Well, as you can tell, I haven't updated the blog for a few weeks. We have been lucky enough to have been on vacation for almost all of June! Matt and I visited friends in Italy for the two weeks of the month and Jack stayed with his Grammy and Pop. Here is a little snippet of what they did while Mommy and Daddy were gone.
Hi Mommy and Dada,
Hope you had a good flight to Italy. I got up early this morning, about 6:30 and Grammy fixed me scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast. I also had banana and some other fruit, and a little bit of wheat toast. Yummy. After Grammy got me ready, it took a while because I was really squirmy, we took Hokie and Harley back to our house to play. The dogs kept tangling around Grammy’s feet so she had a hard time getting all of us into the house at one time. The dogs played for a little while then we left to bring them back to Grammy’s house. We then went to watch the airplanes come in near the airport. They started out slowly, 2 planes would come in then we would have to wait like 5 min until 2 more came in then wait again. Finally about 11:30 a whole bunch came in one after the other. They were really neat and so big. You can see in one picture I am pointing to one coming in. Grammy gave me some cheese to eat while we watched the planes. On the way home I fell asleep and took a nap until 2. I had some lunch then we got our bathing suits on and went to the pool. I really liked my float. I could kick and Grammy would hold my feet and swirl me around. I was watching some other kids playing in the water. I also got to see more airplanes come in. We only stayed about half an hour as Grammy was worried I was getting too much sun even though she put sun screen on my face and arms. I wouldn’t wear my hat… When we got home I played some with my toys then I played in Grammy’s car like I was driving. I had a snack of peas. I was being really fussy and didn’t want Pop to hold me or play with me much, I only wanted Grammy to hold me. We had a good dinner with pasta, and homemade sloppy joe mix ( made with ground turkey), peas and a little parmesan. She gave me two animal crackers for dessert. I had my bath, a bottle and I am off to sleeeeeeepppppppppppp. I am tired. Talk to you tomorrow…
Love, Jack
Hi Mommy and Dada,
Grammy and I had a good day today. I woke up really really early- 5:30 am but Grammy didn’t get me up until 6:30. I had delicious French toast and strawberry for breakfast while Grammy went out and fed the birds. Pop sat with me and ate his breakfast. We played some downstairs but I have the most fun on Grammy and Pop’s bed with all the pillows. I also like to stand up and shake the headboard. Grammy is worried I am going to fall and hurt my face on the part that sticks up. About 8:30 we left the house and went down to the dock in Annapolis so I could look at the ducks and watch all the trucks go by. We only stayed a short while because we were going back to My Gym. I had fun in the ball pit, walking on the balance beam ( with Grammy not Miss Shannon), hanging from the bars, playing in the circus tent and walking up the slide. I didn’t like it when the grownups left us in the center and they went to sit outside the gate. (Grammy says I am having separation issues because I tried to crawl out and I cried the whole time today). After the gym we went back to Grammy’s house. I played with the dog’s toys and kept playing in the dog’s water dish. Grammy took it away and we went upstairs so I could play with the water in the bathtub. I kept splashing Grammy and she would put the towel up and hide behind it so she wouldn’t get wet. After lunch, I took a 3 hour nap. When I got up we went to the pool. I am getting very good at kicking my feet. Grammy would swirl me around, push me away and pull me back. She even took me out of my float and had me on my tummy and wanted me to kick. I did a little. We walked around the grounds and watched the airplanes fly over. We also saw and heard two bald eagles. After we got back from the pool we had a big storm and it thundered and lightening. Harley kept barking. Hey Mom, I am getting really good at walking all by myself. I walked from the stairs all the way into the living room to my baby Einstein. Then I would just get up and walk around. I can even read a book or play with a block while I am walking. I still like to crawl really fast sometimes. After Pop came home I got to play on the bed again and wrestle with Grammy. I kept crying when Grammy left me with Pop. After dinner I got to play for a while and I helped to wipe off my high chair. I walked around with my book, then I had my bath. I got sleepy after that so I had my bottle and went to bed. Hope you like the pictures.
I am glad you and Dada are having a good time. Grammy said the cooking class sounded fun. Talk to you tomorrow. I don’t know what Grammy has planned tomorrow.
Love you Mommy and Dada. Hugs and kisses.
Jack
Hi Mommy and Dada,
Hope you are having fun! I got up after 7 this morning and had a good breakfast- scrambled egg and cheese and strawberries. I wanted to go outside for a walk this morning so I went to my diaper bag and pulled out my shoes. Grammy got the idea… but I had to go get dressed first. We took the dogs for a walk down around Larue and back. It was really warm and the dogs tongues were hanging out when we got back. After our walk Grammy took me to Lake Waterford to play in the playground. You can see from the pictures some of the things I did. We then walked down to the lake and saw the ducks and geese. I started pushing my stroller around, then let go and started to walk off. Grammy says you are going to have to get me one of those harnesses so I don’t get too far away from you, especially after the new baby comes. I am really walking a lot by myself now. Afterward we stopped by our house to look at the front steps and to check on Gracie. Grammy says the steps look ok but thought the cement was a little darker than the old stuff but she thought maybe it was still wet.
