14 Months

Oliver has made so many new accomplishments in the last month. He is now WALKING! It is just so cute to see him amble over to one of us for a hug or to go get a toy from the other side of the room. He especially likes to walk by himself from his classroom to the lobby of the daycare. Once there he seats himself at the table in one of the little blue chairs and plays with the trucks ('brrrm brrrm') until I say it's time to go home.

Other accomplishments include saying papa (meaning food), dada, mama, bye bye, night night (a sweet little high pitched 'nigh nigh', then blows kisses), bear (beh), ball (ba), and sister (si-tah). He is also particular about where things go. Like his water bottle -things aren't right until it is in the holder thingy that keeps it off the floor. I can see how he enjoys structure and repetition. Bedtime has started to become the exact same routine every night, mostly led by Oliver.

Oh, I can't wait to see what he does next. His personality is really starting to shine through and I love it - getting to know this little guy better everyday.

Carousel

On New Years day, we braved the Houston Zoo. It was a free day, so the place was packed! My favorite part of the day was riding the carousel. Oliver didn't agree. See this skeptical face? Well, it turned to tears as soon as the ride started. Poor kiddo - I know he won't be afraid of riding a bobbing zebra forever.

11 weeks

[Insert 6 week ultrasound photo here]

Well, that little bean post was about the status of Oliver and Quinn's youngest sibling. I'm pregnant again and am due in early August (I'm embarrassed to say that I can't quite remember whether the expected due date is the 6th or the 8th, but we all know that's just an estimate, right?).

I am excited and apprehensive about doing this a second time around. So far, I've been really queasy and exhausted. I am just starting to get some energy back and have had an urge to have everything around me organized. I'm really looking forward to nesting this time. We lived in a loft the first time and were planning to move a couple of weeks before Oliver was born, so I didn't get a chance to do any of that.

I just told a few coworkers today. It was nice to share  - walking around feeling like a zombie with nobody the wiser isn't much fun. I am waiting until after my second OB appointment on Thursday to make an official announcement at work. I just want to hear the hearbeat one more time.

Mary Janes

These shoes just came in the mail yesterday and they are now my all time favorite wear-with-everything shoes. I bought them a little big because I know my feet plan to swell to twice their size in the coming months ( I know, gross) - and I've sworn off heels for work. I've been wearing them with thick wool socks. I love looking down to see a stripey or argyle pattern peeking through. The best part - they were on super super sale. Yay!

Christmas 2009

It's been a while since I've posted. I usually like to start with an image, especially since that's Quinn's only reason for reading this blog, but I didn't take many photos over the Christmas break and have yet to badger family members for theirs.

We went to Bastrop the day before Christmas Eve to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Kennedy. We spent most of Christmas Eve in the dark during a power outage caused by a fallen tree. Kindal gathered all of Judy's candles and put together an amazing collection of votive holders and hurricane lamps. The result was just beautiful. We spent that evening listening to Jay's guitar then ate dinner by candlelight. Quinn was very dissappointed at the turn of events, but her spirits brightened when the lights went back on halfway through dinner. We decided to open gifts that night and save the stockings and Santa gifts for morning time. My favorite memory of that night is of Oliver falling asleep holding his new little green tractor that Jay picked out for him.

Christmas Day we heading back home to swap gifts with Amy and say goodbye to Quinn, then went to my sister's house for Christmas dinner and more gifts. Audrey and Jaleck made a fabulous Middle Eastern meal of Maftoul (chicken with couscous) and Makhlubbi (upside down beef pie) with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, and dolmas.  I hope that will become a tradition - it was a nice break from the traditional holiday fare. However, we did bring along the Christmas sugar cookies decorated by Jay and Quinn. Those were tasty too.

We are now digging out from under the piles of boxes and bags of gifts that we brought home and have yet to assemble Oliver's train table or put up the Christmas tree - but I'm kind of enjoying the mess. It reminds me of what a good time we had this year.