The Treadway Chronicles: Santa Brunch and Happy 30 Month (2 1/2 Birthday)!

Two weeks ago, we went back to Bryan to celebrate my Dad's birthday as a family and to also attend the fabulous Santa Brunch at Miramont. The weather was actually a little chilly, so it was finally starting to feel like Christmas time.

We arrived Friday night and it was really nice, because my parents arranged for a babysitter, so we could all go out to dinner. We went to the fine dining restaurant at Miramont and we all had delicious meals. Of course everything tastes better when your enjoying a dinner out with adults. If only I could have a drink or two. Ha!

Speaking of the baby, he or she is really starting to kick a lot now and Jeff has even felt some kicks on the outside lately, which really makes it real. There is a mini human in there. Very cool.

On Saturday, we played at the house in the front yard most of the morning and the men took the kids over to the driving range too. Saturday night, we had our final birthday dinner for my Dad and celebrated royally.

Sunday morning was the brunch. We all dressed up in our holiday finest and headed over to Miramont. There was tons of food and a kiddy table for crafts. Connor wouldn't touch the regular food and went straight for the desserts. He has a crazy sweet tooth. My goodness. It also doesn't seem like he does well at buffets. He's too overwhelmed or something.

When we first arrived, we tried to get a photo with Santa, but Connor want no part in that. He was terrified yet again this year. Oh well. Maybe next year we'll have a complacent infant and a more mature 3 year old.

Overall the weekend and the brunch were a huge success. I can't wait to go back next year.

I should also mention that Connor turned 2 and a half today and I should really update you on his progress.

Connor continues to talk up a storm. Some of his cutest phrases lately are "Mommy, what's wrong?" He'll also say things like, "I have milk right there" and then he'll point with his thumb, not his pointer finger. He is really using a lot of full sentences and is finally starting to ask real questions instead of saying "buh boo bah" when he meant, "What is it?" I still have no idea where that came from.

He is not so big on tantrums. It's more wining that is his issue. He also has been very defiant and goes against what I ask him to do. For example, I'll tell him not to throw a book off the table and he'll do it. He is constantly testing me and for the most part, I'm still winning those battles. He gets time outs when he is overtly defiant and that seems to at least pull him away from the naughty thing he was doing. He continues to want to throw things and I still have some sympathy for that, because he LOVES sports, so half the time we are saying "good throw" and the other half we are saying "don't throw that." It's got to be hard to understand when it's OK and when it's not.

Despite his mischievous nature, he is also really sweet. For example, I hit my leg the other day and yelled in pain and Connor came over and kissed my leg. It was so precious. He does know when he was naughty and will say sorry and he does a pretty good job of saying "Thank you," which always sounds so cute when he says it without being prompted.

Connor is still a very picky eater. Despite my intentions to have a child with a very balanced palate, our son seems to only eat a few things and sometimes not even that. As you can imagine, based on his appetite, he has finally really started to thin out. He still has his cheeks, but he looks much more lean. Everyone still says he looks very tall for his age and most people guess he's three. I guess he'll be tall like his Daddy. I just wonder if he'll be stout like me. Hmm.

Connor is also still very shy. Just the other day, we walked into a new place and he literally hung onto the back of my jean's pockets for the first 20 minutes. He warmed up eventually, but he was terrified at first. If any stranger tries to talk to him, he will run over to me and try to hide behind me somehow or just bury his face into my legs.

With all that said however, once he is in his comfort zone, the kid is adorable and very happy. He has a zest for life and loves to giggle and smile. When he really gets laughing, it's absolutely contagious. He also likes to play with other kids and once they get into a game they can both do, he seems really happy with his buddies. For the first time the other day, he actually had a game of kick the ball with another little boy. They would kick it back and forth and actually took turns. It was fun to watch, because it seemed mature somehow.

I guess I shouldn't be shocked that he is maturing in some sport way though. Pretty much we spend our day rotating between football, basketball, t-ball, tossing any balls and golf. He will push trucks and he likes them, but sports and just running around are what really make him happy. I guess that's good from our end. He's got pretty much all the balls he needs. We're saving some money. He's got a really strong arm and he is pretty accurate too. He can also kick straight and far. He likes to kick soccer balls, but also kick a football like a field goal or punt. He is also starting to make baskets into the hoop from quite a distance. He doesn't like to just plop the ball in the net. He likes to throw it in or run and dunk. It's hilarious. We tell him to get closer to the net and he won't do it.

As for potty training, we are still a long way off, but he is really starting to at least understand how to use the potty. He is starting to grasp how to pee on command, which I think is a definite building block. On average, we pee in the potty 3 times a day. There are two times a day that he will definitely go, which is right before nap and right before bath time. The other time of the day is whenever I can sort of get him to try it. He is still reluctant, but with some candy bribing, he is starting to come along. We'll see. I don't have high hopes he'll be trained before the baby arrives, but we'll see. Maybe he'll just get it.

Well that's it for now. I still feel like Connor is the sweetest boy in the world and I often can't stop myself from kissing his puffy cheeks. Here are some pics from our weekend in Bryan.

My Dad and Libby fascinated by the dueling, dancing Santas. Connor loves these things. The cowboy one is actually from our house. We had to bring it with us, because he couldn't leave it for one weekend.

We have sort of decided that the empty lot across the street from my parent's house is basically just an extension of my parent's front yard. It is a great place to play all kinds of sports, because they kids can hit it anywhere and there is plenty of room. Thanks Miramont for the extra space. :)

Once the golfers are gone, we have also turned the golf course into an extension of my parent's back yard. Again, there is plenty of room to run and play. Here they are kicking an inflatable beach ball. What fun.

This was a cute picture of all the cousins watching a kids show at the bar. At least I think they were doing that, not ordering up drinks. Hmm.

The happy cousins before brunch.

Libby and Winnie hopped up on Santa's lap and Winnie actually told him what he wanted for Christmas. Libby was a little more reserved and the oldest Martin didn't trust Santa so he didn't go up there.