It's been nearly a month since my last post

Okay. I've been checked out for a while. We've not done much lately and I've just been exhausted. So I've missed playgroups, meetings, outings. We've basically lived at the mall because it takes no planning, no schedules and no effort.

Out: Tonight Matt & I got a much needed reprieve while our sweet friends, Doug & Tara cared for Dax. This was Dax's first time to be away from us and our first night out in umm - 14 months! I was surprised how not worried I was -I guess that says a lot about my trust in our friends. Anyways, it was great and we are anxious to return the favor.

Thanksgiving: We traveled to Houston and to Austin. It was great to be with our families. And we are so grateful for a day to count all our blessings- as we have been bountifully blessed. We were quite frustrated with the ride home that took oh - 10 hours because of a horrible accident - but I can say I'm grateful to have made it home.

Dax entertaining himself during the car trip.
This is Johnny Carino's in Waco. We had to stop and get a bite to eat after some horrendous traffic. So we decided to go to our old favorite while we were at Baylor. It was so nostalgic to visit one our favorite date places from our early days - when we used to actually have time alone.

Sweet Boy

Today I was showing Dax a book. (It was a nonfiction picture book with lots of animals and descriptions.)As I pointed out each animal I was telling Dax the name and talking about it. All of a sudden Dax grabs my pointing finger and starts choosing which animal he wants me to talk about. It was just adorable!

Just some new pics

Children's Garden
Mommy loves this outfit, but the hat is too small:(
I found this dirty strange looking duck thing and carried it all around the garden.
Some old people are smiling and cooing at me here. I really like old people - they think I'm cute.
Mommy thinks this would make a nice picture in front of the white flowers. I disagree.
Mommy is twirling a leaf to get my attention. Not a very flattering picture of me.
This is a nice serious look for ou.
Mommy plopped me down right in this flower bed. Not one good pic from it and Mommy spent a day getting the stains out of her favorite outfit.

Newspaper

Happy Halloween

Cloth Diapers

Mom put me in cloth diapers a month ago to stop a rash and I love it! No more rash and I love the soft cloth on my bum better than that paper stuff.
It takes a few extra seconds to get my diaper changed, and Dad never seems to change me anymore. Mom and I also spend alot more time doing laudry. I like to help by pulling everything out of the basket.
Mom always thanks me for helping her.

Favorite Toy This Week

Every morning Dax goes through his toys and ultimately comes out with this one. Dax never had a lovie or attachment type toy, so I thought it was interesting that he keeps choosing this toy over and over this week.

Julies Cakes - My Rant

Do Not Use Julies Cakes EVER!!!!! My mom spent hours looking for the perfect cake for Dax's first Birthday. She found this picture on Julies Cakes website and ordered this particular cake from Julies Cakes (on right)



When we went to pic it up, Julies Cakes gave us a completely different cake!

The cake they gave us could have come from Kroger or better yet, Tom Thumb where they give them away free! It was spray painted!!!!!! And I could barely read the word Birthday!!!!!

(Picture coming soon)



The sales lady offered to take $20 off this VERY expensive cake - not until I threw a fit in the store and tried to leave without the cake did she take off the high cost of the art that was not done and only charge us for the cake. (Okay people make mistakes, I'm sure they can fix it in 3.5 hours before the party.)

NOPE! All her people were going home for the day and Julie had left town! When Julie returned she called & left me a message. I called back and asked Julie to call between 3-5. Instead Julie called while I was trying to do a thousand other things. Not in the mood to deal with this, I just listened to her explanation about how everybody makes mistakes! Ugg. I'm boiling when I get off the phone.

What ever happened to customer service. Julies Cakes has never been to business school - Obviously!

So for Julies Cakes here are a few tips:

1)Do not leave your business in the hands of people who are either incapable or unempowered to operate every detail of operations.

2)It's more important to have completely satisfied customers than any cake you will ever make. (See Nordstroms success as well as many many business books - try Raving Fans to start.)

3)Never ever hang up the phone when a customer is unsatisfied.

4) If it were my business: I'd have the correct cake on my customer's front door with a roll of film and a huge apology. Or I'd have a letter of apology in the mail with a voucher for the correct cake to be redeemed any time in the next year

Happy Birthday Grandpapa!

Dear Grandpapa, hope you have a Happy Birthday. P.S. Daddy says you're old. Love, Dax

Dax played in Cake & Ice Cream for an Hour

Happy Birthday Dax Larkin

A family gathering in Houston for Dax's 1st birthday.
Dax is so blessed to have so many people to raise him up. We love you guys so much.

We had some technical difficulties with my camera. I'm hoping my family comes through with some pictures for us.

Dax Dressed for Fall

photo courtesy of Christy

photo courtesy of Christy

Cloth Diapers

We've been having some issues with Dax's diapers cutting at his legs since he started crawling. I think the diaper is rubbing at his skin when he moves. (Never a problem before he began crawling.) So I've tried lots a brands and sizes and the other day I got on the net and ordered cloth diapers! It's VERY confusing to read about since there are a bunch of types. So I found a site called Jillian's Drawers that allows you to try it and return it all if you don't like it. They sent several different types and I've got 14 days to decide. Right now I'm really stuck on how cute they are. They make Dax's bum look twice its real size, but if they work to not irritate, we're going to stick with it - maybe. It seems like a lot of work:(

Officially Walking

Sept 1: Dax took his first 5 steps.
Today he walked across the room. (Okay, a very small room)
Watch the video!

At The Park

Allergic to Something!

My best guess is garlic since it was in food on noth these occasions.

Another Arbo Day

One of the treehouses on display
At the Frog Fountains where kids play in the water.
Dax points at everything. He's pointing at the water in this pic.
Dax doesn't want to wear this hat.

Labor Day With My Fam

We got to see alot of family this weekend.