This morning we played with the riding toys.  That green one can fold in to ride, or come out for walking.  I tried to take a photo of the two together, but Levi just takes off walking.  He's gotten really good at it.  In fact he's almost running with it!  Cam can sit and balance pretty well.  She loves it when I push her.

We had a SUPER fun morning!  It started off with a Breakfast play date at 8:30.  I organized the event with the Baby Buddies group.  I chose the Starbuck's just up the street.  There's also a donut shop next door, so it was the perfect venue for us!  5 other moms and babies showed up.  I invited Chad and Ella along, too.  Everyone had an enjoyable, relaxing chat.  Cam and Levi did great!  Levi is not a fan of sitting in the stroller, so he hung out on my lap.  Both munched on my sausage kolache (which I didn't get to each much of myself), and I splurged with a donut and frappuccino.  I chatted for awhile with everyone, including Kat and her daughter Alexandria.  Coincidentally they live in the same neighborhood as Cam!  We'll be arranging a play date with Chad & Ella soon!   Those who couldn't make it but wanted to were at home with their teething babies. What a great way to kick off the day!  After we got home I got some really great feedback.  So I'll be planning more just like this...

Chad & Ella

Kat & Alexandria

Reyna & Eli

Elizabeth & Bridgette

Cynthia & Matthew

Sarah & Kaiah Ann

Here are some of the comments through the meet-up site:


"Had a great time.  Thanks!" - Elizabeth


"Had a great time. Met terrific moms, dads, and babies.  :)  Thank you J for organizing.  :)  Levi and Cam are such happy babies." - Cynthia


"Thank you so much for hosting this event, Julianna.  It helps so much when our mommies offer to help out by hosting.  It makes it so much easier on me and gives everyone more options when it comes to signing up for events.  I can't be everywhere all the time so I really appreciate it!  It sounds like it was tons of fun!  We will have to catch the next one."  - Rachel, group organizer


"So great to see y'all again!!...it should make you happy to know that we had one 10 minute nap and one 20 minute nap!  Thanks for jinxing it ;)  hahaha." - Kat


"It was nice meeting all the new mommies and sweet babies.  Thanks again Julianna!" - Reyna


"Great venue, great time!  Super way to start the day and very relaxing. :)" - Cynthia


After coffee and donuts,we headed east up the road to Heights Park.  It was the second meet-up event of the day.  Chad and I waited on the park benches for the others to arrive.  There were a few RSVP's for this, but oddly enough we were the only ones.  At least for awhile.  So we walked the loop without them.  It was a really nice stroll, and still not too hot.  Ella, Cam, and Levi enjoyed themselves.  After our walk I noticed Reyna and Eli playing in the sand pit. So we set out a picnic blanket nearby for playtime.  Cam and Levi both tried the sand pit for the first time. Their reactions were quite different from each other.  At first they both sat there and felt around.  Then Cam got a little frustrated, perhaps because she wanted to move around more. Levi decided to take off again, and crawled a few feet away, in the sand.  That's how much determination and strength this child has!  He pulled up on the edge and just looked around.  Those two are too funny!  We decided to skip the swings and headed home at around 11:30am.   

View from the parking lot

My attempt at a group photo :)

Eli & Cam

3 Sand Babies

Bored with sand, too?!

I was really proud of all 3 little ones.  The fact that they all played together so well for 3 hours really impressed me!  It's worth every second seeing their reactions to things.  We love our new friends from the Baby Buddies group, and our sweet new pal Ella.

I organized a meet-up event with the Tots & Tykes playgroup.  The venue was Campbell Green Splash Pad, just a mile from Cam's house.  Only 3 other moms RSVP'ed through the site.  Of those 3, two other moms with their children joined us.  The start time was 9:30am to avoid the crowds.  After we arrived I was told that the park opened at 10.  So I killed time by taking photos, pulling the wagon, and conversing with the other moms.  

When 10:00 rolled around, the splash pad was turned on and I eased the babies into it.  I carried them around to check out each spray area.   As they became more comfortable we sat in the water to watch.

I expected Levi to be pretty apprehensive.  A few weeks ago Neal and I took him to one at Fritz Park in McKinney, as well as the one at Fairview Shopping Center.  Both times he was pretty timid.  Those splash parks were a little "unpredictable" with the water squirts, older children running around screaming, etc.  But slowly his interest grew today.  Cam, on the other hand jumped right in!

