First Father's Day

I bet I have typed and re-typed this blog about a hundred times because when it comes down to it, how can I put into words a daddy's first Father's Day? How can words possibly capture the emotions of such an important event?

Ever since the day we started dating I knew that Bill would be an amazing father. We would walk into places like Target and tiny little hands would reach out from their mother's buggies just to touch him. We couldn't get through a meal without distractions of Bill making funny faces at the children at the next table and then hanging his head low like he had gotten in trouble for not paying attention to our conversation. I cannot tell you the number of children that climbed in our booth, pulled up next to Bill and grinned... followed by their parents deepest apologies and "i swear he/she has never done that before." One of my favorite memories happened in Pottery Barn. It had been a long day of shopping and I am sure that Bill would have rather been anywhere but Pottery Barn at that moment, but he just smiled while I showed him one nick nack after the other when two little boys came rushing through us arms spread out like planes making those loud humming noises that only little boys know how to make. And then a little old lady came up behind Bill, tapped him on the shoulder and said "Tag... your grandma!" She was completely exhausted.

I smile every time I think of Bill as a father. When we got married we put a 5 year plan in place, like there was something magic about waiting 5 years before having a child. By my age, my parents were bringing number 2 into the world - funny how things change! It seemed like the closer and closer we got to 5 years the further we seemed to push the dates out... until Julia. Sweet Julia Wolf, you will never know how you changed our lives! Such a tiny little thing, and when she held up those outstretched arms to Bill and he swooped her up... turning to me with a smile that I had never seen before and saying "I think it might be okay to have kids." I knew that was it! We never looked back - just took that blind leap into parenthood. Little did we know how quickly it would actually happen for us. How quickly 'it might be okay' turned into 'I am pregnant!'

Bill, you are amazing. You are truly a wonderful father and the man of my dreams. From the moment we found out that we were having a boy, you held your head so high and there was not a single nurse that day who even had to ask the sex of the baby because your expression said it all.

The first time you held your son in your arms, you two were in love with one another and you seemed to glow as you proudly carried him through the hospital corridor.

I love to watch you with your son. He is so trusting of you already. As if he knows that you would do anything for him. That you will always be there for him and love him unconditionally. That he is so lucky to have you as his father.

I love the way you laugh with Liam. How you do not care how silly you look when you make funny faces because to hear that little giggle you would stand outside in your underwear! And only you can make him belly laugh till our sides hurt. It's infectious.

And I love the way that you let me dress you two alike, because I think it is absolutely adorable!

I love the way he sleeps like you do. It is the definition of peacefulness.

I am in awe of you and I have so much respect for the man that you are and the father you are becoming already. I know that Liam is going to be so proud to call you his daddy and I cannot wait for what is to come.

The bond between father and son is so special. Liam is going to grow up to be an awesome husband and father with you to guide and teach him. You learned from one of the best and I know that looking at you with you son your father is so proud of you as well.

Liam is going to look up to you and want to follow in your every footstep! Drinking your coffee black, scotch on the rocks, football and golf are rights of passage and can only be learned from watching a true Robinson!

Happy First Father's Day! We love you!

Cheers to Sue Ellen

Last Thursday night the girls got together to celebrate Sue Ellen's birthday at Maggianos! As we rose our wine glasses to clang together in honor of her, I couldn't help but remember last year's celebration when Bill and I were awaiting the doctor's confirmation that we were pregnant. Coming up with some crazy story as to why I was not drinking and trying to fight back the urge to scream to the table that WE WERE PREGNANT! (because you know you are not supposed to tell before 12 weeks... and you are most certainly not to tell friends before parents!) M'Lee reminded me of the silly excuse about pain meds and braces - funny how she remembered and kept quiet about the whole thing as she snickered at the fact that 'something' was going on. I think that because they had just gone through the awkward 'no drinking' with Ashley 9 months prior, she had her suspicions, but as all good friends do... she just carried on with dinner and let me think we got away with it all!

As we filled the table with silly girl talk and discussed possible dates for a getaway weekend I noticed that we had been sitting underneath an old photo that seemed to capture our evening! As if these girls also knew what it meant to have an evening to yourself... no diaper changes, or work phone calls. No sports television or stress about dirty dishes... Just Girls, even if only for a few hours!

So cheers to you, girlfriends! and Happy Birthday Sue Ellen!

A Juneteenth Rock Star

Okay, so it isn't Juneteenth yet, but last weekend we pretended that it was. After a fun morning with Liam at the Caden Lane photo shoot, we headed over to my parent's house to help celebrate the birth of one amazing father, grandfather, husband, son-in-law and friend. He is such a Rock Star!

There is just something about GiGi and Poppa's house that makes you feel like you are on vacation. It might be that you walk into their backyard to a beautifully manicured garden overlooking the greenbelt that looks like something out of the Southern Living catalog. Or it might be the fancy drink concoctions that you are served in your Mexican dress on the patio.

