Orlowski Family Blog

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T22:03:00.001-06:00

I’m still a bit behind on blogging but we wanted to take a minute to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

May the year ahead be filled with happiness and joy.

xoxo

The Orlowski Family

No Tricks, All Treats

2011-12-20T21:38:00.001-06:00

This was Caitlin’s first year to dress up for Halloween and go trick-or-treating. She was only 2 months old last year, so she pretty much slept through all the fun. Caitlin dressed up as a pink poodle (minus the headpiece she refused to wear) and we met up with some of our neighborhood friends before heading door-to-door. Caitlin did a great job and didn’t seem to get too scared. Her favorite part of the night was carrying around a lollipop and putting it in her mouth with the wrapper still on. I can’t wait for next year when she will be able to say “trick or treat!”

Ready to roll out.

Family pic before we go…

…and a little practice walking up to the front door.

“Ready! I’ve got this!”

Shorts at the end of October. Gotta love Texas!

My loves!

“Trick or Treat!”

Wait for us baby girl!

Here’s What You Missed…

2011-12-19T00:04:00.001-06:00

I’m what you would call a {little} behind on blogging, so in an effort to catch up, I’m going to post one {HUGE} update on what the Orlowski family has been up to over the past 5 to 6 months. Since I have so many great shots of Miss Caitlin, I will be doing some blog posts with just pictures to expand on this post. So…here’s what you missed:

Caitlin turned 9 months old…

Maximus got cuter…

Caitlin took swim lessons in the summer…

Tamra’s 1st. Mother’s Day…

Caitlin turned 10 months old…

Michael’s 1st. Father’s Day…

Caitlin took lots of baths…

4th of July & Mimi’s Birthday…

Caitlin turned 11 months old…

Caitlin went to LOTS of birthday parties…

Caitlin LOVES to watch ‘Super Why’ with Daddy…

Caitlin discovered spaghetti…her favorite!

Caitlin turned 12 months old…

Caitlin had a picnic & lady bug themed 1st. birthday party…

Caitlin was baptized at HPUMC…

Caitlin went to the park…

LOVE that face and that pout!

We attended the Buster Family Reunion…

Caitlin visited the Arboretum…

We went back to the Arboretum with our friends…

Caitlin got stuck in a box…

…and we ventured to the pumpkin patch for Zoe’s birthday.

Stay tuned for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas posts!!

Friday Favorite!

2011-07-29T12:12:00.001-05:00

{little diva}

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Hot Springs, Arkansas

2011-06-28T16:44:00.001-05:00

To say that I’m behind on blogging is a {HUGE} understatement. In an effort to catch up, I will stop sleeping at night. That’s not really going to happen, but I’ll do my best to get caught up to the current month.

In April, Michael and I took a weekend trip to Hot Springs, AR and stayed with four other couples from the our neighborhood. (Lara, if you are reading this, I consider you a neighbor). My parents watched Caitlin so Michael and I could go. Thank you Mom and Dad! They were so understanding and didn’t mind me calling every two hours to check in on Caitlin. Another big thank you goes out to Amanda, the trip organizer, planner and all things Hot Springs! We had a great time and look forward to future road trips!

On the way there, we ran out of gas. It was only 1 mile to the closest gas station. Thank goodness for OnStar and Ace road side service!

This was our fist time to Arkansas, so we had to stop at the visitors center for a picture with an official “Arkansas” sign. I wanted to stop next to the road sign as you cross the state line, but it’s suspended over the freeway so it’s next to impossible. I especially like how I’m still “representing” the state of Texas with my Texas A&M shirt on.

Michael and I found the house and settled in while we waited for the rest of the crew to come home from the golf course and the spa. Here are a few pictures of the house we stayed in…

We all cleaned up and went on a a dinner cruise on Belle of Hot Springs river boat. Michael and I had a great time looking at all the houses on the lake. We got some good ideas for our future lake house. The weather was perfect and the sunset was beautiful.

From left to right: Trey & Kylie, Brooks & Katie, Justin & Lara, Amanda & Travis, Tamra & Michael

Beautiful sunset!

After the cruise, we returned to the house and continued the party, which included s’mores…my favorite!!

The next day, we started the morning with a breakfast fit for champions. Michael and I headed to the spa for massages and some site seeing while the rest of the crew went to the horse races. I had a hot stone massage (got a tiny burn on my back…ouch!) and Michael had a Swedish massage. Afterwards, we parked on Bath House Row, checked out some shops and grabbed some ice cream. We eventually made it over to a natural hot spring that you can visit and touch the heated water coming right out of the ground. It’s a little shocking at first…very hot! Then we visited Boyce Bath House. It’s the only bath house on Bath House Row that is still open to the public. My best interpretation of the bath houses is they were the “spas” of their times with more emphasis on health and working out. We all met back at the house for a delicious dinner prepared by Justin (aka Grill Master) before heading home the next day.

8 Months

2011-06-27T12:49:00.001-05:00

Caitlin, our little 8-month old…there is no stopping you! You are officially a crawler and you are fast! You’ve created your own style of crawling (one leg out to the side) and I love it. I hope you continue to do this in life...find what you want to do and figure out how to do it your way! Shortly after you mastered crawling, you started pulling yourself up on objects (couch, coffee table, mommy, daddy, etc.). We are quickly learning about the areas of the house that require immediate baby proofing. Your little knees are getting beat up as you crawl across the wood floors but the baby leg warmers help minimize the “wear and tear”. You’ve taken some tumbles already, but I’m afraid it’s just the beginning as you learn to get your feet under you. It’s hard for me not to be able to catch you every time you fall, but I suppose it’s a lesson every parent has to learn some time.

Congratulations! You graduated from your six-week baby sign language class. We are continuing to work on everything we learned, but I need to do a better job of remembering to practice! One of your new skills is pointing at everything. Each time you point to something, I tell you what the object is. Sometimes you point to the same thing over and over again, so it goes something like this…Caitlin points. Mommy: “That’s a couch”. Caitlin points. Mommy: “That’s still a couch”. It’s very cute and I’m hoping if I keep at it, you will learn some new words. You are absolutely mesmerized by Maximus (our dog). He is getting smarter though (especially with you on the move) and he knows to stay in high places.

Your new favorite show is “Super Why” on PBS. The cartoon teaches kids about the alphabet, words, spelling and reading by using nursery rhymes to solve a problem. There’s singing at the beginning and end of each episode and you love it! Most of the time you squeal and dance during the musical numbers. The cutest part is when the four main characters say their names and then there’s a pause for you to say your name. You don’t know how to say your name yet, but you know that you’re suppose to respond in some way, so you usually let out a little noise to let the Super Readers know you are ready to help save the day by solving the problem and finding the super answer!