When we got home I had my lunch then Grammy let me play for a while before my nap. I kept playing with Grammy’s socks so she took off her shoes and socks. I wanted to put her socks on my feet. They are so big they came up above my knees. (Grammy says the picture is a little blurry, sorry) We kept laughing and laughing and I would crawl around with them on. At 1:00 Grammy said I had to take my nap. I didn’t want to take her socks off but Grammy took them off anyway since it was warm.
After my nap, we went to the pool for an hour. We played in the water for about 20-25 min, I was kicking my feet and Grammy would swirl me around or push me as she swam forward. Grammy was blowing bubbles in the water and I thought that was really funny. There was a little girl named Lily in the pool. She is 11 months old. I let her try my tube. She seemed to like it. After I got out of the pool Grammy change my clothes and we got my stroller. We walked down to the bottom of the hill and sat there watching the boats. No airplanes today.
We went out to dinner to the Metro diner by Target. I had macaroni and cheese. I ate almost all of it but it wasn’t quite as good as the mac and cheese at Brio’s. When we got home Grammy gave me a bath and then let me play. She let me play for a long time but said she needs to not do that because you wouldn’t like me staying up until 9:30. I am off to bed. Love you Mommy and Dada. Hugs and kisses.
Love, Jack
We have had an enjoyable weekend with Jack. Saturday started out with
taking the dogs for a walk and doing some things around the house. In the
afternoon Jack and I went to the grocery store, then he got a ride on the
tractor with dad. We then went out to dinner before the Baysox game. Jack
did wonderfully at the game. It helped there was a 4 year old in front of
us. We sat behind the screen in case a ball came flying our way. Jack
really go into clapping for the Baysox... We stayed and watched the
fireworks. He was mesmerized but we left just before the finale. It was
really hot yesterday so a nice cooling bath was on order when we got home,
then off to bed. He woke up in the middle of the night for about an hour.
Today was a fun filled day. He got up around 6:30 or so. We had breakfast
and played with the toys and the dogs. I decided to take Jack to the
Children's day on the Farm. It was down in St. Leonard which is way down
route 4 past Prince Frederick. It took about an hour and a half to get
there. It was a steamy 91 degrees today. We saw cows, llama, goats, sheep,
miniature pony and mini donkey. He got to get inside a fire truck and stand
beside the big tires. There were a lot of old tractors there and he enjoyed
looking at the wheels, sitting in the seats and turning the steering wheels.
They also had a kid sized tractor pull. Jack loved being on the little John
Deere tractor- we didn't do the tractor pull. We just pushed him along the
track. I told Dad we would have to get Jack one of the little pedal John
Deere tractors for Christmas. On the way home, while Jack was napping, we
went through a thunder storm. Dad kept calling me with updates on the
weather and tornado warning. I would be driving right thru the area it
would be- Harwood, Riva, Edgewater.... It wasn't too bad. After dinner I
gave Jack his bath, read him a story, did his teeth and gave him a bottle.
I am trying to get him back on track with bed time. I put him down about
8:15 but had to go back in about 8:40 and hold him for a bit. I think he had
a great time at the farm day.
Jack sends his love, hugs and kisses. He missed his momma and dada.
Well, what have Jack and I done this week. Monday was just sort of an errand
day. We took the dogs for a walk around Larue and back. We went to Target,
and UPS, and a couple of other stops. In the afternoon, after his nap we
went down to the boat club, not to swim since it was chilly but to sit and
watch for airplanes. He is getting very good at spotting them at a distance
and pointing them out to me. Jack will turn and look at me to get my
attention, then turn and point to the plane. After we did that for a while
we walked along the beach area and he splashed in the water, then went to
swing for a bit.
Yesterday was My Gym day. I did tell them Jack will not be there next week.
Also they have a new schedule coming out starting June 28. His class will
be starting at 8:45 on Tues rather than at 9. Has to do with their summer
camp programs. He did better at separation time this week, no crying. He
seemed to be following that girl Autumn around, the one who cries all the
time. After gym, we came home and played for a while before lunch and nap
time. It was chilly again so I didn't really want to go in the pool. (The
nights have been down in the 50's and the days in the low 70's.) We did put
our bathing suits on and went to the boat club but we played on the beach. I
took his big orange and blue truck, a shovel and rake and bucket with us.
He liked raking at the sand. There has been a little 4 year old at the pool
everyday we have been there and he and his mom came down to play on the
beach too. Jack liked that. Jack sat in the water at the edge and splashed
and had a great time. I had to watch he didn't put his shovel or his hands
in his mouth as I don't know how clean the river is . The river water was
actually quite pleasant.
Today was dreary and a bit rainy. I wondered what to do with him so we went
over to the airport and went up to the observation deck. I had heard it was
a good place to go. He stood at the windows and watched planes take off,
and leave the gates for over half an hour. He got really excited when he
saw the planes taking off. As you can see from the picture, we were near
the southwest terminal B. There are various things for the kids to ride and
play on. Jack insisted on sitting on the floor of the green cart to drive
it. In addition to the landing gear they have a cockpit, a tail piece, an
engine piece, and a cross-section of the plane with passenger seats and the
cargo area below. When we got home we played for a while. He is enjoying
all my pots and pans. They make great noises, especially when they are
thrown across the kitchen and bang on the floor. He took a long nap today
then we went to the bank and Safeway. He was a bit fussy all evening but
went down fairly easily. Jack is walking incredibly well. Balance
improving. He is also babbling away and I got him to say kitty, cheese, car
and truck.
