Lunch at Union Station

Feeling the need to do something different, Brad had this brilliant idea to have our Sunday lunch at Union Station. What a great idea! We thought it would be a great place for Baker to run around and it was. Only the little touristy booth with the DC teddy bears proved to be a real test of our patience as it caused Baker to throw a tantrum in the main hall, echoing throughout! I would like to say that he didn't win that battle and we did not go home with a pink bear. We did, however, have a nice little family lunch inside the station where Baker discovered his love for ketchup. I've tried this before with him but he just turned his nose up to it. Not this time! Apparently he now likes it! As a matter of fact, it went a little further than what I was comfortable with the moment he started eating it with his fork. Yeah, not a good habit to be forming. I guess we asked for it since we're the ones that encouraged him to try it!

I love this picture of the two of them!

Daddy and his little man roaming through the train station. This place is great because it's just big and open!

Nothing like some fried macaroni and cheese, fries and ketchup. The picture of health! Trust me, we would not have gone the fried route if they had another option but they didn't! He didn't even like it all that much.

Baker loved to dip his fries in the ketchup, when he wasn't eating it with a fork. Sometimes he would take the fry, suck the ketchup off it and then set it aside!

The wind was so bad over the weekend. His hair was already all over the place but the wind definitely kicked it up a notch!

Pooltime at Gracie's

Saturday, our neighbors invited Baker over to play in their little kiddie pool with Gracie. So, we wrapped up lunch and ran next door for about an hour. It was so hot outside that nothing but the pool sounded even remotely exciting. Baker is still wary about pools but loves to play with water. He had a great time regardless!

All of that water in the pool and yet they want to play with a small bucket of water!

The two cute kiddies staying cool in the sun.

Playing with Gracie's new water table. What fun this is!

They liked to play with this container in the pool. Amazing how it's the little things, not even real toys, that are entertaining!

I love this picture. I didn't realize it until just now that the container is flying through mid-air. That explains both of their faces!

That's one cute kid!

All This Drama For Some Pasta?

This past Friday, Brad and I both wanted Italian and decided upon some good 'ole chain food from Buca de Beppo. Now we know this isn't necessarily authentic but it is yummy. So Baker and I got in the car and headed out to pick Brad up at his office in Georgetown. Well, anyone that knows me knows I have no sense of direction and can get lost at the drop of a hat. And if you've ever driven in DC, you know it's ridiculously complicated. I swear that when Pierre L'Enfant planned the city of DC in 1791, he wanted to make it as difficult as possible to get around! Actually, now that I think about it, he probably did this just for me...just to screw me all up! :) Okay, I'm being a little dramatic but I absolutely cannot get around this town without getting lost and it gets really frustrating. So, back to the story.

I have driven from the Hill to Brad's work once and got lost (this is when my English friends Jen and Paul were visiting). It took me over a year to build the confidence up to do it again, so after numerous times of riding with Brad, I did it about 2 months ago and made it!! Well, Baker and I set out to do it this time and what happened? One wrong move, the same move I made almost 2 years ago, the same stupid junction that gets me every time, and we were on the wrong road!! I called Brad frantically. I had managed to get so far off track that I was now only a few blocks from Buca de Beppo in Dupont Circle than I was to G-town. So, he led me step-by-step, down Embassy Row, to Buca and poor thing, had to hail a cab. Sorry babe! Whoa, this drive created a lot of stress for me! I didn't even mention the fact that in DC, they change the traffic direction of Independence Ave in certain sections during the evening commute and that almost created a major disaster for Baker and I as well! Needless to say, I was a wreck by the time I parked the car! But dinner was worth it in the end and Baker cooperated the whole time. That was nothing short of a miracle! By the end of the night, we had enjoyed a successful, fun family outing! So yes, it was worth the drama in the beginning!

Baker laughing at his daddy. Look at how crazy his hair is. It's virtually impossible to tame it!

No kisses!

It's so nice that Baker is old enough to color at restaurants now! I am so appreciative of places that provide crayons and paper now!! I never knew how important that was before Baker.

