Life in Gear

Butterfly Pavilion

2016-04-02T00:16:00.001-04:00

In today's edition of spring break staycation, we went to the Butterfly Pavillion and checked out some awesome invertebrates!

Children's Museum

2016-04-02T00:08:00.001-04:00

In today's edition of spring break staycation, we went to the Denver Children's

Museum with Gavin's best friend.

Sweet Sound of Silence

2012-05-05T09:21:00.001-04:00

Exhale.

For the first time in over four and a half months I'm in our house ALONE. Sweet sweet blissful silence. If our bird Molly dares a cheep she might be banished for ruining this moment.

I'm scrambling to do some tasks before a trip but who cares, Chris took the boys out and I have no bums to wipe or mouths to feed or tears to dry. Sweet sweet silence.

Happy to have landed in DC!

2010-04-26T08:41:00.001-04:00

While Ethan seemed more than content to climb on and cuddle with his mom for 6 straight hours in an Economy seat, we were BOTH happy to be back home! The nearby passengers that literally cursed upon seeing a baby seated near them came over and complimented how good he was!

"We made it Mommy!"

Stories and pics from our trip to LA coming soon!

We have the greatest friends and family- and a pretty cute kid too!

2010-04-16T09:37:00.002-04:00

Thanks to everyone's votes, facebook posts, and emails, Ethan won a $1,000 prize for being an "Impossibly Cute Kid- Fan Favorite"! That money will be gone one day, but the sense of support from our family and friends will be a lifelong memory.

Now the voting site shows this headline:

Wow, if he kept this up, Ethan would start paying for himself! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who put in all that effort!

Yes, he owns another shirt

2010-04-13T14:22:00.001-04:00

As I was writing this post to share with you the last bit of our Easter adventure visiting the cherry blossoms, my dear sis wrote me asking, "So, does your kid have another shirt besides that Obama one?" (I bet my Grandpa was wondering the same question!) Why yes, he does, but he did grow out of most of his short sleeve shirts so it is in heavy rotation! So here's the disclaimer, these three posts are from the same day, I do cloth my child, but I also do need to go shopping now that it's getting warmer.

Finally, here are our pictures with the cherry blossoms!

(testing for pollen allergies apparently)

When your kid becomes a tourist attraction

2010-04-13T13:51:00.000-04:00

When we last went to the National Mall to see the cherry blossoms, we stopped by some beautiful tulips for a couple of pictures. Little did we know what would occur...

We snapped a few pictures...

Ethan wanted to eat a flower...

And while we posed... it happened.

A small line started of people. Asking to take pictures with our child. Really?!

This woman borrowed someone's Easter balloon to get a smile for her photo op.

Needless to say, we found it hilarious!

If Ethan starts getting vain though, I'm telling him it was only because of his Obama shirt. (See what your gift started, Caroline and Frank?)

I have the two most handsome men in the world in my life!

2010-04-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

"Weeeeee!"

"This is the best ride...."

"ever!"

Help make Ethan a winner?

2010-04-02T10:58:00.001-04:00

I'm so proud of my little redhead! A few weeks back I entered a photo I took of Ethan in Babble's Impossibly Cute Kid Photo Contest. Out of thousands of entries, he was chosen as one of the top 20 finalists! Now it's down to popular vote to see which child wins $1,000!!

If you have a spare moment between now and April 15th, mind voting for our little model?

Click here to vote!

There's no registration or log in needed, it's a simple click! And family members out there... you can show your love by voting once a day until the 15th if you'd like! ;)

Thanks in advance for validating his Mommy's vanity and

for helping put some cash in his college fund!

Update: 4/16- YOU DID IT!! ETHAN WON!

Put a kid in overalls...

2010-03-25T11:20:00.000-04:00

and he goes all Tallahasee on ya! Or is it Pennsylvania? Oh boy.

And Ethan, if you think growing up with parents who met working as a Hall Director and a Campus Police Officer gives you a chance at underage drinking in your house? Oh buddy!

Get ready for some seriously un-cool teenage years, son.

Ethan's thoughts on Obamacare?

2010-03-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

"You mean before, if I got real sick, insurance companies could drop me because my treatments cost too much or reject me because of a 'pre-existing condition'? And I'd get kicked off of Mommy and Daddy's insurance right when I graduate college, even when I'm in law school?"

