Lunch with Payton and Aunt Hollie

We met Aunt Hollie and Payton for lunch at the coffee shop that makes yummy pizzas and paninis. After lunch, we walked around the center to the toy store and to the pet store. The kids enjoyed the bunnies, fish, and turtles a lot! Then, while the kiddos napped, the mommies watched a movie, "Legally Blonde" (they're going to see the Broadway show in a couple weeks and thought it would be fun to watch before we go). A very fun day.

Dax and Payton were so cute holding hands as we walked down the sidewalk

Louisiana

We received sad news that one of Duane's relatives in Louisiana, Nolan, passed away. Duane couldn't go to the funeral, but Dax and I loaded up and headed East (well, after a haircut and a run-in with a slide that left a goose-egg on Dax's forehead). We spent the first night at Annette's. The next morning we drove to Missouri City to pick up Aunt Fay and got on I-10 for 215 miles. We stopped for lunch in Beaumont, but that was it. Dax was great in the car. After recovering from bad Internet directions to the hotel, we headed over to the funeral home. Dax made it about 5 minutes into the Rosary, but luckily they had a kids room where I could let him play. After the Rosary, Dax got to meet a lot of relatives whom he had never seen. Georgia was so sweet and introduced Dax and me to everyone. Dax really liked her, too - he was giving her some good hugs (which I'm sure were nice to get after just losing her husband). Dax also enjoyed meeting a couple cousins about his age: Reece is 26 months and Gage is 19 months. They had a good time pal-ing around together. I really enjoyed meeting all Duane's cousins, too. They are all so warm and welcoming. Nolan had been the local sheriff for many years, so at the funeral home deputies stood by the casket. They looked like they were "at attention", but their heads were bowed, as if in prayer. It was very nice.

The next morning there was a full police/sheriff escort from the funeral home to the church, complete with lots of lights and sirens. Talk about arriving in style! The funeral was lovely. From our vantage point in the cry room we could see everything, including Aunt Kay and Aunt Fay. The eulogies were very heart-felt and touching. Even though I'd never met Nolan, I was moved to tears and really wish that I'd had the opportunity to know him. I know his family dearly misses him. He was interred in a mausoleum, which I had never seen before. The ceremony concluded with a gun salute by the sheriff's department.

Spending time with Duane's family was wonderful. And they definitely made sure we didn't leave hungry! Those Louisiana folk can COOK! Even if they did make fun of the way I say "DeRouen". Apparently, in Louisiana there are a lot of "DeRouens", but they pronounce it "der-wahh". Oh, well. They "corrected" us in France on our honeymoon, too.

When we got back to Texas, we stopped to see Duane's cousin Tracie who'd had a baby right before Christmas. Baby Lillie was sleeping, so we didn't get to hold her. But, she was so beautiful laying there, that I started crying immediately. No telling what I would have done if I'd gotten to hold her! What a blessing babies are! And parenthood definitely becomes Mark and Tracie. They're doing great. We hope to see them again soon.

We spent the last night at Annette's again, before we headed back to Austin the next morning. Dax slept the whole way home. After staying up till practically 9pm every night the past few nights, he was more than due for some good sleep (me, too, actually). Now that we're back, we're all sick with a head cold and trying to get back in to our routine. But, we're SO glad we made the trip. We're looking forward to planning another trip when we can spend more time, and under happier circumstances, with such wonderful people that we are blessed to call "family".

Checking in to the hotel


Georgia introducing Dax and Gage - even the toddlers are welcoming!


Dax hit it off with Reece, too


Showing Aunt Fay and Georgia the "love"


Aunt Fay and Charlotte


3-week old, Lillie


Mark and Tracie

18 Month Appointment

We got Dax's "stats" at his 18 month appointment today. He is 32.5 inches tall (50th %) and 20lbs 10oz (1st %). Also, his head is 47cm (40th %). Again, the doctor is not worried about his weight because he is excelling in all his developments. Dax was so good at the appointment. He let the doctor poke and squeeze and prod and he just let her do it all. He looked at us a couple times like, "you guys are ok with all this, right? ok, then I am, too." When he got his vaccine (only 1 this time), he cried out, but was done by the time she got the band-aid on. We were really proud of him.

Here are a couple pics of Dax playing with his "baby". He got this baby for Christmas and he has been so sweet with it. He feeds the baby, gives him drinks, puts the blanket over him, and hugs him all the time. It's amazing how loving he is. Of course, he has been known to pick up the baby by his head and to try "baby distance throwing", but, that's ok.

Giving the baby blocks to play with

Making sure the baby gets a snack (and is safely belted in his seat)

Avery's birthday

Dax's friend, Avery, turned 2, so we got to go to her birthday party. Dax had a lot of fun seeing some old friends and making some new ones. He liked the chocolate icing on the cupcake, too.

Sharing the play food with Avery


Mmm, chocolate

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! We didn't really do anything for New Year's Eve (except pray that the fireworks didn't wake up Dax). However, Dax celebrated the new year by climbing out of his crib. Yikes! We put him down for his morning nap and he was protesting, but I figured he'd settle down in a minute. Instead, I heard a thump, an instant of silence (enough to think to myself, "what was *that*?"), then a very upset scream. Dax met me at his door. He was scared, mad, and probably in a little pain. There was no blood or bumps or bruises thankfully. He hasn't tried it again, but if he decides to make this a habit, we'll have to convert his crib over to the toddler bed. I just hope we don't have to do that, because I do not see him staying in that bed. I'm afraid I'd be fighting with him every nap/bedtime.

Speaking of sleeping, we tried moving Dax to just 1 nap a day, but it really wasn't working. We tried it because he had been fighting the morning nap. But the 1-nap schedule wasn't getting him enough sleep; and he was waking up at 4am, 5am, and 6am. So, we're back to 2 naps. He's sleeping much better now. Although, he is still waking up at 6am. It's not as good as the couple weeks he was sleeping till 7am, but that's ok. I didn't really think that would last anyway.

Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009 filled with lots of fun and laughter (and some good sleep)!

Playdates

After all the family time of the holidays, Dax was ready for some time with his friends. We hosted playgroup one day and Dax got to play with a couple of his favorite friends, Avery and Benjamin. They all had a good time. BTW, the more fireman hats you have, the better it is for everyone.

Another day, we visited one of my college friends, Stacie. She has 3 girls who just loved having a "baby" to play with. They were so good with him, that Stacie and I actually were able to sit on the couch and drink coffee while we chatted. Amazing! We'll have to get together with them more often!

Fireman hats are fun!


Playing with Avery (and the stuffed animals) at his new Dax-sized table)


Getting 3 kids to sit still for a pic is HARD (even with snacks slowing them down)!


I like the "manly" sports balls in the pink stroller - it says "confidence"


Racing with Stacie's girls


They're worn out!

Date Night

Duane and I enjoyed a "date night". Dax spent the night at Grandma's while we watched "Marley and Me" at Alamo Draft House. It was great to have one-on-one time with each other. And...we sorta got to sleep in the next morning. We did get up fairly early to drive to Houston for a Texans game, but, (and I never thought I say this) waking to the radio alarm was nice. It's good to mix things up from the usual "screaming kid" alarm, you know. Our "date" lasted the whole way to Houston and back. It was very nice. The cherry on top was that the Texans won.