Strawbabies

Last week, we took Cruz and cousin Charly to the strawberry patch.  It's been on our baby bucket lists for awhile and at a $1.50 per pound, you can't go wrong.  Strawberries are a favorite of mine, and I was anxious to see what Cruz thought of them.  He loves his pureed strawberries mixed with cereal, but has never had a shot with a big and plump juicy one.  Plus, there's just something about sticking a couple of little people in the middle of a field of strawberries that screams summertime. 

It was a hot one outside.  The littles after being attacked by sunblock...

My bronzing babe (notice the extra white onesie)...

  
...and Charly the Explorer...

It was love at first bite.  I stripped Cruz down to his onesie and plopped a strawberry in his tight little fist.  Like everything that finds its way into his fist, it didn't take long for the strawberry to find its way to his mouth.  

Jackpot.

  
Charly, on the other hand, didn't quite know what to make of her cousin.  She just watched him, then went back to helping us find our treasure while Cruz kept the bench warm and tested only the best ones.  

     
He's like a chipmunk; he stores pieces of food in his chubby cheeks.  The other night, I found a tiny piece of a grape I had given him about an hour before.  He's resourceful, that one ;).  

 

My abandoned, sticky, sweaty baby, watching the rest of us pick his snacks.  These pictures make me laugh so much as it truly looks like we abandoned him in this field.  He ate, and watched, and never made a fuss.   

 

Charly proved to be much more reserved with her strawberries.  She daintily picked up one after another, proudly presented them to her mom, and nibbled on a green, unripened one when we weren't looking.

  

It was fun to see the differences in age and gender between the two of them.  While Cruz squeezed strawberries between his fingers, watched the juice run down his arm into his diaper, and tried to stick grass in his mouth when his strawberry was gone, Charly was definitely not digging the mess.  She preferred to be in on the action, walked proudly between the plants, and brushed her hands together in satisfaction after plopping a strawberry in our crate.  

I love the story that unfolds in this series of pictures...

What is this baby's deal? 

   
A strawberry for Charly... 

...who would much rather have a drink of her juice (notice someone else would too).

Excuse me, may I have a drink? (Notice the strawberry Charly dropped...) 

I guess I'll go for another one of these instead...

 

Attempting to redeem himself and make a friend again, Cruz has about as much game as his father...

 

Hmm...maybe I'll try this.

 

This isn't working.  Do I have something on my face? 

 

Awkward... 

Dad steps in to regulate the situation.  

 

I guess there's one girl who will always love me!

It was a great afternoon and definitely a day I'd love to see become a tradition for our families.  And heck, after the strawberries and angel food cake we had last weekend, I may just have to make a trip out there again soon.  Only this time, I'll be prepared with a garden hose!

Home...The Epilogue

It's true trips away make you all the more thankful for the home you have to come back to.  Especially when you have this waiting for you when you get there...

Cape Cod is where???

Cruz got along great at my mom and dad's.  His new sleeping arrangements didn't phase him, he enjoyed the attention from his great-grandmas and grandpa, cousins, and aunt and uncles, and enjoyed putting on a show for all the older ladies at church Sunday morning.  

We were supposed to get home Sunday afternoon, enough time to have supper with Mom and Dad, present Cruz with the many 'souvenirs' we brought him, and have time for a walk, bath, and snuggle before Cruz's bedtime.  But because Delta Airlines had something else in store for our patience, we ended up rolling into my parents' driveway about 1am.  Beau had early appointments Monday morning, so he begrudgingly dropped me off and decided to drive the extra half hour home.  I crashed on the couch, but slept half-awake waiting for Cruz to make a peep.  

At 6:30, I heard the little babble coming from his room.  I dashed to what used to be the room right next to my own, threw the door open, and peeked over the crib railing.  There he was, smiling up at me as if nothing was different, nothing was out of the ordinary.  Babies are funny that way.  As long as they're fed, changed, and loved, they're happy.  They adapt better than adults, that's for sure.  Mom did say, however, that Cruz didn't giggle until I was around him, just sayin' ;).

My little Cape Cod boy liked his lobster, but thought the starfish was even better.  Someday, maybe we'll build sand castles on the Cape.  Dig up seashells and fly kites high in the sky.  But for now, there's no place like HOME...  

Father's Day

Beau...
  
