Measuring cups and steak dinner

I have to get all caught up on blogging before two very exciting things happen in the next few days.
1) Jesse gets into Honolulu and will be able to see new pictures of Elliott for the first time since July 3rd.
2) Elliott and I leave for Hawaii to go meet Jesse.  We're so excited for a fabulous vacation!!

I broke out the really fancy toys for Elliott this week . . . measuring cups.  They are quite loud.  It makes me wish I had plastic ones, though he probably wouldn't be as entertained without the noise.

Cup! 

Yummy.  I love that he has one in each hand. 

Elliott had steak earlier last week.  He started off right with a rib eye.  He ate some pieces but wasn't a huge fan.  So, a few days later, I decided to give him a big chuck of steak and see what happened.  Here he is checking it out . . . 

He proceeded to gnaw on it for about five minutes.  Flintstones style.

 

Impromptu Playdate with Charlotte

We had a wonderful impromptu playdate with Charlotte last weekend after cousin Henry's first birthday party. 

Charlotte is 18 months old and is clearly telling Elliott how the world works here.


So Elliott, this bottle . . .

Oh, I want one too.  (These bottles were my toys when I was little.)

Happy friends

And we're done

Charlotte addressing her people.  We hope to see them again soon!

 

SAS Girls Weekend - Saturday Night Bath and Dinner

Here are the rest of the pictures from our SAS reunion weekend.  Sorry for the delay!  I thought I had posted this earlier in the week.

Kate and Anne gave Katherine and Elliott baths.  Elliott usually showers and hasn't been a fan of the few baths he has had (after moving out of the bucket).  I broke away from the kitchen for a few minutes to check out this cuteness.


This may embarrass them later but we'll always love this picture!

Moms with each other's babies

Anne and the kiddos 

Elliott ejected (see below, this was a theme).  Katherine was calm, as always.

Katherine is just shy of a year, Elliott is 10 months, and Lucy is due in October.  We got a laugh out of the thought of having twins and a third kid 15 months later.  I know people do it but it's not for me :)

Elliott ejecting, again. Kate was right there to catch. 

The girls and our kids.  It will be fun to see how this picture expands over the coming years.  

I love these girls.  We missed Caroline dearly over the weekend. 

Lucy and James, parents-to-be.

Elliott is getting clingy these days and quite unsure of strangers, especially men.  Trevor was a great sport and didn't take it personally. 

The boys in attendance and the kids.

Toasting each other, celebrating our wonderful friendship that has grown over the past 12 years, and promising to have annual reunions!

Kate and Anne keeping dish duty fun

Anne and G

Beautiful Lu

Until next year . . . I love you girls!

All I want for Christmas (in July) . . .

Elliott's wish (or maybe mine?) was granted!  His two front teeth have FINALLY cut through.  I love watching his little smile change from all gums, to bottom teeth, and now with top teeth.  They are still flush with his gums but I'm looking forward to the new smile!  Picture to come when you can see them other than when I hang him from his ankles. 

SAS Reunion Weekend - Beach Day

I was fortunate to spend two of my high school years at St. Andrew's School.  While there, I forged friendships that will last a lifetime.  For the past few years, our group of six friends has been able to convene at reunions, bachelorette parties, and weddings.  Knowing we didn't have anything planned for this year, we vowed to create our own annual reunion.  This plan was hatched on the dance floor at Caroline's wedding while we professed our love for one another.  When I emailed everyone six months ago to set a date, we were all shocked that the first suggested weekend worked for everyone!  So, a year later, we got our reunion.  Sadly, Jack and Caroline were unable to come due to a family emergency.  We missed them dearly and look forward to having the whole clan next year.

Here are the pictures from Friday night and Saturday on the beach.  I started this blog post about five days ago so I'm going to be brief and get this up.

Elliott and Katherine meeting each other under the close supervision of Kate and Trevor.  Anne and Steve look on.



Woah!  Stripes!

Elliott getting ready to go to the beach

The whole group on the beach (with a couple of babysitters)

Holy cuteness.  Katherine was very interested in her bathing suit, as was I.  Girl clothes are so cute.  Elliott better have a sister (or girl cousin) someday so I can pick out cute little outfits.

We took about a million pictures of these two.

Anne and Kate.  Anne came all the way from Beirut, Lebanon.  And Kate from DC with a one year old.  Probably an equivalent level of effort.  

Genevieve and Elliott.  G arrived from San Francisco at 3 am on Saturday.  Travel trooper.

Getting messy

My boy and me

Baby bums

Working on walking.  Nope, we're not there yet, but we're close.

Katherine is so calm and delicate compared to Elliott.  She's two months older and he has about four pounds on her (a lot when you weigh 19 and 23 pounds).

Checking out the water

Kate, Trevor, and Katherine

Hey, check out this cup.  All the grown ups have them.

Steve, Anne, G, and Trevor

E doing his DJ move, as Steve called it.  He has found his ears.

Dirty boy

And now we're eating sand . . .