Got my Napa on!

Two weeks ago, I enjoyed the abnormally cool summer weather in Sacramento for training. On Friday, I spent the afternoon winning a work Scavenger Hunt while Eric hit up the breweries. We met at Pyramid Brewery, which has one of my all time faves....Apricot Hefeweizen. After we checked that off the "To-Do" List, we were off to Napa! The first night, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Mustards.....for all you Top Chef fans. The food was simple, but tasted so fresh...straight from the garden. We are still talking about the Blackberry Margarita, Peach Salad, and the TOMATOES. We both aren't die hard Tomato Fans, but after eating them I could bite into a tomato just like an Apple. To die for. Saturday was jammed packed.....1st stop Cakebread, which is Cakebread so it had to be good. Thought it would be overrated, but it exceeded our expectations. My goal in life is to be a Cakebread Club Member. Not too far out of reach. Then, we headed to our most anticipated winery...Plumpjack. If Austin was a winery, it would be Plumpjack. It was hip, hidden, and damn good. Next stop was Robert Mondavi, which was not part of the plan, but we had time and had to go.....like Disneyworld....you have to go. It was pretty, packed, just like Disneyworld. Then, we headed to Elizabeth Spencer, a boutique winery recommended by Plumpjack. It was fabulous, could have spent our life savings there, and we met incredible people there. At this point, we needed FOOD. So we had an AMAZING lunch at V.Sattui. Anyone that knows me, knows I love cheese and crackers. It would be my last meal. So that is what we did, ate great cheeses, meats, and crackers...oh and more wine. Afterwards we headed to our hotel to unpack the wine, before the.....Cave Tour! The Del Dotto Wine Cave Tour was a blast. We were surrounded by barrels with candlelight and the wine was phenomenal. It was a great, great experience. And we did spend our life savings there. Napa was a great quick parents getaway! If only ALL 13 bottles made it back safety.....

Anxiously Awaiting August

Not going to lie, August is my 12th Favorite Month. It always has been. Why? It is the hottest month in Texas, summer camps/swimming is over, school started, and it was BOTH my sisters birthdays...no gifts for me (middle child)! I have a feeling this August will be different. I will spend the first week in Sacramento to train for the position I'm covering for a woman on maternity leave. Although I'm nervous to be away from my baby girl and favorite man, I'm very very excited for the opportunity. At the end of the week, Eric will fly up and we will spend the weekend in Napa. Hello, Romantic Getaway! We got our Top Chef Dinner Reservations and expert winery tastings set up. Once we get back, we will be anxiously awaiting our FIRST baby nephew, Noah, to come! So so so excited! Between travels, jobs, and baby, we will be celebrating FIVE family birthdays....yes five. Not to mention BIG birthdays, Eric's dad's 60th and brother's 30th. Once we finish out August, we will celebrate 1 more family birthday and head to Chicago for Labor Day. So basically, I am blogging now if you don't hear from us in awhile. :) No, I will try.....too many exciting things happening!

Dora The Explorer, Scratch That, Kaylee The Explorer

Kaylee doesn't have too much time to watch TV, but when she does she watches Dora The Explorer. At this point, I would say Dora is one of her BFFs. She speaks of "Dora", responds to Backpack & Map, and does the Dora "We Did It" Dance. The video touches on her dancing, but it really doesn't do it justice. We also got the Old McDonald had a "Turtle" on video. A Kaylee Classic. Enjoy!

20 Months Old

Kaylee turned 20 Months Old this past week! Eric and I definitely feel a big change in her maturity level. I would describe her as a very sweet, responsible (borderline ocd), cautious (in a smart thinker way), and very witty little girl.

What Kaylee is doing now:

-Saids too many words for us to list, but she is moving in to 3-4 word sentences/questions.

-Very Sweet and Loving.....gives kisses to us, stuffed animals, pictures of Blake on Facebook, and of course her Baby Doll.

-Very responsible and has taken ownership of her possessions. She is in love with her Baby Doll....feeds, bathes, travels, put to sleep, plays with, sings to, claps hands, kisses....you name it she does it. She adores her "Baby".

-Very interested in ABCs and Counting. She will stop be in a middle of song and make me sing ABCs.

-Still on track to being Potty Trained. Traveling made it difficult, but she is definitely still successfully going in the potty!

-She tells what she doesn't wants. This is good and bad.

-Her attention span is longer.....so eating out, watching movies, traveling is much more relaxed for us.

