Old vs. New

Every time I return home, I am astounded by just how much and how fast the city is growing. New homes, schools, shopping centers, roads and highways now reside in places where I never thought it was possible. While all this change infiltrates the nooks and crannies of San Antonio and its outskirts, I am relieved knowing one little spot close to the heart of the city has managed to stay put. Recently, Braedan and I visited the historic Kiddie Park, an amusement park with rides that are the just the perfect size for toddlers and kids. I use the word historic to describe it because it's been around since 1925, and if you were born and raised in San Antonio visiting the park is almost like a family tradition because chances are your parents frequented the park during their day as well. For those of you who know it, Kiddie Park still looks the same if not a little smaller than you remember with the original rides still intact - the cars, boats, airplanes, horse and carriages, Ferris wheel, school bus and those crazy flying saucers - all with a little sprucing up. Even the original carousel has held steady all these years. During our visit, I was really glad to see Braedan enjoying himself. So much so, that he even objected a few times by protesting, kicking and tightly gripping a few of the rides once they stopped to let me know just how much fun he was having and did not want to leave.

Notice how he is sitting. As soon as the ride started, he put himself in this position.

With this introduction to a historical part of the city, I in turn felt obliged to also show him a more modern kids hot spot just so he could experience the old vs. new of San Antonio. So on the Columbus Day holiday Braedan and I, with his Tia and two cousins in tow, jaunted over to one of the numerous new shopping centers near my old neighborhood for an afternoon of fun and games at Chuck E. Cheese. All had a good time, especially Braedan since he received the opportunity to eat pizza for the first time with the added bonus of getting on more rides. Just as before there was a repeat of protests when we had to move on to a new ride, but here he is during one of his happier moments showing Stuart Little how to drive.

Everything is bigger and better in Texas

I am extremely happy to say this post comes directly to you from Texas. Braedan and I packed up (well more me than him since he vigorously works to unpack as you're trying to pack) a few of our things and hit the road back to Texas. The whole packing business is the reason for our early departure from Chicago. Have you ever tried to pack whether it be for a short or long trip, or attempt any sort of activity for that matter, with an active one-year-old running around? It is pretty much impossible. So the hubby graciously stayed behind to do all of the major packing while we kicked up our boots to make our way down south, back to the homeland. We were a little nervous about how Braedan would do on his first, long road trip, but with a little help from Grandpa, Tia Jacquelyn and Barney, it went really, really well. Until this trip, I never understood the need for those TV/DVD players in a SUV, but after seeing the effect one purple dinosaur can have on a little one, I definitely know what Braedan should ask Santa for to bring with him on future road trips.

Even though it was such a long drive, 17 and 1/2 hours, it seemed to go pretty fast and we enjoyed taking in the sites and different views of southern Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and, eventually, Texas. A few funny things we noted along the way was how we weren't warmly greeted with a welcome sign in Missouri, Oklahoma kindly said welcome with its sign but then proceeded to charge us with a $4.00 toll as soon as we drove in, and then on the way out had the nerve to say, "Hate to see you go but please pay us another $2.00 before you leave." It wasn't until we arrived in Texas to reaffirm that everything is bigger and better in Texas. Plus, it doesn't quickly take your money for you to catch onto that fact. We weren't welcomed with just one, but two landmarks await you at the state line to let you know you've entered a whole other country in Texas.

Landmark #1

Landmark #2

And Braedan having some fun in the car.

Margarita Anyone?

Many of you know I am a big fan of margaritas, and I am loyal through and through to the traditional lime margarita. I'll take it frozen or on the rocks, anyway I can get it. My hubby on the other hand is an avid whisky man with his brand of choice being Crown Royal. Knowing this about him you might be surprised to know that if he orders a margarita, it's usually mango flavored. (I know, a whisky man drinking a mango margarita.) Anyway, a couple winters ago we went on this crazy kick where every Friday night we stayed in and made frozen margaritas. There we were with the temperature outside somewhere in the low-to mid-20's with an even colder windchill, the fire place blazing and our margaritas in hand. I guess maybe we were thinking if we could simulate a warm environment inside then it wouldn't feel so bad once we ventured out. Well I share this story because a couple weeks ago, I came across the greatest thing I have ever seen at the grocery store - margarita in a box. For those of you who enjoy margaritas, I strongly recommend you try it. It is really good and tastes similar to something I can order from one of my favorite Mexican restaurants back home. As a couple of my girlfriends might say, "It's no margerator, but it looks like it will do."

