Virginia in February

 Since my mom is a teacher, Knox & I traveled to Virginia for a week while she had President's Day off.  Sometimes traveling with a toddler can be anything but relaxing (this may be a dramatic understatement) but this trip was a pleasant surprise.  Knox adjusted really well to being in Virginia (after waking up at 3:45 am to go to the airport, puking and having an explosive airplane diaper- we managed to arrive before nap time!) and napped and slept great.  My mom only had to work one day while we were there, so we had lots of time together to enjoy each other's company.

Knox & his Mana

One of the days there my mom & I drove up to Harrisonburg (about 2 hours away from Richmond) to visit my younger brother at his college- JMU.  It was a really fun trip and Knox played around campus and we got the grand tour of where Justin spends his days.  

Grandma & Grandpa love this little guy!

Visiting Knox's Great Grandma Charlotte at her house

We also got to spend sometime with my older brother Jonathan & his wife Valerie.  I got to sleep most mornings till 8 or 8:30 and had someone cook dinner for me every night.  This was my idea of a true vacation and I enjoyed every minute of it!! 

Knox & Uncle Jonathan

Uncle Kibbo (aka Justin) & Mana

Maggie & Moses- they are so much bigger than Knox!

Knox & I are home for about 6 weeks and then we are traveling back to Virginia for my mom's spring break.  This is the last year that he will be a free ticket so we are making to most of it while we can! 

-Stacie 

February

February always feels like such a slow month to me and this year is no exception.  There just hasn't been much going on.  Knox has emerged from a long-lasting cold and three new teeth and has proved be much happier when he is healthy and not teething. Thank goodness because I was starting to think I was going to loose my mind with all the whining in our house.  Just a phase, just a phase.  That is what I tell myself to get through the day sometimes. And usually it is true.  Knox has started saying a lot more words so that has been really fun.  He now says "peease" when he wants something and "nite-nite" when it's time for bed.  Be still my heart.

This week my Dad is coming to visit for a few days and then Knox & I are flying back with him to spend a week in Virginia. I am so looking forward to getting to spend time in Virginia and see all of my family and my good friend Katie as well. It should be a nice break from the monotony of toddler care :)

It was unusually cold this weekend, but I still forced Kyle & I to partake in a photo shoot.  Here are the best from my two little models.

 

A springy winter...

It has been a mild winter so far in Austin and Kyle & I have been trying to enjoy it before it gets to be scorching again! We like to have our Sundays be a day of rest.  We typically go to church and then come home and take a family nap and then spend the rest of the day trying to be as relaxed as possible.  This sounds nice, unless you also have a 14 month old in your life and then you will realize that "relaxing" is a thing of the past.  We used to enjoy our lazy Sundays to rest and recover for the week ahead.  Now we just try to keep Knox occupied and happy while resting as much as possible.  All that to say that we decided to forgoe staying home and listening a bored toddler whine.  Post family nap, we headed out to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to enjoy the free January admission. After our trip I would like to note that it is probably free in January because there are absolutely no wildflowers to be found.  Just a side note.  But we still got out of the house and enjoyed the warm, sunny weather.

I know I am biased, but seriously this kid is photogenic and cute to boot!

He found a hidden door and was HIZYPED!!!

 One of our pre-baby purchases that we have utilized the most is a carrier backpack.  Knox loves riding around in the backpack and we use it almost daily for walks.  I got some good pics of Kyle & Knox enjoying some backpack time together!

We taught Knox to give head scratches...

Giving Dad a kiss

The boys puckering up for their kiss

Like father like son- these two are total hams!

Two happy guys!

It was a fun Sunday! It is supposed to be rainy and cold this weekend so good thing we got out while we could! 

-Stacie 

Roomie Weekend

Every year since I graduated college (I am afraid to admit how many that is now- yikes!) my two roomies & I have gotten together for a reunion weekend.  We've met in Seattle, San Antonio, Houston and Austin.  Now that we all live in the same state again, we've been able to get together more than once a year and it has been so fun for all of our kiddos to get to know each other.  Between the three of us there are 5 children- 2 under the age of one.  Becca brought her little man Hunter (7 months) and Meredith brought her  newbie Presley (4 months). 

Knox supervising his little buddies playing on his mat

Here we are with the youngest of the kiddos

I was able to get some pictures of sweet little Hunter while he was here as well.  What a doll he is! Just so happy and sweet.  

Who doesn't love a baby butt? 

It was fun to get to hang out and have the little guys all together.  It was a bit of chaos with three nap schedules and three feeding schedules but still a really fun time.  We spent hours talking, ate ice cream, too many cookies and watched a movie.  All and all a perfect roomie weekend.  

-Stacie 

Beasley

It hasn't been until recently that I started to notice that I no longer have a baby, but a toddler.  Not someone who only needs me to provide them with the basics of food, milk and love to help them survive. Now I have someone who still needs those things but he also has an opinion and his personality is starting to show through.  Before he would just sit in a corner and coo and now he is running around the house and using words to tell me what he wants!  These things have happened quickly, almost before I even realized it.  

All that to say that my little man has a best-friend.  He has known Blythe since he was born, but now he is old enough to voice his opinion and his opinion is that he likes her.  Most other babies that he comes in contact with he kind of just plays "around" but not "with". But Blythe is different.  When they are together that get into mischief together and actually interact with each other. It is so cute to watch his first real friendship form.  

It's not a date without a meal!

This little girl is hyped about life! 

The Mickey Truck is top of the toy list over here...

Knox & Blythe exploring some toys 

Buddies

We joke that one day maybe they will get married.  Probably they will grow up to think of each other as brother and sister. But then one day they will realize that they were meant to be together and then "bang" true love! I am totally sure that is how these things work...

-Stacie 

He's Back!!

Felipe is back! You may or may not remember Felipe from 2010.  But he met an unfortunate end one evening when someone stole him from our front yard.  While in his Santa costume no less! After much searching he is finally back home where he belongs (thanks to my sweet husband this was my b'day gift last week).  Safe in our backyard.  Welcome back to the family Felipe!

13 months and lovin' it

Yes he is! Go get it buddy!