So many special moments with Uncle Jake. I can’t wait to show Buddy these pictures and videos in a few years!!!

This is just the best!!

Some other special family moments.

E and I both have had to travel for work quite a bit lately. E has been to Austin, Vegas, and London suburb. I have been to Moline, Moline, and Moline. We send each other videos and pics and sometimes they are my favorites.

Lately, Bud has been testy with the phone. Any moment we try to capture is in danger of spoil by Bud’s eager desire to play with the phone. We recently tried to make a video for Meme. This should explain why there are fewer videos these days.

We finally joined a gym/yoga studio/pool. It’s this gigantic place called Lifetime Athletic that has to be the biggest “gym” ever, equipped with a climbing wall, basketball courts, 4 pools including the one with super water slides, and of course, a yoga studio. It’s been great for us all, but Buddy has especially enjoyed the pool time. It’s been cold in New Jersey, so not as much swimming as we would like. I’ll spare you the associated sentiments from this Southerner…But in any case, it’s been a great weekend outing for the family when the sunshine has been cooperative and the summer has been summery.

Yesterday, we were spending some time together as a family before Bud’s nighttime routine. I have no idea how he learned to talk on the phone, old school land line style. Maybe at school? But he knew exactly how to use the little phone on his walker from Grandpa.

Eric starts calling family and then passing the phone to Bud for chats with Meme, Aunt Carrie, cousin Lily, Uncle Jake, Grandpa…He sat there for minutes and “talked” to each. Bla, da, buh, ehe, babuh.

He started off with the phone up to his ear/mouth and then got a little lazy.  I don’t know how long this went on.

Then he started blowing kisses, which is still a work in progress.

Lots of love here…

Love pool time!

Buddy’s an extrovert.  He loves being around people, and his party was no exception. He had a great time, was a great sport, and loved his new friends.

Small aside to new parents: Chose a color besides red when picking icing color for your baby…if it’s fourth of July, stick with blue and white.  You live and learn. 

Buddy was blessed to be born into a whole lotta love. Over time, he develops a unique relationship with each family member, and I hope he always takes for granted having these amazing people in his life and their unconditional love.

We had Harry’s first birthday party on the 4th of July!  Happy birthday to Harry and America.

So many wonderful friends and family joined us to celebrate.  It meant so much to us to have folks from near and far.

As most of you know, Eric’s definition of friend = someone who can talk copiously about NY sports, not talk at all without awkwardness, enjoy dude substances such as beer and cigars…and the two most important qualities: for whom he would do anything and with whom he played when he was Buddy’s age.  Okay, okay…I exaggerate about the age, but most of Eric’s friends are from preschool, Seamus being the late joiner in middle school. I exaggerate not about how E would do anything in the world for these dudes.

I digress…the point is that it was so special to have Adam, Seamus, Hank, and Eric all together with their lucky ladies and their babies!  I CANNOT believe I didn’t get a picture of all these guys and babies…a minor tragedy.  There are pictures, however of these adorable little ones!!!  These kids are stuck growing up together, so good thing they’re all so precious.  Beware: adorableness ahead.