Archives
July 4: Parade, Food, Fun, Friends
This was our first 4th of July spent in Austin. With the 2 kids and my growing belly (third trimester now!), we just weren't up to the long travels to Fripp Island, where we have been spending the holiday for the past years. So despite the fact that it was Austin's hottest 4th on record(!), it was great fun. We went to a neighborhood morning parade. The boys enjoyed it, and there was free Amy's ice cream afterwards. Then we went to our friend Kim's for a splash party/cookout in the afternoon. The boys were tuckered out early, so no fireworks for us. But it was a really fun time. July 4th photos...
June 2009
Here is a collection of photos from the month of June:
- This and That: View our June adventures (many taken with my cell phone while out and about). Photos of the boys together (best pals right now), Father's Day tacos, trip to Lake Travis beach with friends, baby bump update. June around town photos...
- Fire Station Tour: Since we no longer do our weekly arts and crafts class, we're looking to take various field trips with Oliver's pals this summer. So we organized a trip to a local fire station. Lots of fun for our boys, of course. Junior Firefighter photos...
Visit from Julia and Oscar: We were so happy to have Julia and Oscar come visit us for a few days at the end of the month. Oliver and Oscar were fast friends. Oscar photos...
June 8: East Coast Adventures
Boy, are we tired! We had a whirlwind trip back East. We had a fabulous time, and we sure did pack in a lot of fun. But it's nice to be home and take a breath. We are so thankful for the opportunity to visit with family in VA, friends in DC, and then our old pals in Florida. The boys had a wonderful time with each adventure. There are over a hundred new photos from the trip. So enjoy the slideshows and see all we were able to do:
- Cousin Matt's Graduation: The trip started in VA for an Okla/McCarthy family reunion as we celebrated Matt's graduation. Fun party and great food! Congrats, Matt! Family time photos...
- Udvar Hazy Center: The newer Air and Space Museum is out in VA by Aunt Ann's house. We took a stop over there with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Paul, Aunt Lynette, and cousin Erin. We were also able to meet our friends, the Rabins, there to catch up on Verity's 4th birthday. Airplane museum photos...
- National Zoo: We drove into the city one morning to stop in and visit friends at RIF, and then we met friends Leann and little Margo at the zoo. Besides seeing pals, the highlights of that outing were seeing the 2 month-old gorilla baby and the elephants. National zoo photos...
- Smithsonian and Mall: Oliver wanted to ride the metro train, so we took it down to the Mall one morning. We started out with dinos at the Natural History Museum. Then we strolled through the sculpture garden at the National Gallery. Then we picnicked over by the SI castle, and the boys got to ride the carousel. We also got to visit quickly with friends Gina and Tara. National Mall photos...
- Siesta Key, Florida: From DC, we flew down to Florida to meet up with our longtime friends the Janaks, the Howards, and "Uncle" Doug. We had a really wonderful time catching up with our dear friends and playing in the pool and at Siesta beach. It was most fun to see the kids playing together so nicely and to see how Oscar and Paige have grown. Siesta Key photos...
May 14: May is Flying By
We're keeping very busy this month, and I just wanted to post a few of the latest photos. A lot of them are taken with the camera on my new iPhone, so the quality isn't too great, but you can see what we've been up to. We have been working in our gardens, and the boys are proud of the cherry tomatoes and peppers so far. We went to our neighborhood festival and enjoyed some kids games and music. We had a fun Mother's Day, and even attempted a trip to the art museum. The boys did okay, but their favorite part was the "spaghetti" installation on the museum grounds. We're finishing up a very successful year at our do-it-yourself preschool class. We sure will miss it! And I am very relieved to announce that we do have a backup preschool plan in place now for Oliver for the fall incase we don't get called from our neighborhood wait list. Finally, baby number 3 is growing and healthy, and the latest ultrasound did confirm that he's a boy!Here are the misc. photos from May thus far...
April 28: Fripp Trip
We just got back from a really great visit with the Taylors in SC. Fripp Island is a magical place for the kids, and they were so delighted to spend time with Nana, Grandad, and Aunt Kelly. Oliver says his favorite things were the boat ride (in which he fell asleep) and building a sand volcano. Lots of great beach photos...
April 18: Hot Rods
With Peyton's interest, we took the boys to the Lonestar Custom Car and Hot Rod show. All the cars were older than 1963, and they were actually very cool. We had a good time. Some great photos by Peyton here...
