Jack's first friend

The night before we left for North Carolina we had to say goodbye to our good friends Layna, Scott, Euan and baby Bryce. After two years here, they decided to move back home to Scotland one year before they had originally planned so they could be closer to their family and friends (which I can completely relate to after moving to CA for two and a half years). I met Layna for the first time at the library's story time when the boys were only about 5 months old. I am on the shy side, so I was so glad when Layna asked for my number, and we went for a walk the next day and never looked back. Euan was officially Jack's first friend.

Halloween 2009. I think this is the first picture I have of Euan and Jack together.  And here they are - Halloween 2010.

Countless play dates, stroller walks and fun grown up nights later, we counted them among our very good friends and were so sad to see them go.

The last night we saw them before they left, we had them over for dinner and Jack and Euan played hard...

Jack had his first wrestling match.

They both giggled the whole time. Sure, they had their usual 2 year old issues with sharing, but they still had a ball.

At dinner they said "cheers!" and clinked their milk filled sippy cups.

After they ate dinner they watched a movie in their pajamas together on the couch.

We all had dessert together and Jack gave Euan a little parting gift...a baseball that said on it, To Euan, From your buddy Jack. I'll miss you.

One last hug....sort of...Jack's not very into giving out hugs. At least Euan tried.

Obviously, Jack didn't understand that it was going to be a long time before he and Euan would play together again.  The three of us stood on the porch as Layna and Scott were getting the kids in the car and without any prompting, Jack yelled loudly, Good-bye Euan!  That really burst the dams for the four of us adults...We can't wait to visit them in Scotland someday!

The day we delayed a flight.

Oh hi! We are back from our trip to North Carolina. The week was packed full of mornings on the beach, Carolina BBQ, live bluegrass, steamed shrimp (with Old Bay seasoning), aquarium visit, family time, dinners out, and one wedding (Jack was the most adorable ring bearer)! I have TONS of pictures to sort through...here's a glimpse at how the week started out...

Jack flipped through the entire Sky Mall magazine on our flight from Providence to Charlotte. He went through page by page looking at all of the crazy stuff you never knew you needed.

 Hamming it up for the camera

Here we are about to board our flight to Wilmington...

This is the same plane after we arrived in Wilmington...They like to turn these little commuter jets around FAST and the line of people standing on the tarmac in 80 degree sunshine are waiting for one last passenger to get off the plane from the previous flight...

After a very long 20 minutes, Rob (with the help of mechanics and flight attendants) finally freed Jack's car seat that was stuck! I was slightly embarrassed as I took these pictures at the gate, explaining to a couple of curious people watching with me that the technical difficulty which was delaying their flight was actually our car seat stuck in a seat. Oops. 

I would have thought that there might have been some cheering when Rob finally came down the stairs, but no, it was just me clapping, everyone else was slightly annoyed at the delay. Oh well...at least we can laugh about it now (even if they aren't)!

Snapshot of the day

I found Jack like this after his nap on Monday (he was fully clothed when I put him down)...

I am relieved that his diaper was still on!

Scenes from our Easter - Part 2

We headed to the Cape for Easter Sunday and spent the day at Aunt Lauren's and Uncle Sammy's house. Lauren arranged for a fun egg hunt and of course since Jack knew what was going on this time, he had to open up each egg right then and there to see what treats were inside.

 He's eyeing Maia's loot.

And making the move...I had to intervene on this one.

Mouth full of jelly beans....

Family shot taken by my Dad! We don't seem to have many of these...especially where we are all smiling and looking at the camera! :)

Mother's Day

I loved Sunday morning. Rob got up with Jack and got him dressed while I stayed in bed for a little longer. The two of them went out to run some errands while I took a shower. I know, it doesn't sound all that exciting, but I was actually able to close the door and take my time. Normally I am yelling to Jack who's still in his crib that Mommy will be right there as I rush to rinse out the conditioner. They came home  and I could hear Jack running for the stairs yelling, I have a flower! It was the cutest thing. He came upstairs and handed me a yellow rose while saying, Happy Mother's Day Mommy! He was so excited. Rob said that he didn't let go of the rose for their entire trip...he carried it to the coffee shop and the whole way home in the car.

I wish I had my camera when Jack came up the stairs...I tried to recreate it, but he wanted nothing to do with holding the flower again. Oh well!

Rob brought me a decaf latte and I opened the windows in our room (the day was gorgeous) and went back to bed while the two of them went back downstairs. I sipped my coffee and caught up on some blog reading. 

Rob made stuffed french toast (challah bread stuffed with bananas and peanut butter!) and we ate outside in the sunshine.

Tulips from Rob. :) 

Rob planted our flower boxes in the front of the house with pink impatients and a couple of pots of daisies for the deck.

Two and a half!

Dear Jack, 

It's so hard to believe that you are two and a half...Over the last couple of months, your curiosity has really taken hold and you are constantly asking questions about everything and sometimes it just cracks me and your Daddy up. You were walking down the stairs the other day and like I always do, I was walking down in front of you. You started your round of questions...

Is it a big step?

Are those balusters?

Am I a big boy?

And then you asked a question that made me laugh out loud...

Do you have eyes?

I am assuming this question just popped into your head as I was eye level with you a few steps below. I just love getting a glimpse into what is going through your little brain and it makes me happy that right now you just say whatever's on your mind. Along with your blossoming sense of curiosity, you're also becoming more independent. I can no longer open doors, twist off caps, or hold or turn the pages of the book that I am reading to you. This can be challenging (for both of us), but I know that you are just growing up and that you really are my big boy. 

Love, Mommy

Scenes from our Easter - Part 1

Yikes. I am a little behind on my posts...I guess I'll start with a recap of our Easter. Like last year, I made sugar cookies, but decided that instead of using different colored icing, Jack would help me decorate with sprinkles (or sprinklers, as he calls them). I put a bowl of the sprinkles and one cookie out in front of him and let him go to town.

  

He had so much fun and was so proud of himself that he rewarded himself with a cookie...every single time. So, after he decorated and gobbled up three, I decided that I would do the rest.

Next we dyed eggs...He LOVED this.

 And here are our beautiful eggs...You can see where Jack scribbled with the wax crayon. :)