Oh these boys...

Jack...I LOVE him.  He's so incredibly full of himself these days and constantly keeps us laughing!  This is what he looked like as he left for school the other morning. Yes, they are goggles, meant for the pool.  No, he was not going to the pool.  He knew this, but wanted to wear them anyway.  

Keep being you Jack Lion.  Keep being you!  


And Max...well...I LOVE him too!  He gets cuter by the minute...check out his hairdo!

He's moving lightning fast and getting good pictures has become a bit more challenging.  It's so much fun seeing what he will discover (aka make a complete mess of) every day!

Chef Jack

Last week's theme at school was cooking.  They made chef's hats, cookbooks and took a walk to the grocery store to buy ingredients for fruit salad.  This weekend at the farmer's market, Kenny and Jack brought home a lot of gorgeous berries, so Jack and I decided to extend the school theme and make a cobbler!  


This picture is actually what was left after the cobbler was made...it also had raspberries in it to start with!  Look at those blackberries.  They were AMAZING.

Jack was a great helper!  He followed directions perfectly and was a great pourer and stirrer. 

He even cleaned up the dishes when we were done!

It did taste just as good as it looks too...

Here's a link to the cobbler recipe we used in case this post made you hungry... 

Escape from reality

Last weekend Kenny and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary with a little time away.  Yes, I know this blog is about the kids, but  we really had a fantastic time and without our wedding, there wouldn't be any little lion cubs for you to read about, so indulge me!

We'd talked about going to the Outer Banks but, again, waited too long to book the trip and the place we'd hoped to go was full.  So Kenny scoured the internet and found this great little place on the Northern Neck.  I was grocery shopping while he was scouring the internet and he called and said he'd found something better than the Outer Banks.  I was skeptical.  Knowing Kenny, I was sure he was just trying to talk it up so I'd be excited about it, even though he knew it wasn't going to be as great as I'd hoped.  But, after getting home and taking a 2 second peek at the website, I was sold and ordering up a weekend away!


One is never sure though, if what they see online will actually be what they see when they arrive.  But I can honestly say that it was everything we saw online and more.  So quaint, every detail attended to and thought of.  It really was just perfect!

They have rooms in the schoolhouse as well as stand-alone cottages out back and larger houses (called tents) in the vineyard.  There wasn't much left to choose from by the time we found it, so we stayed in the schoolhouse, in room 2.  It was super cute!   

The room was very nice, though next time we go, we'll probably stay in one of the cottages.  They were just so cute and a little bit roomier.  And, it was VERY hot that weekend (over 100) and the nights in the schoolhouse were a little warm since we didn't have control over the thermostat.  Thank goodness we weren't getting married this year!  We would have melted...it was a much cooler day in 2006.  

The lobby is open and airy and very inviting...

(This picture is for you Fay...Kenny says you have one of these trick dog toys!)

In keeping with the schoolhouse theme, through the curtains is the "detention" room, or the bar.

We spent plenty of time in detention and met some really nice folks while we were there.  Even one couple with the same anniversary as ours, though they were celebrating 16 years!

They served us an amazing breakfast each morning in the dining room or on the patio.  Both were just as cute as could be.  They also serve a prix fixe dinner each night that we did not try this time but heard wonderful things about.  And if it's as good as breakfast, I'm sure it's well worth it!  

The gardens are beautiful.  It's a bit smaller than it appeared online, but they are overflowing with blooming flowers and cute signs and places to sit and relax.

At the back of the Inn, they have a tent set up for weddings and this old truck serves as a great photo op. So cute!

They seem to own most of Irvington, including this vineyard that is down the street.  They are working on their own label but caught up in licensing paperwork at the moment so we didn't get to sample any.  Those huge black things on the sides are enormous corkscrews.

The pool is on the vineyard property, tucked up in the trees.  It's so amazingly quiet and peaceful.  While we were there, we sometimes had the pool to ourselves, but even at the busiest, there weren't more than 6 other people there.  It was PERFECT.

We ate ourselves silly and read books and magazines and wandered around town and laid by the pool.  It was so nice to have no schedule, and no one calling "Momma!"  "Daddy !"  On our anniversary we had planned to take a cocktail cruise with the other guests at the Inn but the weather was a bit iffy and we decided being on the water might not be the best plan.  So we moved the happy hour to the patio.  We had a great time talking to folks and enjoying the gardens before an AMAZING dinner at the Trick Dog Cafe.  So good!


We were very excited to see the boys when we got home though!   We've never both left Jack for more than a night except when Max was born, and we'd never left Max overnight at all.  I was really ready for a break though, so it wasn't too hard to prepare myself for a little time away.  Making enough extra milk to leave behind for 2 days took a little bit of planning, but it worked out just fine.  They did great for Grams and Gramps (or so they say!), and we are so thankful for their expert care and the chance to escape without worrying about them. 


