Best Friends

Is there anything better than Christmas through the eyes of a child?  William is so excited about all things Christmas this year!  Here are a few of my favorite memories so far:

• Him helping put ornaments on the tree. He will hang two ornaments on the same branch (like these birds) and say "they gonna be best friends." 
• Him asking for everything Christmas.  He has asked for a Christmas bath, and told me that he wants to wear Christmas clothes to school. 
• He knows his Christmas list by heart: Buzz & Woody Cars, new Play Dough, Cars Stuff, Train Stuff and Dora Stuff. 
• Every day, he asks "is it dark outside?" because he wants to drive around and look at Christmas lights! 
• He calls the Spiral Christmas Trees that some people put in their yard  "Cars Ramps"
• He calls Elf on the Shelf "Book on the Shelf". I guess Book is our elf's name. 
• Every morning, he asks for his "owl candy" (advent calendar candy.)  This really confused me until, today, I realized that there are several owls where I keep the advent calendar.  
• When we read the Polar Express and get to the part where Santa asks the little boy what he wants for the "first gift of Christmas", William quickly says "Buzz and Woody cars." 

William's First Homework

The sweetest boy goes to Mother's Day Out at a church in our neighborhood.  This week, he came home with the first homework of his life. School sent home this tiny green box.  I may have mentioned to William that it was the size of a raisin box (oops.)  It actually was a raisin box covered in green tape. The assignment was to find something that fits in the box, and bring it back next time to share in "circle time". I said "Ok, William, you need to find a toy or something that fits in this box."  He tried several cars and trains, and each time I asked "Does that fit in the box?" He said "Nooo!"  So I say, "Well, what do you think is tiny enough to fit in this box?"  And he says "Raisins!"  So.... his teachers went through all of the trouble to 'cover up' the raisin box... and we put raisins right back in it. To his credit, they fit.

Mostly so that I remember, this is him in his all-time-favorite "cars jammies" as he calls them. Even though they are getting too small, he asks if they are clean every night. Maybe Santa will bring some new ones. And... he doesn't feel like himself. He always sucks those two fingers when he feels tired or crummy.

The past 8 months... in photos

Why has it been so long since I posted?! I don't know. But once I got out of the habit, it was easy to stay out of the habit.  Since I can't remember many of the details, here are some of the photo highlights of what we have been up to! (Again, these are the highlights... and the things I have pictures of. In between, we stayed home lots too... and spent many days playing cars - "You, Mom, play cars", trains, and even Candy Land. Those days were just as special... only I don't have pictures of them.  I need to remember to take some more every-day type pictures.)

William and I visited our friends in Dallas... and ate at Adam Glenn's restaurant Sauced

Philip went to London on business, and I got to go with him! (Thanks to the grandparents who watched WP!)
This is King's Road - a great shopping area!

A Beefeater and my tour guide at the Tower of London.  The Tower was fascinating!

At a proper English Pub

Scones and clotted cream. 

More shopping at Picadilly Circus. Love the back 'taxis'.

Picadilly Circus.  At crosswalks, the streets have "Look Left" or "Look Right" written on them so that tourists like me knew which way to look for cars before crossing!  It doesn't seem like it would be THAT confusing - the whole driving on the other side of the street... but it was. For me, anyways. The "Look Right" saved me from walking into traffic a few times. 

10 Downing Street. Not much to see here, folks. Except I did keep thinking of Hugh Grant as Prime Minister in Love Actually... I mean, all the world affairs shaped here... I mean, Hugh Grant.  

House of Parliament / Big Ben. In a sort-of related note: Philip and I both came to love HP Sauce on this trip!  It's sort of a cross between ketchup and Worcestershire sauce - so good!

Westminster Abbey (side view) - just days before Kate & William got married there. It was fun to be around all of the pre-wedding buzz in London (but really, the buzz was bigger here in America!)

St James' park... the most beautiful part of the trip.  If you walk from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, you will pass through St. James' park. If ever in London, do not miss this!!

The weather was perfectly sunny and cool when we were there, and it seemed the whole city had come out to enjoy the sunshine!

