Quiet Weekends = Greatness!

So you Mommy is recovering from back surgery and that has meant you were in Jersey 2 out of three weeks - without me :( It was nice to have some bachelor time, but I really started to miss my ladies.

When you got back...i didn't want to do anything "special," but it turns out just hanging out with you and Mommy is "special!"

You and mom got home on Friday and on my drive home I was so excited to see you guys...I was like a kid on Christmas morning!

I got home gave big hugs to you and Mommy and we embarked on the best "normal weekend" ever!

After you had dinner you wanted to dance...so as a family we did the Hokey Pokey until we were all exhausted...It was a blast...Not the dance scene I used to partake in on a Friday night...but it ended up being so much more fun...

Saturday we had another boring day...Hang out in the morning...church in the evening and a relaxing night at home...

Sunday we got up and headed to the zoo...You absolutely love the Zoo! It was international Tiger day...So we headed right toward the big cats...The animals weren't too active, but you were...You roared at the lion...cracking up your parents and everyone else within earshot...We ended up passing a booth where they gave you a small stuffed Tiger...

We then went to the Monkey House...As always you enjoyed watching them as they did such disgusting things as eating their own vomit...

Mom was starting to wear down a little...so we headed down to the petting zoo...Mom and I tried mightily to get you to pet the donkey...each time your hand got about an inch away...You pulled it back frantically...I don't think you ever did "pet" the donkey, but that didn't stop you from telling us over and over that not only did you pet the donkey...it was also your friend...

On the way out of the Zoo we renewed our FONZ membership...relatively boring, expcet of the fact that you ended up getting a small stuffed panda too...

After a lunch at Fire Station...it was nap time for everyone...

When you woke up...It was time for our weekly "pool" time...You, mom and I sat around your little pink pool..just splashing and hanging it out...it was awesome!!!!!

When we came inside we named your new "pets." The tiger is now "CoCo" and mom told you to name the panda "Milkshake" but you have taken to just calling him "Milky!" :)

This past weekend was just as "normal" and just as much "fun!"

Saturday, we went shopping Downtown and followed it up with a trip to the splash park...It is basically a series of fountains, but it is enjoyed by countless kids...you are now included...

You were tentative at first (like with almost all new things)...You would barely stick you foot in...then you started playing with the small outside spouts...As the morning went on...You slowly ventured in - with me right by your side, getting more soaked with each step :)

After a little while you got tired of the water...so we went and strolled through the nearby Farmers Market...within minutes you were begging to go back to the fountains...Your parents of course obliged :)

After about 20 more minutes...it was time to head home for a nap...

Saturday night was low key, but Sunday was another fun one...

We didn't do much in the morning...You were acting exhausted...so at nap time we though you would crash...boy were we wrong...

You spent the next 2 1/2 hours talking to your self, talking to your babies, running in your crib and bouncing until you almost hit the rook...basically anything but sleep...It was hilarious...Your mom and I both took turns watching you...each of us laughing!

When you "got up" we went back out to the pool, but our time was cut shot by a thunderstorm...so we went inside for art time!

It was another great weekend...and I am hoping we will have another  "normal" weekend  in a few days...

I love you Josie!

"I Love You...So Much!"

OK...I know I've started several blog posts this way, but I haven't written much as I should've...

However, sometime you do something so cute...I want to put it in writing so I don't forget it :)

We had a great weekend together...Mom had a girls' day Saturday and it left you and I alone for the longest time yet! We visited the Brills...Then came home for nap time and went off to Mass...As it started...You put you head on my shoulder...and gave me a good cuddle...It just stuck with me...It was so sweet and so peaceful.

After that-I have to admit...You were a bit of a handful...The Priest could've given out the winning lotto number and I wouldn't have know...I was focus on keeping you happy and quiet..I don't think I heard a word of the gospel or Homily :)

We came home and so did mommy and it was a great evening...

We had a full Sunday that culminated with the sweetest moment...in all moment...on the potty...

We had some friends over and Mommy was about to put you to sleep...as you were getting ready to go potty...I was getting ready to go back to our friends...You looked up at me and said in the sweetest voice "I love you...short pause...so much" It was so sweet...Mommy and I have you say it all the time now :)

I have to admit you have a special intonation in your voice...the way you say things...ending sentences on an up note..It is awesome and adorable all at the same time...It is almost like you are asking a question...It is all part of what makes you the best girl in the world!

Before I sign off...I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the best Father's Day Weekend ever! It was so simple...Just lots of time hanging out with you and mommy...Sunday was awesome...We played, went to Mass...then in the afternoon had a Brown pool party...We danced (you are developing some sweet moves...just like your dad!)and splashed and it was full of moments that I will never forget...You also game me the cutest Father's Day art project!

I just want you to know that no matter what happens - "I love you...so much!"

"What sound does a lion make? Roar!"

So one of my New Year's Resolutions was to write more on this blog...and clearly (since it is March 5th) I am failing miserably...But I promise to do better...