April 11: Hopping Down the Bunny Trail
We have had a wonderful start to April. Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Gretchen came for a really fun visit. We loved having them here! And we had lots of fun with Easter egg hunts, good times with friends, and goodies from the Easter Bunny. Lots of photos...
April 8: THE BIG NEWS
The word is out. I am pregnant (again). Three is a magic number, right? No one is as surprised as Peyton and I. It's no secret that we had to rely on fertility drugs for Oliver and Elliot, and so we were not really thinking another baby was in the realm of possibility, but here we are. We are admittedly overwhelmed and slightly stressed, but we truly believe life's surprises are the best things.
Here is the ultrasound photo from week 12. And the technician told me she's 85% sure this is another boy. Oh boy! This will be confirmed the first week of May with another ultrasound. And baby is due sometime around Oct. 5th.
For local friends, Oliver and Elliot do not know about this yet. We're waiting a bit to share the news. So if you happen to see us out and about, please don't mention this to Oliver yet. Thanks.
March 30: Hooray for Friends Who Visit!
We were delighted to have two weekends in a row with out-of-town friends visiting us in Austin this month. First, Kristen and Zach came in from NY for SXSW and some time with our family. The boys loved them, and Oliver can't stop talking about Zach. Next, Tara flew in from D.C. and Sarah drove in from Dallas for a RIF girls reunion. We had a great time showing them around town and eating lots of tex mex. And the boys just love all the extra attention. Next weekend, the Oklas arrive for a visit. It's nice to feel so loved! Here are some misc. March photos and highlights of our time with friends...
March 15: Overdue for an Update
Sorry for taking so long to update this website. We've been busy. I am having a hard time updating my blog these days, too. At the end of February we had a great visit from Grandpa Okla. And in early March, we've had lots of very warm days with afternoons spent in the backyard. Elliot's favorite thing to do now is make mud pies. Oh these boys! We've been frantically trying to get Oliver into a spot for fall preschool, with no luck. We're on lots of wait lists, and we'll keep our fingers crossed. I think it would be great for him to start spending a tiny bit of time away from mommy. Peyton's been attending SXSW's Interactive conference, and we look forward to having friends visit for the next two weekends. Oh, and I think we have a record 6 birthday parties to attend this month. And I thought February was busy. Here are some backyard photos from early in the month...
February 22: Oliver's Third Birthday
Can you believe our little dude is already three years old? We had a race car-themed party at our house yesterday afternoon. The kids had a good time running around, but sadly Oliver got "stage fright" when it was time to do the cake. He didn't like having all eyes on him, and he got pretty upset. But after a while he relaxed and had some fun again. Enjoy the party pictures...
February 10: Brotherly Love
It's been really wonderful to watch Oliver and Elliot's relationship develop. They are the best of pals, and they have such an amazing bond. Don't get me wrong, they do fight like brothers. My favorite quote from Oliver these days is "He always wants what I have, and I always want what he has." Too true. And even though Elliot is only 13 months old, he is very scrappy and can put up a good fight. But usually, it's just fun to see how much they truly enjoy each other. Lots of backyard afternoons so far this month. Oliver's big race car-themed third birthday party is coming up in a few weeks, so stay tuned for that. And have a very HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! XOXO. Here are some photos from February thus far...
January 25: Funny Boys
Just a quick update with some of the fun things the boys are doing these days... Elliot gives high fives, can bark like a dog, tries desperately to open the back door anytime he wants to go outside to play (which is all the time), he steals Oliver's sippy cups and takes off with them hoping for a few sips of juice, and he likes to play a game where he pretends to be sleeping and you have to say "boo" to wake him up. Oliver is full of funny things to say these days. He got a Lightening McQueen talking car that says a variety of quotes from the Cars movie. One of the (unfortunate) things that the car says is, "I eat losers for breakfast." The other morning Oliver was pretending to cook for his cars, and I asked him what he was making them to eat. He said, "losers", having no idea what that meant. Also, we takled a lot about Obama this week and described him as a "helper" for our country. One day when Elliot was crying and fussing, I asked Oliver how he thought we could get Elliot to calm down. He said "Maybe Barack can do it." :)
January 20: My New Blog
Please check out my blog, Read 'Em and Leap (www.reademandleap.com)! This site showcases the fun projects that the boys and I do and the books we're reading each week. Please spread the word.
