chocolate

We took a little road trip up to Gaithersburg after reading about this chocolate factory tour online.  The place really delivered in the chocolate department, although the factory was more of a kitchen.  It was worth the trip just to try their milk chocolate which is over 54% real chocolate.  My friend's girls and Aiden really seemed to pay attention and heard about how the cocoa beans they harvested ended up as chocolate.  The gelato, truffles and bon bons spoiled all of us.

top off

To top off the week...and top off our tanks...we did convince daddy that a trip to the water park was in order.  We felt like we hit the gold rush at Pete the Prospector's Water Mine.  It took Aiden over an hour to stop saying to his brother or any one that would listen, "Oh, look at that, you are not going to believe your eyes!"  J and Aiden took round one and I caught them rush past at 2.5 mph on the rattlesnake lazy river, but quickly lost them in the crowd.  Then Aiden and I were onto round two, where he showed me around like Pete's assistant water prospector.  There were huge rafts to venture through the lazy river complete with jets and a tunnel, big floaty tippy animals to float on, and tons of slides big and small.  The biggest slides allowed for kids to ride in their parent's lap.  Big Pete, the tallest slide, was the first I rode with Aiden and I learned to keep my mouth shut on the way into the water.  It still amazes me that these resort-like parks are owned by the county park system.  Can't wait for KC to join in the water fun, but he loves chillaxin in the shade.  Then we were off to a winery not too far up the road (although the early traffic bug bit us at 3:30ish - boo) to meet my friend and her great friends... The hit of the party was this set of wooden donuts with wooden icing attached by velcro.  Simple toys are so much fun especially when dad makes them disappear and reappear...  After the magician dad finished his wine, we headed off to some turkey lurky dinner at Bobby Evan's!  Ooh, yum.  Then to finish off a nice day we cruised over to the grocery mecca Wegman's (which has a steeple like thing on the roof, so Aiden asked if we were going to church) and we walked around in awe and moaned that there wasn't one closer for us to go to all the time.

summer week

We are just eating up the summer around here.  We had a week that started with a family trip to the DMV, and it was all fun and games after two hours at the DMV with two small littles.  Both cars are registered and we both have VA licenses now.  We went to see Circus in a Suitcase at the library, which was a one man show by some guy that has performed for the president (and made sure we knew).  We grooved with Groovy Nate at this Lebanese restaurant where they have free kids meals for lunch - so yummy!  We had our friends over for a nice (perfect weather) day at the beach.  We also cruised to one of the many parks around here and enjoyed a "tour boat" ride complete with turtle and crane sightings.  KC is teething on dad during his first boat ride:

Now it's Friday, and I vote for a trip to one of these wicked cool water parks around here!  Let's see if I can convince Daddy J ;)

touristbot

The Brickfair Touristbot caught our shot!  Here is the funny shot taken by that robot made out of legos.  A little mini Uncle David photo bombed over Aiden's shoulder.  And watch out if you play with legos too often your mullet will puff out (see over my right shoulder)...

lego brickfair

The Brick Fair is a once a year deal around here that I'd heard about on the flyer you get in your bag at the Lego Store.  When we first arrived right when it opened there was a huuuge line that as we walked in the hot sun to find the end of, Aiden sorta decided for us that he'd rather go see the space shuttle.  We checked back after lunch and there was no more line (!) and we cruised right in...

The fair this year had a special NASA theme, so it just went along with our earlier trip to the air and space museum.

KC slept nearly the entire time (almost three hours!) in the Moby on J's broad chest.  He loves the hum of a huge crowd.

There were many categories of lego... including one that caused this reaction... The ApocoLego which was all these scenes of the apocolypse made out of lego with some "cool" older lego creators. 

