Our Summer of Vacation

This summer Brian is finally taking advantage of being a teacher. We are traveling most of the summer and therefore I won't be able to post too much, maybe occasionally. When we get back in August I will have TONS to write about. We hope you all enjoy your summer!

18 months

BJ is 18 months old now. Here are a few things he enjoys to do:

• BJ loves water and loves anything to do with water (puddles, pools, sprinklers, watering the garden, splash park, water bottles, etc.)



• His favorite pants are bright blue flannel with basketballs on them. And yes, he will pull them out of his drawer to wear and he gets upset when they must come off (for diaper changes and for a bath).



• When he runs he swings his right arm back and forth. Just the right one. The left one is mostly stationary.



• He has mastered the child safety lock for the pots and pans. He appears to be satisfied with only discovering how to open the one drawer, for now.



• He is learning to obey Mommy and Daddy. Sometimes he will obey although he does not like it (he'll cry and complain while following through with whatever we ask of him).



• He can sign "I love you" and I think that's the sweetest thing!



• He loves his Daddy. Now that Daddy has been home for over a month BJ expects him to be here whenever he needs him. I am almost chopped liver, but I do get the occasional hug or "I love you". BJ only kisses his daddy (Mommy has to kiss BJ but BJ will actually go up to Brian and kiss him).



• His favorite word is still "ball" but his vocabulary is expanding to include hoop, water, and other words I can't think of right now.

Happy (Belated) Father's Day!

I know this is super late but BJ wanted to let the world know how much he loves Daddy. Go ahead BJ: la,dckd 20M

We celebrated Daddy by taking him to the Baltimore Zoo.

BJ loved anything to do with water. I think a trip to the aquarium might be next!

The zoo had this really neat KidZone complete with a petting zoo and tractors to ride.

Take me out to the ballgame

What better thing to do in 100 degree weather than watch a baseball game! We went to our nephew Jacob's coach-pitch ballgame.

Jacob at bat (it's hard to get a good picture from behind the fence).


Jacob as catcher.

BJ hanging around with Jacob at the team bench in case they need a pinch hitter (see his baseball bat in tow?)

Our Garden

We decided to start a garden this year. We have grown potted tomatoes in the past (rather unsuccessfully thanks to my not-so-green thumb) and have decided to try again this year. Due to our lack of space for a garden we decided to use pots again. Hopefully, with Brian and BJ's help, the garden will be a success!

First, you have to fill up your pots with soil.

Second, you put your plant in the soil.

Third, you water your plant (BJ's absolute favorite thing to do! He wants to water them all the time!)

Fourth, you clean off in the cool pool! Too bad there's not room for Mommy and Daddy :(

More Pictures from Memorial Day

I had wanted to write more about our fun Memorial Day weekend but time is flying by and, well, if I don't post the pictures now it will never happen. Here are pictures from the rest of the weekend!

BJ playing bubbles with his cousins Taylor and Jacob.


BJ really enjoyed pouring water out of the teapot.

BJ looks so proud carrying around this bucket all by himself!

BJ and Mommom

BJ and Tommy playing hide-n-seek. Tommy is behind the curtain and BJ's raised hand means "where's Tommy?". It was too cute!

I wanted to take a picture of me and my nephew Tommy. I held the camera out to take the picture and apparently I was more interesting than the camera :).

And this is the picture I got with Sam. Funny thing...I didn't know he was making this silly face til after I took the picture. The kid is a hoot!

Our Busy Memorial Day Weekend - Part 2

Our nephew Sam had his 4th birthday in May and he celebrated it at the Elmwood Park Zoo on Sunday.

BJ and Sam's little brother Tommy got into the birthday spirit as well.


Because Sam was celebrating his birthday he had the awesome opportunity to help with the animal show! (Sam is the boy on the right wearing a green shirt).


The zoo was a wonderful little place filled with many activities to do and animals to see. They had pony rides...

a Native American teepee...

and a playground!

We had lots of fun at Sammy's birthday party. Happy Birthday Sam!!

P.S. You know your baby is getting old when he ends up pushing your bag in the stroller instead of sitting in it himself!