21 months...

Knox is 21 months.  In 90 days, he'll be two.  Wow.

The saying is absolutely true: "Time flies when you're having fun!"  This age (like I have said at all of his milestones) is so much fun.  Watching him experience new things for the first time might be one of my favorite things.  He's becoming quite the mimic, and can typically master something after watching me do it once or twice.  He's also mastered our phones.  In about 10 seconds, he can swipe my phone on, toggle the pages to find the "kid games" folder and start playing games...it's insane.  I sometimes think he knows my phone better than I do.  

He's very curious, always has been.  He often discovers things around the house that I'd prefer him not find (knife drawer, craft cabinet, DOG BOWLS) and has the pout perfected when he's redirected.

He loves to be outside.  If we could play all day outside, he'd be in heaven.  He loves to slide, kick his balls and throw rocks.  Pretty standard for little boys.

He's very independent, and wants to do most things alone.  He also wants to do things like big kids do.  We've now said goodbye to our booster seat at the kitchen table...not going to lie, I was a little sad.

(told you he was curious)

He's very playful, and loves when dad gets home from work so he can wrestle.  I've tried to satisfy this craze, but only dada can do it to his satisfaction.  He LOVES the dogs, and often climbs up to play with them.  Yesterday, he got a little hyper and started flailing around on the chair while Gracie slept.  He had the most amazing static hair...love him!

He's still obsessed with planes, trains and automobiles.  When counting, he said "one, two, CARS!"  Seriously obsessed.  And upon seeing a bus on the road, we all have to have a moment of reverence.  He is getting more vocal by the day.  Every morning Stephen and I are amazed at the new words/phrases he knows.  He loves the number "two" and the letters "K, O, and S." Random.  When he tries to spell his name, he says "K (skips N), O, OX."  Pretty cute.  He loves to tell everyone "hi" and "bye," and will often blow kisses at complete strangers.  

His favorite phrases are "What's this/that," and though we have to answer it a million times per day, I wouldn't change his eagerness to learn.  

He's the most amazing gift we could have been given, and we thank the Lord for him daily!

Happy 21-months, K-Dub.

Wiggle Worm

We've been busy around here.  Knox and I have a new standing lunch date on Mondays...Wiggle Worms!  Our local library has a free reading/music/dance/wiggle class on Mondays, and Knox loves it.  He spent the first few minutes just staring at the teacher.  She does the alphabet with a puppet, and he was VERY intrigued by him.  The songs allow him to run, jump, wiggle and play, so he's in heaven.  I'm looking forward to the next 6 weeks!

And I'm getting more acquainted with my sewing/embroidery machine every night...Knox is ready for Valentine's Day!

We're finally getting some much needed rain, so we're forced to stay indoors for the most part the next few days.  Maybe we'll tackle our Valentine's craft for the kitchen (since the Christmas tree/reindeer are still up!). 

I've been busy...

My friend Amanda is an amazing seamstress and is super creative.  She has a little business, The Littlest Hunter, and makes adorable things.  Since she started, I've been a little jealous.  I've always wanted an embroidery machine but always thought they were WAY out of my price range.  She does all her work on a pretty affordable machine, so I've been itching to get one ever since.

For my birthday, my parents surprised me with one.  I was so excited I squealed.  However, I was slightly intimidated.  I don't even know how to sew.  My mom came back in town after my birthday and patiently taught me the sewing basics.  Once I had that down, I got the nerve to try my hand at embroidery.  The first couple were a bit shaky, but once I got in the groove it got a little better.  

I made a few little presents for my future niece and Knox's future buddy, so I hope they don't mind slightly messy work :)

Then came the big beast...applique.  I watched numerous tutorials online before I had the nerve to try.  I got an old t-shirt of Knox's to work on...and this is my first outcome:

Not the prettiest, but I was a bit surprised at how easy it is...I'm serious, this machine is awesome. 

I figured out where I went wrong the first time and did a much better job the second time around:

I'm happy with the outcome!  Now I just need my friends to start having more babies so I can make them gifts :)

Lately...

Remember when I used to blog?  The holidays happened, then my birthday, then the post-holiday blues, and then BAM.  We're sick.  Knox has RSV and I have a nasty sinus infection.  Gross.  I guess it's nice that we had a few days of fun playtime with great weather before we got sick...being inside when it's freezing isn't near as bad as when its 70*.  

So, while we get better and get our energy back, I'll leave you with pictures from various activities before we were stricken with the sick bug.

We met around lunch at Safari Park the other day with friends.  As you know from blogs in the past, Knox is quite cautious and timid around these giant structures.  While his friends dive into the ball pits and climb slides, he usually sits back and watches, or plays on the train tables...or even in the pond.

But I was so proud of him this time.  He jumped right in, climbing the stairs...

And coming down the slide into the ball pit.  He got a little nervous at first, but when he realized he could stand and walk around in them, he was a happy camper.

Then he REALLY shocked me.  His friend Emily is a dare-devil.  She has no issue taking risks, so when she headed up this three-story jungle gym, I fully anticipated Knox running over to me to avoid it.  Not this time, though.  He was so brave, and went all the way to the top.

See if you can spot him:

Yep, that's him.  Right up at the very top.  About 30 seconds later I could hear him crying.  I tried coaxing him down, while kids came down telling us "there's a baby up there crying."  I ended up having to climb the entire thing to get him down.  Maybe next time he'll be brave enough to do the descent.