Maybe it is the early morning coffee on the deck by the pool. Or that you are almost always guaranteed to experience birds playing in the waterfall, deer frolicking through the trees or even slippery creatures like lizards (and even those we don't prefer like snakes!)

Or maybe it is the pink flamingos dancing in the flower pots while you go for a swim.

In any case, there was a celebration! We rolled dad's 52nd birthday and father's day into one big San Antonio fiesta complete with BBQ chicken, ranch beans and watermelon.

And what Juneteenth baby wouldn't have their favorite cake be red velvet?

After dinner we opened gifts and got delirious over a singing hamster card purchased by yours truly! It was a fun family party. Happy Birthday Daddy!

Sorry Gran for what comes next because even though she promised to kill me if I posted these photos, there was something magical that happened at 11pm that night, when all the boys had gone to bed and the three of us girls, who should have joined them, became just that... three silly girls, squeezing ourselves into Gran's bed and interrupting her book reading to fill the room of giggles like three best friends at a slumber party. And then it hit me as I looked at these amazing women who I love and admire... I had joined their secret club. I had become one of them - a mommy! And I cannot wait to make more memories like those.

The birthday celebration would not have been complete without a cherry on top - Aunt Janie came into town and Liam got to show off all his new tricks while we listened to Poppa stories!

And Vogue

Work it baby! Literally....

Recently, my little model was asked to pose for a Caden Lane photo shoot introducing their fall collection. We love Katy Mimari (creator of Caden Lane) and were thrilled when she asked us to be a part of her new catalog! Her bedding is so colorful and bright. The polka dots are mesmerizing and Liam is entertained for hours in his bed! If you are ever in San Antonio, you should check out her store, Nursery Couture!

Liam was quite the model, giving his photographer plenty of poses to choose from. Including a little toe action pose that he learned from Katy. This acrobatic trick gets lots of praise and so it gets performed about as often as rolling over these days!

He smiled and laughed at his ridiculous parents giving a command performance. When I look back at these photos I can only think "Is that what I look like to my son?" He must think we are completely crazy. Now I understand why he is always laughing. Who wouldn't laugh at this bag of nuts? I hope he doesn't end up warped by all the tongue thrusting, bubble blowing, crossed eyes, and monkey puckers. Aren't we a zoo?

You know, as a mother-to-be sometimes you worry that you might have one of those babies that only a mommy could love. And not that I would know if I actually had one of those babies, or care for that matter, but it sure felt good to know that someone other than his mommy thought Liam was cute enough for a catalog! I just stare at him sometimes and wonder how something so beautifully perfect came from me. Because as his mommy, I think that is what he is... practically perfect in every way.

Mommy's got her Groove Back!

Mommy's got her groove back... well, sort of! Before getting pregnant, I had worked my way up to a whopping 6 mile jog. Now, all you marathon runners will not be impressed, but I was pretty happy with my accomplishment of 6 miles. When Bill and I found out that I was pregnant I was thrilled! I decided that running was most likely not good for the baby (either that or it was an excuse to stop). I decided low impact stretching and walking was much better with a little one on board and we were doing great until... dum, dum, dum... BED REST! And not the "you should stay in bed" translated to "take it easy" kind of bed rest. The bed rest that required bed pans and spit baths, which later turned into bathroom and shower only. The bed rest that required support hose so that your legs didn't turn into mush - the ugly kind of bed rest. I would have laid in that bed all over again for our little munchkin... exercise is so overrated!

Needless to say, working out post baby included many bicep curls and lunges (to pick up fallen pacifiers), but not really any major cardio. So, that makes nearly 6 months of pretty much minimal workout. UNTIL last Saturday... Mommy had the bright idea that she could just pop right up and run a 5K with her girlfriends... no training necessary. Lets just say - at least I finished! It wasn't fast and it sure wasn't pretty, but I finished!

Later that night, Bill and I went out for the very first time without Liam. I am so lucky to have my sister-in-law in town who was available short notice to watch him for a couple of hours while Bill and I enjoyed the company of adults at M'Lees Housewarming party! So exciting! She was a wonderful host and I thoroughly enjoyed the margarita machine! It was really great to emerge from our bubble and catch up with friends! Liam had a wonderful time with his Aunt Nolie and even trained her to take him outside to hang out by the beautiful water fountain in her complex. Who wouldn't enjoy a nice evening next to a calming water fountain?

The next day we headed over to Bill's grandmother's house to swim! Bill heated the pool to bath water temp and we waited patiently while the afternoon thunderstorm passed so we could dunk those baby toes in the water and play until dinner.

And when our fingers were nice and pruned, we snuggled into over sized beach towels and made a milk mustache!