18 months old, San Antonio wedding and a Girl's Night Out

Wow - this weekend was a very busy one! The highlight, of course, was our little man officially turning 18 months old. All this really means is that I can drop him off at the drop in day care without making a reservation! That doesn't seem like a very big deal, but I'm pretty excited about not having to remember to call the day before when I need to get something done (like very important pedicures). Saturday morning, before Randy and I headed out of town, we got the official 18 month picture.





This one looks just like all of the others, but there was also another cute one (of the 50ish I took), so I thought I would add that one too. He really looks like he is up to something in this one...






So, Randy had Saturday off because we were attending a wedding of one of his friends from undergrad. The wedding was at 3pm, so we left Saturday morning. We made it to San Antonio, checked in to the hotel, and met some of our other friends who were also there for the wedding for lunch. After that, it was back to the hotel to get ready. We got dressed, took our picture in the mirror, and were about to head out.




Then, I heard an awful sound and some not so pleasant words from Randy. Look what happened to his one and only shirt he brought for the wedding.



Luckily, he and Jeff are the same size and Jeff comes a little more prepared than Randy did! Here we are, take 2.



The wedding was absolutely beautiful. Due to some traffic, we were almost late but we did make it to our seats right before the bridal party started coming down the aisle! The reception was a lot of fun, complete with a full mariachi band during the cocktail hour.




Here are Jeff, Celeste and Randy...having a good time.



And here are Jeff and Randy with Brian, the Groom.



And, of course, the most awesome Groom's cake we have ever seen! I'm so glad we are already married so that Randy doesn't get any ideas...



How cool is that???

So, what did Jacob do while we were gone? Well, Grandma and Grandpa came to visit and stay with him. They went to Bass Pro shop (without shoes for some reason)



Had lunch at Whataburger where he entertained a lot of the customers with his loud laughing






Played outside



Checked the mail



And even threw a little fit in the middle of the street when Grandma told him it was time to go inside



Had dinner (while clapping, of course)



Laughed some more



And snuggled with Grandpa



They both say he was really well behaved, and a lot of fun. We're so glad because he's usually such a pain (just kidding).

We got back on Sunday around noon, and hung out with the little boy most of the day. That night, I had a little girl's night out with Amanda and Dana. Amanda is a good friend of mine who also used to teach at Taylor. She has started running and had just completed her 1st half marathon. Even though I have zero desire to ever run one, I'm SO insanely proud of her for doing it. It's a goal she has had for a while, and finally accomplished it. I only wish I could have been there cheering her on. I'm glad I got to celebrate with her!



This is Dana and Amanda. I won't show the picture with me in it because I look very tired after a long weekend!

~ Nancy

A few new tricks

Jacob seems to be learning something new every week. No, it's not words. According to the doctor, he is a little behind in that area. We go for his 18 month check up next week, so we'll get to find out exactly how behind he is. He tends to learn a new word, say it for a day or two, and then never say it again. He's extremely stubborn (passed down from his father, I'm sure) when it comes to talking. But, we're pretty sure that once he starts, he will never stop. So, I'm not too worried about it! He's definitely talking more and more each week, but still babbling things I don't get.

Here are some older pictures (2 weeks ago, I think) where his Dad teaches him bad habits. Jacob loves Diet Coke/Pepsi/Dr. Pepper, and Randy and Grandma seem to think it's OK to give it to him. I do not agree but can't seem to get that through their heads. In these pictures, Jacob seems happy, so that makes Randy happy!







As far as his new "tricks"... If he is holding a toy, and you say "Hello", he'll put it up to his ear like he's talking on the phone. It doesn't have to be a toy phone, it can be a remote, car, train, block, etc. It's really cute!

Sometimes, if you ask him to wink, he'll do it. His version of a wink is to close both eyes, but it's soooooo cute! When he does it, I often say "Awwww" so he then tilts his head to the side to be cute. That's an old trick (the head tilt) but he now seems to think it goes along with winking.