-She always has been a cautious kid, but it has become more apparent on the playground. You will see kids go face forward, flying off things, etc.....where Kaylee always thinks before she does something. This obviously comes from Eric, my methodical thinker.

-She enjoys making us laugh....making silly faces and dances. I'm not sure where she gets that from. ;)

We wanted to record a video of her Dancing and this is what we got. Our Big Cheese! Haha! :)

Iowa Fourth of July

For the Fourth of July this year, we headed up to Iowa for Eric's Cousin's Wedding as well as the Ernst Family Reunion. Either Kaylee is getting used to flying or Eric & I are better prepared, because the flights to and from were rather smooth. However, Kaylee was a bit clinging due to being out of her comfort zone. Away from home with lots of new faces took a toll on her as well as my arms! I think if we had a few more days there or weren't going city to city, she would have been all over the place. The first night, we spent it with Eric's Grandparents in Ames. The weather was in the 70s and everything was green...a nice change from the miserable Texas heat! Kaylee loved being outside and checking out their gorgeous flowers....especially the "purple flowers". Next day, we headed to Des Moines for Tim & Kristen's Rehearsal Picnic. We had to wake Kaylee up from her overdue nap, but she was in a better mood once she saw the playground. When she goes down the slide we count 1, 2, 3. She surprised us when we said 1, she finished 2 and 3! When did you learn to count little girl?! Next day, we headed downtown Des Moines to eat a Brewery. Of course Eric sampled ALL the beers and feasted on a true "Iowa" Pork Sandwich. Then, that night we went to Kristen & Tim's beautiful wedding! It was great to see the whole Bachman Family and meet some new faces! Then on the Fourth of July, we headed to Prairie City for Eric's Dad's side of the family's reunion...The Ernsts! And I thought I came from a big family? There was a lot of people and kids, Kaylee seemed comfortable to run/dance around. Finally I got to put some faces with some names....it was great to meet/see everyone! We headed back to Austin on the night of the Fourth, so we got to see Fireworks from Dallas to Austin. It was really awesome. Kaylee kept saying...."Whoa!".

Eric looks like a little kid at a Candy Store!

Ernst Family at the Wedding (Minus Dana & Noah)

Ernst Invasion!

Kaylee giving her "Cheese"

Insisted on pushing Bunny around the Airport

Yay! June 19th!

So if you think we have fallen off the earth, one word.....iphone 3GS. Today is the day it is released to the consumer. I have been working rather long stressful hours and have had quite a ride for the past couple weeks. The iphone is awesome and is quite the front-runner. I am amazed by technology these days....I really am. Meanwhile Eric & I have celebrate our 3rd Anniversary, of course we celebrated with out signature Take-Out, but more importantly our marriage just keeps on getting better and better. He has been so supportive and Mr. Mom, as I am a part of a big tech launch of the year. It is great to have a supportive partner! :) We knew the month of June was going to be a crazy busy time, but will touch base with all of you soon.

South Padre or Bust

Last weekend, we headed down to South Padre Island with the May Fam. I have gone down to S. Padre since I was little and we stayed at the same condo.....oh, the memories. I was rather excited to show Eric AND K the Texas beaches. Although I am was in the mist of the iphone launch, we were able to have some good beach fun. Kaylee loved the huge sandbox, but was afraid of the roaring ocean. We think if we stayed ONE more day, we could have gotten her to like the ocean water. However, she absolutely loved picking seashells! It was nice spending time with the fam, as I always enjoyed the stupid games we play. Not to mention, Kaylee loved the attention. Good Times.....

Old El Paso Wedding

Over Memorial Weekend, we headed to El Paso for Eric's Father's Wedding! It was about time for Glen & Julia to get married after 10 years! We are so happy for them. The flight to El Paso went well up until our decedent. The pilot went to land and due to weather had to go back up. At this point, Kaylee was exhausted and needed to get off the plane. She was "that" crying child for the last 15 minutes of the flight, of course I walked off with asleep child. Oh, the joys. It had been since October since it last rain in EP, it had to be good luck for a wedding. Once we got settled in, we headed off to the Justice of Peace for the wedding. It was lovely and we really enjoyed the thoughtfulness of the judge. Did I mention I made Kaylee the flower-girl, she successfully smashed the little daisies. Afterwards, it was time to par-tay! Glen & Julia had quite the spread of amazing steak and sides and not to mention tequila, cognac, and of course wine! It was great night with good company, not to mention the amazing cool California weather. The next day, we enjoyed the day with them. We headed to New Mexico to see their farm, which we had an amazing lunch with their okra and corn. Nothing beats "Farm to Table". Then at night, we headed to Julia's brother's house for her niece's graduation party. She has a VERY large family and they all so nice and welcoming. Kaylee enjoyed playing with the "big" kids and learning Ring Around the Rosy. The flight back was smooth sailing. It was great weekend and we are so very happy for them!