He loved all of the crazy stuff that was on the walls. This place is literally wall to wall with pictures and knick-knacks. Total eye candy for a toddler!

Video: This shows Baker using his fork. Over the past few weeks, he's really shown a lot of improvement in his utensil skills. He uses a spoon a lot more than he does a fork so he's getting this one down pretty good. Where he used to flip the spoon over before getting it to his mouth, he now keeps it upright now and generally gets the food in his mouth now. Does this mean there is no mess? Heck no! But he really can feed himself pretty good now. He did pretty good the fork on Friday but as you can see, he doesn't quite get the "stabbing" technique. It always makes us laugh when he puts the food on his utensil with his hands. So cute and funny the way toddlers do things. But even better, when he chews food up, realizes he doesn't like it and then proceeds to spit it out of his mouth. Pardon the manners folks.

Chasing Squirrels

On our walk to the playground the other day, I had let Baker out once we got to the park so that he could walk and explore a bit. He spotted a squirrel way out in the distance and ran over to it immediately. He saw it go up this tree and he just stood there at the bottom of the tree forever. I seriously could not get him to budge. Not even the playground was enough to get him away. We eventually made it over but it took a while and he was pretty happy once we did.

Right after he spotted the squirrel. He was not happy when it ran away!

Very determined, he tried to climb up the tree.

This was as I was pretending to go "bye bye". That didn't work either!

He's so strong, he knocked over the bouncy horse! J/k. It was already broken.

Playing with his new magnetic numbers we got from the $1 bin at Target. Does anyone else ever sucked in by those bins? They hit me everytime! But these magnets were a great find and he loves to play with them and put them back in the little bag they came in.

Video: "Talking" about what he saw. Baker does a lot of this babbling that sounds just like he's saying something very important but we have no clue what he's saying. It usually sounds like German, Chinese or Swahili.

Last Day with Nana and Papa

On Monday, Brad's parents had to go back to TN. We were so thankful that they flew all the way up here to babysit Baker so that we could go to NYC for Jen's wedding. That was a huge blessing and we were so shocked when they told us in June that they were coming!! Wow! We wish we could have spent more time with them but Baker got all of the lovin' instead. And poor Brad only got to see them Sunday night and Monday before he left for work. So, our next visit with them will be different!

On our trip to NYC, we bought Baker a few happies. The much loved doll stroller, a little Elmo fan, and some dinosaur books from the Scholastic store in Soho. The stroller is a HUGE hit, the books are fun, but he's a little cautious about the fan. It doesn't have a cover over the blades because they are flimsy plastic, kind of like cellophane. But he doesn't like the way it feels when he touches it so it's made him a bit timid of it. There are a few pictures of him playing with his new stuff below.

Keeping his distance from the fan since he stuck his fingers in it! He makes the funniest face when it blows. I could do it over and over again just to watch his little expressions.

Bleeker with his favorite person in the world...Andy! It's because he spoiled him as a puppy when he played ball with him non-stop. Now Bleeker expects it from him when he sees him!

Coloring Nana and Papa a pretty picture. Just look at that face!

Nana and Papa get ready to leave. :( Baker did not want to cooperate for this photo. He was very upset that we took him away from the stroller for just a second!

Getting very brave with his new fan!

Baker playing his new stroller. We got Franz out (that's what we named his Austrian doll Nana and Papa bought him over their trip this past winter), to put in it.

Thank God Franz is just a doll because I don't think the way he put him in would follow the safety guidelines.

Drawing with his new magic markers and magical pad that N & P brought him.

I had cut Baker's nails moments before this photo was taken. I noticed that Baker had the clippers in his hand and was trying to clip them while watching Sesame Street. Like all toddlers this age, his mimicking has really taken off lately and it's so cute to watch!

Video: Baker playing with his new toys.

