Howdy Y'all!

We're back from San Antonio - Texas that is!!! It was a lot of fun. But I am exhausted!!! We flew out Tuesday the 6th and then flew back to Mobile on Wednesday the 14th. Emerson actually did really well flying. She really didn't fuss or even seem to care that she was thousands of feet in the air. Packing was a bit frustrating because I wasn't really sure what to take with us as we needed to stay light (washing a baby in a hotel sink sucks). But we got it down to the necessities and it helped that the hotel had laundry so we were able to get everything cleaned about half way through the trip.

Saint Anthony (get it...San Antonio) - The Catholic patron saint of lost things...

We went mainly for the AMD Convention (Association of Millwork Distributors). Exciting I know. But it's actually a lot more interesting than you think. We went a day early so the boys could go see 2 manufacturing plants. And then the convention went on for 4 days which meant education classes (industry specific and way over my head), the convention hall (vendor displays and booths), and yummy dinners (my favorite part)! Most everyone flew back Monday, but we stayed until Wednesday, in order, to take in the sites and do some shopping!

Our first flight!

This BIG bed is all mine???Happy baby!!!Whoa! I am so awake and not going to bed anytime soon!Bad Daddy! I just started rice cereal and already moving on to ice cream?!?!!!Favorite thing to do in a hotel...Play on the super soft beds!Coyote Ugly...(see the coyotes dancing on the bar)!4th Quarter Team!!!The Buckhorn Saloon - I have never seen so many dead animals in my life.The Alamo!

My parents, Phillip, myself, and Emerson went to Sea World on Monday (open because of Columbus Day)...It was overcast most of the day which was awesome because San Antonio is H-O-T (which is saying a lot since I am from Mobile, previously the hottest city known in my existence) and it probably kept people away because they thought it would rain. It was pretty awesome...No crowds and not horrendously hot. We got to see all the exhibits plus ride the roller coasters. No lines to anything! Emerson particularly liked the ducks. Yes, I know...We went to San Antonio Sea World and she liked the ducks of all things. (On a side note, as I am typing this, Emerson is playing with the fringe on the blanket draped over the back of the couch (instead of all these crazy prime colored toys littering my den right now). So maybe she is just reminding us that it's sometimes the small things that matter the most.) I think it was mainly due to the fact that the exhibit was up close and personal. On the bright side, Mobile has ducks. So we can take advantage of seeing the ducks anytime with just a loaf of stale bread. Killer whales and dolphins doing tricks is a little harder to find and definitely not available in Mobile. We don't even have a zoo!

On Tuesday, we drove to Boerne, Texas, to eat at PoPo's Restaurant, Mrs. Patsy's favorite. My immediate thoughts upon walking in were 1) "Nobody puts Baby in a corner.", and 2) my father probably ate at this restaurant in 1960 when he and his parents drove cross country for 6 weeks. Let's just say that it probably hasn't changed much since the mid-twentieth century. We then drove on through Comfort and on to Fredricksburg. This is the "hill country" of Texas. I think its known for its wineries, bed and breakfasts, and ranches. Fredericksburg was pretty cute. It has a population of only 8,911. But it has quite the little downtown shopping. I was expecting the Gatlinburg type of fake general store crap, touristy trinkets, and annoying German or Swedish or whatever it is stuff. But Fredericksburg obviously has more upscale clientele than Gatlinburg as the stores are super cute and not cheap. My type of place!!! We made sure to stop at and have a few wine tastings along the way...You can't go to a (not the) wine country and not at least try...

PoPo's Restaurant
So today...We made the trek back to THE Heart of Dixie...Emerson is now in her happy place laying on the couch with just a diaper on.

We learned several things over the course of the trip...1) Flying with a baby isn't as bad as everyone claims. 2) I seriously want a pair of cowgirl boots. I was hoping to buy a pair in Texas, but I guess I will have to settle for Mobile. But I will own a pair soon. 3) Emerson learned to stick out her tongue. It's actually rather funny when I say "night night" and she sticks out her tongue. 4) I watched a show on FiTV (a channel we don't have) which has inspired me to clean out the clutter in my life. 5) Emerson learned to talk. She basically learned to babble on Tuesday and hasn't really stopped. I do think she forgets sometimes but then soon finds out she can do it again. 6) I will never be rodeo chic. It's just not possibly for me to look that trashy and spend so much money to do so. 7) I swear that Emerson told me "hi" when she woke up one morning. It was rather weird.

As for future travel plans...Phillip and I will be working like crazy at work tomorrow only to leave again Friday morning for Atlanta (for a wedding). We return on Sunday to put in a full and extremely hectic week at work so we can again leave next Friday for Birmingham...NO - Why do I always say that...It's NOT Birmingham. It's Sumiton. Yuck. Just why can't it be Birmingham? If only I could dream...