I just returned from a 2 week adventure.
Mama and Daddy loaded me into the car on a random Friday
morning and we ended up at San Francisco airport! I always know that this is the start to
something great, so I was excited.
Unfortunately, this excitement didn’t last long when I saw
our seats…in the back of the plane! Not even in Economy Plus! I thought my daddy was someone really special
who always rides in the big seats up front, but this experience definitely
proved me wrong. I had a rough time on
the plane for the first time…I can’t be perfect all the time! But we landed in Chicago, and thus added my 6th
state to my list of travels.
Poor Mama had a class that she took in Chicago that required
her presence from 8am to 7pm for six days straight. Though I missed her, I had a great time with
Daddy for the first two days. Just us
guys! That doesn’t happen too often, but
I really liked it. There are definitely
fewer rules when it’s just Daddy and me. I didn’t have to take as many naps as
normal and I got to do anything I wanted.
We swam a lot in the pool, one of my favorite activities!
On Monday, Gran arrived to help watch me so Daddy could do a
little work. I went to Millennium Park
and got to stare at my favorite person in the World (ME) for hours on end in
the very cool huge Bean sculpture! I
also played in the massive fountains…crawling around in 3 inches of water is
very fun! I didn’t get scared of the
water, or of all the other kids splashing and running around me. I could have stayed there all day, but we had
to get back to Mama since the only part of the day that she looked forward to
was seeing her dudes at dinner!
Uncle Hans drove all the way up from Iowa City to spend
Tuesday with me in Chicago. We had a
good time at the Institute of Art…I kept trying to lecture the other visitors
about each art piece though. I also
enjoyed the Apple Store, but mostly I demanded that we return to Millennium
Park for more time gazing at myself in the Bean. We also got to see the Graubarts - the parents of Daddy's best friend from high school who have recently relocated to Chicago. We went to a spectacular Chicago steakhouse which will always make Mama happy.
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| With Gran at Millenium Park |
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| The "Bean" |
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| Love myself! |
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| My favorite thing...removing other people's glasses |
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| Hooray! Mama's here! |
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| Love myself some more! |
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| The fountains are so cool! |
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| Playing in the water with Daddy |
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| With the Graubarts at a fancy steakhouse... |
I was such a good little man – sleeping every night in my
stroller while the grownups had dinner, and even sleeping in so everyone could
feel rested in the morning. I had a
huge breakthrough this trip as well. I
don’t need to sleep on my wedge anymore!
I have begged for a long time to get me off of that thing, and someone
finally listened. Mama & Daddy
decided my reflux isn’t any worse when I sleep flat. So, now I have degees of freedom that I’ve
never had before! This is all good for
me – I can sleep on my tummy or my side, and I can sit and roll over. Unfortunately for Mama, this also means that
I can pull myself up to standing anytime I want. I’m usually too tired at nighttime to do this,
but it has become my new favorite game during naptime. Mama lays me down…I stand up…Mama lays me
down…I stand up. Mama gets frustrated….I
giggle!
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| trying to climb out of my crib |
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| Look who's awake! |
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| DRAT! Mama always wins eventually! |
Anyway, after 6 days in Chicago, Gran flew to Pennsylvania,
while Mama, Daddy and I drove to Ann Arbor, MI to see Uncle Steve and Aunt
Beth. Uncle Steve is towards the end of
his ENT residency, and Aunt Beth is faculty OB-gyn at the hospital. I had never met them, so I was really
excited! Also, I added another state to
my tally. SEVEN!
We spend Labor Day weekend in Ann Arbor with Steve &
Beth, eating at some very cool restaurants, and watching college football. Michigan lost, but I still had fun hollering
when everyone else did – I’m in a bit of a mimicking phase. Uncle Steve bought me a very cool Michigan
onsie with “Go Blue” on my toosh…which is why Mama didn’t put any pants on me
for the whole day Saturday! Seriously
embarrassing, but I imagine Mama will embarrass me a lot more in the years to
come!
We also went to Zingerman’s Deli – definitely a highlight of
Ann Arbor – and also mentioned in Uncle Hans’ and Cousin Sophie’s blogs
throughout the year. They have amazing
sandwiches, sides, cheeses, and especially Balsamic Vinegar. I was a little young for Mama to let me taste
the vinegar, but she smacked her lips as small portions of different bottles
were poured on her tasting spoon…and then she spent too much money on a super
fancy bottle! Have I mentioned before
that my parents are completely crazy when it comes to food.