Jen and Darren's Broadway Style Wedding

Brad and I had the most fun at this wedding! We knew that it would be a blast because most weddings in NYC are and it certainly was. Jen was my old boss when I worked as the office manager of her clinic, PhysioArts Physical Therapy in Manhattan. We've grown to be great friends since we moved 2005. PhysioArts is a PT clinic just steps from Time Square and caters to the Broadway industry, so the fact that Jen had a Playbill as her program and one of Broadway's biggest stars sing during the ceremony was not a surprise. It was like going to a family reunion with a bunch of my old work mates and I was so excited to see all of them. I loved working there! There was never a dull moment with that group, especially when you have actors and dancers as patients. So, this wedding was sure to be a great time.

View of the chapel from the street. You have to walk around it to enter.

Entrance to the chapel...so pretty.

Jen and Darren met on eHarmony and though this was the first time that I had met him, he seemed so perfect for Jen and was such a nice guy! The wedding took place at St. Paul's Chapel at Columbia University. Since we stayed the hotel with the majority of the guests, we were taken by bus to the chapel uptown. The ceremony was gorgeous yet simple Jen looked like a dream in her gown. You never need to overdo decorations in an old chapel. They are always perfect as is. During the ceremony, Sutton Foster sang two songs, Long Time Sun and The Prayer. Sutton is a Tony Award winning actress and is currently playing the role of Fiona in Shrek the Musical.

Sutton Foster singing Long Time Sun. Funny enough, Brad and I actually saw her perform in Little Women before we moved to London. I've uploaded a short video of her singing at the bottom of this post if you want to hear it.

The lovely bride and groom


Their swanky ride to the reception!

The reception was held at the Manhattan Penthouse in Union Square. The same buses transported all of the guests to the site. Thank God we didn't have to take the train and walk it in our heels!

Julie and Pam on the bus over to the reception. I worked with Pam at PA and I've seen her about once a year since we moved. She is one of the funniest people I know and we played a lot of pranks on people in our office. We were the dangerous duo! Julie is just a sweetheart and one of Pam and Jen's best friends.

Brad and I sitting at our table.

At our table, Jim and Dawn Cox - Dawn was a PT at PA when I was there but she moved to Lancaster County, PA the year before we moved to London. What is so neat about that job is that we were all like a family, taking trips to the beach, night outs on the town. We have all kept in touch over the years.

Also at our table, Pam and Tammy - Both dancers and choreographers that I met when I worked at PA. Tammy went from being a patient to working part-time at the office since I left! Pam used to be in the show 42nd Street but is now working as the choreographer for an upcoming television show.

Jen and Darren take the stage for their first dance.

The view from our table. Have you ever? This ballroom had views of the city from every side of the space...ridiculously beautiful!

Me and the bride. She would kill me if she saw my posture in this picture! She is the posture nazi when I'm around her!

Julie, Kelly, and Pam

Dawn and Brad cutting a serious rug on the dance floor!

My girls that I miss way too much - Dawn, Pam and Christine. My oh my, did we have an awesome time back in the day! I just now noticed that I'm the only one not wearing black. Ha! I clearly didn't get the "must wear black" memo.

Dancing the night away! Brad and I had a blast dancing that night. The band she hired was awesome, singing every kind of song you can imagine. No one could keep off the dance floor!

Liz, me and Pam. Liz was my part-time front desk help when I worked at PA.

Dawn and Christine - my short haired girls.

The happy couple of the night!

Lori and Robert - Lori was one of Jen's friends from the past but took my place as office manager when I left. Robert used to be in The Producers but is currently in between shows and working part-time at PA in the process.

The old PA gang.

Brad and I with the night timeskyline behind us. It looks like the Empire State Building is my crown!

The Playbill for With This Ring was totally a playbill from the inside out, complete with cast, cast descriptions, background of the "show", scenes, etc. So clever! Oh, and Lori is a fab artist and drew this picture on the front. Click here for her website. Wooden fans were handed out to the guests for the ceremony because in typical NY fashion, the old church was not air conditioned!

Overall, we had a great time at the wedding! It was a blast dancing, eating, and talking with old friends. I can't remember the last time I laughed or danced so much. Brad and I keep saying that, though this may be hard to believe, we had more fun last weekend than we did in Vegas! Now that must have been some weekend!

Video: A short snippet of Sutton Foster singing The Prayer. It's very short and may be a bit low so turn up your volume! Her voice is angelic and flawless!