You and your daddy had the opportunity for some father-daughter bonding time while I went on a 5-day girls trip to Destin, Florida with my best girl friends. Another wish I have for you…to find a group of girlfriends that love and support you. You were on your best behavior for Daddy and I really appreciate that. The two of you stayed very busy and went to Gymboree classes, sign language class, a trip to Corsicana and a visit to Grapevine Mills mall. You have an amazing father. He took such good care of you and I wasn’t worried at all. I guess you were showing off for Daddy because while I was gone, you really started crawling.

I packed up your 3-6 month clothes this month. I’d been delaying this task for a while. Something about putting those clothes into a storage bin reminds me of how fast you are growing up. I swear when I returned from my trip, you were ten times bigger then when I left! You are drinking 7 to 7.5 ounces of formula a day and eating level 2 baby foods, but I haven’t introduced any proteins into your diet yet. I’m not in a big hurry to do this, so we will probably start next month. Your new favorite food is yogurt and your hand and eye coordination has improved, making it easier to feed yourself small pieces of food.

We love you sweet pea!

These are Caitlin’s summer shades…and it’s cool to be 8 months old!

Since she won’t sit still anymore, we went downstairs to get some pictures in the play room.

Yes, that’s a bruise on her right cheek. Run in with the coffee table.

She is crawling so much…I see this a lot…

…and then this started happening too.

Caitlin seems to be obsessed with socks. I’m hoping this doesn’t evolve into a shoe obsession.

That’s a “Tamra” face.

Caitlin’s new favorite show is “Super Why” on PBS.

She gets excited like this…

I got some greats shots of Caitlin and Michael. Little girls love their dads!

Happy 8-month birthday baby girl! We love you!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-06-15T20:32:00.001-05:00

Batter up!

2011-06-05T16:36:00.001-05:00

Michael’s company has season tickets to the Rangers. We were able to select a date that we wanted to go (meaning anytime before the Texas summer and 100 degree weather set in), so we picked a lovely Sunday afternoon in May. The seats were great and just behind first base. The Rangers brought home a win against the Los Angeles Angles! Michael and I had a great “day” date stuffing ourselves full of baseball park food and I “forced” myself to get a helmet sundae so I could give the souvenir hat to Caitlin to play with. She cracks up when one of us puts the tiny helmet on our head like a real hat.

Hoppy Easter!

2011-06-04T09:44:00.001-05:00

Caitlin had a great first Easter! We haven’t attempted to take her to church yet (horrible parents, I know) buy it’s very important to me that Caitlin understands the true meaning of Easter and doesn’t associate the day with gifts. Having said that, the Easter bunny brought her an Easter basket full of goodies (mostly toys). It was such a nice day, we went into the back yard to see what was in Caitlin’s basket. We even opened some of the new toys and checked them out before heading back inside. There may have been two adults (mommy & daddy) that enjoyed the small beach ball more than it’s recipient…no pictures to prove this though!

Someone looks guilty…

Easter Bunny

2011-06-02T22:15:00.001-05:00

Caitlin and I were invited by some of our Gymboree friends to meet at the Allen Recreation Center for pictures with the Easter bunny. I’ve lived in Allen for five years and I’ve never been to the Allen Recreation Center…shame, shame. After a quick registration at the front desk and lunch for Caitlin, we were ready for her close up. The rec center had someone taking pictures (and the best one is mailed to the house), but if we brought our own camera, we were allowed to shoot as many pictures as we wished! I didn’t know this beforehand and took my camera on the off chance I could use it and it worked out perfectly. Caitlin surprised me and wasn’t afraid of the Easter bunny at all!

Caitlin and the Easter Bunny

Caitlin enjoyed some floor time discovering her (empty) plastic egg.

After the mini photo shoot, we hung around with our Gymboree friends and played on the floor. We tried to get a group shot of all the Gymboree kids with the Easter bunny, but it didn’t work out. Maybe next year! Check out the cute series of pictures below with Luke and Caitlin.

“Hi. My name is Luke. What’s your name?”

“Shhh…don’t speak. Live in the moment.”

“I’m just going to but my arm around you like this…”

“SMOOCH!”

What a ladies man! Luke is such a superstar and is always rockin’ a mohawk.

7 Months

2011-05-15T13:16:00.001-05:00

Caitlin, our little sweet pea and roly poly, you did it! You rolled over! It’s as if you were just waiting for the day to come. First, you rolled over from your back to your front, and then you immediately rolled over from you front to your back. Now that you’ve started rolling, you haven’t stopped. I’ll lay you down for a nap or bedtime and you roll over before I get to the door. You’ve also started sleeping on your belly, which completely terrified me the first few times. Once you’re on your belly, you rock side to side and scoot backwards. It’s only a matter of time before you will be going forward and crawling (Max better watch out!).

Your personality continues to develop and shine through those gorgeous blue eyes and that two-toothed grin. Curiosity is your constant companion and I’m afraid it’s going to get you into trouble in the future. It’s probably a guarantee. You love to scratch your nails over objects and listen to the different sounds. You love to see what you can get your little hands on. If we tell you ‘no’, you look at us and smile. When you are in anyone’s arms, your arms are out wide and you refuse to hold on, even when bouncing down the stairs. When I try and cuddle with you or give you lovies (i.e hugs and kisses), you push me away. Our little Miss Independent.

We started baby sign language class and we try to practice every day. You watch me with such intensity when I sign and say the words. I know you are listening and understanding. Soon you will be signing back and we will be communicating! You’ve done some signs, such as ‘all done’, ‘more’ and ‘milk’. You’ve also waved good-bye and clapped your hands. My heart broke a little the day you said “dada” for the first time, but we decided it wasn’t your first word but more baby babble that you are constantly saying.

You love baths and like to splash the water with your hands. We are hoping to do swimming lessons this summer. I think you’ll love the water like I do. Another big milestone for both of us this month was your first two nights away from home. You stayed with Mimi and Grandpa (my parents) while your dad and I traveled to Hot Springs, AR for a weekend get away. You and I both cried when we dropped you off, but you ended up having a wonderful time with your grandparents.

One of my many hopes for you is that you try different foods and aren’t a picky eater. Well, if this month is any indication of how things will be, you will try anything and love most of it! You are now eating level 2 organic baby food, meaning multiple foods are mixed together for a more complex taste, such as apples and pears. You tried mum-mums and teething biscuits, but puffs are your absolute favorite! You can even pick them up one by one and feed yourself. Such a big girl!

