Mr. & Mrs. Chandler - New Zealand Meets Texas

Beau and I went to Brooke and Aaron's wedding earlier this month and I have SO many great things to say about it! It was a par-TAY by the end of the night (the only way the Kiwis do it)! The way they incorporated Southern charm and class with an urban feel for the reception was just really cool. Aaron is a fishmonger in New Zealand (no, really) and he had his fish flown in for the reception. It was delicious! We had the chance to meet so many of their friends and Aaron's family from New Zealand and the accents were AWESOME! They really know how to have a good time!

Photo Booth! Don't have to ask us twice!

Another girl shot

Ken, Beau, Jeremy, Matt and Chuck

The beautiful bride with her awesome cake and the Dallas skyline :)

Ahhh, props.

They had the best band! Which meant lots of dancing.

At the end of the night. Beau was hot and sweaty
and he just sat there all night. Ha!

Couple's First Dance

Did I mention that the Kiwis know how to have FUN?!

COOLEST. PIC. EVER!

Family Photos Are In!

You may remember me talking about our photo session with our photographer...I talked about it here. Well, we are thrilled with the results! I don't even think I mentioned the chigger bites that we ended up with - thank God it was only Beau and me and that Grayson didn't get them. They lasted 2 weeks and reminded me of the chicken pocks. I have scars now because of course I was like a crack fiend trying to get a fix and scratched and scratched and ahhhh, relief. For like a second. And then I scratched again. Anyway, here are the pictures - SO worth the chigger bites! :)

Fighting a Nap

First, my apologies for only talking baby for, oh I don't know, the PAST YEAR. I promise I have other aspects to my life! However, I'm finally shooting Grayson videos again and want to keep this blog updated since I love looking back on it. But, I'm always pretty shocked at how much I *don't* capture. I'll try to go back and reference certain milestones and other happenings and I haven't really captured most of anything! I know, hard to imagine. So with that, more Grayson....

I've mentioned before that this kid can fight a nap with the best of them. He *has* gotten so much better at being put in his crib and putting himself to sleep. But every once in a while, we get a kid who will try anything to stay awake (all shown in the video below)!

• Twirls - SO funny! He seriously twirls in the sitting position to stay awake.
• Downward dog - his unintentional yoga position
• Tantrum-like behavior - crying and body thrusts
• Sing songy whines - pretty funny but also pretty annoying ;)
• Tries to play with toys
• Hits himself in the head - the Ped says this is normal. For now.

Grayson's First Few Steps

Dare I say we have a walker?! Well, I wouldn't really describe Grayson as walking just yet BUT he has taken his first few steps! Here are some short videos. He definitely prefers crawling and is still very cautious when it comes to letting go of the furniture but he would be charged with traveling if he was in a heated game of basketball...do you get the reference? 2 steps....never mind. Enjoy!

Father's Day

Beau, Grayson and I really enjoyed Father's Day! We began the day with cooking breakfast and then headed next door to our neighbor's pool for a couple of hours. They were out of town and offered it to us in exchange for watching the house while they were on vacation. We actually had free reign of it all week but only made it over there this one day - boo. We had a GREAT time swimming and Brinkley LOVED it! (They have a golden retriever so dogs are allowed :)) 

Brinkley waiting his turn.

My 3 boys! 

Grayson enjoyed the water hose more than the pool.
Go figure!

 We headed down to Dallas when Grayson awoke from his afternoon nap. My parents and my sister, Andrea were down at Trinity Hall enjoying some live Irish music and a Guiness. Well, one of them had a Guiness - I'll let you figure that one out ;-) Beau always enjoys that place also Grayson looooves the Irish music and dancers - it's a family-friendly place and a great Sunday afternoon hangout! In fact, we missed the Dallas Caldwells by a couple of hours - it's a favorite of theirs too!


Later, we ended up next door at Margarita Ranch for dinner. Overall, a perfect Father's Day!

Beau sporting his Father's Day present!
His 574,973rd Brooks Brothers shirt ;)

So thug. With a linen napkin.

High 5's all around!

Why You Don't Want to be Married to Me

I always knew it would take a special man to be able to put up with me FOREVER. Such a big word. And I was right, Beau is SO special! So patient, and calm, and patient, and gentle. And patient. Here is a conversation from last night....


Me: "My allergies are acting up. Ugh."
Beau: "Do you want a [he gets distracted]..."
Me: "A back massage? Yes!"
Beau: "No, a Zyrtec."
Me: "No thanks, I'll take the massage."
Beau: "I didn't offer you a massage."
Me: "But I choose that over the Zyrtec. Thank you for giving me options sweetie!"
Beau: "I didn't give you options."
Me: [I roll onto my stomach and move my hair out of the way]


Beau gives me a back rub.


I win! Granted, my efforts don't always score me a back rub but I'll take it!


I love you, Beau Reynolds!! :)

Happy FIRST YEAR, Baby Grayson!

