The Goings On

Life has been crazy busy, but I think we're starting to get the hang of it.

Work on the house is slow.  It's been satisfying though.  We've been able to make headway on some smaller projects like crown moulding.  And we're in the process of picking a tree for the front yard.  We're thinking we'll go with a weeping cherry, because it seems to fit the requirements:  smaller size, less invasive roots, and ornamental. 
Speaking of trees, Now that we're both back to work, our money tree is thriving!  Haha!  You should have seen it during our maternity/paternity leave!  It was all shriveled and brown!

We've got a few weddings coming up that we're super excited about! {just when we thought our wedding streak was over, a new wave is rolling in}.

And we're having a blast re-realizing every day, that we have a little boy! It still hasn't sunken in that we're parents, and we're not sure it every will, but we are so excited for a spring/summer full of revisiting all the things we like to do, through the eyes of the little guy.

The Favorite Toy {Four Months}

Now that Rowan is reaching out for things and actually able to hold on to them, he's finally interested in some of the {many} toys that we've accumulated in the last few months.

Despite our efforts to force Rowan into an emotional attachment to the most adorable stuffed giraffe that his dad picked out especially for him {before we even knew we were pregnant}, he's taken a particular interest in his froggy rattle.

{Pay no attention to that cloth diaper insert under his head!}

As soon as he sees that green thing coming his way, his eyes get wide and so does his mouth!  He knows this is something he likes to chew on.

 I think it also is familiar to him because we've kept it on the changing table, and long before he could recognize it or reach for it, I rattled it for him.

It's fun to see him have a favorite, even if it's not the favorite that we wanted him to have.  Haha!  I guess this is the beginning of a long line of differences in opinion between us and him!

What a rebel!

Happy Easter!

So, the Easter Bunny *kinda* goofed and thought that Easter was last Sunday. 

Silly Wabbit!

Good thing someone's not old enough to know the difference!  I guess we're going to have to keep better track of our holidays.  And hopefully one day, our back yard will be worthy of an Easter egg hunt.  Right now, all that's hiding out there are Domino-bombs {dog poo}.

At least we got a special visit today from our friends Rosie, Samantha, and Bryce, and Easter Breakfast at the Rapports!  Yum Yum.

While we were there, Luisa {the queen of the house} asked us if we had any Easter traditions.  Not really.  I mean, there was the stuffed bunny that only appeared on Easter, and of course The HUNT. Other than that, and a brief reminiscing of Shrinkie-Dinks {whatever happened to those anyway?}, we couldn't think of any.  She told us that they always re-use their Easter basket. 

What a great idea!

I think we'll adopt that tradition.  Thanks Lu!

Another Vet Bill for a {Champion} Horse

A few days ago, I started drafting this blog entry:

Can you believe it? Nothing has been wrong with the horse for at least a few weeks!  {I am probably jinxing things by even mentioning it}.  We're so excited to watch him perform in his first Dressage Show@ Indian Hills Ranch this Sunday.  We're going to be the dorkiest Horse Parents.  I'm about this close to making t-shirts and posters for cheering him {and his rider} on!

But before I even had a chance to post, Ronin had to see the vet, AGAIN. 

We went up to help the ferrier so that Ronin's shoes would be perfecto for his big day.  The shoeing, miraculously, went super quick and easy, but the ferrier noticed that Ronin's lip was swollen.  WHUH?! OMG it was HUGE!  {and really gross too}.  Luckily I happened to spot a vet, who was up for a clinic and squeezed Ronin in for a look.  The vet diagnosed him with a fungal infection.  Ewwwwwwww!  Anyway, he gave me some "stuff" that should hopefully fix him up. 

Luckily, this didn't hinder him from being ridden the next day.

So, the show was on Sunday, and we busted our butts to get up there in time for Ronin's first ride.  We were in such a hurry to leave that we forgot our camera! *lame*.  But you can view some pictures here {Ronin is in pictures 30-36, and Rogér and Rowan are in picture 253}:

 http://kathycolman.smugmug.com/Dressage/Equestrian/Indian-Hills-Ranch-Dressage/16676029_K84BRd#1257468699_px2V2T8

I was SO proud of Tiffany {Ronin's rider}.  She cleaned Ronin up so well, and looked calm and composed through the whole thing.  After Ronin & Tiffany's rides were over, we stuck around for maybe an hour.  I'm so glad we did because we got to hear the winners announced and, who woulda thought, Tiffany and Ronin placed 1st in one category, and 2nd in another!

WooHoo!

Working, and Making it Work

Sorry it's been so long since we gave an update. Things have been really hectic at the Balyon House!

I went back to work last Monday :( It's hard to describe how I felt the last few days before the impending doom. Preparing to send Rowan to daycare, or "school", as we call it, was a surreal experience.  I procrastinated right up to the wire, and then went through the motions almost mechanically; Diapers, Check. Bottles, Check. Extra Clothes, Check. Labels, Check. I felt like I was in a sort of denial about the whole thing. 

I was also stressed and excited over a rush Invitation Order {I'll get a better photo up soon!}, that just happened to come in at about the most busy time in the last few months {of course, right?}.  As exciting it was to get an order, I felt a tremendous amount of guilt because of the time I had to spend on it.  I literally dropped Ro-Bear off at daycare, went to work, picked the Cub up from daycare, and then handed him off to Rogér for the night while I worked on the invitations.

I guess the bright side is that I was so busy, I didn't have time to focus on being a worry-whort!  But I wouldn't say that I handled everything all that well, just ask Rogér!

Now we're in our second week of work/school, and it's still strange but it's working itself out.  Rowan seems to like daycare.  He likes getting to interact with new people and things.  I think this was the perfect time for him to go to daycare.  He's just started to be interested in other babies and wants to try the thing he sees them doing.  And, it is nice to get some time to myself and to see some of my friends at work again, even if the work part is kinda lame.

 I feel like this is a healthy thing for both of us, but if I could have everything my way, both Rogér and I would be stay-at-home parents, AND Rowan would get to go to school a couple days a week. Maybe some day!

Here's a little Rowan fix for ya.  Just when I don't think he can get any cuter, he does. :)

Holy Hail!

Two nights ago, the sound of the rain hitting are window was way too loud to be soothing.  

It actually woke us up. 

The next morning, we realized why...

It was a fricking hail storm!  And it stuck around til morning. 

The hail was HUGE! {and by huge, I mean like the size of a pea.}

The weather has been so weird here.