CR Goes to CR (FL)

Last week Charlie Ross and I took our first plane trip together to visit Mom and Dad in Crystal River, FL. Charlie had to stay home and work - we missed him a bunch, and I have to admit I was nervous about flying by ourselves.

We had some trouble staying occupied in the airport it was really crowded and a bunch of planes including our flight were delayed due to fog - I wished we could have found a little corner for CR to run aroud in - that would have helped use up some energy. But I had a great surprise when we got on the plane - it was half empty - so we had a whole row to ourselves. Yea!
Mom and Aunt Evie met us at the airport, and we spent the rest of the day relaxing at the house with Dad and Grandpa. The weather in FL was beautiful and CR soaked it up with his unlimited stroller and wagon rides - thank you Grandma and Aunt Evie!

Aunt Evie, the neighbors (Mason, pulling the wagon is just 10 days older than CR), me, and CR in the wagon

We need more bars Great Grandpa - I have no coverage out here!

On Thursday we went to the beach, it was really chilly to me, but there were people in the water - you can guess who they were - Northerners! While I thought they were crazy to be swimming they probably thought we were crazy in our jackets. Regardless, CR enjoyed watching the big kids swim and build sandcastles, and getting his toes wet in the waves and sand.

On Friday we went to Homosassa Spring State Park where CR got to go on a boat tour, it was directed by - his Grandpa! We saw all kinds of wildlife on the boat (turtles, alligators, birds), and in the park/zoo we saw manatees, hippos, wolves, owls, more alligators, otters, the list goes on...

Charlie Ross, who's that? Your Grandpa!

This manatee was really big, we also saw her from the inside of the underwarter observatory, CR was pretty brave about it till she came face-up to the glass - even I was a bit nervous, seriously she was HUGE!

On Saturday we went to the Citrus County Fair, where we saw other kinds of animals (cows, pigs, rabbits, ducks, goats, etc.). CR got his first pony ride - he was a bit iffy about it, but I enjoyed the experience. When CR started to crank it up (he wanted to climb on the bleachers at the horse showing) Grandpa saved the day with what may be CR's favorite food yet - smoked turkey leg! He could not get enough!

Saturday night we went to dinner at Enricos (Osso Buco, my favorite!) with Uncle Mike, Aunt Nan and Mr. Tom - dinner was wonderful and the company was fantastic.

On Sunday we went home, it was the end of Spring Break so I knew we would not be so lucky with the plane situation. Sure enough it was packed full, and CR did ride on my lap. Luckily they let Mom come with me to the gate, and she helped while we scouted out a corner for CR to run around in - and for all my worrying he was a champ on the plane. We (quietly) sang some songs, read books, ate snacks, looked at the other passengers, then squirmed and protested a bit, then, 15 minutes before landing, went fast asleep. (...and when those wheels hit the ground I finally let out a sigh of relief...)

One lesson I learned the hard way from this trip - when the baby/toddler has a set routine, break it at your own peril. While it was bad enough he was recovering from an ear infection from earlier in the week, and breaking in some teeth (note all the paci's in these pics), by Friday the all new location and my cavalier attitude toward the change in regularly scheduled programming brought on (quite suddenly) the biggest cranky fit I ever saw from him. The rainclouds eventually passed and back came my sunny day CR, but it was enough to encourage me to to change plans to fit around his eat and particularly sleep schedule as much as possible from then out, even on the plane. You live you learn I guess.

This was actually pre-trip (post-packing and getting ready)...

We had such a good time - looking forward to visiting again - we are getting our swimming lessons all scheudled so next time when it is warmer we can swim in the pool!

Hope all of you are having a wonderful Spring!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (in advance)

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone - hope Spring is moving your way - we thought it came to Houston last weekend - but we are back in the 40s (and overcast) the past few days, including today. Just wanted to show some pics since our last posting - we are going to visit Mom, Dad, Grandpa and Aunt Evie in FL this week - looking forward to it!

Happy Birthday Aunt Gigi!

Out on a walk...

...still out on a walk.

Thanks for coming to visit Cousin Laurie and Cousin Bess!

(early morning) Mom - no time for pictures, we're running late!

Busy Days / Restful Nights

It feels like forever since we last posted, just staying busy with our weekly routine. Everyone will be happy to know that CR has been sleeping successfully in his crib for 2 full weeks now, and we are all sleeping so much better at night. (Yes, just like everyone said we would.) I know I have not written too much about it on here but were were trapped in a pretty vicious cycle of co-sleeping for way (waaaaay) too long, but now CR has adapted to his crib and is no longer convinced it is an instrument of terror. So, yea for that, and big giant yea for sleeping well.

