Seven year itch

We've lived in Austin, and our house, for nearly seven years. A lot of the rooms are just as they were when we moved in (except for paint colour). Suddenly, I've got a bee in my bonnet to change things around. The living room especially. It is a long narrow room that doesn't have a lot of furniture arrangement options. I haven't rearranged, but I did get a new chair (we had one that was too big for the room. The new one will eventually be reupholstered.) and I've made a wall of family pictures. I'm especially happy with the wall.


The office has also been reclaimed now that Owen is sharing a room with Kate. We moved Kate's table in and the spare bed/couch is back. I also put up some curtains, which makes it seem more finished. The change table is still in there, but that's a minor thing.


I have rearranged the furniture in our bedroom too, but I'm on the hunt for a new dresser. Until I find one, that room isn't quite done.

First haircuts

Today both kids got haircuts. Their first official ones. Owen had had a small trim around the ears and back, but it didn't really count. Kate had never had one. Yep, 3.5 years old, never had it cut. She wasn't goign to get one today either, since she declared she wouldn't get one until she was 4. But when she found out her little brother was getting one, she declared that she was getting one too.

Before:


During:



After:

Cal-i-for-ni-eh

We went to California about two weeks ago. G is there most of the spring (mid-March until mid-June) for work. He's staying in Venice Beach one block from the most beautiful sand beach. We were there for five days and went to the beach every day. As evidenced by the photos:

Hell must be cold today

Because I'm writing a blog post. It's been nearly three months, and I'm not quite sure how that happened. Actually, I do. Life has been happening. Fun, busy, child filled life. I am not going to try to write everything, or even any, of what's been going on. I will just say what is going on now. And pictures will soon follow.

- Karen and Henry are visiting right now, although they leave tomorrow. It's been a fun week. We haven't done a lot, mostly hung near home. The boys both nap twice a day and they have fortunately been on a similar schedule. It does mean a lot of tea drinking at home. Which is lovely.
- Owen took his first steps weeks ago but has seemed pretty uninterested in using it as a means of transportation. He's a crazy fast crawler, so I don't blame him. But this weekend he started choosing to walk the small distances between the coffee table and various chairs. Yesterday he took a few steps, stopped and then took a few more. I'm guessing that we have a few more days until he's doing it all the time.
- Kate has been amazing lately. She just gets better and better. We've been figuring out school options for next year. I want her to do a pre-K program since I think she would love it and totally thrive. We were just offered a spot at the UT Child Dev. Center and although it's a whole lot more money than we currently spend on childcare, we're going to try to make it work. It will mean a lot less eating out and being a bit more careful about random purchases at Target.
- Graeme is off in California again. We're half way through his time there. (which also contributed to the lack of posting, I suppose)

Well, that is a good start. Photos and videos coming soon.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy

My dearest baby boy Owen,
Today is your first birthday. It has been a fun year of watching you grow and learn. You aren't walking, but you're crawling very quickly and walking if you have something to hold onto. You have eleven teeth and love almost everything we give you to eat. Peas, fish and hummus are your favourites. You adore your sister and our dog. You love the bath and the sand box. You have a serious temper and shriek if you want something and have a fit if you don't get it. You are amazingly affectionate and sweet. You love peekaboo and reading books.

We love you so completely. You complete our little family and I'm looking forward to all the years to come.

Love mummy

First day:


One month:


Two months:


Three months:


Four months:


Five months:


Six months:


Seven months:


Eight months:


Nine months:


Ten months:


Eleven months:


One year:

New sweater

Sink Bath