a tradition has begun

In 2008, Pat and I had our rehersal dinner at Stefanina's. I love their pasta there! For our 1 year anniversary we went there for dinner but didn't think much of it until halfway through dinner I pointed out that we had had our rehersal dinner there as well. So on Monday May 3 for our two year anniversary, we decided to make a tradition of it and go to Stefanina's. I enjoyed their Pasta Con Broccoli and Pat and I shared their combo plate appetizer: Breaded zucchini, mushrooms, cauliflower, toasted ravioli, breaded jalapenos and onion rings. You have to be rolled out of that resteraunt but I love it!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABY!

baby gates will be up soon

Xander is so close to crawling. He gets up on all four and scoots backwards. You can just see it in his eyes how bad he wants to get moving. He tries for awhile but eventually gets fustrated. I'm sure in a week or so I'll be showing you the video of his first crawling!!!

Grandma visits

Grandma Michele got to come visit for 7 days!!!! She watched Xander Monday - Friday while I worked. Xander had so much fun with her










and I know she had even more fun with him.

Date night

Friday night, we got our first date night in 7 months!! Patrick took me to Red Lobster where we enjoyed lobster/crab artichoke dip, Flounder, Shrimp scampi, shrimp linguini, and their famous garlic butter rolls. After dinner we headed downtown to a bar called The Firebird (http://www.firebirdstl.com/) to listen to a friend's band play. Our friend Johnny is the drummer for the band Spark Thugs (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spark-Thugs/109007915797508). Patrick and I were the only ones there not wearing black :) We came up with a decision that we wanted to change our image. Patrick is going to get a Mohack and a tatoo

and I am going to start wearing leather.

Me Time

Last night after baby went to bed, mommy got to enjoy a bonfire with her husband and some good friends, and her favorite alcoholic beverage: a creamsicle. I learned how to make a creamsicle on our honeymoon in St Croix. It is a tropical drink made of Orange rum, Vanilla rum, orange juice and pinapple juice. You can almost hear the waves of the ocean and feel the sand between your toes while you drink it.

Little Surfer

I took Xander swimming last night and we had so much fun!! He made a face when I first submerged us into the cool water but he was splashing his hands in no time. He splashed a lot and would even dip his own face into the water. It was really funny, he would hold his breath and put his face down and lift it up, shake the water out of his eyes and do it again. By the fourth time, he started coughing (I guess he forgot to hold his breath that time). I loved this experience!!!! I can't wait to do it again.

ick

My mother in law takes her dog to a groomer who has a child the same age as Xander. She says that the baby is always in there sitting 5 feet away from where the dogs get groomed. GROSS!! I'm all for bringing your kid to work but REALLY?

my smarty pants

Xander had a screening yesterday with our Parents as Teachers educator. He topped the charts in all areas; gross motor skills, communication, problem solving,

The one and only thing that he is not doing at this time that he shoud be starting soon is getting into a crawl position (on all fours). My little man is a genious!!!



It must be my parenting skills.

sleep well deserved

Well last night was night #4 of baby boot camp (aka: Xander needs to sleep in his crib). He did GREAT!!! I got a little worried that he hadn't woke up at all so I very quietly snuck into his room at 5am this morning (there is nothing quite about sneaking into that room after the door creaks open and the floor groans under your foot) and accidentally woke him up. He was so hungry when i picked him up that he latched on to my bare shoulder and started sucking. So I nursed him back to sleep and he slept another 2 hours!!!! So today I am well refreshed with a nice hickey on my shoulder.

6 month check up

Well, Xander hasn't outgrown his car seat as I had so fearfully thought. The sumo baby weighed in at 19 lbs 15 ounces. 2 pounds till he out grows that seat. Thank goodness. I dread the day that I have to pick a sleeping baby up out of his car seat and stick him into a hard metal shopping cart. The pumpkin seats are so convenient in many ways. I'll miss the days that i can snap him into the stroller and he faces me. I get to see him smiling at me and slowly dozing off as the sounds of nature lull him to sleep. Why weren't all strollers made so the baby faces you? But once he outgrows that baby seat, I'll have to strap him into the stroller facing forward and take him out of the car sleeping or not. Being a big boy has it's price. Maybe once he starts walking he'll slim down a bit. it cracks me up when I get updates about friends kids who say "Little Jessica is 15 months old and weighs 22 pounds!!" I want to say "really? maybe you should feed her!" Xander is my pleasantly plump little turkey and I love him so much.