Cell Phone madness

Jon David loves our phones and has figured out how to open mine and "send a text". Ha,ha

Not now mom, I'm texing about important business matters...




Even the rain won't keep Jon David inside. As long as there is no thunder and lightning, a little (a lot) of water never hurt anyone!

Summer 2009

Summer is gone (even though it's still hot). What a change from last year! We spent the summer inside, hiding my newborn from EVERYTHING. This year, we were all over the place. Some of our highlights... Jon David turned one and had three parties, the Blue Bell tour, museum of Natural Science to see the Terracotta Warriors, meeting Buzz Aldrin, a trip to San Antonio, our 10 year anniversary, my Chi Omega reunion and many days in the sun at the pool. Jon David has such fair skin, I'm constantly coating him in spf. He loves to be outside and the heat doesn't even bother him. I, of course, am dripping and miserable. He likes to play with water and the hose, so we bought him a baby pool. He wasn't so interested in it. He'd rather fill, refill and spill water from bowl to cup and vice versa. He also enjoys playing ball with Shelby. Shelby gets so excited, she LOVES her best friend!



Jon David is getting bigger by the day. He is currently fighting his second ear infection that didn't clear up, so back to the pharmacy we go. He is such a tough guy, even in pain, he still manages to keep a happy attitude (most of the time). He "runs" everywhere. I can't believe how fast he is. Sign language has been great, I recommend it to all parents! He can do the signs for milk, eat, more, tired and hurt. Everyday he manages to amaze me! I know every parent believes their child to be the smartest, but I'm pretty sure mine is :) I can't believe at 13 months he could put his shoes somewhere, take a nap, have lunch and then go find them when I asked where they were. I always talk to him like he understands me, but I was really shocked when he ACTUALLY did! He loves for me to sing "You Are My Sunshine". While I was trying to fix dinner, he wanted my attention, so I started singing. He ran off and came back with a toy that plays that song. I was impressed, that toy was in the back of a drawer. He loves music and singing. It will be a sad day when he realizes how bad my voice is. As for now, as long as I know the tune and most of the words, I'm set!


Before Jon threw his back out...

Jon has had back problems forever, but finally had an mri that revealed a herniated disc. He spent a couple of days literally crawling. He is glad to finally know what the problem is, but most of the activities he likes to do are off limits for now (golf). Good thing it's football season and we just had Direct TV installed. It doesn't hurt his back to keep up with 5 games at a time...



As for now, we are just enjoying everyday. Jon has been working hard, but gets to spend most mornings with Jon David. My big plan is to get reorganized and finish some scrapbooks. I'm looking forward to walks in the cooler weather. Then maybe I'll lose some more of the baby weight. Yes, I realize it's been 15 months, haha. I thank God for our continued happiness and pray the flu and/or swine flu stays far away from us!

Jon David's Birthday

mmmmmm, birthday cake


golf at the Woodlands Resort


Blue Bell!


Jon David has had 2 birthday parties and is having a 3rd in San Antonio soon! We've been so lucky to celebrate with so many friends and family. My Oma and my parents came down from Oklahoma to spend time with us (ok, not us, just Jon David). While they were here, we went down to the museum to see the Terracotta Warriors and up to Brenham to do the Blue Bell tour. My mother took care of JD for a few days so Jon and I could get away to celebrate our 10 anniversary. I have some old photos I'd like to post, but I have to get my scanner set up, and that has been a challenge! Soon folks, soon... I was also sad to find out my video camera is NOT compatible with my new mac, so that video I wanted to post, well, that may never make it up. I do intend to get this blog up to date with all the latest pictures! I hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

Jon David turns 1!

Today, my baby is 1. I've been all over the map of emotions! He had a good day, despite the fact he woke up crying in pain. Jon and I flew out of bed just before 7 when he started crying. He so rarely cries, and not in the morning now for several months. We were alarmed and ran right in. Poor guy, it looks like he's cutting 4 top teeth! After some tylenol and 30 minutes of "mom love", he jumped off my lap, ready to play! He is a happy guy and we are so lucky to be his parents! I wanted to post a video of today, but it's too long, so here is an oldie, but goodie! Happy 1st birthday Jon David!!!

Swimming!

