Tag Archives: monday

Toddler Growth Progression: G-Ma for Scale

We spent the night at my mom’s (G-Ma’s) house this past weekend since we were long overdue for a visit with our crazy toddler. She comes and stays the night at our house almost once a week, but during a weekday so we don’t get a lot of time together.

Avery was a handful, as usual, but she was also sweet and kept us all entertained. The drive isn’t that far to the home where I grew up, but the trip always seems to have us scrambling to get thing done when we get back home.

Then again, here I am writing a blog post, so I guess I’m being a tad contradictory….or I’m up too late. I’ll let you guess which one.

I considered not posting, but after going back to see our previous visits to G-Ma’s house, I felt like sharing pictures to capture Avery’s growth thus far using G-Ma for scale.

2 days after birth

G-Ma and Avery; just 2 days old!
G-Ma and Avery; just 2 days old!

Here they are when Avery was around 5 weeks old.

Keeping cozy. 12/29/13
Keeping cozy. 12/29/13

Here’s February 20th, 2014

Happy to be with G-ma!
Happy to be with G-ma!

The next month, March 2014, Avery shows off her lip curling action.

Avery showing her Liley lip curl with G-ma
Avery showing her Liley lip curl with G-ma

And another chubby Avery with G-Ma in March 2014

Practicing her poker face. 03/12/14
Practicing her poker face. 03/12/14

Hanging with Avery while I run a Labor Day 10k

Cheering Daddy on at a Labor Day 10k! 05/26/14
Cheering Daddy on at a Labor Day 10k! 05/26/14

Going Mom and G-Ma together with Avery on the Fourth of July in 2014

Fourth of July 2014
Fourth of July 2014

Same day on the Fourth, but me with my beautiful mother and her grand kid (g-kid?)

Probably the last smile of the night.
Probably the last smile of the night.

Holding Avery at Papa’s 60th birthday party this past January

G-Ma and Avery_Steve's 60th

At a Fourth of July 5k this year

DSC_1132

This weekend, Avery gave G-Ma a thunderous bear hug where she roars and then hugs….obviously, and I happened to catch the act.

DSC_0495

It’s bittersweet, seeing how much your kids grow in such a short amount of time, but so wonderful too. I could divulge about our quick trip to G-Ma’s, but seriously, it’s late and I should sleep.

I will say that my wonderful wife laid down to sleep with our wild child and never made it out that night. There was some screaming, but overall, Avery did better than past visits, and gives us hope for the next time we head down there.

Hope you had a great weekend. Anything fun to share?

You Can’t Spell Catastrophe Without ‘Cat’

Yes, our cat played a small part in the weekend, but that wasn’t all. Just made for a fun title, don’t you think?

We actually had a pretty good weekend overall. On Friday, my squat day, I got to test out my new Soft Star Shoes doing one of the most intensive and best bang for your muscular buck exercises! I already train in minimal shoes, in fact, they’re called “Minimus”, as in New Balance Minimus. I’ve run marathons, sprinted, and lifted in them and have loved them, but the Soft Star Shoes give a true minimal feel.

DSC_1654

 

The less cushioning between your foot and the ground the better when it comes to leg-intensive lifting like dead lifts and squats since you need that ground feel for stability. All of the cushioning on most “athletic” shoes make it as if you’re trying to squat while standing on a pillow; not fun, or easy……….or safe!

The verdict? Soft Star delivers and excellent shoe for lifting! I loved how I felt secure and connected to the ground, and unlike my Minimus with a 4mm heel-to-toe drop, these have zero. I could feel how different the dynamics change the lift, but it was in a good way. Anyway, looking forward to my next squat day, and I’ll have a full Soft Star review soon.

Saturday started with a giant bowl of blueberry NuttZo chia oatmeal made for Kelley and Avery. In return, Kelley makes the coffee; my typical breakfast.

NuttZo Oatmeal

 

Kelley made an appointment for our her fat black cat (seriously, 17+ pounds), Lou, to get his annual shots. The cat and I have a mutual feeling of resentment, and I am no help when it comes to rounding him up in the cat carrier since he flees at the sight of me.

