Dinosaurs!

After a few days of ice, things finally warmed up here. When I say warmed up, I am talking 70 degrees. It was a gorgeous cloudless day, so we decided to head out to the Heard Museum to see the dinosaur exhibit. I wasn't sure what Matthew was going to think. I figured we accomplished three things - 1) expose Matthew to something new 2) get to enjoy a beautiful day 3) get in a little exercise walking the nature trails.

Matthew was having a tough time napping today, so when we got to the museum, he was just starting to wake up from his nap in the car. As a result, he was not really into the first few dinos. These things are pretty cool. They're moving, talking (noise making anyway) dinosaurs. When we got Matthew out to get a closer look, we had another Santa Claus experience - he didn't want to be anywhere near these things. After nearing near a few, he calmed down toward the end and would actually look a the dinos, which he wouldn't do at the beginning. Then again - maybe it was the kids he was into.

This is a really cute little preserve in McKinney. After checking out the dino trail we went and looked as some exotic animals. We saw wombats and lemurs and a porcupine. All kinds of stuff! I am sure that we'll be going back as Matthew gets older!

Matthew doesn't even want to look at the dinosaurs!

Freaking out

Matthew is clinging to Marvin for dear life - while funny, I felt bad for terrorizing him so much


By this time, Matthew was enjoying himself - he was looking around so much it was tough to get him to look in the camera
Having fun checking out the animals

As we left, Matthew was comfortable enough to sit on this dinosaur - I guess its just about timing.

Snow Day

The weather hear just can't seem to make up its mind. One day it's 80 degrees and the next in the 40s. I attribute mother nature for getting me sick. Today got me thinking about winter as a child. If there was even a promise of snow or ice we were glued to the TV waiting to see Pflugerville ISD flash across the screen. My how times have changed.

I woke up this morning HOPING AND PRAYING that Plano had school today. Our preschool follows Plano in terms of determining when they close their school. Anyway - Marvin and I are both so overloaded with work that neither of us could afford to take a day off. (Awful parenting huh. I mean where are our priorities - I guess its putting a roof over our head and food on the table.) So off Matthew goes to school. I am working and planning on leaving early to avoid any bad traffic, but wasn't planning to go home until 4pm after all my meetings. At 11:45am a co-worker stops by to ask if we can move a meeting because his kids school was closing at 12:30pm. Not 2 minutes later I get the call I was dreading - you need to pick up Matthew by 12:30pm, we're closing. I quickly shoot off emails and race to the school. I show up in time, only to find him down for his nap. I was thinking to myself if only he could sleep most of the afternoon, I'd be good. I could be on all my conference calls and focus on Matthew after he wakes up. What are the chances - if he went to sleep at noon - that he would sleep until 4pm??? Thankfully my sweet boy knows I am trying as hard as I can. I was able to get him in his coat and out of his classroom with him asleep, but as soon as he felt the cold air on his face, he was awake. When we got home we rocked and listened to soothing music for about 30 minutes. That 30 minutes must have been just enough. Matthew slept until 3:35 and my last conference call ended at 3:45pm! How lucky am I to have an adorable little angel who knows just what I need.

Here's to tomorrow and what should be another snow day - tomorrow is Marvin's turn. :)




As part of Matthew's snow day, he decided to explore where no little boy has gone before - the Szeto Tupperware cabinet. Check out the video to see him in action!

See Matthew!

Matthew's 9 month pictures are posted to his photographer's website. You can check them out at www.rinkphoto.com. When you get to the site, click on client proofing - our password is amy4. As I said before - Matthew didn't have the best of days, but we still got some great shots of our sweet little boy!

Let us know which one is your favorite!

I wish it didn't have to come to an end

Oops - I never posted this note. See what mommy-hood brings. A fun post of a great weekend. I'll update with photos shortly.

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What an incredible week/weekend we've had. Though I am officially better, Marvin is now coming down with the crud. I guess it has to make its rounds. Thankfully Matthew seems to be fairing ok with a little bit of a runny nose. That didn't stop us this weekend though!

