Snow in Austin?

Yesterday was my last day to stay home from school after my surgery and let me tell you, it was a doozie of a day. It was a snow day! We got about an inch and a half of snow at our house and I got to build my very own snowman. Okay, so Dad built it for me, but I thought it was pretty funny. I call it a "salmon", but everybody knows what I am talking about. Dad also taught me how to eat snow and that was my very favorite snow activity. I really don't think I would do well in a colder climate, though. After about 15 minutes in the snow, I was ready to come back inside. Mom says she doesn't like the cold much either, so she was happy to snuggle with me in front of the fire for the rest of the night.

Little Gym with Avery

Monday morning before we headed back home to Austin, Avery wanted to take me to Little Gym so she could show me what she does there every week. It was lots of fun. Avery immediately went crazy when we got there! My favorite activities were walking on the balance beam and swinging from the bars. It was so much fun! I wasn't really into the organized part of the class, though. I mostly just wanted to do my own thing. I was doing front somersaults all over the place. I happen to be getting very good at those, by the way, but I still think the uneven parallel bars might be my strength.

Avery's 3rd annual birthday bash!

Although Sunday was officially GIGI's birthday, we got to celebrate Avery's birthday with a fun party complete with bounce houses galore!! My favorite once was the slide. I made Dad slide with me for about an hour straight. Then it was off for pizza and cake and ice cream. The theme of the party was Wonder Pets (Avery is obsessed with those guys), so Gigi made her a Wonder Pets birthday cake. After the party, we played dress up with all of Avery's new toys. Poor Dax ended up in a purple leotard. I was embarrassed for him! Avery and I were into the necklaces and hats, as you can see. What a fun party Aves! Happy Birthday big cousin! Love you!

Bavarian Grill

Saturday afternoon we headed to Dallas to celebrate Gigi's and Avery's birthdays. Saturday night we went to dinner at this AWESOME place called Bavarian Grill. Mom and Dad tell me I have been there once before but I was teeny tiny, so I don't remember it at all. Where do I begin with this place? First of all, there was this loud oompa band up front playing all kinds of fun German music. Then I noticed this choo choo train (the theme for the day, apparently) that runs around the wall of the restaurant! I was completely beside myself with elation at that discovery. Then Mom and Dad got some schnitzel and spaetzle to eat, but mostly I just wanted Avery's french fries with "dip dip". Then they let me drink from their tall Hoffbrauhaus glasses. I got some good laughs there. Gute nacht!

Happy Birthday Wyatt!

Well I am recovering quite well from my surgery. So well, in fact that I was able to party it up all weekend long! On Saturday we went to my buddy, Wyatt's 2nd birthday bash. We had to miss it last year because his birthday falls so close to Avery's that it is hard to go to both parties, but this year we were able to. Anyway, he had a really fun choo choo train party and as you know, I love the choo choo train. There was a really nifty bounce house, but I didn't think it would be a good idea to bounce around with the wound on my leg and the codeine in my body :) There were pizzas and cupcakes and a slinky in my party favor bag. I wear it as a necklace which I think is hilarious. My friends Matthew and Lillian were there too! What a fun party! Happy Birthday Wyatt!

Surgery :(

Well, friends, last night was my very first surgery. It all started with this ridiculous diaper rash I have been trying to fight off for over a week. Well, there was one big red bump on my upper thigh that really started to worry Mom and Dad. So they took me to see Dr. Ramirez yesterday at 3:20 and by 5:00, we were scheduled for surgery at Dell Children's Hospital. It turns out, the red bump was a staph infection and those things can be really scary! It had to be drained and removed as soon as possible. We checked in to the hospital and at 7:30, the nurses whisked me away to the O.R. where I was given my first general anesthesia. The surgery only took about 10 minutes and the nurses said I came out of the anesthesia really quickly which was great! In the recovery room, I got to eat 2 whole popsicles while Mom and Dad took turns holding me. By 9:00, the nurses in the P.I.C.U. said I was ready to go home. Thank goodness! Today I stayed around the house and took my tylenol with codeine every four hours (that stuff makes me even sillier than usual!) and although I have no basis for comparison, I feel like I am recovering quite nicely! Thanks for all of the prayers that you sent while I was in surgery. I definitely felt all of the love!

My own swingset!

So, you all might remember that I got a swingset for my birthday. Well the weather has been so nasty lately, that it has just been sitting in a box in the garage in pieces. Well finally this weekend we had a little sunshine so Dad spent most of the weekend assembling my swingset! He worked so hard on it - bless his heart! So Sunday morning, Mom and I headed off to church for a wonderful St. Valentine's Day service while Dad stayed home so he could make sure I got to swing and slide on Valentine's Day. Well, that didn't happen, but we did have a wonderful Valentine's Day together and before Dad put together the rest of the structure, he set up the slide so that I could slide from the Jeep. Ha! When I was in the middle of trying out my garage slide, Alice and her Mom and Dad came by to drop off my birthday present (a super neat tu-tu and crayon holder with my name on it!). Anyway, it is always fun to see them! Back to my swingset: Today when I woke up from my nap, we walked out into the yard and THERE IT WAS!! I love the swings. I love the slide. I love the picnic table. It is just a dream come true for a 2 year old monkey like myself!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well here we are celebrating my 3rd Valentine's Day! Although Valentine's Day isn't actually until Sunday, we are having our V-day party at school today so I had to dress up for the occasion (Thanks to Shanda for my super cute Valentine's Day shirt!!) and give my Valentine, Pater a big ol' kiss before I headed off to school. The fifth picture of me with my mom is just to show you guys how my hard work growing hair is starting to pay off--I've got some curly curls back there! Mom also got a few photos of my friends and me at school when she dropped me off. Happy Valentine's Day to all my lovies out there!