Thursday, June 28, 2007

Hanging Out With Auntie And Uncle

The past couple of days have been really fun because Little Man's Uncle Tristan and Aunt Leslie have been visiting. Here are some of the highlights....

Making cookies for Uncle and Auntie

Storytime at the library with Auntie LeslieCraft time with Daddy
Playing in the jungle gym with Uncle Trid
Sitting pretty with Aunt Leslie

Saturday, June 23, 2007

A Day At The Fair

Today we all took a trip to our city's Freedom Festival with our friends Hollie and Riley. We all had a great time filled with sun, animals, freebies, rides and lots and lots of sugar! Here are some of the highlights...

The day started at the petting zoo. Little Man loved the experience until an overly aggressive goat snatched the cone right out of his hand. After that mommy held the food while LM played with the animals.


Next was on to the bounce house that the munchkins had all to themselves. Then they both won a prize at the game booth and picked matching pink monkeys.


The cutest part was when we stood them next to each other for a picture, Little Man turned and looked at Riley and without any coaching just leaned over and kissed her. Even sweeter was the look on her face when her mouth dropped open and she jumped up and down in delight. Those two are too much!


After that we all jumped on the barrell train and took a trip around the fair grounds. At one point I looked down and Little Man had a mouth full of leaves....not sure how that happened since we didn't go through any bushes...

After a break for snow cones the mommies took the kiddos down the giant slide. I am not sure who had more fun because we were all laughing when we hit the bottom.

We ended out the fun with a giant obstacle course (what were we thinking??)...

and cotton candy as we walked back to our cars. What a day!!!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Sneak Attack

Little man is going through a new phase that I absolutely love; I call it the “sneak attack” phase. It started about 5 days ago and involves him randomly jumping in my arms or leaning in and asking for a kiss. At first I thought some punk kid in his new MDO program had taught him how to head butt (since his kisses/hugs can be borderline violent) but since it is the first time he has ever initiated affection I won’t complain!!! Even better is that he has started asking for hugs and kisses – love it!!! Oh and he got a haircut today!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Free As A Bird

Things are really starting to heat up around here, despite the rain, but it hasn't stopped Little Man from asking to go "oussigh" (outside) 100 times a day. As soon as we get outside he wants to strip down to his birthday suit and run around the yard (this was the most G-rated picture I could find). Guess we'll have to have a little talk before he invites any friends over to play outside!


Here is a pic from the follow-up bath ... mohawks don't work so well on curly hair...

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A Spot of My Own

Growing up we had an awesome vegetable garden out behind our house full of corn, radishes, peas, okra, and cantelope. I can remember many a time swinging out on the tire swing underneath our pecan tree watching my mom work in the garden. For the past few years I've been telling Trav about my desire to have a garden of my own and I usually get the sideways look that means, "Great, another bee in her bonnet". As a compromise, I promised him that I would actually GROW something from a seed before attempting an actual vegetable garden. I did cheat a bit and buy an existing tomato vine but I have been nurturing my flower bed since I planted SEEDS nearly two months ago. While the tomato vine has been yielding fruit steadily (Little Man is a big fan), the flower bed didn't begin boasting flowers until this past week. I have been "cleared" to begin preparing the soil for next spring. Yipppeeeee! Anyone have any tips???

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Happy Father's Day!

Sooooo when I went in to check on Little Man last night I found him like this....

Guess he took me literally when I told him to stay in bed and just brought all of the toys into bed with him! Here is a funny one of my little monkey being a silly boy...

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Caught In The Act

Even though Little Man has been sleeping in a "big boy" bed for 5 months now, he has only recently discovered that there isn't anything keeping him there after we put him to bed. For the past week or so I've gone in to check on him and found him in his new hiding place...under the table. It is really cute because he gathers up the toys that he wants, drags down the big stuffed dog and backs his way under the table. When I open the door he sits up really straight and tall so that his head is hidden up in the table so I can't see him.



Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Monday, June 11, 2007

We're Back!!

Travis and I just returned from a much needed solo cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was great to get away but after around day 5 of the 7 day cruise we were very much over our childless lifestyle and ready to get back to the hustle and bustle of parenthood.

