The Bronx Zoo

We arrived in NY on Wednesday afternoon and stayed with my Aunt Maureen and Uncle Peter in Yonkers for two days before heading out to Long Island for the wedding. That night Maureen watched Madeline so we could take Jack into the city to meet my friend and former co-worker, Steve for dinner. We took the train into the city which Jack LOVED. Besides rubbing his hands on every still object (handrails, windows, seats, etc), it was a nice trip in. We met Steve at Blue Smoke, a restaurant specializing in Southern food and jazz. A little ironic since that is what we eat all the time but nonetheless, it was a wonderful, yummy meal and we loved catching u with Steve. Thursday morning we were up bright and early for a trip to the Bronx Zoo. About an hour before we left, Madeline fell into the coffee table while sitting like a big girl and busted her eyebrow open. Blood was everywhere and if she had been my first child, I would have cried and freaked out but we decided not to add the ER in NY as one of our tourist destinations. My Aunt Maureen was great and went to CVS to get butterflies, neosporin, etc and Clay bandaged up our little one. We now call her "Vanilla Ice" with the little scar through her eyebrow. She was a trooper and off we went to the zoo.

The Bronx Zoo was the nicest zoo I have been too and the largest. We only made it through half in the 5 hours we were there! We met up with my high school friend, Erin Schmidt Leyton and her little girl Izzy. Jack and Izzy became fast friends and loved running from one animal to the next. Erin is 8 months pregnant and was a trooper for walking as much as we did!

Izzy and Jack

Jack and Aunt Maureen checking out the antelope/deer like creatures.

Jack and Madgirl looking at the seals

The kids could pop out of the ground like ground hogs. Jack loved this!

Feeding the sheep

Nice family shot to document Madeline's first injury!

The Steins!

Thursday night we went to the Bronx to have dinner with the Steins. Aaron and Clay worked together in Atlanta and we love getting together when we can. The top pic is from our trip to NY last summer. We have added two more since. Little Simmy Stein is only a month old and slept all through dinner while Jack and Ezra tore the place up.

A special meeting

On Friday we had a very special meeting. Madeline is named after my dad's mom. She passed away from breast cancer in her 40s so I never knew her. I am named after her too (Jennifer Madeline). Madeline's sister, Aunt Honey and her husband ,Uncle John, have been surrogate parents to my dad and grandparents to me. We love them so much and were so grateful to be able to bring Madeline to meet them!

The Wedding

The reason we made the roadtrip- my cousin Bridget's wedding to Pat Smith! It was a fabulous affair! They know how to throw a party up North!

The colors were yellow and blue- lots of sunflowers and hydrangea- so pretty!

Mr and Mrs Smith

The groom and groomsmen all wore yellow Brooks Brothers pants, Navy blazers and shamrock ties from Vineyard Vines.

"You may now kiss the bride!"

There was a break in between the wedding and the reception. We went back to the hotel to hang out with the kids. My aunt arranged for a friend of my cousin's to bbsit the kids so Clay and I could have the night out. It was so nice!

Madeline and Goose

Me and my brother, Ryan. We missed Julia, Shannon and Cory!

The Butt Family. Yes, my mom's maiden name is Butt. This pic is of her siblings, spouses, kids and their spouses.

Clay and I with the bride and groom

Mom and her siblings- Kevin, mom, Maureen, John, Eileen and Tricia

Cousins! I am the oldest (32) and the youngest is 18.

We arrived at the country club at 6 and there was a cocktail hour and half. The weather cooperated miraculously b/c Hurricane Dan was supposed to dump a lot of rain. This is the lobster and shrimp bar during the cocktail hour. There was also a sushi bar, pasta station and waiters walking around with leg of lamb, soft shell crab sandwhiches, hamburgers, chicken skewers, bacon wrapped scallops and other yummy things. We had to pace ourselves b/c we still had dinner to come!

The cake!

About 7:30 we were called into the ballroom for dinner. We had a caprice salad waiting at our seat and this menu. Each table had its own waiter for the night and we placed our order for the main entree- fish, chicken or beef.

