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| Enjoying a messy cookie at Collin Street Bakery on the way home from the lake |
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| Saying goodbye to the duckies this afternoon. |
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| Snuggling with Barrett by the fire last night |
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| Happy hour at Casa Blue Barn |
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Paula has showered Barrett with gifts;
these cute custom bibs and booties are his latest score! |
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| Barrett's first play date with the three amigos! |
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| Landry playing in the dirt at NorthPark with her pal Henry |
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| Parents night out at the Mavs game |
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| Bradley's birthday celebration at Bob's Steakhouse while my mom was in town |
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| Sweet Barrett smiling away |
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| Nana and Grandpa brought by presents and cake to celebrate Landry's birthday back in Texas |
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My mom recently found the baby photo of me on the right.
We think I look like Barrett quite a bit! |
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| Landry's latest reading nook |
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| What traveling with two under two looks like! |
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My grandma's sweet handmade birthday gift for Landry.
Love you, Mama! |
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| Landry's best California friend came to the birthday party |
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| Eating her birthday cupcake |
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| Chilling in her beach wagon |
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| Barrett soaking up the salty sea air |
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| Helping Mimi plant flowers on the patio |
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| Teacups with the birthday girl |
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| Mimi and Papa took her on Dumbo |
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| Hello, Disneyland! |
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Barrett meets his great grandparents.
How gorgeous are my Mama and Papa? |
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| First day in California soaking up the sun on Mimi and Papa's deck |
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| Daddy teaching Landry how to play basketball |
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| .... and, how to drill. She wanted to copy Mommy :) |
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| Happy boy! |
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| Barrett's first flea market outside of the womb |
The past month has been jam-packed with activities, fun, travel and work. And yes, I'm exhausted.
I've been hammering away at several jobs that are keeping me busy around the clock. A very large project finally installs this week and I will be very happy to get some relief in my work schedule -- for a bit, anyway. This year is so slammed it's dizzying at times but I'm so grateful for the fun workload.
A couple weeks ago Michael and I both took some time off to enjoy a full week in California with the kids. Landry had "spring break" from mommy's day out during her birthday week so we figured it was a great time to celebrate her big day with family and introduce Barrett to his California clan.
I worked a bit with my Newport Beach clients but for the most part just soaked up the sun and time with my loved ones. One day my mom and I hit the Rose Bowl flea market where we scooped up several treasures. I found a few great vintage clothing items and textiles for the house.
On Landry's second birthday, we celebrated the big day at Disneyland with my parents and brother Ryan (he was in in town to take care of a visa issue so he got to meet Barrett!). Landry loved it! She was a little daredevil! She loved the teacups, Dumbo, and jungle cruise. She thought the animals were real on the jungle cruise; it was so fun to watch her little eyes light up with every turn. It was also Michael's first trip to the happiest place on earth so he and I made sure to hit a few adult rides, too.
My parents also hosted a festive birthday party for the peanut. Several of our friends and family came over to the house for food, champagne and cupcakes.
A few days of our trip we spent at the beach (Newport was having gorgeous unseasonably warm weather while we were there). Landry still loves the beach and couldn't get enough time playing in the sand. Barrett was a champ just laying in the shade (usually sleeping). Perhaps Landry's favorite part of our beach routine is walking there from my parent's house. They bought her a pimped out wagon and she thinks she's queen of Corona del Mar cruising around town in her ride with a smile ear to ear and usually a limb casually hanging over the side.
One night during our stay Michael and I retreated to the St. Regis for an adults-only staycation. It was so lovely to have a night out alone and enjoy uninterrupted sleep. Barrett is going five to six hours at night now which isn't too bad but I still miss a full night's sleep terribly. I keep crossing my fingers for the day to appear but it could be months, who knows.
He's such a good baby it's hard to complain. He has the sweetest personality laughing and smiling with any interaction you give him.
My mom flew back with us to help me take care of the kids while Michael took the following week off for a boys March Madness trip. It was so lovely to have her here. Makes me wish my parents were just down the street like my grandparents were growing up.
This weekend we took the kiddos to the lake house for our first trip as a family of four. They did great on the drive out there. Barrett was a dream the entire time. Landry loved running in the yard and looking for ducks on the water. Part of the fun is the journey to and from the lake. We made it fun by pit stopping along the way between barbecue joints, bakeries and gas station snack stops. Although we don't use the house as much as we'd like to right now (not the easiest feat with a 10 week old and crazy work schedule), it's so fabulous when we do get to go out there, unplug from city life and just enjoy quality time with the kids and each other.
Landry is changing by the minute these days. In the course of two weeks she went from saying a single word to two at a time ("let's go!") and then small phrases ("daddy, where are you?"). She conquers any toddler level puzzle you give her in two minutes tops. She counts to ten and sings a fairly good version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I can't even believe the leaps she's making lately in development. She's starting to show some interest in potty training so I think we'll start that train very soon.
Working so much, I try to make spending time with her a huge priority. This week we had two play dates before taking off for the lake. I'm also still taking her and picking her up from school each day to have that special quality time in the car with her. And I spend every waking minute possible with Barrett to soak up this baby stage figuring it's our last run. I come home for lunch every day I can to sneak in a kiss and feeding session and don't go to bed until he passes out even if I'm nearly holding my eyelids up.
I'm making a real effort to have a solid work-life balance (although I can't for the life of me find time to work out which is a huge bummer). Paula and I had a dinner date this week for some friend time and to catch up outside the office. Michael and I took Bradley and his girlfriend -- yes, he has a girlfriend and she's adorable! -- to the Mavs game for a fun weeknight out. I had so much fun that my booty shaking to "Whoop There it Is" even landed us on the jumbotron! And this weekend's lake house trip will hopefully be the beginning to many more since there is no other option than to kick back and relax.
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