Happy 7-month birthday baby girl!

Sea of Bluebonnets

2011-04-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

In true Texan form, we took Caitlin out to a field of bluebonnets for some pictures. She was dressed in all white and even had on little white espadrilles! I’m having a little too much fun dressing her up these days. Caitlin didn’t know what to think of the bluebonnets and it was a very windy day. She wasn’t too happy with the situation once it ran into nap time, but we still got some good pictures!

Café Caitlin

2011-04-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

What has Caitlin been eating lately? Well…a little bit of everything (for a baby her age of course!). Caitlin has been on level 1 organic baby food since she turned 6 months old and she is such a good eater. She has tried squash, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet peas, pears, apples, peaches and bananas. I didn’t have her try the prunes (who likes those??). Her favorite vegetable is green beans and her favorite fruits are apples, peaches and bananas. Caitlin has also tried Gerber puffs (peach is her favorite) and teething biscuits (so messy!).

Squash

Green Beans

Pears

Carrot fangs

Peaches

Bananas

Teething Biscuit

All done!

A Thousand Suns

2011-04-24T15:55:00.001-05:00

Michael and I attended the Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns concert at the AA center back in March (I’m a little behind in blogging). This was our third time to see LP in concert and they did not disappoint! We were both excited and thankful this year’s concert was in the spring and indoors as opposed to the last two during the summer and outdoors.

Before the concert, we met up with Jared and Alicia for dinner at Chuy’s. Afterwards, we headed over to their place to get Caitlin set up for the night. A {HUGE} thank you to Jared and Alicia for watching Caitlin so we could attend the concert. Caitlin was on her best behavior…for the first two minutes we were gone. Poor Jared and Alicia had to deal with a few meltdowns but handled it like champs. I felt so bad waking her up to get her in the car at midnight so we could head home. I captured a few pictures with my small point-and-shoot camera. If only I had known I could have taken my good camera instead…

If you’ve never given Linkin Park a try, you really should. Below is the chorus of my new favorite LP song and “anthem” from their latest album. I just learned this song will be featured in the upcoming Transformers 3 movie.

Iridescent (chorus lyrics)

Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?

You build up hope, but failures all you’ve known.

Remember all the sadness and frustration

And let it go.

Let it go.

Family picture before heading out

Us at the concert

Linkin Park

Brad Delson – lead guitarist

Mike Shinoda – Getting the crowd pumped up

Joe Hahn on the turntable and keyboards

Chester Bennington…lead vocalist and my hero

Chester and Mike

Linkin Park rocks!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T07:41:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

(more to come)

Cast Your Vote!

2011-03-16T20:10:00.001-05:00

I’ve been wanting to do this post for some time now. Since Caitlin was born, I’ve always wondered, who does she look like? Her mom or her dad? I think ever parent wonders that when they have a child. When Caitlin was a newborn, we were told by friends, family and complete strangers that she looked like me, her dad, my mom, Michael’s mom and her great grandfather (on Michael’s side). It’s the age old question…does Caitlin look more like me or her dad? What do you think? (comments welcomed!)

Baby picture comparison

Current day comparison

6 Months

2011-03-15T21:26:00.001-05:00

Caitlin, happy half year birthday! Your dad and I cannot believe you are already 6 months old. It’s all going by so quickly. You can sit up all by yourself! I remember going to Gymboree when you were three months old and seeing the older kids sitting up, thinking “I can’t believe Caitlin will be able to do that someday!”. Well, that day has come and gone and you continue to surprise me with your development. Speaking of Gymboree, you moved up to Level 2 and we are starting to meet lots of new friends. You really love class but you are not a fan of parachute time.

You are so vocal and you love to talk to yourself and sing. Everything, and I mean everything, that you can get your hands on goes into your mouth. You make me laugh. You grab for things and you don’t even know what you are grabbing for. You also love discovering textures and scratching your nails over different objects to hear the different sounds. It’s official…those first two teeth are here and they are sharp! No more chewing on mommy’s fingers. Your laugh makes me laugh. Your cries make me cry. Your silly noises brighten my days. You are continuing to sleep (you got that from me) and eat (another trait of mine) like a champ. Your diet now consists of 24-28 ounces of formula a day plus you’ve mastered squash, pears and green beans.

Your feet are a new favorite toy and those toes easily find their way into your mouth. I finally got some pictures (coming soon!) to prove your flexibility. You are picking up and holding things. You turn your head when you hear mommy’s voice, daddy’s voice or a new sound. You haven’t rolled over yet, but you are staying on your tummy for longer periods of time and holding yourself up really well. I think you may just skip rolling over and go straight to crawling! You got another round of shots at your 6-month well appointment, but you were so brave and the tears were all dried up before we reached the car. I love taking pictures of you…you are my perfect model. Happy birthday and we love you sweet pea!

6-Month Stats:

Weight: 14 pounds, 5 ounces (25%)

Height: 25 1/2 inches (50-75%)

Head: 16.5 inches (50-75%)

See Caitlin grow!

First two bottom teeth are coming in at the same time!

Our 6-month old

A bunch of pictures below…Enjoy!

Happy 6-month birthday baby girl!

Presley’s Baptism

2011-03-12T18:15:00.001-06:00

We had the honor of attending our friends’ daughter’s baptism last month. Lacey, Presley’s mom, and I were pregnant together (her second, my first) and Presley is about six weeks younger than Caitlin. I hope they grow up to be as good of friends as Lacey and I. Thank you to the Baird’s for inviting us be a part of Presley’s special day.

The weather was still a little cool following the snow storm, so I was really excited to get to dress Caitlin up in this adorable (and warm) outfit that she could finally fit into. A {HUGE} thank you to her “Auntie” Amanda for the gift!

Presley’s baptism – Family & Godparents

Presley, her parents and her Godparents

The Orlowski family

Lacey, Kelli, Courtney, Shawna, Tamra & KC

Isabella & Caitlin (in coordinating colors)

Mommy & Caitlin

Her first pair of shoes!

I love this outfit!

Caitlin and Max going nose-to-nose

5 Months

2011-02-22T12:04:00.001-06:00

Caitlin, let me start by saying thank you. Thank you for helping me start each day with a smile. Thank you for teaching me to slow down and find the joy in every moment. Thank you for bringing so much happiness into our lives just by being you. Ok, now that I’m a little teary eyed, let’s move into what you’ve been up to this month!

