Odds and Ends

Pants?  Who needs pants anyway?

With Baby No. 2 on the way, I wanted to make sure to get one last post in before his/her arrival.  Just add it to my quickly growing "To Do" list.  We've been pretty busy at the Brian household with Spring in the air.  Beau has been particularly busy learning new things and helping his daddy in the back yard nearly every day.  So, what's new you ask...

Beau has learned to feed himself with a spoon.  No, he has not yet perfected the skill, but he is working hard at it and is just so darn proud of himself when he gets it right.  He has even taken to yelling "Poon" and waiving his spoon in the air. 

Dip.

Scoop.

Into the mouth.

Mmmmm...yogurt. 

I did it!  All by myself!

We had our first watermelon of the year this weekend.  This might not seem like a big deal, but the Brians are big watermelon eaters.  We go through 1-2 a week during the summer.  So it was great when the inaugural melon was super sweet and tasty. 

Beau has been talking up a storm lately.  Among his new favorite words/phrases...

"All gone!" - usually heard when Murphy finishes his food and Beau inspects the bowl for scraps. 

"Thank you."  - said when handing you anything.  The context is not 100% spot on, but it's a big improvement from randomly saying it as he marched around the house. 

"More!"  - this one cracks us up every time.  It starts in a sweet, gentle, high pitched voice.  And it progresses to a quick, repetitive screeching.  "More, more, more, more..." 
"Nana."  - obviously his old obssession with bananas has returned with a vengeance.  This word also starts sweet and ends in the same quick, repetitive screeching like "more!" 
"Up" "Down" "Out" "Off" - little guy is quick to let you know where he wants to be. 
"Go!"  - again, he's not shy to let you know where he wants to be or when he wants to be there. 
"Eat" - no shocker there. 
"Chair" - referring to his high chair...usually heard shortly after "Eat!"
"School"  - this one was new as of this morning.  Guess those school time jitters have been replaced with a mild enthusiam. 
"Outside"  - what can I say?  Little dude likes to be outside. 
"Dude" - this one has actually only been uttered once, but the context was so perfect that I had to share.  We were at a crawfish boil with friends having a great time.  Beau pointed to my sunglasses and said, "Eyes."  So I took them and put them on him.  He turned to the crowd, tilted the sunglasses down, pointed to the crowd and said, "Dude."  And then he walked off like the rock star he is.  PRICELESS. 

Finally, everyone will be happy to know that the baby's nursery has been cleared out with the exception of the guest bed.  And, Billy put together the crib this weekend.  So, just one step closer to being ready...

In His Element

Someone once told me that the definition of a little boy was "a noise with dirt on it."  Well, truer words have never been spoken. 

Beau enjoyed his Friday afternoon "helping" his dad plant some jasmine along the fence line.  He soon realized that actually planting the jasmine was not nearly as much fun as just playing in the freshly tilled dirt. 

I'd narrate the rest of the photos, but they really speak for themselves.  Beau cracks me up...he is such a boys boy.  He is happiest outside and preferably covered in dirt or mud or water.  I love it. 

Just for fun

Last night I pulled out the video camera and tried an experiment.  What would happen if I turned the viewing monitor out so that Beau could see himself being videoed?  The result...confirmation that our son is a real ham.  Enjoy!  Happy Tuesday! 

Jellybean's Nursery

So I keep getting requests for photographs of JB's nursery.  And, I keep responding, "We have nothing done yet."  Apparently my friends and family simply can't believe that Billy and I would be such big slackers this go round.  Well, get ready to be proven wrong.  I present to you, Jellybean's nursery. 

Unfortunately, the nursery is not only a guest room still, but it has recently become a temporary storage room. 

JB's bedding...no, it's not folded up nicely.  That's just fabric.



JB's mattress and crib.  Lovely, no? 

I do know that when he/she arrives he/she will be fed, diapered, clothed, have a warm safe place to sleep and will receive lots and lots of love.  That's all that really matters, right?  Besides, I'm sure we'll pull it together in time, right?  I mean we've got just under four weeks.  *Gulp*  Hmmmm...guess it is time to get crackin! 

A Big Louisiana Shower

Elizabeth and I, along with a handful of Robyn's dear friends, hosted a wonderful shower for Robyn earlier this month.  (See...I'm just a few weeks behind on this post...)  The shower was beautiful and she received so many wonderful gifts to help her and Marcus get ready for Marc's big arrival. 

Dessert Table - marshmallow pops, cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels, pastries, and kisses!

The Beverage Table - Hey, virgins Bloody Marys and Mimosas are good too!

The Brunch Spread - Grits and Grillades, Crawfish Quiches, Dips, Fresh Fruit, and Fruit Pizza.  Yummmm...

Gifts galore

One very special gift she received was a custom changing table designed and built by none other than my extraordinarily talented husband.  I was so impressed with his work.  The table was just beautiful and I think Marcus and Robyn really loved it. He put a lot of time into it and I think the end result was well worth it. 

Robyn had a great turn out to the shower.  I hope she knows how many people are so happy for her and Marcus and are so excited about welcoming Marc into the world.  Less than two months left!!! 

The Hostesses with the Guest of Honor
Christy, Bevin, Katie, Robyn, Elizabeth, and Me

Sisters - Bevin, Robyn, Elizabeth, and Me

The Preggos - 27 weeks, 30 weeks, 33 weeks, 36 weeks

A Little Texas Sprinkle

Back in February (yes, February...I'm a little behind...) we took a trip to Texas.  I was told that we were just going to visit Beau's grandparents as it might be the last trip before JB arrived.  Plus, Aunt Lizzy just happened to be in Houston for a work event.  So off we went... 

Kicking it with Aunt Lizzy

Beau had a blast running around the big back yard, playing with his ball and yelling at the dogs. 

Family fun time!

I LOVE this ball!

It seemed like a perfectly nice famil get together. 

Beau loved playing in the water.  Can't wait until this summer when he can actually get in!

Grandma Debbie's peanut butter balls were the best!

Little did I know it was a big ploy to get me there for a little sprinkle to celebrate JB's impending arrival.  I was totally surprised.  Also, I was very pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Sarah, Linley and Ms. Melinda.  I just don't get to see enough of my favorite people! 

  

 We received our co-sleeper!  I'm so excited about that one.  And, we got one awesome double stroller, perfect for trips to the zoo!  Beau LOVED the stroller and when we returned home we made several trips in the stroller in the neighborhood.  Hope he doesn't mind sharing when the baby arrives! 

Testing out the new wheels.

I think he liked it.

Going in for the kill...such a Casanova. 

Linley is such a happy beautiful baby.  Wish she lived closer...well, wish her family lived closer...

Balloons and bubbles...I wish I liked anything as much as this kid loves balloons and bubbles. 

Ok, so just to clarify...Robyn took a shower, put on make up and did her hair.  I was told we were leaving and there was no time to get gussied up.  I barely got out of my pajamas.  Thanks, Billy. 

While Mom's Away

Yesterday I had to drive Aunt Lizzy to the airport.  So, while I was away Beau and Billy had a little "guy time."  Apparently, during that "guy time" they played with Beau's wooden blocks.  Last night as I was enjoying some peace and quiet after a busy weekend I looked up and noticed something on the built-in written in the wooden blocks. 

What?  Can't read that?  Let me give you a closer look. 

The joy of living in a house full of boys. 

Puppy Love

Beau loves Murphy.  He just has a funny way of showing it...