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| With Mama and Aunt Beth by Zingerman's deli |
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| Practicing my stair climbing with Uncle Steve |
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| Showing off our "Go Blue" garb |
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| Learning that all the party food isn't for me... |
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| Daddy and Uncle Steve |
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| Watching the game with Aunt Beth |
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| With Aunt Beth & Uncle Steve, Mama & Daddy |
After exploring Ann Arbor, it was time to continue our trek
to State College, PA to see my Gran and a whole bunch of other family on
Daddy’s side. I was a super-duper-dude
and slept almost the entire 6.5 hour drive.
BUT, I still get to add Indiana and Ohio to my list of states since I
traversed the entire width of the states.
So, including Pennsylvania, I’m now up to 10! We spent 4.5 days in PA, mostly in
Bellefonte – a small town outside of State College – where Gran lives in a very
old historic home on Spring Creek. I promised
to work on my fly fishing skills before I visit next time, so that I can catch
some fish instead of scaring them all away!
Despite the fact that she wanted to hold me constantly, Gran did share
me with some other family. Uncle Chris,
Aunt Chloe & cousins Laura, Harper, and (almost) Alexa visited for
breakfast one morning. I also saw them
the next day since Daddy gave a lecture at Penn State in the Geosciences
department where Uncle Chris is on faculty.
It was pretty cool to see Daddy and Uncle Chris up there at the same
time…its not too common where two brothers are interested in similar enough
topics to be able to do some science together.
I think Daddy gave a good speech based on the reviews of other people,
but I didn’t get to see much of it. All
I was told was that there was going to be a lecture, so I kept trying to lecture
everyone. I wasn’t upset, and I don’t
cry hardly ever…but I was simply trying to talk and laugh about every 30
seconds! Mama had to haul me out of the
lecture hall so that everyone could focus on Daddy instead of me. (I’m such a cute distraction that I will win
that battle everytime unless forcibly removed). For obvious reasons...we don't have pictures of the lecture!
Also in PA, I got to meet my Great Uncle Mike and Great Aunt
Ada for the first time. Uncle Mike
promises to teach me how to use power tools and fix everything as soon as I’m
old enough. Cousin Mikey and his
daughter, Kate (my 4 year old second cousin), also made a huge effort to drive
from Pittsburgh to see me just for one dinner!
I hadn’t met them before either, so it was pretty cool…and I really
loved hanging out with Kate. Great Aunt
Mimi made an even bigger effort – she drove all the way from Iowa in one day
just to get to see me for one dinner too!
Even though I like to think that I’m always the star of the show, in
reality, this one night was all about someone else…President Obama! We all watched him accept the nomination at
the DNC – the first elections I’ve seen.
Daddy is teaching me all about the different issues, and I’m thinking
that I like this Obama character.
Besides, he has super cute daughters that I want to meet someday!
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| Loving the big yard at Spring Creek |
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| With Jenny & Cousin Laura |
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| With Gran & Cousins Harper & Laura |
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| Crazy cousin time! |
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| With Aunt Jenny |
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| Uncle Chris, Great Uncle Mike & Aunt Ada, Gran, Auntie Jenny & me with Mama |
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| At a creekside candlelight dinner with Mama & Gran |
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| Uncle Chris helping me fall asleep |
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| The parents & Gran enjoying a glass of champagne on the porch while I take my nap |
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| A series of adorable photos of me by the creek |
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| Visiting Gran's museum in Bellefonte |
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| I even got to try on some of the neat Chinese crowns on exhibit at the museum |
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| Playing with Great Aunt Mimi |
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| Practicing walking with Great Aunt Ada |
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| Daddy & Cousin Mike with me & Kate |
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| Me & Cousin Kate |
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| One of my favorite things...sink time! |
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| The family watching the DNC |
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| Me with President Obama |
After a lovely week of playing at Spring Creek House with so
many family members, it was time to pack up and drive to New York. And, I picked up my 11th state
(New Jersey)!
We had a jam-packed 48 hours in NYC. First, Mama’s best friend from residency,
Beth, and her husband Mike, daughter Ellie & newborn baby boy Zack drove in
from the ‘burbs for a visit downtown. I
want to thank them publically for schlepping all the way downtown with 9 day
old baby Zack, just so I didn’t have to ride in the car for another 2 hours! Even a cool little dude has his limits, and
driving from Chicago to NYC was it for me!
