End Of Summer Fun!

I just promised my mother a few hours ago that the second I got time, I would post images of our week in Ocean City. I was editing the images and I just had to post these instead! We had awful weather at the beach (we still had fun), and when I saw these bright sun-shiny images of Jake at the park yesterday (his first time on a swingset! his first time going down the slide!), I had to post these. Ocean City update coming soon - PROMISE!!

Uncle Chris Gets a Baseball Card!

Pardon the grainy apperance, this was forwarded from Chris' cell phone and I blew it up and played with the contrast and proportion so it is a little more legible (but still, a low-res cell phone pic). I'll try to get a better shot of the real thing once my in-laws bring some cards back from visiting with Chris.

Jake's Uncle Chris is with his team (the Casper Rockies) in Utah right now. Chris had been on a hot streak recently, going 6 for his last 9 with 4 RBIs, including a game-winning single in the bottom of the 9th on August 16th. Unfortunately, the next night, Chris was hit by a pitch (94 MPH fastball) in the arm and ended up with a cracked humerous. :( He will be fine, but he has to miss the last 2 weeks of the season. He ended his first pro season with a .259 batting average, 2 homeruns and 17 RBI (currently 5th for RBIs on the team).

We miss you and we're so proud of you Kiddo!

Couch Potato

I bought Jake a little seat of his own a few months back, and while he enjoys sitting in it for a few minutes a day to catch a second of two of Blue's Clues or Dora the Annoying Explorer, he mostly enjoys still sitting in Ruth's dogbed, on top of the dog.

Temper Tantrum

I closed the bathrooom door so Jake would stop putting his hands in the toilet, unrolling the toilet paper, and running off with a fistful of maxi pads. Apparently that made him pretty mad. Luckily, I was documenting our morning, so I caught it all on my camera :)

Jake and his new favorite toy

Between trying to get work done before our vacation with Grandma & Grandpa Valentine at the end of this week, and staying out late at a friend's wedding Saturday night, Ralph and I were quite busy this weekend. Luckily, Jake was able to spend a lot of time at Mema Mary and Papa Ralph's house. Jake picked up a new favorite toy, too: a stuffed dog. This has been in his toy box all along, but this weekend he really gravitated toward the doggie. Here are some pictures Mema Mary just sent along.

Accomplishments & Milestones

So Jake has suddenly, overnight it seems, turned into a toddler. It's so very exciting to see this little person suddenly responding to all the things you've been saying for the last 16 months, but I do feel a little sad when I look at him and realize he is no longer the tiny helpless 8 lb, 9oz newborn I brought home from the hospital.

Some of the things Jake loves to do lately:

1. Dance to anything with a beat: radio, TV, the dishwasher.
2. Say "MORE" in sign language, which we taught him after a few false starts.
3. RUN!! Especially in the direction of things he should not be running toward.
4. Kiss the dog. He will lean his head over when we ask for a kiss, but when it comes to Ruthie, he is full-on lips to fur.
5. Wash things. He loves to take a baby wipe and scrub anything we tell him is "dirty": the table, his head, the dog, windows, mommy.
6. Identify colors. Grandpa Jim pointed this out when Jake was swimming this weekend. Grandpa Jim asked Jake to pick up the purple dinosaur, or the red dinosaur, etc and Jake delivered!
7. Flipping out. Today, Jake threw a full-on hissy fit because I would not allow him to use my deodorant. Throwing toys, kicking and screaming. Little man has a temper!!!
8. Reading. Jake LOVES books! He will flip through his books endlessly. Surprisingly, he prefers looking at them by himself to having someone read to him. He'll let me get through a few pages, then he steals the book back, jumps off my lap, and runs off to read it himself.
9. Sitting on the dog. Side-saddle.
10. Eating the following: broccoli, chicken, Corn Pops, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, and corn, corn, corn!

Jake's also saying a few words: Ru-Ru, Mama, woof-woof, Dad, No (na-na-NA!), and Yum.

Most exciting, he's also understanding EVERYTHING. "Sit down." "Give the book to Mama." "Give Papa a kiss." "Show dada another book." "Brush your hair." "Get your hands out of the toilet."

Cape Cod 2007

So Jake and I officially got initiated into a Vasami Family Vacation last week! :)

All of Ralph's cousins from California were in for their annual trip to the East Coast. It was nice getting to see the kids - they grow up so much from year to year. Unfortunately, Ralph and my father-in-law weren't able to make it, but the rest of the Vasami/Mancuso/Lancia/Boyack clan (along with Laura's friend Chiara from Italy) took a trip up to Cape Cod for a few days. I had never been to Cape Cod before and it was almost exactly as I pictured it - very New England, very coastal, very charming. And the FOOD! The food was unbelievable!! I think Greg and my mother-in-law and I are ready to head back up to JT's for another round of lobster rolls and clam strips - YUUUUUM!

Anyway, we had a great time, and it was quite interesting for me to go on vacation with 16 people all at once! My family vacations are usually quiet, small, and very low-key. Vasami vacations are loud, big, and full of energy! (It's a total over-the-top stereotype, but picture My Big Fat Greek Wedding and you might get an idea of how different our families are!) There is nothing wrong with either vacation - I love the variety in my life! :)

Enjoy the pics:

The obligatory generic beach/boardwalk/dunes shot...

Chiara and Laura, looking fabulous...

Jake pulling on his shirt

Jake must have lost something very important down here... lol

Gavin's glamour shot

Kylie's glamour shot (check out those EYES!!!)

Dylan's glamour shot

Brennan's...uh... glamour-ish shot :)

Jake wants to try the lobster hat too...

Gabriella was in Cape Cod too, with her mom, dad and adorable brother Thomas

The whole gang outside of Lobster Claw after an awesome dinner

At the beach bonfire on one of the last nights

Beach bonfire (it was almost completely dark when I took this 3-second exposure)

Work-Free Wednesday...

So technically, this is the first full day I have spent home since going on vacation over a week ago. And I just can't seem to get back in the swing of things. I think I fully exhausted myself in Cape Cod and I've been working myself too hard leading up to vacation. It's ridiculously hard trying to be a good mommy to Jake, AND get my photography business off the ground, AND keep my freelance design clients happy AND to do all the things required of just being an adult... but I've been trying to do it ALL lately... with mixed success. (Physically, I feel like total crap - shocker!)

ANYWAY... all this rambling led to my epiphany that maybe, just once a week (I work every weekend), I need a day off, just to spend with Jake. Do nothing but play with my little boy - all day long. Take him somewhere fun, roll around on the floor, take fun pictures of him like I used to do all the time (before it was "my job"), to laugh and do nothing but play, learn, and have fun with each other. No work at all... Well, okay, and maybe post a blog or two... But I think I owe it to him and to myself to have at least one day that belongs soley to HIM - not to my clients, not to my laundry, not to my chores. I think it will make me a better mommy. :) Off to play!