It was a wonderful escape and a wonderful anniversary!   Just what we needed!  Thank you Kenny for the last 5 amazing years and for finding this perfect little get away spot!

To swim, or not to swim...

Every year since Jack was born, we've taken a parent/child water exposure class at the Y in the Spring.  We all got in the pool and sang songs and they practiced a few skills. It was a lot of fun and Jack always seemed to enjoy it.  This year, at 3, he was too old for that class and would have been moving up to the first real swim class.  However, in typical Leigh-Emma fashion, I waited too long to enroll him and it was all full.  I asked Grams and Gramps for help and they found this great instructor at their pool who was willing to do private lessons with him.  Sounded perfect to me...

Joss is the instructor's name and look at his red hair!  They match!  He is so patient and calm and really did great with Jack, who is very hesitant in water and in new situations with people he isn't familiar with.  It took almost all of the 30 minute lesson the first week to convince Jack to leave the steps, but he finally did it!

But you can tell from the look on Jack's face, that he wasn't really enjoying it. He is such a cautious child.  He gets it honest - I'm a very cautious person as well.  But it's often hard to tell with him if it's that he really isn't enjoying it or if it's just too new of an experience for him to be comfortable with.  I was hopeful that the subsequent weeks would be better, but after week two it seemed clear that this year wasn't the year for Jack to learn to swim.  Maybe next year will be better, or maybe the year after that.  We tried and I'm really proud of Jack for giving it a go!  

*If you haven't noticed already, I record a lot of things here for my own future reference.  When it's time to start swim lessons with Max, hopefully I'll be able to find this post and remember that 3 wasn't the right age for Jack and assess whether or not it's the right age for Max.  Max is, so far, not a cautious child at all, so maybe 3 will be right for him, we'll see! So while this might not have been the most exciting post ever, it will come in handy one day I hope! :)

9 months old!

Max was sure busy this month!  He learned to crawl and pull up, started the 3rd round of antibiotics for the same ear infection, got 2 teeth, battled reflux issues, took his first airplane ride and got a new carseat!  

The days of sitting him on the floor with toys and walking in the other room are OVER.  He can move so fast and is into everything.  He will put ANYTHING in his mouth.  I really can't even tell you how many times a day we have to dig something out of his mouth.  Kenny found an entire leaf in his mouth one day that he'd grabbed from a bush in the 2 seconds that it took to get Jack in his carseat.  He crawls a little funny, pushing off with one leg, almost half trying to stand up.  The pediatrician called it sophisticated.  I think she was trying to make us feel better but in reality I think it's just what works and he sees no reason to change it.  

He's happiest when standing.  He loves pulling up on the coffee table.  He can stand there for quite some time without falling.

His two bottom teeth came in and it looks like a bunch more are just under the surface.  He doesn't seem to enjoy the process much.  Neither did his brother.  

He got an ear infection a long time ago that we had a hard time getting rid of.  I think we've finally beaten it and hope we don't see anymore anytime soon.  His reflux really seems to have gotten worse.  Poor fella.  He hates being laid flat, which makes sleeping a bit of a challenge.  I'm not sure he slept all night more than a handful of nights this month.  We're trying Prevacid at the moment and at his 9 month check up today she suggested adding Zantac back in as well.  

He's still nursing and eating everything in sight.  It's really hard to find something he won't eat. He's over the pureed stuff and much prefers doing it all on his own.  He tried chicken and fish this month and liked them both. He loves peas and all fruits and black beans.  He has 4 bottles/nursing sessions a day and eats 3 meals.  He's still taking in 24-26 ounces of breastmilk a day and I'll admit, I'm looking forward to that slowing down a bit.  Our pediatrician suggested that we offer him solids before milk to see if that would slow him down a little.  We'll see!  It may help with the reflux too if we decrease the liquids.

He finally got moved to the big boy carseat this month too.  This picture below is actually him in Jack's new carseat, so don't be alarmed at how huge it is.  Jack kindly gave his older one to Max.  

Separation anxiety definitely started a few weeks ago as well.  He's not happy for me to leave his sight really.  I'm trying to enjoy it since I know that it won't be long before he wants to be anywhere but in my arms.  I love you my pickle pie and it's so much fun watching you explore your world these days.  Thanks for all the smiles and joy you bring to us everyday!

The stats:

height - 28.5 inches - 50th percentile

weight - 20 lbs 14 ounces - 50th percentile

head - 18.5 inches - 90th percentile

Our big trip to Florida

Sometime when Max was much smaller and much less mobile, we decided we should fly to St. Augustine to visit The O'Donnells.  Jack had such a great time with them last time they were up and we hadn't been down to visit them since before Jack was born, so it was definitely time!


