washington (by Riley)

Hi everyone, this is Riley. Mama and Daddy are still tired from our trip (and our bike ride yesterday) so I'm going to write this one.

I had so much fun last week when we went to see our family in Washington. It's far away! We had to take TWO planes to get there it's so far. I love planes.

I want to tell you all about our trip. It was really cool! I don't get to see my family out there very often, but it's really fun when I do! I'm mostly going to show you pictures and videos. I love watching videos! Here we go...

Poppa always has really cool pens in his pocket. He lets me play with them whenever I want!














Grammy and I did a puzzle. It was a lot harder than the puzzles I have at home! I love puzzles though.














We went to see friends one day and had to drive in the car. On the way back Grammy played a really fun game with me!



There was lots of basketball on TV! I watched with Uncle Dave.














I like trying on big people's shoes. They're fun to walk in. Here's a picture and a video of me with different shoes on:

















There were all sorts of balls in the front yard of Uncle Dave and Aunt Kristyn's house. Balls are one of my favorite toys! Here I am marching with one.














There was a cat next door that was really friendly. Did you know cats go, "Meow"? I love cats.














I love dogs too. Did you know they go, "Ruff, Ruff"? Uncle Dave and Aunt Kristyn have a dog named Molly. She's really fun to play with! Here's a video of us playing:



I got a really cool new toy. It's a bear that has a light in it! And it roars! It's really fun so I turn it on over and over again!














There were so many exciting things to do. But sometimes I just had to relax and watch Blues Clues. I love Blue!














I love my cousin Jenna. She's so much fun!














Mama, Daddy, Jenna, Uncle Dave and I took a trip in the car one day. We went to a park by the water! I got to throw rocks in the water and then go on a slide!





Grammy and I read books together. We both love to read!














I loved the boat in the mall play area. Except when I got caught in it head down. That wasn't fun. It was fun after that though!














Daddy and I went to the Children's Museum in the mall. What a cool place! There were balls that floated in the air, turtles, water I could play in, funny balls that rolled down ramps and all sorts of other stuff. And...I got to drive a truck! I did this more than just one time because I liked it best!



Here's a special seat just the right size for me. It was in the Men's Room, but I wanted to sit in it!














I was working the crane. These buttons made lights come on!














Bob the Builder wears a hat just like this!














I got to steer a boat!














Daddy made sure I had my life preserver on!














When I got back home Mama gave me chocolate ice cream. Yum!



















I had my first Crispy Creme doughnut. Mama said it was special. I thought it was yummy!














The next day Poppa brought popcorn back from the movies. I liked that too!














What a fun trip! I was really sad to leave. But I got to go on TWO more planes on the way home! I was so excited I could hardly keep still! Well, except when Blue or Bob were on the DVD. I pay attention to important stuff. Mama and Daddy thought that I might sleep on the way home since it got really late. It was too exciting though! I didn't sleep until we were in the car on the way home.

I can't wait to go to Washington again. My family is really fun! See you soon everybody!


Riley

'christmas' trip

If you follow our blog you know that we made a valiant but fruitless attempt to get to Washington to see Shelby's family at Christmas. Since that didn't work out we rescheduled for this week.

So on Wednesday we set off for the land of eternal misty raininess. Fortunately we didn't go for the weather. Our trip started with an early morning at Logan Airport. Riley enjoyed the sights:

He loved pointing to the planes...then pointing to the moon and saying, "Moon!"

Riley had a great view of the people working on the planes

More gymnastics practice

Snacktime

Once we got on the first of two planes for the day Riley enjoyed looking out the window again as we got ready to take off.

Mama had the window seat

The actual travel time was less fun, but even so our boy is a trooper. He was squirmy and didn't want to sit still (big surprise) but even so was really pretty good.

Getting comfy...not so comfy for the person in the seat he's kicking though.

Seat Climbing

The first leg was only about two hours long. Riley was pretty wound up though and we were worried about how the second leg was going to go since it was over four hours long. Fatigue caught up with him a little (fortunately) although he wouldn't sleep. He sat still for a while when I was drawing pictures for him. Then we brought out the secret weapon...Blue.

Drawing with Daddy

Bluuuuuuueee!

Momma holding the DVD player

We finally arrived in Seattle and started off for Burlington. Our tired boy wouldn't sleep, but instead practiced some head banging:

We got to Dave and Kristyn's house at about 5 and Riley enjoyed spending time with the family despite the fatigue.

Hanging with Poppa and Daddy

And then with Erika, Grammy and Mama

Playing with Grammy

Rolling on the big ball with Uncle Dave

Riding Poppa-back:

This took a day to happen, Molly had to calm down and Riley had to warm up to her:

We're starting to get over the jet lag, Riley woke up at 3:45 am the first night and 5 am today, so he's getting better...fortunately he went back to sleep (after a while) both times.

