If You Don't Want to Melt, We Try the Following

You have to get creative with temps being in the 100s. Today, my car read 109 degrees. So, the Tootles choose their options carefully. EVERYTHING outside is HOT, HOT, HOT. I seriously think this is the HOTTEST summer I've ever experienced.

Here are a few of cooling activities. Try them:


1. We try different ways of eating popcorn.

We'll try anything to beat the heat.

2. Work on our "cheese" faces for the camera.

3. Eat popcorn as fast as we can, before the pregnant momma eats it all.

3. Play-doh time!!! But, first we go through each tool, and be sure that momma can see it. Hold it way out there.

Way out there.

4. Try playing with play-doh without mushing it up, or getting your hands dirty. Make momma mush it up, and roll it out for you.

5. Play-doh is a serious sport. So, we use total concentration.

6. Again, trying to keep our hands clean.

7. Swimming with Nama!!! (aka. Nema now that we're big Nemo fans). We love swimming with Mimi too, but unfortunately momma forgets to pull out the camera there. I guess its the total relaxation feel from the amazing pool/backyard.

8. We CHILL. And, work on our "Big Kahuna" personalities.

Ryan, that's a good "Big Kahuna". Doing the Chesley-chuckle with it! Nice!

9. When chilling out, you can stop working on your bubbles. No, Ryan. Seriously. You can stop now.

10. We work on getting sores on our knees, and toes as we (Ryan) get in and out of the pool 500 billion times. Note Ryan's new pals...Dora and Boots. Here's where I need you to keep a secret....we lost Turner and Felipe at a restaurant last week. Shhhh. Please don't tell Ryan. He hasn't figured it out yet.

11. We give the paps the "hand". Talk to it!

12. We hog all our snacks from the other kids in the baby pool. Don't share. It's too hot. ;)

Our Little Swimmer

Tuesday night, the Tootles headed to Sonterra. Rod hit a few golf balls at the range, and Ryan and I went to the pool. I plopped myself down on a chair, and Ryan assumed the position. Arms out, floaties on....laters Mom. When Rod got to the pool we had dinner and just enjoyed the three of us. Nice evening...one of my favs. Love my sweet family.

Ryan invited Felipe, aka "Eppe" and Turner "Churner" to join him at the pool. (Handy Manny tools...Ryan's favorite from the box aka "ox")

Turner held his breath the longest. He wins.

Full of joy....just don't take the tools out of his hands please.

Role playing..."Turner, on three we're going under water. Don't laugh Felipe, you're next."

Ryan's doing great in the water. We started swim lessons the beginning of June. He's great a blowing bubbles, and jumping in the water. He's not a huge fan of the slide. He goes down it with the most terrified face. Reminds me of the Santa slide on A Christmas Story.

We're Going Green!

We got grass!!!! The HOA was probably just about to knock on our door. Here are two before shots. Drab, sad and dry. This grass' love-tank was apparently empty. We weren't feeding it the love it needed. It was less than stellar to begin with.

The "drab and sad" took away from Rod's amazing rock wall. Ryan, what color is the dirt? That's right. It's BROWN.

So, instead of filling the love tank, we decided to get a whole new tank! We got all new grass!!!!

While I watered, Ryan practiced his swing!

Ryan, this is called GRASS. What color is the grass? That's right, it's GREEN!!!!
For those of you from San Antonio, you're probably thinking, "this is the worst time to plant grass." For those of you who aren't in SAn Antonio, the city is currently in Stage 2 water restriction. This means we can only water our grass once a day between 3am - 8am and/or from 8pm to 10pm . Our day is Thursday b/c the last digit in our address is a "7". But, we can hand water the grass everyday, any time of day. So, we've been hand watering twice a day, every day since we went green!

Excuse the camera-phone quality. These were just too funny not to post. I can't describe how funny this moment was for Melanie and I. I had tears in my eyes. After putting them on, he remained so focused on his bubbles, and then decided to whirl around the baby pool in hopes all would see his new shades. We see them....loud and clear.

Yep, still lookin' good. I promise.

Lovin' My Baby Boy!

Just missing my boy today!

We Gotta Mover and a Shaker!

While I'm only 15 weeks, I've already felt the baby move. And, these aren't just little flutters, I can tell Toot #2 is making a MOVE! I've sort of been second guessing what I've been feeling because I'm so early. Until today!!

I had my standard four week appt (the ones where you're in and out in less than five minutes). She had the hardest time getting the heartbeat by doppler b/c the the little one just wouldn't stay still. You could hear it moving around in womb, but that wasn't what we wanted to hear. I WANTED A HEARTBEAT.

Once she targeted its heartbeat, she targeted mine in the same spot. I LOVED it. I told some of my family members that it was like "mama bear's heartbeat" with "baby bear's heartbeat" going at the same time. It was really cool! My "connection with child" got a little deeper after that.

So far so good with this pregnancy!!! If one didn't know this was my second baby, they'd think I was six months along. I'm already POOCHED out! I'm high, and pointy. I THINK I was this way with Ryan. I also think I'll have another torpedo for a belly.

FLOATIES!!!!

Check who sports the floaties...and, sports them well!

Enough about Ryan...

...Mom got a girls' weekend getaway to Austin! I went with some of my most favorite gals in the world...and, some of the FUNNIEST! Brooke, I've known since I was three. I met Rachel in 1st grade, and Jennifer and Marisa in 6th grade.

First stop on our trip was to Hamilton Pool! Isn't it amazing?! Pictures don't do it justice (they never do).

Brooke and Marisa

Jenn and Rachel


Then, we headed to the Four Seasons for appetizers and drinks. We sat outside on some lake. It was downtown Austin, so whatever lake that is, we sat by it. Note the GI-NORMOUS rolls on the table. The food was fabulous!

Brooke, in all her sweetness!

Marisa and I playing with my camera. Love you Ris.

Jennifer. Love this pic of her.

Pregnant self and all, went out to a bar/club after we had apps/drinks. Applause, applause. I was dog-tired, but didn't want to miss an opportunity to hang out with the girls. So, we shlepped ourselves to SpeakEasys and got to sit on the rooftop, on pillows/cushions...PERFECT. They had an 80s band playing...."Shock to the heart, and you're too late." These guys had the hair, outfits, everything....they're hanging on to it all. Tech support by day, and a rockin' 80s band by night!

Splish Splash Birthday Bash

We had a great birthday splash!!! Ryan's buddies helped ring in his 2nd year of life with swimming, eating and throwing balls!

YUMMY cupcakes from The Cake Shop. (They're supposed to be beach balls...don't get me started). I ate one at the party, and one at home before bed. I do not advise butter cream icing before bed. I had the worst indigestion.

This is Ryan walking in to his birthday party!!! He was the cutest. It was almost as though he was walking down his red carpet.

He LOVED his balloons. What he loved most was the Mickey Mouse balloon that you can't see.

Each kid got a snack bucket with some extra goodies in them. After the kids had a chance to swim around a bit, we handed out their buckets and Capri Suns for them to regain their engery for more swimming.

Hudson and Ryan eating their snacks from their snack buckets. (I forgot to make one for the birthday boy).

He put on quite a show! Not much swimming. Just a lot of walking around throwing EVERYTHING in the baby pool.

At the biggest moment of the birthday party, he STILL had two balls in his hands.

...and, still had them when he ate.

There were so many great pics. Jenny helped take most of them! Thank you!!! I have to say, I enjoyed the party myself. I got to relax, yet visit with everyone. Thank you to everyone for all your help!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!! You are loved!