Mom's Group Lunch

Today Caelan and I had all the mommies and babes over for lunch. We had such a wonderful time. Eight moms, one dad, nine babes, seven strollers and a partridge in a pear tree.

(cont.) Postal Museum

A mail sorting railcar (this system was discontinued in 1976)
Caelan eyeballing some stamps for his collection
The gang after a long day, waitin for the Metro

After a healthy lunch at U. Station we walked across the street to the Postal Museum. We learned a lot about the Pony Express to the NY underground tube mail delivery system to stamps from around the world to crazy things sent thru the mail. For example: we saw the envelope the "Hope Diamond" was mailed in when Winston donated it to the Smithsonian. It was a neat learning exerience, I suggest all visit. I have a new appreciation for all mail carriers!

Union Station & Postal Museum Fieldtrip

Yesterday, Caelan & I had a fun trip with our mom's group friends. We adventured out by metro train first to Union Station then across the street to the Postal Museum. The pics in this posting are from U. Station. This really is a beautiful building. Kind of reminded me of something out of Batman, Gothem city. We came here first so we could eat lunch in their mile long food court. My favorite part of lunch, sad to say, was my dessert: the best donut I have ever had. Dare I whisper, better than Krispy Kreme & Harners Bakery. The baker had over 40 different kinds including a donut & fritter as big as my head (see pic, which is a little blurry due to a little man I was holding trying to eat the camera strap).

Food Buzz

Tonight Caelan did so well eating all his din-din, regardless of the gravitational pull on his eyelids. Then a couple minutes later....zzzzz. Tomorrow we have a big day, another fieldtrip with the mom's group. We're going to have lunch at Union Station then on to the Postal Museum. We'll tell you all about it! And pics of course.

Another day at the Pool

Just chillin'This past Saturday, we had a splish-splash great time. Many of our friends from the Mom's Group came, including dads, grandmas, grandpas and uncles. It was awesum. Pictures were a snappin and the video cameras rollin. Then after all the excitement, Caelan thought he would try to relax and catch some rays or he was waiting for his massage :)

The Wee Man

I had to put him in this adorable outfit today,

cuz he won't fit in it tomorrow,

much less St. Pat's Day.

Caelan is officially mobile!

Attention, attention, Caelan is officially mobile! He is a rockin and a rollin. Last night Shawn and I had laid him on his back on the floor in front of our couch. One minute he was in front of us, the next we look down and he was suddenly 4 feet to the right. Speedy little fellow. Today he was rolling around again, but of course he does it when we're not looking. This video is from how I found him, I kept peeking in on him and he finally ended here. So now when I hear him grunting and breathing heavy I know he's doing one of two things, rolling or ..........

And today I gave him a bottle with juice in it, he held it by himself and finished it!!!! I had been working w/ him prior and I always had to hold it and he wasn't too fond of juice. Today we started him on sweet potatoes, he loved them. One more veggie, how many more to go?

Much more pics of USBG

Jungle habitat
Desert habitat
Forest habitat

Monkey habitat

More USBG pics

Orchids and a papaya tree.

United States Botanic Garden

United States Botanic Garden and the Capitol


"An Alphabet of Orchids" exhibit
Today Caelan and I had a really fun adventure. We took the Metro and traipsed thru the snow flurries of DC to go to the U.S. Botanic Garden. If you ever have the opportunity to visit us, this stop is a must!!!! Wow is it beautiful. And on a day like today a wonderful cheer me upper, the plants, the nature sounds, the serenity and the heat (its warm in there, and humid). Currently they have a beautifully designed orchid exhibit, The Alphabet of Orchids. So many different orchids, each different and perfect. Can you tell I was in awe. I am NOT a knowledgible plant person by any means, Shawn says I could kill a plastic plant. But I was really taken by the display of plants. The Botanic Garden is actually pretty large, sectioned off into different habitats, ie: desert, jungle, Hawaii, etc. Each exibiting plants commonly found in the environment. I told Carrie, one of the mom's from our group that we went with, I could come here every weekend. It was so peaceful, so serene! I took so many pics while I was there and can't fit them all in one post so, three posts to our blog it is. Enjoy!

