My Boy Roddie

Roddie is growing by leaps and bounds!  He's mastered "Maw, Maw, Maw" for me, and of course the usual "Da Da" and we swear we've even heard him say Norah, though not with any discernible regularity yet.  He's moving and grooving all over the place and is definitely anxious to walk!  He continues to be a laid back happy fellow, unless he's not feeling well, in which case he can rival his sister for drama!

My parents were here to visit with us for a week or so, and had a great visit with both us and the kids.  They were able to spend some one on one time with both Norah and Roddie.  Interestingly, Roddie shows a really strong preference for my Dad!  Maybe it's the name, or maybe it's just a guy thing, but he really didn't want much to do with my mom at first, and she really had to work to get in his good books!  I don't remember Norah being like this at all, but then again, as an only child, heck, only grandchild, she was pretty much the center of attention regardless!!  In any case, all was well by the end of the visit and Roddie and Nannywere tight!

The week after my parents left, we headed to PA for various reasons I"ll talk about later.  While we were at Matt's parent's house, Roddie discovered stairs, in a BIG way!  He has not, to my knowledge had any opportunity to practice on stairs, since we live in a ranch style house.  Oma and Opa live in a 2 story townhouse, so it didn't take Rod long to spot the stairs!  The surprising thing was that he mastered them, on the first try!  I saw him going for them and quickly moved next to him as he ventured up the first step.  Then he tried another, and another, and then Norah went to the top to cheer him on and before we knew it, we were all at the top of the stairs!  Needless to say, I spent the rest of the visit running interference between him and the stairs!

Foto Finish Friday: Week 25

Foto Finish Friday: Week 24

Foto Finish Friday: Week 23

Norah News: Her Garden Keeps on Growing!

Norah's interest in gardening has continued - this girl loves anything outside!  Since the days are long now, and her bed-time is nearly an hour after Rod's most nights, she's been helping Matt with the watering after dinner.  Last night I looked out and she just looked so adorable in her little skirt and garden gloves, I had to snap a few pics!

 I have no idea how I got the effects on this shot, but I really like the picture!

Adventure Chronicles Photo Overload

As promised, here's the pictures from the camping trip!  It's a bit of picture overload, but I just couldn't narrow it down!  You'll notice quite a few of Norah making silly faces, which is her latest way to pose for pictures.  Sometimes I get in on the fun too :)  Enjoy

Here's Rod, just hanging out, waiting for the fun to start!

 A little later, waiting again, this time for food!

 Rod ready for fun in the tent!

 Crawling around the campsite!

 Norah was an exceptional camp helper.  She really liked washing the dishes!

 Norah has always had a flair for the dramatic, and a camping trip was no exception!

Matt has always been big on taking self portraits, first of himself, and then of us.  We have a whole photo album of them!  I managed to take this self snapshot and get us all in, on the first try!

 Rod, still loving camping!

 This kid is so happy!  He loves it!

 Norah and Rod, hanging out on the rock on the top of Artists Bluff

 Mom and the kids at Artist Bluff

 Hanging by the chilly campfire!

 Norah's baby also accompanied us on the camping trip... here we are, feeding our babies!

 Norah and I walking at the campsite

 Morning time in the tent

 Quiet time for Mom and Rod, while Dad and Norah are napping

 Here goes our hiker girl!  Go Norah!

Norah and the Happy Accessory Day balloons

 Norah in motion!

Rod in the truck just before departure... sad to leave!

 Watching the bear show

 Silly pose on the Bluff

 Fooling around in the tent!

 Silly breakfast poses

Family pic on Artists Bluff

Adventure Chronicles: First Camping Trip of 2011

5 years ago Friday, Matt and I were married.  The invitation said “The Adventure Continues!  Please join us…for our wedding”  Well continue it did!  5 years, 1 home, 2 kids, and many renovations later, we headed out to the White Mountains of New Hampshire with the kids for the first camping trip of the season.  Last year was somewhat of a bust, camping-wise, since we were waiting for Roddie to arrive in August, so we were anxious to get out there this year!  In addition, temperatures in the 90’s over Memorial Day were on our minds when we made the call on Tuesday – we were going camping - Roddies first time!

Despite a forecast for highs in the low 60’s and lots in the 40’s, we started out on Friday afternoon, picking the kids up early from school.  Norah was actually napping, and Matt had the fun of whispering in her sleepy ear “Norah, we’re going on our Adventure!”  She woke with a smile, we scooped up Rod from his classroom,  and we were on our way!  We had booked a spot at Lafayette Place campground in Franconia Notch State Park, so we were assured a site.  It’s only about a 2 hour ride, so we were there and setting up camp in no time!  Just as we were putting the final touches on our set-up, a lady walks up to me and hands me a balloon bouquet!  What the…?  Happy Anniversary to us!  (Or, as Norah has become fond of saying “Happy Accessory Day”)  My hubs is ALL RIGHT!  After dinner at one of our old fav’ brew pubs, we settled in for a cool night in the low 40’s, likely lower….brrr!  Both kids did great!  Rod had a lot of layers on, including a Cape Breton Tartan fleece bunting that I am certain my mom never imagined would be put to this use when she bought it for Norah.  He was snug as a bug in his pack’n’play tent, with a sheet keeping his own body heat in there with him.  Norah, after a few Houdini like tricks getting out of princess sleeping bag, in her princess fleece jammies, did just fine too, with an additional blanket.