Lucky Number 13

Overall, I'm not one to be too superstitious, but there are two common superstitions which make me think twice if I happen to encounter them - ladders and black cats. I will avoid going under a ladder, and occasionally I will freak out if a black cat has crossed my path but it depends on what I have going on at the moment on whether or not I will let it affect my mood and future outlook. When it comes to numbers, I'm especially not manic about their pull in the universe, but I am partial to the number 8 for obvious reasons if you happen to know my full birth date. The funny thing is the hubby has always held affection for the number 9. Well so far for Braedan, it seems the number 13 is and will be good to him. I say this because at 13 months, he mastered two major milestones - walking by himself and saying good bye to the bottle.

Coincidentally, on Friday, August 13th the hubby and I left Corpus Christi, Texas with a new home. During our visit down there, we grew more and more excited with the thought of living so close to the beach. We're so close in fact, about a 10-minute drive, that we're hoping it will persuade many of you to come down for a visit.

My Busy Bee

Over the last few weeks, Braedan has been a busy bee by participating in different activities, experiencing new foods and finding new ways to get into trouble. I'll keep this post short and sweet and let the pictures do the talking.

He's become a good self feeder and on this particular day he tried mandarin oranges. He started putting his hands through his hair as he ate, and it was all down hill after that with the mess.

Each week, his gym instructors introduce a new gymnastics acitivity. He enjoyed swinging from the rings.

We recently purchased a new ride for him, and I think his dad enjoys it just as much as he does or maybe even more.


And here he is during a recent trip to the park. Aside from the swings, we put him on a slide and a bouncing horse, but he seemed to have more fun with the sticks and grass.

Chicago's Love Affair With Summer

So once my other half and I found out we were moving to Chicago and shared the big news with others, we pretty much always received this response from those that had previously visited or lived in the Windy City, "It's such a fun city, you're gonna love it but oh it gets so cold in the winter." Now at the time we received this life-changing news I wasn't exactly thrilled at the thought of moving even further away from my beloved Texas, but then to hear the oh so obvious about this "fun city" was even more disheartening.

Well, it's been six years since we relocated here and I have learned lots of interesting facts and other attributes about what makes Chicago Chicago. If I could go back in time to 2004 Jen and tell her the big news about the move to the Windy City this is how I would begin: "Jen, you're moving to Chicago. I know this isn't what you hoped for and I know it can get unbearably cold in the winters. So cold in fact you won't even want to go outside, but don't worry because come summer time you won't know what to do with yourself." This is what I wish someone would have told me back then, because summer time in Chicago is one of the greatest things about living here. Now I know some diehard baseball fans might say the Cubs or the Whitesox are the greatest things about living here (right now actually with the Stanley Cup Championship, the team of choice is the Blackhawks) or better yet the food, but when it's summer up here you know it. It is a sight to see when you watch the phenomenon of summer unfold, because people will find any excuse to get outside. While at work, folks will lunch in the plazas or on the lawns of downtown areas; people are walking, jogging or biking everywhere; there's dining "al fresco" at all the restaurants; and one of the bigger, puzzling activities, if there's a daytime Cubs or Whitesox game during the work week, the ball parks are always full which makes you wonder, "Shouldn't all these people be at work?"

