Trip to the Big Apple

We took our first trip to NYC today with Jake. Jen had to go in for a photo job so we figured we'd bring the kids in as well. All in all, things went really well, despite the kids both being a bit sick-ish. Jake was not doing well at all the night before, with a fever of 102.5. I was getting him ready for bed and could not believe how hot he was! It was a rough night, and he was up 3 or 4 times, and up for the day at 6 AM. But he seemed much cooler and in better spirits overall, and Stella was doing well so we decided to join mom on the trip in.

We told Stella we were going to the Big Apple, which apparently had quite an impact on her. As we made it through the Lincoln Tunnel, we told Stella we were now in New York City, and she asked "Where's the apple?". After dropping mom off, me, Stella and Jake strolled over to Union Square and played in a really pathetic playground for a little bit. Stella loved it though and it took a while to get her to agree to go look at the dogs in the dog run. I wasn't sure where to go from there so I decided to show Stella the apartment building I lived in when I first moved to NY in 1991. She was unimpressed and didn't seem to grasp the concept that the world existed before she was born.

As we were headed back to meet up with Jen, we passed an Apple Bank on 14th Street. They had posters in the windows with large apples on them. Stella saw one and said "The Big Apple!". Just when I think this kid can't get cuter!

Anyway, it was a fun trip and although the weekend was challenging at times, it seems the kids are feeling better so that is good.

Gerber Park

Last week my friend Patti got a new swingset for her son and promptly went on vacation. So being the good friends that we are we offered to go and check on it a couple times while they were away. It is really amazing! Combined with their trampoline and various little tikes structures and cars in the beautiful setting of their enormous backyard we couldn't help but rename it Gerber Park!

If you look closely you can see Jacob in the back in his car seat.

Jon and Brian squeeze into the little house. There was enough room for Stella too but she wouldn't go in. TeeHee.

Serious Jacob!

You would never know this adorable little guy pooped so bad earlier in the week that I actually threw the clothes he had on in the garbage. It was by far the most horrific diaper I have ever had to change for either child and of course.....we were in public! sigh!

My pretty girl...all worn out and rosey cheeked after jumping on the trampoline.
This week she started asking me "what are you up to Mommy?" but she combined it with her previous favorite..."What are you doing Mommy?" So we ended up with "What are you doing up to Mommy?" so cute!

Picture thursday....

Well, I didn't take these but they are pictures and it is Thursday! We took Jacob for his 6 month pictures this week. Yes, it is INSANE that I take my children to those horrible studios to have their pictures taken when other people are paying me to capture the same milestones for their children. But I can't help it.



Jacob makes the best face when he first starts crying...she almost got it but the lip isn't curled down enough. I will have to work on that.

Hopefully next Thursday I will have something a little more original but he is stinking cute, no?

Happy Mother's Day!

So today was my wife's third mother's day, and I think probably the most important and significant for us. Having Jacob in our lives has been wonderful but also quite challenging for Jen, and I've really come to appreciate all that she does as a mom now more than ever. I remember before we had kids, joking with Jen that she was going to have it made once we did start having kids because she would get to stay home and be a mom and it was going to be like being on summer vacation everyday. I honestly think that we both thought that was what it was going to be like. But we now know that is so far from the truth. I feel pretty confident in saying it is the hardest job in the world and I know I couldn't do it. I remember Jen asking me once, before Jacob came along, if I thought I could do what she does. And I remember saying that yes, I did think I'd be able to. Well, I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that no, there's no way I could do it. Jen has the patience and understanding and giving nature that I and almost everyone else I know lacks.

I am very proud of our kids, well, mostly Stella because Jake is a bit too young to do anything significant yet. Stella is a wonderful little girl. She always stops before she steps into the street and puts up her hand and waits for one of us to take it. She says thank you and please (most of the time anyway). She sings songs. She loves to pick out her own clothes. She loves to giggle and laugh and she has recently discovered the joy of making others laugh. She has quite a vivid imagination (we'll save the story about her new imaginary friend, "Toe", for another day). All of that is because of Jen. Since I'm at work most of the day I only get to spend 2 hours/day with her at most, so Jen is the one who gets the credit for helping our amazing little girl grow up as wonderful as she has. She is destined for great things, and when she gets there, I hope she'll realize that her mom is the one who helped her become the person she is.

We had a nice Mother's Day weekend, although it was a bit challenging at times as Jacob has entered the grunting/growling phase (is this a boy thing? I don't remember this with Stella). Anyway, here are some pictures from today. Happy Mother's Day honey, we love you and we're so lucky to have you! Thank you for everything that you do!!!


Excuse the drool on this one, dude can be a bit messy!

A break from the rain

It has been raining for DAYS and DAYS and DAYS here. It stopped just long enough this evening to sneak out for a bit. We actually went to the post office to send a mother's day box to my mom. Hopefully it will get there on time as we don't have the best luck with that. This time should be interesting because the post office ws closed and I used the machine and got the box stuck in the drop box. sigh. Sorry mom. One of these days I will get it together. Then we decided to go for ice cream! YAY! We don't really pop out in the evenings too much but it was a nice break from our routine and it felt good to be outside for the first time in days! I snapped a few pics for picture thursday!


All smiles for Ice Cream and no rain!



Daddy approves!

Stella and Mommy....BTW don't bother with the low fat ice cream at Maggie Moo's. ick.

So Maggie the Moo comes out and Stella gets a bit freaked and just pretends she isn't there at all! Other kids were running up to her but Stella held strong staring in the other direction!

Jacob smiling away as he does. He rubs his face when he gets sleepy and even though I trim his nails he is all scratched up! Poor little guy.

Jacob is almost busting outta that car seat!

Still all smiles. What a sweet girl!

Another late picture Thursday

This week Stella started potty training! WOW! I actually think she is doing pretty good and was grateful for the nice temps Monday and Tuesday so I could keep her in a sundress and thus get to the potty pretty quick! She is stinking cute in her big girl underwear and loves to sing Go Potty Go! We had some accidents and I was happy for hardwood floors but overall I think we are on our way. YAY! I am really enjoying this age with Stella and we have a lot of fun just chatting and having tea parties and I can't give her enough hugs in a day. One cute thing she likes to do now is have Jacob come sit in her crib for a bit in the morning and she shows him all her crib friends and he smiles so big. I should try to get a few pics of that.

Anyway, I actually took these on Tuesday not on Thursday but they are so sweet I didn't think anyone would mind me breaking my own rules.

He looks like an angry irishman here

I love this shot because he was actually looking at me. I had the camera on my lap.

My bird.

What a sweet moment.