Yesterday, he learned to open the bedroom door into our bedroom. This is not a trick I'm excited about! He hasn't done it again today, so I'm hoping he forgot. :o)

We've been going to the gym for the last week. Each and every day that I have dropped him off at Kids Club, he has cried. But he was finished crying before I even got going on the treadmill. Well, today, was his first day to just run in there and play and not cry! I was so excited for him. Speaking of the gym, here is our funny story from last week. First, you have to know that Jacob says "Yea" to everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. He's also pretty convincing when he says it. So, I was working out, and the workers in Kids Club thought they smelled poop in his diaper. So, the teenaged girls working in there thought it would be a good idea to ASK the 17 month old if he pooped. Apparently, it went like this...

Teenage girl: "Jacob, did you poop?"
Jacob: "Yea"
Teenage girl: "Does it stink?"
Jacob: "Yea"
Teenage girl: "Do you want me to page your mom so she can change your diaper?"
Jacob: "Yea"

So, they paged me. Really??? Who believes a 17 month old kid? I was almost finished (or close enough) so I just picked him up and was going to change him in the car. Needless to say, it was not really a big poop that needed to be changed immediately.

So, that's some of his recent "tricks". Here is a cute picture of him from lunch today, doing an old trick (the tongue roll).




~ Nancy

A look back

1 year ago, today, I had a happy little baby that needed the Bumbo seat to even sit up.









Today, I have the happiest little toddler that likes to be chased around the house...while he runs from me!







Everyone says it goes by too quickly, but I think this proves that it truly does!! I love every minute with my happy little toddler.

~ Nancy

It's all about me, me, me!!

Since I think we can all agree that Randy is finished blogging, I decided to write a blog all about me! Honestly, I'm also using a new blog app (since I didn't like blogging on blogger) and using my new wireless keyboard with my iPad. So, this is really a test blog for these two things. I saw this kind of post on another person's blog, and thought it would be fun.

I'll reward you with a cute picture of the little boy at the end. :0)

Some of you know me well, and some of you may not. Did you know these things about me???

-I absolutely cannot eat yogurt with a metal spoon. I eat it, almost every day, with a plastic spoon. This started in college, thanks to one of my roommates, who convinced me that eating yogurt with a metal spoon changed it's flavor. I have since converted other people. Try it...you'll see.

-I love iced tea, but I'm extremely picky about it. I cannot stand tea that tastes instant or tastes like someone needs to clean their tea maker. I blame my mom for this one. I remember, many times, being at a restaurant and her sending her tea back and telling the waiter to have the tea pot cleaned. Randy swears he can't really tell a difference when I taste a bad one, but it's for real. And on that note, I never thought I would meet anyone that can drink as much ice tea as me at a restaurant, but I've met my match with Randy. Our waiters don't really like us...

-Before Jacob was born, I would NEVER use a shopping cart that was left in the parking lot. In my mind, the stacked ones near the door were "clean" and the ones in the parking lot were "dirty". I don't have anyone to blame for this one, just something in my head. Now that I have a toddler, I'll park next to a cart just to immediately put him in it. So, I guess I'm over this one.

-I HATE beans. Most of you know this...just wanted to remind you.

-My all-time favorite TV show is Golden Girls. I've seen every single episode, but will still watch it any and every time I find it on TV. If it comes on during Yo Gabba Gabba, sorry Jacob. :o)

-My all-time favorite movie is The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. I saw this at a very young age (don't know why) and have always loved it. I can quote most of the movie and sing all of the songs.

-I LOVE doing laundry. It's the one chore that I would never give up and would probably do for other people too. It's one of the first things I do every single morning. Usually, my laundry is washed, dried, folded and put away before Jacob's morning nap. I'm not sure why, but it feels great. I have to be careful not to wear the same outfit everyday, because I could.

-If I had it my way, my bedtime would be about 8pm. I know that is unreasonable, so I shoot for 10pm each night. Randy would tell you 9pm, but I'm not usually asleep until a little after 10. Also, I would wake up most mornings between 6 and 7am. I think I get this from my Dad as my mom is a night owl.

-Baby poop does not freak me out. I tried explaining this to my parents, and didn't do a good job, so I hope I can do better here. I never thought about it much before having Jacob. However, when you are in the hospital with your first born child, it seems that is all the nurses care about. I mean, they are great nurses, but I felt like I could tell them anything about Jacob, or ask any question, and their response was always "Did he poop?". They even made us keep a little chart with his poops and pees. So, I think that trained my mind that a pooping baby = everything is working on the inside. So, for at least his first year, I felt that way. I'm a little over that now, but still don't get grossed out by it.

