JAMSquared

When I first started thinking about Jessica’s 2nd birthday party, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the party favors, a Curious George t-shirt personalized for each of the twelve kiddos invited to the party. Here is our nephew Dawson modeling the finished product.

Like the the invitations, the party favors required a bit of graphics editing. They started with a desktop wallpaper of Curious George that I was able to download off as bonus material from a Curious George DVD that we own. I then removed the background, but unlike the invitation images, I didn’t have to be as particular about the smoothness of the image since I would be cutting it out anyway. Using my digital scrapbooking software, I set up the curved “Curious” and kids’ names as well as the George image to maximize space on the dark material heat transfer paper I picked up at Staples, which seemed to have the best price of the all the nearby office supply stores. My friend Lori was then nice enough to let me print the seven pages of transfer paper on her inkjet printer. This is one instance that it would be nice to still own an inkjet printer.

I then purchased red and blue t-shirts from Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. For future reference, Michael’s does not seem to carry any sizes smaller than youth small, but Hobby Lobby does carry youth x-small, hence why I shopped at two stores as I needed eight youth x-small shirts. After cutting out all the transfer pieces, I ironed them on the shirts and viola, awesome party favors that I got most of the kiddos to put on once they arrived at the party. I also sent the kiddos home from the party with a balloon that did double duty as a party decoration and Curious George temporary tattoos.

Go here for the post regarding the invitations. Stay tuned for more posts. I still need to share the birthday outfit I made her and of course photos from the actual party.

James and I drove up to Midland the Friday before Memorial Day. We stayed at his grandparent’s house Friday through Monday. We celebrated his Mom’s birthday (see previous post) and otherwise just enjoyed family time.

Monday afternoon, I put him on a plane back to Austin. Texas Painting painted the majority of our interior walls plus installed crown molding in our living/kitchen/breakfast room and master bathroom. Being pregnant, I didn’t really want Jessica or myself to be around the paint fumes, so we stayed in Midland at my parent’s house until Saturday morning when drove back to Austin.

It just so happened that this same week was the week my nephews Cameron and Trevor were visiting Nanny too, so Jessica got lots of play time with her cousins. Tuesday morning, we went to Opportunity Park to play. A cooler day with highs only to reach the mid-90s, it was a perfect day to go to the park. The kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

That afternoon, we let the kiddos play in the wading pool in my parent’s backyard. I hadn’t known that my Mom had gotten a wading pool, so I didn’t bring swim stuff for Jessica, but my sister had packed more than one swim diaper for Trevor, so she just wore that. Jessica enjoyed the wading pool immensely. I think she might have enjoyed being in the water more than Cameron and Trevor as they kept going in and out of the pool, but Jessica just stood or sat in the water pouring water from one cup to a bucket and back.

Thursday morning, the Midland Library held the annual summer reading program’s kick-off event, so we went to check it out. While we waited for the activities to start, Cameron, Trevor and Jessica worked some puzzles.

This year’s theme is Dig Up a Good Book and the kids made toilet paper roll dinosaurs.

Then we went to the library patio where they served popcorn and lemonade and had an area where the kids could dig for dinosaurs. Cameron really got into digging in the sand.

The entire time we were in Midland, I would ask for Jessica to give kisses. When I would say this around Trevor, he would give kisses too. I finally got some pictures of the affectionate nature of these two on Friday.

My parents left at lunchtime to take Cameron and Trevor home. Before they left, the kiddos played while my Mom packed.

We then walked to the mailbox. All of them loved the sidewalk “balance beam” between my parent’s and neighbors yards.

Friday after Jessica’s afternoon nap, we went over to her Nana’s for some playtime and dinner.

This post is very picture heavy (30 pictures total) and maybe I should have split it in two, but oh well.

We drove to Midland the Wednesday before Christmas. This was the first long car ride with Jessica forward facing. We took along some baby DVDs and she spent most of her time in the car watching them, outside of the very short nap she took. Her favorite is the Baby Einstein Baby MacDonald video about the farm. By the time we went to Keller for New Year’s weekend, she was pointing up at the DVD player if she was awake and there wasn’t a video in it. I’m not sure that is a good thing, but we don’t really watch any TV when we’re at home, so I guess in the car it is okay.

I tried to have holiday inspired clothing for each of the four full days we were in Midland. Here she is on the day before Christmas Eve.

Jessica enjoyed playing with her cousin Dawson while in Midland. The first two days we were there, he was all about “baby Jessica.” Here he is chasing her in the kitchen.

Christmas Eve morning, we went over to my parents’ house before going to Rosa’s to lunch with them. We pretty much always make a stop at Rosa’s when we’re in town.

Late afternoon, we attended the candlelit service at Crestview Baptish Church with James’ parents and our nephew Dawson. After the service, a photo op presented itself in the church lobby. Although Crestview was pretty casual in terms of Christmas attire, I loved getting all dressed up. Having a child makes me get sentimental, and I always remembered a new dress for Christmas. Jessica’s dress is Christmasy with snowmen and Christmas trees, but with the colors not outwardly Christmasy. I look forward to many more Christmases of getting dressed up for church.

After church, we all ate dinner (Tami, Randy, Granny & Pawpaw too). Then we opened gifts. Usually James’ family just digs into presents and no one really gets to see anyone open anything, but this year we watched the kiddos open a few things before everyone else dug in.

Dawson showed his Christmas spirit by wearing a Santa hat the entire evening.

