Catching Up

It's been a very busy week, especially now that Mommy can't work from home much anymore. But we love, love, love having Grammy here! Just being able to hang out together every evening (and sneak in some lunches out during the workweek) is wonderful. Blanden has still been going to daycare, but on the days that Mommy can work from home, he gets to come home early, to play with Grammy.

Grammy captured this photo. Adorable!

Now that Blanden goes to school, his own toys are doubly interesting when he gets home. (We don't exactly encourage this, but it's a cute photo and we know Papa is especially missing Blanden and Grammy this week, so we're catching up.)

Blanden is not always sure which flavor lollipop he might like, so he usually gets to try two.

Blanden had his first Valentine's Day school party on Friday. The room was fully decorated, complete with balloons; they listened to Valentine's music; and the kids exchanged cards -- and even got a little candy from their teachers. The teachers said no one napped as well or as long as usual because they were all to wound up and in party mode. Blanden was so excited to sort through and show us his cards when he came home -- and to try the little conversation hearts in his box. (As you can tell, his mouth is quite full.)

Last night Blanden got to stay up late (two hours past his bedtime!) to watch some of the Olympic opening ceremonies.

We all had a Thai Basil picnic in the living room to celebrate. Blanden is a big fan of pork pot stickers.

This morning Daddy and Blanden treated Mommy and Grammy to brunch at a swanky new restaurant that opened recently in the neighborhood. It was delicious! And Blanden was on his best behavior. He ordered his own plate of scrambled eggs and toast, but preferred the lobster from Mommy's crepe. ;) Afterward, Grammy treated us all to an afternoon at the children's museum. Photos from that to come...

Superbowl Sunday

We enjoyed a relaxing weekend back at home, with a little shopping, a little family, and a lot of playtime.

Yesterday Jeremy, Gretchen, Aunt Nancy, and Uncle Jim came over for a pre-party before the Superbowl. Although you can't quite tell here, Blanden loves playing with his cousins. (It looks like he's being held captive, but he actually jumped right into the big-kid action.)

On Friday Blanden has a Valentine's Day party at school. The kids were charged with decorating a Kleenex box ahead of time in which to store all of their cards on the big day.

We decided to go with stickers. Blanden put all of the Elmo Valentine stickers on his box by himself, wherever he wanted them to go. He thought that was fun. (He actually doesn't know who Elmo is, but the stickers were cute -- and seemed a better choice for B than the hearts and other assorted puppies and kittens that were available.)

Today Grammy got to see Blanden's classroom (and Blanden got to come home a little early from school to play!), and tonight Grammy came to music class. The teacher brought in a microphone to let each child take a turn practicing singing into -- and Blanden did it! Blanden carefully watched his teacher, then tentatively and quietly mimicked her by singing back in front of the whole class! He's pretty shy in group settings, so this was a big accomplishment. He came back to Mommy Daddy's laps looking a little sheepish but also very proud of himself.

Mr. Sandman

Today was a special and fun-filled day. I got to meet Mommy's godfather, my great uncle Jim, and my great aunt Becky, who live in Orlando, for lunch at Macaroni Grill halfway between our two houses. That was nice, but after driving 1 1/2 hours each way, I was ready to get out of the car.

So on the way home we stopped off in Venice, which is on the Gulf Coast, so that I could see the beach and the ocean for the first time. Mommy wanted to at least take a picture of me with my toes in the sand -- and she got so much more than that: I LOVED playing in the sand!

Mommy was afraid to sit me down it in at first, thinking that a big fistful of sand would go straight into my mouth, but I surprised her by not eating any at all. Instead I had so much fun exploring the texture and kicking the sand with my with feet and raking it and picking it up in my hands. I even got to dip my toes into the ocean while Papa held onto me.

While we were there we watched a gorgeous sunset over the water, and we saw dolphins swimming very close by, which was really neat, but the sand was the real highlight for me. I got to stay up late, past my bedtime, because I was having so much fun we didn't want to leave. I played until I didn't have any energy left to play anymore, and then I napped on the way home.

This morning Daddy asked Mommy to be sure I got a Valentine's Day treat today since this is my first Valentine's Day. This was it!

Being buried in the sand by Papa.

The gorgeous roses Daddy sent to Mommy to surprise her on Valentine's Day. We miss and love you very, very much.

Happy Valentine's Day!