Texas style!

Dear Baby Trip,

Give us all a cookie. We have survived our first cross country trip!! Last Thursday we got on a plane and flew to Texas for your Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jenny's wedding. Mama was so nervous to get on a plane with you, but you did so well! I was careful not to look around as we sat down so that I would not meet the gaze of all disappointed, childless passengers nearby (a group I have been a card carrying member of since even I was a baby). And I scrubbed down our row with about 100 antibacterial wipes before you touched a thing (and by the way, plane seats are diiirty). Other than a brief wail for not being allowed to chew on the barf bag and Skymall magazine, you were a champ.



We spent the night in Dallas where you got to meet your cousin Sam, who was in the throes of his first cold. You immediately rolled around in his baby germs and despite our efforts to keep you from getting sick (seriously, who were we kidding??) you have a raging runny nose and cough today. Blowing snot bubbles is the trick du jour, my little friend.


Can you catch the actual exchange of baby germs?


Showdown with Max. Who will be the boss of the bagel? (Hint: It is not you).


You wanna lick?

Anyway, we drove a couple hours to Rough Creek Lodge and settled in for a really great weekend. You had a Rough Creek sitter while Mama went to the bridal luncheon. I am pretty sure you watched two hours of Jerry Springer while she sat for you, but you were alive and kicking when I came back, so let's assume no permanent damage done.


Two nekkid Clifton boys, checkin out the view.

That night we went to the rehearsal dinner at a BBQ joint. You were a bit overwhelmed at all the noise and people at first, but once the food was served you settled right down. Holy cow, you were grunting for more the whole meal. I guess with a mama from Memphis and a dada from Texas, you are genetically programmed to like BBQ. Ribs, brisket, potato salad, baked beans, pecan pie. You LOVED. IT. ALL. Your whole body was covered in sauce, but you were happy as a pig in...well, let's just say you were happy.


Mama, I need to tell you something: These ribs are YUMMY!!


Nom nom-licious!


Check out my belly...and the onesie I ruined.


Mmmm...fresh baby.

Saturday morning you woke up, smiled and showed off your first tooth. Sniff sniff. So exciting, but also a sign that you are growing up so fast. We stopped by the pre-wedding lunch where you ate some baby sized buffalo burgers and nursed al fresco. Then we got ready for the main event and you had a very sweet baby sitter (thanks for the hook up Allison!!!) who came from Ft Worth to sit for you all evening. As she was your favorite type: blond with lipstick, you warmed right up to her. All the grown ups had a blast at the wedding and you slept like a champ after she put you down for the night.


Check out my little buffalo burger. You have it with a beer. I'll have it with a boob.


Texas size breezes. I loves them!


This party is So MUCH FUN!


You know what the difference is between me and you?


I make this look good!

Sunday morning tooth number two made an appearance before we packed up and enjoyed some leisurely good byes, and then headed back to Dallas for one last night. That last night turned in two however, since we got bumped off our flight for 1500$ in vouchers and got one more night with Gran and Big Daddy to boot. Then we were off to San Francisco again. The flight home was pretty good, except that we both fell asleep while I was nursing you in the window seat. Unfortunately, I woke up with my bare boob in my hand and your mouth nowhere near it. Woops.


Gran, I gonna eat these flowers.


Big Daddy, I will miss you so much. But don't worry. I'll be back (in about an hour after we get bumped).

Last night we had a brief visit at the pumpkin patch with Lily and her Big Heads. You were not feeling so good between the teeth and the cold, but you powered through and even tolerated the sad little pumpkin costume one more time. I felt so sorry for you I even let you eat some leaves. I am sure they were clean, these leaves that were in the pumpkin patch. In the middle of the city. On a busy, traffic and smog filled corner. That is usually a parking lot. I am just sure of it.


Dirt: It's what's for dinner.


One of these pumpkins is not like the others.


This pumpkin is mine!


Last year they would be holding beers and not babies.


Being cute is exhausting.

And oh yeah...

You are getting so old T!