Can I still call you Baby G? Well, I am. Happy 1st Birthday, my BIG boy!! We went to your annual well-visit today and here's the latest:

Weight: 25lb 4oz; 81%

Height: 31.5 inches; 91%

Head: 19 inches; 92%

• Doctor said that you look healthy and great! We are now down to 2 bottles a day, 14 ounces total. He said we can take the formula away whenever you are ready as it shouldn't be the primary source of nutrients for you. 
• This is fine b/c you're doing great with solids! Especially the unhealthy stuff. How do you already know to love the bad stuff?!
• Dr. Kaplan gave me a little lecture on your tan. Okay, okay, so he calls it sun exposure. You tan SO fast just like your Mama (we can't help it). You have had maybe an hour in the sun and you look like a farmer. It's not my fault! 
• You can climb up on the couch with a little help (like using a pillow as a step). But you still get down the right way. SO smart.
• Cautious. Which is why you will not take your hand off the furniture to take those first steps. When you play in any drawers, you always look up before standing to make sure you don't hit your head. Where did you get this from?! I guess it only takes one good head bump to learn your lesson!
• You now hold the remote and look up at the TV every time you push a button. You totally get that the one controls the other. I'm so impressed that you have this figured out. However, you sure can throw a fit when I take the remote away. It's. Not. A. Toy. So tired of saying this!

• You still love giving High 5s and now you brush your hair when we tell you to :) It kind of reminds me of teaching the dogs tricks but MUCH cooler. No, I'm not comparing you to the dogs. Promise.
• You LOVE taking wagon rides and you point to birds as they fly over. I enjoy this time with you so much!
• Rough housing! All any of us have to do is get on the floor and you get the biggest grin and rush on over to fall on us over and over again. You love to roll around and climb all over us. You love to wrestle and you can throw a pretty good elbow to the throat!
• You are beginning to associate Mamamama with distress and needs. I'll take it! But I wish you said it when you have a smile on your face like you do Dadadadada. :)
• You have been a master at pulling things off of surfaces but now you are putting the items BACK where they belong! It doesn't happen all the time but at least you are showing other interest other than completely destroying a room! ;)
• We love you dearly - and I just can't get enough of you! Watching you grow up is the coolest thing I've gotten to do in all my life. I'm so blessed to have this time with you!
• Here are some random, blurry photos from my phone over the past month....

Wearing Dada's hat 

I'm getting used to having all blurry photos of this little busy body

You eat like your Dad! ;-)

Fascinated by all things toilet: the scrub brush, plunger,  etc.

Oops. I mean Poops. Major mess all over your clothes in the restaurant.
Naked ride home.

Your Mimi decided tutus aren't just for girls!

Still get your thrills by playing IN the toy basket.

Your first time in a real pool! You loved it :)

And you still like your little baby pool in our backyard. :)

The neighbors brought this over for us to collect their mail while they are
out of town. You, of course, had different ideas!

Pathetic! Crying after I took a pen away from you.
You got yourself pretty good though! 

With Aunt Andrea!

My 32nd...uhh I mean 31st Birthday

I woke up to Beau saying, "Happy Birthday, Baby! The BIG 3-2!" 


Umm, it's my 31st but thanks for playing. Haha, I can't even be upset b/c I'm the world's worst with remembering Birthdays (and apparently our Anniversary too). :)


I had the BEST birthday but not for some of the reasons you might imagine. :) My Mom offered to take Grayson for the ENTIRE day so that I could do whatever I wanted. My mind swirled with ideas! There are just not enough hours in the day to do everything but I did a lot....


I sat at Starbucks in peace with my coffee and laptop for two hours that morning and you know what?! No one needed me, there were no grubby little fingers pulling at my computer, no laundry or dishes, just a girl, her coffee and her Hollywood gossip sites...LOVE!


I then went to Target and wandered around aimlessly! No list, no plan, no ticking time bomb sitting in the cart (ahem, Grayson), just a girl, her wallet and cheap merchandise....LOVE!


I made it out of Target just in time to meet my friend Lori at Chuy's for lunch. It was there that I had a Corona at lunch. Because I COULD. It was Friday, it was my Birthday, I didn't have a baby with me and I was having an ice cold beer. I always love conversation with Lori! We have SO much to talk about and I don't think we have ever finished a conversation b/c we have to cram so many topics into a short time period! It was heaven. Just a girl, her friend, a beer and a Chuychanga....LOVE!


After that, I ran a couple more errands then went home to get ready for dinner with the family! My parents took us to Fireside Pies for my Birthday and, as always, it was delicious! Ma joined us and we all had a really good time. :) 


Beau gave me the sweetest Birthday card! If he was open to me publicly broadcasting our personal life on my blog, I would totally re-type it here (since I'll probably lose the card). In fact, I probably wouldn't even be able to locate it now to do that....(sigh). 

Note to self next B-day: No pics in front of the liquor store

Grayson's gift to me was a destroyed bathroom.
He's so good to me ;-)

Our friends Brooke and Aaron were getting married the following night so I asked that my gift from Beau just be a hotel room downtown so that we can stay out with friends and not have to worry about driving back. Thanks Chandler clan for the best Birthday celebration ever - great band, incredible food, open bar, and tons of friends! ;-)