Sunday on the balcony

Ready for Football Season!

This week Connor received a care package from his Uncle Rob in the mail. Rob wanted to make sure Connor was all set for football season! Of course I need to add some Terps gear and then he'll really be all set but this is a good start. Thanks Uncle Rob!

Oh and I love that Connor is demonstrating where on his body the shirts will go!

New Connor Pictures

SO grown up right??!!



I love it when he smiles so big that his eyes scrunch up!

Making sure Puppy gets his veggies.

On weekend mornings we like to have coffee and read the paper out on the balcony. Connor loves to park himself in the tub and enjoy the view!


Hey Claire do you want to see how my bubble machine works?

Gotcha!

Just a couple hours...

As Tracey is nearing the end of her pregnancy she's no longer commuting into the city for work. Wanting to continue our regular girlfriend get-togethers as best as possible, Shannon and I decided to drive out to Long Island to visit with her for the afternoon. We would only be there for a couple of hours, but it would involve Connor having lunch there and taking a nap. As I was setting aside things to bring, I couldn't help but think what a ridiculous amount of stuff you have to take with you when you have a baby! My stuff included my wallet, keys, and cell phone. The rest was his. And I even used Tracey's pack n play for him to nap in (but I wanted to bring his own blanket and sheets). I snapped a pick of all the stuff, gotta love my little baby model too!


Just as I was about to get Connor dressed to leave I heard my electric toothbrush going off in my bedroom. I found Connor getting Puppy's chompers all spiffed up for the big outing. I swear he gives that stuffed dog the red carpet treatment!

We had a great time while we were there. Connor is totally obsessed with Tracey's two dogs and had so much fun chasing them around. He took a great long nap too, we actually had to wake him to leave. He's always really good about napping at other people's homes which is great! I think it was all that travel when he was a little baby!

Goodman Family Get-together

The morning after Jackie's bridal shower (I'm still playing catch up over here) I took a train to my Uncle KC's in Philadelphia for a Goodman family get-together, in honor of my Aunt Nancy being in town. Andrew and Connor drove down from NYC and picked me up at the train station. I didn't take any pictures but my Dad got some good ones. It was so nice to see the whole fam and a highlight for me was watching Connor and my cousins Len and Susan's little boy Zach play together. They literally chased each other around the kitchen forever, giggling and laughing and giving each other high fives and hugs (which were usually given at our urging but they would do it all on their own too!) It was so cute and I'm so excited to watch these two grow up together. Thank you Uncle KC and Aunt Sharon for hosting the whole gang!!

My Dad's pics:

Connor, Len and Zach just chillin on the couch.

Connor and Zach at the window.

Four Generations! My Grandpa Don, Dad, Connor an I.

Cousins hugging it out!

We got Connor in his jammies and hit the road just before his bedtime. He was out before we got on the highway! All that chasing really wore him out.

I was so happy to see my boys on Sunday but I learned that they had had a blast together while I was gone. Andrew took Connor to several parks and playgrounds, out to lunch, taught him several new words, some new dance moves and the best "trick" ever- how to give "big squeeze" hugs- basically Connor wraps his arms around you and squeezes really tight, making what were already amazing hugs even better! Oh and all the laundry had been done too. I'm thinking I should go away every Saturday?

Young Love

The other day my friend Dorothy and I were out for a stroll when we noticed that our kids were holding hands... so sweet!

Jackie's Bridal Shower

The weekend before last I left Connor at home with Andrew so that I could head down to MD for Jackie's bridal shower. The shower was hosted by Jackie's Mom and the bridal party (which includes me). It was a huge success and I'm SO thankful that the "oppressive heat wave" that they were calling for held out for one more day so that we could still have the garden party-type shower we were planning for. A few pictures of some of the details:

The scene.

Alan (the Groom to be) stopped by at the end.

Jackie and I (the matron of honor, which I think makes me sound old)

Custom m&m's!

This cake was seriously amazing. It was courtesy of The Main Ingredient in Annapolis.

And my personal favorite touch- the champagne punch, an idea that I jacked from Tracey's baby shower two weeks earlier. It was a huge hit!!

We're so excited for the wedding, and just wait until you see pictures of Connor in his toddler tux and shiny shoes (he's the ring bearer!) Now if I can just get him to actually walk down the aisle...

Tracey's Baby Shower

The day before we left for Hilton Head, Annie, Shannon and I drove out to Long Island for Tracey's baby shower. It was SUCH a nice shower and I don't think I've ever seen so many gifts before! Tracey is due in September and I can't wait to meet her little girl!

The Baby Mama and I.

The loot.

Shannon and Annie.

The girls.

Hilton Head

We're back from an absolutely wonderful trip to Hilton Head, SC. We love it down there!! SO family friendly. I first visited Hilton Head when Andrew was living and working there as a waiter one summer. We were newly dating. So fun to return there together, now with our son! We basically had a week of beach, pool, eating, drinking, live music, dancing (mostly Connor), bike rides, alligator watching, hanging out on the deck and watching the craziest of thunderstorms, trips to the playgrounds, etc. An added perk- family friends of our friend Alexa live down there year round so we even had a babysitter twice so that Andrew and I could have two great date nights- thanks again Alexa!! All in all, a great week. Can't wait to go back.
We had some family photos taken on the beach. Here were some proofs.

And then some of our own:
Our mode of transportation for the week.

So excited to hit the beach!

You guys coming or what?!

Loved the ocean this year!!

Beach bum.

Connor dancing to some live music at the Salty Dog.

It cracks me up to watch Connor eat an ice cream cone. He literally snorts it.

Too much dancing and ice cream.

Connor loved visiting the horses.

Connor definitely got very used to having Andrew around all day every day for more than a week straight. Andrew quickly became the favored parent. Connor wanted to sit next to Andrew on the plane, on the couch, in restaurants, be the one to carry him, etc. When he would wake in the morning and after naps his first call became "Dada? Dada?" And even though I have always been the one he wants to put him to bed at night, guess what- now he wants Dada to do it. It's very cute but needless to say it was a rude awakening for Connor when Andrew had to return to work on Monday! More from the Connor/Andrew files...

Checking morning emails.

Andrew making Puppy talk.

Watching our guilty pleasure- So You Think You Can Dance. Connor claps along to the dances.



Oh and apparently I was there too. The 2 pics of me from vacation:


Good times!!