Aiden's favorite was the area where you could actually play with legos.  It's hard to look at all these structures and not be able to touch!  He created some cars to race.  After he raced his first and it crashed into pieces at the end of the ramp, he decided to add a propeller and pretend it could fly.  Then he would fly it over the track and gently tap it on the finish line, so he wouldn't destroy his precious creation he'd worked hard on... made me laugh... we were lucky he was willing to leave it behind.  My favorite was the mosaic section:

I wish I had more photos - but thanks to flickr you can check out a bunch from this guy's public gallery:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bosta/sets/72157627262339953/

Page 2 has the coolest stuff...

take one

Good news: Saturday night there was a moon bounce with a slide that later turned into a water slide!  ...because of this rain storm that cruised into the area very quickly leaving our little family of four, our stroller, and our baby bag huddled under our waterproof picnic blanket.  That blanket kept all but J's backside dry for the 15 minute hard rain that left others with flooded chairs and soggy blankets (and hot dogs still on the plate if you look closely)  Everyone was huddled someplace trying to stay dry and when the rain cleared they fired the grills back up and went on with the party.  This neighborhood is so neighborly it's almost out of another era... It's just so much fun to meet people that are just excited to meet you. They even gave us a huuuge welcome bag full of wine, nuts, treats, and info about the area.  We lugged that bag home on the short walk, and made it home right before another rain cloud took over the area.

We woke up on Sunday to another bright sunny day... And cruised straight over to near Dulles for the Lego Brick Fest.  After arriving just as it opened and walking around the expo center to find the end of the line (we figure at least a mile), we convinced Aiden that he'd rather go see a space shuttle!  So we cruised down the road to the Air and Space Museum Dulles campus, which was a hit.  I was amazed that the space shuttle isn't bigger than it is (sorta looked like a stumpy fat airplane).  But we are fairly persistent people and we did end up going back to the Brick Fest and there was no more line after lunch... more on that later...  So here is an iPhone peek at Sunday part one:

growing gift

This snip was an experiment in this editing program.  Our little chunk grew so quickly!  It's hard to believe it's the same baby.

Gift of a growing baby from LB on Vimeo.

wet

Here are some snips from the pool - That big bucket of water was a hit!

Pool Cool from LB on Vimeo.

neighborhood beaches

So far our neighborhood is delivering on the high expectations we set... A highlight are the beaches, where we have now sampled two of the five. We even visited early this morning to learn about the lake fish- Aiden listened patiently and learned how to handle a blue fin...  While he and dad were busy doing that KC and I made a new set of friends.  The mom told me that they've been here a year and feel like they live at "camp" surrounded by docks and canoes.   Later this afternoon there is a neighborhood BBQ on the beach! Aiden is going to get those dancing feet kicking in the sand to the live band...and there is a rumor of a moon bounce!

Yep, that's the cool kid baby hanging out with mommy in our shady grassy spot.  I thought the beach bag was the perfect size for him.  He made some giggle faces, and then the face on the right, which I think says, "Alright, mom, get me out of the beach bag, or I'll have to give you a knuckle sandwich!"

park

It's hard to believe this was nearly a month ago when we were in moving mode relaxing in Ohio.  (Still can't thank my parents enough for everything!)  These were all taken at the metro parks which is just beautiful this time of year - I've never seen so many lily pads out at the same time...didn't get many shots of the whole lake/inlet/whatever it is because we were chasing the snooks around to get his giggles on camera.

Pool cool!

The city water park 2 miles from our house! Can't forget the beach at the end of our street too ;)

cousins

Aiden was so excited to see his cousins and I'm glad they will have more fun now that we are closer.  He was beyond excited in anticipation and even more excitable when they were here. 

interview with AB

One word to describe you would be:
Monkey!
Why do you like being a kid?
Because I have lots of time to play with toys like a kid!
If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why?
I would be an owl because I like listening to the hoot hoot hoot
Tell about a funny time in your life.
When we went to visit my new school
What is your favorite thing to do? Why?
Getting new books at the new libraries
What do you love most about your sibling?
That he doesn't have muscles or bones yet...
What was the nicest thing you did for someone?
Making brownies for our neighbors - I stir!
What do you think you will be doing 10 years from now?
Playing with cars
What is the grossest thing you can think of?
Worms!
What is your happiest memory?
When I don't need to go to the dentist

Was happy that he didn't remember last month at all:
http://ababybrennan.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-with-ab.html

Choooo!

