JAMSquared

Tag Archives: Jessica

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Posted on by

For New Year’s we traveled to the DFW metroplex for the Dzubinski family Christmas celebration. We arrived on Thursday, one day before everyone else. This gave my sister and I some scrapbook time Thursday night and we took the kiddos to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Friday morning. They have a museum membership and since Brian was working and James wasn’t feeling very good, I got to use the 2nd adult part of their membership. I love museums and could have easily spent much more time looking at the exhibits, but toddlers don’t have that kind of attention span.

The first exhibit we checked out was the Cattle Raisers Museum. There Cameron got to try rounding up the cattle while riding a horse. He did a pretty good job with Sarah’s help.

Sarah Helping Cameron Ride a Horse

Trevor was really into this cow who changed colors.

Watching the Color-Changing Cow

Then we checked out the special exhibit about Egypt. We tried to put Jessica in between Cameron and Trevor on the camel, but Jessica didn’t want anything to do with the camel.

Cameron and Trevor on a Camel

Then we checked out the Children’s Musuem, definitely the part where we spent the majority of our time. The next picture shows a case that had a number of ping pong sized balls in it. When you put your hand on the brass hand just outside, you caused the balls to be blown in the air.

Cameron Making Balls Float

Jessica didn’t truly get the cause and effect of putting your hand on the hand outline, but she sure thought it neat when the balls blew up in the air.

Jessica

I think Jessica’s favorite part was the mini grocery store. She enjoyed pushing the child-sized grocery cart around and filling it with fake food.

Jessica Doing Some Grocery Shopping

"Look Ma, I'm going to buy an apple."

Cameron definitely knew how to fill up his basket. If that grocery game show was still on air, Cameron would be a contender.

Cameron with a Full Grocery Cart

Trevor Doing Some Grocery Shopping Too

Jessica didn’t really get into checking out, but Cameron sure did.

Cameron and Trevor at the Check-out Counter

There was also a medical section with an ambulance you could drive, babies you could care for and stethoscopes you could use.

Cameron Driving an Ambulance

We were probably at the museum for three to four hours, including time spent in the museum cafe eating lunch. We easily could have spent a lot more time there as there was much more to see, but naptime beckoned. In fact, on the drive back to Sarah’s house, all the kiddos fell asleep in the car.

Sleeping in the Car

Christmas in Midland

Posted on by

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 Modeling her Ho Ho Ho Outfit

Chilling on the Couch

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.

"You can't catch me."

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.

Jessica and her Nanny

Jessica Working a Puzzle

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.

Family Photo

Joe, Olivia, Jennifer, Jessica, Dawson and James

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.

Dawson Opening a Gift

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

Jessica Getting Some Help From Grandpa

Jessica Opening a Gift From Nana and Grandpa

Jessica Opening a Gift From Mama and Daddy

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.

Jessica Checking Out a New Book

Jessica Opening a Gift From Great Aunt Cytha

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

Jessica Enjoying the Lights of O Little Town of Bethlehem

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.

Olivia Opening Her Gift From Us

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).

James and His Sister Tami

James With His Mom and Sister

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

Jessica Sitting on the Floor

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.

Jessica Climbing the High Chair

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.

Jessica Opening Santa Gift

Jessica Hugging Her New Friend

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.

Jessica Sampling a Marshmallow

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.

Jessica with Her Nanny and Papa

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.

Helping Daddy With His Stocking

Jessica Modeling a Santa Hat

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.

James and Jessica Onlooking Dawson's Game

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

James With His Pawpaw and Granny

James' Parents: Joe and Olivia

There’s even one of James and I.

Jennifer and James

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.

Dawson and Tami

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.

A Few Milestones

Posted on by

Last week, Jessica experienced two milestones.

After music class last Monday, Jessica took her first few steps completely unassisted. This is super exciting. On Christmas Day, she received some mini marshmallows in her Christmas stocking at my parent’s house. She had never had marshmallows before and at first she didn’t know what to think. Once I put one in her mouth, she discovered how tasty they were and wanted more. Later that day at James’ parent’s house, I enticed her to walk more with marshmallows held out in front of her. Here’s a video of James doing the enticing.

The second milestone occurred last Tuesday. We switched her car seat to forward facing. I wanted to keep her car seat rear facing as long as possible (see an excellent article on the car seat debate here) and while she still seemed comfortable and still liked riding in the car, her legs were starting to have to be bent as her feet rested on the back of the seat. So the day before we took the long drive to Midland, James put the seat forward facing.

Rear Facing, 12/20/10

Forward Facing, 12/21/10

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Christmas. Here’s some Christmasy photos to tide you over until I can post photos from our Christmas celebrations.

Wearing Santa Hat, 12/5/10

These next two are by our Christmas tree. Compare these pictures to those from last year in the same Christmas boxes.

In Christmas Box, 12/8/10

Playing with Ornaments, 12/8/10

These next few pictures were taken by Kristy at her house after our 2nd annual cookie baking extravaganza. I really like the one where James is tossing Jessica into the air and she is giggling.

Mommy's Christmas Present, 12/11/10

Being Tossed in the Air by Daddy, 12/11/10

Family Photo, 12/11/10

Watching Jessica Laugh, 12/11/10

14 Months Old

Posted on by

On Thursday, Jessica turned 14 months old. Yes, I’m four days late in telling you all that has happened in the past month, but better late than never.

What Jessica is Up To

Jessica is starting to enjoy stuffed animals. It is fun to watch her interact with them.

Hugging Leo the Leopard, 11/30/10

Looking at Leo, 11/30/10

Jessica is a very active little girl. Crawling or cruising is still her major mode of transportation. Last week, she took a few steps all by herself. Today, she actually walked about three feet all by herself. I’m excited for her to start walking more, even if that means getting into more stuff.

At the playground, she is now starting to prefer the playscape instead of the swing. She loves to climb up and down.

In the Tunnel, 11/21/10

Mommy and Jessica at Dick Nichols Park, 12/5/10

Last Wednesday at Chick-fil-a, she climbed up in the play yard. That’s Lillie, Jillan’s daughter, on the right. I had a hard time getting her to come down so we could leave. She was having too much fun.

Jessica and Lillie at Chick-fil-a, 12/15/10

She is very inquisitive and gets into everything including drawers and cabinet doors.

Opening the Dresser Door, 11/26/10

She’s almost tall enough to open lever door handles.

"Nana, are you in there?", 11/26/10

Here she is trying to hustle me with a shell game using Christmas votive candle holders.

Shell Game, 12/13/10

What Jessica is Saying

Jessica likes to talk a lot. Here’s a list: yes, mama, dada, ball, woof, up, hi, hello, fish. There may be a few others.

How Jessica is Sleeping

Jessica is currently working on cutting at least four new teeth, doubling the number of teeth she has. The two upper lateral incisors have broken through the gums and the upper cuspids are getting close to breaking through. It’s possible she is cutting more, but she’s not real big on me checking her teeth out. Needless to say, she hasn’t been sleeping too well the past few weeks. It also doesn’t help that she is now experiencing some allergy congestion.

What Jessica is Eating

There are days when Jessica is a super good eater. For instance, last Wednesday we had lunch at Chick-fil-a and she ate three nuggets, all but the apple slices out of the fruit cup plus a cup of mandarin oranges that I had brought with me. Then there are days when I have to entice or trick her to get her to eat much at all. She definitely loves fruit a lot more than veggies.

Trying Out a Fork, 12/13/10