It was so much fun watching Jessica open her gifts. I think she really gets present opening now.

James and I didn’t really get her much this year since the big Santa gift we had planned fell through due to being out of stock. However, the books we did get her, she really enjoyed.

One of the gifts James’ parents got Jessica was this Bethlehem book that sings. Jessica really liked how it lit up too.

For James’ Mom and my Dad this year, I made a Shutterfly book that looked back on Jessica’s first year. I made a third one for Jessica too. I had wanted to share it on my blog, but you have to set up a Shutterfly share site. Instead if you want to see it, come visit (I love to have company) and look at Jessica’s.

Before Tami, Randy, and Dawson left to go home, I took some family photos. I had wanted some with Dawson too, but he’s at an age where all he wants to do is make faces at the camera (I hope Jessica never reaches that phase).

Here’s Jessica in her Christmas pajamas Christmas morning. Aren’t those little reindeer on the feet cute?

One of her favorite activities at James’ parent’s house was climbing the high chair. She would go up and down repeatedly. It about gave James’ Mom a heart attack, but she only fell once and it barely even phased her.

After breakfast, Jessica opened her gift from Santa. She really enjoyed the stuffed dog Santa brought her. “Santa” only spent $5 on that dog since he was busy buying gifts for other kiddos and got the dog as a deal.

We then went over to my parents’ house to visit and eat lunch. Jessica opened her stocking there and she discovered how tasty marshmallows were.

Santa visited Jessica at my parents’ house and brought her a Curious George book and monkey. She seemed to dig the monkey and held him while I took some photos before we left.

That afternoon we opened stockings with James’ family. Jessica helped her Daddy open his stocking. She enjoyed all the sparkly sequins on the stocking James’ grandmother made for him a long time ago.

Dawson received a number of Wii and Nintendo DS video games for Christmas including a Wii Lego game from us. He spent most of the time he was at James’ parents’ house that day playing on his DS (a kid loves new play things). Jessica was very interested in what he was doing.

After the big Christmas dinner, I took some more family photos.

There’s even one of James and I.

Sunday was pretty leisurely. We went to church with James’ parents and had lunch at the new Genghis Grill. I then went over to my parent’s office and we walked to Manor Park to visit my grandmother. Alzheimer’s is the most depressing disease in the world. The previous time I had visited my grandmother, I hadn’t expected the Alzheimer’s to have progressed that much, so it was rather upsetting. This time I knew more of what to expect and it wasn’t as upsetting, but the disease still stinks, big time. It’s nice to know that she is well taken care of in the Younger Center at Manor Park though.

Tami, Randy and Dawson came over for dinner that night. I actually got a decent photo of Dawson and his Mom.

After Jessica went to sleep, James and I met up with my friend Brian. It’s sad that we both travel over 300 miles to visit  with each other when we live less than 300 miles apart (he lives in Houston).  Monday morning, we returned to Austin. It was nice visiting with family, but we were happy to be back in our own beds.

Stay tuned for more pictures from the rest of our Christmas festivities.

I love parties. Hopefully, Jessica will grow up loving parties as much as her Momma. I tried to trim the guest list for the party, but I think I still ended up with too many people in my house, but oh well. It was a ton of fun and Jessica will be able to look back at the pictures of all the people who came to celebrate her 1st birthday with her.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures during the party; however, my Dad and my sister using my Dad’s camera took lots of great pictures.

Here’s my Mom with her two youngest grand-children. We’ll be celebrating Trevor’s 1st birthday in less than 2 weeks.

I had sent James and his Dad to pick up the balloons and pizza. Don’t all those balloons look fun?

The balloon place was kinda backed up, so James didn’t have time to set up the circus tent before people arrived. Here’s Trevor and Cameron checking out the pieces prior to erection.

Jessica was enthralled with the balloons. She kept looking up at them.

My friend Lori is so good with kids. Noah, Anna and Parker all enjoyed the jungle story she read them.

Before people started arriving, our nephew Dawson asked what he could do to help. I showed him how to make popcorn and he filled up all the containers for me after each batch popped.

Jessica’s birthday cake was a small two-layer affair.

At first, she didn’t know what to think of it.

She eventually figured out that cake is pretty tasty food.

I think everyone enjoyed the cupcakes.

Jessica is so blessed to have so many people who care about her. She got a bunch of neat presents. She’ll be stylish, well-read, and have lots of active fun.

Previous party posts:  Part 1: Decorations. Stay tuned for Part 3: Favors and Thank Yous and Part 4: Food.

We had a very busy weekend. James’ parents, sister and nephew arrived Friday in time for dinner.

Saturday morning, we tried for a photo shoot, but Jessica didn’t want anything to do with that.

We then went to the Circle C Metro Park. James and Dawson tossed a frisbee, while Jessica played. She enjoyed the racket ball container we brought along.

Sunday morning, my parents, Sarah and her kiddos (Brian was on his annual guys bow-hunting trip) arrived just in time for Jessica’s birthday party, which I will discuss in a later post.

After the party, James’ family left and the Dzubinski cousins played together. A number of these photos were actually taken by my Dad.

We took the play time outside to check out Jessica’s new ride, the gift James and I got Jessica.

Monday we met up with Julia and Aspen for lunch at Mighty Fine Burgers and afterward we went to Gracywoods Park (an awesome playground, but we had a hard time finding where to park) and let the kiddos burn some energy before Sarah, Cameron and Trevor left to head home. My parents left the next morning.