That's my list. Did you know all of that about me?

And as promised, here is a cute picture of the little boy. He loves when I turn the camera around on my iPhone so he can see himself as I'm taking a picture. (Also why this picture is low quality)








That's all about me, me, me! So, leave me a comment, and tell me one quirky thing about you.

~Nancy

Las Vegas - December 2011

Back in December, Randy and I took our 3rd trip (together) to Las Vegas. It was supposed to be 3 couples going, but one couple backed out, so there were just 4 of us there. We had a great time, although, like everyone else, we didn’t win money! I can’t figure it out…we’ve never won money in Las Vegas, yet we keep going back. We have won in Lake Charles, and we haven’t been back since. Hmmm…

Mommagroom (Grandma) came to our house to stay with Jacob. It’s much easier to watch him in an already child proofed home, than to watch him and constantly wonder what he’ll get into next. This was our first time to be away from him for 3 nights, but he was in good hands.

We left on a Thursday morning, on a random weekend that we booked for no specific purpose. We did NOT realize that it was National Final Rodeo weekend in Vegas…until we boarded our plane. Basically, Randy and I were the only ones not in cowboy boots and a big hat. Plus, it was about 8am so we were pretty calm (and sober). These rodeo folks were not calm(or sober)! They were loud and drinking the whole way there. It was actually pretty funny. At one point, I went to the bathroom on the plane and the flight attendant said they were about to run out of liquor and that they never run out of liquor on this early morning flight!

We made it fine, although we could barely hear the movie we watched on our iPad. Scott met us in Vegas (Kyndra had to come a day late due to work) and the fun began. We stayed at the Luxor this time and really liked it. I liked that it is connected to 2 other hotel/casinos, because the day we got there it was snowing in the mountains and very cold! Randy and Scott were both wearing shorts, so people really wondered where they had come from!

The day we left, Jacob and Grandma had lunch together at James Coney Island. This is pretty much my mom’s favorite place to eat, and nobody will eat there with her. So, why not take the little one who can’t protest? He doesn't look too thrilled to be eating there in the first picture, but Grandma made up for it by getting him some ice cream.This is his Mama-always-takes-me-to-Chick-fil-A-face.

Hmmm...maybe this place isn't so bad after all!

While waiting for Scott, the Luxor had a machine where you push a button, wait 5 seconds, and it takes your picture and emails it to you. I was pretty impressed. I guess I don’t get out much because I had never seen one of these before! As you can tell from the picture, we had been traveling most of the morning and were pretty tired.

This is a view from our room. This was when it was snowing and some of the white on the buildings you see is snow. I still get very excited to see snow, although I would never want to live where it snows. Randy and Scott missed all of this because they were at the casino. So, I had to take a picture for them.

The next day, Jacob and Grandma attempted to go to the mall play area. Katy Mills Mall has a great indoor play area that is not too crowded during the week. Jacob and I go often. However, there was a bully that pushed Jacob down and made him cry. So, Grandma scooped him up and headed to McDonalds. I’m not sure what dance/song combo she had to do to get him to take the 2nd picture here, but it is my all-time favorite. It was a great feeling to be in Vegas and get this picture to know he is having fun!

All dressed up and ready to go. Hopefully, Grandma didn't let him take his bath toy with him.

LOVE this picture! It's currently the wallpaper on my phone.

This is where Grandma scores points with him to let him have some of her Diet Soda. Thanks to Randy, Jacob LOVES him some diet soda.

That same day, in Vegas, we headed over to the Venetian just to look around. It’s so pretty and they were just decorating for Christmas.

Lunch was a buffet at Treasure Island. I wasn’t very excited about the food, but the dessert buffet made up for it. I love me some desserts…especially cotton candy. So, I had to take a picture to send mom of my great dessert plate. I didn’t eat it all (except the cotton candy) so quit judging me. :o) Scott and Randy, while waiting for the buffet.
Don't judge...there's fruit in there!!

While in Vegas, I did talk Randy into doing an oxygen bar with me. I have done them before and love it. This was a first for Randy and he wasn’t crazy about it. But doesn’t he look cute (and super thrilled to be paying $1/minute for this)??