The Wedding

The Entertainment

The Cake

(This Picture Cracks Me Up!)

Ernst Fam on the Farm

We are getting a nice collection of these!

You can't get this man off the farm!

19 Month Old Kiddo

Our little Kaylee is 19 Months Old today! At her 18-Month Check-up, she was 33.5 inches (95%) and 27 pds (90%). The Doctor estimates to be 5'9 like her Mommy.

Run down on our little girl...

-She is an Ape. She copies anything Mommy & Daddy. From toe nail polish, lotion, make-up, cooking, eating, cleaning....you name she wants to do it if we are. But she is definitely a little girl, when we run errands she has to have her purse with her cell phone. She really enjoys shopping with Mommy.

-She is talking more and more! You can point to most everyday objects and she will say what it is or repeats us after we say it. Examples: bike, chair, shirt, car, etc. She knows all of her body parts and is learning to say more animals....today she said turtle for the first time. She will go into these adorable long jibber jabber stories...we look forward to understanding her soon!

-She is brainwashed. Every time she sees a longhorn or a football, she raises her arms and saids "Ouch Down" (Touchdown). It is hilarious. I did not realize how many items in our life have a longhorn or a football...car decals, shirts, cups!

-She is right on track with Potty Training. She successfully goes "pee-pee" and "poo-poo". She will gives us signs of when she needs to go, but we are still working on her telling us every time. We will move to training pants soon!

-She is lovable. She has really become even more affectionate, by giving hugs and wet kisses. At school, they give handshakes, so don't be surprise if she wants to shake hands.

-She is putting together the "Ifs and Thens". She spilled some yogurt on the floor yesterday, went to go get a paper towel, wiped it up, threw away the paper towel, then sat back down at the table to finish the yogurt. I was like...what just happened here?!? I didn't say anything! I owe that to our amazing school, who really focus on responsibility and ownership. I love it!

Kaylee finally has enough hair for Pig-Tails & Pony-Tails!

And as you can see, she loves her sunglasses!

This is Kaylee's Signature look, mischievous eyes to the side. Mommy was notorious for this as well as a toddler. This was K when we went out to Sushi...she was not a fan of the Spicy Tuna. She will learn!

Muddy Buddy 2009

Last Sunday, Team Rum Runners were back in action! Eric & I participated in our 2nd Muddy Buddy Race in Johnson City. Of course we had a blast! The course was a 100 times harder than the Dallas Course. Just think Texas Hill Country with Rocks, Muds, Hill versus Dallas Plains! I felt I could never get any speed though, because I was trying not to eat dirt. But overall we kicked butt and had fun doing it! These races have been such a great experience for us, of course we have our "date nights" , but it is rare to be in a team competitive situation. It nice to have the positive support to complete the race and then finishing together! I couldn't have chose a better Muddy Buddy! Go Team Rum Runners!

Check out more pictures at: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?S=20&EVENTID=49873&PWD=&BIB=245&DIVISION=&TEAM=

Before the Race...Clean

Our Cute Lil' Frog

After the Race...Dirty!

Get Me Away From the My Dirty Parents!

The Only Way We Could Get a Pic w/Kaylee

iWalk

Last Wednesday, we had a iWalk Race during lunch. One of the the many reasons I enjoy Apple so much is their amazing Wellness center. There is a state of the art Gym with every class imaginable (Spin, Yoga, Pilates) and the locker room has a nice spa like feel. Not to mention, the offices are right by a .5 mile Trail Loop, which is nice to go to when the weather isn't TOO hot! They also offer Massages, Physical Therapy, Nutrition help, and lots of Educational Services. It shows that they care of the quality of life for employees. It is so nice and convenient for a working mom that tries to maximize the day! Anyhow, I was very proud of myself for coming in 3rd Overall and 2nd Girl in the 5k Race out of 280 people! Woohoo! I maintained a great steady pace and I am starting to get a good feel for running. I just need to get over the "I hate this, why I am doing this?" mental battle during the run! But it is always worth it after the fact!