On your 5-month birthday, you tried rice cereal for the first time. Not a fan at first, you are quickly coming around…or you just want to chew on the spoon. You continue to sleep so well and I love you even more for it! Your nighttime sleep is between 12-13 hours and you take at least 2 naps a day, usually 1.5 to 2 hours long. You love baths! If your arms aren’t behind your head, as if you’re lounging in a pool, then you’re eagerly attempting to grab the water. We’ll teach you about solids v. liquids in the future.

If there was any question as to if you found your feet, it’s not a question any more! They constantly entertain you. You are always grabbing at them after you wake up or on the changing table, and you can now get them into your mouth. I really need to get a picture of it or you may not believe me when you’re older. Everything goes into your mouth, especially those fingers. I have a feeling you are getting ready for some teeth very soon. You love to sit up. We’ve been practicing and you can sit up unassisted for a short period of time. Tummy time is not your favorite (never has been) but you’re getting better at holding your head up and lifting your chest off the ground with the help of your arms. You haven’t rolled over yet but I know you will when you’re ready.

You are definitely my daughter. When you are done with an activity or don’t like how something is going, you let us know (insert high pitched scream or melt down here). You are enjoying our weekly classes at Gymboree and play dates during the week. I didn’t think I would be saying this so soon, but please STOP growing up so fast. I love you baby girl!

Our 5-month old

Hi gorgeous!

This is one of my favorites! Her legs look so long here!

Caitlin discovering “Max” (the stuffed prop).

She was so curious about him and instantly put him in her mouth for further identification.

Silly girl!

Happy 5-month birthday baby girl!

…And Then There Was Snow!

2011-02-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

I didn’t venture out into the first round of winter snow. So this time, I dressed in layers and spent a good hour outside trying to capture how beautiful everything was. Caitlin hadn’t experienced snow yet and I felt really bad about not having a proper snow outfit for her, but she’s only 5 months! Going into mommy “make it work” mode, I put her in her jammies, layered on a shirt, jeans and socks and then added a sweater with a hoodie to keep the cold air out of those tiny ears. I didn’t have any gloves, but you better believe this mama will be prepared next year. Minus the rolling blackouts, all the snow Max tracked inside the house and the two leaks (kitchen and half bath), it was a good day. Lesson Learned: Frozen pipes suck.

5 inches!

The two shot above are to compare to the previous post about the ice.
The sheet of ice is now covered by 4 to 5 inches of snow.

You can see the outline of the curb, sidewalk and path to the front door

winter wonderland

Someone wants to go outside and play

The sun is trying to come out!

Catch a falling snowflake in your hand

tiny paw prints

action shot!

Max made yellow snow

I enjoyed comfort food all day!

Grilled cheese, hot cocoa and a loaded baked potato.

First there was ice…

2011-02-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

I’m a little behind on this event, but Texas experienced some strange weather over the past few weeks. It started out with an ice storm. The sleet/rain/frozen pellets came down during the night. It sounded as though someone was shooting them right at our bedroom window! I didn’t mind the loud weather as long as it didn’t wake Caitlin up. Luckily, it didn’t and we enjoyed some unexpected time with Michael the next day since it was too dangerous to drive into work. After the ice, came the real fun…

Sheet of ice on the drive way…very dangerous!

Different angle

{L.O.V.E}

2011-02-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine’s Day! I tell myself every year that I’m not going to fall into the “Hallmark” holiday of love, but every year I do. I can’t help it…I love flowers, chocolate, romantic gestures, love poems, love songs, excuses to have fancy dinners and basically any kind of gift. This holiday was made for suckers like me!

Caitlin and I drove to Michael’s job site and picked him up for lunch at Gloria’s. When Michael got home, there was a card, cookie and some cupcakes waiting for him. I needed an excuse to check out the new bakery in our area (Haute Mama) and it did not disappoint! They are known for their chocolate chip cookies, but she offers cakes, cupcakes, cake balls and so much more. Michael brought home some Sprinkles cupcakes for me. We have 7 cupcakes and 1 cookie between the two of us to eat. Challenge accepted! (little Barney reference if you’re a “How I Met Your Mother” fan)

Caitlin (aka mom) handed out Hello Kitty Valentine’s Day cards with Fun Dip to her neighborhood buddies and playgroup buddies. On Saturday, she received her first Valentine’s Day card from a boy named Luke in her Gymboree class. How cute is that?

Love you!

Cookie and cupcake for Michael

Thank you Mimi for the card (tasted good!)

Caitlin holding Daddy’s cookie

Lovely

Thanks for the Valentine’s bib “Auntie” Katie!

“You can call me Sweetheart”

Here’s looking at you kid…

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Rice What?!?

2011-02-12T21:32:00.001-06:00

Caitlin tried rice cereal for the first time on her 5-month birthday. We watered the rice cereal down with formula until it was almost completely liquefied per the advice of some experienced mommies (Thanks Kelli & Lacey!). Caitlin did good with the rice cereal at first…I think it was because it was something new and she was trying to figure out what was going on. We were filming the beginning of the experience, so she is happy on the video, but by the time we got to the digital camera, she decided rice cereal was not her thing.

Since then, we’ve continued rice cereal every other night before her last bottle. I think she is really starting to get the hang of it! The consistency a bit more like oatmeal and she will actually eat it. I put a small amount on the spoon and say “open” and she opens her little mouth (so smart!). I swear she is teething too (no actual teeth have cut yet), but she loves to chew on everything, especially her new rubber covered spoons. We are going to keep at it. I’m looking forward to introducing her to all sorts of new foods in the coming months!

Doesn’t this bib say it all??

Winter Jammies

2011-02-11T18:01:00.001-06:00

I have no idea where I came up with this term, but I call all of Caitlin’s pajamas…”jammie jams”. I said this one night when I was getting her dressed for bed and she cracked up. Needless to say, I’ve been saying it ever since. Isn’t it funny how you can do one goofy face or silly noise and your child gets tickled, so you do it over and over again just to get a repeat of that smile or giggle? Well, I’ve got a ton of them and this is just one. Caitlin’s “Auntie” Courtney gave her these winter themed pj’s for Christmas and I finally remembered to take a few pictures before bedtime. Thank you so much Courtney! Caitlin loves her “jammie jams”!

She’s a thinker

warm toesies

Such a little model

Close up

I call this the “Lexi”. Her cousin in Austin does the same thing with her two fingers.

Happy girl!

Blue Jean Baby

2011-02-10T11:39:00.001-06:00

Caitlin received this adorable pair of baby blue jeans as a gift just after she was born. I hadn’t thought much of them until she got a little older and I decided to see how they looked. Now…I’m in love with them! They are so cute and the little flower on the front and the faux ribbon belt add a girly touch. We had to have a little photo session to capture all the cuteness!

