Spring Flowers and Cleaning

Poppies from the Easter weekend hike.

The reason I was able to get my haircut was because my mom was in town to help babysit. She also did a lot more than babysit, she helped clean my house - inside and out. Thanks Mom! It really needed it. She planted some pretty geraniums and alyssum in my flower pots in the front and back of the house. We were sad to see her go today but we'll be enjoying the results for a long time!

This is the first rose of spring from the front planter box.

My mom and Patrick playing on the couch.

The backyard planter/urn. So pretty!

New 'dos

Patrick and I just got haircuts - his first haircut. On Easter Sunday, I finally cut the stray 15 hairs or so he had on the top of the back of his head. They were from his original head of hair - the ones that didn't fall out. They were also about twice as long as his hair now and it did look a little funny - or a lot funny. So, I cut them to the best of my ability, hoping they'd blend in to the rest of his hair. I don't know if I can avoid the funny hair altogether because the hair curls backward at the tips. See below:

Then I desperately was in need of a cut myself and I told Marisa of Industry 12 to just make it look cool. So, this is it. What do you think? I like it! I haven't had bangs this short since I was 12.

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was busy! Friday we went on a hike with Sean's mom and a friend of hers. We hiked North Mountain and it was in total about 4 miles. We had great weather and spent a little time at the visitor's center.


Patrick was nicely covered from the sun. Cute hat!

The Easter Jackrabbit bunny

Baby backpack!

We then went to Tucson Saturday and spent the night with my parents and we had a yummy dinner of paella and then Easter Sunday "dinner" was at my aunt Bonnie's house. We visited with my grandma "nana," my cousin Tyler and his family. Patrick had fun playing with blocks on the floor with Grayson and Cody - all three of them had matching polo/sweater vest/khakis outfits.

Family lunch at Cowboy Ciao

We had a great food weekend. First, it started out with a batch of popovers -I know, the best...right? Then, I helped work at the West of Western food festival. The founders of Edible Communities (parent organization of Edible Phoenix - where I'm working part-time) came to speak about "The Art of Local Food." There was a spectacular slide show presentation and then a little bit of talk about local food and farms and the magazine. I had some great cheese and bread and tuna and dessert and well, I was just happy to help them eat all that great food. I will say that there needs to be a way to not have so many disposable plates make it to the trash.

I didn't fill up at the festival while Sean was watching Patrick. So, I picked up some sandwiches at Pane Bianco. We always split the mozz and tuna sandwiches. Imagine me doing the Homer Simpson drooly sound. MMMMMmmmm.

Then I can't remember dinner but I think I remember it was really great. Maybe Sean can remember. But, then Sunday rolled around and we met my parents, my aunt and grandmother at Cowboy Ciao. Aunt Lisa brought Patrick the cutest bear in a bunny suit toy. It's hard to describe but just so cute. See, the bear has a bunny hoodie sweatshirt. Oh, baby stuff if darling! And boy oh boy, I sure do love that Stetson Chopped and the Breat Pudding. I think I was officially stuffed by that point. But not for long...then came the corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's and corned beef hash with poached eggs for breakfast...mmmm, food is good.

As for Patrick, he's now scrunching up his nose a little when he laughs (sometimes) and I'm nicknaming him Mr. Destructo. We got some cool blocks to play with and every time I build anything over one block high, he has to knock it down...even if it means he knocks himself down. It's pretty funny. That boyish personality is already here!

Phoenix Symphony at Steele Indian School Park

First off, Happy Birthday Dad/Grandpop!

I had read about this family day concert at the park Sunday afternoon and after a long day of lazing around the house, we packed up at went. It was a great afternoon with great weather and nice music. They played some movie scores, Mexican music, Native American music and even the U of A fight song "Bear Down." We also wanted to go because there was a fireworks show at the end and I couldn't wait to see Patrick get excited about those night lights. So, here are a few pictures and movies from our outing.

The concert:

The fireworks:

One more video - the shower

Patrick's just so darn cute! He's always loved his bathtime.

First swing at the park - video

We went to the park on Sunday and put Patrick in the swing. He really liked it but it was super windy and a little chilly but fun nonetheless.

More teeth and lotsa flaps

It's been a week - I think - since I last wrote. So much has happened in such a short amount of time. He has even more teeth now. The top two poked through on Friday. He had had a horrible day on Wednesday with the worst tooth pain yet. He cried/fussed pretty much all day. It's the worst thing in the world to hear him cry. But now he has some more cute teeth for to crunch his little crackers.

Oh, that's the other update. I tried giving him some finger food right after my last post and within a week, he's successfully managed to learn how to put things into his mouth - which is a little scary at the same time. I just need to make sure we have proper food in front of him and not a piece of chewed up dog toy or something.

I'm still having fun making all of Patrick's food. His list of foods he can eat is huge. I had initially kept track and now the list is just so big that I stopped official count. I can think of these foods off the top of my head, he's had:

rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, bananas, apples, pears, butternut squash, yellow summer squash, potatoes, parsnips, green beans, apricots, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, avocado, carrots, corn, prunes, yogurt, sweet potatoes and Cheerios...hmm, is that all? I think that might be all I can think of right now. That's a lot!

We have fun shopping for food at the local farmers markets and Trader Joe's. I just found the darn cutest shopping list template ever - to help us plan for our shopping trips. It's free too: http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/12/meal-planner.html

And the flaps (from the blog title). He loves loves loves his books with flaps. Right now that includes "Where is Baby's Belly Button," a Dr. Seuss book and a few others. It's really cute to watch him get so excited to lift open the flaps.

Oh, he's up from his nap. Slept for 1.5 hrs - yay! I'll write more later!