Jon David loves the water. His bath, the dog bowl, my glass with ice, his cup and anything else with water- LOVES IT!!! I'm ready to get him in the pool. I've bought swim suit trunks and tops, hats, swim diapers and sunscreen. He ended up in the pool at his Godparent's house Saturday evening in just his diaper. We were outside checking out their new palm trees when he started reaching for the pool. I bent over and let him stick his hands in. Of course, this was not enough! We stripped him down to his diaper and let him splash. He was mad when we took him out, but I was afraid he was cold. I'm glad I bought myself a new bathing suit because it looks like we'll be spending alot of time in the pool!

Trouble

Jon David is into EVERYTHING. If he's not trying to climb the stairs, he is opening every cabinet and drawer. I can hear you other parents out there laughing at me! I'm laughing too, he's just so darn cute. I follow him around and have the camera ready to capture these precious moments. He has his moments of standing without holding on to anything, but the second he realizes it, he sits down. Doors open, doors close, we could do this one for HOURS! JD does love books, and will hand one to me to read. Of course, I think my son is a genius! When he hears Mickey Mouse music, he brings me the Mickey book. When he hears Handy Manny songs, he brings me the Handy Manny dvd. Hot dog! (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse reference...)

11 months

Jon David is celebrating 11 months with his first ear infection :( It all started last week when he started refusing his food. I thought he was just teething, but I made an appointment with the pediatrician just in case. Four hours after I made the appointment, he was burning up with a fever! I had to take him to the after hours clinic and although it took until 10pm, I was glad they were so thorough. It was determined that he had a virus and to just wait it out with tylenol, fluids and lots of love from mommy and daddy.
We did manage to go out for Mother's Day and have a lovely steak dinner. It turns out, we are all sick now! Through it all, my first Mother's Day was still wonderful. I spent the day with my husband and son, and that's just what I wanted to do! I had forgotten what it was like to get up several times during the night. Even though I was exhausted, I held my sick child in my arms, thanking God for making me a mother. He was so hot with fever and I prayed he would get better soon. I hated that I couldn't fix it.
The good news, no fever as of today. The bad, his ears are just starting to get infected. We started antibiotics and I'm hoping his appetite will come back soon. Now, if I can just get through one of Jon David's books without coughing up a lung, we'll be back in business!

Coffee anyone?

April has been a busy month for us. We spent another weekend in San Antonio, this time, for "Mom's Night Out". My best friend Brandi and I got a hotel room downtown and partied the night away! Ok, we were in by midnight. We can't hang like we used to! It was my first night away from Jon David and I was nervous. Of course, all was well and Jon David was so busy playing with family, I doubt he missed me at all! I missed him terribly right before I fell asleep. I am so used to checking on him before I go to bed. I was worried he would decide to start walking and I'd miss it. Every time we see his cousin Ella (who is 2 months older), he comes home with new skills! She is walking now, so I thought I might miss his first steps. I didn't miss any milestones, so I guess it is ok for me to get out every once in a while! Jon David's big thing now is drinking out of a cup. He does a pretty good job! If you are drinking it, he wants some! He can even drink out of a (water) bottle. Not to be worried, there was water in that coffee mug! We are in the process of trying really mushy cubes of food that he can feed himself. These are times I'm glad for our dog Shelby, who loves to clean the kitchen floor!

10 months

Each week until Jon David was six months old, I took a picture of him in front of the car my mom made for his room. After that, I went to taking the picture every month. Now that he is so mobile, it's difficult to make him sit still for the camera! I may have not taken the picture I was thinking of, but I think I got something much more precious...

Barbacoa for babies???

While we were visiting for Easter weekend, we also celebrated Pop's birthday! On Friday, we went to one of his favorite "hole in the wall" places for breakfast. Jon David gummed tortilla chips, ate guacamole, tried barbacoa, spit out a piece of corn tortilla and threw tripas on the floor! Pop was so pleased with his grandson and said frijoles (beans) are next!

My funny baby

It's been a while since I have posted pictures of Jon David. Here is a collection of some of the moments that made me laugh. My precious boy!

Easter Weekend

We spent the holiday with the de la Garza's, my brother Kip and his wife Normandy. It was also our chance to celebrate Jon's father's birthday. There was lots of family, food and fun! Jon David enjoyed his first Easter, poor guy was so tired every night, he slept in every morning (yea for us!) Alas, we are back home and back to reality!

Kip's wedding

This weekend, my brother Kip married the love of his life, Normandy, in a beautiful outdoor wedding. We had a great time and it was so nice to be around family. Jon David loved all of the attention and he looked so cute in his outfit. The happy couple is in Hawaii for their honeymoon and I am so jealous! Sun, pina colada's and rest, I need a vacation!