Happy FIRST Father's Day to you.  I always knew you were talented, but being a daddy is really your thing...Whether you are taking pride in changing yet another diaper, rocking Cruz to sleep at night, carrying him down the street on your shoulders, or reading him Green Eggs and Ham, you amaze me as a dad every single day... 

Fatherhood sure looks good on you.

I feel so blessed to be walking down this road of parenthood with you.  You are the glue that holds the three of us together, the one who keeps this family afloat.  But more than that, I am so thankful for the happiness you bring to Cruz.  Watching his eyes light up when he hears your voice come through the door, or seeing him rest his little body into yours when he's tired, is evidence of the love he has for you.  You are such a hero to him, such an influence in his life.  Never has life felt so complete as when I'm watching the two of you together.  

Happy Father's Day, babe.   

DIY Project - Chalkboard Paint

I was growing a little bored with a bare wall in my kitchen...

...and saw this interesting idea of a chalkboard wall...

 

 

...and finally started a sudo herb garden of my own.

 

 

The Cape...Part 3

While he was in college, Beau spent a semester 'studying' abroad in Australia.  Up until meeting me of course, it was the best six months of his life.  He went backpacking in the Northern Territory, spent time in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and from what it sounds, did a lot of jumping.  He 'jumped' from one hostel to the next on a camping trip in the wild, 'jumped' off scary-high cliffs into pristine water, 'jumped' out of an airplane, and even 'jumped' on the back of a camel.  He had a blast and his stories make me a bit envious of his truly unforgettable experience.

While he was there, he became close friends with Chris and Carlie.  Well, as it turns out, Beau didn't need to go across the world to meet Carlie, as she lived in a college house at UNI just a block from Beau's apartment...the very house I would move into after she moved out.  The same room, even.  Small world, right?

So anyways, Beau met Carlie just a few weeks before heading to the 'Land Down Under.'  The two Iowa kids eventually let Chris, a skier from Boston, into their circle.  And so began the story of Chris and Carlie...

In a way, I guess you could say Beau had something to do with Chris and Carlie finding each other, and Carlie had something to do with Beau and I finding each other.  I knew Carlie only a little in college, simply because I was moving into the room she was moving out of.  One night, while at Tony's on the Hill (swanky, I know), I ran into Carlie, Kara (Carlie's roommate and my soon-to-be roommate), and Beau.  Carlie introduced the two of us.  And so began the story of Beau and Ashley.  

We love Chris and Carlie and were so fortunate to be a part of their wedding.  Carlie made the 'bride' role look absolutely effortless.  No fuss, no stress, just love.  Even when the forecast on Saturday called for rain, she went with it.  And even though the bride is the one who usually needs the rest of the party to calm her nerves, fan her face, or hold her dress, this bride was the opposite.  As the rain started just minutes before her entrance, everyone grew slightly antsy.  And when Carlie and her father approached the top of the wooden steps leading to the private beach, her smile radiated the place. 

And the rain stopped.  Just like that. 

I've never been to a beach wedding, but I've decided I'd like to be a part of more in the future.  But since most of my friends have married by now, I might have to become a wedding crasher.  A beach wedding crasher.  Because there's just something about sinking your toes into the sand as you watch the procession, or listening to the waves crash against the sound of the hand-written wedding vows, or watch the sun begin to peak through the sea clouds as the couple shares their first kiss as husband and wife. 

It was a beautiful ceremony between two people that are so meant for each other.

Did it stop?

Our wedding buddies and roommates.  Steph, from Kentucky, who also went to Australia, and her husband, Andrew.  We had such a great time driving around Brewster with them, getting lost while in search of a long lost 'pond,' and stuffing our faces with peanut butter pretzels, appetizers at the reception, and a good ol' Brewster breakfast!  And we may have even convinced them to move up to Iowa.  After all, we do 'detangle' corn here :) 

Carlie's awesome UNI friends!  We talked about missing our babies together, but had an even better time tearing it up on the dance floor.  We had a blast!

And best of all, Jenny let me snuggle with her eight-week old baby girl!

And, the hubby and I.  

 

  
The wedding reception was a blast.  The Iowa kids (plus Steph, Andrew, and Danny from Boston) were seated at table "New Zealand."  Since most of us were here as a vacation, we treated it as one.  We followed the servers around during cocktail hour, hoping for one more bacon-wrapped scallop or margarita shrimp.  We savored every last bite of fresh halibut with the most amazing lobster butter sauce known to man.  And we danced the night away as if we were back at Sharky's on the Hill!  

It was definitely a night to remember, in a place to remember.