Bluebonnets

I am learning - just because I want to do something, it doesn't necessarily mean that my family (i.e. Matthew) wants to do something. We got great pictures of Matthew in the bluebonnets last year, but it was so easy then. He was a few weeks old and all you had to do was lay him down on this blanket and shoot away. In fact, I think he slept through most of it last year. This year we went out right after a nap thinking he would be nice and refreshed. While he would sit, we had a really tough time coaxing a smile. I am sure next year won't be much easier, but I'll still try!

Enjoy the pics.




Best of the bunch - best picture of Matthew that is, but we definitely
found some better flower patches later

Birthdays and Easter

Where has time gone. I am a bit negligent here, but wanted to do the big birthday update! So you saw the day of birthday post. Matthew's birthday was in the middle of the week, so we were low-key. We had dinner at Cotton Patch - down home cooking guarentees that there will be mac and cheese and other kid friendly fare just perfect for a toddler who is advancing his selection of foods beyond those that are pureed and mashed. After dinner it was home to open a few small presents and to preview the cake eating extravagaza the following Saturday by enjoying a cup cake. A very nice and enjoyable way to spend a birthday if you ask me. :)

The birthday party itself was very low key as immediate family and Matthew's best friend Carson (and his mommy and daddy) joined us to celebrate Matthew becoming one whole finger! Wow. Matthew, Carson and cousin Riley played in Matthew's play room before we opened presents and enjoyed the cake. Matthew, we learned, is not much of a sweets person. He humored Marvin when he smashed Matthew's hands into the cake. Other than that, the cake eating was rather uneventful.









The following weekend Matthew went to Carson's to celebrate his first birthday. The sports theme was awesome complete with consession stand and sports ball candy favors. We had fun playing "Carson", watching Carson open presents and enjoy his cake. I can't believe that 12 months can go by so quickly. I remember Matthew and Carson's first playdate when they were just weeks old.


I have to admit - I now understand why everyone says it only gets better. Yes those first 3 months were brutal, but all that is forgotten when you get to watch this little person run around the yard to come up to you with no intention other than to give you a hug. It's the best. :)

On to Easter....

We have a fast learner on our hands. By the time Easter rolled around Matthew had experienced a few trial Easter egg hunts. We traveled to Gainsville to celebrate Easter at Kim & Don's. We had fun catching up with everyone and Matthew had a blast showing off by getting into everything. No cabinet or room was left unexplored! The Easter bunny made his visit after lunch and thanks to all the big kids for letting him have a head start. Matthew was excited to see all the eggs, but was more enthused by all the trees! (Tree was his vocabulary word for the week at school and he had to stop and point to just about every one of them.) Matthew had a blast picking up a few eggs, but really enjoyed the opportunity to run free. It was a great visit. We look forward to next year when Matthew knows what he's doing and becomes a force with which to be reconned!

Cool Products Last Night

After having Matthew it isn't often that I get to have "me" time. Last weekend I actually made it to the salon to have a pedicure, manicure and my hair done. Wow I felt like a real person - sans the baby drool on my shirt. When I had the opportunity to attend the MetroMoms Best Products: Best & Hottest Products From Pregnancy To Preschool event I jumped at the chance. I had been trying to go for more than a year now. I tried when I was pregnant - no dice. After Matthew was born - no luck. On Wednesday I got the glorious call that someone had cancelled and my name came up on the waitlist. Did I want to go - need you ask?!?!

Unlike many women there, I didn't know a soul - so step one - meet some lovely mommies to converse with and have dinner. I met 3 fabulous moms with whom we seemed to have much in common. Funny how it just happens. Step two - get a low number so I can get a great item. Every mom there draws a number and that is the order in which you get to pick your "best and hottest" product to take home (in addition to taking home a really cool gift bag).

I don't know how they do it, but the MetroMoms get more than a hundred top baby items to give away. We are talking high end strollers, new and innovative furniture options; and even a toy or two. This event really is targeted at all age ranges and I just hoped that people in front of me would have kids that were way older - or way younger - so I could get what I wanted.

I drew my number and didn't do too bad - 32. I had gone through the items in advance and had ranked all the things I wanted - about 35 of them. I was hoping for one of the big items of course. (Who wouldn't love a $250 playhouse for the backyard!) Based on Matthew's age and current stage, I also had a number of smaller items on the list - hoping that if I got a low number at least something practical would be left - dinner set; potty; swimtop. Something. I was optimistic picking number 32 I would get one of the bigger items on my list. Stroller and Playhouse not likely, but the oh so cute P'kolino's Silly Soft Seating just might be left.

As I wait in line it seems all the ladies in front of me have 1 year olds as I watch all my choice items being picked up right before I get there. When it is my turn I had to decide - a cute backpack for my son who likes bags or a cool activity toy that I had been too cheap to purchase on my own. At the advice of all the women watching the selection process, we got the...drum roll please...Laugh & Learn™ Fun With Friends™ Musical Table.




I know that Matthew will love this. We have a number of toys from the Laugh and Learn line and every one of them has been a huge hit, so I know we can't go wrong. I got home a little late last night, so while I wanted to rush into his room and say - look what mommy got you! - I had to wait until this morning. I think this is going to be a toy we have in Mommy and Daddy's room for morning entertainment while we're getting ready for work. We haven't had it 24-hours, but so far, it's a hit!

Thank you MetroMoms! Fingers crossed I can get in for another one of these Best Products Events. To all my mommy friends out there - I highly highly recommend! It was fabulous.