January 15: Winter Haze
I feel like we've just been in a crazy haze the last several weeks. Time is wizzing by, and I have very little to report. The weather has been up and down, but ususally warm. We are grateful to live in a climate where it's in the mid-60s during January! Oliver is an amazing storyteller and so creative. I think age 3 is going to be very fun. (Although for those of you keeping track we have made no progress on potty training or binkie removal. He will sit on the potty now for a lollipop, but it's not getting us anywhere.) Elliot is now 13 months and in a testy phase. He has a short temper and seems really frustrated at his lack of ability to communicate. He tries to keep up with the big boys and doesn't like having 13-month-old limitations. Peyton says maybe he'll be a professional wrestler when he grows up, I think a baseball pitcher for the way he throws everything. But he's as cute as can be. I have been busy working on a new blog I hope to launch in about a week. It's all about the books we read and the learning activities we come up with to correlate. You'll see some cute photos there of the sweet art projects the boys and I work on each week. Stay tuned. Here are some random photos from January thus far.
December 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Santa was so good to us. Here is a quick post to share the magic with you all. We miss you and we're thinking of you today. Oliver and Elliot are having quite a fun time with Nana, Grandad, and Aunt Kelly. And they love all of their presents. Best wishes to you! Here are the photos from Christmas morning.
December 21: Trail of Lights
With temperatures in the high 70s, we had a beautiful day on Saturday. So we decided to head down to Zilker park for an evening picnic and then a walk through the Trail of Lights. It was quite an impressive light show, and lots of fun for us and the kids. Topping the night off with a funnel cake was pretty great, too. Check out the Trail of Light photos and note that there are some new misc. photos added to the end of the Dec. slideshow.
December 13: Elliot's First Birthday!
I truly can't believe that baby Elliot turned one today! The past year has been a whirlwind of settling into new routines, sleepless nights, giddy play times, and so much love. I am pretty sure Oliver has no recollection of life without Elliot, and it sometimes feels the same for me, too. Our family is just perfect, and Elliot adds so much happy, spunky character to the mix.
Today we celebrated with a party in "Elliot's Winter One-derland." It was really joyful, and we were thrilled to have all of our friends stop by for some morning playtime. A blizzard blew into the playroom, bringing a snow bear, an igloo, and lots of snowflakes and snowballs. There was cookie decorating, ice fishing, and a bean bag snowball toss. Elliot was bopping along and happily mixing in with all the kids. Very fun time! Tons of birthday photos here...
December 10: Holiday Cheer
We can't believe it's already December, but we're feeling the holiday cheer. We have a mix of really warm days with a few really cold (even my first snow sighting in Austin). All is merry and bright. Here's a few misc. photos from the beginning of the month...
November 2008:
November 30: Thanksgiving, Parade, and Okla's Visit
We have so much to be thankful for! And we can start with a really enjoyable holiday weekend with the Okla family. On Thursday, we headed to the park with the boys in the morning, and then we cooked up a feast in our little hot kitchen (Oliver was proud to mash the potatoes). On Saturday, we went downtown to the Children Giving to Children parade. Oliver's favorite part was the fire truck. Elliot was in awe of the giant Hello Kitty and Coke polar bear balloons. Elliot was being really fussy all weekend and wanted to cling to Mommy, but otherwise we had a really nice time (I can't believe he'll be a year old in another week!!). We got some holiday shopping started, and Peyton and I even got out to see a movie for the first time in a year and a half! Oh, and there were no emergency runs to the doctors (which reminds me that I never posted anything about that on this site. Story to come when I have more time.) Enjoy the Thanksgiving photos...
November 15: Kiddie Acres
We met our friends, the Youngs, at Kiddie Acres this afternoon. Having only heard that the fact it was old and dirty added to it's charm, we were still pretty surprised by this place. It's a tiny little amusement park in North Austin for very young kids. They had a handful of rusty old rides that Oliver was thrilled with. He was so very happy to drive the plane, boat, and jeep -- especially with his pal, Ethan. I think we hit the Acres at a peak time. After age three, I am sure the fun fades. Lots of cute photos here...
November 15: November Photos Posted!
Here are some misc. photos from this month...
November 14: What's New with Oliver?
Oliver is still two and has his occasional dramatic meltdowns. He is ultra-sensative and emotional. But then when things are good, he is just so delightful. He says some really funny things that I keep saying I will write down, and never take the time to. Today he said, "Mama, I don't want to be perfect. I just want to be your boy." (This was after I was singing that Laurie Berkner song called "I'm not perfect" about liking ourselves just the way we are.) He aslo recently asked me if he was going to have a sister. When I told him no, he said, "that's okay. Hula is a girl. She can be my sister!" He LOVES his pals, and often tells stories about them as if they are super heros. He loves telling stories. He is still obsessed with anything related to firefighters. He is highly amused by using "potty words" as jokes. He takes great pride in our weekly art projects. And he is also singing a lot more lately. Music to my ears.
