Taking it easy...

Well, today has just been a day to take it easy.  We didn't go to the gym, but just took our time eating breakfast, played and cleaned up, then headed to the pool for an hour before lunch.  LJ loves the pool!  He had me chasing him all around - he'd run straight to me, into the pool.  I try to get him to walk, but he doesn't seem to understand yet.  We swam, looked at the fountain, sat in chairs...just enjoyed a little while outside.  

For lunch, he had a bit of pasta, some chicken and a kiwi.  We took Rookie out to lay at the water, then he took a good nap.  He usually wakes up within an hour of laying down, but if I lay down with him, he can get a good nap in.  

When he woke up, we headed back to the water to pay with Rookie and look for ducks.  I brought my good camera -- that's where most of the pictures from today were taken.  That and inside while we were eating dinner.  He drank some of his milk out of his "big boy" cup today.  Usually he doesn't like the way it tastes, but it didn't seem to bother him today.  He drank about half of a cup before we put the rest in his sippy.  

He's talking more - saying things like "more tea", "hold you", "rookie...walk", "duck...eat".  He has no problem letting me know what he needs, and I think that is so cool.  We had a good, easy day.  I kept thinking he'd get bored, but he seemed to enjoy just lounging with mom.  I know he wouldn't like it every day, but we watched some Blue's Clues and Diego together, talking about what we saw.  It really was nice.  I've felt tired today, and I think he has, too, so it was just what we needed.

I hope you got what you needed today as well.  I'm going to put this computer up and get him in the bath before we take Rookie for his final outing of the night.  We miss and love you!  

Lance - see you Sunday night!  

Love,

Jamie

Throwback video

LJ and I were watching some old videos this morning -- this was his favorite :)

Hi!

Well, it's bedtime, and today went quickly.  It was another early morning, but we used to to get to work out early and quickly.  I only left LJ in childcare for 45 minutes because I planned to do a class tonight and didn't want him to spend so much time there.  He enjoys going to play there in the morning, so we kept it in our schedule.  I swam a few laps then picked him up to go ride our bike to the harbor.

We ate lunch at a cool "tapas" place on the water around some shops.  It was 20 dollars for all-u-can-eat, so LJ and I ate away.  For 20 bucks, we shared chicken croquettes, french fries, a garden salad and four garlic shrimp ...PLUS a great chocolate dessert with vanilla ice cream on top!  I guess this is the stuff I'm working out for, huh?!  It's more money than I'd like to spend for lunch, but it was fun.  We both splurged and ate till we were full!

When I picked up LJ out of his high-chair, he was SOAKING wet...I guess I didn't put his diaper on correctly, and a little "something" was angled the wrong way.  Because of the lack of changing tables, I changed him on the bathroom floor, (horrible, I know), wiped us down with purel, then headed outside.  No one could tell he was wet but me, so I let him air dry while we played by the harbor.  We Horrible, huh?  What else can you do?  He drinks so much water, it's like he came out of a pool.  My friends with no kids are grimacing now...just wait :)  It happens...At least it was #1!  

As we headed home, we stopped in a photo booth to take some fun pictures.  The bike ride back was uneventful.  Upon arriving home, dry but dirty, I changed him, wiped him down and fed him dinner.  After dinner, we headed to the gym for my class and he LOVED going there at night.  I was so surprised.  I guess that he's full and rested, (evenings are great for him), so he was "perfect", to quote the sitter. He didn't know her, so I was expecting someone to come get me with a crying child.  Instead, I enjoyed a super-tough class, legs shaking and all as I came and got him.

When we got home, the Guthries wanted us to stop by.  We played for a bit then got Rookie to take him out with the gang.  Of course, we had to bring our bat and some bread for the ducks.  The ducks eat more of our bread then we do!  As we were feeding, our legs dangling over the edge, (we were careful), LJ threw bread AND his little bat into the water.  My fault...I should have known.  I have already contacted playskool for a replacement...he does everything but sleep with that little orange bat.  

So, that brings us to now...LJ all clean and tired, falling asleep.  I'm finishing up my day as well, and I hope you are ending your's well.

Sorry for the rambling entry, but I hope you enjoyed reading about it -- it was enjoyable living it!

Love you,

Jamie

Good day!

We had a great day today -- LJ was good in childcare while I worked out, then we went and got some lunch from Whole Foods - just a sushi bowl for me, and he got some grilled chicken.  After lunch, we played hard outside with Rookie before nap time.  I'm still maintaining that his teeth hurt -- he's up 45 minutes into his nap, so I have to lay down with him.  It's nice, though -- I hold those moments of quiet with him dear, and it makes me slow down for a bit.  

When we woke up, I had planned on us swimming, but it was very windy outside.  Instead, we headed back to the gym across the street and swam at the indoor pool.  The Guthries came with us, and we all had a great time.  Avery, who is four, swam for the first time without her swimmies, and she had NO problem.  She was swimming the while pool like a champ, so we came up for a celebratory cookie afterwards.  

Now, Lj has had his bath and is in bed.  I'm doing a bit of laundry and cleaning up before my bedtime.  Lance is in the central time zone tonight, so it would be around midnight if I stay up to talk to him.  I think I'll talk to him in the morning when he wakes up because I have an awfully early "wake-up call" in the morning :)

Don't miss the waffle video below I posted this morning -- :)

Love,

Jamie

Waffles!

Well, I had to post this video of LJ eating a waffle this morning.  It's not anything spectacular to most, but #1 - he doesn't normally eat anything like waffles.  #2 - he is really working on the fork thing.  Watching the video for me is almost excruciating -- wanting him to get the waffle on the fork and to his mouth, but I though it was great.  He's growing up!!!  Love you!