As you can tell by the new design of my blog, the city's infectious love affair with summer has come over me. The design is called "jeans and a t-shirt" and as soon as I saw it, it made me think of the lazy days of summer and how the official work uniform for all should be denim cut-offs and a tee. While growing up, summer was always my favorite season and now that I have Braedan to share it with, I feel like a kid all over again. I am looking forward to trips to the zoo, parks and, my favorite, the pool. By the looks of the pictures below, you can tell Braedan has the right gear and playful attitude to kick off summer.

Good Ole' San Antone

I know it's been a while since my last post and when I think about all that has occurred to have kept me away for so long, there really is only one to blame: good ole' San Antone. Braedan and I headed back down south for another extended visit with our San Antonio family and since arriving at the beginning of the month, I feel as if we should have hired someone to keep all of our social outings in order. We have had so much fun visiting with family and friends over lunches, dinners, birthday parties and even a picnic/Easter egg hunt. And the fun is nowhere near stopping as Fiesta just got underway this past weekend. For those of you unfamiliar with it, Fiesta is basically a two-week long party for the city with a series of different festivals and parades held throughout this two-week span. It originated as way to commemorate the heroes of the battles of San Jacinto and the Alamo, although if you talk to any San Antonian during this time he/she will tell you what they know best about Fiesta, which is it is the one time during the year when you can eat, and not to mention drink, to your heart's content and not feel guilty about it. And again, the only one to blame for this is good ole' San Antone.

As we play catch up with family and friends, Braedan has had his own busy agenda within all of these plans. Just the other day he accomplished the true crawling form using his arms and hands to push himself up and get around.

Grandpa and Tia Jacquelyn were also so kind in preparing for our visit that they set up Braedan with his very own digs while we're here. He loves hanging out in his room bouncing in the crib like a little monkey.

Over the weekend we attended one of the largest Fiesta events, Oyster Bake, which happens to be held on St. Mary's campus. I got to enjoy one of the famed culinary treats, Chicken on a Stick, while making a bold fashion statement. I know what you must be thinking, "Where can I get those?" In fact several girls stopped us while there asking that same question. Heavy rain passed through forcing us to be prepared, because there was no way a little bit of rain was going to stop us.

The St. Patty's Day Miracle(s)

So just as I wrote about how quickly this first year is going with Braedan in last week's post, a couple days after that he surprised us with two new and exciting "firsts." It all started on Wednesday, St. Patrick's Day. We went on a lunch date to celebrate the occasion, and my little leprechaun had a good time. I think he really enjoyed himself, because he sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time and couldn't get enough of watching the other patrons, especially the manager who was walking around and checking on folks. He kept watching and following her movement as she walked past us, and at one point she said she would take flirting from a cute, little guy like him anytime - I couldn't agree more. The next morning Braedan and I were hanging out with his dad while he got ready for work, and when Braedan opened his mouth I saw something unusual. It looked like the beginnings of a tooth sprouting but I wanted to feel it to be sure before I said something aloud and jinxed the chances. My hunch was right though and that first bottom tooth is finally making its appearance. His dad called it a "St. Patty's Day Miracle" because until now, I was resigned to the fact that Braedan might be close to a year old before we saw his first tooth. I am a little relieved now knowing the rest won't be too far behind. In fact, another bottom one started coming in a couple days ago.

The second big surprise took place on the same day of the tooth miracle. When I went to get him from his morning nap, he was sitting straight up in his crib waiting for me. He has only done this twice and we have yet to witness him actually doing it. I guess a membership to the gym can be attributed to this newfound strength. I signed him up for the Tiny Tykes class at My Gym and once a week for the past three weeks, Braedan has worked on his physical and cognitive development by way of stretching, dancing, crawling, rolling and manipulating all sorts of fun equipment. It is a real joy watching him in this new environment. My little guy is not shy about meeting new people and he is definitely not afraid of trying new activities, not even when it involves perching him high atop a non-flat surface.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

When I was younger, I always heard adults talk about how fast time flies especially in relation to how fast I was growing and I never understood their astonishment. As a mom now, I completely understand the source of where that sense of shock comes from as I can hardly believe that Braedan turned eight months old on Monday. It seems like it was just yesterday when we first brought him home and his dad was cradling him in his arms giving him a tour of his new home. Now, Braedan is slowly starting to come into his own here at home, exploring (or as we like to say get into everything) by way of his scoot/crawl or zipping to and from in his walker. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to spend these early months with him because as the calendar shows, the window of his infancy stage is quickly closing. As they say, "time flies when you're having fun."