Choo choo lovers at Museum of American History

4 months

Dear Sweet KC,

What a big month in your little life...  You became a Virginia resident and an exerbouncer (listed in no particular order).   You have no idea where you are except for the fact that we live in this sunny place with lots of windows and big trees to watch while nursing.   I do think your hammy legs are so happy to bebop across your new piano bouncer (Thx again to your uncle, aunt, and cousins). You were almost officially growing out of your gym hippo pad because you liked to knock it over and than laugh!

We survived the move and kept our sense of humor.  Thanks to your Gran and Pop, who are the most generous baby cuddlers and all around the most easy going, generous help.  You remained calm in your Gran's arms while I jumped around like a goof as the brand new toaster went up in flames.  Your brother likes to make you giggle by doing an impersonation of your crazy mom yelling fire!  Thanks to your smiles all summer long I've kept my sanity.  You took your third and fourth flights in your short life, and you stayed awake nearly the whole flight both times (very much unlike your brother who used to konk out).  You were giving me a run for my money the third trip and I had to goofy face at you nearly the entire trip to avoid your squawk box routine.

We are settled in here in this house full of windows and in this state full of humidity.  You will glance up at me from your car seat or the moby when we walk outside with this face of concern... It seems to say, "Um, mom, we just walked into an oven full of steaming water bowls!"  You will squawk in the car if it is too hot or too cold.  I am starting to figure out the right temperature (thank goodness for the back air vents) and the right songs that make both you and your brother happier.  The Sirius radio kids beats are a saving grace, because really who can cry through Kermit singing the Rainbow Connection... Really!?  You have this coughy cry that you pull out in very extenuating circumstances that is designed to tear my heart strings into smithereens.  Luckily, you can turn it off just as quickly as you turn it on though.  I think that some of those big cries are caused by some seismic shifts in your gums.  There are teeth buds right below the surface, and before looking closely I thought I even felt one peeking out already.  Not quite yet, and teething will be a long and winding road...I remember that road but I'm betting our path won't be quite the same.

We had a blast on our trip to Ohio where you met your family fan club cuddle team.  You are one lucky little cuddler.  You even got to meet your Gigi as she is recovering, which was a special treat.  Since we've been here in VA, you have had fun meeting some new friends and some of mommy's old friends.  There is something about certain people that really charms you.  One friend in particular was so sweet and even calmed you in the car when you flipped that switch.  I dubbed her the baby whisperer because I don't think I've managed to calm you (without picking you up) like that.   You pull out big dimply smiles for the friendly faces, which I'm still trying to fully catch on camera with good light.

We have a new hammock in our yard that we all piled onto one cooler evening.  You squealed as we all slumped towards the middle.  Then you grabbed a big clump of my hair and held on tight.  The comfort hair grab has already started and I seem to remember being inspired to chop off all my hair around this time with Aiden.  I do love when you reach out to hold my finger especially when you are sleepy.  I just eat up all these moments that I know I will miss once you are a three year old joker like your brother.

You have a funny baby roar that you like to do especially with your daddy.  He will stand you up on his lap and you will roar and try to lunge towards him with your baby strength.  You love to get that reaction and then you calmly retreat into your cuddle mode.  You are such a cuddler and I love holding you while you nap especially in your own personal hammock, the Moby wrap.  You coo at me when you see me put it on...  You can nap through nearly everything except that loud fourth of july parade (where we had to hold your ears!).  You have expressions that mirror your dad almost exactly, although he doesn't recognize them like I do.  There is just something about that brow line that must be genetic.

I feel so lucky to be your full time mommy.  Your dad likes to point out that your ham (and there is plenty in breast fed babies who eventually slim down) all came from me.  I'm so glad to keep up with you and all your cuddling.  Thanks for keeping up with the rest of us and extra big thanks when you decide to be calm in the car.  Here's to more quiet drives this month.  You have a specific hungry cry that sounds like you're calling AAA... and I hear ya now...  Love ya, MamAAA