January/February Videos

Here is a little "movie" compilation of the recent videos I've taken with my phone.  These are almost all of Dax- much to my humiliation, you will see I was constantly attempting to get him to show me his wave, kisses, or clapping.  Please tune me out!  I'll work on getting some Ada-Bug videos up soon!  She's cute, too.


If the movie isn't embedding properly- you can find it on YouTube here. :)

Nude Runaways

Dax is taking a quick afternoon catnap.

I'm preparing dinner.  

(Baked chicken strips with whole wheat breading from scratch, in case you were wondering.  Out of the ordinary lately.)

I realize it's a little too quiet for my liking.

I notice sunlight streaming into our hallway- which has no windows.

The back door is gaping open.

The 3 year old and dog are gone.

This is what I walked out to find-

Dax- 11 months

Last monster photo shoot before my little man turns 1.  Oh, I can feel my heart breaking as I write that!  I love everything about him at every stage, but I just cannot believe his first "baby" year is over.  I feel like I missed it- where did it go!?  I'll save the mushy, sentimental, pity party stuff for next month's 1 year old sob story (just kidding, it'll be happy!)... and let's get to the cute stuff!

Dax says a few words loud, clear, and deliberately- in addition to Mama, Dada, and Ada- he has added "dog" and "no-no" (nah-nah)... he tells himself no-no, he tells us no-no, and he chants it as he crawls around.  It's definitely his favorite word.  Awesome.

He is so on the verge of walking.  In fact, he *thinks* he can walk.  He gets nervous the minute he realizes he's on his own and decides to crawl or grab a secure object.  But he sure wants down to walk the minute he's up in your arms.  He "walked" all through Lowe's the other day- much to my back's discomfort!

He eats like a horse- anything solid and real.  He just about refuses to let you feed him anything.  And you have about 4 minutes to get an entire meal down his throat.  Then he's up, turned around, and attempting to crawl out of his high chair.  He's totally a climber.

He blows kisses.  He waves "hi" and "bye".  He dances like a maniac.  He claps his hands at every chance he gets- so you can imagine how much he loves "If You're Happy and You Know It".  He seriously attempts the motions of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"- he gets somewhat close with the first one (the spider crawling up the water spout)- but the rest just becomes clapping.

I love him to pieces- and here are our shots from the 11 month monster photo shoot!  

(I have quite a few cute videos of this month- I will cute and merge and do some other video-like things to them, and post very soon!)

What are you up to, mister!? 

His "toy" of the moment was his bottle of antibiotics.  Which is fitting for this 11 month monster photo shoot, since he was on antibiotics for ear infections basically the entire month!

Squawking.

Almost walking!

Just a little nervous to let go... but have no fear, Murphy's near! :)

Casey's Student Loan- Check!

A year ago we paid our car off a few years early... and today, we sent in our last chunk towards Casey's student loan!  Mine is a little smaller, and the next to go. Then our only debt will be the house- which we could never feasibly pay off early!  Boring post, but a "Daily Dowell" worthy one nonetheless!  :)

Cancun 2012

Casey and I just returned from a 4 day vacay to Sunny Cancun!  

It was amazing.  Casey actually earned this all-expense paid vacation from his company (Aerotek) for being a total bad ass.  And let me tell you, no expense was spared.  We discussed repeatedly how we could never go on a vacation like this on our own dime.  Seriously. Mind blowing.  

(Let's put it this way- our room in the hotel where we were placed was 2 doors down from a Government official's suite, who had to have 24 hour security posted at his/her door!  Oh, and I'm pretty sure there was a Cartel member there.  I saw him.  To whack the government official perhaps?  These are the fantasies that are dreamed up as I lay drinking and napping on a beach.)

Instead of posting pictures in my usual boring, strict chronological order- I'm going to post my favorite pictures from the highlights of our trip first, saving the random photos no one really cares about for the end.  :)

How many attempts does it take a drunk photographer and 2 drunk subjects to get a decent picture at dinner?

5th Attempt- we'll take it!

We took a "Jungle Tour/Snorkeling" excursion- it was SO fun!  We all got our own little speed boat, traveled through the canals, and then snorkeled at the coral reef off of the coast!

Follow the leader!