So I know the following picture isn't an ideal shot, but I only posted it to show how large his cheeks are. Can you see the roundness of those suckers? I think they have doubled in size in the last month. That's ok by me though, because I think I must kiss and squeeze them about 20 times a day.

And here we are during one of our fun outings together.

Patience is the Best Medicine

During our first week back from Houston, Braedan unfortunately came down with a stomach virus. (Which is why I took a little time to write about our visit.) This was the first time he had been sick at all, and being the worrier that I am I was in top form. For those of you who are parents and have experienced this with your little ones, you know you hate hearing those dreaded words from the doctor, "Well we really can't prescribe anything for a virus. You just have to let the virus run its course, but call us back if things get worse." It was tough sitting back and waiting but I learned something very important while experiencing this "first" with Braedan: he really is a tough little guy. Albeit his dad always reassures me of this, I can't help the fact that I will constantly have his well-being and health on my mind, along with the universal question for moms, "Am I doing a good enough job for him?" But doctors are right. Sometimes the best medicine is patience, with a little bit of love and some hugs.

Of course Braedan showed the obvious telltale signs of being sick, along with poor sleeping at night, but during the day he did his best to go about things as if it were any other day. On one of his better days, he started to show some progress toward reaching the crawling milestone. He's doing the belly crawl/scoot in the first clip.



And in general, Braedan is a very happy baby. We can get him to laugh pretty easily and I got some of that in this second clip.

The Perfect Homecoming

Braedan and I had a great time in Houston. The weekend started off with a very early start, a 7:15 am flight, which meant we needed to be at the airport by 5:30 am. I have to say Braedan was a very good sport considering we had to be up so early, but I think he was ok with the whole thing because I let him stay in his pajamas. By the way, his dad thought that was very cool and if he could I think he would love to be able to stay in his pj's for an early flight like that. But despite the early wake up call, Braedan was very good on the flight. Luckily we sat next to two ladies and the charmer that he is got them liking him from the moment they sat down.


From the moment we arrived, Cousin Ian, Aunt Amy and Uncle Mickey were the best hosts. Ian and Braedan were very cute together and got along very well. There is a two year age difference between them, and you can already tell that Ian will be the cool, older, and not to mention, helpful cousin to Braedan. One of the highlights was a trip to Memorial City Mall. We enticed Ian and got him excited about the trip with the promise of a ride on the mall's carousel. Of course Ian had no objections after that. All in all, Braedan's first carousel ride was a hit despite its fast speed. If I wasn't looking out to the crowd I know I would have felt pretty dizzy, and fortunately Braedan seemed to catch onto that plan faster than I did because he smiled and waved his arms the whole time we went around. Aunt Amy and I also had a good time shopping and never mind the fact that we bought the same exact outfit but in different colors. We did this unknowingly but laughed and complimented one another on our good taste. I didn't get to take a picture to capture the moment, but trust me when I say we looked cute.


Part of the trip also included spending some time with my best girlfriends. We celebrated a baby shower for Angelique who is expecting her first baby this April. Angelique was my roommate in college, and it was great to be able to spend time with her and the rest of my friends. Since graduating, we all manage to keep in touch with each other pretty much on a daily basis thanks to the Internet gods. All but three of us were able to make it for the weekend. Recently, one of the girls noted that it has been 10 years since we graduated and then another mentioned that we've known each other for a total of 14. I'd say that's pretty good considering all that goes on with the daily bustle of work, family and other commitments.

Visits with them in addition to the time spent with family always makes for a perfect homecoming, and it's even more enjoyable now that I have a new traveling partner in Braedan.