Our stops included Cozumel, Mexico (twice - our second stop was cancelled due to bad weather), Roatan, Honduras and finally Progresso, Mexico. Inspired by our friends Luke and Holly (who just got back from a trip to Italy) we divided up our highlights...








Travis' Highlights:
- Meagan sans laptop - pretty rare!
- Dressing up and seeing Meagan wear beautiful gowns
- climbing the rock wall 16 stories above the ocean
- hearing the waitstaff sing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" in 35 different - accents
- 2 appetizers + 2 entrees + 2 desserts = 1 very happy man
- pool-side barbeque
- towel animals - the monkey rocks!
- turquoise water and white beaches
- fresh grilled fish served on the beach
- 24/7 flipflops
- watching a caribbean sunset from our bedroom
- Hearing Meagan laugh, seeing her smile and watching her relax
- Meagan's undivided attention








Meagan's Highlights:

- no computer, no phone and no way to get a hold of me
- my name was Ms. Block instead of "hey, um my computer..." or "hey I was looking at the website..."
- 10 hours of sleep each night with a 3 hour nap each afternoon
- dessert with every meal (yes, you can have dessert with breakfast!)
- hanging upside down on a cable 100 feet above the Roatan jungle
- strolling 3 miles along the beach front in between cities on Cozumel
- bartering for homemade hammocks
- coconut shrimp and ceviche from Le Saint Bonnet in Progresso
- the smell of the ocean and the feel of the salty air
- dressing up for dinner dates
- digging for seashells on the sandy white beaches
- sombrero wearing horses
- spending more than 48 consecutive hours with Trav



We had a wonderful time and are glad to be back home on solid ground within arms reach of our little guy and both agree that the best part of going away was coming home to our little munckin. This trip was extra special though because while we were away, my family schemed together to replace the huge shaded porch that we enclosed by building a beautiful covered deck for our birthdays. It was an unbelievably generous surprise, one that neither of us is likely to ever forget - you guys are the best!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Adventures in Babysitting...Part II

Ashlie and Little Man enjoy the rain!

Little Man's mom provided a box of fun, whereby he could open a new toy each day she and dad are gone on vacation. He has become quite the golf pro! (Mom might want to prepare herself for all of the other things he likes to hit with his new golf club)

Nana and Little Man being entertained by Pop!

On Wednesday, Little Man woke up with fever and the doctor identified a sore throat. Pop, Nana, and Ashlie "tag teamed" to entertain him; basically he just wanted to be held. Within 24 hours, his fever broke and he out-ate us all!

He is practicing new words every day. Last night, Jordan rocked him to sleep. After he carried him to his bed and closed the door, Little Man ended his game of "Playing Opossum" and they heard him on the baby monitor practicing naming all the people he loves. Momma and Daddy (and Daisy) were at the top of the list.




Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Adventures in Babysitting...


Uncle Jordan and Little Man clean the floor the fun way!

While Mom and Dad are on a week-long cruise, I (Aunt Ash) get to keep Little Man and play pretend “mommy”. It has been a very busy week so far with a few surprises along the way.


It all started the first morning when I arrived at 6:00 a.m. so that mom and dad could leave. Later, I heard him crying via the baby monitor. As I approached the closed door of his room, the crying got noticeably louder. I turned the knob to slowly open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. I pressed on the door a little more, only to realize that he was prostrate on the floor with his lips pressed under the door so that his crying could be heard and he could be rescued from his room.

As I opened the door, he cried out, “Momma” while getting up. I scooped him into my arms as he giggled with delight then pulled back in alarm when he realized I was, in fact, not Momma. He recovered quickly, though, and we had a good morning.

Later in the day, as we were grocery shopping, I noticed that he was sneezing quite a bit. I was concerned that he might be getting sick on my watch. However, at one point, I sneezed, which caused a shopper nearby to say, “Bless you.” He giggled and then sneezed himself. I realized that all along, he had been “fake sneezing”. This became our new game. I would fake sneeze and he would throw his head back and giggle, then follow mine with a few fake sneezes of his own, complete with forward head-throw, a stream of spit, and a gurgle of giggling.


We now play this every day (his initiation). Needless to say, this is a game I tire of long before he does. It is worth it, though, to hear that giggle!


Friday, June 01, 2007

Lollipop Kids

Little Man had a really fun playdate with all of his friends today. Aren't they all adorable?