November 13: Elliot is 11 Months
Our sweet baby is 11 months old today. He's walking (quickly and steadily). He's got 9 teeth. His favorite things to say are "uh oh" and "Hula." He has an amazing laugh. He loves music and dancing and clapping. He's infatuated with his brother. He is a great eater, and his current favorite foods include cheese and grapes. He loves playing games with us, like throwing things to see if we'll pick them up, running away from us to see if we'll chase him, etc. He is still not sleeping through the night, but we have to forgive him when he flashes us his big happy smile. And finally, here is a video clip from about a month ago of Elliot clapping his hands to the song "If You're Happy And You Know It".
October 2008:
October 31: Happy Halloween
The Halloween festivities have been very fun and very plentiful. We had a Halloween carnival at the neighborhood school last weekend as well as a friend's Halloween-themed birthday party. Then tonight we had a potluck and toddler party at our friend's house. Tomorrow we have two more parties and another reason to wear the costumes. Oliver is obsessed with firefighters these days so he chose that as his costume. So we decided Elliot would make a good dalmation pup to coordinate. However, I didn't want Elliot's mostly white costume to get ruined before Halloween, so he dressed up in a variety of things last weekend. I am really hoping to get a photo of Oliver and Elliot together in their cuteness, but it's been proving impossible to wrangle a grumpy toddler and busy 10 month-old into the same shot. I'll try again tomorrow. Here's the Halloween action so far...
October 22: Elliot is Walking!
Just the day after I posted that Elliot wasn't walking around much on his own, he's taken off! He's walking all over the house, the backyard, the park, the library, and anywhere we let him. Whether he's in bare feet, shoes, or socks, he's on the go. Here's a video clip...
October 18: This and That
Here are some random photos from the month. Elliot is now 10 months old! He's a busy boy and gets around really well with his little push toy. He takes more and more steps each day, but he's still not walking around much on his own. He's having a good time keeping up with Oliver. Some misc. photos from October...
October 18: Pumpkins
We went to a pumpkin sale at the church down the street to pick out some little pumpkins last weekend with Nana and Kelly. We are looking forward to Halloween! View the pumpkin photos...
October 11: Daddy's Birthday and the Taylor's Visit
The 9th was Peyton's birthday. We are so happy to have his family (Nana, Grandad, and Kelly) here to help celebrate!! We went to the Dino exhibit at the Zilker Botanical Garden, had dinner at the Hula Hut, and capped the night off with monster-sized cupcakes. Peyton's big gift is a Texas-sized grill that he plans to bbq on very often. We're having a great time with the family. More photos to come. Photos from Peyton's birthday...
October 11: New with Elliot and Oliver
The boys are really into playing with each other (especially at the sand table in the back yard) and fighting over toys (already). Elliot wants every thing that Oliver has, and Oliver wants to hide everything away from his brother. Here are some misc. photos of them playing... Elliot's favorite thing to say is "Uh oh". Oliver loves to tell stories. Here is one of his latest...
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Once upon a time there was a little boy named Pufak. There was a tiger walking by who saw Pufak. The tiger asked if he could come in his house, and Pufak said, "No because I don't like candy." The End!
October 5: Austin Family Music Fest & TX Wildlife Expo
It's been a really busy and fun weekend here in Austin. We went out to Pioneer Farm for the family music festival on Saturday. We enjoyed seeing some bands, all the farm animals, hanging out with friends, and a sing-a-long hayride with the Biscuit Brothers. And then on Sunday, Daddy took Oliver out to the TX Wildlife Expo. He and his pal got to check out snakes, jump on various trucks, see a helicopter and firetruck, among other things. It's been a really exciting weekend. Here's photos from the music fest and the expo...
September 26: New Stuff
Just a quick post to let you know that there are some new photos in the Sept. slideshow and 2 new videos, too. The boys are keeping busy, and all is well. More details to come later.
September 13: Elliot is 9 Months Old
Elliot, as Oliver says, is an "old baby". He is a really funny, personable, friendly, and curious little guy. He's also very stubborn, extremely physical, and a little bruiser. He's a toughie and a heartbreaker at the same time. He crawls so quickly all over the house, the yard, at the park -- basically anywhere we go. We can't keep him still for a second. He is a terrible sleeper and still hasn't slept through the night once. But he's a cutie, a charmer, a great little brother, and we love him so much!
