Playing hard, learning lots

Julian is amazing us these days with his curiosity and developmental skills. No matter how many times your kid does something new, the newness never gets tiring.

He opened the screen door to walk in the house today and then turned around and closed it behind him. Ian said he was pouring his juice from one cup to another and saying "juice," then drinking it and saying "nice." He held on the end of Shiva's leash and repeated "good girl" on a walk today. You ask him his name, he says "Juli." Ask him to play guitar, and he rocks out with an air guitar that would rival any at the Alamo Drafthouse competition.

Did I tell ya about my girl Ruby?

Our adventurous weekend in Houston offered its own learning opportunities. He got to see elephants, turtles, lions and the lot at the Houston Zoo (the monkeys! the birds! it was enough to make a kid's head explode), and he even went to his first beer tasting. Well, he stuck with root beer while Erin and I hit the St. Arnold's sauce. Some Montrose shopping meant he got to run in and out of dressing rooms while mommy was only half clothed. It was hot as hell, but he stuck out one final destination for me: the Menil Collection, where the two of us quietly perused the cool, quiet galleries, taking in the powerful and moving works. He finally fell asleep in the Rothko Chapel and slept most of the way home.

Add to that nap, which was his only one the WHOLE WEEKEND, a full day yesterday with Dad and Corey on the Greenbelt and Barton Springs and an evening of kickball, he was tuckered out enough to sleep until 9 this morning.

I took a few photos and videos of this weekend that I'll hopefully post later this week. Sorry I've been so neglectful to La Vie Dansante. Relish Austin has taken over my life a little, including a column tomorrow about cooking in bulk and freezing food and this video about how to make a great margarita, but I'm starting to really get into food blogging. Happy reading (and eating!)...