Ohio Visit

Over the Easter weekend we took a 6 day trip to Ohio. We first visited with Barbara's Grandma and Uncles in Cleveland, then went to Dave's mom's family reunion in Kent, and then back to Barb's Grandma's again. For all pictures, click HERE

Sean and Grandma Ross. Grandma Ross is holding Sean up so he can see Paco the bird. Sean was all about Paco, and would leave whatever he was doing every 5 minutes or so to make sure "buhrd" was still there.

In Kent, Dave's cousin Allison and her husband Adam hold sleepy Sean. Sean wanted to get one more NCAA Tourney game in.

Friday night it snowed 6-7" - a big novelty for us Texas folks. Dave took the opportunity to prove his love for Barbara outside the hotel window.

Dave's Uncle Phil and Allison contemplate Boudreaux's Butt Paste - a miracle baby ointment from Louisiana that is apparently unknown in the northeast and west parts of the country (even though it is made in Indiana.)

While in Kent we made a trip to Amish country and visited Lehman's - a seller of mainly American made non-electric items. Sean tries out a tractor (again.)

On the way back from Amish country we stopped at the Inventor Hall of Fame in Akron. Here, Sean tries out a piano that is his size - and has a blast.

Sean plays with (in) cool water toy

At Kent State University we visited the memorial to the May 4, 1970 shootings (4 dead in Ohio.) The Hofbauer's discuss bullet trajectories

Tired and cold Sean

The Hofbauer reunion attendees: Barbara, Nancy, Joanne, Dave, Marge, Adam, Denis, Allison, Phil, Dan, Bonnie

Sean wants to know what the heck is this stuff....

Frozen Lake Erie

Back to Grandma Ross' - Joanne tours the Greenhouse.

Best Cousins

Sean and Elissa at El Pueblito on Sunday while we planned our May Port Aransas vacation with the Boyces, Heiders and Von Dolens. (Photo by Heather)

Spring has Sprung (almost)

This weekend the weather was awesome - 80+ F and sunny. (We like it, Al Gore) The Cooks' gave Sean two outside play toys - a boat and a Kangaroo Climber. Sean loves them both.

My new toy! Thanks Mason!

Stare into the crystal ball (from Grandma)

Greg and his dog came to visit Sunday

We tried to play at the YMCA kids pool, but it was still to cold (probably global cooling)

Go Texan Sean

In Houston the Friday before the Rodeo starts is Go Texan Day. At Sean's Preschool they had a horse for the kids to ride AND the obligatory cowboy hat. Before long, Dad may have to buy his first pair of boots to prove to Sean he is a native Texan!

Livestock Show Visit

Sean and Miss Moo (and Sean with Miss Moo in 2007)

Last Wednesday Nana and Grandpa came down for a medical seminar. Wednesday Nick, Heather and Elissa came to visit. Thursday Grandma, Dziadziu and Joanne came to visit. On Saturday we all went to the Livestock Show with the Boyces'.

Nana and Elissa in the barn

Dave, Sean and Elissa on a tractor

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is rated by some as the biggest livestock show and the biggest rodeo in the world. 19,000 volunteers, including Aunt Heather, have kept it going every year since 1931.

Aunt Heather, Elissa and Sean - Elissa wanted to hold Sean

Sean wants to touch the goat (hi Grandma!)

Where is Elissa?

Nice February Outing

Last weekend Beth came to visit! Darlene also stayed with us on Friday night. Saturday the girls went for a pedicure with Rhonda while Grandma and Dziadziu watched Sean and Dave did a bicycle ride. The girls came back from the pedicure with beautiful toes and bling - Barbara had a shamrock painted on each big toe. No more unsupervised visits to the pedicurist!

Sunday we had a late brunch at Buffalo Grill on Voss. We then visited the water wall and Hermann Park.

Barb getting dizzy...

Water Wall in background

The Pasta Family at Hermann Park

Nap No. 1 for Dave and Sean

Nap No. 2 - on the way home.

Sean at Preschool

Sean has really enjoyed going to preschool at Willow Meadow's Baptist Church. He loves the two teachers and signals "more!" excitedly when he first sees them in the morning. We re-upped him for the summer yesterday. There was, however, no signing bonus...

Sean makes his first Valentine's card for Mommy and Daddy

President's Day in Kerrville

Not only have we been bad on updating the blog, but also on actually taking pictures. Sean is so active now that when he is awake there is little downtime. Friday Barbara had work in Austin, so she and Sean drove to Kerrville on Thursday. I flew into Austin Friday afternoon and drove back to Kerrville with Barbara.

Saturday the weather was very dreary. We spent the afternoon in Fredricksburg where the sun came out a little. Sunday we went to the San Antonio Zoo after church. Sean liked things that moved: bats, beaded lizard, birds, and the rhino.

