Mondays...

Monday, January 30, 2012

Each Monday my Mom takes Lydia to music class and then lunch. 
I couldn't stop laughing at this picture when my Mom sent it to me at work.
I'm personally jealous of 3 things going on in this picture:
- she got to go to Chick-fil-a
- she's napping
- she has a balloon



New Job!!!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I started a new full-time job this past week at Stewart Title in the Compensation Department.  I really like it so far and especially like my schedule.  I work MWF 7-2, TTh 8-5 and make up the rest of the 40 or so hours working at home.  I made sure this schedule was approved before I accepted this position and it lets me pick up Lydia from school and go home and hang out with her.  It's located right on Post Oak, so very close to Lydia's school and the house.
I don't get to see her in the mornings as she is a sleepy-head and sleeps until 8 or sometimes even 8:45.  But her Daddy is loving his morning time with her.  He loves to get her up and she plays a game with us each morning.  She waits until we come in her room and acts like she wants us to get her out of the crib, but then when we go for her, she just falls back down and kicks her legs and laughs.  She could really do this for 15 minutes until we trick her into grabbing her...then she's all hugs.
Anywho, about the new job...I'm working on developing a Job Classification System, so it's basically the same job I did at my previous contract position, though I get to see the project all the way through.  I'm excited about it and believe it or not, really happy to be back in a professional setting.  Everyone is very glad I'm here and that makes it worthwhile as well.  I have a great office facing SE which is the direction of Blair's office.  And we are both on the 9th floor, so if we had really good binoculars, we could probably see each other regardless of the 10 mile span.  Aren't we too cute? 
I had about a month off from the end of my contract position to starting this new FT position and I got a lot done around the house on top of dealing with the holidays.  I completely cleaned out the house and organized each closet, drawer, cabinet and shelf.  Now it would be a miracle if it all stays that way.  So far, so good.  I also got rid of a lot of items that we didn't need and that we just took because they were given to us.  It is a huge relief to minimize the pieces in the house and finish decorating the walls (it's been 3 years).  We even got some landscaping done in the back so our flowerbeds aren't just mud pits for Harley and Lydia to play in.  Lydia still eats the dirt from the potted flowers...I can't control everything.

Here are some pictures after I got home from work (yes I had to work on MLK day).  These two were a bunch of lazy bones.
 

Then while I was putting my clothes up in the closet, I turned around and she had dragged the hamper out and gotten inside.


Post-Christmas Events

Monday, January 9, 2012

Event 1: Whose Crate Is It Anyway?




Event 2: New playhouse - which was a pain in the A%& to put together.  But worth every second when she woke up the next day and jumped with excitement to go outside and play in it...THANKS Uncle Paul, Aunt Renee and Cousin Sam!!

Event 3: What Crazies had a Snow Day in Houston with 75 degrees outside?  Lydia still enjoyed playing in the snow until one little boy hit her mommy's leg with a snowball and got her jeans and new shoes all wet...ugh!



Event 4: Sliding with Daddy - her favorite thing to do

Event 5: New Slide and sporting a Vanderbilt shirt for the bowl game...so sad they lost :(


It's Christmas Time!!!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Lydia had a fabulous Christmas this year. 
We had a great time with everyone for Christmas.  
Here are some pictures of our love-filled day.

Good Morning - Merry Christmas!

At Nana and Grandpa's delivering presents.

At the Arterbury's with Princess Caroline perched on her throne.

Two crazy cousins on Christmas!  Good thing they each got a baby stroller.
 
With Honey and Charlotte.

Helping Grandpa open up a gift.

Hugging on Huckleberry while Nana and Grandpa check out the book we made for them.

 Mommy and Me!  Harley wouldn't turn around for the picture.

My Daddy and Mommy and Me!

Chick-Fil-A Lover and Texans Game

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Lydia LOVES her some Chick-fil-a.  We've been going there a lot recently and so we decided to take the opportunity to use their cut-out.  She's so happy eating there and they are so nice and accommodating.  A little secret...if you get there after 10:30 and before 11:30, they usually give you some free leftover breakfast items.  Yes, that's how often we've been going.  Whoever started this chain is a genius to Lydia.


Blair and I got to go to the Texans game this past weekend and had a great time.  We hadn't gone to one this year and of course the one we went to is the one we lost.  Oh well.  We went to brunch in the practice bubble and took a picture with Santa too!  We really think this guy practices his poses in front of the mirror quite often.  He was quite the charming Santa!

 

Ho Ho Ho...Merry Christmas

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Enjoy this video of Lydia!

Christmas Parties!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

This weekend we had two Christmas parties - one for children and one for adults.  
Lydia got to see Santa for the 3rd time this year - that man gets around town.  She wasn't necessarily happy to see him again - she kept a tight grasp on my arm and wouldn't let me put her down.  She did get to dance to Christmas songs and run around playing with other kids.  She had a blast!
Who doesn't like bubbles?
 Sidney and Lydia
 Avoiding tears by just waving to Santa - not sitting on his lap this time.
 Where is my trusty reindeer Harley?

The night before we had some much needed "adult" time at a Christmas Party.  We enjoyed a couple of "adult" beverages before we headed out to dinner with Wendy where we continued to celebrate.
 Emily, Beth, Heather and I with props of course


Visit from Julia!

Monday, December 5, 2011

We got a great visit last weekend from Julia!  She came and stayed the night with us and we had so much fun catching up and playing with Lydia the next morning.  
Thanks for coming in town and seeing us!


SANTA!!!...not quite a fan this year

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

We eased Lydia into seeing Santa over the weekend.  
The first time we were in Santa's chair was at the Children's Museum and Santa hadn't arrived quite yet.  So Blair "played" Santa and sat with Lydia in the big man's chair.

Then we went to the Galleria with Mary and let her wave to Santa from across the way.  She didn't really seem to care that much.

So then we took her to sit on Santa's lap - knowing this wouldn't be the only time we go this year.  She waved at him and babbled to him before sitting on his lap, then once she sat down...priceless.


Thanksgiving

Monday, November 28, 2011

We have a lot to be thankful for this season with Lydia, family and friends.  Here are some pics from the week/weekend of Thanksgiving.
We went to the Children's Museum for the first time with Sam and met up with Lydia's other cousins, Caroline and Charlotte.

Lydia loved the cars.


And she loved making tortillas - possibly a future at Escalantes...


Lydia and Sam had fun at the grocery store and with the cash register...they both must like math a lot.

Aunt Mary and Lydia watching Santa at the Galleria.  This was her first encounter and she did pretty well.
 

Back at Nana and Grandpa's house, Nana got Sam and Lydia a tent to play in.


 This video is from the children's museum - they both wanted to drive the car.

Check Out Our Updated Header!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thanks so much Carolyn for updating our header! 
Carolyn V. Designs
Since Lydia is now walking (almost running now), these silhouettes are most appropriate.
Here are some more pictures of Lydia loving on Harley. Harley likes to sit up in our chairs outside and Lydia just climbed on up with her this time. They sat for a while and Lydia started hugging on her. Then Harley needed her space and got down. But these pictures are so adorable!  By the look on Lydia's face, I think I'm interrupting "Lydia/Harley special time".