Mother's Day Weekend with Grandee

We had a fab Mother's Day weekend. Drew's mom was visiting so Elliot got to spend the holiday with both his mom and his Grandee. We went to Mozart's on Lake Austin for some good coffee and decadent pastries while Elliot took advantage of the expansive deck. He walked all over while one of us chased him around.

Grandee loved getting to spend the weekend with Elliot and I think he felt the same. They went for walks, to the park, read books and played with his toys. She couldn't believe that he recognized when she skipped a page in one of his books. She fed, bathed and put him to sleep one night while Drew and I went to dinner. He went to sleep easily for her. I would like to say it is because we are such great parents that he is so agreeable, but we really owe it to the bedtime routine we have done with him since he was teeny tiny.

This weekend we also went to Boggy Creek Farm, an all-organic farm in East Austin. Elliot was not very interested in the chickens, flowers or strawberry fields, but he did find a bike, tractor, wheelbarrow and car all with wheels on them. He also liked walking around and playing in the dirt. Deedee and I went to Babies R Us one afternoon and she spoiled Elliot and our nephew Alexander with some goodies. She got Elliot a gate for our back porch stairs, a tree swing, and a 4th of July tee shirt. She also cooked us up some of her specialties for after the baby is born so we don't starve in those first few weeks!

Drew and I went to a cool new nook called Bess on Saturday night for dinner. It's a cozy little bistro on Sixth Street owned by Austinite Sandra Bullock. At dinner, Drew and I chose Elliot's sister's name. After weeks of "thinking it over" we came to it fairly easily over lobster cakes. We have only 33 days until the due date, and we are very excited. I was telling Deedee and Drew this weekend that it is sort of crazy to realize you're pregnant again when you have a 6-month-old. But now that Elliot is 14 months old, I am ready for a wee one again, and now we don' t have to wait 9 more months for her. Nature is funny that way. Today I actually thought she was thinking of coming early. Painful contractions started about 2pm and would not let up, so I called Dr. Polon and he said it was probably Braxton Hicks, to drink a bunch of water and some juice and rest. I did and they finally eased up this evening. I had these with Elliot around this time, but not for 5 hours straight! Our daughter is still kicking me something fierce tonight, but at least she is staying in there for now. I'm in the 35th week now.

Right now Elliot...

• Says "doh" when we think he means "dog". Although he could just be imitating Homer Simpson.
• Loves to climb all over Abby.
• Likes to spend time in the nursery looking at his sister's crib mobile (which used to be his).
• Walks almost everywhere, except over most thresholds or steps.
• Loves to walk up and down the driveway and in the grass.
• Spends about an hour a day looking at all the books in his room.
• Doesn't spend as much time watching Noggin these days... he's too busy walking.
• Has expanded his food repertoire to include some new favorites: peanut butter, kiwi fruit and strawberries.