Having a Super Halloween!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

My little superheroes had a fantastic Halloween. Andrew was very sweet to give Jay lessons in how to "trick or treat". We did a "practice run" on Gifford Court hitting 4 houses before joining our friends. We were with a group of 8 other kids and their parents (all 2 year olds and 4 year olds!) Both boys did a great job going up to doors by themselves. A good time was had by all.


Andrew and I participated in our neighborhood Halloween parade during the afternoon.


Ready to fly...


Flying door to door for treats...

Happy 4th Birthday, Andrew!

Happy 4th Birthday, Andrew!

You are my wonderful little explorer. I think one of the words you've uttered the most over this past year was the word "why". You are not willing to accept things on face value alone. Always asking why we are doing what we are doing, why things are the way they are, why do things work a certain way.

It's been fun to watch how much your knowledge of your world is expanding too. You have such a strong memory. You retain the answers you get to "why" and apply those answers to problems you are trying to figure out. I love the conversations we can have now that you can appreciate more in depth answers. Sure there are times when I get tired of "why, why, but why". But, I truly enjoy bearing witness to your little brain at work.

You continue to be the most adorable big brother ever. I don't think you realize how much Jay watches you and looks up to you. I think you realize he looks up to you and tries to mimic you because Daddy and I will point it out to you. But, if you only realized he watches you nearly all the time and tries to completely mimic your behavior. He wants to be able to keep up with you because you are his number one friend and playmate. I love those times when I do see you basking in his attention. There is a connection between you two that is just pure love.

You are such a great helper. You still love to help Daddy and me bake and cook in the kitchen. Oh, how you love to "make salads". Which is basically, chopping any vegetables we have in the fridge. You will help bring the groceries in from the car, help unload the dishwasher, help rake leaves and clean up the yard. You are very industrious.

It's also very sweet to watch you teaching Jay how to do things and helping him. It shows how much you've matured this year. It's nice that I can rely on you to help him. But, you do love to point out to Jay that you are older and therefore, stronger and taller. This naturally allows you to do things that Jay cannot. It's funny that you relish being older than Jay, as if you have been around the block so much longer than he and are so much wiser in the ways of the world. You like to remind him that he's just a baby but, if he keeps watching you and following in your footsteps, he's going to be a big boy in no time.

Which reminds me of one other development from the past year. You often correct me (or anyone) when I call you my sweet baby boy or even my little boy. You proudly and confidently say "I am a big boy not a baby.". Well, I suppose that is true. In so many ways, you are no longer a baby. You are getting too big and long for me to hold easily in my arms, you make clever jokes and understand nuanced riddles, and in general are growing up so fast. But, you must understand (and maybe someday you will), you will always be my baby.

I love you, Andrew!

Happy Birthday.

Love,
Mommy

The End of Summer

I've heard a number of people say they mind it when Summer ends. Now, I'm someone who loves Autumn so, I naturally welcome the end of Summer and the beginning of cooler temperatures, apples, pumpkins, fall festivals, etc. But, what I do suggest to those who really mind Summer ending...spend 2 weeks on Martha's Vineyard in September after Labor Day. It's a great way to bring your Summer to a close. It worked for us anyway:

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jay!

Happy Second Birthday to our Sweet Jaybird! You are such a sweet little boy and we continue to ooh and aah over you even though you are a fiercely independent spirit.

You have always been an independent spirit, not snuggling much or hugging for too long. But, this past year, you've become very interested in books. You will now allow us to hold you and read several books each night at bedtime. Daddy and I have embraced this new change literally. We love to snuggle you.

Even though you may have become more cuddly, your independent spirit is still a very dominant trait. This past year you developed a very strong "I can do it myself" attitude. You are very insistent that you do not need help (coming down the stairs, climbing up on the couch, opening a door) even if you do in fact need help. It is so cute to hear you say, "I do it."