Morning dawned (not TOO early either) cool and crisp, but warned up quickly as Matt prepared us pancakes and sausages (and coffee, of course, coffee!)  We went on a short but incredibly rewarding hike to Artists Bluff, with Norah leading the way up the half mile or so path – and I do mean up, like straight up!  Norah is definitely at home on a hiking trail, with her long limbs carrying her gazelle-like over trees and logs.  The Bluff offers amazing views of Franconia Notch and we spent a good 40 minutes taking in the view, the sun, and the repeated trips of a helicopter to the high cabins.  Roddie was a champ throughout it all and is definitely itching to get moving with his sister!  He rode in high style in a backpack, but got out to stretch his legs as well.  After a quick summit snack, we headed down and Norah cooled her toes while Roddie had a bottle at Echo-Lake beach.

After naps and a fire-cooked supper, we stoked up the campfire, put Roddie to bed, and enjoyed some S’mores and our favorite local brew, Pigs Ear.  The night was a little more eventful (Roddie puked on me at one point – my fault, shouldn’t feed him laying flat on his back, and peed on me at another), and we think a little warmer.  After our second camp breakfast, I took the kids exploring the campground, while Matt packed up the site.  Rod enjoyed the ride in the buggy, as well as his big sister’s company. Norah had a great time talking all about her adventure, and taking pictures all around the campground.  We wrapped up this week’s adventure with the bear show and train ride at Clark’s Trading Post, somewhere I’d never been in all my trips to NH!

When asked about her favorite things about the weekend, Norah said “The Mountains”, and “S’mores!” and added “I want to go back to that place”.  Matt and I had a great weekend too, and really love sharing the outdoors with the kids.  There are some adjustments we had to make, of course, but I think the results are a much richer, more satisfying trip than any “killer backpack” I’ve ever done.    Sure, it’s a LOT more work camping with little kids (How many rocks did Roddie eat anyway?), but with the right attitude, it is a LOT of fun!  Matt and I both camped as kids and are totally on the same page, which goes a long way.  As we’ve said before, and especially on our anniversary weekend, we’re so lucky to have found each other!

Yes, there are a few pictures J  I will post them later.

Foto Finish Friday: Week 22

Roddie Report: 9 and a half Month Update!

I know I posted an update about Rod just 2 weeks ago, but he's changing so fast, another one is warranted already!  Here's a quick look at his latest tricks!

• Walking: well, not on his own, but he will pull himself up on this shopping-cart walker thing we have and walk himself across the room! 
• Swimming: well, again, not on his own, but we've had occasion to swim at our local lake beach and also at the ocean over the past week, and Rod loved it!  I sat him at the water's edge and left the rest to him!  He had a hoot splashing and digging in the sand, and was not the least bit intimidated by the waves (maybe he doesn't know better??)  Even when they would wash up over his legs and chest, he was happy - and we're talking 55 deg F ocean water here people!  he actually took it upon himself to crawl along the edge of the surf!  It's gonna be a fun summer!
• MMMMAAaaa:  Well, he's not screaming my name like his cousin Hartleigh is, but if I am sitting on the floor, or on the ground, he'll literally come over, crawl up into my lap saying MMMMAAAAA... I'll take it!
• Teeth: We're now up to 6
• Picking Up Chicks: At the aforementioned trip to the beach, a cute girl in a polka dotted bathing suit caught his eye - and he hers!  McKenna was 13 months and adorable.  She and Rod were making google eyes and giggle noises at each other, and when I held his hands to have him walk in the sand, he headed straight for her and reached out to hold her hand!  She obliged and smiled back at him.  It was pretty cute but makes me wonder what we're in for in the years to come...
• Eating Food - this one he IS doing on his own.  He has really lost interest in any of the mush-type meals that I need to feed him with a spoon, and prefers instead pretty much anything he can feed himself - as long as it's not slimey (so a lot of fruits go un-touched)  I'm surprised to see this happening so early, but after he was eating way too many Cheerios, and not much of what I was offering, I figured it was time to mix it up!

Norah News: First Trip to the Dentist

Norah had her first visit to the dentist today.  I didn't give her a lot of notice as I only made the appointment two days ago, but she seemed excited by the idea and not at ll anxious (no belly buttons here today!)  Until we got to the office...

But, even then she wasn't too bad, she was a little more introverted than usual for the first little while, but Amy, the hygienist, did a great job of coaxing her out of her shell, and by the time we left, she was her chatty self.  The stickers, new tooth brushes and getting to pick 2 prizes didn't hurt either :)  We ended up going to a pediatric dentist, which I think was the right call as they were clearly equipped to deal with kids, right down to the mini exam chairs!

The good news is that all looks well in her mouth!  her front teeth are a little more forward than they'd like to see and the dentist asked about prolonged pacifier use (which is funny since she never used one at all really).  But, she said its much too early to worry about anything, there are a lot of variables as the adult teeth come in and her face continues to grow.  Overall a positive experience!

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What did we do before camera phones???

Memorial Day 2011 Adventure!

As you may have heard, I rely on a few minutes of TV to get out the door in the morning... specifically PBS kids.  One show that we (Norah) like is the Cat in the Hat.  The Cat has a song that is played each episode about going on an adventure... this has become our theme song, in a way, especially as our red truck bears a striking resemblance to the Thingamajigger.  We refer to our roadtrips with the kids - be they for the day or an overnight or two - as adventures!  It somehow adds to the excitement and gives us all something to look forward to!  This past weekend we went to Halibut Point State Park, where we had a nice walk around the quarry and near the ocean, followed by a picnic! 

Here's Norah, ready to roll... she knows what's in store!

 Rod looks pretty excited too, maybe he knows also!

Here's Norah and Matt walking in front of Roddie and I, heading towards the ocean.... reminds me a little of a picture of my sister Susan and my Dad on the beach many years ago, on one of the many adventures my parents took us on every summer

Here's Miss N, hamming it up for the camera...

 I wonder where she gets that from.... ;)

 Rod thinking about taking a few steps

Lastly, where we all are, overlooking the ocean on our big adventure day!