The table

My cousins Mike, Chris and Patrick with Clay and Ryan

This was the dance floor BEFORE dinner was served!! After each course, the band played and we danced for 30 minutes. Then we ate again! It was awesome!

There was a photo booth for guests to take pics- here is my fave of us!

Clay and I loved celebrating with Bridget and Pat and all of our family. I am so thankful to have these wonderful people in my life and to be able to introduce them to Jack and Madeline. While it was an effort to roadtrip with two little ones, we are so glad we did it. We are blessed to have so many people to love and that love us!

Engaged!!

Ryan popped the question and Julia said "yes!" We are so excited to have her as part of our family! Can't wait for July 24th 2010!!!

Six Months!

It is hard to believe that Miss Madeline has been with us for HALF a year already! She is such a sweet baby and we love every minute with her! She weighed in at 17.9 lbs (80%) today and is 26.5 inches (75%) long! Her head was in the 97 percentile! This is a Councill trait! Highlights this month:

-Sleeping through the night (most nights!)

-Sitting up

-Eating breakfast and dinner (pears, applesauce, greenbeans, sweet potatoes, etc)

-Can hold toys and play with them for an extended period of time

-Makes noises at you when you talk to her

-Laughs all the time- especially at Jack

-Still takes 3 naps (if we are home)

-Starting to get scared of strangers- definitely knows me, Clay and Jack
-Wears 6-12 months clothes

-Loves the pool and bath!

Madeline and Jack at six months

Caroline visits

Mom has been a slacker on the blog lately. She has had 2 ear infections and a sinus infection. I told her I could handle it from here.

So my friend Caroline came to visit last weekend. She and Mom worked together and I have known her all my long life! She brought her dog, Cooper, and I loved playing with him!

Here I am with Caroline and Steve way back when I was a baby (May 2006)! We are going to see Steve next week in NYC!!

Sittin on the Dock of the Bay (or the den floor)

Yep, she is sitting!! Wobbles every now and then but this girl is sitting!

Showing off her teeth

And yes, her head really is big but the angle of these pics makes it look alot bigger.

Band of Brothers

Clay, Jay, Will and Jordan

This picture of Clay and his brothers was taken while Jay was home from Iraq for 2 weeks in June. Four great men!

Sunday

It is a rare day lately that I actually shower AND dry my hair but I do manage to do both on Sundays which is a nice change. I also have Clay to keep the kids occupied so I can!

Jack is in the "I do it" stage and that has include feeding Madeline.
He also loves to hug her. I love her face here- sheer terror! I think she is probably more worried that he going to steel her rice biscuit- she loves them!

Watermelon Day!

We went to the Farmer's Market today to get our weekly load of peaches along with some homemade salsa and other goodies. The Raleigh Farmer's Market is one of the greatest I have ever seen- open 7 days a week and always full of yummy fresh finds. Today we stumbled upon a big event- North Carolina Watermelon Day!!

And we even got to meet the NC Watermelon Queen! Who knew there was one? Clay thought it would be funny to get a pic with her- Jack did not agree. He isn't a fan of watermelon. Now, if there was a blueberry queen, he would ask for her hand in marriage. The kid is serious about blueberries!
And a quick shot of our future fruit queen. We'll let her decide which fruit she would like to represent although today she was sporting apples (pure coincidence). Maybe there will be an upcoming Toddlers and Tiaras on fruit queens. That show is a train wreck but I can't look away!

Backyard Fun

Do you remember this cute gardener from the summer of 07?

Well he is still at it!
Clay plants a garden every summer and he and Jack go out every night and pick the ripe veggies. We have okra, tomatoes, peppers, blueberries and lots of herbs.
While they pick, Madeline swings! She loves the swing!

She also started sitting in the booster seat. We don't use a high chair b/c it takes up too much room and we loved this seat with Jack. It is very portable so you can take it to restaurants and friends' houses! Madeline liked sitting in this seat and playing with her spoon while she ate cereal and squash. Such a big girl!