Trouble with a Capital "T"

It's official - we have a troublemaker on our hands!  My sweet little baby boy has become a curious, stubborn toddler.  It's frustrating sometimes, but there have definitely been times when I have to try not to laugh while trying to explain to him why he shouldn't get into something or another.

For example, his new favorite play area is the doggy door in the half-bath downstairs.  It took him a while, but he has finally learned to climb all the way out of the door and back in.  He has the most fun crawling out of the doggy door and running around to the back door to peer in through the glass.  He will wait until we open the door then go running back to the doggy door to crawl back inside, giggling all the way. 

Look how fun it is to play with the doggy door!

 Almost there...Hi Max!

He's also gotten tall enough to open door handles and drawers that used to be out of reach.  I guess we have to move to the next level of baby proofing.

Not quite tall enough to see inside, but I can feel all the cool things in this drawer!

He's also a whirlwind on the playground.  He loves the slides and the swings and watches in awe everything the older kids can do.  A few days ago he ran straight into an older kid spinning on some piece of the jungle gym and got a nice big bruise on his forehead.  Luckily, Daddy was there for that one - Mommy doesn't handle injuries very well.  I'm already dreading that first trip to the emergency room that I know is coming sooner or later.

 

I can also tell that the terrible twos are not too far away - I think they are headed our way much earlier than Jack's second birthday, if they haven't arrived already.  I'm not sure where he picked it up, but his favorite word of the week has become "no."  He says it very matter-of-factly when you ask him to do something he doesn't want to do, which as become fairly regularly.

Finally, he threw his first all-out temper tantrum today.  I think that part of his distress is the first year molars that are coming in, but when I told him I couldn't sit with him any longer because I had to get ready for work he was having none of it.  He turned bright red, wailed and tried everything he could to get my attention.  He acted like he wanted to be picked up, but would have none of it when I tried to pick him up, acted like he wanted to go upstairs, but slammed the baby gate shut when I opened it.  He was finally comforted enough to be able to go to daycare by getting his puppy and blanket from his crib, which of course then had to go to daycare with us.  Poor baby!  I'm really hoping the tantrum phase is short-lived because they are very hard on Mommy!

Wish us luck and stay tuned for more mischief, I'm sure!

A Wonderful Hill Country Wedding

As I mentioned in my last post, regardless of how busy my busy season may have been, I wouldn't have missed Jeff and Sarah's wedding for anything.  Tommy, Jack, and I headed to Austin early Friday afternoon on the last weekend in February.  I had my computer in my lap on the way to and from Austin and for a few hours in the hotel room, but that's all I'll say about work - I have a beautiful wedding to talk about!

Of course, we hit Austin right in the middle of Friday rush hour traffic and I was afraid we might not make it in time for the rehearsal dinner.  Fortunately, we arrived at the Omni Austin Southpark just in time to change clothes and head downstairs to dinner.  Mrs. Broome planned a lovely evening and the little touches she thought of, right down to goldfish crackers in Jack's favor bag instead of chocolates, made everyone feel as if she thought of them all individually while planning.  Dinner and toasts didn't finish until after 10pm and I was afraid that Jack would have melted into full tantrum mode by then, but he was a happy guy, playing with Logan Broome (who we finally got to meet!) and all the extra favor bags in the back of the room.  Everyone commented on how good he was - he sure had them fooled!

We got a late start on Saturday morning (even Jack slept until 9), but as soon as we got up, of course, we headed to Trudy's for brunch.  As usual, Tommy had migas and a bloody mary, while I branched out and had some delicious cinnamon pecan french toast.  Any hope I had of Jack eating anything healthly went right out the door the minute I made the unfortunate mistake of giving him a bite of my meal.  Oh well, I don't blame him, it was yummy.

