Jack is 6 Months Old!

How is it that his little guy became grew this much in a mere six months! Its crazy how fast the time has gone by! No stats yet - we head to the pediatrician Monday.

Weekly Wrap-Up

This post when conceived was supposed to be an end-of-the-week wrap-up, but now it can be a beginning-of-the-week pick-me-up! Either way, I'm going to try to do this type of post, which is to say pictures and videos from the week, more often.

Last week Jack and I were hiding out in the kitchen while Clara was falling asleep.




Chilling in his crib.


This weekend Clara wanted to hold Jack. She insisted on a pillow since that's how we did it when he was a newborn. He's not quite as fragile now but happy to lie down with Big Sister and Daddy for some cuddling.





While outside grilling Clara was practicing her princess twirls.




We are fast approaching the time when Jack will begin to eat solid foods, so we've been getting him accustomed to the high chair while we eat dinner.

NC State Fair

On Tuesday Brec took the morning off from work, and we headed to the NC State Fair! Clara really seemed to enjoy it this year. At first it was a bit overwhelming, as the over-sized food and game stands might be to a two year old, but once we started seeing animals, she really warmed up. She even got to pet a 1500 lb bull. And once the food purchasing started, she was won over. :) Jack took the day in stride and seemed to like looking at all of the brightly colored festivities. He did not, however, like the poultry exhibition. All of the rooster crowing scared him, poor little guy.

On our way decked out in festive clothing.


Sitting on the hugie log in the parking lot


Taking a look at all of the baby chicks and ducks, so cute!


I dreamed of this fresh-cut chips since last year when I opted not to get them. They were everything I'd hoped they would be. ;)


Clearly underwhelmed by the fair


Stick with Mommy 'cause you know there will be sno-cones in October!


Feeding the goats in the petting zoo. Clara really enjoyed this activity.


Camel!


Last but best... ice cream! Clara was extremely excited when I showed her that the cone holding all of the ice cream was actually edible.

Uncle Jack Comes to Town

Again I'm running a bit behind these days, but last weekend we were in Richmond to visit Uncle Jack in from Hawaii! He hadn't seen Clara since Christmas and had never met Baby Jack, so there was lots for him to catch up on.

The Jacks!


Uncle Jack is very silly.


Nay2Nay is silly too.


Laid back on the bed after all that laughing.


Trying on Memo's glasses


Once again Clara raided Nay-Nay's closet for some kicking shoes. She took them out for a stroll with the babies.

Clara is 2 1/2!

I can't believe my baby is 2 1/2 years old. The past 6 months have really flown by. To celebrate the occasion, I wanted to share a funny story from this morning at the library. It never ceases to amaze me what kids pick up. When story time finished, we headed out into the children's books area. The scene was kind of dicey. Jack was in the Ergo fussing b/c he hadn't napped yet. I'm trying to bend down to look for books, and Clara is racing off in the other direction. I was headed to ask the librarian to point me to Snow White as we are heading full steam ahead into the Princess phase, when Clara came walking up to me. I saw she was carrying a very pink book, and only then did I hear what she was saying, "its not a cruddy book, its not a cruddy book." And it all came back to me... She had gone and found the very same book that I'd rejected last week apparently calling a cruddy book. Of course at this point I realized that we were in fact going to have to check out "The 12 Dancing Princesses" featuring Barbie since she'd remembered it from the week before. What a girl.

Today on the hugie mamma rock

Boston in the Fall

The beginning of October brought us back to our old stomping grounds to visit Katie, Randy, Caleb, & Adelina in Boston. We were excited to meet Adelina for the first time and likewise for them to meet Jack.

The trip began smoothly on Thursday with both kids doing beautifully on the plane ride. By the time things were getting dicey, we were landing at Logan 30 min early, imagine that! The experience at Budget Rental Car agency was less than ideal, however. By this time it was past noon and kids were melting. After spending an hour in line, we were told that they didn't have the car we'd reserved and the only way we could get out of there without having to wait any longer was to take a bright red Ford F150 pick-up truck, the least convenient car ever to traverse the streets of Boston and Cambridge.



Anxious for our vacation to begin we took the truck and proceeded to Cambridge to meet Katie & kids at MIT for some Anna's Burritos! Unfortunately Clara tripped on the stone concrete at the MIT student center, cut her lip and apparently (as I only noticed once the fat lip went down) chipped her tooth. :( But all things considered, she recovered remarkably to romp around the campus of MIT with Caleb. We even headed into the chemistry building to see our former boss Prof. Lippard and a former labmate Yongwon, recently back from Korea.

Clara and Caleb checking out MIT's version of art.


Hello!


Adelina and Jack demanded a nursing pit stop outside of the chemistry building. This was just one of the many times they nursed on the go. They seemed to want to eat out in the city as much as we did.


Enjoying a tasty peanut butter & jelly cookie.


On Friday morning we headed to Cambridge for breakfast at S&S! Considering we had four children under 3, the meal went surprisingly well. I'm sure the delicious food had something to do with it.


Katie with the babes...Look familiar?


Flashback to September 2007...


After breakfast we strolled down memory lane literally to our old street, Maple Ave, and took the kids to a park there that Brec and I had passed on many a trip up and down that road. Jack had a great time swinging with Adelina.


The we packed up and headed into the city via the Longfellow bridge and Charles St. By the time we got the to the Park, everyone was ready to get out of the strollers and work off some energy. Clara and Caleb enjoyed climbing on another statue.


Nursing with two toddlers around is two times the excitement!


Jack enjoying the lush green grass before its crushed by the weight of winter snow.




We left the Park in search of a snack but passed through Faneuil Hall uninspired. Caleb & Clara were able to enjoy the performance of a street performer. Our destination became the North End for cannolis at Mike's Pastries. Here is a view of the kids at the new North End Park. This all used to be interstate.


Enjoying her cookie.


Following the Freedom trail.


The kids were very excited to take the T back to Cambridge to our car.


After our adventure Caleb & Clara relaxed in front of some Sesame Street. They were very cute snuggling (unprompted!) with each other.




Saturday morning Adelina and Jack posed in their matching outfits!


Randy, now home from work, got a chance to get a good look at Jack and snuggle with both babies.


It rained most of the day so we spent most of the time around the house. This gave Clara plenty of time to chase around their three cats. Here she is with her favorite Oscar.


Sunday we headed out for another city adventure. Here's the crew on the Mass Ave bridge.


"Strolling" down Newbury Street.




In the public gardens Clara is checking out the "huge statue".


Daddy showing Jack the city.


Looking at the fountain (Fountains and statues are currently two of Clara's favorite things, so you can imagine the garden was very pleasing to her).


Last but not least... Make Way For Ducklings!


















Taking a breather at MIT after our walk back from the city.


We made it back safe and sound on Monday after another tasty brunch at S&S. It was so nice to spend time with Katie and the family. Clara and Caleb really played together superbly, and it was fun for us to see them interact. It was really a fabulous trip!