Jul 10, 2010

Home Sweet Home

Traveling with a toddler is getting much easier these days. Although, I did stop 3 times in under 45 minutes on they way home, it is nothing like it used to be when Cade was a newborn/infant.  It would take me forever to get anywhere! 

I hate stopping when I'm traveling by myself, but when it comes to Cade, I'll do anything.  Especially if it involves a nap in the near future!  Even if I have to stop 3 times on they same road, in the same town, and listening to the same Barney episode....a nap is a nap! What?! Need that blankie...let me stop and get it for you, tuck you in and put Froggy riiiight next to you.  lol.

The past few days Cade and I have spent in the hill country visiting Stephanie and Grandma. We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and spent the night in Austin. Thursday morning we loaded up and drove to Fredericksburg to see Grandma. We had a great visit. We did our usual trip to DQ for ice cream and a quick trip to Wal-Mart because for some reason we always need something from there. It was kind of a rainy day but during the dry spells the kids played outside and worked hard at covering the entire sidewalk with chalk.  Grandma said she could watch the kids so I could run down town for a little bit.  While I was gone she baked cookies with the kids. I think she had fun even if they hover over her... it's amazing they even turn out! That evening we went to the farmer's market in town and sampled tons of fresh veggies, wines, and cheeses. I bought an awesome feta cheese/olive oil spread, a loaf of white bread, and two purple bell peppers. We came home and made a delicious salad for dinner and ate almost the whole round loaf of bread at dinner. I wish there was a farmer's market here like the one on Main Street. Live music, gourmet food and fresh, home grown fruits and veggies to sample. I LOVE it.

We headed back to Buda Friday morning after a quick stroll through the shops in downtown Fredericksburg. We made it home after 1 o'clock and then we loaded back up and took Maxie to gymnastics. While she was there Cade and I went to the city park in Buda and then to Cabella's. You could seriously spend all day in Cabella's. It's huge. Cade and went through the exhibits, had a snack in   the restaurant, and then played in all of the camping tents.  We remembered to pick up a Pig Tail Meat flipper for Travis and some fishing hooks for Cade's rod. Travis is dying to take Cade fishing, so I'm guessing in the next few weeks he'll have casted his line for the first time! I'm sure he'll catch a BIG one for sure!
So, now we're home after one last stop at Julie's house this afternoon which put us home at 10:30 tonight.  Hopefully we'll get a good night of sleep.................................. yikes! it's 11:30.  g'night!

Jul 6, 2010

If I could write a letter to me

There is a trend going on in the blogger world these days to take a moment and write a letter to yourself... You start from a certain point in your life and write to the present.  I read a few entries on random sites and was moved by some of the entries... So I thought I'd give it a shot and hopefully pass on the idea to my friends and other random people who might come across this page.

Middle School Tara.
It's the day before your 13th birthday and  you are getting braces.  You are really excited about this.  Finally something to make you "cool" and "fit in" with the rest of the crowd but consider waiting until after your birthday party....your teeth are really going to hurt from those tight, shiny, yet colorful braces.  You'll have the hardest time picking out the color of bands you want but trust me, clear is best.  Once they are removed you'll have the next best thing... a permanent retainer. You'll have many not so nice things to say about this permanent piece of metal in your mouth... just remember floss is your friend.  You are going to be going to high school soon and will be leaving behind some really good friends, but hold on to the red head named, Julie. She'll be there with you through all the hard times and show you what true friendship is all about.  

High School Tara,
You're going to be in the marching band. Try your best, maybe even practice playing your instrument. Don't worry about Chemistry. You'll run into your teacher many years from now and tell him that you haven't balanced a chemical equation since you took his class and he'll laugh.  Oh, and you won't use Geometry either.  Boys will be boys and none are worth keeping around. You'll work at Chili's from 1993 to 2000. You'll meet one of your best friends, Kristine.  She'll be wearing a really cool color of nail polish and you'll notice.  You'll be instant friends after that.  You'll continue working at Chilis' after HS and will transfer to one in Austin. You'll meet Paul and finally understand the meaning behind "keep Austin weird!"  Your friendship will be one you cherish forever.

College Tara,
You'll take classes at ACC and apply to a few colleges. You'll get accepted to SWT and UoH.  You'll choose SWT. Paaaaaaaaaaararrrrty.  Just kidding Mom!  You will go through some roommates and live on your own some.  Keep your eyes open on campus because you'll spot your friend from High School,  Becky. You'll reconnect and spend a few years rooming together. Eventually she'll move to Boston but she'll be your tour guide to the city and even take you on a trip to San Fransisco/Napa Valley.  Later on in life, she bring you back tokens from her travels across the seas.  Your favorite with be a child size kimono.  Be sure to get familiar with the Internet. You'll be able to connect with a lot of people from all over, some you'll even really care about.  Match.com will one day change your life.  Your senior year you'll get a phone call that brings you to your knees.  Papa dies and your heart breaks. But don't worry. He will visit you in your dreams and you'll be so happy you saw him again. You graduate and make your parents proud! 

23 - 29 year old Tara
Thanks to your friend Susan, you'll get your first teaching job in Sugar Land. You'll teach Kindergarten and pick out your "favorites" but know that in the end each of those kids needs you.  You'll question moving back to Austin because relationships end and you want a change, but you never leave. You'll turn 25 and make a wish as you blow out your candle to meet someone who loves you for you.  A week later you do.  You'll talk to him for hours that first night. You'll meet him and two days later you'll see him every single day after that.  You'll fall in love under the stars and he'll ask you to marry him under those same stars a few years down the road.  Your parents won't believe you when you tell them you're engaged....Travis will always surprise you. You'll get married at the same church your parents did and where Papa is buried.  The wedding will be amazing. You'll find out a month later your expecting.

