Update on Playing Catch Up

So Alex is 6 months old today. But I haven't caught up. I'm trying, I'm trying. Have faith. I'll get there. There's just too many great pictures of Alex and we had a busy summer. Once Daddy went back to work, we had a lot fewer opportunities to photograph Alex with regularity. So I should be all caught up soon.

Uncle Rich's Air Craft Carrier

We were lucky to visit with the Schmaeling Family in San Diego. We had lunch on the naval base with Rich, Nicole and Alex's new friends, Caleb and Nathan. Then Mommy and Daddy were treated to a tour of the USS Nimitz, Rich's home away from home (away from home - we all know Rich is a New Yorker at heart).

There was some major construction going on the Nimitz.

So we took a few pictures of the other carriers so we could show them off.

Rich and his little man, Caleb.

And here's Daddy and his little patriotic man, Alex.

And the tour begins.

During the tour, there was a lot of Top Gun chatter. Daddy was particularly excited about this "catapult." Mommy needed a translation of Rich's description of what it's for. Sounded pretty cool. I put this picture in for all the boys out there and for all the Top Gun fans who remember more about the movie than the beach volleyball scene. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures of much else!

And what a view Rich has from his office.

Our Family Vacation - Alex's First Plane Ride 8/8/08

We took our first real family vacation in August! All the way across the country from New York to San Diego. Alex was a rock star on the airplane - no crying, no spitting up, no terrorizing the other passengers. He was a smiling, sleepy angel and when each flight was over, he was the most popular guy on the plane.

Summertime . . . and the Living's Easy

Alex had a great summer hanging with Daddy. Check them out:

And Alex is the King of the Giggles:

Alex at 4 months

Alex is growing up and learning new things. He likes sitting in his captain's chair and spinning his toys.

He also is just "tall" enough for his activity center - in fact, at 4 months, he's 2 feet, 2 inches.

Right around this time, Alex started "talking" to us. The night this picture was taken, Mommy and Daddy were preparing to leave Alex at his grandparents' house overnight for the first time. Before we left, he babbled beautifully for about 10 minutes. We think he was telling us how much he loves us and how it was okay to leave him with Yia Yia and Poppy for the weekend. We really appreciated that!

Mommy's Birthday - July 20, 2008

Alex continues to be a stellar gift giver. After spending the day with Jenna in Long Beach, Daddy made a great dinner and Alex gave Mommy a number of fun birthday presents. Highlights were the framed photo of Alex and Mommy just moments after he was born and the really fun book, Clumsy Crab, which Mommy and Alex like reading together.

Binghamton Reunion - July 19, 2008

It's been 10 years since Daddy graduated from SUNY B so the Bearcats (formerly, Colonials) got together to have a few beers and talk about old times. The reunion was at the Beer Garden in Astoria (Alex's first beer garden!) and it was HOT out! But we didn't let that get to us and Alex did his best to keep cool - washclothes dipped in ice water was our best weapon. Doesn't he look delicious?

Cuddles for Alex

In July, Alex got to see lots of people and get lots of cuddles. In addition to the hugs and kisses he got Fourth of July weekend, Alex also got some love from:

Craig

Yia Yia

Jenna

Rose Anne

Sunshine, A Bath and The Force

Daddy and Papou

took Alex to the park

on yet another beautiful

day this summer.

Check me out!

Mommy loves bath time!

Look at our

little Jedi!

Independance Day Weekend 2008

We spent July 4 at the Christians' house in East Northport followed by a fabulous fireworks extravaganza at the Matsons' in Wantagh. Then we saw Mommy's cousins in Ronkonkoma and back to Wantagh for play time with friends at the Malone house. Good times.

Thea with Alex wearing his red, white and blue with pride.

Marilyn giving

Alex some love.

Chilling out with cousin Susan.

Uncle Ollie

Aunt Karen

Aunt Jen

Uncle Cort

Playing Catch Up

I know, I know . . . the blog is way out of date. But did you notice when it slowed down? Mommy had just returned to work. So, that's my excuse. Instead of sitting at my computer at work all day and then coming home and sitting in front of the computer in our basement each day, I wanted to spend some quality with my little, smiley, drooling baby boy. But, since I don't want to send out emails all the time with lots of pix of the boy, it's my responsibility to keep this thing up to date. So here's the deal. I'm going to try to get the site up to date by the time Alex is six months old. Which is 17 days from today!!!! I've definitely got my work cut out for me but Daddy did his part. He set me up with a wireless Internet connection so that I can work on the blog on our laptop while watch Brett Favre's first game on the Jets while Alex naps or struggles to roll over on the floor. But enough from me. You just want photos anyway!