Wait... is it summer?

We spent another beautiful weekend day at the beach. We have now been 4 times in the last 6 weeks or so. I guess it is because we have had the most mild and spring-like winter I ever remember. Or maybe it is because I didn't make it to the beach this summer because I was at home caring for a newborn so now I am making up for lost time. Or maybe it is just because my little baby LOVES the beach and I find peace and feel recharged when we go. Whatever it is, we have had a great time sharing one of our outdoor passions with our growing boy, who is ever-more inquisitive about his surroundings every day.

After Matthew and I slept in until almost 9:30, Daddy came home from work and made us feel a little lazy for sleeping in. We decided to immediately pack the car, fed Matthew some watermelon to get in a beachy kind of mood, and hit the road. Bonnie and Gary joined us and we had a really nice time. We played paddle ball a bit, Gary tried to play volleyball with Alex, and the big boys hit up a beach bar. Matthew played in the sand as usual. This time his cute beach hat barely fit his giant melon. Alex was able to set up a sleeping spot for Matthew which blocked the wind, kept him out of the sun, and stopped the sand from blowing on his face, and then he napped for over an hour.


We had a late lunch/early dinner at Frenchy's just as the air was starting to cool. Matthew was as active as ever. Wanting to get his hands on everything and then just as quickly drop everything on to the floor. Daddy and I had grouper sandwiches, Matthew ate peaches! I'm so glad we are enjoying each other and our baby on our days off together. It makes going to school that much more bearable to know that we have quality family time ahead of us.

Weekend Getaway

We have all been so busy now that I am back to work. Thankfully after only 2 weeks of work I had a four-day weekend because of Martin Luther King Jr Day. And I needed it. Daddy took a day off, which gave him a 5 day weekend. I kept telling daddy how darned cute you are at the beach so I suggested we get out of town and go to a beach. We decided on St. Augustine. That way we'd get to see our good friends Jen and Milo and their boys, Zachary and Joshua.

We piled all your stuff in the car, and Maggie some how found a small corner of the car to sit in for the car ride there. When we got there on Saturday we went to the park to play Ultimate Frisbee. We had a nice time and you hung out with Jen and the boys and chased them around the park while daddy and I played. You were tired but didn't want to nap on the ground so Jen was patient and held you and you fell right asleep in her arms for a while.

On Sunday we went to the beach. It was pretty chilly, but I loved it anyway. The sky was bright blue and the water looked like something out of the Caribbean. Because of the cold weather and high tide the beach was nearly deserted. The only people there were people jogging or bike riding on the firm Atlantic Coast sand, and some people walking dogs. You had a great time digging in the sand. You were such a boy, making a mess of yourself and loving it. And you had a great time showing daddy how much you love the beach. Daddy dug a hole and put you in it. You liked having the sand higher up to your chest. You didn't have to bend over to play! You were cute too when you tried to climb out of the hole. The boys built sand castles while we played Paddleball or threw the Frisbee. Later Milo came to meet up with us at the beach and brought the doggies. Maggie had a great time stretching her legs and showing off some of her agility tricks with daddy. When you were tired we tried to calm you and let you nap on the sand but you were not having any of it. It might have been too hard, or maybe you were cold. The second we put on your winter hat and Jen held you in her arms, you were out for the count. Sweet sleeping baby.




On Monday we went with Milo and the boys to the fort in St. Augustine. Some day when you are a big boy you will probably love to make your own fort so it was fun to show you your first fort; one that is about 350 years old! We walked around the inner walls and went up top, which was beautiful overlooking the bay on a slightly warmer day than the day before.

Mr. Independent is 7 months old

Our big boy has had a lot of new things on his plate this month. Matthew is becoming such a kid these days. He is always upright now and is very content to play by himself with his toys for extended periods of time. He is eating new foods every day it seems, and adding more to his meals as the weeks go by. Matthew has become pretty flexible when we are out and about and if we have a late night over at a friend's house he just rolls with the punches. He is very interested in other babies, always reaching out to touch them and talk to them.

Probably the thing that makes Matthew most independent is that he spends a lot of his time with his babysitter during my work week. I am back at school now, and although I have a pretty good class, am happy to see my coworkers again, and the year is already half over, I can't help but feel that I am missing so much of Matthew every day. I have come to enjoy our early morning breastfeed and bedtime routine as my most precious and calm moments of the day. When I am rocking Matthew in the morning at 5:30am, I just want to sit there all day long with his little head resting peacefully on my shoulder. As far as working moms go, I think we have a pretty nice schedule worked out. Alex has been FANTASTIC about sharing the parenting load. On days when he is off from work he takes care of the house, runs errands and grocery shops, and then usually picks Matthew up mid-day or lets him sleep in and takes him in for a half day. Matthew has only had a few all day visits to the babysitter, so even though I can't be with him all day I am happy to know that he is spending lots of time with his daddy.

Here is what you are up to this month, buddy:

You sit a lot during playtime. You are so good at it and love to be high above your toys. We have to get you on your tummy more though so you can practice crawling.

You can prop yourself up on all fours, but you don't move forward yet.

You are a champion sleeper. You go to bed by 7:30 at the latest, and sleep until 5:30 am, up to feed then back to bed until about 8:15. You take two naps totaling about 3 hours throughout the day.

You have started playing with your voice. You squeal and make loud noises in excitement. You laugh and laugh at daddy's funny faces and games. You think Maggie is too cool!

You have been to the beach, and love to explore the sand with your chubby little hands.

You are a good boy in restaurants and sit on our laps while we eat.

You are happy all the time! You respond well to your baby sitter, and are such a good boy when we leave you in the church nursery or the babycare at the gym.

You have taken well to eating. We have built up to 3 small meals a day of about 2 ounces each. You have had oatmeal, sweet potato, butternut squash, avocado, peas, zucchini, pears, apples, bananas, and your tummy's best friend... prunes!

You have started knowing what to do with your toys. Some of them have actions you can do to make a certain noise or turn on a light. Some toys have special compartments and you try to put the pieces in the right place.

You like to read books and daddy puts them in your crib, although I don't think you do much with them.

You are 20 pounds! This means you got a new car seat. You are riding in style, with a nice big seat that better last you a very, very long time.

Here you are with Granna, enjoying her back yard and learning all about nature.
Taking in the sights, sounds, and tastes of the beach

First time at the gym. Being groomed to be a champion.

FOOD!