Happy girl!

“Seriously mom…another picture?”

What’s that face baby girl?

She is really mesmerized by her feet and hands lately.

“Hmm…fingers!”

Probably looking at Max in this shot. He’s my assistant.

“Why so serious?”

It’s hard being Caitlin

She discovered the bow on her head and quickly decided it didn’t belong there…only to end up in her mouth.

Discovery

2011-01-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

It’s all about the discovery of new things for Caitlin. I love how I can show her a toy she’s played with everyday for months and she looks at it like it’s brand new. I cannot wait to rediscover the ‘little’ things and teach her as she grows. This is what it’s all about!

Caitlin discovering her hands and her reflection…

Caitlin discovering her new best friend…

Caitlin discovering different sounds and textures…

Caitlin discovering how to sit up and get ahold of the pacifier...

Caitlin discovering the power of her smile!

Bumbo Time

2011-01-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

I was working in the office the other day and Caitlin was doing some bumbo seat time to work on those “sitting up” muscles. I know once she doesn’t need the chair anymore, she is going to love sitting up on her own! I’ve been trying to get her beautiful smile captured in a picture, but every time I put the camera in front of my face, the smile disappears. I’m assuming it’s because she can’t see my face anymore. We will just have to work on that…

“What are you doing Mom?”

“What’s that black thing that always blinds me?”

“There you are…I see you now”

It’s like a little sleeve tattoo…“I Love Mom”.

I love you too Caitlin!

Happy Birthday Jared!

2011-01-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

My brother recently turned 31 and we celebrated with a large group dinner at Gordon Bierch brewery in Dallas. The food and atmosphere were really good. I had the mini-Kobe burger appetizer with onion straws and a mini strawberry cheesecake dessert. (Do you see a mini theme?) Caitlin was having a tough night, so Michael and I took turns standing up and holding her. She didn’t want to be held by anyone except for her mommy or daddy. Not even Mimi or my Dad could calm her down. I hope this is just a phase…

My mom came home with us and spent the night. She watched Caitlin on Sunday for a few hours so Michael and I could have a ‘day’ date. We ventured out in the snow and saw the movie “The Tourist”.

Thanks for organizing the night Alicia and Happy Birthday Jared!

Family pic

Thank you Aunt Amy for Caitlin’s shirt!

Birthday Boy! Can you tell we’re related?

Little Aggie

2011-01-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

Our friends, and fellow Aggies, The Baird’s, invited us over for a Cotton Bowl watch party. The Aggies had a pretty good season this year and we were matched up to play the LSU tigers at Cowboys Stadium. The Aggies didn’t bring home the win, but I’m proud of them anyway.

Thank you for having us over to watch the game!

Tamra & Caitlin

Lil’ Aggie

Former Aggies: Lacey & Tamra

Future Aggies: Presley & Caitlin (Class of 2033)

Courtney, Lacey & Tamra

We’ll get ‘em next year boys! Whoop!!

4 months

2011-01-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Caitlin is 4 months old. Where does the time go? I’m not going to lie…some days seem to inch by one minute at a time. Others fly by in the blink of an eye and I have a hard time remembering all the details. This is when I wish I had time to keep a daily journal, but it also makes me thankful for the blog…a catalog of our favorite memories.

Caitlin, you are such a joy and what a big month it’s been! You are so alert and attentive, and you love to stand up (with assistance of course) so you can see all the action. I sometimes call you ‘Miss Serious’. You are sleeping through the night (5-7 hours between feedings) and mommy really appreciates that. When you want something, you grab it, and it goes immediately into your mouth. You know mommy and daddy’s voices and you light up when you see either one of us. What a wonderful feeling!

You’ve moved into your room and sleep in your crib. We started slowly with naps and then tried a full night. I slept in the recliner in your room the first two nights to make sure you were ok. You are becoming such a good napper too. We started supplementing formula into your diet because I can’t keep up with how much milk you need.

You found your feet! Although you haven’t tried to put them in your mouth yet, you found them, and they usually entertain you for a while after you wake from a nap. I love to watch you on the monitor after you wake up and hear you talking to yourself. You wake up so happy…most of the time.

4-Month Stats:

Weight: 11 pounds, 14 ounces (10-25%)

Height: 24 inches (50%)

Head: 15.5 inches (20-25%)

Our 4-month old

Got drool?

She loves those hands and everything goes in the mouth

Silly girl!

Ohhhh…what is that?

Miss Serious

So cute!

A little smirk

Feet!

4-months already?

Whatcha doing Caitlin?

She found her feet!

My little rock star’s immunization band-aids this month. :(

Happy 4-month birthday baby girl!

Cuter Than The Dog

2011-01-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

I bought this adorable onesie before Caitlin was born. Maximus was our first “baby” and he is pretty darn cute…but Caitlin is so much cuter!

Shhh….don’t tell Max.

“cuter than the dog” onesie close up

My attempt at getting Max and Caitlin in the picture together.

Santa Baby

2011-01-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

We had an amazing Christmas this year and it was so special because it was Caitlin’s first. I know she won’t remember the tree, the lights, the glitter and glam or the story behind the day, but one year she will. I look forward to next year and each following year when Caitlin will anticipate the traditions and help Michael and I create new family traditions. I think I did a good job overall of reigning myself in and not going overboard for our little girl…but it was tough!

Mom, Dad, Jared, Alicia and the dogs all came over for lunch at our place. My mom and I cooked while everyone else caught up and enjoyed a Maddux jalapeno cheese log. After lunch, we took a few pictures and then settled in for the process of opening presents. I’m not sure when it started, probably when Jared and I were little, but we each take turns opening up a gift, one-by-one, so everyone can watch, and we balance it out so that in the end, everyone has one gift left, usually the best one. Caitlin passed out about half way through the gift opening but she got some great things.

My favorite gift this year didn’t come wrapped in a box or stuffed in a bag. There was no wrapping paper to tear or a ribbon to untie. It can’t be returned, nor did it come with a gift receipt. My ultimate gift this year was the birth of my beautiful daughter and I thank God everyday for trusting me enough to be her mom.

Below are a few pictures from the day…

The table is set and the candles lit…

Table setting

Everyone dig in!

Wow!

I’m so glad she let me put the hat on her.

Caitlin, Michael, Max & Tamra

“Is it time to open presents yet?”

Me and my Santa baby! She looks so big in this picture!

