Relief is finally in sight! The three week period of illness is hopefully coming to an end and we are feeling much better. I'll admit that I started the ball rolling because I've been sick that whole time- I just keep catching something else before I'm over the last thing. Charlton was the most recent casualty last week and got Bronchitis mid-week that lasted the entire weekend. Because I have been feeling less than healthy, I never posted these pictures of Steven playing with his big firetruck that Lindsay and Kyle gave him for Christmas. He loves trucks and cars, and one that is big enough to ride on (not that he doesn't try with the smaller ones) is too awesome for 2 year old words so I'm posting it for him. 
The last several weeks have not been very fun for any of us and so when I felt close to 100% this morning, I decided that it was time for Steven to have a fun day with Mommy lest he forget how wonderful I am. It was kind of gloomy outside so rather than promise him outdoor adventures and then get rained out, we went to an inflatable bouncy house. We had a blast (sorry no pictures-- I was having too much of a good time for that) and it felt good to get out of the house for a little fun.
and if you haven't seen Cars yet, you're missing out! It is Steven's favorite movie by far; he even says the lines in the movie now when we watch it which is cute and scary at the same time! It makes me glad we restrict what he watches.
I posted these pictures-- last week, 17 months, and 5 months-- old to show what he is and was doing every year around Valentine's Day. He's so big!
Our Valentine's Day has been interesting so far. Thankfully, Charlton and I decided to beat the rush and go out for dinner and a movie last night. We dropped Steven (who we thought was perfectly healthy) off at my parents' house and then had a wonderful evening together-- I'd say one of our best Valentine dates. 
We picked Steven up from Mammaw and Pappaw's at 10:30 and put him straight in his bed-- maybe 5 minutes. Every thing's normal and then he let out this cough that sounded like a barking dog just like that. We pretty much knew from that first cough that he wasn't just clearing his throat. So after a night of not much sleep and lots of coughing, I took him to the ped. office this morning. He has a type of Bronchitis. The doctor gave us a prescription and said that he would be over it in two days; although, today and tonight would be hard. Hopefully, he'll take a long nap since he didn't sleep much last night. We wish everyone a healthy Valentine's Day-- especially you, Kristi. =)
How many adoring family members does it take to help Steven fly a kite...6. Lindsay and Kyle came into town and we celebrated my mom's birthday with her last weekend. It was her idea to fly a kite on Saturday morning and it was a great one! Steven had seen a kite at our neighborhood park last spring but we have never gotten around to getting one ourselves. Mammaw got one and was ready when we had beautiful, windy, 70 degree weather last weekend. Charlton and Kyle were responsible for the actual kite flying. 
And we ran into our buddy, Jackson, too.
Charlton went took a guys' trip to Dallas Friday and Saturday with some of his college friends. So, Steven and I went to the Downtown Aquarium with my parents Saturday morning. Charlton and I had taken him on Memorial Day and he loved it, but we hadn't made it back there since. It seemed like a good day since it was cold and gloomy with a chance of rain. He had such a good time that it was hard to get him to really focus on any of the tanks for very long...
He did enjoy this area where you could "touch the starfish and sting rays with one finger," and stand behind the scuba gear. We don't know the "big boy" in the picture above but he's cute too. 
I always wait to the end to take a picture of Steven and I, and of course as usual, he's done taking pictures by then.
The trend on Charlton's side of our family is that there's a new baby every year. We didn't actually have a baby born in 2008 but Meadow was born in November of 2007 and Jenn's due in 4 weeks so it certainly was close this time. The kids change so fast we try to get family pictures every year around Christmas.
After a few hours at home we headed over to my mom and dad's house (all the way down the street) and had tons of fun with them, Lindsay, and Kyle all day. Steven and I made my mom this plate with his handprints on them. [We made one for Mimi too but I forgot to get a picture of it- remind me to next time we're over, Brenda.] I took him one morning to Mudpie Company, a paint your own pottery place, and an employee helped us do the handprints. Then I went back that night with girlfriends from the neighborhood and did the rest. 
It was so much fun!
