It's Been Awhile....Camping Trip

DISCLAIMER:  Sorry the picture layout is a mess!!! I can't get the pictures to cooperate on here! If anyone has any tips, please share!!


Well, since Lainey has gotten more mobile, I find it MUCH harder to keep up!! It's been quite awhile! First thing's first in catching up....





**Lainey brags: Lainey is now waving (at everyone, including the dogs). She has caught onto regular crawling (as opposed to her version, the froggy crawl, that she used for a few months) and is moving turbo speed! She is pulling up on EVERYTHING!! She is very happy and now loves the sound of Dada's keys turning in the door! She squeals when he gets home.

At the beginning of September, we went on a week-long, Texas-wide camping trip. Lainey did great! She's going to make a great camper. She loved seeing everything. Bathtime proved to be a bit tricky in the camper...so we improvised!! Look at all of the water all over the camper...and Jared!! We took the bath outside at our later camping spots. She LOVED it!!!

The first night, we made it to Junction, one of our favorite places to visit. They have a beautiful KOA and a great BBQ joint that we love (Lum's, if you ever get there). We only stayed the night there. It was sad to see that the river that normally runs through the campground was dried up this trip.

We stopped by the Kimble Kounty Kow Kickin' Festival for some food and a glimpse of the Llano River. The part of the river here looked great!

The second night, we went on to try out Garner State Park. We've heard lots about it. I thought this night was a bit bizarre. They put us out in a part of the campground with not another soul. They must have known what party animals we are! As we went and explored, I could see why people would want to be in other parts. The other locations were much prettier and closer to the water, gift store and swimming hole. It was also quiet because we were out and about after the Labor Day fun. Overall, it was a gorgeous park and we'd love to go again, but it would be more fun with other people. Again, the river was low in this park too, but it was still pretty.



The third day, we headed for Blanco State Park. We stayed 2 nights here. We took a shortcut that was about 80 miles, but took us about 3 hours. It was a gorgeous drive along the Guadalupe River, but the road was slow and very windy and we all know how patient the driver, Jared, can be. Haha! Blanco State Park had lots of water in the river. We had driven through once and decided to we wanted to camp here. I'm so glad we did!! It is our new favorite State Park. The campsites are beautiful and lush and there's lots to do and see. We went swimming in the Blanco River. We got in and thought it was way too cold, but Lainey certainly didn't seem to notice between her splashing. As we got out into the sun, it wasn't too bad and she was having so much fun, we didn't mind. We walked quite a bit, grilled out and napped in the camper (my favorite part).

The last two days were spent at my best buddy Sarah's house. It was a long trip getting there, but worth it. We still stayed in the camper, since we had Lainey all set up in there. We visited and Sarah's husband, Josh, cooked a mean brisket for us. Lainey and Sarah's daughter, Amelia, had the BEST time playing together! It was so cute to watch!! I miss hanging out with Sarah and would love to live in her area! We would make a great stay-at-home-mom team! We would have craft projects galore going on!



I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed our week! It's so nice to relax and get away from reality for awhile. It's nice to take in the fresh air and get a glimpse of what's in your own backyard (the giant backyard we call Texas). We sure hope that Lainey loves camping as much as we do!!











Three Thoughts...

It's been awhile, so I'm trying to catch up all in one!

#1. Two weekends ago, we went to visit my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and neice for my neice's birthday. We had a fantastic time. We always have such a great time and it goes way too fast! We went to Keller Pointe, which was a really neat place. Bridget and Lainey had a great time splashing and playing and Bridget even went down the slide! We always tell funny stories and laugh alot. The guys beat each other with plastic golf clubs. Bridget got a fancy beachball birthday cake and lots of cute gifts. I think her favorite of the day was the new wagon that all of the party attendants pulled her around in.

