The Peanut Gallerie

It started a few weeks back on my birthday. Austin and I had spent the day driving around to antique shops. He bought me a cast iron muffin tin. Each muffin was shaped as a different fruit or leaf. It's adorable and I can't wait to use it.

We also browsed some rings. We're searching for an antique looking one. Later that day, we dropped James off with his parents and went to dinner. It was our first date in a very long time.

We were giggly.

Like on our first date. We started asking each other questions again. With all of our energy going into James, we forget to spend time on each other. We had so much fun.

I spoke with a friend of mine. She knew exactly what I meant and completely agreed! Her husband and her try to go on date night every week. It's so important, she expressed.

So, we've been setting aside a few hours every Thursday. (Thank God for Austin's family and their help :) One week, we actually got to see a movie. I know, impressive. We've been to pizza places and Sizzler (don't knock it, it's all you can eat) and I got to have sushi!

We reconnect.

We focus on each other, if not, just for those few hours. Believe me... it does wonders to the relationship. We were doing good before. We communicate superbly. We handle finances like pros. There's just something different when we get those few moments... like a bigger spark takes over.

I fall in love all over again.

It started at a birthday party.

James sat in front of the wheels on this little school bus. They were spinning. James just sat there and watched it go round and round, every once in a while, giving it a good tug to make it go again.

Those that know James, know he loves fans. Austin and I will occasionally turn the fan on and off to get it to spin and give James something to look at as he drifts off to sleep. He's a thinker. He likes to figure out how they work (and loves pushing buttons).

Austin got this idea.

We went to Home Depot. I just followed him around not really understanding the vision inside his head, but the faith that he knew what he was doing. He wanted to build something for James, he said.

After work, I walk into James' room to find this.

Austin is thrilled to have made this exciting toy for him and James is just so thrilled to have a fan he can touch :)

I apologize, but this tends to take a backseat to real life... and trust me, real life be crazy. First off, James is growing so fast! I've got playdates for James, birthdays for me, visiting with my family, hanging out with Austin's family.. and I can't forget date night (otherwise, Austin and I would have no time to reconnect).

Luckily, working from home has really paid off. I get to play with baby all day! (Well, not all day. There is some work involved.) The other day, Austin and I made the baby a fort. He wasn't opposed to it... it just seemed to put him in a very calming state. (I'll have to remember that one.) Lol, he just sat there all swaddled.

Oh.. so much fun the baby is :)

One. I don't have my programs and unless I get a really great shot without needing any touch up, I won't post it. (and peanuts move around.. a lot.. so with an old camera, it's very difficult not to get some blurry image across your screen.)

Two. You really have to see James in true form to appreciate him. He runs around everywhere. I know babies get mobile and they crawl a lot, but he is all over the place! His little babbles also add to the cuteness.

This morning was not the case.

He has been a bit of a grumpy gills lately. Throwing fits when he doesn't get his way or we tell him he can't touch something. It's hard to see his little face sad like that, but then again, I don't want to raise a spoiled child. I stay strong. "No, James, you cannot grab the phone cord.. or the electrical outlet... or go in the bathroom and play with the toilet... or grab books off the shelf... or..."

As you may have noticed, we decided to shave off the baby-hawk. It was getting too long and started to curl at the top when we put it up. He has so many looks, lol. I can't get over how much older he looks now... like a little man :)

Meanwhile, Austin is in the reserves and had to shave off his facial hair. It's .... different... and takes some getting use to.

I'll post a picture when I'm ready.

One, that you can't eat Cheerios when there is a binkie still in your mouth. Two, Tigger realized that this new little person that has taken all this attention, likes to share his food.

He's loud, whiney, and complains a lot. Sometimes, I'm in the middle of a job and he comes over wanting to talk. He tells jokes (half of which don't even sound like English). It's as if he doesn't understand that I have work to do?

I've tried talking with the Big Boss, but it seems I somehow got this promotion to supervise, without the extra pay. When did I sign up for that?