Cape Cod

Flying across the country with a 5 month old baby was a new experience for us. Thank heavens we have the happiest baby on earth because our long trek to the Cape went well. We left on Saturday, August 12th at 6:15am to make it to my parents house and leave with them to the airport. We did not make it to Cape Cod until about 10:00pm Eastern time or 8:00pm our time. (Andrew had to wait in line for AN HOUR to get our rental car. No wonder it was so cheap...) It was a long day! James slept a decent amount on both flights though which was nice. The worst/hardest part was probably the two and a half hour drive from the Boston airport to Cape Cod. We finally stopped at McDonald's, so I could feed starving James. 

First plane ride. I brought baby earmuffs so he would be able to sleep through all the annoying flight updates.

Most of the week was spent in the water and I can't complain about that one bit. Rob's parents live within walking distance of the bay and this area was private. It made it so nice because there weren't big crowds. 

Worth the long day of travel

The bay was so warm-- like 75 degrees. It was interesting because the tide changes every 12 hours, so sometimes there was no beach and other times you could walk close to a mile out where the beach once was. I am proud to report that James, Andrew, and I did NOT have to deal with sunburns which was dreamy and surprising after spending so much time in the sun.

This picture shows the tide and how the water disappears

James misses all the attention

Chilling

Our baby doesn't mind getting dirty

Everyone laughed that Andrew went out floating on this.

It was even funnier when he was oblivious to the fact that he was headed right into trouble.

Rob took me sailing. The breeze was so nice!

This was quite the workout.

Our adventure was cut short when we saw that Rob found a horseshoe crab, so we rushed back to see 

My Mom holding the crab

Going to the ocean was harder than expected. Lots of the beaches in Cape Cod seem to be private beaches which makes sense because it's such a ritzy place. We tried to go, but couldn't park there because we aren't Massachusetts tax payers. (I guess we could have parked in a far lot and taken a shuttle to the beach.) What we ended up doing was renting bikes and riding on a beautiful trail to the beach which ended up being about 8 miles. My Mom was in "nana mode" and offered to play with James, so Andrew and I both could go which we really appreciated. We enjoyed it so much that two days later we rented bikes again and did the same thing. The beach water was freezing! I believe the sign said it was about 60 degrees. We dipped our toes in the water, but we were spoiled after basically sitting in bath water at the bay.

A walk on the beach? Yes, please!

Mom told us to send her pictures when we made it to the beach while she was back watching James. This is what she got.

Second bike excursion. Andrew stayed home and watched James. Pictured Mom, Me, and Heather.

Talking about Cape Cod without mentioning the food would be a mistake. Unfortunately I'm not much of a fish/seafood person, but I still found plenty of things to love. There was an ice cream place that I miss so much. It was right by where we stayed and we went at least 3x. I could really use a scoop of their reese's peanut butter cup ice cream right about now. Rob's family had us over for dinner twice and they are huge cookers. They spent the day making homemade pasta sauce, french bread, meatballs, etc. so we could have a taste of Italy. 

My parents rented a large home for all of us to stay in. It wasn't as clean as it should have been and ended up having mice, but it was fun to all be together. James got to try out a swing for the first time in the backyard which was a success. Jess, Jill, and I enjoyed the hot tub as well. 

Pure joy

We almost forgot to take this pic and when we did, James was sad. Look at those red eyes.

The trip home was even longer with a layover that was 3+ hours long and a delay. The journey from Cape Cod to the Boston airport also took about 3 hours with traffic. Being away for a week made me extra excited to come home and sleep in my own bed. Having a baby on vacation was different than what I'm used to (and may have made me grumpy/stressed at times), but it was wonderful to have so many hands to help. James couldn't have been better though and slept like a champ while we were there which Rob's Dad, Dave, attributes to the fresh air. Cape Cod is beautiful and I will always cherish the memories we made there. Stay tuned for Jill's wedding post.