Elliot just had his check-up, and he's now 28 inches and 18.7 pounds. He's smaller than Oliver at this age, and as far as percentiles go, he's on the smaller side. But our pediatrician saw how he wiggled and moved around in her office and said she could see that he burns off all calories that go in that little body. He has had a little bump over his left eye since birth that is also growing (you can probably notice this in the photos.) We will get that checked out by a specialist this month, and we are hoping it is nothing to worry about at all. Anyhow, I uploaded some misc. photos from the month. View September photos (including lots of Elliot shots) here...
September 7: A Visit to the Fire Station
We went on a tour of the fire station near our house with other moms and kids. Leading up to this, Oliver was so excited you would have thought Santa was going to be doing the tour and then handing out presents. But of course when we got there, he was overwhelmed and quiet as a mouse. Still, it was a fun field trip.Fire station photos...
September 1: Labor Day Parade
We went to the Brentwood neighborhood Labor Day Parade this morning at the park. It was hot and sweaty, and Oliver was in a very grumpy mood. So I can't say everyone had a great time. But I think that there were times during the festivities that we each had some fun. We have a wonderful neighborhood with lots of families, and we always enjoy seeing our friends. Brentwood parade photos...
August 2008:
August 30: Dino Park
Today was Austin's Dinosaur Park's anniversary party, so we decided to head over and check it out. We got there very early (because it is still soooo hot here) so we also avoided any crowds. It was a nice little place with dinos on the trails, a playground, balloons, and cookies. We met friends David, Pamela, and Max there on our way out. Fun times. Check out the dino park photos...
August 29: Teething!
Elliot is working on four teeth coming in at once on the top. He's so very uncomfortable. Poor little guy. He chomps down on anything and everything he can.
August 18: Fripping Out
We took a zillion photos on our July trip to Fripp Island, SC. But something was wrong with our photo memory card so we never uploaded all our pics. (Previously posted photos came from Kelly and Granddad.) Peyton got it working, and so here is the link to the Fripp slideshow...
August 18: Oliver Says
Oliver is such a talker, and he comes up with some really cute things to say all the time now. It's really very fun. He's a really bright boy. Today he was smacking his lips together a lot, and he came over and said, "Know what, mommy? I just learned how to kiss!!" Later in the morning we were playing outside under a tree. He picked up a leaf and said, "Oh, no. This leaf fell down!" He then looked up at the tree, and sadly said, "I don't know how to get it back up there." I tried to reassure him it was okay, and I babbled on about how leaves fall from the trees when it gets colder and grow back when it's warmer and blah blah about leaves blowing off in wind, etc. I hardly thought he was paying attention to me, but then he gave me a stink eye and questioned, "But it's warm right now. It's not cold. The leaves shouldn't fall off yet." It's very exciting how he puts everything together now. I remember trying to teach him colors and basic words, and we're so far past that now. Very cool stuff.
August 13: Elliot at 8 Months -- Crawling and Pulling to Stand!
My Elliot is a big baby. He's no longer my little cuddly infant. How has time gone by so fast?! He's crawling (slowly), he's pulling up to stand, and he's socializing with friends, babies, his brother, etc. He is never still. He's a mover. And he tries to tell me -- as much as he can -- that he's not my little baby anymore. He's doing very well in general, although he's still not sleeping through the night. But overall he's still as happy as can be. August slideshow...
August 1: Family Time in NY and PA
I just returned from a busy week back East with the boys. We went to the Okla's house in PA for a visit, and then we drove to Lockport, NY for big family parties: Grandma Mary's 85th birthday, my parents' 40th anniversary, and a family reunion. I hadn't been to NY since I was pregnant with Oliver, so it was really great to be able to introduce both boys to all the relatives. We got together with mom's siblings and my cousins. We attended the big (100 people) family reunion. And we celebrated milestone occasions. Oliver was totally overwhelmed with all the adults, and he was very shy. Elliot loved the attention. We went on a little adventure to Olcott Beach (on Lake Ontario) with Aunt Lynette and Cousin Erin, and we enjoyed the kiddie rides. Then back in PA, both boys loved playing at Grandma, Grandpa, and Gretchen's house, going to the covered bridge, the farmer's market, Cabela's, Grandma's school, etc. I took TONS of photos...
