Here's the goofy video again

Oh Tomatoes!

Goofy boys

This past week, we rented out our house for the SXSW festival. There are so many people coming from all over the world for this festival that all hotels are booked so we took ceased the opportunity to rent our house and make a little extra money to finance our Colorado vacation this summer.

We were lucky to have two nice guys from Holland renting our place. The were in advertising and one of them did a speech about advertising for Ikea... Anyways while they stayed at our house, we traveled around South Texas to visit family in Corpus and in Harlingen. We ended the trip west of San Antonio at Ben's mum's house. We had a nice relaxing time there taking walks surrounded by wild flowers and goofing around with Oliver.

Water-babies

Oliver had his first swimming lesson yesterday. Him and I went to the YMCA for water-babies. We got to hang out with a small group of 5 other babies and their mums. Oliver was pretty happy at first especially with his cute shark bathing suit that got him a lot of attention. Then in the water he rode the wave of mixed feelings from fun splashing to drinking too much water through the nose to relaxing on his back like a mermaid.

Hot winter

Today is probably the hottest day of the year so far with about over 90F (32C). Oliver who's grown up in pretty mild temperature so far, got pretty hot today when we went for lunch on the terrace of Central Market with Steve. Steve is visiting from Germany and we were happy to see him.
In the bouncy seat saga, here is a video I filmed right after we got back from lunch.

Other than that, at Oliver's 6 months visit, everything was well, the doctor said he's very healthy and still in the 90th percentile in weight and height.

Weekend in Galveston

Last weekend, Ben had a conference in Galveston. Oliver and I joined and spent the night at the Moody Gardens Resort. Lot of firsts for Oliver. First time in a hotel, at the beach and visiting an aquarium.

Sitting

Oliver is about to turn 6 months old tomorrow. During our last yoga class last week, I noticed other babies sitting. Most of these babies were older than Oliver but I wondered when Oliver would sit on his own. Two days later, I got a text from Ben saying our son was sitting. Yesterday, while Ben was trying to figure out where to plant the gazillion trees he just bought, Oliver sat in the grass for a good couple hours, just giggling, having a total blast.... and eating lots of grass. :)

Oliver's first steps (sorta)

Here's the video I promised...

Sunrise

We have the chance to see a beautiful sunrise every morning from our bed, especially in the winter when the trees lose their leaves.
Several mornings ago, Oliver got very interested in the orange light...

Blessing

The owner of a yoga studio I teach at, Steven Ross, does wedding ceremonies and blessing of all sorts. He is dear to me as he offered me my first 'real' yoga job. When Oliver was born, he offered to do a blessing for him.
So this weekend, we gathered with a few friends and had a little ritual with candles, fruit and flowers.

Ben and I held Oliver promising we will teach him how to live, trust, respect and dream so he may participate in the journey that life is. We promised that we will value his hopes and dreams and let him know that he will always be welcomed, accepted and loved for who he is. To encourage him to explore his world with a sense of wonder and endless possibility.




 It was very sweet and although Ben thought it was a little silly, he had a little tear in his eyes during the ceremony!

Laugher

here's a video of the little man cracking up.

The swing

Oliver is getting a little more skilled in the swing now and actually enjoys it. Video to come... in the meantime, here are some pictures with mama.

 

 

5 months already!

 

Oh sleep!

I wish that was me.

Eggs!

As a lot of you know, we got chickens when Oliver was born and we've been impatiently waiting for them to lay eggs...
This weekend, Ben bought a couple more chickens (different breed), not sure if this has anything to do with it, but one of the chickens we've had for almost 5 months now, finally dropped an egg... not in the chicken coop but on the ground, ok well that's just detail... Ben may have to go Easter egg hunting but what matters is that our chickens are finally producing!  :)

Good morning sunshine

Oliver is getting cuter and cuter every day. He wakes up from most of his naps with a smile on his face which is very pleasant considering he just put on 2 teeth. I needed to share it with yall so this morning I sneaked in his room when I heard him move around. It's a little dark but you'll get the idea!:

Baking momma

getting ready to host a new years day brunch tomorrow with a bunch of muffins,  quiches, and bloody marys. 

Christmas in France

Here are a bunch of random pics from Christmas spent in Sanguinet in the Landes country an hour south of Bordeaux near the Atlantic ocean. Four days of celebrating Steph's grandmother, Yvette's, 90th birthday and Christmas.  I'm sure we'll post more pics and videos later.

Steph's uncle and aunt, Michel & Christy

Maya, Frank, and Ben

Oliver & Steph

Steph's grandmother Yvette (aka Mamie), Steph, and Steph's mom Claudette

Steph's brother Frank with Oliver, Maya, and Mael

Steph showing Oliver to her grandmother Yvette after the flight, this was a present for her 90th birthday.  Her husband Pierre, 92, is seated right behind her.

Champagne and little quiches after the flight

Ben and Oliver

Steph's aunt Christy

So many oysters....this scene repeated for many days

Steph's Cousin Alex (right) and girlfriend Florence.

Ben and Oliver picking out an after lunch treat

Steph's grandmother Yvette

France!

we arrived in france yesterday. the trip went pretty smoothly considering Oliver stayed awake most of the time, but he did pretty well. it's actually kind of exciting to travel with him and have him see  the world.


 

 

 We arrived yesterday afternoon and quickly had wine, cheese, bread, and sausages. Oliver's papi and mamie are really enjoying seeing him more aware and smiley than last time they saw him in Austin.

Steph and I had gone almost 30 hours without sleeping more than 10 minutes at a time, so we were very tired. Oliver sensed it and gave us a great gift...he went to bed around 7pm (france time) woke up to feed at 10pm and 1am, but then slept til 9am!!!
8 hours straight!!!  We are still a bit tired, but I imagined much worse. Tomorrow we head west to see the rest of the family, the first time they will see Oliver! I think we'll stop at the medieval castle-town of Carcassonne. (Dad, you remember this town, right?) We'll try and get some good pics of Oliver there while we eat mussels and fries.  

Grand Piano

One of my student's mother gave me a very sweet Christmas present for Oliver. This little baby piano* has been handing down from one baby to another since the 80's. 

Here is the story for the records:

"The Little piano That Could spent the 1980's and half of the "90's" in the family of Shelly Booth. She had about six kids who all delighted in the little piano. I, Margaret Smith, met Shelly in 1996 when my son George was one year old. When she gave the piano to me her kids cried so we had to sneak it to my car for a quick get-away. George enjoyed it for years and handed it down to Cooper when he was born in 2003. It was then passed to True Noonan Lamb until he turned six this year. 

We are passing this piano to you for your first born son and whom ever else finds there way into your family in the future. 

We ask only that you pass it forward when the time comes. Have a lovely holiday and bless you and your family.

Margaret Smith and Melissa Minton"

*(look under the big piano)

4 Months

Oliver is 4 months today. We went to the pediatrician yesterday and he is still holding in the 90 percentile in weight at 16lbs 12oz. He's healthy and he's been very sweet and smiley. Although... he didn't really like the vaccinations yesterday and he's been a little grumpy since!
Hopefully he will be happy again before we leave for France on Monday. We are a little worried about the long 3 flight trip over there but we are super excited to celebrated my Mamie's 90th birthday and spend time with the family.

3 Month+ pics

Oliver is getting big fast.  He's reaching and grabbing more, laughing more, and seemingly gets more adorable every day.

Here are a few recent pics of our precious.