Tupperware!

Nathan is currently enamored with grabbing things, banging them together, banging on them with his hands, transferring them from one hand to the other, shaking them to see if they rattle, tasting them, using them as teethers... he's in a constant state of exploration, and it is so fascinating and funny to watch!

This morning I am home with Nathan, as I am flying off on my first post-baby business trip this afternoon. The panic and guilt I feel about this is awful, but the one positive is getting to spend today with my little guy.

My phone was nearby this morning (real camera in the other room) so I took some photos and video of Nathan discovering the joys of tupperware!

Nathan's also starting to be really interested in books--pointing at the pictures, turning the pages, and of course tasting them! :)

Tupperware + playing with Mommy = FUN!

Happy Hour with the Andersons

Sorry I haven't posted lately; things have been really hectic at work and home! Last week the Andersons were in town from Connecticut. Becky was nice enough to set some time aside from her vacation to shoot some photos of Nathan--I am dying to see them! She is a fantastic photographer, and after years of encouragement from friends and family, she has taken the huge step of creating her own photography business!! Check out her site: http://www.beckyandersonphotography.com/.

In addition to the photo shoot, we got to see Becky, Andy, Hannah and Leah at Bell's for happy hour on Friday. The beer garden at Bell's in the summertime is full of little kids running around, so it was the perfect place for a gathering. The Hilliards were there, as well as Becky's mom, Michele, Nabil and some other friends of the Andersons that I rarely get to see.

Every time I get together with Becky I am reminded anew what a great person she is, and how much I miss seeing her every week.

I took a few pictures with my phone (I forgot to bring my real camera) so the resolution isn't great, but you get the idea! :)

Becky and Michele


Robert, Patti, Nathan and Carter (peeking through between his mom and dad!)


Hannah and Teah (who I have recently learned is 4 1/2, not 3) coloring together


Big girl Hannah with her pretzel!

One of Leah's specialties is emptying an entire box of baby wipes in a matter of seconds!

Dan's birthday

On Sunday we went to Dan and Nancy's house to celebrate Dan's birthday. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed our meal out on the deck. I love summer!

Uncle Jordan, Nathan and Todd hanging out on the couch.


Nathan and the giraffe that Grandma Nancy got him in Suttons Bay.


Apparently Jordan's shoelaces looked tasty!


Playing with the stacking bowls.

The birthday boy blowing out his candles.

My cute hubby

Mini-reunion

On Saturday we had a mini-reunion with some of my dearest friends from college. By some delightful coincidence, Jenn, Lindsey and Annalee were all in Kalamazoo the same weekend, and our family and the Hilliards were home as well. We had a potluck dinner together and just enjoyed each other's company and watched the kids play together. Nathan was in heaven with his very own big kids running around! Lindsey and Mike's son (Austin, 4) and daughter (Addison, 22 months) were so cute and so well behaved. Unfortunately, Patti and Robert's daughter (Teah, 3) got sick that day, so Patti and Robert came over in shifts without the kids. It was a bummer that we didn't get to see Teah and Carter, but the great thing about having the Hilliards living in town made it possible for Patti and Robert to still join in on the fun! Dan and Mike were in town at a golf tournament all day, but they stopped by for a little while at the end of the night. I would have liked to spend more time catching up with them, but was really happy we were able to chat for a little while. I didn't take many pictures since I was busy chatting, but I did manage to snap a few:

Austin, Nathan and Addison playing in the living room.


Isn't Austin a cutie??

Do you think Nathan is teething?? Check out all that drool!

Jenn and Annalee enjoying dinner.

Linds with all of the kids.

Alcatraz

On Monday we took the ferry out to Alcatraz. The admission fee included a roundtrip (thank goodness!) ferry ride and an audio tour, which was narrated by former Alcatraz corrections officers and inmates. It was great to be able to wander around the prison while learning about the different places, the history and the people. It is a really neat and pretty creepy place. We were all surprised by how small it is--not a ton of cells, but they housed some of the most notorious prisoners of the time. While in the recreation yard, those prisoners had some of the most breathtaking views of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire bay--they could certainly see what they were missing!

View of the island from the ferry.

View of the prison from a little way above the dock--it was a little bit of a hike to get up to the main building, as it's perched at the very top of the island.

View from the recreation yard. Except for the whole being in prison part, it's a beautiful spot!


View of the prison from the corner of the recreation yard.

My sweet boy and I.

Joanna and Steve watching the baby seagulls who were all along the edge of the island.

Nathan having lunch before we started the tour--can't go to prison on an empty stomach!

Father and son

The cells were really small.

One of the main corridors.

Todd checking out the view from outside of the Warden's office.

San Francisco!

Todd making himself at home!

Do you think they would let Nathan and I be roommates?

They look awfully happy for being inmates!

After we returned to the mainland, we swung through Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf to see the sea lions and the crazy tourist scene. The sea lions were really cute, but more than a little odiferous, and Fisherman's Wharf was totally overwhelming, especially at the end of the day! It made me glad that we were hanging out with the locals. :)

Golden Gate Bridge

Sunday afternoon we went to visit the Golden Gate Bridge. Today I was describing it to Leslie as something I've known about my whole life that completely lived up to my high expectations--it is stunningly beautiful! We admired it from afar, and then walked to the first tower.

The fog over the SF Bay was really crazy; it would just roll in and out, sporadically blanketing the entire area in fog, and then disappearing just as quickly.


Joanna examining the width of the main cables.


Nathan was exhausted after flirting with every single person on the bus, so he was sound asleep during our entire time at the Bridge. It was cold and windy out by the water, so Todd zipped him up inside his sweatshirt!

Can you tell that Nathan is in this picture??

The only hint that there was a baby inside that sweatshirt!

Moments before, this was a beautiful view of downtown SF--see the pictures above as proof!

Looking up to the top of the tower.

And down to the bottom of the tower.