"But not anymore?! Thanks Obama!!"

Smart kid.

Seriously buzzed.

2010-03-24T15:32:00.000-04:00

Others may get high off of smoking a joint or popping a pill, but I get seriously high when I find a good deal. Especially those very hard to find promo codes coupled with a cash back kick back. Oh sweet online shopping, you're so good to me.

Our little leprechaun...

2010-03-17T22:25:00.000-04:00

says Happy St. Paddy's Day!

(what do you do when your redheaded baby doesn't own a green shirt for St. Patrick's Day? Don't let him wear one at all! Can't ruin the photo op!)

Swinging Towards Spring!

2010-03-09T12:38:00.001-05:00

It is finally warming up and looking more and more like spring is upon us. What better way to celebrate than introduce Ethan to the swingset!

Here's a video of his first few pushes!

We chose our house, in part, because of the multi-acre park adjacent to the backyard with a full playground.

I think Ethan approves of our decision!

Stomach flu and parenting don't mix

2010-03-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

Chris and I are finally coming out on the other side of a brutal stomach flu, ugh. Ethan seemed to know we didn't have much energy, and kindly played with his toys solo longer than he usually does. And as I laid groaning on the couch, he showed off his new skill and pulled himself up to stand on the couch next to my face and flashed a huge smile, over and over. Nothing made me feel better than that! Now here's to hoping that he doesn't catch it!

And the race to babyproof begins!

2010-03-01T13:22:00.000-05:00

Ethan is flying around the house on all fours, and as of this weekend, is pulling himself up to stand. Luckily, we had gotten the gate up in front of the kitchen in time!

"Ha-ha! You guys were just one step ahead of me!"

"Daddy, I can help with the dishes!"

"Just because you're a police officer doesn't mean I have to be behind bars!"

To this I just smile and tsk, tsk. He's growing far to fast for his Mommy.

Putting the "date" in "playdate"!

2010-03-01T13:04:00.000-05:00

Ethan had his first real playdate this weekend, and all the moms noticed who had the best moves with the ladies!

"So ladies, come here often?"

"I bet your boyfriend can't crawl like this!"

"Oh, don't be mad about me talking to your friend! There's enough of Ethan to go around!"

Then, taking his cue from Lady & the Tramp...

Ethan coyly shared a rattle (spaghetti isn't on their 7 month old menu yet!).

Ethan finally found his play date.

Family "Staycation" Travel Journal, Day 2

2010-02-23T15:00:00.001-05:00

The first thing on our day's agenda was Ethan's first swim in a pool! Chris had ensured he booked a hotel with an indoor heated pool, and while the snow was frozen outside, we got to take him for his first swim inside!

Ethan sported his bathing suit for the first time. Our good friend Laura had given Ethan that suit during my baby shower... did she know ahead of time it would match his hair?

Oh, he knew he looked good, and wanted to show off his big muscles!

Modeling from the pool table...

to pool side!

"Let's do this Mommy!"

He looked puzzled at the vast body of water below.

Here's a video of his first dip!

Confident now, he got ready to do his favorite activity all morning...

SPLASH!

Looking like prunes, we finished our morning swim and continued on to explore the National Harbor some more.

Brrrr! The view was beautiful, but it was much colder than the warm indoor pool.

And during our visit to the Gaylord Conference Center ...

Ethan wanted to go back to swimming too!

"Is this art sculpture (The Awakening) coming to tickle me?"

"Thanks Daddy for planning such an awesome trip!"

Staycation over, now back to the real world...

Our Family "Staycation" Travel Journal, Day 1

2010-02-23T12:05:00.004-05:00

This past weekend Chris planned for us a "Family Staycation," exploring a couple local treasures, the National Harbor and Old Town Alexandria. He got a fabulous room for the three of us at Aloft Hotel, and knew that showing his frugal wife he got it at a huge discount on it would make the stay even more fun for her! It was a really special weekend and I've been looking forward to sharing our travel journal of sorts with you. Be forewarned, we both had our cameras on us, and were accompanied by our favorite subject!

Ethan settled into the hotel right away, I think he liked its modern decor!

We started our first morning heading out to breakfast overlooking the Harbor.

Ethan flashed his two new pearly whites in approval!

