Happy Father's Day

Well, again not much again going on around here. Saturday I ran errands for several hours. This is normally exhausting, but have I mentioned how hot it is? A lot of the counties are banning the sale of fireworks because we have some pretty bad drought conditions going on. Well regardless of the heat it had to be done, well two major things anyways.

Jace loves to sit in his chair in his room and read. Well, we really did not want to buy another glider for the baby room (what do you do with one glider, let alone two later on), so we wanted to move it back downstairs when the baby was born. But then what would we do for Jace. So we searched and amazingly even at Walmart we would pay a couple hundred for a chair, so when we found a smaller recliner at Lazy-Boy we thought that would work, and because of a sale it was not that much more. Well nothing is ever easy. When I went back to the store to buy it, I wanted the unprotected one because they wanted to charge $70 for the protectant and I thought Scotchguard would suffice. Oh and then they did not even have that model in all of Houston even treated, except for the floor model which had a tear in it. So not only was I looking at having to pay more for the treatment but also a more expensive model. Luckily the salesman had quoted and wrote down prices two weeks before, so I was at least able to convince them to not charge me for the more expensive model. Jace likes his new chair. Item one done.

The second item was booking a place for Jace's birthday. Last year we had it at the house- mostly adults, but some kids who had to be entertained inside because a birthday in August does not work well with being outside unless you have a pool, and we don't. So after last year I decided we were going somewhere. Jace does not turn 2 until August 18th, but considering if I did not do this now I would be trying to do it with a newborn, I decided now was better than later. So we debated a jump place (Jace still seems scared of them), Chik-Fil-A (no party room) or a paint place (will he get it?)- I was trying to keep it in Pearland. We had gone to a friend's birthday party last year at a Gymboree and Jace loved it and it was before he could walk, so I was pleasantly surprised they had one only about 15 miles away in Missouri City. So I walked in, told them when I wanted it, paid my deposit and was done. Gotta love it.

The most important part of the weekend was Father's Day. Steve is pretty low key on his wants (well most of the time- don't get me started about his car obsession), so we kept it easy. He wanted catfish so we went to Sudie's for lunch, and his gift consisted of various Mississippi State garb, including some stuff for the kids. I was going to go big and get him a new grill since he seems to dislike the one he has now, but he decided to stick it out one more year. And then in the afternoon we went to the pool. Jace probably goes between the big pool and the splash pad 10 times in an hour but he likes it a lot.

Not nearly enough thanks to someone who does so much and is so good to his son- we love you Steve! (even Kayla- she forgot to sign the card).

Signs of Summer

Well this will be a pretty boring post (warning) as our weekend was pretty slow. But with me in the 8th month of pregnancy and the feel-like temperature above 100F, there was not too much I felt like doing.

I went to a friend's shower on Saturday- I know at least eight people who are having babies in July or August. The news keeps talking about the Hurricane Ike baby boom- I think they are right. I went to get a pedicure last weekend and met a girl who was scheduled for delivery on Friday and they called her Thursday and asked she wait until Monday to come in because they were full. I am hoping it tapers off soon- I am not very excited about maybe having to share a room with someone (private rooms are first come, first serve).

This weekend we did two things that definitely point to the fact that it is summer. This morning we finally made it over to the neighborhood pool. Jace was unsure of the fountains and big pool at first but was mad at the end to be leaving. And then tonight as a special treat we had ice-pops. I thought it might be less messy than a regular Popsicle, which it was, but he did not like holding the cold packet. So Steve ended up feeding it to him- he really liked it.

We were bad about pics this weekend- we will get some posted next weekend.

Grandparents Galore

Well, by the time this weekend was over we had two different grandparents come through so it was one crazy weekend. Steve's mom came in Friday and they all headed to Discovery Green Park and then the Children's Museum. Jace is getting to the age where he is really starting to enjoy things like that, especially the water games. Friday night we had a night out with some friends while Grandma gladly babysat. Then Saturday morning we went shopping at Babies R'Us. We got most of the essentials bought for baby#2. It has not been that long, but you forget how expensive bottles are- I even internet shopped hoping to find a better deal, but no luck.

Sunday afternoon Steve's mom headed back to Mississippi and my dad flew in. Sadly it was not a happy occasion as we had a dear family friend pass away, Christine Guebard. She was only a couple years older than me, and it was very unexpected. She was a great chef, and a wonderful person. Dad had flown in to Houston to drive with me, since a 3 hour car trip to San Antonio by myself is not a good idea considering how far a long I am. Plus we got lots of talking in- I am not sure my dad and I talk 6 hours in a year (well maybe) let a lone a day. Their whole family has always done so much for us, even taking us all in after Hurricane Ike (even the dogs)- we will miss her.