But, he hates the carrier and Kelley was having a difficult time chasing him around the house. For such a fatty, he can really move and squirm! Finally, I joined in at Kelley’s request (which she regretted soon after), and tried to litter-ally (ha ha) pounce on the svelte feline. I ended up with wads of cat hair on the couch, in the air, and all over me with several deep claw scratches on both arms. Fail.

Avery was following us around and watching in pure confusion at the whole ordeal, and started getting upset. Toddlers make so many things 10,000 times harder! What’s up with that?!

After getting Lou in the carrier once and having him jump right back out, Kelley and I were finally successful after pinning him in the closet and dropping him inside as I held the carrier upright.  The guy was panting hard; tongue out and loud as a dog. He was worn out, pissed, and probably hungry…….being fat and all.

Unfortunately, Kelley didn’t give him to some cat-loving person at the vet, but she did snap this pic of what looks like a cat in distress.

Lou at Vet

 

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate any animal, but for some reason, I just don’t have a great relationship with our cat and dog. I can’t pinpoint the exact reasoning, but I lack the bond. Since Avery, I’m even more anti-pet than before. That said, I still feed the animals and make sure Abby, our Golden Retriever, goes on a walk with us almost every day.

The rest of Saturday was spent doing random things inside and out, while our crazy toddler took over the house. At night, after Going Mom nursed Avery to sleep  and put her in her crib since she wouldn’t go to sleep, we finally watched The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay. Only a week after we originally planned, but we watched it nonetheless!

Stupid ending, or whatever you call it……we can’t wait until November for part 2, we want it NOW! Just like Veruca from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory wants that golden egg…

willy wonka

On Sunday, Kelley needed to run to Home Depot for a few bags of sand and tools to work on our back yard garden. I stopped at a car parts store to get oil to change in both of our cars (we both have Subaru Outbacks) while we were out.

As Kelley tended to the yard, Avery and I changed the oil. Although, she wasn’t too sure what was going on, she made it clear she did not like being next to a running car as it pulled inside the garage. I’m just glad she gave me smiles most of the time!

DSC_1667

So that was our weekend. No frills (besides the damn cat), and pretty pleasant. Oh, and I’ll share with you a recent pun I posted on Facebook….

Kelley and I are having a date night at a BYOB Paint Class tonight and G-Ma is coming over to spend time with Avery. We did this a while back where we painted a jellyfish and had a great time.

DSC_0120

Kelley’s was way better (on the right). I blame the scotch. Okay, I also suck at painting. This time it’s a Monet painting of a pretty sunset on the water. I’m bringing scotch again, so if I suck, at least I have something to blame besides my lack of artistry! We’ll see if it’s still pretty after I’m done with it. Tonight, Monet might be rolling in his grave for a while!

Happy Monday!

Vote for Our Baby in the Metroplex Baby & Kids Photo Contest

Hey there! Hope you’re having a great Monday! Are you off for MLK Day? Going Mom is and we’re keeping it low key just staying at home with lots of coffee!

I just wanted to make a quick post asking for your help.  We’ve had great help from other friends, family, and even other bloggers (also considered friends!). Thank you, Tony! Check out his awesome dad blog, Papa Tont, for a vast source of knowledge on fitness and nutrition as well as being a great dad!

A local parenting site/magazine, Metroplex Baby & Kids, holds a monthly photo contest for the “Cutest Kid” and Avery is a finalist this month! I’m posting this pretty late since the voting ends tomorrow, January 20th, but hopefully you can vote in time to keep her in the lead.

Please go to their Facebook page at this link (or click the picture below) and vote for Avery. Let me know if you did in the comments and I’ll send you virtual hugs and high fives!

photo contest, baby, cute, babies, parenting
Look into Avery’s eyes…..”Please vote for me” is what they’re saying. Hear it?

Thank you in advance and hope your week is off to a great start! By the way, it’s almost 70 degrees here in Texas. Beautiful!