After a little bit of rest at the hotel, it was finally time to get ready for the big event.  Since it was such a special occasion, we dressed Jack in his first ever suit, complete with a vest and tie.  Even if I am his mother, I must admit he looked adorable.  Tommy was serving as an usher, so Jack and I had a little time at the pre-wedding cocktail hour to relax with Grandma and Grandpa, who made the trip up from Boerne for the wedding.  Here are a couple of photos:

(Mommy and handsome Jack) 

 (hanging out with Grandpa)

 (...and Grandma)

 (finally, a quick one of Tommy and I before the ceremony began)

(thanks to Grandpa for hanging out with Jack before, after, and especially during the cermony!)

The wedding venue was beautiful, the Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas.  Although the morning had been a little dreary and cloudy, the clouds parted just in time for the ceremony and a beautiful sunset over the hill country.  The cermony was so real and genuine, you could just tell you were seeing two people madly in love.  Congrats, guys!

From there, we moved inside for dinner and dancing.  The food was delicious - I especially loved the homemade salsa and tamales made by Sarah's grandmothers - such a personal touch.  Jack loved his chicken fingers, complete with ketchup:

Tommy got some really good pictures of many of our friends who were at the wedding - here are the ones that actually came out:

 (Jonathan and Caroline)

 (Bryan and Allison)

 (Chris and Courtney)

( Jeff's brother Matt and his wife, Lee-Ann)

 (Jeff's youngest brother, Chris, and girlfriend, Melissa - these 2 both caught the garter and bouquet - do we have another wedding to look forward to.....?)

 (the ever-cool Greg Clark)

 I love this picture - very "Michael."  He was missing Kara and Liam, who were under the weather and couldn't make it.  We missed them, too.  I was so looking forward to finally meeting little Liam and seeing Kara again.  Soon, hopefully!

Then, of course, it was time for dancing - don't they look blissfully happy!?!

 The beautiful bride and her father....

 Jeff and his wonderful Mom - you could just feel the love she has for all of her sons, especially Jeff on this night.  Yes, I cried.

After that, the dancing began.  Despite the late hour, Jack was a dancing machine!  I wish I had video, or at least pictures because it was just about the cutest thing I've ever seen.  Needless to say, he passed out in the car on the way home as soon as he touched the carseat.  We had a wonderful night.

(for anyone who might be interested, we have a few more photos here)

Congratulations Sarah and Jeff!  We are so happy we could be there to share this day with you!  We love you guys!!

Emerging...

Hi there.  It's me, Audra.  Do you remember me?  Earlier this week, my client finally filed all of it's financial statements, so I have emerged from what was without a doubt the most difficult busy season I've experienced in my almost 10 years at Deloitte.  Over the past 3 months, I have averaged over 70 hours of work a week, with the past few weeks nearing 90.  When we finally finished on Monday, I had been at work for 31 hours straight.  Too much?  Yes.  Exhausted?  Without a doubt.  I've spent the past few days recovering and I'm looking forward to some much needed down time with my hubby and baby boy.  This weekend, I think we're heading to the zoo!

Needless to say, not a lot other than work has happened over the past few months, but I do have a few pictures to share.  January was not a healthy month for Tommy and I.  Both of us managed to have food poisoning/flu twice and nasty colds that lasted much of the month.  I managed to throw up at work, not once, but twice, in the hallway and in the lobby.  I have never had food poisoning before and I never want to have it again.  It is nasty stuff.

Anyway, some fun things did happen.  Tommy took a lovely ski trip to Canada with some friends.  I worked.  Jack spent a week at the farm in Louisiana with Poppy and Gigi.  Again, I worked.  I did get to spend a lovely Saturday afternoon with a group of other moms who also work at Deloitte.  When things are as crazy as they have been lately, it is good to know I am not alone in my struggles.  While we were there, Jack managed to break the head off of a wooden duck and teach all of the younger kids how fun it was to climb up stairs.  Oh well.  :)  Here are a couple of photos from the day.   