Big James

I missed posting this in July, but I did have lots of this post saved as a draft and never got around to finishing it until now. I guess I'll have to post 3x in August so I can achieve my goal. 

James is growing so much! His personality is really starting to show! People often ask who James looks like and we tend to get mixed reviews. Lots of people say that when James smiles, he looks just like his Dad. I pulled out Andrew's baby book and some baby pictures of me to compare. 

Andrew

Me

James

I think overall James is a pretty good mix of both of us. He used to have more hair and continues to lose it, but I think it might come back in blonde? James is getting more and more fun daily and continues to learn how to do new things. Here are some things I adore about his stage right now:

• James' laugh/giggle. He is such a happy baby and lots of people comment on his demeanor. 
• James' long sleeping stretch at night. I love getting an 8 hour stretch in myself. 
• James' curiosity. He is much more alert and awake now. He can't get enough of his surroundings and loves going on adventures to new places.
• James' grip on toys/books. James can kind of "play" by himself now because he can hold onto things. It is nice!
• James' ability to roll over both ways. He doesn't love to do this trick on demand, but he is a strong kid.
• James' storytelling skills. I think he will be a BIG talker when he is old enough. He loves to say, "goo-goo."
• James' love for books. He now looks at the pictures and grips the book while I read to him.
• James' love for music. He loves doing actions (with help) to "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man," "Book of Mormon Stories," "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "5 Little Monkey's Jumping on the Bed," etc. 
• James' energy. Someone told me I need a baby treadmill for him. He constantly kicks (not surprising after feeling that in my stomach for months) and you know he is excited when he kicks even harder and faster.
• James' love for bath-time. James is probably the happiest when this nightly routine happens. He looks in the mirror while waiting for the bath to fill up and is so thrilled to see himself.

Some things that have taken some getting used to:

• Daily blowouts. (Not an exaggeration.) Some days there are multiple, but when I'm lucky there are none. We have tried different diaper brands, I've moved him up a size, you name it. Finally, I brought the blowouts up with my doctor and he said it is very normal for a breastfed baby to have so many blowouts. It was comforting to hear that the blowouts will slow down when he starts eating solids.
• Church. James used to sleep through the majority of church and it was easy. Now that is not quite the case. 3 hours is a long time for adults, and even longer for babies! Andrew and I both get our exercise leaving and re-entering Sunday School and Elders Quorum numerous times. Getting a good nap in at church is challenging.
• James pulling my hair frequently. I now know why the "mom haircut" exists and have never been so tempted to get a new do. (For now, I'll stick with a ponytail.)
• Constant comments about how "hefty" James is. "He sure gets plenty to eat."

At his 4 month appointment, James was in the 94th percentile for height, 68th percentile for weight, and about the 85th percentile for his head circumference. He is a big boy!

Sometimes James prefers that we push an empty stroller, and carry him on walks. :) 

I promise he loves his 2 giraffes. Just not in this pic.

We sure do love our baby boy and can't believe how fast he is growing! It's hard to remember life without him. It seems like he has been in our family for much more than 4 and a half months.

Independence Day!

My parents were in California for the 4th this year, so we didn't do something with my family. Andrew and I were on our own and we wanted to make the day memorable. We decided to go hiking. After our last hike as a family to the G (see prior post) we were a bit hesitant. It was so steep and hard!

This time I researched (even more) than last time to ensure that the hike wouldn't be too challenging. The trail was in the same parking lot as the G and is within 5 minutes of our house. I love where we live!

This hike to Battle Creek Falls was much more family friendly and so enjoyable. The heat has been excruciating lately, but thanks to James, we were up at 6:30 and headed right to the trail. I'm so glad we went early because it was still cool, and by the time we were leaving, the trail was packed with families. We basically had the whole canyon to ourselves.

James is much more awake and alert recently and the whole way there he was bright eyed and couldn't stop looking around. It was adorable. When we headed back down the mountain, he was exhausted and slept all the way to the car.

Andrew recently got a new phone that has an amazing camera and he took some pictures.