The weather has been OK and we've been enjoying family time. Riley has been enjoying the extra attention. We'll leave you with Riley enjoying his favorite passtime:





Jonathan

daddy time

Unlike a lot of dads out there I have a schedule that gives me a lot of time with my son. I'm the one who has him until about 12:30 every day. This along with the occasional weekend trip to my Mom's house (giving Shelby a 'Mom's Day Off') leads to a lot of what I call, "Daddy time."

It's funny, I hear a lot of parents say that they look forward to some peace and quiet once their kids go to bed. I can honestly say that I have never had that thought. I'm always bummed out when it's Riley's bed time. Now I understand that I do have a very EASY boy. Riley is very low maintenance. But even so, I'm continually surprised at how much I like spending time with him.

Last weekend Riley and I took a trip down to CT to see my Mom while Shelby enjoyed the aforementioned day on her own. Since Riley and I are both extroverts, this means that even in the car there is a fair amount of interaction:



For the sake of those who I know will be wondering, yes my eyes were on the road except for occasional glances in the baby mirror, and I just guessed at where I was pointing the camera. It was also a very straight, traffic free section of highway. Oh, and unlike most men I am an excellent multi-tasker...

Once at Mom's house Riley had to have a drink...but not of his own water. Grandma's bottle was much better.














We went to Dock n' Dine, a favorite local restaurant for lunch. It's located right on the bank of the Connecticut River. Here's a video of Riley walking in with Mom. He was fascinated with the seagulls. (I actually like this video just because I think he looks so cute walking with Mom.)

After lunch Riley enjoyed taking his leisure by reclining under the coffee table...





























It was a fun trip and Mom always enjoys getting a chance to see her youngest grandchild.

This weekend Shelby was off practicing with the music team at church on Saturday and then doing a bunch of stuff afterward. This lead to the perfect opportunity for Riley and I to head to Perpetual Motion! We've already blogged about this place, but it was the first time I got to go. What a blast! Some pictures:

The big soft blocks are fun to crawl through

Hello!

Riley loved pretending to eat the fake food, here he samples the lime

Gigantic Legos

He felt tall here...

Lying in the ball pit

The ball pit was wonderful...and terrifying. It was filled up deeply with balls which made it great for jumping into; which also made it terrifying to watch as all the kids who were bigger than Riley just barely missed landing on top of him. I yanked him out of the thing three different times so he wouldn't get hurt. It was way too much fun not to go back to though.

The only other dicey moment (and one I caught on video. No, it will stay in the archives for now...) was when a little girl who was playing in the 'kitchen' alongside Riley got sick of him opening the cabinets (she ran around behind him closing them) and bopped him on the head with a plastic fry pan. Her mom immediately stepped in (the girl was going back at him) and stopped it. Riley was unhurt...

Here's a video of him playing with the BIG Legos and then three videos I posted on Facebook.

I have to say that Daddy Time is just about my favorite time. It has also led to some great photos over the last year or so. Some of these haven't made the blog before. They tell you some things about what our time together is like.

Riley is a great one for climbing and crawling through things. This is a photo only Daddy would love of him climbing through our small stepladder:














Riley has these blow up 'ears' that came with his pool. There is a pair for him and a pair for me which I would put on both of us. For a long time he'd just knock his off and then pull mine off. After a while though he wanted us both to have them on. Here's a shot of him with not only the ears, but his bike helmet which he also loves to wear (and likewise wants Daddy's to be worn.)

When Shelby was away with friends for a long weekend last year I got this shot of Riley on his high chair. It's amazing how quickly he got up there; I was in the room with him. It wasn't like I had walked off or something. Our friend Alecia commented at the time that she enjoyed the fact that I didn't just run over and take him down (it was at least a little dangerous...) Instead I grabbed the camera. I wasn't really that worried...














One of the main features of our morning together is breakfast. I used to play Bob the Builder videos for Riley while he ate (he LOVES Bob.) I missed the interaction I had with him though, because he zones out when he watches videos. So I started using the Webshots screensaver on the computer instead. There are over 1300 pictures loaded in that it shuffles through randomly. Pictures of Riley, his family, and of course, BIKES! He points to each of the bike pictures and says, "Bike!" Daddy tells him about how he can't wait to ride with him in Moab some day...

I always spend some time cleaning the kitchen in the morning before I make my lunch for work. Riley is at my feet for a large portion of that time. It's funny, but it doesn't bother me at all when he is continually underfoot. And I actually get kind of a kick out of the Fridge DJ... Usually he enjoys closing the dishwasher on me over and over and over as I try to load / unload it. One morning he just decided to take it apart.

Last but not least, this afternoon Riley and I were playing in the living room while Shelby was doing something in the main room. He was getting a toy out of the toy organizer when he somehow got tripped up and ended up stuck sitting in his drum as you see here. Of course I got the camera first (he wasn't hurt or unhappy or anything...)














Because of the loooooonnnnngggg wait I had before I finally found my wonderful wife and then had my sweet son, I think I'm a little more aware of how precious the time I have with them is. I intend to enjoy every second that I can have with them, in fact I savor that time. There can never really be enough Daddy Time for me. I am so thankful for what I get though.

Life is good.

I love my wife and boy.

Thank you Lord.


Jonathan