2012 AIA Sandcastle Competition

After wondering what to do today we settled on heading to the beach for the sandcastle competition they have every year. It had been a few years since we'd been, and I'll use just about any excuse to go to the beach. :)

Traffic was bad thanks to shuttlepalooza or whatever they're calling the festivities surrounding the receipt of NASA's very own (wooden replica, boo!) space shuttle. Sooo we took 288 and Hwy 6 instead and that gave us the opportunity to see places we'd have missed otherwise like Manvel (which has a VERY nice high school that doesn't match it's surroundings AT ALL), Santa Fe (home to the famous supreme court case) and Hitchcock (which is doomed to be less interesting when not preceded by 'Alfred').

It took 2 hours to get down there and parked but make it we did and had a lovely time! Sam didn't want to leave. Rainey is going to be such the water baby and had so much fun playing in the sand and water. She would squeal with delight when a wave would come up and wash over her legs and then shriek when it went out again. It never once bothered her if her face got splashed (a MAJOR difference from her brother). I'm not sure how much sand she ate but I know I didn't manage to keep all of it out of her mouth. Sam did better this time too and in addition to building sandcastles he actually wanted to go out in the water with David! He got doused by a wave but was more excited than anything which is a big change. Port A this year is going to keep us on our toes for sure!

Sam and I walked along and looked at the sandcastle competition for "inspiration" while David stayed with Rainey. As usual some were good, some were funny, some made you question the reason for their existence. "The Big Bad Sandy Wolf" was our favorite and it won 2nd place. There were a few Hunger Games and Avengers entries, and a "March Madness of the Penguins" which was pretty funny. Several were riffs on the looming end of the world as predicted by those concerned about the end of the Mayan calendar.


When we got back we had snack time while David checked out the competition and then Rainey and I hung out in the water while Sam and David worked on their sandcastle du jour. They got quite a few props from people walking by.



According to Sam this is a skyscraper and village. The skyscraper has a hospital in it for the villagers. There are even 2 tunnels running underneath it for cars and trucks (according to David) or water (according to Sam) to pass through.

Rainey didn't manage to stay awake and frolic in the ocean the whole time we were there. Eventually she got so tired she took a nap on the blanket under the umbrella. It's tough being a baby!

Thank you BBT

Sam strongly dislikes wearing pants. It's my fault. During the summer when it's hot inside and out I haven't made him wear them inside the house. I don't set a great example either by almost immediately upon walking in the door changing into my much cooler pajama shorts.
Habit combined with the most inquisitive mind EVER (or so it seems) resulted in the following conversation this morning:

Me: Did you know we're going to Nonnie and Bubbie's in 5 days?

Sam: That's not long from now. (pauses) I won't wear pants at Nonnie and Bubbie's because they live in the country and no one can see me.

Me: (frowns and grins) Fortunately, yes you will!
[Sam loves the word fortunately and uses it often, even when it should be unfortunately. Consequently I use it much more than necessary. It's a little like "inconceivable" in The Princess Bride.]

Sam: But Mama, if I wear pants my legs will get hot because it's hot outside. (to Sam, pants and shorts are interchangeable a lot of the time.)

Me: If you wear shorts you'll be plenty cool. Besides, you'll be so distracted playing it won't bother you anyway.

Sam: Well, fortunately it will.

Me: I'm sorry to hear that, but you still have to wear shorts.

Sam: why?

Me: [sighs] it's a non-optional social convention. (a line frequently used in the BBT to get Sheldon to comply with something he thinks is superfluous.)

Sam:(confused look) Okay.

Solids

Rainey has been doing pretty well with her solid foods so we're starting to branch out a bit. She's had avocado twice, but don't let the smile fool you...she stored it all up and spat it back at me.

Tonight I steamed/puréed some carrots and boy did she go crazy for those! I couldn't get the spoon in fast enough. It was also the first night where she was opening for the spoon and leaning in. Solids are still once a day in the evening since Mom's milk is more of a priority, but I'm so proud of how she's transitioning!

In other news, Sam came down with a pretty bad cold that even gave him an asthma-like cough. After trouble breathing so badly one night (his lips were blue for a minute) we ended up finding out he had an ear infection and got an inhaler to have in case breathing was a problem again. He decided that the virus should be the gift that keeps on giving and shared it with Rainey...who then shared it with Mommy. I ended up with a sinus infection and the beginnings of an ear infection and poor Rainey has ear infection #3 and bronchitis. We've spent the past 6 weeks with someone sick. Enough already! (David has been fine, he NEVER gets sick. I'm so jealous.)

Oatmeal Anyone?

The first food:



The baby:




The way-too-big-too-fast-little girl:










She did great! And mommy managed NOT to cry. There were even a few times that she opened her mouth when she saw the spoon coming.

[it should be noted that what she's staring at in all of these pictures is David. She LOVES her daddy! :)]

San Gabriel

This weekend has been just lovely. The river near David's parents' house is actually running clear and cool. We went down expecting muddy puddles, or at the least dirty looking kinda stagnant water. Instead, we got this:

Just beautiful.

Up all night

Rainey is still having some residual day/night reversal issues. Some nights she'll nurse and go right back to sleep, others she'll be up the whole time between 2 feedings. Tonight she's going for a hybrid: awake for about an hour after every nursing. Oh well.

So what do you do when your little chickie won't sleep? Take pictures with your camera phone of one of her awake times of course! :)

Already?!?

Rainey is one of those rare babies that doesn't hate tummy time. Today I put her in the center of her playmat while I folded laundry/watched jeopardy and I saw her working her feet against the mat with a lot of force for an almost 4 week old. After a minute or two she had moved herself out of the center!



Then after another few minutes she made it to the carpet. Apparently scooting is exhausting stuff and she conked out right there.



I know she probably doesn't understand what she's doing, she's not lifting her head all that much (or her arms and torso) but still! I don't remember Sam getting anywhere deliberately or not this early.

Uh oh.

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