Saturday, June 26, 2010

Annual Visit!

This past Wednesday Jaime, Craig and Jackson were on their way to Camp Hope and just like last year, if they didn't stop and let me feed them... well I would have cried for 2 weeks. Maybe 3.

Poor Craig hadn't been able to watch a single game of the World Cup... something unavoidable was always going on when the games were on. I would have happily let him watch the game on the TV but alas, we have no cable! Luckily he is very resourceful (and handy with a mac) and was able to hear a radio broadcast as well as find a site that showed the replays that were worth highlighting. Not perfect but he was happy... especially after USA finally scored and advanced themselves!

Such cute smiles!!

Craig helped the boys put together a very elaborate drum set... I think they are ready to go on the road.

The gorgeous family... oh yeah, did I forget to mention they are expecting baby boy #2!!! Jaime is due in Sept!


Belly shot with our second round of boys!

Thanks for stopping in guys! Have a great 2 weeks at Camp Hope!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Summer Fun

We are trying to enjoy the beautiful weather lately... although difficult when you are as tired as I am all the time.

Still... hanging out in the driveway with some chalk... that I can handle.
Our message to Daddy!

Favorite glasses bit the dust... who knew they couldn't support my weight...

Our family portrait... complete with lil bean ;~)

Coloring in his shapes.

Our neighbor was out and told us about a bunny nest he found the other day... so of course we came over to see!
It's hard to see but take my word for it... so stinkin precious! There were at least 3 that we could see but our neighbor thinks he saw a 4th one. They were all cuddled around each other sleeping blissfully!

And because it's been a while... a video!

In that last clip Adam handed him a 'flower' and Chase immediately turned around and brought it to me... I love this kid.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day!


This is one lucky kid to have you as a father.

We love you 'dis much'!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Weekend Con't

Saturday we headed out on Uncle Jimmy's boat.

Adam and Chase started out like this...

Then switched to this for a better view.

Bamma came over to say hi and was greeted with this beautiful face...
Chase fast asleep. Apparently those life vests double as pillows!

He was so out that I was able to scoop him up and move back to a more comfortable position with him.
I never get tired of holding a sleeping baby.

Unfortunately Chase missed this action...
A few jet skiers spent about 20 minutes playing in our wake... entertainment all around!

The men of the boat... Uncle Jimmy, Chase and Adam ;~)

And the ladies of the boat... Aunt Vicky, me and Sandy ;~)

Family of 3 for just a bit longer ;~)

Once we were back home Adam and Chase headed for the 'pool' again.

Unfortunately they got pushed out by a thunderstorm rolling in. We had a good time watching and listening to it though.
Chase sat remarkably still and quiet for about 20 minutes... a real feat for him!

Just before bed we visited 'the pretty cars' in Uncle Jimmy's garage.
I was a nervous wreck with Chase playing on them but Jimmy is SO laid back... he was just delighting in how much fun Chase was having.


Chase driving Daddy around.

Sunday Adam, Chase and I got up early to head to Bay Area Community Church... a real treat in and of itself! I can't even begin to describe how great it felt to be back there. Pastor Greg saw us right before church started and was just overjoyed... it feels good to know that someone misses you that much.

The worship was nothing short of awesome. Adam and I have discovered that we really need a good worship service... it helps set the mood and really prepare your heart for the message. Precisely what I have been missing lately.

Then just listening to Greg was pure heaven. He is such a great speaker and he has this way of zoning in on the essential and applying it to everyday life. I can't possibly do him justice.

We were extremely lucky as this is his last service for 3 months (every seven years the pastor gets a 3 month sabbatical and next week starts his!)

We ran into many friends of ours including Pat and Kristen, who started the whole baby boom from our old bible study. They are now expecting baby #3... actually their baby #3 will be born before our baby #2!

I know I am gushing but it really was a treat to go to BACC... I only hope it happens again!

After church we headed to Uncle Jimmy's farm where Chase had a little fun on the fork lift...

Shortly after that we started the journey home. We were a little unnerved because we discovered our fan in the Jeep stopped blowing on Sat... which meant no cold air being pushed out on a 90°+ day for an hour and 45 minute ride home.

It wasn't looking pleasant at all. Luckily Greg spoke about contentment and not letting situations define your happiness... and here we had a good test!

Adam and I kept our calm and just decided to grin through it... which served us well. We didn't worry or fret about it and come to find out, if you are going 75mph, the air conditioning is somewhat forced through the vent. So as long as we were booking it on the way home (and Adam made sure we were), we felt cool!

And as always, this little guy fell out somewhere between here and there...

clutching Mommy's iPhone of course ;~)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Awesome Weekend

We got the opportunity for a mini-vacation this past weekend and it was amazing.

Adam's uncle invited us to his gorgeous home for a weekend with the promise of taking us out on his boat... to which Sandy, Adam, Chase and I quickly said yes!

They (Adam's Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Vicki) live in Annapolis which meant 1. I was able to slip away and have coffee with my best friend sans the kids! 2. we were in extremely familiar and loved territory, 3. we were able to attend BACC... something we have been missing greatly lately.

We left Hagerstown in the afternoon on Friday... right in time for 'quiet time' for Chase...
I will never tire of these pictures... he's so stinkin cute when he sleeps!

Once we were at the house Adam and Chase wasted no time exploring their property...

Chase quickly discovered the creek that runs through their backyard and jumped right in...
He had so much fun throwing sticks and rocks and running (at least trying to) through the water.

Quintessential boy.

Chase got a huge kick out of running through this shallow area... back and forth... splashing as high as he possibly could. It looked like such fun I even joined in! I know, me and nature spending time together... I never thought it would happen either. Better get used to it with 2 boys!