Kaylee Starts down the Path of Being Diaper Free

Today was a major milestone for Kaylee. She used the potty for the first time this morning. She sat on the toilet, made a little grunt, and next thing you know we hear a plop (and the plop was not Kaylee falling in).

Iowa Roots

You know your kiddo has Iowa Roots when..... your 17 month old grabs an ear of corn out of your hand and devours it. She acted like she was eating off the cob for years.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful women out there! Saturday night, we celebrated with a big feast for my mom! Eric grilled an enormous amount of meat and his Spicy Jammy Ribs were amazing as usual. It was great dinner, but I was tired after all that cookin'. All I wanted for Sunday Breakfast was an Italian Sausage & Red Pepper Strata that I spotted in the Bon Appetit magazine last month. Boy, was it good. Then, Eric, Kaylee, & I headed to Flat Creek Winery outside of Marble Falls. It was very pretty winery, it had the Texas Tuscan look and feel. The vines were big and established more than other Texas Wineries. The wine was surprisingly good as well. Most Texas Wines are very sweet like our Tea, but these weren't too sweet. We spent some good time tasting and walking around the wildflower garden. I definitely would like to go back, especially because it is only 45 minutes away. Afterwards, we went into Marble Falls to Sweet Berry Farms to go pick Strawberries. Kaylee is hands down at the perfect age for this! She love it, although she managed to pick every "bad" strawberry there was. The "good" strawberries were sooo juicy, Kaylee was a complete mess. We attempted to go pet the goats, but she climbed up me as fast as she could. I don't blame her, since they were taller than her. She did enjoy watching them, just from above. The best part was the homemade strawberry ice cream and well that was the perfect day for me. Hope all the mothers and moms-to-be had a great day as well. Did I mention Eric did ALL the dishes & laundry?!? :)

Yummy Strata

My 2 Favorite People, Eric & Kaylee

There was no one to take our picture, so this is us trying.

Pretty Winery

You tell Kaylee to collect something and she will be your BFF.

Picking out the "Bad" Strawberries

Scary Goat

Hope you can see Kaylee's Smiling Face!

Hog Shank Redemption

Last Thursday, Apple had their annual BBQ Cook-Off. My team's name was Hog Shank Redemption and I acted as the "Cheerleader" or "Cruise Controller", meaning I talked smack to the competition and provide the entertainment. I had a blast. We were outside all day with 24 other teams. There was 4 categories: Chicken, Ribs, Pork, and Brisket. In the afternoon, we had a Beer Bash and the winners were announced. Drumroll please.....we got 2nd place in Ribs! It was a lot of fun and I can't wait for next year! I should also mention the "Peep" is our mascot. Similar to the gnome for Travelocity, we take "Peep" pictures at various events. It is hilarious.

Amazing Brisket

2nd Place Ribs!

Hog Shank Redemption

Senor Peeps with the Trophy

Wedding Bells

We had a jam-packed weekend and needed a couple of days to recover! Saturday, we went to my very dear friend's wedding in Seguin, Texas. I have known Miss Julia since 1st Grade, oh how I love Hidden Forest! She had a Polish Catholic Ceremony, which was very interesting to have some of the ceremony in Polish! How cool? Then, the reception was at the gorgeous Nolte Farms, which is on the Guadalupe River. It was so so so pretty! Probably one of the best weddings I ever been too! Eric and I had a blast, not only because we having so much fun with old friends, but my folks took care of Kaylee for the night. Getaway to Seguin, never thought I would say that! I danced the night away and there is video to prove it! Sunday, I headed back with the girls to San Antonio for Brackin's Wedding Shower. I spent several hot summers with her as lifeguards and now she lives in cold Minnesota? So, it was nice to see her and take part in her wedding festivities. Although my team loss in the Wedding Family Feud game, we were robbed! Then, we rushed back to Austin to go to Kaylee's teacher's Going Away Party. It is always fun to watch all the kiddos play with their BFFs. Kaylee sure does love the slide and the height of the slide does not to seem to phase her anymore. We love Miss Jordan and we are going to miss her, but I know we will keep in touch. Phew...see why we needed to recover?

Eric & Kristen on the Guadalupe

Cocktail Hour

With Beautiful Bride

Too Much Fun! :)