Since I was in there with him, I forced him to go down that yellow slide into the balls again.  Let's just say he was less than pleased.  So he sat there, crying, while 2 more kids slid into him before I could get him out.  I felt terrible.  

After that traumatizing experience, he stuck to the baby section.  This slide was more manageable!!

The weather last week was incredible.  65-70* and sunny.  One day, after Stephen got off work and could meet us, we walked up to the elementary school to swing.  Knox is obsessed with swinging, so he loved it!

Hopefully next week we'll be back to normal, and I'll be back to posting as usual.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

30-for-30

I'm thirty.  30.  three-zero.

To be honest, I'm excited to be 30.  It's a new decade.  Clean slate.  I have so many plans, adventures and wishes for the next ten years.  

I'm blessed beyond measure.  My sweet husband gifted me with a video of friends and family, each describing various times in my life that we've shared.  I sobbed, and loved seeing all of the people that have touched my life in so many ways.  My parents threw an AMAZING bash.  It's so easy to take your friends and family for granted.  Having most of them in the same room at the same time...perfection.  I'm so very thankful.

There were over 200 pictures from the party.  I couldn't narrow it down to anything reasonable for the blog...so you get raw, unedited goodness.  Enjoy some of my favs!

(p.s. the theme of the party was ESPN's "30-for-30" series, since I turned 30 on the 30th.  Everyone was to dress as a character from the series or their favorite athlete.  I'm just going to go out on a limb and say that everyone that came in "going out clothes" were meant to be SMU boosters.  It makes me feel better for wearing a mullet wig the entire night!

p.p.s. I was Chrissie Evert and Stephen was Bjorn Borg.  He was supposed to be John McEnroe, but I got the wrong color afro.  We tried painting it, but it didn't work!)

Thanks again to everyone that came out to make it such a special night.  I love each and every one of you.  Here's to 2012!!

Christmas Celebrations, part 3

Our last Christmas celebration was in Katy, to visit the Dotsons.

We arrived Friday, and after lunch at the club we headed home to have a relaxed afternoon.  Stephen and I met up with some of his high school friends Friday night, and the rest of the time was spent with family.  

Knox loved getting as close as possible to the tree.  He even tried to put his dump truck in it.  Thankfully he didn't break any ornaments.

Mimi got Knox some Christmas pj's that he wore Christmas Eve.  He looked so cute!  They also spoiled him and let him open a gift on Christmas eve.  He got a sit n' spin...remember those?  He's a little afraid of it right now, but I know he'll love it once he's older.

Christmas morning Stephen and I got Knox up and we headed downstairs to see his reaction.  I love how excited he was to see all of us, and his presents.  So sweet!

He was spoiled rotten.  Books, trucks, cars, racetracks, clothes, puzzles, and his big present:  a slide.  He has way more than he knows what to do with.

Him going "ooohhhh."

Unfortunately, it was raining all weekend.  Papa brought the fun inside, though.  They had wagon rides and bike rides in the house.  Knox loved it, contrary to his expression.

He watched plenty of movies in bed with Mimi and Papa...he also was naughty and jumped on their bed :)

While we were there, we were able to attend a little Christmas party with some of the Dotson's friends and golfing buddies.  It was nice to get dressed up since we spent most of the weekend in comfy clothes.

The hosts had their grand-daughter Blakely  in town from NYC.  She's almost 2.5, and loved "helping" Knox and playing with him.  They snuck off at one point and had a dance party.  I was able to snap a few pictures while they were shaking it...and falling from spinning too much.

We had a great time.  Now we are having the "post-holiday blues."  

Tomorrow I turn the big 3-0.  Time is moving too quickly!

Christmas Celebrations, Part 2

With our first Christmas celebration in Austin, this weekend marked #2.

Friday night we headed to dinner with our playgroup friends and spouses at Patrizio's.  Yummy food, hilarious people, KID-FREE...always a good time.

Saturday, we had a birthday party for one of Knox's neighborhood friends and then lounged around the house.  That night, we ventured out to Stephen's tennis club's Christmas party.  They had dinner, a bonfire to make smores, and hayrides to see all of the Christmas lights.  I didn't take any pictures, but we had a blast.

Early Sunday morning, the girls met at Breadwinners to say goodbye to sweet Ashley.  We obviously eat our way through celebrations.  We are so excited for the Williams and their new adventure, and we can't wait to visit them in Katy.

Finally, Sunday night we decided to have our family Christmas here at the house.  While Knox was napping Stephen and I exchanged our gifts.  He got me a Nook Color (which I love!), and I got him a home beer brew kit.  He's got a lot of work until the final product, but we're both excited to see if we can make a good brew!

Once Knox woke up we surprised him with his gift...a tool workbench and battery-operated tools.  He was so excited.  My parents got him a BBQ grill like daddy's for xmas, and he's been making us burgers and hot dogs all week.  Now we get hot dogs and nuts and bolts.  Yum.  He loves making the drill turn and the saw make noise.

Apart from stepping on all of the small pieces, it's been a great couple gifts.  He loves playing and acting like a big boy!

On Friday we'll be with the Dotsons, so Part 3 is coming your way!!