So, Mama and Beth picked up right where they left off…Beth is now a
Pediatric Urology Faculty at Montefiore in the Bronx. They chatted all about medicine, and life
with us babies! I was just thrilled to
hang out with more little people since we speak the same language. Ellie is a cool kid and we played in the
water fountains together. I’m not sure
why Zack doesn’t do much aside from sleep…Mama says that I used to be the same
way, but there is no way possible that I was ever that little or as sleepy! (and I really don’t buy that I was born at ¼
the weight Zack is now! Anyway, I’m just
excited that there is another little guy for me to play with, even if I have to
wait until he’s a little bigger before he can do anything.
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| Playing with Ellie back at the hotel |
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| Mama & me with Mike, Beth & Ellie (and Zack in the stroller) |
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| Loving my leaf |
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| Kissing the tree |
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| Fun time with Daddy in the Battery Park fountains |
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| With Mama overlooking the Statue of Liberty - I get to visit next time we go to NYC |
After a lovely afternoon with the Drzeweickis, I had a
special bath before putting on my special new outfit…my first tuxedo! Thanks Daddy!
Daddy also did my hair in a special Mohawk, and then we headed to a
quick sushi dinner on our way to a cocktail party for our dear friends Alex
& Eric. They were getting married
the next day, and invited all their friends to a cocktail reception at the top
of a fancy-schmancy hotel in midtown with views of the whole city! Why doesn’t Napa have as many cool
buildings? Clearly, I was the hit of the
parade (and the only kid at all)! I
tried not to steal Alex & Eric’s thunder, but I couldn’t help but try!
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| Add caption |
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| If this isn't cute, I don't know what I can do to make you smile! |
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| At the cocktail party |
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| The Huffs (from Reservoir Capital) and Alex & Eric pose with me in my tux |
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| Daddy and I pose in front of the Chrysler building |
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| I finally pass out! |
Saturday, Mama’s closest Med School friend, Serena (who has
been in this blog a few times!) came for lunch.
She went to her psychiatry residency in NYC and loved it so much that
she stayed. We love visiting her
there…and Saturday was special because I got to hang out with her all day! After a nice lunch at Perry St (a Jean
Georges restaurant…these adults are seriously ridiculous!), we had a long walk
along the water back to the hotel. Mama
& Daddy got all glammed up for the black tie wedding, and left me in
Serena’s capable if not mischievous hands.
I wasn’t at all sad to see my parents go, since I knew that Serena would
be the coolest babysitter ever. I got to
go out to dinner to meet one of Serena’s friends, and stay up late…but my
favorite part was playing in the sink!
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| Walking along the water with Mama & Serena |
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| Love Serena! |
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| Who else has a cape??? |
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Check out my new outfit courtesy of Gran!
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Mama & Daddy had an amazing time at the wedding. They told me the next morning that the
wedding was in the vault of an old beautiful bank in Brooklyn, and that it was
definitely the nicest wedding that they had ever been to in their entire
lives! In some ways, I wish I could have
joined them, but I wouldn’t trade my time with Serena for anything! I do have to say “Congratulations Alex &
Eric. I hope you are as happy as Mama
and Daddy are…and I hope you make me more friends to play with when I come to
visit!”
Finally, my trip came to an end the following morning. Daddy stayed in NYC for a few extra days to
finally get some work done that he had been putting off in order to spend
quality time with me and Mama. He had a
long chat with me about being a good boy for Mama on the plane. Mama & I got to the airport 2 hours early
and it was time for my nap. But Mama was
evil and didn’t let me fall asleep. She
kept making me crawl and walk around, and even changed my clean diaper 3 times
to keep me awake. She will tell you that
her strategy worked, but I had already agreed with Daddy that I would be a good
boy. Either way, I slept like a log the
whole flight, only waking up to smile at everyone upon landing in San
Francisco!
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| Being forced to walk around at the airport. Mean Mama! |
What an amazing adventure that was! I am happy to be back with my kitties and my
nanny, Heather. But, I can’t wait to see
what fun trips are coming my way next…I overhear Mama & Daddy talking
occasionally about Paris for Thanksgiving, but I have no idea what that place
is. I guess I’ll have to wait to find
out…
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| Back home lounging on my pillows! |
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| Weird puffy hair morning after travel |