Six month check up

Today Caelan had his 6 mos visit to the doctor. He weighs 18.08 lbs and is 27 1/2 inches. He also had his shots, what a trooper. A little wimper, a big fat lip and a look of "how could you do that?" to the nurse, then he was back to his usual chipper self.

On the food front...he has been eating great, really gettin a handle on the solid food thing. He's had peas, peaches, prunes, applesauce and we've switched from rice to oatmeal cereal. So far, so good!

The tour continues...

Day 3, The weather was not as nice as the day before but still tour worthy. So after church, Sarah, Caelan and I adventured out. (Lil Emily had gotten really sick, so she and Karen sat the day out at the apartment.) Sarah and I decided to drive so gettin around was a little easier. We saw the Iwo Jima Memorial, the White House(front & back, ha), Dept of Treasury, Washington Hotel, the Capitol and we did some bartering w/ a street vender ( a must, on any DC tour). We came home to an awesum dinner prepared by Shawn, finished off the night with many more laughs then off to bed.

The next morning Karen, Emily and Sarah left to return to Chi town. I was sad to see them go but was so glad they came and enjoyed every second of the visit!

Smaller than you think

The Washington Memorial is actually smaller than you thought.

Drive-thru monument tour with the sisters three

Day 2, we started the day with a dip in the pool. My mom's group had a swim day in the roof top pool in my apartment building. A splashingly good time was had by all moms and babes. Then back down to the apt for lunch and naps. We had decided earlier, since the weather was beautiful, to do a walking tour of the monuments on the National Mall. Little did we know the kids actually create their own schedules, hence the tour beginning at 4:30pm. We took the Metro to the Ntl Mall, which stopped for a long period of time at each stop, leaving us a matter of minutes before the sun went down by the time we actually got to the Mall. This tour was officially the drive by version. We did cram in the Washington Memorial, WWII Mem, a far off view of the Jefferson Mem, reflection pool, far off view of Korean Mem, and the Lincoln Memorial. I have to admit the Lincoln Memorial was beautiful, I've never seen it as dusk. The way it was lit was incredible. After the Lincoln Memorial the sun had set and the cold & wind had officially made its appearance. We literally ran from the Linc. Mem. through the Ntl Mall to the Metro because it was so cold and the babes were not appreciating the change in temperature. When we finally got home, we celebrated by having some pizza. Mmmmmmm, comfort food.

My favorite picture of Karen

Sorry I couldn't adjust the red-eye on this picture. Ha!

Karen, Emily and Sarah's visit

This weekend I was so lucky to have a visit from my sisters and niece. It was jam packed with so many laughs, food and fun! Caelan and Emily had such a good time getting the party started. It was fun watching the two of them play.
Day 1, Pick up from airport. (Which was not with out incident. Shawn went to pick them up from the airport and I forgot to give him the carseat for Emily. Sooooooooo....Caelan and I went to the airport via Metro to get Karen and Emily and bring them back to the apartment, so the adventure began. Sarah drove back w/ Shawn in his big rig.) The rest of the day we gave tours of the abode, laughed and ate. We decided the next day would be a walking tour of the monuments.

Happy Valentine's Day

Oh the love....don't you just want to smooch them all. It's the gang from our mom's group. Jason, Caelan, Adelyn, Sophie and Maggie. We had to hurry up and get a picture while everyone was still awake and in a good mood.

Happy Valentine's Day to all our family and friends. We love you all so much and wish we could hand deliver your little box of chocolates personally! Hee!

(We have many more pics to post, just need a couple more free moments) Also, Karen, Emily and Sarah are coming this weekend, yipee, so watch for more fun pics!

Prunes, prunes the musical fruit

Well, the need for prunes was kind of a last resort for a "big problem" in a little man. He did not like them at all. After many promises of not feeding these to him again after our situation cleared up, he did eat them. What a trooper!