Happy Wednesday!

I am celebrating today by just posting a few cute pictures.

Missing The Guys

Update to answer a question: I finished all of the pages that I could in my scrapbook. I still have 3 pages in my travel book that I am missing pictures for and 2 pages in my wedding book.

I can't believe that I survived a whole weekend away from my sweethearts. It is not for the faint of heart, I'll tell you that.

I spent this past weekend working on scrapbooks with some other women down at a beautiful lakehouse near Houston. My sister, a scrapbooking aficionado, invited me to come down to work on my books. Since I don't own any tools for the whole scrapbooking thing, I decided that if I was ever going to finish these books (my wedding album and pre-JD travel album), then I would need to go ahead and do it.

I really enjoyed myself, visiting with other adult women, watching chick flicks and eating yummy food. It was nice to have some "me" time. I knew that JD was in capable hands with Daddy. But I still missed them like crazy!

It sounds like they had a great time, playing outside when it got a bit warmer and hanging out around the house. When I got home, JD looked happy and healthy! Daddy did such a great job! But JD did look a little different to me - slightly bigger and had some new expressions and mannerisms.

I'm looking forward to spending the week with JD, learning about all the new things that JD tried out this past weekend!

Super Awesome Date Night

Okay, so the title kind of gives it away. It has been a couple of months since Jon and I have had a real date night. You know, the kind where you actually change clothes and get ready for it?

Usually, if we are lucky, Jon and I can go out to dinner twice each week - once during the week and after church on Sunday with family. We usually just strap in the kiddo and go to Chili's.

But I'm going out of town this weekend to work on finishing my scrapbooks (from my WEDDING five years ago). So Jon decided to surprise me with a date night! He came home and said we had a reservation at a restaurant that required business casual attire (what, no jeans??). I was a little concerned about JD at a business casual restaurant with tablecoths, but I figured we could leave if he was a mess.

So I got dolled up and Jon changed into some nice clothes and we even got JD dressed up in a sweater and corduroys. How fun! The restaurant was Lavendou's, a French Provencal restaurant nearby.

The waiter was so nice to JD and brought him some noodles to play with. JD was on his BEST behavior. He did so well! The atmosphere was so cozy and warm. Jon and I really enjoyed our food. I ordered a salad with warm goat cheese and pine nuts and lamb with roasted potatoes and ratatouille. Jon got a duck and pork terrine and venison with roasted potatoes and green beans. It was SO good!

Of course, we capped off the dinner by splitting a chocolate mousse cake that was so rich and decadent. It was just perfect!!

Jon and I actually had time to just sit and talk during dinner. We reminisced about our trip to France and how much we missed Provence. We weren't rushed since JD was in a great mood. He tried some of our potatoes, green beans and tomatoes. I even let him have the teeniest-tiniest bite of cake on his very own tiny silver spoon that the waiter brought.

I left the restaurant feeling relaxed, refreshed and revitalized AND reconnected with my sweet husband. All things that are tough to come by these days as a stay-at-home mom.

What a fabulous date night!!

One Small Step for Man, Two Giant Steps for JD

We hit a HUGE milestone today!! JD took his first steps! He has been threatening for weeks to do this, cruising around the room by holding on to the furniture and the walls.

Tonight, the temptation of chewing on new dress shoes proved to be greater than the fear of taking wobbly steps without the furniture. While trying to get to his yummy shoes, he crossed into the great unknown as he stepped twice without the security of anything to hold on to.

We are so proud!!

Tempting

The transition to a stay-at-home mom hasn't been the easiest. After working in corporate America for more than 10 years, the adjustment to mommy was sudden and severe.

I think my work friends were a bit surprised when I made the decision to stay home with JD. I took my career seriously and worked hard at what I did. I moved steadily up the ladder in a corporation where women have a tough time succeeding.

But I think I always knew that I wanted to be home with my babies, if my husband and I were able to swing it. It has been a tough change, both financially and emotionally. I used to be consulted about building marketing strategies for the biggest sales deals. Now I wipe backsides and noses and comfort bumped heads and scary bathtimes.

I have had a few offers to come back to fulltime work, with bigger titles and paychecks. It is pretty tempting, especially as I see things that I would love to get for JD and our family.

But I can't imagine leaving my sweet baby every morning with someone else and missing out on the important things like learning how to hold his sippy cup and how to push a toy car back and forth.

I'm so thankful that we were able to figure out how to make it work with me at home. There isn't a paycheck or title big enough for me to leave this behind right now. Of course, we haven't hit the terrible two's yet...

** - Disclaimer: This is/was the right decision for me at this time in my life. There are tons of working moms out there that are wonderful parents who are making the best decisions for their families too. I want to send out much love for the working moms too!!

Like Father, Like Son

I can sometimes see into the future. It doesn't happen often, but when I do - it is usually right on target.

When we found out that our baby would be a little boy, we knew exactly what we would name him - Jonathan Douglas. My husband's name is Jonathan and my father's name was Douglas. Two of the finest men that I have ever known. Perfect! The only problem was that I knew (here is where my visionary powers kick in) that he would get the nickname Little Jon. So to preempt this, we gave him the nickname JD, which I think is just so cute.

Then when JD was born, I was SO happy that we made this decision. Because, you see, my son is the SPITTING image of his daddy. They look identical. If you compare baby pictures side-by-side, you could get them confused. So he is literally a "little Jon." But since we have already dubbed him JD, we have avoided all of the potential name calling in school that could come with "little Jon."

I love that my son resembles his daddy. I happen to think that my husband is the most handsome, sweet man around and I hope that JD resembles him not only in looks, but also in personality. I already think JD has his sense of humor!

Wiggly Party (Everybody Dance Now)

For those Wiggles fans, you recognize the title.

JD's cousin Ellie Beth had a Wiggles party today at the Wiggly Playcenter up the road. It was interesting. Lots of Wiggles songs and videos and a giant play area for the kids.

There was a section that was labeled 0-18 months, so I figured this was the spot for JD. Nobody told me that this was where the older kids come so they can feel like giants. We had 3, 4, 5, & 6 year olds running around like Godzillas amongst the babies. A 5 year old chunked several large soft blocks at JD (and other kids), even after I told him to cut it out.

JD wasn't really sure he liked it at first. Can you imagine being his size and having screaming toddlers and older children running around you, squealing with delight and clapping at the Wiggles videos? It was a tad overwhelming (even for me).

Ellie looked like she was enjoying the party, though. The party guests had a ball running around and playing. JD and Marin hung out in the babyzone, trying to avoid aerial maneuvers by the giants.

I told Jon he didn't need to attend this function, since I knew that it would have been torture for him (not the biggest Wiggles fan after the 14 hour car ride to and from Colorado with all Wiggles, all the time). So I came home and Jon had assembled JD's baby swingset and slide in our backyard! JD was so excited!! He loved it!

I think I will just cart our tv out in the yard with Wiggles DVDs whenever we get in the mood for another Wiggly Party.