Mangroves along the canal- this picture is for Kendra!!

An old shipwreck statue at the bottom of the area where we snorkeled.

Sexy!

Those were the highlights of the trip.  Much of the time I spent napping, eating, drinking, or just lounging on the beach- of which I did not take great pictures.  Here are the rest of my randoms!

Ada and Dax had gift boxes filled with strategically planned presents to receive throughout our time away to ensure their (Ada's!) best behavior!  A BIG shout-out to MorMor, Geneva, and MiMi for helping us out tremendously with the kids!!

Room service ordered one morning.  It arrived after Casey'd already left to golf- the waiter could not help but give me the evil eye for ordering enough food for 3 people for my one person!

Yep. That's my pump.  We had a date every 4-5 hours the entire trip.  It wasn't nearly as much of a nuisance as I'd anticipated- and Dax ended up having 20+ ounces left over at home after it was all said and done!  All of those months of worry and extra pumping sessions paid off! :)

One afternoon, while standing in a circle and socializing- we looked down and realized we'd all pushed the sand into a large mound.  This even larger mound happened after that realization.  :)  Even later in the day, this large mound became a 2- humped mound that resembled a butt.

All of the people from Houston (with their dates) on the way to dinner on Thursday night- my flash was off AND the lady must have had a shaky hand! Oh well- we'll call it artsy.

Casey's DBO (boss!)- Nathan.

Typical dinner behavior.  Mind you- this is not a cheap restaurant!  

Dinner picture!

Wade and his date Casey

Me. In a sombrero.  Being serenaded by a Mariachi.

Casey's account manager when he was a recruiter almost 5 years ago!

This picture is per Casey's request.  He wanted to caption it "The last sound heard on the last night in Cancun: UUUUHHHGGGGHHHH."  {This was after two of those HUGE margaritas and 2? 3? Tequila shots. Sick.}

Chad and Crystal Collins- they just had a baby!

We were booked to fly first class on the flight home!  It was such a pleasant surprise.
{mobile picture- sorry for the quality!}

As amazing as the vacation was- it has never felt so good to come home to these 2 sweet peas!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I made the kids' Valentines for their class parties tomorrow- and I'm so excited about how they came out!  I got most of the ideas off of Pinterest.  

And, can I say, I'm loving Photoshop?  I'm still a little slow-poke at it, but adore it nonetheless. 

Attached to a cute baggie of gummy bears for the 3 year olds.

Attached to a cute baggie of teddy grahams, for the babes.

Attached to gift cards to the-best-place-on-Earth for Ada's teachers.

Also attached to Starbucks gift cards for Dax's teachers.

And this one is for YOU!  Happy Valentine's Day, from Us!  We love you all!

Fall 2011 School Pictures

I just broke the cardinal rule of "professional photography"- I scanned in the kids' school pictures from this past fall without consent.  And you can plainly see why I HAD to do it- I want to have these for my viewing pleasure for many years past what the cheap prints last!!  They are to die for:

Ada- 3

Dax- 6 months {The photographer requested that the kids wear a cute hat or large bow.  I sent this one on purpose, but they told me the photog almost didn't use it out of fear I'd be mad!  I guess some people don't get me...}

Sweet Sister and Adorable Brother

{These were taken at the end of September- I am just now getting around to scanning them in, because I am just now getting around to learning how to scan things in in our new printer!}

Undressing and Undressed

Your eyes do not deceive you- Dax's daily report card does, in fact, say his mood today was "silly and happy.  Dax had a great day today, and enjoyed taking his pants off." 

His teachers said at nap time Dax kept pulling his pants down over his diaper, shimmying them off, and tossing them in his friends Zane's and Sam's cribs next to his.  And cracking himself up in the process!

 Speaking of no pants-

I'm dying over this chubby tush!  I can't decide if "the camera doesn't lie" or "the camera adds 15 lbs"- because he doesn't seem THIS chubby to me in real life!

 Speaking of bathtime-

He kept putting his face in the bubbles tonight and giving himself a Santa beard.  He'd already wiped a lot of it off by the time we got out and got the camera, but you get the idea!  He thought he was pret-ty clever.

Ummmmm. I love you.

And yet another leftover play scenario of Ada's.  Ha!