Chucky Cheese ....

one of the many places that we will be venturing to in the years to come.  We took Andrew there this past Sunday to celebrate his cousin Jaxon's 3rd birthday.  He was very taken by all the noise and the lights!  Everything was soo new and exciting to him.  He didn't mind the yelling, loved when the older kids (I say older but they were between 5 and 10 yrs old) would run and jump in front of him and of course when he saw Chucky for the first time.  I only took a few pictures of the day but the ones I got were pretty cute

First meeting

He loved the steering wheel and kept moving
while the car was in motion.



.

I now pronounce you ... The McAvoys

I am a little late in posting this but better late than never.  The weekend of the 7th was a big weekend for us (mostly me).  Our very best friend married his lady love in Austin and since we went to the wedding that meant Andrew had his first sleepover without Mom and Dad.  Oh Lord! 

Since Clay was the best man, he had to leave a day early to perform his best man duties (ie: attending the rehearsal dinner, helping the bride and groom with odds and ends and last minute errands).  No problem, that will give me time to spend with Andrew before I drop him off.  Our night was really good, he didn't give me too much trouble and I was able to pack him up without problems.  The next day (7th), I packed all his belongings up (I mean ALL his belongings) and drove him to Meemaw's house.  Everything went really well, I set up alot of his toys and playpen before I left, answered any lingering questions and kissed my little man goodbye for the night.  I was doing really great until I called Clay driving home.  The first thing Clay asked was if I was doing ok and then the floodgates opened.  I cried all the way home and when I got home I put some of Andrew's dirty clothes away and I couldn't help but smell them.  I know crazy right, not for this lady.  I missed my little man and I just dropped him off.  I couldn't help it.  I had asked his Meemaw to send me some pictures throughout the day just to update me and she went well beyond my request.  He was doing amazing and I didn't have anything to worry about.  This wedding was going was going to be awesome and my little boy was in great hands, what more could I ask for?!  Well, hoping my liver didn't fail me was high on my list as well.  I have not been out and about since before Andrew was born (over a year and a half) so being in a situation that compromised it was a little un-nerving. 

I have been to numerous weddings before, not to mention my own, and I have seen the whole display of love, nervousness and excitement. I have been to the receptions filled with dancing and music and silliness. And I have witnessed the relief and stress of what a day can do to the two people who just want to be one.  I saw all of that with exception of the stress.  It couldn't be less stress-free if you tried.

This wedding is very near and dear to my heart. You see, Clay and I have alot of history with this couple, Will and Christine. At times it was shaky (alot shakier than I care to admit) but more often it is pretty freaking awesome! We have seen when this couple became a couple, when their affection went from "I really like you" to "I love you" or as one of the groomsman put it "went from immature love to mature love" (I loved that by the way Brad). Will has been in Clay and my lives since we all met at Fox and Hound in San Antonio back in 2001. Our friendship has lasted through the first apartment in Austin and the infamous Jenga game when Clay-came-back-home-with-a-hickey-that-he-swears-was-from-Will (yeah) to the "Frat House of Firewheel Hollow" to being there for me when my "Papu" died to to being the Best Man at our wedding to when Clay's "Meemaw" died to being the Godfather to our baby boy Andrew and now when Clay is the Best Man in his wedding. There are many more memories that I should put in here but those are the main ones. Our friendship with Christine has solidified in the recent years and she is someone I would have in my corner, no questions asked. She is thoughtful, creative, loving and passionate and most importantly she loves Will and will do everything and anything in her power to make him happy and protect him. It wasn't long ago when I had my reservations about her. Yes, yes, I have to admit I was not easy to get along with back when they first started dating (hard to believe, I know). My protective sister mode was on and stayed on far too long.  You see, my friends are very very important to me. I am not one to easily make friends with just about anyone. Clay on the other hand makes friends with strangers in the supermarket. I am more guarded with my feelings and who gets to be in my life. You can call me selective. But once you are in my circle of friends, I love and hold tight. You are my family now and I protect family, something fierce.