 


Bridget and Lainey riding in style



Bridget and her b-day cake

 #2. I have a sick kiddo on my hands. This is Lainey's first illness. It breaks my heart! You wouldn't know that she was sick judging by her disposition, but she is stuffy and pulling at her ears. Her first round of antibiotics did nothing and now she has a double ear infection. We are trying a different medicine now and hoping that it clears her up. She is still eating and sleeping, but it is harder for her to eat with the congestion :(

Honestly, I believe this is harder on me than it is on her!! Well....it is also hard on her doctor. The poor, sweet lady gets an ear full every time we go in. Lainey hates everything about the doctor-from weighing to checking her ears. She screams bloody murder as soon as the stethoscope hits her chest. The doctor shook her head and said, "I guess that was traumatic???". The poor lady is pregnant and looks so tired.



Eating her puffs this week. She's trying out finger foods.



She eats with the middle two fingers-the ones she likes to suck.

        

 #3. Lainey is blowin' and goin' these days!! She is scooting everywhere in the house! She doesn't do a "normal kid crawl". She has adopted what I have deemed a "froggy crawl". It goes arms, then legs, arms, then legs. Hey, who cares as long as she's moving. It is so fun to watch her get to and explore everything! My main point here is that all of this crawling will make you reevaluate your cleaning skills!! YUCK!! Not that I had any cleaning skills to start off with. My idea of cleaning is shoving it into the closet, slamming the doors shut and dusting it off with a hand. Well, since I'm staying at home now, I guess I have to actually do a little better than that. I was crawling on the floor with Lainey today and it's GRODY!! Baseboards are filthy and our vacuum is definitely not an Animal (the brand) when it comes to sucking up the 5,000 pounds of pet hair left behind by our furry friends.

Also, things that you never would have thought of have now become hazards. Chairs that can fall over, cords that apparently make fun playthings, walls that are...well, too hard and a cat that threatens to eat any human that encroaches in her 50 foot radius personal space. Yikes!

Ok....solution? Pad the house and put plastic down. And misplace the cat permanently.



What??



Froggy Crawling

What is this critter?





 



 

 



Today's Top Ten

Top Ten Things I Love About Being the Mom

of a Seven Month Old

10. The baby smell - Kinda like the "new car smell". I'm not talking about the newly acquired solid food poop smell (here we are at poop again). I like the lavender bath, fresh laundry, baby hair smell.  

9. Buying baby food - I'm the crazy lady with 400 types of baby food in her basket. I love buying every single type of baby food out there. They have such cool flavors (peach cobbler smoothie, yes please!)! And not so cool....beef with gravy, blech! I try a little dab of what she's having, so I know what I'm feeding her. I get so excited for Lainey to try a new flavor. Today, she tried peach yogurt melt-in-your-mouth puffs. I can't believe the stuff they come up with. We haven't had any losers so far!! She likes everything (at least she eats it...you couldn't tell by the faces that she makes, but I think that's the texture)! I hope it sticks.

8. Nice comments in the store - Note that I said comments....this can be done from 5 feet away, in individual personal space without touching the baby. And, "Awww, look at the cute little boy" does not count as a nice comment when she's wearing PINK and flowers!! That comment is disqualified.

7. Funny new faces - Please see above pictures. For the one on the right, she likes to snort in and out through her nose (see #6, new noises) and for the one on the right, she likes to view the world sideways.

6. Cute new noises - Screams, coos, raspberries, etc. Her newest is bababa and mamama which has convinced me that she is the smartest baby in the world and should be considered for the Harvard Medical Program! I know that what she is saying is very profound!

5. Watching her get around - Lainey can get anything she wants. Remotes, phones, papers...anything she is not supposed to have. What I have figured out about Lainey, though, is that she has to really want something to go after it. She's very laid back and will crawl only when she feels it's necessary.

4. Baby clothes!!!! - Need I say more? I'm obsessed. The ones that look like little bitty grown-up outfits really get me. I love the frilly dresses, too. Who am I kidding? I love them all. My child makes them all look cute.