While Tommy was out of town, Poppy and Gigi were nice enough to take Jack to the farm for the week so I could focus on work.  It was the first time I had been away from my little guy for more than a day, so it was hard for me, but I don't know how I would have managed otherwise.  They rode the tractor, fed the animals, played with Buck, Maybel and cousin Jacob and had all kinds of fun:

 

 

And here are a couple of photos of Jack in his Buzz Lightyear PJs from Poppy and Gigi, just because I love the pictures:

 February was another busy month, and meant yet another out of town trip for Tommy, this time for work.  This time, we were lucky enough to get a visit from Grandma for the week to help Mommy out.  Grandma was wonderful, cooking and cleaning for Mommy and taking care of Jack.  She even got to spend some time at daycare hanging out with Jack and his friends.  Thanks so much, Mom, I couldn't have made it without you!

 

We had several snow days in Dallas in January and February this year.  Not nearly like Connecticut snow days, but enough to ice over the entire highway system in Dallas and make it virtually undriveable for an entire week.  I still worked from home, but I was able to steal a few minutes for some fun in the snow with my boys.  This wasn't Jack's first time to see snow, but it was his first time to be able to play in it.  I wasn't sure he would like it, but he had fun, especially when he learned that you were able to turn snow into his favorite thing, a ball!  I absolutely love the pictures:

Also in February, I was lucky enough to be able to take a weekend break from work to be able to head to Austin for Jeff and Sarah's wedding.  Jeff is one of Tommy's and my oldest friends, so we wouldn't have missed this day for anything.  The wedding was a ton of fun - it was great seeing everyone, and seeing Jeff so happy.  We have plenty of pictures, but I think such a special occasion deserves its own post, so stay tuned!

We've also had many new lives to celebrate in the past 3 months.  I've meant to send out wedding and baby presents to everyone and I promise that will happen soon, but for now, congrats are in order for everyone: our friends in Connecticut, Stephanie, Doug and Ethan for the addition of Mason Grimes in January; our friends in Houston Catherine and Jeff on the birth Alexandre in February; Tommy's cousin Brennan and his girlfriend Meredith on the arrival of Noah Scott in March and Tommy's other cousin Kristi and her husband Michael on the birth of Murphy Elizabeth just a few days after Noah.  Finally, a girl in the Mhire family!  We can't wait to meet and cuddle each one of these precious babies!

Jack had his fifteen month checkup while Grandma was here and everything looked great.  His stats have stayed steady:  height: 31 inches (50th percentile), weight: 23.1 pounds (30th percentile), head:18.75 inches (75th percentile) - he's been eating everything in sight since then, though, and I'm pretty sure had a little growth spurt.  Our little man is into everything now.  If you turn your head for a second, you'll find him opening the door to some room he isn't supposed to be in, or pulling toilet paper off the roll and putting it into the toilet.  He loves all transportation (especially trucks and buses) and all animals (especially dogs).  He excitedly points out every large truck as we are driving down the road and whenever we see a bus, he rolls his hands in the "round and round" motion.  He points out all airplanes and birds in the sky. 

His vocabulary is exploding - a few of his favorites are "Mama," "Daddy," "Max"(doesn't really say the x, so more like "Ma"), "Owwberr," (hard to spell, but that's how he says Albert), "nana," (for banana), "more," "truck," "book," "ball," "bye-bye," and "dada," (strangely enough, that means "that," so he points at everything and says dada).  He gives the best hugs and kisses and loves to bring a book to you and sit in your lap for storytime - the Little Blue Truck book from Grandma and Grandpa is currently the book of choice.  He is inquisitive and loves to explore and study things to find out how they work.  He has a mind of his own and does not like to be told to do anything other than what he wants to be doing.  When you do scold him, in return, you get either the pouty, sad bottom lip or the glare of death (my mom says that's karma to me for all the times I gave the same look to her!).  He's such a happy little guy and we're loving watching him grow and learn!

So that's the update from Frisco.  Hopefully, I'll be able to write more frequently now.  Love and miss you all!