And on Friday, my family got married. I was over the top emotional. I have seen these two together many many times and have seen their relationship blossom and strengthen but it wasn't until the actual wedding ceremony that I really saw what their love was all about. I saw the raw emotion from Will, the willing to protect from Christine, the way they meant each and every word of their vows and the promise they made together forever. Usually every ones focus is the bride when she comes down the aisle but I couldn't resist a glimpse of the groom of when he first sees her. His face lit up with such love and emotion when he saw her, it was breathtaking.

Their wedding is definitely one for the books. It was classy and subtle with lots of laughter and sometimes tears (good ones), craziness and cupcakes (oh gawd, they were awesome). Great friends coming together, meeting new people and celebrating the meaning of love.

Will and Christine, I write this in honor of you.  You both are an inspiration to those who believe in fighting for who they love and the "happily ever after" that comes with it.   I wish you all the happiness in the world.  May you continue to support, learn and believe in each other.  Marriage is one tough cookie.  It takes both and as I am no expert, I am still learning everyday.   Everyday with your best friend is a blessing and not one to take lightly. 

I leave you with one of my favorite poems that sums up what I saw on your day perfectly.  I love you guys more than you know and can't wait to make new memories with the McAvoys! 
 

I carry your heart with me

by

E. E. Cummings

 

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

 P.S. please forgive the quality of the pictures, this smart girl left her memory card for the camera at home and had to take pics from her phone .. oh, and my liver survived and I stayed awake until 4:00am the next morning!  Uber proud of myself!

The Grooms kicks



First Dance



more of the first dance

Out of the House

I love Andrew being the age he is now (8 months) becuase not only can we get out of the house without worrying about rushing home to have him fed but he is old enough that everything is catching his attention .. I mean everything.

Saturday we made plans to meet my sister for breakfast at The Guenther House downtown.  I kind of winced at the fact that I need to get up early on my day off but did it anyway.  Andrew sleeps till about 7:00 or 7:30 on the weekends so YES my much needed sleep time is what I was missing out on.  Anywho, we were up and about at 6:15 and out the door by 8:00am.  So far so good.  We packed up his food, bottles, diapers blankets (since it was a little chilly) and the stroller and off we go.  We arrived to Guenther House in record time and if you have never gone, I would totally recommend going especially getting there at 8:00am .. no lines and it just feels soo good.  My mother, sister and I went there one time prior when I was pregnant, arriving at 10:00 and had to wait for 45 min!  Heavens!  Being pregnant and waiting are not a good combo for this lady.  Thankfully like I said there were no lines and we whizzed on in.  Andrew sits in a highchair now so that helps a whole lot with us going out to eat.  Breakfast was amazing and filling. 



My guys at Guenther

Since we were downtown already we hit up the Farmers Market at the Pearl Brewery.  This is my sisters domain.  She is all about this place.  I haven't been downtown in I don't know how many years and it all looks so different.  My time downtown was usually spent at PolyEsthers, MadDogs or Howl at the Moon.  At night. Eons ago!  Learning new places to go is awesome .. I mental noted the places we went and sights I saw so I can take Andrew when he gets a little older. 

Did you ask for the small pepper mill?



Passed out

As we were leaving the Market, I asked Clay what time it was and he said "Guess".  I don't know about noon?  He said 10:30a!  Holy Crap!  We have done what felt like alot in only that small amount of time and it is still the morning!!  I gotta get up early and out of the house more often!  To early to go home and Andrew was coming up on his next bottle so we parked it in a parking lot for a few minutes to feed and chill, all the while little man is just taking it all in.  He lets us know when he is fussy/tired and we stop everything to let him rest and nap for a while. 