3. Excitement when I pick her up - I know she won't always love mom, so I'm embracing this one! When I get her out of her carseat or highchair, she kicks her legs and reaches out with the best look on her face. She hugs my neck when I hold her. It's gotta be the best feeling in the world. She doesn't care what my hair looks like or that my breath smells like a mule's butt. She just knows I'm mom.

2. Each new day - She's such a little sponge, absorbing and learning so much everyday! In Hobby Lobby yesterday, she figured out that the basket made a squeaky sound if she rocked back and forth quickly. She amused herself the whole time with that. She rocked and giggled. That small thing was one of the highlights of my day.

1. Getting her out of the crib in the morning - See #3. She has the most amazing smile when I go to get her when she first wakes up. This is the way everyone should start their day. I've gone to a real grouch (just ask poor Jared) to a fairly pleasant person in the mornings. This sweet smile and noise could warm the coldest of hearts. I am very blessed and hope that I am able to see all of the ways that I have been blessed.



Two Poops, A Pot of Soup and Some Lost Keys Later...

....and we were out the door. Kind of a gross title, I know, but it sums up my Tuesday. We were headed to a Mom's Club meeting at 10, but had a busy morning before that!!

I swear, something about pregnancy adds this extra wrinkle to your brain that makes a mom more clumsy and forgetful. Maybe not for some, but I know other moms have mentioned the forgetful part. More clumsy for me? Is that possible? Yes. I have been known to close my own arm in the car door. (Yes, that's possible.)

Warning: Long, somewhat boring story ahead. Some may think it's petty, but it was one of those pile-it-on days.



The grin I get when I turn to look at her:)

 Well, this particular morning, I got Lainey up and like I always do, put her in her highchair, fed her and did a few chores while she played with some toys in the highchair. When we have something to do in the morning, we are on a pretty tight schedule. After I fed Lainey, I worked on a pot of soup that Jared would take for lunch for the week. This particular soup should not have been hard. It is a yellow curry shrimp soup. Toss in some curry, saute some veggies, pour in broth, put in shrimp and more veggies and simmer. Well, my newly acquired brain wrinkle prevented this from being an easy task. In the middle of chopping the first batch of veggies, I heard the oh-so-familiar sound of grunting.
Lainey may kill me in a few years for telling you this, so don't tell her I mentioned it! It is not hard to tell when she is...ahem....doing her business. She grunts like a full grown man and her face turns very red. Jared and I find it hilarious and try not to laugh too hard at the risk of giving her a complex. Anyway, I heard the distinctive sound and decided to finish chopping my veggies then change her. Well, I made her wait too long. Just in case you aren't quite familiar with the laws of physics, poop has nowhere to go in a diaper that's being sat in except out the sides. You get the picture....moving on.
Luckily the disaster was contained in her pj's, so I got her cleaned up and went to finish the soup. It was time to add the shrimp and wouldn't you know it, I bought the shrimp that made my life very difficult. I bought the ones that still had the whole shell and the veins in them. Now if you've ever deveined a shrimp, you know that it makes you gag a little just thinking about it. Lucky me, I had to do a whole pound. Got that done and needed to add canned tomatoes. First tomato I pulled out exploded on my shirt (one of my faves). How that happens, I don't know, but it did. I took off the shirt and started a load of laundry. Back to the soup and I finally get that finished.
I was very behind, so I hurridly put an outfit on Lainey and began to pack us up. It took me a good 10 minutes to find my keys. Where were they? In my purse. Really? I had already looked in my purse, but apparently not in the right spot. Ok, soup-check, keys-check, kid-check....walking out the door with Lainey on my hip and what do I hear? Yep, the grunting. Now running five minutes late, I change Lainey again and away we go. We arrive at our destination 20 minutes late, but in one piece (physically).

I know it doesn't sound so bad. Looking back, it's pretty funny. That day, I was flustered, though. It is just a small example of what a mess I have become (a bigger mess anyway).