Alicia, Sasha & Jared

Mom (Mimi), Sassy & Dad

Max and me

One lucky little girl

Sassy dressed for the occasion. “Happy Howlidays”

Michael with one of his large gifts

Below is a series of pictures I took of Caitlin at night with the Christmas tree. I sometimes like to think I know what she is thinking…

Don’t worry…the candy cane prop is plastic and we kept an eye on her the entire time.

“I’m not sure what to do with this left arm…”

“It doesn’t taste like a candy cane. Wait…what is a candy cane?”

“I think I have something I’m not supposed to have and I’m getting away with it! This is great!”

(I love those feet!)

“Hmmm…”

“What!? It’s not real candy?”

“I’m done!”

I added a few angel wing ornaments this year to represent Caitlin…my little angel.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Old Friends, Good Times…

2011-01-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

This year we were invited to the Rawal’s new house to celebrate the holidays with a few of my high school friends and their families. I love that this event was pulled together so quickly and we were all able to make it (except for Johnisha in Vegas. We miss you!). I’ve known these ladies since high school (Go Elks!) and some longer than that.

We decided to do a potluck style Mexican dinner. The men grilled the fajita meat and Jaclyn cooked the rice and beans. I made 7-layer dip to nosh on before dinner and Tierra provided sopapilla cheesecake for dessert. Yum-mo! A must try if you’ve never had it.

It was so great to see everyone and a huge thank you to the Rawal family for hosting! I hope we can do it again next year!

Me and my baby girl

Her onesie says “Mommy’s Favorite Gift”

Jaclyn, Tamra, Shannon, Jill & Tierra

Texmas 2010

2011-01-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

This year’s Texmas (I think it’s short for Christmas in Texas) was hosted by Courtney in her new house. You would think she’s been there for years because it’s already so well decorated and put together, but she’s just really good like that! Michael and I lucked out this year because Caitlin came with us (including half her stuff) and it was just around the corner from our house.

The tradition of Texmas started about 7 years ago and has evolved into a yearly gathering of six best friends and their husbands/significant others and our kids. (Wow, how we’ve grown!) The original gathering included a potluck dinner and games. Over the years, it’s grown to include a gift exchange complete with a website (for secret Santa), designed by the talented Mr. Trent.

We had a wonderful time this year…regardless of the boys attempt to ruin the annual game of Catch Phrase. (The girls won by the way!) We really should have our version of the rules typed up and published. One of my favorite parts of the night was the ladies decided to all sit at one table for dinner and the guys at the other. I love these girls and they always make the holidays so much better!

Table #1 (this year it was the girls’ table)

Table #2 (this year it was the guys’ table)

The dessert table and close ups of the goodies

Our beautiful hostess!

Shawna, KC, Courtney, Tamra, Lacey & Kelli

Tamra & Michael

I didn’t get any pictures of Miss Caitlin. She was sleeping when we arrived and passed out again during Catch Phrase.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-28T15:20:00.001-06:00

…to you and yours from the Orlowski family!

Ain’t No Party Like An HP Party…

2010-12-20T17:08:00.001-06:00

Michael and I traveled down to Austin, TX for the annual HP Christmas party. This was a big deal for us because Caitlin was spending her first night away from us and staying with my parents. I was a nervous wreck to say the least…and I may have called every two hours to check in on her.

The hardest part was anticipating how much she would need to eat and making sure I took everything she would need for a 24 hour period. You never know…she may not like this toy or that toy on any given day! I was also that first time mom that typed out a three page Word document for my parents on “how to care for Caitlin”…as if they didn’t successfully raise two children on their own. My mother graciously read the document and pretended that I wasn’t crazy. Caitlin did great…and my parents did a wonderful job taking care of her. My mom even did the 5 am feeding!

Michael and I had a wonderful time at the Christmas party. The food was good, the band was loud and the bar was “open”! We always have fun catching up with those from other job sites in different cities and those that we don’t get to see often enough in Dallas. Michael was a wonderful husband on Sunday and he let watch “Eclipse” on the DVD player (it had just been released the day before) while he drove. Love you honey!

Tamra & Michael

Angela, Stephanie & Tamra

The coolest people at the party…

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree…

2010-12-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Michael and I both grew up with real Christmas trees for the holidays. So, imagine the hesitation, confusion and resistance when I suggested we invest in an artificial tree! I tried all of the selling points…consistency in size each year, no mess to clean up, a tree that Max (the dog) wouldn’t desire to “mark”, pre-lit lights and incenses that can make the tree smell real! Michael finally gave in and I love him for it! I think the tree turned out really nice!

Our new tree

Beautiful!

Breakfast with Santa

2010-12-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

One of our neighbors held the 2nd annual ‘Breakfast With Santa’. This is such a wonderful idea and a special tradition. I wish I had thought of it myself!

The parents and kids are invited over for breakfast before Santa arrives. Once Santa arrives, each kid gets a turn on Santa’s lap and the parents can take as many pictures as they wish during that time. (Meaning no crazy mall picture prices or long lines). After each kid gets a turn with Santa, he passes out a gift for each child (provided by his or her parents…but they don’t know that). As a bonus, the adults bring additional toys for charity and Santa takes those with him.

Thank you to the Whiteheads for being such wonderful hosts! We are already looking forward to next year!

Caitlin & Santa (and no tears!)

Amanda got a good one of Miss C! Thanks!

Have you been a good girl?

Don’t eat Santa…

Our angel

I just love her tongue sticking out in this one!

Just Because…

2010-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

My heart belongs to her

J-O-Y to the World

2010-12-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Have I told you that I have some of the best neighbors ever? A few weeks ago, they decided we should have a craft night and what better craft project than Christmas décor! The best thing about this craft project is your can customize it to the colors of the room, you can spell out different words for different holidays and it’s super easy (and cheap)!

J-O-Y is displayed in my formal dining room and I loved how they turned out!

J-O-Y letters

Close-up of the details. You can never go wrong with glitter!

3 Months

2010-12-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Our baby girl is three months old! Caitlin didn’t have a doctor’s appointment this month, so I don’t have any updated stats, but that also means…no shots! Caitlin is changing everyday. She is starting to sleep longer during the night and we are able to put her down without rocking her to sleep. Caitlin and I are also working on the 3-hour schedule during the day. She doesn’t like to nap all the time, but usually gets about one good (1-1.5 hours) nap in a day. The others are just shorter. Caitlin loves her hands and loves to put them in her mouth all the time. She is getting more coordinated and can put toys in her mouth too. With the pacifier, she can pull it out, but hasn’t mastered the art of putting it back in her mouth.