Back home again, Mom and Sean read a book

Sean rides a zoo animal

Sean practices his echo

Sean Walks!

Superbowl night at Dziadziu and Grandma's Sean began taking multiple steps. By Tuesday he was going 8-10 at a time. Now, he walks at will and is starting to prefer it to crawling. This evening he walked from the office to the kitchen, played with his refrigerator magnets, and then walked back into the office, all without sitting or crawling. I will be frantically installing the rest of the child locks on Saturday morning! Pictures later...

Groundhog Day

Sean saw his shadow! We finally had a nice enough day last Saturday to spend some quality time outside. Sean played around the granite sitting area and seemed to know instinctively that it was not a place for crawling.

It looks like Sean's results match Punxsutawney Phil's in predicting 6 more weeks of winter. Their predictions were in the minority as 10 of the 14 official marmot predictors (71%) predicted an early Spring.

We also took Sean's wagon to Willow Park to let him check it out. He really dug the slide and was going down on his own. He just laughed away on the swing.

Saturday night we had Mardi Gras at Nick and Heather's house with Uncle Greg and a host of others.

Swinging Video

The World's Newest Catholic

Father Troy Gately Baptizes Sean David

Sean was baptized on Saturday evening. His proud parents were joined by his Godparents, Todd and Tiffany, and many family and friends. It seemed like we took over the whole northwest section of Sacred Heart - and all adults helped with taking care of all the kids. All the kids in attendance, including Sean, did great. Sean cried when the water was poured over his head, but that was it.

Sean with Parents and Godparents

The Boyce kids, grandkids and spouses at Baba Yegas on Sunday morning.

That 70s Post

Lordy, Lordy, Todd turned 40! His lovely wife hosted a 70's theme birthday party in his honor (on her actual birthday, no less.) No pics of Dave, he just had a KLOL t-shirt (oops, with a website address on it.)

Tiffany and Todd

Keri and Jewels

Entropy Boy

Sean fell asleep to a football game for the first time! Greenbay's offense in the 2nd half of the NFC Championship game put him to sleep faster than a lullaby and a pacifier. Unfortunately, that was the team Daddy was rooting for.

Sean "Entropy Boy" Pastalaniec likes to put things inside of things but LOVES to knock down Daddy's creations. Here he roars "Uh Oh" between devastating attacks, raising a block from his first conquest before knocking down his 2nd (yes, I missed the shot on both...)

Growth Spurt?

Sean has been an eating, sleeping, hard playing machine the last several days. When he plays, he plays hard. He is eating a ton and sleeping about 25% more than usual. Hopefully he won't out grow his baptism outfit before this Saturday!

Sean's soon-to-be Godparents both had birthdays this week. Todd turned 40, Tiffany turned less than 40. Tiffany threw Todd a surprise 1970's themed 40th birthday party on Saturday - hopefully I will scam some pictures to post soon! Grandma and Dziadziu were kind enough to babysit during the party.

Saturday morning Sean only stayed awake for a couple of hours, and then fell asleep in his crib sitting up...

Sean was joined by Barley for his Saturday bath.

"Why are you here?" Barley to Sean, and Sean to Barley

Sean in Pre-School!

Sean started pre-school and WillowMeadows Baptist on the day after his birthday. He has done well with minimal crying only when Mommy first leaves the room. He has a good time with different toys and kids his age. Barbara is taking her new found time and is beginning to do more work online for Region-13 and Teachscape.

Sean had his 1-year check-up yesterday. He got 4 vaccinations and was sore afterwards. The stats?
-Weight: 21 lbs. 8ozs. 30 percentile (from 18 lbs. 12 ozs., 25% 3 months ago)
-Height: 30.5 inches, 75% (from 29.4 inches, 90%)
-Head circumference: 18 inches, 25% (from 17.5 inches, 25%)

Sean is gradually gaining and interest in walking. He will take 1 or 2 steps between objects but besides that seems to play games with everyone who wants him to walk!

Barbara ran her first post-baby half-marathon on Sunday morning and Joanne and Dave walked their first half-marathon. Of course Barbara and Joanne trained for it AND got massages and pedicures the next day. Dave just hobbles around.

Sean's First Birthday!

Sean celebrated his first birthday in style. Nearly 40 friends and family came to wish him well. The only casualty was the breaker for the outside plug, which fried when the Cook's blow up jump toy was combined with Dave's Christmas lights on the same circuit. See all the pictures HERE

Sean enjoys his new super ball from the Carter's with Cami, while Grandma and Grand Aunt Kathy look on.

Madeline helps Sean with his birthday hat

Sean took forever to eat his birthday cupcake, but he loved it.

Rhonda settles the kids down with a story.