Yesterday, I forgot to take a shower. WHO FORGETS TO SHOWER??? I do. We swam and then we went grocery shopping and came home. I usually shower after swimming. Nope. Forgot until I woke up this morning. You would think the aroma of chlorine would remind me. I have bumps, bruises and scrapes. I even pinched poor Lainey's leg in the car seat. Maybe it's not a new brain wrinkle, maybe it's a brain function inhibitor.

I think scientists or the medical field should seriously look into this pregnancy/mom condition. I believe that I would be a fine test subject. Anyone else out there need to be considered for the study???

The Schedule Monster

So, Thursday night I went out and had more than one or two beers! I had 3. Yes, people, I'm a VERY cheap date now! My party trick used to be chugging beers faster than a burly man, but now my party trick is not falling asleep before my first beer is gone.



My friend and former coworker, Emily, and me
Thursday night. Miss her!!



Back to the story...I had 3 beers. I am able to do that now because Lainey sleeps through the night and it takes about 2 hours per beer to metabolize out of the system. And, no, contrary to popular belief, I do not serve up my breastmilk 5% alcohol per volume.

I found myself telling everyone at this birthday party that it has been more than a year since I have had more than 1 or 2 beers. I had a FABULOUS time!! I had gone to the party from 5pm to 7pm and then returned about 9:15 to join the party crowd. Jared had gotten home late and I was able to go back to the party. 

Why did I leave the party? Well, I have created a schedule monster. Our night time routine is very stringent and regimented!!
6:30 - feed Lainey veggies
7:30 - bathtime
8:00 - read a story
8:15 - feed Lainey a big bottle
8:40 - Lainey is out for the night (usually until 7ish)

This schedule works for us. She sleeps through the night and knows what comes when. We (meaning us parents) become very antsy and uncomfortable if we get off of our schedule, like our child might morph into a man-eating troll if we deviate by 30 minutes. Understandably, I have also struggled with having a social life. In 2010 BB (before baby), we were very social people!! Jared and I like to go out and sit on a patio, listen to music and have some beers. We haven't done that together since 2010BB. Don't get me wrong....I am not in ANY WAY complaining about how life has changed. My life is so very blessed and I wouldn't change a thing. I would like to find a happy medium so that Jared and I can go out every now and again and enjoy "Grownupland".

I have to find a way to conquer the schedule monster. Am I calling Lainey a schedule monster? Unfortunately, I believe that I am the schedule monster!! So, I am open to ideas on how to conquer my fear of getting off schedule and leaving the house. Do you think they list babysitters under A in the yellow pages, for Anal Retentive Babysitters? That's the kind I would need.

Six Month Doctor Appointment

Well....it's official....Lainey's growing like a weed!!! We went today for her six month checkup. She weighed right at 20 pounds, which is in the 95th percentile of her age group and she measured 27 1/2 inches, which is in the 98th percentile. Are you shocked? No? The doctor asked if she will be tall, like her dad. Looks like it! They're just numbers, but they make me so proud! She's growing and thriving and amazing!! She had to get shots, which always breaks my heart. She has developed quite a set of lungs! We don't have to have shots next time, so at least we are done for a few months.

As I write this, she is log rolling and talking to the dogs.:) Jared and I decided we don't care if she log rolls and squeals for the rest of her life, as long as she stays this happy (because we sure are)!

Can you see her two new teeth? Too cute!!

Swimming Class

Lainey and I have started swimming class this week. We go twice a week for a month. I have to tell you, I have looked forward to this class before she was even here! It just sounded like such a neat and fun thing to do together.

So far, it's lived up to my expectations. Monday, the 4th, we were the only ones in class. This was very nice for many reasons! Mainly, it was nice because as Jared says, sarcastically, that I have the grace and sure-footedness of a mountain goat. It was nice to be able to go over the "moves" with the instructor right there. I'm sure Lainey appreciated that too! We sang and did kicks and strokes to "The Wheels on the Bus". We learned how to roll in the water and how to make it back to the wall. I had to dunk Lainey under water!!!

