Bangs, bows, and swings

It seems like Landry's little bangs grew in overnight.  She's also graduated from headbands to big girl bows.  So far, she doesn't try to pull them out so I'm milking this stage as long as I can!

This week we had a lot of fun.  On Wednesday I took her to lunch with my friend Nicolette and her eight month old son Henry.  The weather was beautiful so we sat on a patio.  Landry was in awe of the little guy and loved staring at him.  It's so fun to watch her interact with other little ones, even if it's just smiling or trying to touch their face.

Afterwards I took her on a few errands around town before meeting up with Paula and the twins for another play date.  From my car's trunk to store counters, she just hangs out and joins me like a big girl.  She's so well behaved people can't believe it.  I am so lucky she is such a pal and doesn't really fuss.  I never saw her lack of napping as a benefit but during days we're on the go (or when talking to friends stuck to really strict schedules) I realize what a blessing it actually is.

Landry had so much fun with Charlie and Gabriella.  The more they hang out, the more fun they have together.  At one point Landry put her arm around Gabriella as they played with a toy.  Paula and I were melting!

Yesterday I took her to lunch with my friend Kari who is due in late May with a little boy.  She's house hunting and I took her to see a home that the team that remodeled our house recently completed.  Although it's a great place, we're hoping they find a place closer to us so the kiddos can all run around together.  Her sister is one street over and due in July with a little one so it could be one, big, fat, block party around here soon!

Last night we had dinner at our friends' house that have five kiddos, the youngest being two months younger than Landry.  We brought along the peanut and she hung out in the playroom with Joanne's kids all night while the adults had dinner and wine.  We were there until 10 p.m. and Landry didn't even yawn once!  We have a real rock star on our hands.  Luckily when we got home she took a bottle and went down quickly.

Our night wasn't the smoothest.  She woke up a couple times with the sniffles.  It seems the downside from play dates and park outings will be the germs she takes home from them.  But, the socializing for an only child is well worth it in my book.  Plus, she is so happy around other kids.  It's such a pleasure to watch!

This weekend we're going to show Bradley around town a bit and tonight we have a date night with friends (it's Bradley first official babysitting gig).  Lord help him if there's a poopy diaper!

We've had a lot of fun hanging out with him over the past three weeks.  He's been a huge help and it's so nice having some family around.

Happy weekend!

Play date fun

This week Landry and I had several play dates.

Wednesday we met with Ari and Leila for breakfast and a little shopping at the mall.  We found the girls some really cute things at Gap Baby (I got Landry the cutest little top with an embroidered necklace on the collar and winter white knit sweater).

Yesterday I met some friends for lunch and Landry joined us.  She was the perfect date!  We sat for nearly three hours catching up and Landry just hung out like a big girl!

Afterwards she and I headed to Paula's house to play with Charlie and Gabriella.  After some time toying around at the house, we walked to a nearby park and let the kiddos swing.  Landry loved it!

She has always giggled when wind hits her face so this had the laughing on overload.  It was so fun to watch them smile and interact with each other!  See pix below.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

The curls are coming!

Baby Enstein time post bath

See the curls?!

Daddy's girls

Still loves to stick out her tongue

Happy girl trying to steal my iPhone

Uncle Bradley's here!  P.S. Those are my newly installed vintage glass and mirrored pendants.  I'm obsessed!

Little flower girl.

Our sweet ladybug turned ten months old yesterday.  As it turned out, we celebrated with her little friends all weekend starting with Owen and Hadley -- Kyle and Lindsey's little ones -- Friday night with dinner at the house.

Friday was a gorgeous warm day and night and we took advantage with a last minute dinner outside in the cabana.  Lindsey and I met for happy hour to catch up and decided to get the entire gang together after for a casual dinner.  The kids came over and had so much fun.  After dinner while the parents hung out, they all huddled into a bedroom and watched a movie.  It's so fun to see them grow up together.

During the day, Landry and I took my brother Bradley on a tour of Dallas.  Last week he drove 1400 miles from California and moved into our back apartment until he gets settled here.  We are just thrilled to have him in town!  We showed him fun pockets around town and took him to a killer new barbecue place for lunch.  I think he's really going to like it here once he finds his groove.

