A week without Dad

Jay at the University of Tennessee medical center.

For his spring break, Jay headed to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he spent a week with the oral surgery residents. He had some 20 hour days and also was able to squeeze in some time to look around the city. In Knoxville, spring is well in bloom and apparently it isn't so unusual for patients to come in and talk about eating "coon" (racoon)!

Jacob and Grandpa K. with the "ba-ball."
Jacob and I decided to pack our bags and spend a long weekend in Ithaca. The weather was surprisingly pleasant and Jacob enjoyed running around outside. His new favorite words are"ba ball" (basketball) and "bu" (bus). My Dad has at least half a dozen basketballs lying around the garage so Jacob was in seventh heaven! Jacob also enjoyed a wheelbarrow ride from Grandma A., wearing Poppa A.'s fishing hat and swatting the dogs (he's learning how to be gentle). He also couldn't understand why Tang the cat wouldn't stay in one place so he could pull his tail!



Aunt L., Uncle D. and Jacob

Reading "Go dog go" with Poppa A.

On St. Patrick's Day Jacob walked around with my great-grandfathers's Irish shillelagh (walking stick) and loved corned beef and Irish soda bread (go figure!). We also visited Michelle and Cornell University's archives (where Grandma K. works). Jacob was showered with attention and is beginning to learn how to be quiet in a library (well almost). Happy St. Patrick's Day

Later in the week Jacob played with his friends in daycare while I went back to work and to a one day conference. The week went surprisingly fast (although it did drag near the end). Jay brought us back some Tennessee gear! Too bad the University of Tennessee's basketball team didn't make it past the first round of the NCAA tournament. Go Volunteers!

Jacob resting after a busy busy week (so very precious).

Visits from family

We have been really blessed lately with visits from many family members. Grandma and Grandpa K. visited the end of February. When the arrived on Friday, they watched Jacob while I (Mom) went to work for a couple of hours and then we all sat down to some homemade pizza.

Grandma, Grandpa and Jacob outside the craft mart.

We are a family of readers (I love it)!

The next day we enjoyed going to Niagara Hobby and Craft mart to look at the trains. Grandpa K. is thinking of possibly fixing up his old train set sometime in the future. Jacob loves trains and recently started making the "choo choo" noise every time he sees one in a book. We also walked around the Galleria mall and enjoyed some Tim Hortons (who doesn't love that place)! Later in the evening we met Aunt M. and E. for dinner at Brennans. It was great food and company!

Jacob playing with Thomas the tank engine.

This past week Grandma A. and Uncle D. came to get their teeth cleaned and spend some time with us. We had a pizza lunch at Zetti's on Wednesday and Jacob got to roam around the first floor of the dental school. He was enamored by the display cases, the never ending stream of people (he's a people watcher) and the giant buffalo in the lobby! Jacob spent an entire day with Grandma and Uncle D., on Thursday, while Mom and Dad were at school and work. Thursday evening Grandma A., Uncle D. and Jay went out together and brought back some treats from Dessert Deli. On Friday, Uncle D. was a trooper since he got two cavities filled without anesthesia (per his request)! He sure is tough!

This isn't a great picture, but it is the only one I have with Uncle D. in it!

Next week Jacob and I are making the trip to Ithaca while Jay spents a week in Knoxville, TN doing an oral surgery externship. I hope the week isn't too stressful for him and that he does not come back competely exhausted. I guess it will be good practice for what the life of a resident will entail!

Grandma A. played and read with Jacob non-stop!

Jacob loves brushing his teeth! We bought him his own tooth brush and we have to prey it from his hands! Couldn't he be the poster child for children's dental health month).

p.s. Yesterday I placed some size 1 diapers in Jacob's room (I am beginning to prepare for baby #2). Jay changed Jacob's diaper and put a size 1 diaper on him instead of his usual size 3. I couldn't believe they "fit" and that Jay didn't notice something was a little strange...it was comical!

Jacob, in a size 1 diaper!

A visit from the city girl

Aunt M., who lives in NYC, came for a three day visit! She took time out from all of the chaos of medical school, fellowship preparation and poster writing. She also opted to visit Buffalo instead of a tropical haven and for that we're grateful. Her visit was a lot of fun! We went to the Strong Museum of Play, enjoyed brunch with Grandma K., Aunt D., Aunt MT. and R., shopped at Wegmans, drove non-perishables to the Little Portion Friary for the heart to heart food drive (we couldn't have done it without her.), cooked dinner and of course enjoyed each others company! Jacob thrives on having visitors so he was constantly smiling, laughing, screaming (a happy scream mind you) and showing off!