Jace loved having the grandparents here. It was funny to watch because they shared a bathroom with him now that he is upstairs, so in the mornings when he saw a light go on he would get out of the bed and peer under the door looking for someone (advantage of a video cam- we could see it). My dad said one morning he heard this little voice saying "hi" from under the door. So he decided to peek in and be a good grandad and change his wet diaper. It did not occur to him that there could be something more in there, so luckily I happened to come in the room when he discovered it was more than wet, and did not have a wipe within arms length. Otherwise Jace would have been carried around the room by his feet while dad found the wipes. Even the dogs loved having company- someone more for Kayla to lick- she ran to the stairs this morning looking for someone.

Summer Fun

Well, summer it definitely upon us to the point where we dread going outside because it is just so hot!! But Jace loves it so we have been trying to find ways to make it a little more enjoyable. Starting last weekend the blow-up pool made it's first appearance. It is big enough for dad to sit in with him (while sipping a Corona), so it it not too hard to talk either of them into it. Jace probably spends more time out of it than in, but he loves it nonetheless.

I have been missing in blog land lately because 99% of my free time has been going towards getting Kylie's room put together. Our hand was forced because the furniture was ready for delivery and I really wanted to have the room painted before it got here. Last weekend I helped Steve cut-in and tape for painting her room. It was the first time Steve had ever painted anything, except for charity reasons where taping and cutting-in did not happen. I had to reassure him twenty times during the cutting-in that that step took the longest- though he was definitely skeptical and it was wearing on what little patience he had. He was much happier with the roller. The color is Honeydew- a light green. Then this weekend was details- putting together some craft projects and painting a name mural above he crib. It was a long weekend but it is done, and we are happy. Next weekend Steve's mom is going to be here, so she can watch Jace and we can go get all those things you still need for baby#2 like another mattress, changing pad, etc. So we are getting close.....

Sad, Sad Day

Well, our weekend was a low. Late Wednesday night Steve's dad passed away. He had been sick with pancreatic cancer, but he was just in the hospital for diagnostic tests when he passed away, so it was pretty unexpected. Luckily my mom was able to fly in and watch Jace so Steve and I could go to Mississippi to be with his family. If the number of people at a visitation or the flowers sent are a testament to how many people whose lives were touched by Loyd then he touched many. I did not know him very long, but for the time I did, he was always so sweet to me and I know he was a great dad to Steve and a wonderful grandfather to Jace.

Steve's mom mentioned a song that reminded her of Loyd and after I heard it I could not agree more,

"And he bowed his head to Jesus,

And he stood for Uncle Sam,

And he only loved one woman

(He) was always proud of what he had

He said his greatest contribution

Is the ones you leave behind

Raised on the ways and gentle kindness

Of a small town Southern man"

We will miss this him a lot...

Changes all the time

Well, Jace's life has been a changing lately. After just getting him adjusted to his toddler bed we changed things up on him again. He moved from the nursery into a room upstairs- there is so much more space. But like any situation, there were a few small setbacks but we seem to be making progress again. A bit of crying and wandering but the last two nights he has fallen asleep in his bed(knock on wood). When he is not quite tired he gets in his chair and "reads." Here are some pics of how we found him two different nights.

We got a call today that Kylie's furniture is here, so we have to get our butts in gear and get her room painted (well Steve does anyways). Sounds like a Memorial weekend activity.... So there should be pictures soon.

Slow weekend

Well, it was one of those weekends I don't have much to blog about. That is a good thing- we needed a break.

Steve attached a toddler rail to the existing stair rail to aid Jace in the whole stair climbing experience. He is good about climbing up the stairs, but did not like going down backwards. He is kind of getting the hang of using the rail- but like anything it will take lots of practice.

Well after a great start to bed time in the toddler bed there has been ups and downs. There were some nights with lots of crying, and then others with none. The latest trend is that he walks to his bed, after we read a story, climbs in and looks like he is ready to fall asleep. I leave the room and before I get back to the monitor he is up and walking towards the door. He tries to open it a few times, unsuccessfully, and then sits on the floor, and gradually falls asleep there. Then 30 minutes later he is passed out so we pick him up and put him in his bed. Not ideal but at least there is no crying involved. Nap time is a whole other story. He used to nap between 11-12. So we have put him in his bed at noon, and there is no crying, but he is out of bed, reading, and playing. Again not all that bad, but it is not napping. So we let him out and he acted not tired till about 2 PM when he curled up on the floor in the living room and passed out. So we have clued in that that key to nap time from now on is that he will no longer do it unless he is pretty tired- new nap time, around 2PM. This does not coincide with nap time at school, which is at 11:30, so we will see how that works, but he does get up a little earlier during the week. A learning curve for all.

Just some random pics from the weekend....