Braedan, the World Traveler

This week's post is really short since Braedan and I are leaving town tomorrow. We are heading out to Houston to visit cousin Ian, Aunt Amy and Uncle Mickey. While we're there I will get to see my best friends to celebrate a new addition to the group. My girlfriend Angelique is expecting her first baby later this spring so we're all getting together for her baby shower. This will be Braedan's second flight at only 7 months, and I would like to point out that I did not have my first plane ride until I was 16. If we keep traveling at this rate, he will become the consummate world traveler by the time he reaches 16. We'll let you know how it goes and post pictures when we return. Happy Valentine's Day!

Jennifer, Jenny, and Jen

My name is one of the best gifts my mom gave me. From what she and my dad always used to tell me, she was the decision maker on the choice of my name. I love it and all its different versions. Family and friends all refer to me by a different nickname, which I especially love because when I hear each one, they conjure up varied forms of endearment. In my family, I am known as Jenny. Whenever I hear a cousin call out my name, it makes me think of home and the younger version of myself - skinny chicken legs, glasses, and playing with my sister and all the cousins at grandma's house. The funny thing is I never asked to be called Jenny while at school. For some reason, I always asked the teacher to leave me as Jennifer, and you can bet this discussion always came up because during grade school there was always at least one other Jennifer in my class. I guess you can call it the nerd in me to leave it all business-like and grown-up to request Jennifer. But as I got older, entered high school, and played sports, Jennifer became Jen and then my maiden name got cut in half too. Now, I was Jen Naps. This nickname followed me into college, and most of my best friends will still call me by this name every now and then even though we're in our 30's, almost all married, and with families. And wouldn't you know there is another Jennifer in the group. I think it was about year ago when the spelling of Jen became a big topic of discussion. Some were spelling it with two "n's" and sometimes they'd refer to me as the two "n" Jen or vice versa. After that, the other Jen and I explained the reasoning for our preference in spelling. As you can tell by the name of my blog, I am a one "n" Jen kind of gal. I don't have a strong argument for going with the one "n." I just think it looks better, and I guess you can call it the girly-girl in me to go with that logic.

As Braedan grows older, I hope he appreciates our decision to give him the name we chose. There is no way you can shorten his name to create a nickname from it, but we've come up with a couple pet names (Poops and Poopy are our favorites) that we hope he'll love hearing just as much as we love using them.

Taking the Plunge

So I finally decided to plunge into the world of blogging all at the persistent urging of one of my best girlfriends (you know who you are) to share a little about myself and my family. Yes, I said it, family. I can hardly believe it myself, the fact that I can now say I have a little family of my own.

Anyhow, for years this girlfriend has been enthusiastically talking up blogs and how I should start my own going on and on about how it could be a good way to stay in touch with extended family and the rest of my best girlfriend clan since I live so far away from them. She would say, "Jen, you can post pictures and talk about what you guys are up to." And I would always sheepishly respond with, "I don't know, I don't think I could keep up the maintenance of it." In all honesty, I never felt compelled to start one before, because the truth of the matter is I always felt like my husband and I were too boring to blog about. Now don't get me wrong, we know how to have a good time, but I always felt like who would get pleasure out of reading about yet another great project he completed on the house or another personal best I accomplished in running. Aside from those activities, work, and outings with friends, I really didn't have much else to share. For some reason, I always felt embarrassed admitting that to her and looking back, it would have been easier to give her the real explanation instead of making myself sound so lazy since I really did have all of that free time.

Well now, life has gotten all the more interesting and busy, because as I mentioned I now have a little family of own. In July of last year, my husband and I could no longer refer to ourselves as the "two of us" because "we" had become "three." So now that my life has become a little crazier with a kid in it what do I decide to add to my plate? This blog. For family and friends, if you're interested in catching up on the latest that's going on with us, please check the site from time to time and for those of you who enjoy blogs, I invite you into my new, ever-changing, and neurotic world of motherhood and my attempts to seamlessly juggle that with the activities of everyday life.