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Ready For A Close-Up

We got a good look at our Baby Bean yesterday -- 36 weeks and 2 days into the pregnancy. Bean is looking pretty good, and measuring right on schedule, though Mommy did have a slight panic when she noticed the measurement for the noggin was about a week ahead of schedule! They estimated Bean's weight to be 6-pounds, 6-ounces at this point.

Beantown

We loaded up the family on the ol' Amtrak train last weekend and headed north for some Fourth of July fun and a little belated birthday celebration for the Dad-O Man. We had been wanting to go to Boston ever since we moved east ... five years ago ... and finally made it! Here's Dad-O and Mason man checking out the view from the train as we left NYC in the rear-view mirror.

Once we got to Boston, we made a bee-line for Boston Common and took a tour of the Freedom Trail from this lady. Mason, as you can see, was totally enamored with the city's historical sites.



(As an aside, the sleeping was a much better reaction than we got when we took him to see the Liberty Bell. There, he just cried. Alas, both times he was woken up way too early to hit the road!)

Here are some of the Freedom Trail sites. Rob would later go to the pub across the street from the Granary Burying Grounds to "sip a cold Sam Adams while looking at a cold Sam Adams" grave as our tour guide suggested. Since the under 21 set wasn't welcomed, Mason and Mommy went for ice cream instead!



After our tour, we headed for the harbor where we took in the sites and enjoyed some delicious seafood at Legal Sea Foods. I'm still dreaming of Rob's jumbo stuffed shrimp!





Feeling re-energized, we took a walk through the financial district and back to Boston Common so Mason could get in a little playtime. He loved the sprinklers there and we all had a blast wading in the Frog Pond. Mommy's tired feet were especially appreciative!







After a brief respite at the hotel, we hit the road again and headed to Cambridge to watch the fireworks over the Charles River. Based on some faulty intelligence from our waitress, we arrived WAY too early for the show, but landed a good viewing spot. It ended up not mattering too much, though, as we had one terrified toddler on our hands and left shortly after the fireworks started going off! At least we squeezed in a family picture first!



Sunday started off with a trip to Fenway Park. The Sox were in town, but we didn't have tickets to the game. Instead, we just took in the pregame sites and our intrepid little Yankees fan braved the hostile environment to pose for a picture with his Yankees hat in front of the field. He and Dad-O gave the hated Red Sox and thumbs down. Fearing backlash, I turned his hat around once he hopped back in the stroller, but he was fearless and turned it right back around. Luckily, no one hurled any insults at him, though a dirty look or two were directed at Dad-O and I!





After a walk down Newbury Street, we headed to the Public Garden. We had promised Mason a boat ride, so to the Swan Boats we went.







For the final leg of our trip, we returned to Cambridge and took a quick walk through the Harvard campus.



From there, it was back to South Station and all aboard the train that would take our exhausted selves home. All in all, it was a great way to spent a holiday weekend and a great mini-trip for the three of us. We're already looking forward to returning and not waiting five years to do so!

Wedding Extravaganza, Part Deux

Uncle Kirty and Auntie Julie tied the knot last Friday. Once again, Mommy and Macey played the parts of bridesmaid and ring bearer, respectively.

Thursday night marked the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner -- and also the only time the WHOLE family was together. Dr. Auntie Meg's residency graduation coincided with Kirt and Julie's big day, so we took time to take a family picture (the Bean is even prominently visible!)



Friday was wedding day. After a relaxing morning of family time -- we took Mason to see Up! at the movie theater Mommy frequented as a teenager (weird!) -- followed by a nap, it was time to head to the church.

Mason was utterly mesmerized when he saw his Auntie Julie before the wedding. As Grammy said, he looked like one of those cartoon characters with stars in their eyes and just said "She's so beautiful." And who could argue!!?!?!



After refueling with some chocolate milk behind the scenes, it was time for the big game ... er, moment.



Mason showed off his professional ring-bearing skills, by practically dragging his counterpart, Evan, down the aisle. He was pretty anxious to get to Uncle Kirty, who had a surprise waiting at the alter -- a new car, which he then used to drive over Mommy's tummy as Julie came marching down the aisle.



After the I-Dos were said and the licensed was signed, it was time to party and party Mason did ...



With his uncles...



With Aunt Patty, who he drug onto the dance floor...



And of course, with his Auntie Julie...




And Uncle Kirty...



Congrats to them both! All of our pictures are here, and here's the photographer's official pics.

The Great Outdoors

There was a time not so long ago when our little Mason man was afraid of the grass...poor little city kid! Not so anymore. We made sure to take advantage of Grammy and Papa's yard when we were in Colorado!

Running in the sprinklers...



Bouncing around the backyard...



Catching bugs... (though, he initially called this little ol' earthworm a snake!)



Enjoying the waterfall...



Playing with his guys at the picnic table, where we also spent many a lunch, dinner and breakfast time...

The Cool Pool

Mason is undoubtedly a water lover, so we spent a couple of afternoons at the recreation center near Grammy and Papa's house chilling in the pool and this was no ordinary pool.

For starters, the water was warm and it started at a depth of 0 feet, 0 inches, and reached a grand total of 3 feet, 6 inches. It had three separate play areas -- one with geysers, one with a little spouts flowing through some pipes and the piece de resistance: a jungle gym/slide right smack in the middle of the action. Mason LOVED climbing the stairs and going down the slide right into the water. Mommy loved relaxing comfortably nearby and watching his joy without worrying about him getting in over his head.



There was also a BIG slide and on our second trip, Grammy came along for the ride so she could take him down said slide. While they both enjoyed their one trip down, Grammy was a little freaked out! Mason was all ready to go again, but Grammy was scared to death she would lose her grip on the little guy and decided not to tempt fate!



Mason kept asking why we didn't have a "cool pool" like this at our house and it will definitely be in our rotation of things to do next time we head home!

A Rockies VIP

Uncle Clint and Auntie Meg treated Mommy and Mason to our second Rockies game of this trip last Saturday night and boy did we have a great time.

After indulging in a little pre-game buffet in the "Coors Clubhouse" (Mason had a bite of hot dog and two brownies, Mommy and the Bean ate considerably more!) we headed out to find our seats. Not a bad view from the front-row, eh?



We snapped a few shots before the game began and then settled in for the action.







Mason was very happy to make a new friend -- with Dinger, the Rockies' mascot, who we'd been reading about since our arrival in Colorado. His first encounter was a high-five through the netting separating us from the field.



His second a picture perfect pose.



His third, the highlight of the evening -- though we were all pretty happy with the win in the bottom of the ninth inning, you don't see this every day.



Mason, as you can see, was sporting his rally cap throughout much of the game and he was certain that it was the reason for the come-from-behind victory. In fact, it's now Monday, and he's still sporting the rally cap. He won't let us turn it right-side out for nothin'!



Did I mention that this is a great age to take a kid to the ballgame? Mason was so into the game and what was going on, as well as parroting whatever we told him to say to the batters. He shouted plenty of "Let's go, Tu-Lo!" and "Swing, batta batta, swing!" It was pretty cute -- as was he, apparently, cute enough to make an appearance on the JumboTron and to be seen by Papa on the local broadcast of the game.



All in all, Mason got all he wanted out of the game: a meeting with Dinger, witnessing a Rockies home run and especially, a Rockies win!