Although Chase has recently developed a horrid fear of 'buggies'. If anything... gnat, fly, ant... gets within eye-shot, he totally flips out and demands my 'up'. I have no idea where he got it from *whistling* {eyes shifting to avoid contact} *whistling*.

I am not too worried about it... in 6 months he will be over it and probably trying to catch them. So for now I just remind him that they aren't all bad and relish the fact that he still runs to me for comfort.

After the creek (which took some MAJOR convincing to leave) Adam and Chase went for a dip in the 'pool'.
And by pool I mean hot tub which was set at a reasonable 93°.

This is about all the further Chase got in. At one point he was standing (he could easily stand on the bottom and have his head above water) but he lost his footing and went under... to which Adam quickly scooped him back up (picture one fluid motion) but that was all it took for Chase. He immediately wanted out and from then on out approached with extreme caution and hesitation.

Regardless, he still had a blast playing with Daddy in the 'pool'. At one point Adam scrubbed the sides down with a brillo type brush, just to keep the iron in the water from collecting on the sides and creating a ring. When Chase heard this conversation he interpreted it as 'ironing the water'... and that became his job. He ironed the water on every open surface of the hot tub.

To say that he is entertaining is the understatement of the year.

During pool time I was able to slip out for an hour or so and meet up with Christine. Luckily she was able to slip away and leave her 2 boys with her hubby... which meant an hour of uninterrupted conversation between adults! That so rarely happens anymore! It was heavenly. I am pretty sure we got more out of this conversation than the past month of talking over the phone while trying to juggle the kids/pets.

After dinner it was finally time to turn in... which meant Chase finally got to use this...
his beloved travel bed!

We blew it up the day we bought it... just to test it out and show Chase what he would be sleeping on when we went to Uncle Jimmy's and Myrtle Beach. That was at least 2 weeks ago and I think we have heard about the travel bed daily since then.

Conversation at the kennel. Kennel lady: "Are you going to have fun at your uncle's house?" Chase: *he eagerly leans forward* "Chasey has a travel bed!!!"

He ran around all Friday night asking anyone who would listen "Do you want to see my travel bed?" Several of us obliged and took him upstairs to marvel at it's greatness.

I mock but truly, it was pretty cool. There was no way I felt comfortable enough to put him in a regular size (re: height) bed and he has since outgrown a pack and play. This was a great solution... if he rolls off, no biggie!

Lucky for us he understood that the same rules apply to the travel bed as the home bed... 1. no standing, 2. no jumping, 3. no getting out. Plus he was beat tired... it didn't take him long to fall out either night!

I will have to continue later... I am still tired from our mini-vacation and need sleep!

Friday, June 11, 2010

It's a.....

well most of you know but I am still going to write the entire post before I say ;~)

If you remember with Chase, we had a fun way of finding out if he was a boy or a girl... and since baby #2 often gets a raw deal, we thought we should try to do something memorable again!

So at the appointment the tech gave us a sealed envelope and wished us luck. Adam suggested going to dinner... specifically LJ's and the Kat Lounge. Who am I to turn that place down ;~) Seriously... if you haven't been there, please do yourself a favor and go. Adam is friends with the owner and planned on seeing him later that day... he would see if Alex would do something fun with dessert to 'reveal' to us what we were having.

To say that Alex was enthusiastic is an understatement... he was thrilled to help us out! He couldn't get over the fact that he would know before we did ;~)


I posted on Twitter/FB that we were going to find out later that night over dinner... much to the consternation of many of my friends.



All through dinner Adam and I were getting messages like this...


Never the one to let an opportunity go, I posted this...


My friends were not amused ;~)


I even got personal messages like this...


Ironically just as Kristen sent this, we were finding out!

Alex and our waiter brought over a covered dish and our waiter did the reveal (while Alex took pictures... man after my own heart!!!)

And the verdict is Chase will have a little baby brother!!!


The dessert chef did such a great job with our little cake. Clearly the blue indicated boy but she went a step further and added some cute detail...


I am still in shock that I am going to be a mom to 2 boys... by the end of the year at that! I am really excited for Chase to have a little brother. Even though he has been pro sister for so long, I think a little brother will suit him well. Actually at the ultrasound, we asked Chase if he wanted a sister or a brother and he answered brother! We joked that maybe he saw something we didn't!

To that end, we told Chase the next morning when we were having a morning cuddle and he was all smiles. He patted my belly and said hi to lil bean... I think all will be well ;~)

Anyway, after we found out, of course we sent out a picture immediately! Our adoring public was waiting ;~)

I got some of the following messages back (along with loads of Congrats!)





It was such a great night! A big thank you to all our friends who made finding out so much more fun then we thought it could be!

Also, a huge thank you to Alex and the staff of LJ's. Thanks so much for making the night special and memorable! You guys are amazing! (Seriously readers, do yourself a favor and GO!)

Now to start the name game!!

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Police Tour

Today Chase and I (and 9 other mommies and babies) had the chance to tour our local police station! All thanks to this guy...
Officer Doug... aka Laura's Husband and Adam and Ryan's Daddy ;~) He's one of our finest here in Hagerstown!

Chase was in heaven seeing all the police cars.

The infamous line up shot... the bench had handcuffs but we decided not to use them ;~) Ironically this is the area where they hold juveniles... maybe just not this young.

Hanging out in the jail cell.

This might have been the highlight of the entire tour...
climbing through the police car. As you can see it's about as good as any jungle gym out there!

Yep... much prefer him in the drivers seat rather than the backseat ;~)


My boy and I.