Caitlin has also started to talk! Smartest baby ever! Ok…they aren’t real words, but she is doing the baby babble. Her favorite times to “talk” are first thing in the morning and just before it’s time for bed. She is figuring things out to…like how to get mom to pick her up when she wants to be held. She does a little cough and waits to see if I will scoop her up. If I don’t, she does another one. Sneaky girl!

Her nicknames (mostly given by me) include poodle, chick-pea and sugar booger. Caitlin is starting to follow things with her eyes, without moving her head. She doesn’t really like tummy time, but we are practicing. She is learning to tuck her legs under her and kick them out. She hasn’t learned to prop herself up on her arms, but she is holding her head up really well. She loves to stand (with support of course) and watch sports with daddy. One of my favorite time with her are naps together.

My 3-month old!

A close-up

Love those eyes!

She has her mama’s hands

Yes Caitlin…do you have a question?

Happy 3-month birthday baby girl!

Please Pass the Pie…

2010-12-10T22:46:00.001-06:00

This is the time of year when I really start to reflect on how blessed I am. I love Thanksgiving and this year was particularly special because it was our first as a family. I don’t say it enough, so I want to take this opportunity to express how thankful I am for my loving husband, my beautiful daughter, my exceptional family and my incredible friends.

This year, we started the festivities off at the Maddux Thanksgiving lunch in Fort Worth. It wasn’t the same without my dad (he was in the hospital following knee surgery), but I know he was where he needed to be. We stuffed ourselves silly (Caitlin too on milk), jumped in the car and headed down to Houston.

Once we arrived in Houston, two of Michael’s sisters (and their families) all joined together for Thanksgiving dinner. We missed having Emily there, but she works on a cruise ship and couldn’t make it. There is never a boring moment when we visit Michael’s family and this year was no exception. This was the first time all four grandchildren were together. I can’t wait until they are all a little older and can really play together.

We spent a few days in Houston and then headed back home. Caitlin was such a trooper in the car and she was a perfect angel during our stay…until it was time to leave…

Our little one fell asleep at the Maddux Thanksgiving lunch…just before we hit the road to Houston.

Present from Gigi and Gumpy (Michael’s parents)

The sign says “Who needs Santa? I’ve got Grandma and Grandpa!”

Another gift from Gigi and Gumpy. It’s a doll that looks just like Gumpy!

Real-life Gumpy and large doll Gumpy!

There was a Thanksgiving play

The four grandkids…Zoey, Lexi, Caitlin & Anthony (clockwise)

The Orlowski Family

The Parker Family

The Martinez Family

The guys with the kids…

Gigi and Gumpy with all 4 grandkids!

Some mommy time

I can’t get enough!

Our Lil’ Turkey

Michael and his mini-me

Those cheeks!

Hmmm…I wonder where Caitlin got that from…

I just thought this one was sweet…excuse my lack of make up.

I found this great onesie…perfect for family gatherings.

Close-up of the onesie

Michael was put to work. His dad is going to start a garden, so Michael created the garden plots .

We attempted to get a picture of all the grandkids in their Christmas outfits because we won’t be in Houston for Christmas this year. It went a little something like this…

These two know what to do!

Sweet cousins

Had to get a close-up of the onesie…”elf sized”

So…we added the moms in the picture hoping this would help.

Ok…what if we pick them up…would that work?

…and sneak in the other two…

Caitlin and Gumpy

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Two Hearts Join As One…

2010-12-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Michael and I traveled to Austin to see our friends KC and Tom get married. Caitlin came with us and Michael’s sister graciously offered to come to our hotel room and watch Caitlin while Michael and I attended the wedding. This was our first outing without Miss Caitlin. We needed a night out…and what’s more romantic than a wedding! Thank you so much to Amy for babysitting. We owe you!

The ceremony was absolutely beautiful and KC makes a gorgeous bride! (Tom didn’t look too bad either.) One of my favorite parts were the grounds for the reception. We didn’t get a chance to walk around while the sun was still up, but had a great time checking out the different areas after the ceremony. The fire pit was a definite hot spot (oh…bad pun).

Congratulations to KC & Tom!

A family shot before we headed out.

Shawna, Tamra, Courtney, KC, Lacey & Kelli

Tamra & KC

What a gorgeous bride!

Cheers to KC & Tom!

The girls

The guys

The Happy Couple!

Michael & Tamra

Helping keep Lacey warm!

Baby’s First Road Trip

2010-12-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

We survived Caitlin’s first road trip! Michael, Caitlin and I recently headed down to Austin to attend a friend’s wedding. More on that later! Our first stop was Michael’s sister's new place. Caitlin hadn’t met her aunt Amy, Uncle Chris and cousins, Lexi and Zoey yet, so that was a must! Plus…the three of us missed Lexi’s 3rd and Zoey’s 1st birthdays because Caitlin was too young to travel.

The following day, we headed over to Shannon and Joe’s place to meet baby Stella for the first time! Shannon and I have been friends for a very long time. I love that our girls are just weeks apart! Even though we are currently in different cities, I hope they can grow up to be just as good of friends as Shannon and I.

Happy Birthday Zoey!

How cute is she? (I love the Madonna shirt!)

A little help from mom

Wait Zoey…there’s another one!

Board books!

Now it’s Lexi’s turn. Happy Birthday Lexi!

I didn’t get a good shot after the gift was opened, but she got a Magna Doodle.

Cousins!

We attempted to get a picture of all three girls, but Caitlin wasn’t having it. I guess maybe the 4 hours in the car put her in a bad mood?

I threw this one in because it cracks me up!

Below is a series of attempts to get a picture of Shannon, baby Stella, me and Caitlin. I think we need some practice…maybe once the little ones can hold their heads up.

…and one of the little ladies.

Up next…KC & Tom’s wedding!

2 Months

2010-11-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

Caitlin had her 2-month well appointment a few weeks ago. She is changing everyday and I love it! She looks more and more like her daddy and when he comes into the room, she absolutely lights up. Caitlin received 3 immunizations, one by mouth and one in each leg. She screamed like she did last time, only times two. It was a hard day on both of us. Luckily, I was prepared with some bottles so she didn’t have to lie on either leg to eat.

Caitlin is smiling more and more (especially at 3 am). She has discovered her tongue and likes to stick it out all the time. She is also drooling and likes to create spit bubbles. Caitlin discovered her hands and is learning to control them. She has gained enough accuracy to put her hands in her mouth (and a few toys too). She likes to grab our our hands when they are in front of her. One of her new favorite things is to look at herself in the mirror. I’m not sure she knows it’s her, but she loves “talking” to the baby in the mirror.

2-Month Stats:

Weight: 9 pounds, 13 ounces (25%)

Height: 22.3 inches (50%)

Head: 15 inches (25-50%)

My 2-month old!