Andrew told me my pose was boring, so I had to spice it up.

James is a BIG boy. We need to invest in a better carrier.

Love this view!

Ditto pose

When we got home, I made watermelon/strawberry smoothies which were healthy and delicious.

Andrew spent the majority of the afternoon doing homework. (HIS CLASS ENDS THIS WEEK AND WE WILL BE CELEBRATING.) We invited some friends from the ward over for a BBQ and games. We haven't had people over as much since having James, and it was a lot of fun.

Dinner was divine! We had hamburgers, deviled eggs, pizza dip, my favorite salad, and watermelon. For dessert, our friends brought a homemade apple pie. What is more American than that? I meant to take pictures of all the food (I even put it on pretty platters, but only managed to get a picture of the salad.)

Andrew is not a big salad fan. This salad changed his mind.

After dinner, we played games. Our friends brought the game Jamaica which we had never heard of, and it was extremely fun. We must be getting old because after putting James to bed, Andrew and I headed outside to the porch swing to watch fireworks. We lasted about 5 minutes before deserting the fireworks for bed.

I'm so glad for the freedoms that come with living in America and the sacrifices so many people have made for this country. Also, I love it when Andrew has work off on a weekday. Let the countdown for Labor Day begin!

Father's Day

This year I was extra excited about Father's Day. Why? I wanted to spoil Andrew rotten since it was his first time actually being a dad on this holiday. I found it a little odd that Father's Day wasn't mentioned during sacrament meeting at all. The talks were on faith. The primary kids did sing about fathers and I accompanied them, but that was all. I was disappointed after the meeting when the dads got nothing. No chocolate or anything. I wish I had been put in charge of making sure this would happen. (Maybe next year?)

When I married Andrew I was young and thought I was hitting the jackpot which was true. It wasn't until later that I realized he was even better than I imagined. Something extremely important to me was how Andrew would take on his role as a dad. I knew Andrew had lots of experience with kids (being the youngest of 7 in his family) thanks to his many nieces and nephews.

I could not have married a better person to help me raise our kids. I get emotional thinking about Andrew and what an amazing father he is. I grew up with a very hands-on father (see pic below) and Andrew has already proven to be everything and more that I wanted in my children's dad.

We celebrated my dad the day before Father's Day this year. At dinner, we each shared something we love about him. I love that my Dad is a reader. It has been fun for me to discuss books with him that we have both read. This picture was recently taken in Hawaii after he completed a Half Ironman. My dad has taught me so much and I'm grateful that he set the bar high, so I knew what to look for in my spouse who would someday help raise my kids.

Late into my pregnancy, it was fast Sunday and I asked Andrew over dinner what he had been fasting for. He told me that he fasted to be a good father. This was one of the sweetest things I had ever heard.

Andrew has told me before that his title should never be "babysitter." He is a dad and watching our kids while I go somewhere should be a normal thing and it has been. Andrew has noticed when I need a night out and makes sure it happens. Andrew has a natural fatherly instinct that just kicks in. He changes James' diaper all the time without being asked. Andrew bathes James every night. The voices Andrew uses while reading stories to James are hilarious and make me want to step up my story-reading skills. Andrew can get James to laugh the loudest and smile the biggest. In the past, Andrew told me that he couldn't wait to have a little one who was SO thrilled when daddy came home from work and now that dream has come true.

Here are some pictures of Andrew in his element:

James' fav sleeping position

Andrew is extremely busy and I am so proud of all that he does for our little family. He is currently working full time as well as taking an online class. On top of that, he has set some fitness goals and wakes up before work to head to the gym several times a week. He still is able to find time for what is most important to him-- his family.

At the gym. James slept soundly next to daddy while I was behind sweating up a storm and thinking I was in better shape than I actually am.