July 2008:
July 18: Elliot at 7 months
I just thought I'd give a little update on Elliot... He is a really sweet, happy, smiley boy. He is constantly wiggling and moving. He has incredibly strong legs, and he uses them to push, pull, play with toys, etc. He's like a little monkey. Yesterday he was playing with a ball in his hands, and another ball in his feet at the same time. He makes lots of noises that range from "nah, nah, nah" to high-pitched squeaking like a dolphin. He seems to be filling out a lot now that he's eating solid foods. He still has only 2 teeth, but chomps down on anything and everything. He is fascinated with Oliver, and he's so anxious to keep up with his brother. He doesn't sleep well, but we hope he starts sleeping through the night sometime soon. Here's a movie clip of Elliot's latest "talking"...
July 14: Back from the Beach!
We just got home from 2 weeks of beach time on the East Coast. We went to see Nana, Granddad, and Aunt Kelly Taylor at their home in Fripp Island, SC. We had a wonderful time and got to see our friends, the Lathrens, too. It was a really exciting time for Oliver, and we all had a blast. And then we had 5 days at the Janak's family house in Siesta Key, FL. We were able to catch up with good friends and spend lots of time in the sun. Our 2 week vacation was so great and full of adventures. I'll write more when I get the chance, but for now here are the photos:
June 2008:
June 27: Family Time
Grandma Carolyn and Aunt Gretchen are here for a visit. Oliver and Elliot are both in heaven. They're getting lots of love and attention. And Mommy and Daddy are enjoying the help. (We even got out for dinner to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary this week!) New photos in the June slideshow...
June 15: To Peyton
Thank you... for knowing how to fix everything that gets broken, for getting big squeals of laughter out of the boys, for letting Mommy sleep in on the weekends, for taking Hula out in the middle of the night, for changing an endless amount of diapers, for cooking us good food, and for moving the family half-way across the country (and taking a new job) so we could have a better quality of life. We love you. Happy Father's Day!
June 8: Elliot's First Tooth and First Food
After lots of drooling, biting, and irritable teething, Elliot got his first tooth (bottom, center) this week. He also tried real food for the first time -- baby rice cereal. He was so disgusted by it, I swear he thought we were trying to poison him. He stayed up 'til midnight as payback. Photos in the June slideshow...
June 2: What's New With...
Elliot: What happened to my newborn? All of a sudden, Elliot seems so much older. He's sitting up. He's grabbing everything. He's trying to wiggle and move out of my arms. He no longer just sleeps often or easily (it takes work!). He's trying to be a big boy. It seems like crawling may be in our near future.
Oliver: Temper tantrums! He's having the most serious meltdowns ever. We're exhausted. He's really testing us these days. And when we're totally sleep-deprived, it's hard to keep up with him. Despite this, he's still a very sweet, good-natured boy, and we have lots of fun times. His favorite things right now are watering our new yard with the hose, eating popsicles, pretending to be a fireman, pizza delivery guy, and animal rescuer.
May photos: All the photos from the end of May are now added to the end of the slideshow. Enjoy!
The backyard: Our yard is finally just about complete! When we moved in the bulk of our yard was concrete. In Oct. we had most of that torn up, and then this spring we had sod put down, and Peyton planted trees and plants, and he created a playspace for Oliver. And let's not forget Peyton's hours of labor putting together our IKEA furniture. So here's a peek at the before and after.
Our friends: Congratulations to Melissa and baby Paige, Heather and baby Kenzie, and Courtney and baby Paige! So many new little girls in our lives. And we had a great time at our friend Georgia Jane's splashy birthday party. Here are some pictures...
May 2008:
May 12: Elliot at 5 Months
Tomorrow marks Elliot's 5th month. It's amazing how fast he's growing. The best words to describe him these days are "active" and "noisy". I swear he'd crawl away from me if he possibly could. He's mastered the skill of rolling over both ways. He can sit up for brief seconds. He reaches and grabs at everything (to go into his mouth). We have to keep a good grip on him or he'll just wiggle away.
Mother's Day Outing
Yesterday was mother's day, and I had a lovely day. We went down to the botanical garden at zilker park for a stroll. Oliver was protesting this activity, and the only way we could keep him engaged was to pretend I was Dora, Peyton was Diego, and Elliot was Boots the monkey. We were on an expedition to find the giant fish. Oliver is always acting out stories. It's extremely cute and entertaining. Lots of great photos came out of our morning adventure...
May 10: Parties and Picnics
Oliver and I love our Friday playgroup. This week we hosted a baby shower for two of the moms, Courtney (due in June) and Elizabeth (due in July). We also had a fun picnic at the park this weekend with the families of our group. Good food, good friends, good times. Here's the photos...
