feel good, his throat hurt.  I knew this usually meant strep for Jackson but I was trying to be positive.  I asked if he needed to go to the doctor and he said no, he'd be ok.  It takes about 20 minutes to get to the interstate and by the time we got to the highway, he was crying and asking me if I would take him to the doctor and not go to the zoo. It turns out not only did he have strep but I had mastitis and we both ended up in the doctors office by the end of the day.
 This we will call zoo fail #1.

The next attempt was later on in the week.  We went to meet Jason in the tunnels for lunch and then headed to the zoo afterward.  We ran into traffic (big surprise Houston) but it didn't stop when we got off the interstate.  Or when we got closer to the zoo, no an hour and a half later we were STILL in traffic and the baby was about to be hungry again.  We soon realized that it was spring break and EVERYONE in Houston had decided it was a great day to go to the zoo.  We never even made it to the road the zoo was on before I aborted the mission and we turned around.  There wouldn't have been a parking place for miles around.  We ended up going to the aquarium and sadly it wasn't any better in the crowd department.  Note to self:   spring break in Houston = stay at HOME!  This will be called zoo fail #2.

This time, Dad was visiting in May.  It is normally already well into the 90's here in May but it's been unusually cool recently.  The weather while he was here was fabulous.  We planned our day at the zoo for Friday and we intended to arrive just after lunch so that we would be entering the zoo about the time the school field trips were leaving.  We saw lots of buses but they had to be getting back to school so we hung out, ate our picnic and watched and fed the squirrels.  We rode the train around Herman Park before we finally loaded up to go into the zoo.  Most of the buses had departed and we'd have the zoo all to ourselves.  When we walked up I heard the announcement "Thank you for visiting today, have a good night." I then noticed this sign.

I was thinking, this HAS to be a joke.  Surely there is no way we have struck out of going to the zoo the THIRD time.  We had even talked about how the "third time's the charm" when going to the zoo and we would finally get in today!  I could hardly believe my eyes but it was 2:45 and the zoo was closing for a private event.  

The good news is the zoo is located in a park area called Herman Park.  Its the central park of Houston.  It has trails, fountains, ponds and lots of natural wildlife.  We would not be discouraged.  We just made the best of it and hung out in the park.  We let the boys get wet in the fountains. We walked around the amphitheatre, we fed so many animals you'd have thought we did visit the zoo.  There were squirrels and pigeons that would eat from your hand.  There were ducks, geese, swans, and turtles all over the pond.We saw rabbits big and small.   There were fish, frogs, and even a muskrat swimming in the water.  There was so much to do we probably didn't even miss the zoo.  It does make you wonder though, how many times would it take for us to actually get into the zoo?  We also joked about how it must be our guardian angel keeping us from entering because if we did, the lions might get loose or something.  So far, we are 3 for 3 at the zoo with dad.  The only two times we HAVE been inside haven't been without their share of troubles.  The first time, the temp was a steamy 106 and one of the hottest on record in Houston.  The other time we were there for maybe 2 hours before the sky turned BLACK and we had to evacuate.  We hit the car door about the time the bottom fell out.  

Next time dad comes, I saw we visit...The Beach! It can't close, or avoid us as easily!

Take a little Trip

"I will survive, as long as I don't loose a kid, I know I'll be alive"  -this was my theme song when I attempted my first flight with all three children...alone.  I spent all week worrying and preparing for it.  I asked my moms group for prayers.  I meditated on the treadmill and stair climber.  It wasn't just the flying part that worried me.  It was the fact that some IDIOT (me) booked us a flight out of Hobby at 7am.  It takes an hour to get to Hobby in NO traffic(and that doesn't happen in Houston).  Rush hour put a whole new spin on it.  We're talking up and out the door at 4:50am!  I took on some drastic measures to ensure we were out the door on time.  I laid out everything.  I put most of the bags in the car the night before.  I packed all our breakfasts.  The boys slept in the clothes they would travel in.  I considered having them sleep on the couch as well.  As soon as I woke them up at 4:30, they chirped, "I'm not even tired!  Why am I not tired?"

On the first flight, I giggled about the flight attendant giving her spill about our "designer" yellow oxygen masks.  Lillian was all smiles on the plane and the minute we took off, Lincoln slumped over on the blanket.  4am is tough when you're 4 years old.

