Zoo Trip

A couple of weeks ago, I took the boys (by myself!) to the Frederick Zoo in Frederick, MD.  It was awesome.  I thought they had a lot more animals then the National Zoo (at least when we went a year and a half ago) and it was pretty empty so we felt like we had the whole zoo to ourselves.  It also felt way more safe and I could take the stroller into the buildings if I wanted.  The weather was a perfect 75 and the kids were in good moods. 

Here is AJ and Jacob in front of the Flamingos.  I love them!

The kids are both in the stroller and ready to go!  I think this was the few moments that AJ was in the stroller--he much preferred to walk around and explore.

AJ in front of one of their ponds.  There were swans in this one (can barely see them in the background).

AJ looking at some of their reptiles.

Jacob was so happy the entire time.

As was AJ!  It was hard to get him to look and pose in front of the animals because he just wanted to look at them!

They had a petting zoo (which personally I can do without, I think animals are dirty and scary!).  AJ was almost brave enough to feed them, but this animal was a little too pushy and AJ backed away quickly after I took this shot.  I would have done the same thing.  You can't get me close to the animals!

AJ posing in the petting zoo area.

Yeah, I feel like that too sometimes.

A lion!  Very muscular and he even ROOOAARREEDD for us!

An Eagle!  I told AJ how it was America's mascot and all he could say was "BOO EAGLES!".  Yeah, his dad has him a *little* brainwashed.

A Koi pond!  How beautiful!  I would love to have a Koi pond one day in our dream house.

AJ looking at some alligators!  We learned a lot about alligators, like that they can't eat when it's chilly (it was expected to be in the 40s that evening in Frederick) and how they have to 'round them up' when it starts to get cold out and take them indoors under warmers because that is how they can survive.  They are some lazy species too--they just like to lay around all day!

A fun day at the zoo!  Did I tell you how much I'm loving maternity leave?

Family Wine Country trip

The Friday of Labor Day weekend, some of the Nelson crew (my mother's side of the family) met in Lancaster County for a winery trip.  We stayed in the Red Caboose Motel--which was a collection of retired trains transferred into motel rooms.  It was PERFECT for the kids.  The motel had a restaurant on site, a petting zoo, Amish rides, and a chance to get your picture done as if you were Amish.

I love this photo taken with my back to the motel--it's very American with the flag, the horses, the mountains.  Makes me feel American love :).

Pop Pop and AJ just after we arrived to the motel--everyone was looking at the animals.

My little munchkin in his seat (he was SO good in the car ride to and from).  He isn't in the parking lot,  but it looks like it :).

David with the boys--Roman and AJ--walking the petting zoo.

This is what the rooms looked like--I think this one was David's.

Some of the 25 of us that made the trip.  It's really incredible how we have all stuck together through the years.  I hope we make this type of thing a tradition.  Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bob (the two on the right) planned everything.  The spread was incredible.  They were really prepared!

AJ was quite entertaining.  The night before Daddy and AJ went to AJ's first redskins game and he picked up a 'Daddy Face'. 

Some of the great grandkids--AJ, Ava, and Leah (Roman and Jacob are missing from the picture).  They loved the cupcakes and AJ is very much like his dad--frosting only for him.  I, myself, prefer the cake, so it works out perfectly!

The band was a motown band (surprisingly I knew a lot of the songs!).  They were really good.  AJ brought his guitar (Pop Pop went all the way to the car to get it from him--sucker!) and jammed along.  He was so entertaining, that the band asked him to come on stage.  Leah joined him too.  It was very cute :).  I wasn't able to get pictures of him on stage because I left my camera back at the table and didn't want to miss it, but here is another shot of him on the guitar!

The next morning we all ventured out to breakfast (some had to leave really early but most made it).  Here is Leah and AJ with Jacob at breakfast:

Jacob, Me, cuddly AJ, and Kayla.

Mom, Kayla, the boys, and I did some fun things after breakfast on our way home.  We went to the outlets, stopped at a farmer's market, stopped at a Christmas store--and somewhere along the line, we saw the REAL Santa.  Yes, he is the real Santa (or is a crazy person that thinks he is Santa).  He was RUNNING alongside the road in his Santa gear and headphones.  We stopped to take pictures and he saw us and came over.  He even had Candy Canes on him for the kids.  He is at least setting a good example for the kids..EXERCISE!

A great weekend--can't wait till next year!

Giggles

I haven't updated in a while (I have the two month shots to post!). I find it so hard to get on here and keep up with it when I'm busy falling in love over and over again :).

We are doing well though. I am LOVING maternity leave. We have been having fun. AJ is sick at the moment (double ear infection :(), but we are doing well otherwise. Jacob is such a happy and good baby. He has been laughing lately! Below is a video we took of him laughing:

2 months!

Jacob is 2 months!  (I haven't had time to blog, so this is late with a backtrack to 9/15).

Stats:   Weight: 14 pounds (95th percentile)!

            Height: 24" (90th percentile)

He is giggling and talking up a storm.  He is also opening up his fists and grabbing at things like blankets (a milestone!).  He is far from really holding on to toys just yet, but he is getting there!

Here is Jacob's 2 month picture:

He is so happy all of the time.  You just need to look at him and he will smile!  We all love talking to him.

He is enamored by his big brother.  He smiles and coos at AJ a lot.  AJ is still the perfect big bro too!

More updates to come soon!

Helper AJ

AJ has become quite the helper lately. He loves to cook dinner with me. He measures out and dumps it in the bowl very well :). He really wanted to help daddy cut the grass last weekend:

And just for good measure, here is our little Redskin player. John got the outfit (complete with shoulder pads!) at the game last weekend. AJ loves it:

Both of my Redskin players:

One Month

Jacob is already a month old! It's hard to believe, as this month has flown by. Look at Jacob's newest trick:

Yup! We have a smiling baby on our hands! He loves to be talked to and is even 'cooing' a lot now. I love this point--when they start to develop a personality but are still 'new'. Each step gets better and better, with the first being so incredibly amazing. I love being a mommy if you can't tell.

Jacob loves to look at your face too. Sometimes he looks at me like 'mom..what are you doing you crazy woman?'. He loves his daddy, just like AJ:



And AJ loves being a big brother still and LOVES to hold his brother (sitting of course). Here they are in their Big Brother/Little Brother shirts:



And this one taken on Jacob's one month birthday (I hope to do this every month):

I love my boys :).

4 weeks

Wow, these last 4 weeks have flown by and I haven't posted enough! My little baby is quickly growing and will be one month on Monday! At his 2 week appointment, he was already 10 pounds, 1 ounce and in the 95% for weight. It is amazing how much time it takes to change diapers, nurse, and stare at his sleeping face. I could stare at him for hours. I love it.

We are doing great! AJ is such a great big brother. Seriously, we are so lucky. Jacob is a good baby too! We count our blessings each and every day. I'm enjoying my maternity leave beyond my wildest imagination.

Here is what we have been up to:

Jacob's first bath:

AJ having fun in his pool--staying cool in the extreme heat!

Daddy took AJ to Redskin camp a few times:

While AJ played in the fountains at Lansdown, Jacob slept:

Fountain fun:

When Jacob was just a week old, we had newborn photos done. Every photo was amazing, but below are my favorites. It's a lot, because I have a lot of favorites!

There is the update! We are busy being in love :).