May 8: My Happy Boys
Oliver is really into Elliot right now. He loves to make him laugh. He likes to speak babytalk to him. Sometimes Oliver seems frustrated that Elliot doesn't talk back, so he will just talk even louder (as if Elliot just can't hear him). It's all pretty funny. And Elliot is so captivated by everything Oliver does. I was trying to get ready for naps when Oliver decided to try to get Elliot to giggle. Here's a short clip...
May 6: May Days
May is here, and it feels like summer is here in Austin. We're kicking off this month with lots of picnics, feeding ducks, watering our new grass, planting flowers, and eating lots of popsicles. I started a misc. May slideshow. View the photos...
April 2008:
April 28: Misc. News
Not too much is going on with us these days. We went to a crazy Austin festival on Sat. called Eeyore's Birthday Party. It was an anything goes outdoor extravaganza at a local park. (Photos in the April slideshow). And Peyton is busy getting our backyard beautiful. We now have grass and a few young trees and some patio furniture. It should be all done soon. (I'll post photos when it's complete.) Oliver, Elliot, and I have been enjoying Austin's wonderful weather. Lots of picnics, park outings, and now that the pool is open, I hope we'll be swimming soon. Our friends Melissa (D.C.) and Heather (Colorado) are expecting babies any day now. So we've got those ladies on our minds and wish them all the best!
April 23: Princess
I had to dress up a little bit today because we were going on a tour of a preschool. After seeing me in a skirt, Oliver excitedly exclaimed, "Mama, you look like a princess!" Very cute.
April 14: Elliot at 4 Months
Elliot is 4 months old! We had his well-check today, and the pediatrician says he's perfect. He is in the 50th percentile for all of his measurements, and he's developmentally right on track. He is now 14 pounds, 4 ounces and he is 25 inches tall. He's a very sweet baby. Here is a short video clip of him giggling.
April 13: Trip to the Zoo
We took a trip to the Austin Zoo this weekend. It is a rescue zoo, so it's really rinky-dink compared to the National Zoo or others we're used to. But it was really nice that these animals were in a better place than where they came from (like some crazy person's backyard circus show). Oliver's favorite parts of the day were the train ride and the roosters that were walking around the park grounds. Here are photos from our day at the zoo.
April 10: Some April Photos
There's not much new to report. Life is good. Oliver is very plesant these days, and he hasn't had a terrible-two-tantrum in a while. Elliot is almost 4 months, and he's so sweet. He's started giggling, and he just loves people. Here's a few of the latest photos.
March 2008:
March 30: Trips to Washington, DC and PA
I just returned home from a 10 day trip back East. We had a fun time in D.C. with our friends. I was really happy to make it to Melissa's baby shower and catch up with her and Matt before their baby girl arrives in May. And we got to spend time with the Janaks, who were in town that weekend, too. We were also able to sneak in quick visits with our friends Tara, Gina, Beau, and the Rabins. We got to drive by our old home and remember why we're so happy to be in Austin. After our D.C. trip, the boys and I spent Easter in PA with my family, where we stayed for a week. We had a great time, despite the stomach flu. Oliver had a blast with Grandpa. And Elliot loved all the extra cuddles from Grandma and Aunt Gretchen. And I just appreciated having such wonderful helpers for a week! Check out photos from the D.C. trip and from our time with the Oklas in PA.
March 13: Elliot is 3 Months Old
Elliot is now three months old, and still a great baby. He just loves one-on-one time to smile at faces. He's cooing a lot. He can roll over from tummy to back. He can hold his head up very well. He seems like a strong little fella. (photos of him in the March slideshow.)
March 13: Zucchini VS. Butter
At dinner, we were eating zucchini and corn. After a bite of zucchini, Oliver declared that he didn't like it. I told him that was okay, but I thanked him for trying it. I told him that if he keeps trying it, he may like it someday. He then saw Peyton putting butter on his corn, and got really excited. (He loves butter and all things dairy.) He told me to put butter on my corn. I replied that I don't really like butter. (We don't even talk about the vegan thing yet.) He was perplexed but let it go. Later as I was putting him to bed, he brought this up again. "Mama no like butter?" He asked again in disbelief. I told him that I did not. To that he said, "That's okay. Mama keep trying. Mama like it someday." It's very cute that he's making connections.
March 10: Doug & Kristen Visit
Our good old friend, Doug, came out to Austin for the weekend. We were so happy to have him here. We went out around town, down to the lake, to SoCo, and hit some fun restaurants. My pal Kristen was also in town for SXSW, and it was great to catch up with her too. Here are some photos from our weekend.
March 2: New Stuff
We went to the botanical garden at Zilker park yesterday, and so I have started a new photo gallery for March. There's also a new movie of Elliot cooing on the videos page. March slideshow...