Mommy and Jacob (two little trolls)

Sesame Street!

Aunt M. graciously watched Jacob while Jay and I went out for a casual Valentine's dinner at Coles. They have the best burgers!

The sistas

Our blue-eyed son

Jacob likes to wear his cool shades and hat around the house! He's thinking spring.

This is the Valentine's Day craft I made for Jacob's daycare buddies. They are matchboxes I covered with festive paper and then tagged with a note. I copied the idea from Inchmark Journal, except that I filled the boxes with Cheerios instead of chocolate. Happy belated Valentine's Day! We hope you were surrounded by your loved ones!

Winter in Buffalo

Considering the weather hasn't been that stellar and it's winter we've been staying busy. We hosted a Super Bowl party, went to the January MOMS meeting, enjoyed a few play dates and have been taking trips to the library. Jacob is learning new words (and signs) constantly and is exploring the world like a scientist. He is very observant and already he doesn't seem to miss a trick! His favorite words are ball and dog. He also likes to make the "ooo" sound for a monkey and snort like a pig, which is pretty funny to hear!
I love this picture! It looks like Jacob is asking God for a great favor!


Here's a picture of my 20 week belly! Aunt D. asked me if I was having twins!! I know I look big, but I looked about the same with Jacob. When I was delivering Jacob the doctor, said she wouldn't be surprised if I delivered a 9lb + baby (luckily that wasn't the case)! I finally have a sonogram on Tuesday so I'll let you know if we're having more then one (highly unlikely)!

We miss all of our far away family and friends. We're looking forward to seeing Aunt M. and the grandparents soon!! It has been too long!

Haircut

Jacob had his second haircut yesterday. I was in the other room when Jay started buzzing. I was a little surprised by how short it turned out!! I am just getting used to it. I know that it will grow back soon I(he has Jay's fast growing hair). The haircut makes him look older and no longer like my little baby! He is growing up too fast!

How did he get to be so blonde?

Let's play!

Last week Jacob was feeling like the picture above. It was a rough week. We all had a nasty stomach virus and didn't leave the house very much. Our car was broken into and overall we were in bad moods.

Jacob in the bath! He loves to sign the word bath throughout the day! Jacob looks like Grandma K. in this picture!


This week was a lot better! Jacob went back to daycare to play with his friends and Mommy went back to work. We celebrated Daddy's birthday on Wednesday!! On Saturday we ventured to Rochester to the Strong Museum of Play. We have been wanting to go for a while! We've heard that it is lots of fun and it was! Jacob loved all the millions of books (he walked from exhibit to exhibit with one in his hands). His favorites included the Sesame Street exhibit, reading adventure land and the train ride! Whenever he saw a dog, duck,or ball he pointed to it and said the word. I have to admit that as a parent I had equally as much fun! It was awesome to see kids of all ages and stages playing and using their imaginations!

Jacob loved this car!! He goes "vroom" "vroom" whenever he's playing with a car!

Outside the kid size Wegmans. Jacob didn't understand why he couldn't eat the bananas.

This picture is for Grandpa K. This is Jacob in his postal uniform inside the post office.

Christmas

We spent Christmas in Ithaca. On the 23rd we celebrated Jacob's 1st birthday at Grandma and Grandpa K.'s house. We had a fun family party which included a meatball dinner, peppermint ice cream cake and lots of gifts! On Christmas Eve we went to mass with both families (including Jacob). Jacob did great considering he stayed up until 9:00 p.m.!! On Christmas Eve we opened gifts with the K. side and spent the afternoon and dinner with the A. family!

Merry Christmas!

The three sisters

Listening to a book...Jacob's favorite pastime!

Eating a delicious lunch!

On the day after Christmas we went to the Ithaca Science Center with Grandma A., Dean, Dad and Mom. Jacob was taking it all in like a serious little man. His brain was on over drive! The museum wasn't super crowded so it was perfect for little ones. Afterwards we went to see Poppa A.'s office at the Ithaca Waterworks building.

The duck pool was very fun!

d Uncle Dean and Jacob