I think a lot of you wanting to do things on your own stems from watching your big brother Andrew doing things on his own. This past year we have watched you try to emulate your big brother Andrew not just watching him. You like to follow Andrew's lead and will often repeat what he says. Especially, if what he says gets a laugh out of Mommy or Daddy. For example, you tell the knock-knock joke Andrew made up with such passion. The punchline is "uh, oh, the door is locked." and I'm not sure you even get the joke but, you tell it so well.

I love how you have become such a part of our inside family games and jokes too. Pretending to be asleep, or saying "wake up Daddy (or Mommy or Brother)" when one of us pretends to be asleep, stalking around the house playing monsters, playing hide and go seek. How you love to play hide and go seek with Mommy and Andrew. There was a point when you could play in these games and not just watch and we could all see how proud you were to be a part of the action.

You’ve made great strides in communication and general awareness of your surroundings. I loved when you would say “Come with me” or “I show you” when you wanted to ask for something. Daddy and I always marvel at the stages when communication can kick in and we can interact with our children. You spoke your first words this past year and now you are talking in complete sentences. Sure your pronouns and tenses are adorably mixed up but, you are talking in full sentences!

You are so curious about what other people are doing. You will often ask “what’s he doing?” when we are out and about. Wanting to know what’s going on around you. I’m not sure there is anyone you are more interested in than Andrew. Sure you get very excited when you see Daddy at the end of the work day or Mommy when we’ve been apart but, often your first words in the morning these days are “where’s brother” or “go find brother”. (Which by the way, is the adorable way you refer to Andrew, always calling him Brother.)

As part of your transitions from passive observer to active participant, we have watched you imitate Andrew in so many physical ways. If you see Andrew do something at the playground, you do it too, and sometimes you can do more than him. You are absolutely fearless at the playground. I often think you do not realize that you are not the same age as Andrew. You seem to think “if he can do it, I can do it.” And in most cases, that has been true. We marvel at your physical capabilities. Kicking a soccer ball, climbing (always climbing!), playing in the shallow end of the pool. It’s hard to believe that you only just took your first steps less 11 months ago. You walk and hop and are really working hard on being able to run fast. You will practice at home by standing with your back to the front door and running into the kitchen to the sliding door.

You also have caught on to Andrew’s creativity. If Andrew pretends to be a monster and roars, you do the same. If Andrew says Mommy watch this, you say and do the same. You are great at playing make-believe. How could you not when you have such a strong teacher in Andrew. I love when you pretend to pick something up that is “heavy”. Grunting, huffing and puffing while saying “Heavy!”

I think this year can be characterized by monkey see, monkey do. And yet, you are clearly not a clone of Andrew. You are your own unique person and personality in so many ways, Jay. And I love spending my days with you. You are becoming such a special little boy, clearly no longer my baby.

I love you Jay, more than words could ever say.

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mommy

Winding Down

Yesterday, we took our final trip to the pool to close out the summer season. It was one of the best days we had all summer. Daddy met us for dinner and a swim and we stayed until closing at 8pm! We just couldn't seem to leave. We will be sad to see the pool close for the season. We've had such fun spending our late afternoons and weekends there with our good friends. Jay and Andrew have both gotten more brave in the water too. Andrew is now jumping in and climbing out unassisted. He can also be pretty much on his own in the shallow end up to 3ft. And Jay in wanting to always be like Andrew started hanging out in the "big pool" too. By the end of the summer, they did not want to spend anytime at the baby pool. They preferred to be in the shallow end of the regular pool. Jay could walk on his own in the 2ft end. He also liked to jump in from the wall. Holding Mommy's thumbs he would say, "One, two, FEE!" and jump off the wall. Very cute. He can climb up and down the stairs and even mastered the ladder in the deeper end. He tries so very hard to keep up with Andrew.

Some photos from our last hurrah at the pool:

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Well Summer seems to be drawing to a close. I think this will be my favorite thing from this summer:

Andrew learning to jump into the pool all by himself.