February 2008:
Feb. 25: Summer in February
It was almost 90 degrees here today! What a great summery day in February. Oliver decided he really wanted to go swimming, so we got out the kiddie pool and had a fun time. What a treat. Yay Austin! Some sunny day photos...
Feb. 21: Baby Stats
We just had our doctor's visit for Oliver's 2 year check-up and Elliot's 2 month check-up. For those of you who are curious, here's the stats. Oliver is now 35 inches tall (75th %) and 28 pounds (50%). Elliot is 23 inches (50%) and 11 pounds (50%). Both boys are healthy as can be.
Feb. 20: Happy Birthday, Oliver!
Our little guy is now two years old! He had a fun party on Sunday with all of his friends, today we had a good morning at the library, and we'll probably head to the park this afternoon. Oliver's been opening gifts for the past few days, and announced yesterday, "Oliver no need presents. Too much stuff." This is very true. He's been most excited about the cupcakes, of course. Check out Oliver's page for more about our little guy and for the photo slideshow of his birthday events.
Feb. 14: Happy Valentine's Day!
Our house is full of lots of love these days, and we're wishing you all a very happy time filled with hugs and kisses. Oliver actually told me that he loved me for the first time the other night, and now he says it all the time. It just melts my heart. xoxo A few snapshots of our little valentines...
February 8: Too Tired
Basically, I am too tired to write much today on the website. But I do have some new photos to share so I thought I'd post. Elliot is still a super relaxed baby. And Oliver will be two in a few weeks and has recently started having some major meltdowns. I updated Oliver's page the other day, so you can read that to find out what's new in his life.
Here's the start of the February photo slideshow...
January 2008:
Jan. 20: January So Far
There's not too much to report right now. We're very sleep-deprived and just living moment to moment. But all is going well. Oliver just turned 23 months and he has more energy than ever. He's a busy little toddler, and he's talking up a storm. He's started expressing his emotions ("Oliver mad at Mommy" or "Oliver upset" or my favorite, "Everybody happy!"), and it's nice that he can say these things now instead of just crying when frustrated (although he does that, too). But it's just a wild show to see how he's growing and developing. Elliot is doing great at 5 weeks. He has more alert time each day. He's gotten interested in focusing on our faces and staring at objects in his room. He has a wicked diaper rash that just won't go away, but it doesn't seem to bother his easy-going disposition. Oliver is very good with Elliot, and he recently told me, "Oliver and Baby, good friends." Here are some January photos...
Jan. 5: Mellow Fellow
Our sweet Elliot is a very calm and mellow little dude. We really hope he stays this way. He's such a sweet and lovely little baby. He's been eating like a champ and gaining weight quickly (a whole pound his first week). Oliver loves him already and has started asking to "holg the baby". (We're pretty sure "holg" is a combination of "hold" and "hug".) It's very nice to see the adjustment going so well. Elliot has a new page on this website and some photos of weeks 2 & 3. Check it out...
December 2007:
Dec. 25: Happy Holidays!
Over this winter holiday season, we have not been very punctual sending cards and gifts, with baby's arrival interrupting any well-meaning plans. But please know that you are in our thoughts and wishes every day. While we love it here in TX, we are sad to be farther from family and friends. Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going in your lives. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Check out some holiday photos from our gang...
Dec. 16: Home From the Hospital
We were happy to bring Elliot home yesterday. It was great to get home, spend time with Oliver, and just start adjusting to our new family. All is going very well. Elliot is a great baby, and Oliver is a wonderful big brother. Here are a few photos of our homecoming...
Dec. 13: Elliot Benjamin Taylor Is Here!
We are so happy to announce the birth of our 2nd son, Elliot! He was born today at 12:16 p.m. after just 4 short hours of labor. He weighs 6 pounds, 13 ounces and is 19.5 inches long. He's very healthy, and we're very happy! Oliver was able to come and spend about an hour with us at the hospital, and he seems to be adjusting fine to his brother. We're happy to share a few photos of the big day: view our kodak gallery slideshow...
Dec. 12: Website Changes
There's nothing like deciding the night before we go to the hospital that we need a new website. But I didn't want to post all of the details about new baby on Oliver's page. Eventually, we will update this as our family website. I am going to attempt to continue Oliver's baby blog until he's two, and I'd like to do at least a little site for new baby. But I think it will make the most sense to keep this one site as the go-to page for anything related to our family. So bear with us as we build it out and finish it up in the near future. - Heidi