Saturday, Jacob and Grandma had some visitors at the house. My cousin, Debra, and her husband, Craig, were in Katy to visit some other friends and stopped by. Jacob loved that the weather was warm and someone could push him in his swing (or he loved playing with the strap, either way...).

Corn dogs for dinner…he’s loving this treatment from Grandma!

That night, Grandma and Jacob snuggled and watched some Yo Gabba Gabba (this is the only way to get him to sit still on your lap).

Well, that was our trip. It was really more of what Jacob did while we were gone, but isn’t that the reason you visit this blog? Oh yeah, and the highlight of my trip was watching a guy bet $1400 on one blackjack hand (at the $10 per hand table, mind you) and win. He was really trying to be $700, his last bet at our table, but ended up with a hand that he really needed to double down. So, he did and won. It really made the fact that I doubled down, $20 total bet and was sweating it, and WON seem insignificant. :o)

By the way, I have learned that blogger and I don't get along too well. You would not believe how long it took me to do this one post! So, in the future, I do plan to blog more often than Randy (easy task) but they will need to be shorter and have less pictures!!

~Nancy

Christmas Part 2

Since my lovely wife did such an outstanding job on her contribution to this blog, she will now be considered an official contributor (unpaid, of course).  And by contributor, I mean she will probably do most of the writing, while I continue to procrastinate.

Before I get on with the details of our Christmas festivities, a little public service announcement:  To those of you with dogs and/or cats, please watch what you leave laying around and watch what they put in their mouths.  In the past 6 months, I have seen an absurd number of cases of dogs and cats eating weird objects.  Maybe it is something Al Qaida is putting in the water, or solar flares, or Obama, but these pets have been eating the strangest crap.  A cat that comes in about once a month for me to endoscopically remove the ponytail holders it is addicted to swallowing.  Sometimes 10 or more at a time.  A dog that swallowed a used tampon whole (one of Nancy's friend's even).  An 8 pound dog that swallowed an entire, intact cloth sleep mask.  A lab that ate 4 golf ball-sized rocks.  A Yorkie that swallowed a Victoria's Secret thong whole.  A cat that swallowed an entire ball of yarn by unraveling it, inch by inch.  And probably a few more I am forgetting.  All in the past 6 months.  Craziness.  On a positive note, my surgery income has recently grown substantially.  Can you say Maui?

Nancy, Jacob, and I, along with Nancy's parents celebrated Christmas Eve at Brandl, Danielle, Brooke, and Tyler's house.  We watched some football, ate some great food, drank some beer, opened some presents (a few for us, a LOT for the kiddos), and just hung out for a few hours.  Incidentally, opening presents with Nancy's family is much more organized than at my parents' house.  A few less kids definitely helps.  I kinda like having both extremes...keeps things interesting.

After all the fun, we all went to church for the Candlelight Service.  Jacob was even reasonably well-behaved, even if it did take some "creative distraction". (Is it against the rules for Yo Gabba Gabba to be playing on your iPhone while you are in church??)

Nancy's parents came back to Katy with us on Christmas Eve, and stayed Sunday too so that Nancy and I could go on a movie date.

For New Years Eve, Nancy and I went to the Aggie bowl game at Reliant Stadium, and witnessed a victory for the Ags, which we didn't get to see a lot of this Fall.  Nancy's parents came down and watched Jacob for us, since he gets fidgity by the end of his favorite bedtime book, Pajama Time, meaning he certainly doesn't have the attention span for a football game.  On the way back from the game, Nancy and I stopped and got some fireworks.  It was a wild and crazy NYE.  By 9 pm, all the fireworks were gone and everyone was in bed by ten.  No one even sniffed midnight.

I think that about recaps the crazy holiday season.  Never a dull moment in the Wiltshire and Groom families.

Some pictures:

trying on his lifejacket for riding on Grandma and Grandpa's boat

The Kiddos

Family picture

Paul and Doris with their favorite child

The whole clan

Something is seriously wrong with these people

Brookie

Santa does indeed rock

Showing off his belly

Brandl high-fiving Jacob after he finally pulled within 100 points of his opponent in his fantasy football championship

Tyler looks like he is up to something

The paper is much cooler than the gift

He loves his new chair

Told you

Seriously.  Loves. It.

Did NOT love the Santa hat.  This is not as much a loving embrace as it is restraint

Hanging out with Dad

Bye Bye