Oh, did I forget to say that our flight wasn't direct?  Nope.  We were flying Houston-Orlando-Memphis.  Ugh, a layover with kids, and bags, and strollers.  And, worst of all, I HAD to take a bathroom break on one of the flights.  Think it isn't possible to use a tiny airplane lavatory while wearing your baby in the Ergo?  Been there, done that!

They were pretty good and watched all the planes take off and land.  It was funny to be in Orlando and not have any intention of going to Disney World.  This is as close as we get for now.  I learned how to quickly clear a bench to feed your baby.  Ask to sit at the end of a bench with unsuspecting male.  Then proceed to nurse the baby and watch as he gathers his things and moves along.  It was humorous especially since I was very discreet.

This trip home was so that my family could meet baby Lillian.  She was 7 weeks old and we had her a little meet and greet to introduce her.  She is blessed by so many that love her and wanted to get a look at my pretty little girl!  

The shower was A-Mazing!  I mean every single detail!  It rivaled most wedding receptions.  My mom, My Aunt Janie, Shannon and Ms. Marie; the way these women love us is beyond belief!  So thankful for them!

The boys crashed the shower and had a big time.  Lincoln was even heard saying, "This is a FUN wedding!"

Besides introducing Lillian, my reason for going home was to see this sweet girl!  Allie Gray is a mess!  I wish I could see her more but I think I made a good impact while I was there!  I could make her smile and we shared quite a number of jelly beans when her mom wasn't looking!  She thinks I look a lot like her mom and I'm funny!

It was Easter Sunday and Mom and Dad had the whole family at church.  This is how Allie Gray sat with her Lincoln!  When I asked Lincoln what he knew about Easter Sunday he said, "Jesus rose again 30 days later!"  We must work on our concept of time.

 Nothing says easter lunch like pizza at the park!  It was a fun outing and MUCH cheaper than going out!

This is MY aunt Janie.  She set the aunt bar pretty high for me.  She's very special to me and my boys are no different.  We still fight over who gets to sit by Aunt Janie!

Allie Gray likes me but she LOVES her Jackson.  He loves babies and Allie Gray is just his size!

Ok, so Allie Gray wasn't having anything to do with a group Easter shot.  We tried!  This was the best we got.  Seriously.  I think it sums it up quite nicely!

We attempted a swim at the local Marriott hotel.  The kids didn't seem to mind but the water was FRIGID!  

 Lillian just wanted a reason to rock her new tiny tutu bikini!

I DID manage to survive the trip.  I even made it home with all three children.  We had to stop over in Chicago on the way home to Houston.  Craziest flights ever but the kids, they were angels both ways.  All my worry was for nothing.  Either I'm a rockstar mom(not likely), I have awesome kids(sure, when they are sleeping) or I'm one lucky devil because it wasn't just uneventful, I'd venture to say it was even easy.  Now remind me of that when Lil is 4 or 8 months old and cries the whole time but this time, she was perfect and they walked a straight line.  

Spring Favorite Things

I'm no Oprah but I do have strong opinions on my favorite things!  Most, sadly, are food and beauty related so we can see where my priorities lie. I never claimed I wasn't shallow and sometimes self centered.   I can handle being shallow when you get to indulge in these things!

1. Trader Joes Dark chocolate Almonds.  There may or may not be 3 containers of these in my pantry right now.  They are covered in dark chocolate and rolled in sea salt and turbinado sugar.  Sweet, Salty delicious!

2.  This jumped into my cart at the new "mother of all Kroger" stores. It's made here in Katy, TX.   It was like $6 for a pint jar.  When I got it home, Jason and I cracked it open to try it.  We then examined the bottom of the jar (we devoured ALL of it!) and tried to budget how we were going to continue to enjoy this delicacy without taking out a loan.  There was only one way.  We had to learn how to make it.  Wouldn't you know google found us someone else who found themselves in our predicament and they did the leg work for a base recipe.  We spent the next 2 days with our vitamix testing out the recipe.  I have since made about 4 batches.  Each turn out a little better than the previous one.  All of the neighbors approve. It's a delicious and refreshing cucumber based salsa.   If you'd like to try your hand at it, you can find the recipe I used here.  

3. TJ's Coconut Body Butter.  This stuff is fabulous!  I've learned by now if my friend Mari tells me to get something, get it!  She's never led me wrong and this was no exception.  This is good stuff!  So good, I flew it to Alabama to give to my family when I went home last month.  