We planned it far enough in advance that Jack was initially excited about the idea of flying, then got scared, and (thankfully) then excited again!  We read books and talked about planes and such before we went and when the day came, he was really, really excited!  He loved watching all the happenings on the tarmac while we waited and really did great on the plane.

We didn't buy Max a seat since when we booked it he was so tiny and being a "lap child" seemed quite reasonable.  He was almost too big for that when the time actually came, or maybe just a bit too interested in being mobile...but it worked out ok.  It just took a little work to keep him occupied and still.  Although, he did sleep one entire leg of it, so I shouldn't complain at all!

We were greeted by the cutest little sign when we made it to Jacksonville!  A big thank you to Ellie for that - it really made us feel extra special!  Jack was being a bit shy and wouldn't get in the picture but that didn't last long...

He was in heaven the entire time we were there!  Two big cousins to play with him, a swimming pool, 2 dogs, a ton of "new" toys and such to explore.  It was so much fun to watch!

We arrived Wednesday evening and on Thursday, Emory and Ellie were able to stay home with us and we all went to the wonderful Jacksonville zoo.  Jack studied the map and helped us find our way...

They had a dinosaur exhibit, which we thought Jack would really love.  It was really neat - they were quite life-like.  Maybe a bit too life-like?  Jack was pretty scared when we got started, but was ok eventually. 

Max was unphased.

His favorite part of it may have been the sand pit at the end.  This kid LOVES some sand.

At some point in the dino exhibit, Emory gave Jack his sunglasses to help him feel more brave.  It was so sweet and it worked quite well!   Thanks Emory!

The giraffe exhibit was my favorite.  And I LOVE this picture of Ellie feeding them.  

This picture just makes me laugh.  It looks very uncomfortable!

Look how cute they are!

Friday Emory and Ellie had to go to school.  Emory had FOUR tests and Ellie had a celebration!  We decided to walk down to the Intercoastal and see what we could see.

There were LOTS of crabs!

But fortunately we didn't see any of these...

We had hoped to see Emory and Ellie swim in a swim meet Friday night, but it was rained out. :(  

We spent our evenings at home hanging out and eating the yummy meals Aunt Stephanie fixed!  That was fun too.  Max thinks Uncle Dan is a bit silly!

Jack got to make smores on their very cool table with the fire pit in the middle.  As I was busy snapping pictures, Max, who was in my lap, was busy learning about cacti.

At some point I looked over and on the table next to me was an overturned flower pot.  Max is very grabby, so I immediately scolded him and turned the flower pot back upright.  Right about then I realized there had been a cactus in the pot and it was now in my lap.  He'd grabbed it and moved it.  It was a small cactus full of baby fine needles.  And there were probably 5000 of them stuck in his tiny hand.  We spent the rest of the night googling how to remove cactus needles from your skin and trying all sorts of things...glue, tape, baby oil, alcohol, etc.  Nothing worked that great really - they were just SO tiny you could barely see them.  Eventually Max fell asleep, we got what we could out and by morning they seemed to have worked their way out on their own.  It was pretty awful.  I felt HORRIBLE.  I'd been too busy watching Jack and making sure he didn't burn himself and taking pictures that I didn't even pay attention to what Max was doing.  Poor fella.  He took it really well though.

Saturday we all headed down to St. Augustine Beach.  It as a PERFECT beach day.  Sunny, hot, and a nice breeze!

Max ate at least 4 handfuls of sand.  He will put ANYTHING in his mouth.  He's happy though!

Jack LOVED the ocean!  He was a bit weary of sea creatures, but still loved it.  At some point, he was sitting in an innertube in the water and Kenny was next to him holding on to the tube.  Kenny shifted and his knee hit Jack underneath the water.  Jack screamed SEA CREATURE and flipped out!  He had no idea it was just Kenny's knee and was sure something was coming to get him!  We have laughed and laughed about that!

After all day at the beach we came home and played in the pool for a bit.  Max thought it was great.  I'm sad I have zero pictures of Jack in the pool, but he enjoyed it too, though he preferred the warm spa part better than the pool itself.  

It was a great trip and I'm so glad we went.  I wish they lived closer and we could see more of them, but it was so nice to have a few days with nothing else to do and nowhere else to be, but together.  I know Jack had the time of his life and I look forward to watching his relationships with Emory and Ellie grow through the years.  I can't wait for Max to really get to know them too.  They are such great cousins!  Thanks O'Donnells for all you did and for all the fun you helped us have!  We love you!