Texas Trip

We've been back for five days, but all three of us are still feeling a little jet lagged from our great Texas adventure.  (Would I have to have actually left the Central Time Zone to legitimately claim jet lag?)  Better question:  What was I thinking when I booked a flight that didn't get us back to B'ham until 11 PM Sunday night? Well for one, I was being cheap.  And for two,  since we took off several hours past his usual bedtime, Owen should have been unconscious for the entire flight.  Bah!  The little stinker was wired.  The airport and all of its strange inhabitants proved too exciting, and so he was left feeling simultaneously exhausted and over-stimulated.  By takeoff, he had the wild-eyed look of a strung-out junkie, and he didn't surrender to sleep until the lights of Birmingham were coming into view below us.  Thank goodness Scott was with me, or I might have passed my wriggling, whining bundle of joy to the lady across the aisle.

Never-the-less, we all found being in Texas far more enjoyable than leaving Texas.  Not to get too philosophical, but both Owen and my hometown are so much a part of me that it was strange for me to think that he was seeing it all and meeting everyone for the first time.  We loved introducing him to his extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.  Owen wants to send a special "Get Well" message to his Uncle Paw-Paw, who - despite being in severe pain and just days away from major back surgery - was there bright and early to meet Owen on his first morning in town.

Some of Owen's favorite parts of the trip:

• Touring the Toyota Center with Aunt Jenny
  
• Chewing on the awesome paper, but not paper, place mat Amy gave him at Lupe Tortilla's
• Playing with (and unintentionally mauling) cousins Audrey, Travis, Abby & Gabe
• Having not one, but two photo sittings with the wildly talented Viviana.  Want to see?
• Meeting Pico, the neighborhood peacock (Our neighborhood is popular with local farm animals seeking asylum.  We've also previously hosted a few longhorn steer & a chicken.)
• Being the guest of honor at a Texas BBQ hosted by Coach and DD.  The food came from a place called Straight Off the Road BBQ  - a name I hope refers more to location than to how they find their meat.  
• Being with family and friends and knowing how much he is loved.  He must have been held by nearly three dozen people over the course of a few days.  Which reminds me...who gave him the cold?  Fess up!