In other news, in my New Year's resolution to widen our range of cooking beyond Bertolli two to three times a week, I have (again, finally heeding everyone's advice) embraced crock pot cooking and, quite simply, it rocks. The best so far was a recipe with chicken, soy sauce, lemon juice, and some cayenne pepper, we put it on steamed rice and broccoli - it was a hit all the way around, even with CR (I was really light with the cayenne) - the craziest thing was when we had it for left overs it was better and better each successive day. Also, found a great site to help along: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/. And of course I welcome any of your tried and true quick family size recipes (crock pot or not) hint, hint...

A new word category has developed for CR in addition to giraffe in the last post (that one has stuck), now all fruit is apple ('a-pull') or banana ('nanna'). Particularly noted in the grocery the other day, as I wheeled him around in the cart he was holding (clutching) a grapefruit and saying (yelling) AAAH-PULLL. He can say Mommy when he is in just exactly the right mood - but generally everything including himself is still Daddy ('daa-dee'). Every so often he will come out with the random phonics he throws together and says consistanly, and Charlie and I struggle to decipher, which has become kind of a fun game. And of course still Elmo - 'emmo' which for a long time applied to many, many things. Before he started up with the apple and banana above, he was eating some strawberries and throughout called them Elmo - funny, but also gruesome.

Hope everyone is having a good, safe and warm winter and for those of you up North that you are surviving the wild weather!

Oh My! It's nap time, that must be a sweet dream CR!

Good night our Main Man Charlie Ross!

A CR bedtime favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv38j4lPzd0&feature=related

Happy New Year (Part 2)

Just wanted to post some pictures from on and around Christmas, CR's grandparents all came in town - and we had a good time. We went to the Houston Zoo on New Year's Day and CR enjoyed seeing the animals - so did we. And he likes to say giraffe now (sounds like 'rraffe'), he knows the giraffe by sight, but now all other animals (except dogs) are 'rraffe' too.

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone I hope your Holidays were wonderful, and that you are having a Happy New Year. Will post pics and holiday stories soon - Dad took lots of great pics when he was here visiting.

Just saw this fun fact - Charlie is the 86th most popular name for 2008. (In Britain it was the 7th most popular last year.) It is fun to read through the list, I know kids with almost all of these names (and I know some of you do too!).

http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2008

Snow in Houston

It snowed in Houston last night which is a sight we have not seen since our first (white) Christmas here in 2004. It really made me smile walking downtown to my car with so much snow blowing all around, and in particular it was fun to watch it fall in the backyard lights when I got home. Saffron and Zoe were not as impressed as they came in with a light snow cover after their outside time last night! Today it is COLD but sunny, all the snow is gone - but it makes me think if it is snowing in early December it might be a very cold winter here this year.



CR got to wear his winter coat - I did not think we would be getting that out of the closet till next month, but they did not go outside yesterday because it was too wet. I bet they do today - he has really taken to the outdoors both at home out back on the patio, and at daycare the first thing they mention is how much he enjoys his outside time.

He has (finally) adjusted to the toddler room, and is back to smiling, greeting his friends, and running (quick toddling?) to play in the morning, instead of crying - which was difficult for you-know-who (me!). His transition to this room was the first teary drop off(s) I had experienced - probably not the last - and even though at the end of the day I heard about how much he enjoyed the new room/activities/bigger kids/outside play - I still have not felt 100% at ease till now.

He is babbling up a storm now, and Big Charlie chuckles when I encourage CR to talk to us in his 'Little-ese'. His first two clear as a bell words are still 'Da-vid!' (which he likes to yell, with a huge smile on his face when his cousin David is nearby) and 'No' which he says to me, Charlie the dogs and anyone else - emphasizing with his little pointy finger - why this one word had to catch on I don't know, I promise we say lots of other things to him besides that. : ) He has his own language for other things - like Saffron, comes out like daa-daa, which may be dog-dog but since he knows her by name I think he is trying to say the two syllables - however they come out.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a Happy Holiday season! - and that I will be able to finish up putting Christmas together at the house shortly so we can post some Holiday pics. : )

Anniversary, Birthday, Thanksgiving...

November has been a big month with our 5 year anniversary, then CR's first birthday the next day, and Thanksgiving in New Orleans. In between we were all brought down hard by a virus, but we are back in action now!

Below are some pictures from the month: our anniversary trip to Las Vegas (we loved riding the ATVs in the desert!), CR's FIRST birthday (thank you Maw Maw, Paw Paw and Grammy for coming into town for the big event!), and Thanksgiving (visiting our family the New Orleans Russos, and our friends - we enjoyed seeing you all! - the pics are CR's first time in the rain - he thoroughly enjoyed it).