And these shots are getting a tad more challenging.

Noodles and Nebulizers

Dear Baby Trip,

A few more pics from our Santa Rosa faux vacay. We actually went back for a second go around last week, and you had a really good time again.


Oh my gosh..This backyard thing is SO MUCH FUN!


Playing is serious work, people.


Cutest. Baby. Ever.


Photo session is thisclose to being over, Mama.

On a positive note, we went for your 9 month check up this week (at 7.5 months). Either the receptionist or Mama had some math issues when making that appointment. No need to explore deeply which of us that was. You weigh 18 lbs, 11 oz and are 27.5 inches. Yay for breastmilk (and quesadillas, cottage cheese and lasagna)!

On a less positive note, Dr Kaplan heard a wheeze (as you not so politely coughed in her face). So we went home with a nebulizer and gave you breathing treatments four times a day until today, when we returned and were given the gold star of good parenting for holding that contraption in your face successfully for three days.

Just as with the humidifier, you seem sort of enchanted with smoke blowing in your face. And if this is some indication that you might think smoking cigarettes would be a cool thing to do in the next twenty years or so, let me remind you that Mommy is amassing many naked pictures of you and will use them as punishment on this here interwebs if you are caught smoking. Even if you are 30.


Is this some kind of hookah?


And by the way, I did say lasagna.


Checking out some edamame at our sushi spot. Yeah, that's sticky rice stuck to Mama's cleavage. Yeah, you put it there. And yeah, you put it everywhere else in that restaurant too.


Spring roll = delicious teething toy.

A lesson on eating noodles like a pro (Baby geniuses can be pro even if it is their first time eating noodles):







Be the boss of the big people spoon.


Dear Pincer Grasp, Where are you when I need you?


Be still my beating heart. My two favorite boys. Both covered in baby slobber.

You are way into planting open mouth kisses on us these days. What you lack in skill you make up for in enthusiasm.

And here is the very late but still hella cute 7 month photo.

Check your bad self out sitting up without assistance!!

And just for laughs (and by laughs I mean we'll be laughing with you and not at you), here are the monthly keepers and monthly out takes you've graced us with so far. (Click on the pic to make it big).





First person to comment on how you have the same amount of hair at 7 months as you do at 2 weeks will be banned from blog for life.

North Bay Style (Part One)

Dear Baby Trip,

Last week we trekked up to Santa Rosa and spent a few nights at Oma and Opa's house. They left the day after we got there, but we got in a little grandparent time and then we took over the house and pretended we owned the place!

You totally loved being able to play outside in the sunshine and we spent a lot of time on their deck hanging out. Mama tried hard to be calm when bees flew by so as not to turn you into a fraidy cat.

We went to Whole Foods one afternoon and while perusing the aisle meant for mega crunchy organic babies, some baby puffs and some organic teething biscuits called your name. Well, hello teething biscuits! They had you at hello. T, I tried one of these things after you practically burst with pleasure while nom nomming it, and it tasted like a whole wheat dog biscuit made from organic cardboard. But hey, if you think it's yummy, go crazy!

Unfortunately, I thought it wise to give you a biscuit while still in the store. I rationalized a hard cookie would not make much mess. Oh Mommy. You have never been so wrong in all your life. Teething biscuits are hard as rocks, but they melt. And they melt all over your child. And they melt all over your expensive baby carrier. And they melt all over your own clothing. And you look like the most ghetto mother in Whole Foods. And you are quietly shunned by parents wearing organic, designer clothes whose children have clean faces and who are not groaning with pleasure at the sheer joy of eating an organic, cardboard dog biscuit for the first time.

We rushed from the store in shame and continued the experience at Oma's house, where the joy of eating cookies of all sorts is always encouraged.
















Off to find another biscuit...


We also trekked out to a glorious suburban mall and had some photos taken. You were a sad little pumpkin and a happy half nekkie boy!


Mama, I don't want to be a pumpkin for Halloween.


Even if I am the cutest pumpkin ever.

Oh holy cuteness!