St James' park with the Eye of London in the background

William hunting Easter eggs at my parents' house, with help from Aunt Kaki

At Cars 2! (This poster/display was a bigger hit than the movie!)

At the San Diego Zoo

In La Jolla

Visiting Uncle Cams in Corpus

Visiting Dallas friend again!  Me, WP, Zoe, Mel, CeCe & Max

William turned 2 on July 17! Here he is blowing out is candle with Dad.

He was all smiles at his Little Gym birthday party!

We saw lots of pumpkins in October...

...and dressed up as Boots from Dora for Halloween! 

Borrowing from other Blogs

Ok, so I promise to post some pictures soon - including of our recent trip to London.  I just don't know how to post pictures from our new computer.  We have a Mac now I'm still learning how to use it...

So while I get my act figured out, I will share a few fun posts from other blogs I read:

• Sis-in-Law Annie - check out her blog here to see a video of her Skyping with William for the first time. I think it's precious! 
• Encouragement for new moms - my friend Megan recently posted a links to here and here on her blog. I'm so glad she shared this - they encouraged me and made me cry all at the same time! 
• A good meal - I am making Lime Chicken Tacos for dinner tonight. I found the recipe on my friend Mary Pat's blog. I really like all of the recipes I've gotten from her! And best of all, Philip requests this recipe all of the time, so it has become a staple around our house. 
• Split pea soup - this happens to be what I am eating right now. It is hearty and satisfying and not bad for you. This soup makes me happy even though every time I make it, I burn my tongue because it looks and smells so good, I try to taste it right out of the pot.  But I love all of Molly's recipes, and the stories she builds around them.  Her blog is full of good stuff.  

Self

William just started saying "self" as in "I want to do it myself."  At 20 months, I guess this is the just the beginnning of his desire for independence! 

But I think that's the cutest way for him to word it. I always ask him, "Do you want help, or do you want to do it yourself?"  Self.

Art

I couldn't resist sharing this sweet conversation William and I had yesterday, as we were driving over the Braes Bayou. 

William: Wawa
Me: That's right, Sweetie, there's water.  Where do you think that water is going?
William: Art
Me: Does that water remind you of art?
William: Uh huh
Me:  (After catching my breath and getting over my stunned reaction.) That's neat, William.  The water is God's art. You know how you create art in school? God created the whole world - the whole world is God's art. 

The Things Moms Get to Do...

I am so thankful to be a mom and to get to spend the time I do with William.  I am also thankful for the beautiful weather we have had recently!  Sunny, cool weather helps my outlook on life to be the same! 

As I sit here typing this, I'm looking at a quote from Sandra Bullock that I liked so much I cut it out of People magazine (about a year ago) and stuck it up on my desk. 

People: Now that you've gone public (with the adoption of son Louis), how will you balance motherhood with your career?
SB: I don't know. All I know is that I want to be able to enjoy being a mom. Doing all the things moms get to do, outside in the sun, in the world. The career will have to wait for a bit. I don't want to step into that world until I can find what room I lef my armor in. You need tough skin to bee in this business.

I just love that quote!  If I've already posted it, please forgive my mommy brain! Enjoy the pictures of the last couple of months.

Philip and William at the Carousel at Memorial City Mall

The Giraffes at the new African Exhibit at the zoo are so awesome!

At the zoo with Alison & Jenna (and Paul, taking the picture!)

At the Livestock Show Petting Zoo - that baby goat was recently born

Also at the petting zoo, we got to pet this sweet deer. I think I was more excited about it than William.

William (19 mos) and Caleb (13 mos) at the park, playing in the sand.

Today at Discovery Green. William loved the fountains "wawa" best!

We had a gorgeous day and he was pretty excited! This picture captures him at this age so perfectly.



We will definitely go back in our swimsuit once it gets hotter.



Today was 'Toddler Tuesday' at Discovery Green and there was cute, kid-friendly band playing. We met up with some neighborhood moms. William clapped and liked the music... but not as much as the "wawa".

William (18 mos) at a Valentines Day playdate with our Found friends earlier this month.