Tex is in Houston at the Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa. I dropped him off yesterday around 3 and won't see him again until Saturday noonish. I am missing him so much. I thought as he got older, it would be easier to be away from him. And it is in a sense; that he can voice his needs sets me at ease. But I was surprised to find myself feeling like something was missing. More than that, I felt a little pain in my heart, and still feel it today. He's my firstborn. My boy. My love. I can't wait to hear his sweet voice again.

I spent the afternoon with Nadia and that helped to keep my mind off missing Tex. We did a little naughtya shopping :) and played with Cecilia.

I love love love Nadia. I am so proud of her. I am so happy in her company. I wish I could give her anything she ever wanted. I wish I could take her on a vacation. I wish I could take her on a shopping spree! I wish I could take her to fancy restaurants and eat good food. I wish I could give her everything, because, like it is with my kids, seeing her happy makes my heart swell!

Cecilia is sleeping and the house is quiet. I should try to catch a nap too. That is a funny phrase. Like fishing. Catch a fish. Catch a nap. But for me, it is like that, because it may or may not happen. Everything has to be just right. Shut up and sleep.

I have recently become obsessed with chocolate bunnies! I want to learn how to make them. Tex and I bought one that was hollow and ate it up right away. Tex thought it was so fun to bite an ear off!!! I have decided that celebrating Easter as just a coming of spring and life and not in a religious way is ok. So, chocolate bunnies!!! My new favorite. Actually, any image of a rabbit or hare, especially a running one, like this:

So pretty!!

Daddy's girl

Look at that adorable tounge!!!

Proud papa!

Daddy and Cecilia at Christmas.

A picture test

Nadia and Texie at Christmas...Two of my absolute favorite people!

I want to be drinking some delicious, refreshing iced tea! I want to relax on a porch somewhere and just sit in the warm sun and just slowwww down.

Chick-fil-A, Aunties, and The Zilker Zephyr!!

Tatie is a school nerd. I am proud of her!

Yesterday was fun-filled! Tex, Cecilia and I brought yummy yummy sandwiches to the Aunties, then Nadia came with us to ride the train at Zilker Park. Nadia is always so helpful with the kids. She LOVES them both and plays so well with Texie. Natasha is always there to help me when I need her. I love love love my sisters so much. I cannot imagine life without them! They are so much a part of me. I remember the night Nadia was born. Grandma Faye came to stay with us while my parents went to the hospital. I remember barely understanding what was going on, but felt excited. The next day, Grandma took us to the hospital to meet our new baby. I was wearing a gift I had gotten for Christmas. Plaid red and black flannel pants and a coordinating top. Tatie was wearing the green version. I remember seeing Nadia and thinking she was so little and wanting to treat her like my baby doll. As we've gotten older, we're more like friends, despite being 5 years apart. But, some days I still want to baby her and care for her and protect her, but now is not the time for that.

My Baby Bjorn is Back!! Oh how I missed you! That's me in the photo...Bet you didn't know I could become invisible. One of my many super powers.

photo by Ish ?

Happy Birthday Finn! You are 1 today!!!!

D IS FOR DADDY
SEE DADDY.
SEE DADDY SLEEPING ON THE COUCH?
SEE DADDY'S HAIR
DADDY NEEDS A HAIRCUT
POOR DADDY. DADDY HAS NO MONEY FOR A HAIRCUT.
DADDY SPENDS ALL HIS MONEY TO BUY YOU TOYS AND OATMEAL.
POOR DADDY. DADDY CANNOT HAVE A HAIRCUT.
POOR POOR DADDY
SEE THE SCISSORS...
POOR POOR POOR POOR DADDY.

-From Shel Silverstein's ABZ book.

It's Valentine's Day, so it's time to get crafty...Amy Sedaris style. I purchased tenderized beef to make Chicken Fried Steak earlier this week, so I think I'll attempt to cut the pieces into heart shapes and fry 'em up for my man. Nothin' says I love you madly like a golden brown, deep-fried beef heart. What will I do with the meat scraps? you ask. Why, fry them into little cubes of deliciousness and slather them with ketchup for Mr. T. Now, if only I could think of a side dish...This morning I tried to fry heart-shaped potato cakes made from last night's mashed potatoes, but they just slowly fell apart. Wah! Now I've got a hard working husband who left for work with no idea how much I love him. A potato and egg breakfast taco doesn't just scream "I love you", does it? Well, let's all hope that tonight's dinner knocks his f*****g socks off!

Koala Bars and Baby Koala

Tex is mad for these "Koala Bars". They are basically not-so-so-bad-for-you chocolate rice crispy treats. He would eat them all if you let him. We call Cecilia "Baby Koala" because she's got big brown eyes and when we hold her, she clutches our clothes she looks like a cute baby koala. I think I'd like to take the kids to the zoo...Maybe Aunties would like to go this spring???

Sweet Cheeks and Texie

My sweet Cecilia is six months old and I woke up in a panic last night, having dreamt that I lost all memories of her infancy. I've been taking tons of photographs and jotting down her firsts and favorites, to later be meticulously transfered to the Binth Baby Book. Still, I feel this sweet time slipping through my hands! Tex is now three and I feel like I was just holding his little baby body and blinked, to see a running, jumping, laughing, joke-telling, train-loving, sweet BOY. I have made it a must to remind myself daily of how lucky I am to be able to spend each day home with both of them.

Last night Joey was humming Dave Brubeck's Take Five and I asked him to find it on youtube (a window to the world for our little family). During the drum solo, Tex said excitedly, "He's drumming!" So cute!

I woke up this morning bleary-eyed but blissful, knowing another fun-filled crazy day lay ahead.