This was actually our second trip to this splash pad.  For Memorial Day weekend I kept Cam while B & L went to the Rangers game.  I brought the babies here to "scope it out."  It was opening day at the splash pad, which was a good reason to leave the house for some people watching.  So today I am guessing they remembered it.  

The view from the parking lot

Before the water turned on...

They loved this tiny squirting place.  Remember reading that Cam jumped right in?  She does that with just about anything...

...and here's a prime example!  She's always willing to try new things (even if it means drinking/eating everything in sight :).  It's so cute to watch her just GO FOR IT while Levi sits back and observes first.  Opposites attract, perhaps?!

After a few moments of watching/sitting, they realized there was more to explore.  As soon as Cam saw Levi take off, she followed suit.  I really tried to capture their faces on camera, but both were just too busy with this new, super cool environment.

Cam loved practicing her crawl here.  She LOVED every minute!

I love this photo of her...

After the splash pad, we skipped a dry clothes change.  We piled into the car, went back to Cam's, and jumped into the baby pool.  Might as well take advantage, don't you think? 

Aren't they the cutest?  I just can't contain myself with the camera.  :)

Levi always looks for a challenge.

The Classic Cam Smile strikes again!

We absolutely LOVE summer and getting wet!

I get my wedding ring inspected twice a year, so we took a trip to the mall.  They spent some time in the play area.  It was newly remodeled and a great place to get out some energy.  We're hoping to come back on Thursday for Tiny Tot story time.

This wall game thing had tracks with tiny tokens for the kids to move.  Both were very determined, but didn't quite have the fine motor skills to move it much.  It was so cute to watch them try!

I love seeing Cam's bright blue eyes look up at me...

Levi is convinced that he can do everything that the big kids can.  He was super excited to climb up this end, then slide down to the other side.  I climbed behind him for safety.  He laughed at himself and LOVED it!

Such a big boy!

I came across these photos on my phone and thought I'd share.  Aren't they the cutest babies ever?!!

We love our walks! 

Ready to swim!  Levi, your expressions crack me up!! 

Cam loves her Levi Bear.  It's the closest thing to him while he naps. :)

Gran gave Levi several puzzles from her school over the weekend.  So I brought some over for Cam to play with, too.  When Levi and I arrived, Brian and Cam greeted us outside.  It was a beautiful morning so we played with puzzles in the front yard.  Cam loves to chew and Levi figured out how to manipulate the pieces.  A great start to the week!  Thank you Gran for our new toys.

 

We invited Chad and Ella over for a play date.  The Baileys are friends with the Herrings, and they live just two blocks away.  Ella is 5 and a half months old. She had a great time riding around in Cam's bumbo chair. Isn't she cute?! :)

It'll be so cool to watch Ella grow up with us.  Here's to more play dates!  

We LOVE our Baby Buddies Meet-up group!  Everyone is so sweet and easy to talk to.  We've only attended a few events, and I'll be hosting in two weeks.  So excited!

I scheduled a play date with my friend Lavinia and her 7 month old son, Drake.  We originally planned for Haggard Park, but due to the recent rain, we moved it to Willow Bend Mall.  We ate lunch in the food court, then walked over to the play area.  Shortly after arriving to play, the security guard asked everyone to step out for their routine cleaning.  So we moved everyone to a a lounging area nearby.  

They enjoyed each other just the same.  Cam and Drake really hit it off!  She might have two boyfriends now.  :)

Levi didn't seem too jealous as he stayed busy exploring on his own.  He would crawl several yards away, stop, and look back with his mischievous grin.   

Then he'd come return to me, and do it all over again.  He enjoyed inventing this game for himself.  I managed to sit him down with the others for a brief moment:

After the 30-minute clean, we were allowed to re-enter the area.  Levi had a blast on the climbing structures.  I could not keep up with him!  I eventually had to carry Cam while chasing after/keeping an eye on him.

Here's Drake.  Isn't he cute?!

Have I mentioned how much Cam loves to socialize?!  The next time I'm sure she'll be all over the place.  She loved all the attention from two boys today!

One more of my sweet little man...

FInally! A good photo of the 3 of us...:)

 Looking forward to the next get-together!  Thanks Lavinia for sharing your awesome photos!