Play-Palooza

We took Zara to the Children' Museum of Houston for the first time today. If going to bed an HOUR early is any indication, she loved it. We really only hit up the Tot Spot for the under 3 set so we haven't even seen most of it. In that area, just the little kids and their parents get to play with lots of way cool interactive things to do. All in all, it was great and we now have a membership so we can go often. As someone else called it, it's like a dog park for kids. True, so so true.

Sweet Sixteen

Any reader of this blog knows we had a hard time getting Zara sleeping on her own through the night and generally she just didn't for a long time. But, sometimes I still get caught by how much she has changed in only 16 months, today. Last night we gave Zara her bath and dressed in her PJs. While she was still in my lap I asked her if she wanted me to read her a story or if she wanted to go to sleep. She still isn't talking much, but in response she got up walked to her crib and patted on the side. Understood. We picked her up gave her a good night kiss and that was it, she curled up and slept the night away. Wow, how did we get here?

Friends with Cake

We got some pics of Zara this weekend looking all cute for her friend Lucy's first birthday. Ok, so the Mommy's are friends and that makes them so by default since they are too young to know differently. Either way, cutie pie Lucy enjoyed her birthday cake and Zara had a great time playing with Lucy's toys. Zara also popped out her fifth tooth a week or so ago and has two more sprouting any day. We went awhile without getting any so now she's overdue and is getting a bunch at once (super fun).

BBQ-Haven

Yesterday after a couple more days work from the company, the patio was sealed and is now ready for use. We really really like how it turned out. Once the second color went down and the sealer gave it a glossy pop I think it turned out great. Prior to this it was really light colored and we thought that was it. The second color really gives it depth. So the BBQ pad is now open for business, course it would help if we actually had some appropriate patio furniture to support said event. The fence also turned out great. It really makes me want to put a small planter box on it too for a little greenery flair.

Pati-No More

Since we are in a round of home improvements, we also went ahead and got a couple items we wanted taken care of outside done. The kind that is way more work and effort than we can manage ourselves and winter rates are better for hiring out. I mentioned the gate previously getting done, but the other major item is the patio. We had a decent size patio, was 8' by about 35', and we had intended on just getting it resurfaced, stamped, and stained. Well...

...turns out it doesn't cost too much more to have the old one torn out and a new, better (as in one with rebar), bigger (450 sq. ft vs. 300), and prettier (curvy) one put in its place. The new pour has already happened and it's stamped and stained. Weather delays are dragging it out a bit and it won't get sealed until this coming Sunday. Here is the picture of the old gate and patio. I'll post updates when it's all finished in a few days.