The instructor called it the dolphin swim. She said, "Ok, now, you will go bounce, bounce, dunk" and I said, "bounce, bounce, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT!?!?". She said it was to get rid of baby's and mom's nerves. We did it and surprisingly, Lainey did great! She sputtered a little, but didn't grimace or fuss!! I think we have a real water lover on our hands!
My favorite part of the day was floating on our backs. I lean back and she leans back on me. The instructor told me that I was going to have to sing a song to calm her and make her lean back. Yeah, right. As long as Lainey has her fingers to suck on, I think that we could have been backstroking in hot oil. She was so mellow! ***Brag: The instructor said that she was the calmest baby she had seen!!

Today was just as fun and we had 3 other kiddos in our class. They were 12 months and 17 months. Lainey splashed and floated and really enjoyed watching the other kids. I think that is her favorite part of going to things like this-swimming, story hour, etcetera. One mom said that she just keeps signing up for the classes and doing it over and over until her kid is old enough to do individual swim lessons. I think we might do the same. It's nice to talk to adults and get out, but also we both get in some exercise!

I think one thing that bugs me about living here is that I feel like we don't have enough of this kind of stuff to do. I'm going to diligently keep my eye out, though, because even though it's quite a chore to get her ready in the morning, it has been SO worth it! Besides, she needs all the help she can get just in case she gets my athletic ability-or the lack thereof.

BONUS: She takes verrrry long naps afterwards!!

My Toy Company

So any of you that know Jared know that about every six months, he comes up with a "make millions fast" scheme. Let see if I can recall a few....there was the orchard he wanted to grow, a battle wagons business, flipping houses and don't even ask about the latest. Welp, I've finally come up with my own. I am going to start my own toy company. Now it is going to take some fantastic marketing for my idea, but I think I can do it.

We have invested a fair amount of money in pink vibrating doggies and squeaky monkeys or bumpy, shiny rattles. Why, I ask you, when this is what happens...

These things, along with burp rags and her own dress have proven to be her favorite toys. Now I'm gonna have to have a heck of a sale on these things, something along the line of  "buy one 6 pack of waterbottles, get one free" and they will probably have to be blinged out. Maybe flavored burp rags and edible magazine pages. I'll call it my "practical" toy line.

It's amazing how much they learn and observe. Lainey is just fascinated with the dogs and with us drinking water. She has learned that smashing things makes a very loud noise and it is no easy feat to change her now because she wants to touch everything on the changing table. Jared and I were talking today about how she has changed from this snuggly, sleepy slug to a squealing, squirming bundle of energy. Every stage has such fun parts.

So, who wants to invest in The Practical Toy Company? I'm open to ideas and cash start offs!

"That Mom"

I had a suggestion to write about Lainey's firsts. As I thought about this more, I discovered that I have become "that mom". Let me clarify....For a long time, Jared and I didn't even know if we wanted kids. I watched moms that posted lots of pictures of their kids, told stories all about the kids, thought everything their kids did was so special or based their schedule around their kids. At the time, I didn't understand. I said to myself, "If I ever have kids, I'm not going to be that mom". When and if we were ready to have kids I thought I'd be this laid back, fun loving, unchanged mom. When things didn't quite go as planned when we decided it was time to have a family, I think something changed in me. I appreciated everything about my pregnancy from the little movements to the aches and pains and relentless nausea. Needless to say, now that Lainey is here, I appreciate every moment and every little thing. (If you can't tell by my constant picture posting on Facebook). I have become "that mom" whose world revolves around their child-and I couldn't be happier. So, to get to my point, I can't possibly write one blog post about Lainey's firsts because everything she does is so cool and fun and new. I hope this wasn't too mushy or deep for you, as I'd like to keep these posts lighthearted and fun!!

