I'm so glad to get to the August edition ---- not only does this mean I'll be only 1.5 months behind (much more manageable) but August is my FAVORITE month of the year. For many reasons. It's the hottest month of the year. It's when all the sunflowers are in bloom. It's mine & Jaime's anniversary month. Oh yeah, and it's my birthday! August is the essence of summer for me. Welcome to our August...
August 2nd, 2011
We met up with Shannon, Tim and Connor for a mid-week dinner at Chili's.
On Friday morning, I was getting ready to pack Hugo up and take him to my office with me for the day because Marisa was closed. While I was looking forward to spending the day with Hugo, even if it meant spending it with him at my office, I was not looking forward to the fact that he would be really, really bored watching me work. Plus, we were preparing to head out-of-town for the weekend, and so my motivation for work that Friday was waning. Mid-thought, Kelly texted and asked if I was free to take a Costco run with her, so Hugo and I ended our work-week early and met up with Kelly and Eleanor for a 2-hour stroll through Costco and a nice long lunch at TGIF. Here, Hugo and Eleanor get to cruise in style side-by-side in a double cart.
Ever since Jaime and I took our 5-year anniversary trip to Traverse City last summer, I have been wanting to go back for another visit because I wasn't able to partake in the plethora of wineries and cider mills due to the fact that I was 5 months pregnant at the time. While bemoaning this at work one day, Margaret suggested that we take a trip up this summer because her family owns a cottage nearby so we could have free lodging (which, given the hotel prices for mid-summer is a real steal!). So, this weekend, Margaret and Landon, Viv and Eric, and Jaime, Hugo and I headed up north for a relaxing weekend.
We got in very late on Friday night and then spent Saturday cruising around the back roads and through the little towns that encompass the area. We stopped for lunch outside of Sleeping Bear Dunes park and Hugo was totally content for some cuddle time with Landon.
After lunch, with a full belly, we figured that it was safe to start tackling some of the winery tours available. In all, we made it to 3 wineries and 1 cider house. Luckily, no one thought it was weird or inappropriate that we were winery-hopping with a baby. In fact, Hugo wasn't the youngest patron we came across. All in all, a fun day --- we found out that Viv really does NOT like wine (which actually really surprised me). I was also very surprised that all of the tastings at the wineries were free. Good reason to make another visit in the future, given that there are 20+ wineries in all throughout the peninsula. It was a good set of stops though, and I picked up a bottle at each place. Cherry wine, apple wine, and apple cider will be enjoyed very soon!
I think Hugo was glad to be back home, with his toys and familiar surroundings after our whirl-wind weekend. He played hard this night. Aren't his eyes adorable in these pictures?
August 9th, 2011
Happy Birthday to Tim! It's crazy to think that it was Tim's birthday 7 years ago when I first met him. We're so glad to have had many birthdays to help you celebrate Tim! Here's to our great friends here in Ann Arbor/Ypsi. For Tim's birthday this year, the gang went to Red Lobster for dinner and then back to Tim & Shannon's house for birthday cupcakes/ice cream cake. Check out the birthday boy's pot-o-dinner (and Joe's dinner, too, although he doens't have the excuse of being the birthday boy).
While Connor thoroughly enjoyed the cake (as evidenced by cake and frosting in his hair and all over), Hugo is still too young to enjoy the sweets. But he was on his best behavior and didn't seem to mind one bit - instead, he was happy trying out Connor's exersaucer and all the new toys.
While getting Hugo dressed this morning, I realized that he is quickly growing out of all his 6-9 month clothes...many of which he hasn't even had a chance to wear yet! Time to get "dressed up" for day care. Check out my cute little guy in his buttoned up, collared shirt.
August 13, 2011
Weekends are the best, for many reasons, but especially because of morning cuddle time with my little man. Ever since Hugo moved to sleeping in his crib, I must admit that I sleep more soundly, but I sure do miss him. However, having him in an extra cuddly mood in the morning is the best. I love this series of pictures.