Matthew got to go to his first bounce house birthday party! Kailey (daughter of our friends Rennison and Wendy)turned 5 and celebrated at Pump it Up! Rennison and Wendy live in Fort Worth, so we don't get to see them very often. What better an occasion to get together and say hi. Matthew - much to our surprise - loved Pump it Up! He enjoyed crawling around the bounce houses, but really liked the obstacle course. Crawling through the tubes was his favorite activity. Check out the pure joy on his face. :)




Today was Martin Luther King Day. Though Marvin and I have to work, Matthew's school was closed for the day. Mimi and Granddad came up to watch Matthew so we could get in a full day's work. I am sure Matthew wasn't too disappointed in the arrangement - heck - wouldn't you love having two people completely, 100% dedicated to making you happy. :)

Sniff sniff

This is one week that I am so glad to see behind me. I caught a good, old fashioned virus. Fever, congestion, cough - the works. I was so thankful that Matthew goes to school. I had a day where I could rest and work to get myself well. My hats are off to all my stay-at-home mom friends. We all know what you do is amazing. I can't imagine doing it in the condition I was in this past week.

Thankfully I am putting that behind me. Because I wasn't feeling well, we tried to take it easy this weekend, though we did take Matthew to get his 9 month pictures taken. Matthew is starting to suffer from separation anxiety, so while we were right next to him, it was tough to get a picture with a smile. Karey is a wonderful photographer though and assured us that we did get a few good shots. I am sure there were more than a few because I always end up purchasing a ton of pictures.

I know we did get a few of him crying, and I may have to purchase one of those for Matthew's baby book - as a reminder that everything isn't always smiles and doesn't necessarily go smoothly. Growing up is hard work. :) Thankfully Matthew is about as sweet a kid as one could hope for and is being relatively easy breaking us in as parents.

The photo shoot was so exhausting for Matthew that he slept in the car on the way home. We figured that would be the case, but what we didn't count on was him falling asleep mid-snack.

Check out the animal cracker. :)

Happy Anniversary and Happy New Year

Wow - how time flies. I can't believe it was only two years ago when I got to marry the most incredible and supportive man in the world. I consider myself blessed that Marvin puts up with me everyday! We've had a very exciting year and took some time for just the two of us to have dinner. What a lovely evening out.

Marvin and Me at dinner

Here's to an incredible 3rd year together.


Right before New Years, Matthew had is nine month check up. He's 20lb 8oz, 281/2 inches long, putting him right at the 50% on the growth charts. It's funny because everyone always comments on how big Matthew is. I guess looks can be deceiving.

To ring in the new year, we headed over to Tricia and Chad's house. Matthew got to play with Carson before it was Carson's bedtime. They are so cute together. While both Carson and Matthew go to bed at 8pm, Matthew didn't want to miss out on the party. He stayed up to ring in the new year - thankfully he also slept in the next day!!!

Matthew and Carson celebrating New Years Eve


New Years Day - Football and Goldfish. We'll introduce bar food later. :)


Marvin and I are looking forward to a very exciting and eventful 2009. We don't know what is ahead, but are sure that we'll be enjoying it as a family. Best of luck to everyone this year.


Cute picture from the park - it was 70-something degrees. We couldn't pass it up!

Mandy Meets Matthew

We had the pleasure of having Mandy visit us in Dallas for a few days after Christmas. It was great to extend the Christmas season and spend time with Marvin's family. This was Mandy's first time to meet Matthew and they hit it off great! Matthew really took to Mandy and they became fast friends.

While Mandy was here, Judy, Darrell and Riley came over to visit and open Christmas gifts. How much fun having two kids getting into the excitement. We tried to get a picture of the three cousins together, but with two kids under two, this was the best we did! (There were internal errors loading pictures - I'll add as soon as I can.)

Matthew and Mandy opening Christmas gifts

Szeto family grandchildren born in Texas are together - a little tough to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time, but we're all together!

We took the next day to do a little post-holiday shopping at the mall and to see the train exhibit. Matthew was is awe. It was so cute. He was mesmerized by the trains.
Marvin, Mandy and Matthew getting ready to see the trains.

As you will see in the pictures, Matthew never looks at the camera, he is always look at - or looking for - the trains!











Mandy's whole visit was pretty low-key, but was so enjoyable. We loved the time we got to spend together. We also liked having Mandy around as she helped us to break in our Wii. Who knew tight rope walking and hula hooping would be so much fun!

Mandy is an expert yogi!

Playing skee ball

Matthew and Mandy before we go to lunch

Uncle and niece - awe aren't they sweet!!!