We then explored the waterfront at nearby Old Town Alexandria. Chris had taken me there on our third date, so it brought back some of the new relationship memories!

"I love it when you have days off Mommy!"

Being the Obamababy he is, Ethan spotted the Obama's in front of a local store...

and our family caught another photo op with the First Family.

We headed back to our hip hotel so our little man could nap...

which Ethan thought was hilarious!

"Haha! Who naps on Staycation!?"

As these eyes were NOT shutting that afternoon...

we went to lounge around in the lobby.

Ethan became his very own...

Ethan-in-a-Box!

We ended the day enjoying National Harbor's restaurant week at a very, very delicious Asian Fusion restaurant Grace's Mandarin.

The view of the sunset over the Harbor was beautiful from our table. (Photo credit: Chris!)

After Ethan enjoyed a quick dinner, he fell fast asleep in his stroller (must have been that lack of nap), and graciously gave his Mommy and Daddy a quiet dinner together! It felt like we were on a date night with a sitter.

We highly recommend their amazing calamari!

And their Teriyaki salmon, crunchy shrimp rolls, and spicy tuna sushi was even more incredible!

The perfect ending to a fantastic first day.

Daddy's Beard Tickles!

2010-02-16T14:49:00.003-05:00

First crawling, now standing (supported)? We didn't give permission for this!

2010-02-15T14:11:00.000-05:00

Ethan decided to celebrate his 7 month birthday by standing!

"Does my butt look big from this angle?"

"Sigh... the view from sitting down isn't as exciting anymore."

Ethan's Crawling!

2010-02-15T14:00:00.001-05:00

Watch out world, our little man is on the move! We call this his "Ricky Bobby" outfit, and it was fitting for him to wear the racing outfit his Aunt Tina got him for the occasion!

Afterwards, he was very pleased with his performance!

You can see below what he was doing one week before building up to this big feat! He had finally accomplished getting on his hands and knees, but couldn't quite figure out where to go from there.

He would spend 20 minutes at a time rocking back and forth, stuck in one spot!

But that's no more, little man is officially on the move! Let the babyproofing commence!

A special bonus was the fact that his mommy was working from home this past week and was unusually there for another first. I've lucked out seeing his first roll and first crawl!

This is "Snoverkill"

2010-02-09T11:33:00.000-05:00

We had 20-30" in the first round, and today we're expecting 10-20" more?! Corinne's been telecommuting since last Friday and some schools have already announced they're closing for the rest of the week!

Here's Snowmageddon from space:

C'mon Mother Nature, let the first round melt a little bit first? The plows have no where to put the snow!

We made it through Snowmageddon!

2010-02-06T20:30:00.001-05:00

fter about 20 inches of snow, it was time for this family to dig our way out.

The adventure began with bundling Ethan. You can see how excited he was about wearing this many layers. "A Christmas Story" anyone?

Ethan and Chris looked at the level of snow from inside our porch door.

"Daddy, I'm glad both my parents aren't from Florida! Your Pennsylvania experience is going to come in handy today!"

Ethan wasn't so sure about this whole winter thing as the snowflakes hit his face.

We wondered if it was too cold for our little tot...

...he thought about it...

... and decided "This is fun!"

This is Ethan acting as our little ruler. He's standing in a section shoveled by his Daddy, that's the top of the snow meeting the back of his head!

There's a car under there! The Floridian in the family never would have known to put the windshield wipers up before the storm.

And our toasty home buried next to it.

Corinne (and Ethan strapped on) shoveled once for an obligatory photo op.

And Chris...

... plowed through the rest!

We went back inside to enjoy the rest of the weekend at home together.

It's a White Wednesday!

2010-02-03T11:04:00.002-05:00

Pushing the stroller to the metro this morning for the great DC Baby Exchange (when I'm getting to work in DC, and Chris is leaving work in the city, and we pass off the little man over a little family breakfast) was quite an adventure! Several inches of snow blanketed our neighborhood and no one else was crazy enough to be outside, nevermind to shovel their walk. Do they sell strollers with mini-snow plows on the front? This Floridian isn't used to this!

Our home looked beautiful on the outside, but it would have been nicer to have been toasty on its inside!

Here's a view of the park in our backyard after the overnight snow. And there's more to come, so says the groundhog anyhow.