4.  Paper thin crackers.  Another one of those jumped into my cart items from the "new products" shelf at trader joes.  I can't pronounce the name but I can take down a box of these crackers!  They are tissue paper thin and delicious!

5.  Decoy Wine.  The first time I had this was my 10 year anniversary.  We at dinner at Giovanni's Nashville.    It was delicious and I'm not even a wine snob.  Then after Lillian was born our friend Kelly brought us a bottle and I immediately tasted it and knew it was the same one.  I like to think I'm terrific at distinguishing middle class wine.  If you're looking for a new one to try, it's a winner.

6.  PeterThomasRoth Un-Wrinkle Illuminator- Moisturizer, skin brightener and anti-aging!  I'm finding I need more and more moisturizer the older I get. (ugh, did I just admit that?)   I use daily sunscreen also but this seems to have great highlighting effects.  I'm not saying it makes me look 10 years younger but I like the way it looks under my make up.

7.  Jamberry Diamond Dust Sparkle- In trying to deny the above admission, these sparkle nails DO make me feel 10 years younger and I don't care how old I get, I'm not outgrowing the glitter.  Even better is the fact that they last!  I've had mine on for well over a week and they still look awesome.  Take THAT nail polish!  Need some?   My friend Rachel can hook you up here!

8.  My Soda Stream-This may have been on my last list of favs but if so it deserves it again.  Jason got this for me at Christmas and none of us knew how much we would love it.  I had pretty much quit drinking soda but was consuming a lot of sparkling water.  This makes it for me for pennies!  It might be called a SODA stream but bubbly water is where it's at at this house!  

 I add this True Lemon to my bubbly and it taste better than Perrier water!

 9.  My current Mascara of choice.  This is Diorshow and it has been recommended numerous times.  I finally caved and bought it and I do think I like it.  I'm not convinced it tops Smashbox but it's a close race.

10.  Cookies and Cream Quest bars.  Seriously.  These are so good, I recently re-read the ingredients list and tried to figure out how they could possibly be good for you as well.  I've always heard "if it taste good...spit it out".  These are divine!  And they are actually good for you.  I love them and feel like I'm getting away with cheating when I have one.  

Baby Blue Bonnets

 I made a decision last year about this time that I would be one of those moms.  The ones who live in Texas and drag their children to the bluebonnet fields to make their photos.  At the time I didn't know the baby would be a part of the portrait but I'm sure glad she is!  Every April, the entire state of Texas erupts in a blissful blue color.   It isn't just in remote locations.  It's everywhere.  On early every curb and side street, there are these vibrant purple/blue wild flowers.  I joined numerous groups that followed the peak bloom times of the beloved flowers.  I was very hesitant to drag my 2 wild boys into the wild flowers and hand them my precious Lillian.  I knew it had to be done but I would be the unpaid photographer of these three and I had to build up the courage.  One Friday evening, I was starting to panic that I would miss the short blooming window so I laid out clothes, I made appropriate pleas and threats and bribes and we took off.  Not only is there a short bloom window but there is also only a 20-30 minute window when the lighting is just perfect.  I joined about 10 other families making photos of children in our local bluebonnet field.  I handed out "smile sweetly" and don't drop your sister orders and did the best I could.  It's not Lillian's favorite time of day and the boys just don't hold her close enough for her liking.  I was pretty pleased with what I came up with in 20 minutes with two brothers and a baby!

 A week or so later, we drove into Brenham where the Blue Bell factory is located.  I had always heard that this was THE place to see the wildflowers in bloom and it was more than I had even imagined.  As I drove along the highway, I could hardly believe my eyes as there were fields like the ocean full of vibrant blue.  As we drove along, some of the fields had orange or yellow also.  These were some of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen.  It had me thinking about what an amazing artist our God is.  He effortlessly paints the earth with color!

We stopped in an empty lot and made these pictures on our trip to Brenham. The orange flowers are called Indian Paintbrushes and are also a type of wildflower that blooms this time of year.  They are often found together.  It's just an amazing sight to see.  We have a guest room and know the way if you'd like to join us next year!  

This is a photographer that I follow and I couldn't resist sharing this one.  I hope to have a more successful photo shoot of my trio next year but I better start preparing myself now!