Wilder's March 2016

Wilder on Easter!

Happy Easter y'all! Wilder is so much fun these days. He's started conversing in complete sentences--it's pretty cool! He is working on talking to Felicity, which she thinks is the best. Right now he really loves this in-depth book on helicopters. He can point out the Chinook - his favorite--on sight, as well as the HIP, the Allouette... It's crazy. I can't even recognize them, except for the captions, but he knows a lot about them just from us reading the book to him, and he wants to read it for a long time multiple times a day. He has a book about cars and trains, now it's helicopters. I suppose we need one on planes next!

He's been sick a lot lately... A cold, a double ear infection followed by a virus that made him throw up in the car on the way home from the doctor- first time for everything. He was not a fan! So we have spent a lot of time secluded at home this month. It makes me sad, but just about every time this year that we go out somewhere with a lot of other kids or go to church, he's gotten sick. I know it's a season of life and he's at the age where they transmit illness so easily, but I hope his immune system builds up quickly. 

Even though Wilder is such a big boy now, I'm so thankful he still wants to be read to and rocked to sleep. I love that time with him! He has such a sweet heart and he so loves to spend time with family.

We had an Easter egg hunt at the house yesterday with some of our little friends and Wilder had SO much fun. He wanted to keep playing egg hunt all afternoon and today too. :-) He also got to have his first CANDY. Here are some photos from yesterday!

So cute I can't stand it!

first time to have candy!

Look at that chocolate!

Waiting on Wilder

Well, yesterday was Wilder's due date. I crossed my fingers that he'd make his appearance on Tuesday-- 11.12.13, but little one has his own ideas. After our midwife appointment yesterday, it doesn't look like he's coming any time soon. Which is a bummer, but I know when he's ready, he'll be here. Since I turned in everything due till January and took maternity leave starting Nov 1, I've had an interesting few weeks. It's strange to not be able to plan anything, and yet have time to do stuff. So, here are some of the things I've been doing:

• Checked off everything on the "before baby" list on Workflowy
• Prepared some meals and froze them
• Tried all kinds of recipes (If you want to see them, check out my Instagram account).

• Learned to bake bread

• Cleaned and organized the house
• Walked three miles every day
• Gone to yoga, chiropractor and midwife appointments
• Read lots of books, including giant ones like Dr. Sears The Baby Book
• Read lots of magazines--I have a huge backlog!
• Decorated the house for Christmas

• Blogged for work
• Brainstormed story ideas for 2014 articles
• Mani/pedi
• Had some dates with the husband
• Caught up on TV shows
• etc.

So basically, Wilder can come any time now!! :-)

The Masquerade Housewarming New Year's Party

The host and hostess

On New Year's Eve, Zach and I hosted a party. It was our first big soiree at our house, and in theory it was a good idea. However, we were really busy leading up to it (so finishing setting up decor didn't happen) and we actually were out of town until the DAY OF the party, arriving from San Antonio at about 1 pm. Yikes! But I pre-shopped (and pre cooked actually) and my in-laws helped out, so I think the party turned out pretty well. Lots of our friends came out to celebrate our masquerade / housewarming / New Year's occasion! Following are some photos :-)

Kate; Sharon, Zach and I; my brother Jonathan and his fiance Holly; Cade and Courtney

Sarah and Drew; Sharon and Esther, Jashley, me and Ashley (haha); Ryan and Ironman Alicia

Ryan and Ashley; Marisa and Jacob; Jonathan and Holly (with the dogs of the house); Grant, Gene and Esther

The liquors; the champagne (and sparkling wine) punches; the foods and the desserts.

Scott and Becca; Zach and Clint; Karen and Jimmy; Me, Zach, Jonathan and Holly post party

Our entryway had tons of masks laid out as party favors.

Pierre thought that meant toys for the cat. He walked all over them and sat down on top of them, splattering them around.

All for me, he says

 Kate and I decided to address the problem, first giving him his own mask. He did not approve.

Not quite his style

Next I tried to pry him off the counter, but he hung on like a barnacle! 

Never gonna let you go!

Finally Kate got the idea to blow a noisemaker at Pierre. I tried to take a photo, but we vastly underestimated its volume and effect... Pierre freaked out and took off for the Christmas tree. Masks fluttered everywhere, even behind the tree. I keeled over laughing, but we might have caused Pierre to lose one of his nine lives. He stayed away from the masks after that...

Yeah, I'm a photographer

 Meanwhile, in another part of the house, a head-measuring contest was going on. I don't know how it got started, but it was pretty entertaining.

NOT the largest head

I knew my brother would win. Jonathan's head was definitely the record breaker. :-) I'm so proud.

Giant. jk!

Alfred was not a fan

Almost all of our guests! Missing a few!

Pierre, taking care of Alicia and her baby after the party

 We had so much fun!