Last week he had his third interview with a financial firm and our fingers are crossed that it will work out for him.  It's been so fun to have him a few steps away and he's been a big help with the baby.  Michael is really enjoying having him here, too (he has no brothers of his own).  Last Sunday he showed him some local watering holes and they watched the game from one of his favorites.  

I've also really enjoyed his big, black, Texan truck!  He traded in his Mercedes for a bigger set of wheels and they've arrived here just in time for one of my 2013 resolutions: complete projects on the house.  He's already picked up and delivered several items for me to reupholster, sell, etc.  Plus, his extra set of muscles has been invaluable.

Landry turned ten months yesterday.  We had lunch with our friends Clay and Diana and their nine month old daughter.  They are so close in age yet so far apart in development.  Landry is a little lazy ladybug!  Abbie holds her own bottle and has a mouth full of teeth!  Landry still has no teeth and would much rather mommy or daddy (or a stranger, for that matter) hold her bottle.  But she's growing like a weed!  Yesterday she was in 12-18 month old pants.  

She's also a chatter box.  She makes the cutest sounds while talking to herself all day long.  She also gets a good case of the giggles at least a few times a day.  She's really changed her eating habits, too.  Yesterday she ate half an avocado, an entire banana, three big bowls of homemade baby food, and a pack of dissolving veggie crackers on top of her formula.  She doesn't seem to be putting on any weight (maybe she has her daddy's metabolism) but I'm expecting her to get some rolls with this new found avocado love.  She's clearly a California girl :)

Michael's favorite development, though, are the curls.  Landry is starting to get little white blond flips on the back of her head.  They are so cute!  They aren't tight curls but look like they will be soft, messy, wavy curls.  It's most fun to see how much he loves seeing them (especially in the morning when she has bed head).  

Last weekend we had dinner with our friends Kari and Troy and we found out they are having a little boy in May.  Last month we also found out her sister Kim is having a baby in July, and they are fairly certain it's a girl.  Between them, Gigi, Morgan, and several other of my friends (three of which are due next week!) there will be tons of babies in 2013.  Landry is going to be one social butterfly!

It's crazy, but one of the most common questions I've been asked in the last couple months is when we'll be expecting another one.  Given Landry was a very happy surprise, I don't know what trying will be like for us.  A few things need to be figured out early this year -- mostly the expansion of the flea, which is well underway and I should have some very big news soon -- to know what makes the most sense for our family.  But, I definitely see another in the nest before Michael turns 40, which is August 2014, if we are as blessed the second time around with another easy pregnancy.

Last week I made a major decision to stay home with Landry on Wednesdays in addition to our Friday girl's day.  I was having lunch with Paula recently and we made plans to do more walks, more baby dates, and fun outings around town on a weekly basis.  I'm actually relieved to let go of a little work and have more fun with the peanut.  This stage is so fun and I don't want to miss out.  

Speaking of work, last weekend the Dallas Morning News ran  my travel log from our trip to Marrakesh.  My editor asked me before we left to take photos and bring back tips for people wanting to travel there.  There's been so much buzz around Moroccan decor that she wanted a local's perspective.  The story was a huge hit!  I received tons of reader feedback/emails on shopping specifics, places to stay, and even a fun recollection of an army vet's (from Florida, no less) trip there with his wife in the 70s.  It's moments like these that make it hard for me to quit writing freelance.  

At this point, it's not so much a financial motivation (although the decorating money is fab) but the joy it brings to myself and/or readers.  Plus, I think about the day newspapers are gone or entirely online and how cool it will be to show my kids and grand kids my clips.  It feels like I'm part of something historical, as cheesy as that sounds.  That said, I have cut back writing for the DMN and have also stopped writing for StrollerTraffic full time.  I found a friend to take on the bulk of stories for the site and now just write when I find something I really love for them.

With the teensy bit of extra free time I'm wrapping up a decorating client and really working on the flea 2013 in addition to spending quality time with the family.  The pace feels really good.  So far, 2013 is off to a great start.