Josie - I can't even begin to explain all the changes in you since October...So Iw il ltry to hit the highlights...

Christmas- We celbrated in New Jersey and we didn't really know if you would embrace the whole gift thing, but much to our surprise...You ripped into package after package...and you even played with most of your gifts, but I think what you liked best was the wrapping paper :)

Since the first of the year you have also moved into the 2-year-old room at daycare and you are thriving...It seems like every day you come home with new words...You also seem to have a new sense of adventure...and sometimes...you copy the the bad behavior of your classmates - but we are working on that...

In February, we made our annual trek to Florida to hang out with Grammy and Poppi and boy did we have fun...

We went night swimming in the pool...It took you a while to warm up to this activity, but by the end of the week...You were loving the swimming pool!

Then there was our day at the beach...Man...Did you love the beach...You have been in Jersey several times, but never embraced it like you did in Florida...You playing in the sand, played in the water...and even made some friends! You and Gram made sand meatballs...and we dug you a hole in the sand that you endlessly filled with water...It was a ton of fun...and there are a lots of cute pictures!

The next day we went out on Poppi's boat...We were a little concerned because last year your boat trip was under 5 minutes...By the time we were away from the dock...You were yelling "I'm on a boat!" It was awesome...but just like when you ride in a car...you quickly got tired...One of my favorite and most memorable moments was you falling asleep on the boat in my arms...It was one of those moments as a dad that I wished would last forever and that I will never forget...Once we got to Raccoon Island you livened up and got right back into beach mode...You playng in the sand, dug holes and splashed in the water...It was my favorite day of the vacation!

Saturday we drove down to Mommy and Daddy's old stomping gounds of Naples...We visited some of Mommy's old work friends...Jane has two girls...both much older than you...You were standoffish at first, but by the end of the day...It was like you had two older sisters...You followed them everywhere...The highlight of the day was the small bounce house...You had been exposed to bounce houses in the past and were a little afraid...this one was small and once you got in...there was no stopping you...Jan'es daughter were throwing you around (see video) and you giggled and said one of the words we hear most when you are doing something fun - "Again!"

Your love of the Bounce House was a glimpse into the future :)

The good times continued, but once again hit a high point at the drum circle Sunday Night on Siesta Key...You were cute a bug in your sunglasses...and even cuter once one of the dancers gave you a flower for your hair :) You drug me into the center of the circle several times...and each time...I thought you were about to get funky and show off your dance move, but each time...all you wanted to do was play in the sand...It was once again a great time! After we left the circle...You ran all over the beach and even climbed up into the lifeguard tower...

We returned home...rested for a few days and then on Thursday Mimi arrived...You hadn't seen her since July so I was a little concerned on how you would react to her...but those concerns quickly evaporated...You embraced your Mimi...and showed her all the lvoe she could handle...it truly warms my heart to watch two of my favorite ladies have so much fun together!

You have been a trooper this weekend, depsite the fact that you have been sick...I took you to the doctor on Friday and 367 days after your first ear infection - you were diagnosed with your second one...But you are already getting better...and showing no ill effects of the sickness :)

Saturday we went to CJ Caprpenter's b-day party at pump it up...which is filled with large blow up/bounce toys...Like normal...You started slow, but within minutes you were bouncing all over the place...We had to turn in a release form so you could play, but as I helped you climb ladders...I quickly thought...I was the one who needed the release because I was sweating and out of breath...Once you got going you were fearless...climbing 10 foot ladders and sliding solo down long slides...When I got tired - Mimi stepped in...She is as fearless as you...I'm not sure which of you had more fun sliding...but both were entertaining to watch! Then there was the cake...I will have to show you pictures...you devoured this cake...starting withte icing...then the actually cake...Words can't do it justice...It was hilarious and a ton of fun to watch!

Sunday we braved cool weather to go to the zoo and I'm glad we did...We started with the petting zoo...You were playing shy, but by the time we got to the lions - you were roaring as loud as they were :) You also were very independent...You wanted to peer over the rails on your own...and loved looking at the lions...next it was the gorilla house...You enjoyed looking at them, unless they got too close :) I think you enjoyed playing on the step with Mimi and I more than the gorillas, but it was blast...then we went to visit the National Zoo rock stars - the Panda Bears...They were both chowing down on bamboo...I'm not sure you really knew what a panda was before we went in there, but you did after...as we left you pointed and said sweetly -"Panda Bear" ... After lunch with Auntie Emily...We headed home...in an effort to keep you up, we gave you a map of the zoo...As you looked at the pictures...You saw a panda and once again said sweetly - Panda Bear...It was awesome!

Today you are spenind the whole day with Mimi...and mom and I are going out to dinner...Hopefully you are taking good care of Mimi and not wearing her out too much!

Everyday I am proud to be you daddy and i can't wait to continue the job! I love you Josie Grace!!!!