memorial day weekend

We tried to compact as many things as possible into this weekend. Unfortunately we weren't able to do it all.

This is Rowan at our friend Dyung and Curt's annual memorial day party. And our good friends Myles and Bri.

The girls were tuckered out after this, so we called it a day and had Thad and Stacie come over that night to watch movies. Then the next day we went to breakfast with a bunch of people, then to a pool party and then to a BBQ.

I don't remember being so over-scheduled before I met Andre. I recall being the type to have just a few very close friends that I did the same things with all the time. Not so with Andre. His love of life and endless abundance of energy is inspiring and fun.

Our girls, I think, are fairly easy to take places and are used to being out and about.

I am inclined to think this is good for them, and certainly hope that I am right. They are our family and therefore go most places that we are. Their comfort is always a top priority, which has resulted in taking along lots of "baby gear."


If camping is trying to live like you normally do--but outdoors; then traveling with toddlers is kind of like that.

If they are going to sleep somewhere, then they always have their favorite blanket and stuffed animal (and pack in play). If they are going to be eating somewhere then they have their (travel) high chairs and any food or bottles they may need.

And always, if the girls are too tired, or cranky, to go to the next place, then we come home. Places and people must be baby-friendly. Oh and also, restaurant time must always remain short.

The benefits of this way of parenting, I believe, is that the girls get to see more of the world around them. They get to experience new places, people, and things. We are so used to taking them places that it doesn't seem like a huge ordeal to leave the house. I think they enjoy it as much as we enjoy them being there.

Wellness Checkup

The girls had their wellness checkup at the pediatrician today.

Evelyn weighs 20.1 pounds and is 29 1/4 inches tall.

Rowan weighs 22 pounds and is 30 1/2 inches long.



Both girls are growing right on track and doing well developmentally.


They had their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) shot today as well.

Our baby goals:

* We are working on getting rid of the "ba-ba" (bottle) and using "big girl cups" aka sippy cups. (Kicking the bottle is a hard habit to break.)
* We are also working on not biting--which they have greatly improved; and
* Staying seated while in the high chair.
* Both girls are talking more and both parents are getting better at understanding baby-talk.

Three Years

We celebrated our third wedding anniversary this Wednesday. Grandma watched the girls overnight and we had an evening on the town. Just two crazy kids in love on a date--except that we were both tired by 9:30 and called it an evening just after 10.

If there is anything I've learned as a divorce attorney it is that the person you marry can make your life very wonderful or very miserable. I am lucky to have the wonderful kind, and even luckier to realize how good it truly is.

That being said, we spent some time reflecting over the past year and made our "Next Year Marriage Resolution," which is sort of like a "New Year's Resolution" for your marriage. We talked about how we could make the next year better; what we need to do less of, and more of, and even--not at all; how to make the girls happier, focused on our goals, that sort of thing.

We also ate lots of good food and found some new places to take out-of-town guests. Andre, forever the foodie, had to have these donut holes from a new restaurant named Parkside. I have to admit, they are amazingly good for donuts.

Gift-wise, we forgo the suggested 3rd year anniversary gift of "crystal or glass," and instead opted for a new dish washer. Clean dishes really are romantic; or at least dirty dishes are very much not romantic.

All in all it was a great anniversary.


This is a little video from our wedding May 20, 2006, in Kyle, TX.

Inside and Out

As I was cleaning my kitchen this morning, the girls were tearing apart theirs. Cousin Sydney gave the girls her little kitchen and we've had it in the garage for a while. It rained off and on all day yesterday and the girls were very bored inside so I brought it in and set it up for them. They really love it and have spent lots of time playing with it.

I remember having a little kitchen when I was a kid and how much fun it was to play with. Its odd how many domestic toys the girls have. They have a lawn mower, a kitchen, a car, even a little house. I suppose it makes sense, kids just want to pretend to do all the things they see every day; but I couldn't help thinking how much cooler it would be to have a pretend spaceship instead.





Our favorite Sunday afternoon activity is to spend the day at the park, and today was beautiful. We took the girls to the dog park area of town lake where people let their dogs swim. There must have been at least forty dogs running, swimming, and playing. Both of the girls squealed they were so excited and several times they would walk off following one. They both say, "Da," when they see a dog, and "Ka" for cats. They are such animal lovers.


Rowan is walking so well now that she would rather walk than be held. Evey is walking really well too, but still crawls when she wants to get somewhere fast.

We walked around the city a bit too. Looked at new stores and restaurants, ate dinner, went for a coffee and just enjoyed the day as a family. We actually went to two coffee shops--Sandra Bullocks' new coffee shop and Jo's. I have to say that Jo's won. I really like Sandra Bullock and I so want her ventures to succeed, but I'm not thrilled about her restaurant or her new coffee shop.

Summertime

We've been enjoying the summer with the girls. Swimming in their kiddie pool, going to the park, and playing all the time. Evelyn has started walking and both the girls are really taking off now.











I took the morning off the other day with Andre and we all went to the park. It wasn't overly hot yet, and it was nice to get out with the girls. Time is just going by too quickly not to stop and smell the roses when I can.









We went to central market for dinner tonight. The weather was perfect for being outside and the girls had a great time playing with all the other kids on the playground.

Our Little Owls

I took this video today of the owls in our backyard. You can see into their hollow from our second story balcony. The two little babies are adorable.

Our Little Owls from Leigh on Vimeo.

Owlets

We have, what we believe is a little screech owl living in one of our oak trees in the backyard. While eating dinner outside tonight we discovered that they have a baby, an owlet.

Andre took a picture from afar, but it is difficult to see it in a photograph and we thought a flash may disturb them too much if we tried to get closer. This is a picture of a screech owl--not ours, but he looks very similar.

The little baby owl would stand on the edge of the hollow and peek out. He is so incredibly cute.

Update: There are two babies!

Hanging out at the pool

The girls enjoyed their first trip to the pool this summer in their new little inflatable kiddie pool.