And if I had to guess what Andrew & Jay's favorite things might be, I'd guess...

Eating snacks at the pool for Jay:



And for Andrew, I'd say it would be being allowed to eat a freezepop for breakfast! (Since we made them with V8 juice I figured it was ok.)

Peaches

This summer I've made a couple new peach recipes. I just love peaches in the summertime. But, does anyone else have the song "Peaches" by "The Presidents of the United States of America" running in your heads whenever you are working with peaches in the kitchen?

Here's what I made:

peach cobbler (can't believe I never made peach cobbler before)


peach salsa (yum!)


peach pie (I have made this before...still yum!)

Summer!

We have been enjoying a very busy and very hot summer here in Virginia. We've kept our social calendar full of children's performances at the library and at Wolf Trap's Theatre-in-the-Woods, afternoons at the pool, picking up our CSA on Saturday mornings at the Alexandria Farmer's Market, vacations to Ocean City and Richmond, and 2 baseball games.

Andrew & Mommy picking daisies in our front garden:


Fresh strawberries from our CSA:


One of a few batches of pickles Andrew and Mommy made with cukes from our CSA:


Reading Phillies game with MomMom and PopPop:










Ocean City vacation:




Theater in the Woods:


"picnic" aka "snack time"


Potomac Nationals game:




Our neighborhood pool:

Big Trucks!

Last week we spent some time in Herndon, VA. Their Public Works Department puts on Big Truck Days each year. They park a garbage truck, a paving truck, a snow plow, a steam roller and other construction/ public works type vehicles in a barricaded parking lot and allow kids to climb up into the driver's seats and play pretend. The kids can move the steering wheels and play with all of the buttons and levers contained inside. It was awesome! Andrew & Jay did not want to leave. We'll be heading back there next year.


Jay next to a tire for reference of the size of these trucks.


Jay on a steam roller.


Andrew driving the garbage truck.


Andrew's friend Rory in the passenger seat.


You can see Andrew making engine noises with is mouth. Jay in the foreground.


Andrew and Jay on a ... I don't know what it was...

Mommy!

I had a funny thought this morning. And this was it: Most days by the time 8pm rolls around I am tired of hearing the word "Mommy". Since, usually I have been hearing it uttered all day coupled with different demands, requests or complaints from about 6 in the morning. And yet, on this beautiful Sunday morning I laid in bed and thought..."I love being called Mommy. What a blessing to be a mother and to have created two independent people for whom I will always be related to as Mom. "

Me and my two kiddos (who apparently could care less about getting a photo with dear old Mommy.) Photo taken on our walk this morning along the George Washington Memorial Parkway.



Happy Mother's Day!

Fruits and Vegetables!

This spring I signed us up for a half share in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). The program will run May through October. I signed up for a share with Bigg Riggs Farm of West Virginia. I'm able to pick up our box of vegetables, etc. each Saturday morning at the Alexandria Farmers Market in Old Town.

I'm hoping this will kick-start us in to some healthier eating habits as well as get us into the habit of eating local seasonal harvest instead of what we can get at the supermarket.

This past Saturday was the first pick-up. We were thrilled with our first box which contained: scallions, ramps, a strawberry plant, a curly leaf parsley plant and a jar of their peach jam.



I thought it was really neat that he included two plants. Andrew has been enjoying watering them each day and checking for strawberries each day. We should have some berries in about 2 weeks. Very cool.



So far we've sampled the jam, mmm....peachy. Mark made a yummy breakfast for the two of us using the ramps. He simply quick sauteed them in some olive oil, then served them with eggs over easy, toast and tomato.

We also picked up some tomatoes, radishes, and really huge scallions at the farmers market. Mark made an onion dip using the greens of the huge scallions, and we had the bulbs of those scallions roasted on the grill, along with some roasted portabella mushrooms. Yum!

This is going to be fun to have such fresh veggies all summer.