A Few Fun Firsts

First Sunglasses-isn't she cool?

First roll onto her side (that I caught).

First taste of peaches-do you think she likes them?

You can't see it, but she has her first tooth. Found it poking out yesterday!

One Stinky Day

2 dogs sprayed by a skunk + 2 diaper blowouts + 1 raunchy cat butt = ONE STINKY DAY!!

We woke up at about 4:30 this morning and let the dogs outside. I heard Chopper barking and some knocking noises. I told Jared about it and he went to inspect. He came back in and said it smelled like a skunk and then let the dogs in the house. BIG MISTAKE! The smell of those dogs could make a morgue worker vomit. Out they went and we have shampooed them with "Skunk Off" and will repeat tomorrow.

Lainey is not a subtle pooper. She grunts, groans and gets the reddest face when she's doing a number in her diaper. Today, however, she managed to sneak not one, but two loads by me. We had to wash 2 bouncy chair covers and two outfits. They should warn you in books that once you start feeding your baby fruits and veggies, that you should also start clothing them in plastic garbage bags or rubber suits. Ugh. So we changed and bathed and we are all set for the night.

The cat....13 years old and foul. She is the anti-Christ of the animal world. She chews power cords, hisses and bites company and runs around the house roar/growling (that's the only way I know how to describe the noise coming out of her). Her butt and guts have gotten increasingly stale over the years. I'll spare you the details, but maintaining her litterbox added to the fun of the day.

The day all seems worth it, though, when I go to get my little Lainey out of her bassinett and she issues me the sweetest smile I have seen in my whole life. Here's hoping tomorrow is a little rosier.....

New Braunfels birthday trip

Last year for my birthday, Jared and I went to San Marcos and camped and shopped at the outlet malls. We decided to do the same for my birthday this year. Little did I know what he really had planned for me...

Jared booked a campground in New Braunfels. We left Thursday morning and the trip took us about 7 hours. When we arrived at the campground in New Braunfels, I offered to go check us in. Jared insisted that he do it so he could "visit with them" at the front desk. I knew something was up. We got to our site and started setting up. The door to the camper opened and there was Jared's mom. I was glad to see her and excited that we would have someone to spend the weekend with. As I started to visit with Joanne, the door opened again and there was Jeana, Jared's sister. Her fiance came next. I was very happy and knew we would all have a great time. About 10 minutes later, Jeremy, Carolyn and Bridget (my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece) pulled up. I thought, "Wow! This will be fun with everyone here!". Jared had rented cabins for the family. Later that evening, I was getting Lainey ready for her bath and Jared disappeared. I heard him call my name and my parents were walking through the door. This was the BIG surprise of the day. It has been a long time since my parents have taken a vacation!

Jared and the family had done so well keeping their little secret! They knew since April! My MIL allllmost spilled the beans, but Jeana quickly undid it. Jared almost made it, but slipped and mentioned that the upstairs of one of the cabins would be perfect for my sister and her husband. They arrived late that evening!

So imagine the poor people at the campground with the Booker/Buxkemper extended family outing!! Really, we were very well behaved!! For 3 days, we enjoyed lots of shopping, some time at the pool and the river and lots of time retelling hilarious stories on the porch. It took me a night or so to get Lainey and I into a routine, but I had such a blast!!

We found a little spot on the Comal that we could wade in. Our days of wild river float trips have been put on hold. Lainey LOVED the river! We tried her in her floaty, but she tried to drink the river, so we decided to hold her. She splased and giggled and as you can see in the pictures, tried to splash and suck her fingers simultaneously.

When it comes to birthdays, anniversaries and special days, Jared is so good to me. He treats me like a queen. He outdid himself this time!! I think he may have started a tradition too! We are now on a mission to scope out campgrounds and resorts for next year's gathering. We are going to do a nine day Texas tour later this summer, staying in one place a night. Stay tuned...