With Andrew fed and napping we decide to go shop at the Quarry.  Another place that I haven't been to in a


courtesy of Toms shoes

 while.  I forgot how much I loved it there.  First place we stopped into was Whole Earth Provisions.  This place is pretty cool, a little bit too hippy for my taste but Clay likes to check it out, so in we went.  We bee-lined it to the shoes and I found Andrew the cutest little Toms shoes ever!I had to restrain myself from buying him a couple more but seriously, have you ever seen anything cuter than these?!

Clay made his way back to us from checking out the mens section of shoes.  I was in the process of getting the shoes on Andrew to show & tell with Clay when out of nowhere, he asked me if I had farted?  Uhh, excuse me?!  No my dear you are severely wrong! was my response.  Like I would have the audacity to "fart" in Whole Earth Provisions!  Pfft!  But now I smelt it also.  We checked our shoes and nothing.  The only other thing was staring back at us in the stroller.  So I did the mom thing and pick him up and smelt his behind.  Nothing.  Next check was to open one side of his shorts and diaper to make sure there wasn't anything lurking by peeking in.  Well, lets just say I didn't need to peek in.  I had just flipped him over to check when I grabbed the inside of the diaper and my index finger caught the mush.  Jesus, Mary & Joseph, my index finger is covered in poop!!!!!  We were both either stunned or mesmerized by the sight of it .. ahem smell of it.  Holy Crap!! Literally!  Before any other patrons could see what just happened Clay whipped out a wipey and cleaned up the finger.  I, therefore, took Andrew to the restroom and cleaned up much more than the finger.  Lucky me!  Crisis averted and baby is clean again ... so is the finger.  Whew!

We contined on to out window shopping then eating at wonderful P.F. Changs.  We got settled in and started ordering.  In between ordering I was feeding Andrew his lunch.  He was getting pretty tired so we slipped him into his carrier covered it with a sheet to block out the light that was blazing on him and some of the sounds and while he slept, Clay and I had a mini lunch date.  It was amazing!  We hadn't gone out, just the two of us, in a while and even though we had Andrew with us asleep, it still was amazing. 

To cap off the day, we scooted into Old Navy to buy Andrew's Halloween costume which is a secret and then to Babies R Us for some neccesites, I mean toys for Andrew.  Ok, seriously how do people walk out of there and not spend over $150?!!  It's impossible! Even when you are not trying to, you still do it.  

We stopped by the house to let the dogs out, put up leftovers and feed Andrew his bottle.  Then a quick change and we were off again to eat dinner with Clay's family and a couple of family friends.  These family friends haven't seen Andrew since was in hospital when he was born so thier reaction to his was priceless.  Oooh-ing and Ahh-ing all over him.  He loves the attention.  He sat in his highchair for the second time today ... big time deal .. and was eating chicken and peas for dinner.  He kept looking around and sipping on his sippy cup of water.  What I failed to observe was that he was drinking more water than eating and he wasn't telling me that he was getting full.  After one more spoonful of this chicken and peas, his eyes started to glass over and drool began to pour out of his mouth.  I quickly recognized that, see that that is what I do when I know something is not right with my stomach and what went down is about to come right back up.   The rest ... well I will let my husband tell it as I went into panic mode and can't remember the details as well as he.

In the words of Clay ...
So we went to BJ's where my son decided he was too full and unloaded 5 gallons of turkey and peas on my chest and crotch.  No big deal, until I am walking around the restaurant (smelling amazing) trying to find the bathroom (which apparently is a secret) and my wife is running around like a chicken (sans head).   So she gets him cleaned up while I removed my soaked shirt (now down to a wife beater) and he is only wearing a diaper and this is how we make our exit.  I know all those people waiting in line are looking at me and Andrew going "who goes out in just a wifebeater and why don't they put some clothes on their kid".

All we needed was movie-ending music to cue the end of our very "filled" day.

After a bath and a good feeding, both boys were passed out by 8:30p.   To say we had an eventful day is a big understatement!  It was good, bad and ugly but lesson learned.  We will most definantly do it again, just hopefully with out the vomit.  Till next time.