Look what I can do!

Just when I was getting used to the idea of Jon David crawling all over the house, he decided to make things more interesting. He crawled over to a "walking" toy that was stopped against a chair and pulled himself up to play with it. I didn't even have time to take a picture with my phone when he sat back down. Lucky for me, he continued to pull himself up on the couch all afternoon and I was able to get some pictures. I think Shelby being on the couch was his motivation to get up! He sure loves that dog!

My poor laptop!

It has been a while since my last post, I've sent my laptop to the Geek Squad for repair! I should get it back soon and then I can post pictures of Jon David from Valentine's Day. He got his first cold this month and on top of that, he is cutting his bottom two teeth! I am thankful he went eight months before getting sick for the first time, but it makes me want to cry when I have to hold him down to suck out his boogies with the bulb syringe!
Jon David now eats a full dinner of meat, veggies and fruit! I also (finally) found some teething crackers that are gluten free, so he has been chowing down on those too! Although finding gluten free items has gotten easier since Jon was diagnosed, it's still a challenge to find specialty items like this. Anyone in the Houston area should go check out Hubble and Hudson in the Woodlands. It's a great specialty market with a FANTASTIC bistro. Look for my friend Burt and tell him Jennie Dlg sent you!

8 months already!

Jon David has been very busy lately. He has been "inchworming" around the living room for a couple of weeks now, but it has turned to official crawling! Now that he knows he can move fast, he goes! All over the house he roams and my floors can't be clean enough! He does know what "no" means, but he just flashes a devilish grin and keeps on touching the dvr, wii and everything else over by the tv.

Jon and I let him "cry it out" the other night for the first time. It was 4am and we cannot continue to get up to replace the paci. He doesn't eat at night anymore, so theoretically, we should be sleeping more. It was so hard to hear him cry like that, but 20 minutes later, he was sound asleep!

We are looking forward to our first Valentine's together as a family. I got him an outfit that says "My heart belongs to Mommy". Awwww, maybe I need a shirt that says, "My heart belongs to my two Jons"!

Oma comes to visit!

January has been a busy month at our house! I'm happy to report that even though we were out of town for New Year's, we had all our Christmas decorations put away in the first week! We had planned to go to San Antonio for some de la Garza's birthdays (brother Chris, niece Lauren and mom Jan!), but plans changed. My Aunt Rose had a mastectomy and my mother came down to help after her surgery. This is her second fight with breast cancer, but she is doing very well and is in good spirits. She will be going up to Oklahoma to stay with my parents in a couple of weeks so she can rest more and spend time with my great-grandparents. My mom (Jon David will call her Oma) was able to spend a few days with us before flying back to Oklahoma in the middle of an ice storm! In her short time with us, Jon and I got to go on a date, we saw Body World at the museum of natural science and JD showed off his crawling skills. He hasn't "officially" crawled, but he can sure get wherever he wants to go, fast! We call it the inchworm. Life, as we've known it, has changed again!

Happy New Year!

It's a new year and instead of being on top of things, I am playing catch up. We spent New Year's in Oklahoma with my parents. Jon David was spoiled all the way around and played with both his great-grandmothers! We had a wonderful, quiet holiday and I got to kiss my husband at midnight! Last year, he had to work and I stayed with friends. We are looking forward to all that 2009 will bring! My brother Kip is getting married in March, Jon David will have his first birthday in June and two weeks later, Jon and I will celebrate our 10 year anniversary. Happy 2009 to all!

Christmas 2008

Jon David's first Christmas was a smashing success! He really enjoyed his new toys, especially the Fisher-Price tower. This toy had been around since I was a kid and we used to call it the "onion ring tower". I only got him a few things because I know his grandparents on both sides have tons of stuff for him. We spent the day in our matching pj's going through all of our gifts. That's right, matching pj's. I got them last year when I was pregnant, dreaming of Jon David's first Christmas. It's so cheesy, but we'll have a good laugh about it when he gets older.

If you don't like sentimental, skip to the end. For all parents who understand, remember your children's first Christmas. The joy you feel is so precious. We took tons of pictures and video and I hope it was enough to hold on to the feeling I had that day. Poor Jon, he found me bawling my eyes out on Christmas Eve. I choked out that I was happy, not sad! We've waited a long time for this, and I was overcome with emotion. This Christmas was the beginning of new traditions for our little family!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday and we wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year!