How adorable is she? I may be biased…

Is that a smile?

She discovered her tongue

She likes to make spit bubbles too!

Happy 2-month birthday baby girl!

BOO!

2010-11-19T22:00:00.000-06:00

For the past few years, our neighborhood has “boo-ed” other neighbors during the month of October. It’s sort of like a chain letter but with gifts that magically arrive on your doorstep. The basic concept is if you get “boo-ed” by someone, you make two “boo” baskets or boxes filled with Halloween goodies (i.e. candy, Halloween décor) and “boo” two neighbors that haven’t been “boo-ed”. Once someone has been “boo-ed”, they also hang a sign on their door so no one gets “boo-ed” more than once and you only have 48 hours to pull it all together!

I had a creative idea this year and wanted to share. Filling up a basket can get out of hand quickly, so this year, I found some really cute Halloween photo boxes, filled them up with goodies and tied a glitter bow around them. I really like that the recipients can use the photo boxes for years to come.

Boo boxes

A Spooktacular Halloween

2010-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

We had a great Halloween this year. It was Caitlin’s first, but I decided not to dress her up since she was so young and didn’t really understand what was going on. Instead, she rocked a few Halloween onesies during the month of October. I made the black one with the rhinestone pumpkin on the front. I can’t wait to dress her up next year!

Our neighbors had a Halloween party on Saturday. Everyone brought food for the taco bar or a dessert. There was a bounce house, coloring, backyard races and a piñata for the kids. Thank you to the Hahn’s for their hospitality. All of the kids (and some of the adults) looked great in their Halloween costumes!

On Sunday (actual Halloween), Michael, Max and Caitlin relaxed inside and watched some football while I sat outside to greet the trick-or-treaters and pass out candy. I didn’t want the doorbell waking Caitlin up. Correction: I didn’t want the doorbell to set Max off into a barking rage which would wake Caitlin up, so I set up “shop” in the front yard. Our neighborhood had a great turn out and I almost got rid of all the candy (except for the pieces Michael and I set aside for ourselves!). We are awful…I know!

Happy Halloween to you and your family!

The family

One of me and Caitlin

I made s’mores brownies…so delicious!

“Boo-tiful” Caitlin

The kids at the starting line for the race

Spider piñata full of candy!

In Daddy’s arms…one of her favorite places

Mommy & Caitlin waiting for the trick-or-treaters

Caitlin thinking about her costume for next year

Full shot of the Halloween outfit. Love the leg warmers!

Mini-Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-16T18:29:00.000-06:00

I’ve been wanting to take Caitlin to a pumpkin patch to get some pictures of her before her first Halloween, but seeing as how she can’t stand, walk or hold her own head up, I knew it probably wasn’t going to happen. We have a shopping center close to the house and the Whole Foods (now open!) set up a mini-pumpkin patch area in a small grassy area of parking lot which turned out to be perfect for a few pictures! Michael knew how important this was to me, so he came along so I could be in a few pictures too! Thanks honey!

Here are a few of my favorites from the day:

…and after an outfit change…

Here Comes the Bride…(and Groom)

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

My brother is recently engaged (woohoo!) and his good friends, Mark and Rachel (also good friends of the bride) decided to host a black and white engagement party to celebrate the upcoming event! My parents were also invited and I thought it was so cute that they went out and got outfits to fit the black and white theme! We are really looking forward to the day Alicia joins our family next year. Until then…lots of events and parties to get us ready!

Michael, Tamra, Caitlin, Alicia (bride-to-be) & Jared (groom-to-be)

A close up of my lil’ pumpkin

The family

Gigi & Auntie Em

2010-10-28T17:55:00.001-05:00

Michael’s mom (Gigi) and his youngest sister (Auntie Em) came to visit us and to meet Caitlin for the first time a few weeks ago! It was so nice to have them around because they are both really good with kids. Michael’s mom raised 4 children and she is a teacher. Emily works on cruise ships and she is the manager of the kid’s club.

Gigi and Auntie Em were so generous and watched Caitlin for us Saturday night so Michael and I could attend our friends’ couples shower. I knew I wasn’t ready to leave Caitlin with a sitter, so the timing worked out really well. Thank you so much!!

We didn’t do anything too exciting, but we did manage to get out of the house on Sunday for lunch at Scotty P’s (love those shakes!). We can’t wait to see you both again soon and good luck at the new job Emily!

Family photo before heading out.

Gigi, Caitlin and Auntie Em

Belizean Babymoon – Part 2

2010-10-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Michael and I spent most of our days lounging at the pool or chilling in the room. It was so nice to not have anywhere to be at a certain time. For dinners, we either ate at the hotel or ventured out to a restaurant at another hotel. To get to the hotels for dinner, we had to take a boat. The destination hotel would pick us up at our dock at 7 pm (not much flexibility here) and bring us back after dinner. It was already dark when we would leave, so I didn’t get any pictures. The funny part is I would spend time fixing my hair only to have it look like I didn’t after two seconds on the boat ride.

One day, we decided to venture into town. The only way to get around the island is by a water taxi (boat ride) or by golf cart. There are hardly any vehicles on the island. Instead, everyone owns a golf cart and the legal driving age is 18. It was an amazing experience to walk around the downtown area and see how the locals live.

Water taxi schedule. You purchase a ticket and wait for the taxi to arrive. It’s like a bus. There are multiple stops along the way depending on how many people are on the boat and need to be dropped off at different hotels. Many of the locals work at the hotels, so this is how they would get to and from work.

Cool street shot

Another street shot. Notice the golf carts lining the sides of the street.

Michael in front of Manelly’s ice cream shop. This was a favorite among the message boards during my research for the trip. We went in and had ice cream. I got chocolate, but tried the famous homemade coconut flavor. It tasted so fresh!

Church and another mode of transportation. Bike.

Night club

Town council building

Each street had a different fish on the sign and a large map. It made it easy to figure out where we were with the help of my map reader (Michael).

Make up store

Another ice cream place that reviewers raved about on the message boards. We didn’t try this one. Can you tell I had an ice cream obsession during my pregnancy?

Their version of Target

Grocery store

Hardware store. I especially like how the hardware store is four times larger than the grocery store.

The fire station and the police station were located right next to each other. The police station is to the left (yellow and green building).

I’m not sure how this happened, but it’s a dog on a roof. He seemed to be enjoying the view.

This is just before we left the island to head home. I think the camera lens had some condensation on it, so this is the best I could do with a little editing.

Thank you honey for the amazing babymoon!