Pregnant Tara,
You are shocked. You just peed on a stick and it's blinking and alarms are sounding off -you're pregnant. Are you ready for this? NO.  But who is.  Your sister will tell you that there will never be the perfect time, and you'll never have enough money.... this will stick with you.  You might want to sign up for the class, what to expect after your water breaks. It's good to know this sort of information. Drag your husband along.  When in need, call Julie.  Your water will break on the rug as you're walking to the bathroom...and seriously you don't have to go to the hospital right away... if you do, your husband will fall asleep and you'll be awake, and mad that he's asleep.  So just wait it out for as long as you can.  Remember that there is a button on the side of the bed to push if you start feeling contractions. Don't press it too many times...but know that if you do, Travis will be there for you to move your legs for you. 

30 year old Tara
Life will never be the same and it's ok. Realize this.  Sleep doesn't happen much. Husbands don't always hear a crying baby.  You'll catch up on nights when mom and Julia step up to the plate and keep your little one over night.  It will take awhile to get to that point but just know it will happen.  Let it happen. Give your baby a bottle. Better yet, give the bottle to someone else and you get out of the house.  Try to smile. Being a mom is hard but your little boy is going to love you.  It's ok to have a messy house. Your house isn't as messy as your neighbor's house or your neighbor's neighbor....it's not even messy.  So let it go. It's hard, but let it go.  Date your husband. Remember your friends.  Don't get caught up in the have nots. Know that God has a plan and that things are going to work out.
32 year old Tara
Cade is 3 1/2.  He is closer to 4 than he is 3.  He makes sure that he makes you happy when he goes potty. Or happy when he doesn't hit you even though he just said he was going to.  He will want to watch Imagination Movers, Bad Hair Day a hundred times and then once again just because he wants to bounce on the couch while they sing.  He will grow one inch in under 2 months.  He loves to sing, dance and play sharks and alligators. His favorite thing to say will be "rude butt."  Try not to laugh when he says that over and over again.   Spend time with your husband and do things for him... don't expect perfection.   Hold hands and when times get tough just remember where you came from. Say I love you more.

Jul 5, 2010

I heart JULY

We had a great weekend at the Miller Household.  Friday, Julia picked Cade up for a day and night o'fun.  Apparently too much fun since bedtime wasn't until after 10!  Oh well, it gave Travis and I an entire day to spend together. So since we had the house to our self we decided to head downtown and eat at Red Onion and then try out Sprinkles Cupcakes....except as soon as we entered on to I-45 we decided that we should probably make other plans since it looked like we were about to enter a black cloud of death.  So we u-turned and headed North to The Woodlands.  We stopped by  the Carter's store to get Cade PJs; they were ridiculously cheap so we stocked up.  Since it was storming by the time we left Carter's we decided to eat lunch right next door at Pie Town for a decent sandwich and soup.  On the way home we hit up the Redbox.  We rented Sherlock Holmes (zzzzzz) and Duplicity (zzzz).  For some reason I fell asleep in both.  Must have been the rainy weather that took it out of me.

Once the weather cleared out we decided to go to Alicia's Mexican restaurant for tortilla soup.  Afterwards we went to Starbucks for a coffee and discussion on where to take our vacation.

Vacation! Wow. I thought I'd never leave the house this summer.

So, here's our plan.

17th Circus with Maxie
18th head to Austin with Maxie (stay over at Stephanie's and maybe have a date night downtown)
19th Fredericksburg (visit Grandma and try out a new restaurant)
20th back to Austin dropping Cade off w/ Uncle Travis and then Travis and I head to Bastrop Lost Pines Resort
21st pick Cade up and head back to Lost Pines for more fun
22nd head home stopping at Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham

Travis had a almost 50k in airline miles so we swapped those for a one night stay at a luxury hotel and since Travis does so much "business" with Hyatt in downtown Houston, we were able to get a fabulous deal on an additional night stay.  Woo-Hoo!   I can't wait to go!

Saturday was a much prettier day so Cade and I went to Sprinkle's cupcakes (my favorite cupcake place now) and Paper Source. 

Sunday we went to church, then headed to the movies to see Toy Story 3.  That was Cade's first "real" movie.  He did awesome.  He actually fell asleep on the way to the show but I was able to keep him asleep in my arms/lap until the movie started.  It worked out perfectly.  Then we headed to the Red, Hot and Blue Festival on The Waterway.  We walked around and decided to grab a snack and cool off at Cheesecake Factory.  Afterwards, we went back over to the festival and waited.....as patiently as we could for the fireworks to start.  It was a great show.  Cade loved the pink ones (big surprise).  

Fun weekend..... now Monday is here.   Not much planned for today. We have gymnastics tomorrow and then we're packing up and heading to Fredericksburg to see Grandma on Wednesday.   We'll be back Saturday and leaving after church on Sunday to go up to Buffalo for the night.   Lots of traveling going on...but it sure beats staying at home.

Later this month July 30-August 1, I'll be going on a retreat to Camp Allen with the girls from my quilting group.   Looking forward to working on Cade's baby book.  I hope to at least finish his 1st year.... so behind on that.

The next baby I (hopefully) have will have their book already assembled and all I'll have to do is insert pictures.  One thing I did do for Cade was post a calendar in his room so all I had to do was write down his developmental milestones.... I did that for almost 2 years.   I think once he started walking I was over it.... but I'm glad that I did it because it's fun to read about when he first smiled or when he said Mama for the first time. (all that hard work paid off say mama, mama, mama, mama, mama).   


I'm off to HEB to get groceries and goodies.