New Monitor

We received our new video monitor that we're going to use for the boys' rooms. It has one camera for each room and I'll be able to switch back and forth to check on them both, without opening the door and disturbing them. Initially, I expect I'll use it more for Dax, since bedtime can be interesting and I'm dying to know what really goes on in that room before he falls asleep.

When the package with the monitor arrived here, Dax wanted us to open it right away. So, we did. Then, he wanted to know what it was. I explained that we'll use it to watch Baby Brother and make sure he's OK when he's sleeping. He said, "Oh." Then, "Please we put it on your belly and we see him now?" He was a little disappointed when we told him we had to wait until BB came OUT of Mommy's belly for it to work. Poor kid has seen so many ultrasounds, that he thought we could do our own at home. :)

Rings & Story Time

This morning Dax asked me if he could have my wedding ring. I told him (as I have before) that this is a very special ring that Daddy gave to Mommy because he loves her. Dax replied, "I want Daddy give me ring." Then I told him that while Daddy loves him very much, boys give rings to the girls that they love and that someday, when HE grows up, he can give a ring to a girl that he loves. He melted my heart when he said, "I give YOU a ring when I grow up, cuz I love YOU!" That's my boy!

Later this morning we met Benjamin at the library for story time. I'm embarrassed to say that this is the first time I've taken him to the library. We had a great time. Dax sat front and center. They sang songs, read stories, and did an art project, all in 30 minutes. We'll definitely go back.

After the library, Benjamin and his baby sister, Bethany, came back to our house for a playdate and lunch. Once again, Dax was fascinated by Bethany. He would bring her toys and he even read her a story. He's so thoughful and I know he's going to be an awesome big brother.

Doing the art project at library with Benjamin


Reading to Baby Bethany

Snow! Real Snow!

Well, we finally got REAL snow in Austin. Not just flurries...bona fide, large flakes, and over an inch of accumulation. Enough for us to make Dax's first snowman. We were all very excited. It ended up raining later in the day and melting most of snow, but the snowman hung in there.


Ready to play in the snow


Demonstrating proper snowman-building technique (you can see the snow still falling!)


Dax's first ever snowman


Who, tragically, was attacked by wild dogs who wanted to eat his apple smile and play fetch with his stick arms


Snowman Take 2 - sans the fruit face (not sure what the big stick in the head was for, but Dax was proud of it)

37 Weeks

We've made it to 37 weeks in my pregnancy with Baby Brother. Dax was born at 37 weeks, 1 day, so we feel like we're definitely in the home-stretch. Here's the latest belly pic.

Going to Work

Dax spent the night with Grandma while Mommy went to see The Color Purple broadway show at Bass Concert Hall (which was amazing). I picked him up this morning at Grandma's office. While he was there waiting for me, he was looking out the window at all the cars in rush-hour traffic on Mopac. He asked, "where are all those cars going, Gamma?" She told him, "to work". "Are they going to Tokyo?" Reasonable question, don't you think?

Going On A Trip

Tomorrow Daddy leaves for Tokyo again. To celebrate our last day together, we enjoyed a family breakfast at Kirby Lane Cafe. Dax loves their pancakes. This afternoon we spent playing together inside. Dax has a new fireman kit that has a suitcase to store everything. At one point, Dax loaded it up, carried it one hand, with the other hand held Daddy's hand, and announced, "I go on trip with Daddy." It was so sweet.

Help and a "Fight"

We decided to take our guest bedroom set to a consignment shop, since we need to get the room ready for Baby Brother. Uncle Travis came up to help Daddy load everything into the rented truck (Aunt Hollie, Payton, and Grandma came up to visit, too). They worked really hard, and then we enjoyed a nice, family dinner of crawfish ettouffe. We had brownies with whipped cream and sprinkles for dessert, which was a big hit with the kids. We are so grateful to have family that is so willing to help us out.

Dax and Payton had an interesting exchange at one point during the evening. They were playing with football gear and Payton decided to yell, "Texas Fight!" Without missing a beat, Dax yelled back, "Aggies Fight!" That's our boy!