P.S.  Who knew?  Baltimore is famous for these cookies called "berger cookies".  I found them at the store last night - can't wait to share them!  A Berger cookie consists of a thin, soft sugar cookie with chocolate icing on top, (like the chocolate on top of krispy kreme donuts).  Amazing.  I had two ...in bed last night!  I'll beat out the crumbs before you come home, Lance!  :)  Here's the site for the cookies if you want to check it out:  

http://www.bergercookies.com

We miss you already, Lance!

Well, Lance is heading out today to Minnesota for 3 days, Toronto for 3, then Boston for 4.  This has been a crazy year for road trips, but we have weathered them well, I think.  This one comes on the heels of a long one a week before then another long one a week after.  I think that since Lance can't come to us, we may go to him in Boston.  Neither of us have ever been there and I think it will cut our time apart short as well.  LJ almost panics when he wakes up and I tell him dada is playing "baseball"...he knows it means he may not be back for a while, and he cries for him.  After a while, though, he wants to watch some baseball on t.v. and we act like we are watching Lance.  Like all of us, he's learning the lifestyle, and I think he handles it as well, or better than we do.  

Lance is really enjoying his team, so that helps a lot.  When he's on the road, I know he's enjoying himself.  He has enjoyable lunches and dinners with other players, and it's a load off our minds that he's not lonely.  LJ keeps me company, so we're both o.k. during these times.  It sure does make you look forward to July, though...and also the off-season!!!!  July is the all-star break and that means we've passed the half-way point of the season.  We're in the "home stretch" from there.

While Lance is gone, I get busy.  I'm very prepared for our day as I have no one to help me remember things, lift, or just get things together.  I'm more efficient with him not here than I am when he's here.  I have an extra sack of diapers, I rarely misplace keys, and I am prepared ahead of time for meals, planning and play times.  If anything, I wish I was as good while he's here.  

I think I let down and relax because I can, but that means he goes without the stocked fridge, planned meals and ease of transitions that my planning creates.  I told him I'd make him his favorite cookies to bring with him on his trip, but in the hustle and bustle, I didn't get it done.  Of course he doesn't care, but I know that while he's gone I 'll easily find the time to make them for him.  Why is that?  Maybe the baseball schedule is crazy when he's here?  Maybe that I slow down and live while he's home because he's an extra set of hands and I need them?  I don't know...I do look forward though, to being more rested and have more time so that I can be as good of a wife to him at home as I am a mom to LJ in his absence.  I'm not beating myself up -- being his wife is just a job I enjoy doing, and I look forward to the time an energy to doing it fully again.

That said, there will be more pictures soon.  I know my bursts of pics coincide with Lance's away trips.  He misses LJ so much that I know he wants as many pics as possible.  Because of that, you can enjoy more of them then as well.  See...I'm even less of a picture-taker when he's home :)  I guess I just let myself go!  

I hope your day was good.  As I was typing, I was having to stop to say , "I LOVE YOU" back to LJ.  He was saying it to me from his bed.  SO sweet.  I love those things and take them in fully whenever I can.  We miss you and love you lots!

Love,

Jamie

Early post!

Well, I wanted to go ahead and get a post in just in case I forgot tonight!  It is Lance's last day home before another long road trip, so we want to enjoy every minute of tonight as a family :)  I think God is using all these away trips to protect Lance's sleep!  When he comes home, he is so sweet and tries to help me out with LJ.  It's too much, though -- he has to perform, so after a week, he needs to go back on the road and sleep in a hotel to recuperate!  LJ is up a few times during the night now, and up for good around 6, so it's serious work when he doesn't get home till almost midnight.  I think we have a perpetual newborn on our hands!  Nah - just kidding - he's just teething again, I think.  No signs of fever, illness, but more drool, fussiness and always wanting a cold toothbrush.  We even have lemonade popsicles he loves and some COLD rooibos tea.  I think, other than sleep, we have it all covered.  

That being said, we did make it to church this morning.  Last week, we went to a church that was kind of far way.  It was only 17 miles on the interstate, but it took almost 40 minutes...even on a Sunday!  So, today, I tried a church within biking distance, downtown.  It was neat - it's called Grace Life Church, and it is made up of probably 70% orientals.  LJ was not happy about doing the childcare thing today, so I sat in there with him and watched church through a window.  It was nice.  I think I'll go back.  

At the church we went to last week, they wouldn't let me go in with him, and I had to literally "pass him through" a window.  It probably works better for LJ with me leaving immediately - he gets it cried out pretty quick and then plays.  For me, though, I like the calm transition.  He played independently with me watching church in the room, and the speakers allowed me to hear the message.  

The youth group just got back from Peru, sharing the gospel in the Amazon.  How cool is that?  I really enjoyed it, and with enough time and patience, LJ will be happy to go there.  I think, with the constant change of suroundings and teething, he deserves this luxury of having his mom near and not crying on Sunday.  Church shoud be a happy place for him, too. Hey - he's doing so good at they gym, that will eventually flow into other childcare.  We will just be patient.

Well, that's it for us.  LJ is napping now, and his helmet and backpack are waiting to go to the game when he wakes up.  We get to bike home with Lance, and that's so nice.  This is another 10 or 11 day road trip, and we are thinking of meeting him in Boston.  Supposedly, it's an awesome "family trip" with lots to do.  That would cut our time apart to a week -- Lj and Momma would be so happy - I'm sure Dada would love it, too.

Have a great rest of your day!! Get some extra sleep, put it in an envelope and send it to Baltimore!!

Love,

Jamie