New carseat time! Hugo is getting bigger and bigger and has gotten to the point where I no longer can carry him IN the infant carrier into day care in the morning. Which means either two trips or I have to try to hang onto him while getting his carseat out and then carry it and him up the steps to Marisa's house. Both were getting to be a hassle, and we figured that sooner than later he'd have to get new carseats anyways, so we started this weekend with one for Jaime's car. After spending the day shopping around and weighing price, size, safety, and how comfy it looked, we finally settled on one. I think Hugo likes it!
August 15, 2011
Although not crawling yet, Hugo is getting more and more mobil thanks to his reaching and scooting motions. His new favorite trick is to launch himself into his toy bin and pull out every single toy he owns, just because he can. He gets a kick out of this, and it entertains him for a long time (long enough for us to enjoy dinner, at least).
Hugo has been getting more adventurous with his food --- well, he eats pretty much anything so I guess I mean that we have been getting more adventurous with what we feed him. I've been wanting to give him something other than the usual fruits & veggies (not that he's not getting plenty of that, too) - but everyone wants variety, right? Tonight we tried a good old Mexican staple - beans and guacamole - baby style. Needless to say, my little Mexican baby loved both.
August 18th, 2011
It was a beautiful night so we decided to take a walk around Ford Lake after dinner. Hugo decided to get really comfortable and put his feet up...
Happy 6-year anniversay to my wonderful husband! Easy to say that now, but I'm sorry to report that the day of our actual anniversary just wasn't a good day. You know how sometimes you just wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Well, today, both of us did and it was just butting heads all day. No matter how hard we tried to correct course and make it a good day since, afterall, it was Saturday, it was gorgeous weather, it was our anniversary -- it didn't work. So we hung out at Hertiage Fest for a bit, then headed home, decided to postpone the celebration for another day and had McDonald's for dinner. The reality is, people, that marriage isn't perfect - even on your anniversary.
Nevertheless, it was Ypsilanti's Hertiage Fest so we headed downtown to check out the parade...
Lazy Sunday at home, catching up. Hugo chillin' in his high chair. Check out those cheeks!
Another beautiful night. We headed down toward Depot Town to take a nice long walk with different scenery. We conveniently ended our walk at Dairy Queen for some ice cream. Not sure which Hugo liked more, the ice cream or the plastic red spoon!
Anniversary re-do. We were all in a much better mood mid-week and decided that it was a perfect night to celebrate our anniversary, our marriage and our wonderful family. My boys got all dressed up (thus the reason for Hugo's comb-over) and headed to Palm Palace for some yummy food! Turns out Hugo really likes huumus.
Thank you to both of my boys for a wonderful dinner and especially for a wonderful family. You are both the best and I love you so very much. My life is so blessed because of you.
August 24th, 2011
Hugo was due to try a new food and we have been trying to branch out into new fruits so I decided to start to empty out the stock of frozen blueberries in my freezer and make baby food. Now, these aren't just any blueberries --- they are hand-picked, wild, UP blueberries from Grandma and Grandpa. And Hugo loved them (as evidenced by the ring of purple around his mouth). I'm not much for pictures of babies with messy faces, but there was no stopping the mess here. Not only was he ravenous with them, but they are just messy.
Newsflash: Hugo has teeth! This is actually old news, but it took us over a month for him to let us photograph them. Here they are in all their glory. It's been so long, I'm not sure if I wrote about his teeth in the July post (when it happened)...if not, here is a brief synopsis: Kelly was telling me how Eleanor had cut her first tooth and it seemed early to me. Later that night, I was relaying this to Jaime who, in turn, said that he thought he might have seen something in Hugo's mouth. I went to investigate, and sure enough, there was a tooth on the bottom left. It came in so quickly and painlessly (no fussing, drooling, etc.) that I didn't even notice it! Then, almost on cue, a 2nd tooth came in within the week just as quickly! Hugo makes for a pretty cute 2-teeth baby.
August 27th, 2011
Saturday shopping trip (and lunch) to Ikea.
August 28th, 2011
It's my birthday! And there is nothing I'd rather do than spend it with my Hugo! He and Jaime took me to breakfast at Holidays (my favorite) and then we had dinner with friends at Famous Daves. Here, Hugo is showing off his standing skills outside Holidays.