Due to our callings, I have James during Sunday School while Andrew teaches. Andrew takes James during the 3rd hour, so I can play the piano in primary. I have never been worried about leaving James with Andrew. I'm grateful to have a husband who doesn't think twice about taking on the responsibilities that come with fatherhood. (Like standing during the entire Elder's Quorum lesson to keep a fussy baby quiet.)  Andrew is so loving and patient. I have learned so much from watching him interact with James.

I decided to surprise Andrew on Father's Day and make him homemade cinnamon rolls. I don't do this often because it's an exhausting process and I wouldn't let him help with the dishes or cleanup. Andrew got some new shoes to celebrate the occasion which look pretty sharp. For dinner we had Grandma's Potatoes and Steak. I was hesitant about the steak because it meant Andrew would have to grill, but he was all for it and the taste was definitely worth it. I didn't let him touch the dishes after dinner though.

Recently I was in the grocery store and someone in our ward stopped me. She told me that she has never seen a more proud father than Andrew. (You should have seen the smile on Andrew's face as he held up James to show the congregation after James' baby blessing.) James (and our future kids) will never know how lucky they are to have such an incredible man raising them. Here's to hoping that next Father's Day Andrew (and other fathers) will be recognized in church for their influential role.

Getting Involved Where We Live

We have now lived in Pleasant Grove for just over a year now. Crazy! There is the letter "G" on the mountains behind us and I can see it out our windows daily. We have been wanting to hike up to the letter "G" and we decided to over Memorial Day Weekend. I read some blog posts about the hike and based on what I read, I thought we would be just fine. (Even with James on Andrew's chest in a carrier.)

Wow! The hike was very intense and hard. It was extremely steep! I am very clumsy and struggled at times to keep my balance. It wasn't a super long hike, but the way up took WAY longer than the way down and I can see why. Poor Andrew had a cold and a 13 (plus) pound child strapped onto him the whole way. I offered to carry James on the way back down, but Andrew wisely said no. (He was afraid I would fall and I can't blame him.)

There were some really pretty views along the way and we went pretty early, so it wasn't too warm. In fact, it was a bit chilly for poor little James. (We should have put socks on his little toes.) Luckily his jacket had a hood. When we got back to the car and unstrapped James, you could see an "imprint" of his body on Andrew's shirt. We were sweaty after that climb! Andrew had a sore back for a few days after this excursion and I was sore all over. We both decided that we wouldn't do this hike again until James can walk himself or we have a babysitter.The trail head that leads to the G also has another hike leading to some waterfalls that is much easier. We will do that next time!

James was a champ and slept the entire time.

Can you see James' little head?

It was hard to get a good picture, but the view was gorgeous.  

Strawberry days is a big thing in Pleasant Grove and happens annually. Growing up, my family went to Strawberry Days a few times and ran the 5k or the kid fun run (half mile). I wish Andrew and I had signed up to do this last year, but we didn't. This year, I made sure to sign us up for the race. My training was going fairly smoothly until I got a nasty cold that made it hard to train for nearly 2 weeks. I didn't bother setting a goal for myself time-wise for this race because I did just have a baby.  

It was supposed to be a fun, relaxing run. I was excited because my parents offered to come watch James and support us, so I didn't have to push the stroller. I honestly don't think that I would have made it if I had been pushing James. Apparently the course has changed since the last time I did it, and it was very uphill for a good mile at the beginning. I was happy when I finished and proud of myself for not walking (even though I REALLY wanted to).  I'm just getting over my soreness and had trouble walking for a couple days after.

I was so pleased with James. The race started at 7:00am and I was worried about how his sleeping/eating schedule would workout. James slept all the way through the night and didn't wake up until 5:45 which was perfect because I fed him right then and we still got to the race plenty early. (This was not his first time sleeping all the way through the night.)

We both wore compression socks. They seem to help with my shin problems.

Why do a 5k if there isn't a t-shirt?

Although the race was more challenging than we both expected, I'm glad we did it. I'm bummed that my time hadn't been just 1 second faster! 

Until next year Strawberry Days! Maybe you won't catch me off guard quite as much now that I know how hilly you are.