Stars and Stripes

I've already posted about our day in Old Town, Alexandria so here is a post detailing the rest of Torey's visit.

Three days of patriotic outfits and we could've easily kept going. The 4th of July was on a Monday this year and Torey had it off school but had to be back by Tuesday. On Saturday we went to Old Town so Sunday was spent in DC knowing Monday would mostly be driving home for Tor. 

Eastern Market is a go-to spot for me, especially when people come to visit; so much so that Tim made me promise a month or two off. We fought crowds and lines to get into the Natural History Museum for air and protection from the rain.

Monday left us exhausted. After a big breakfast at home Torey headed home. Meredith, Tim and I pondered naps but decided on ice cream instead. On the trek to share Wawa with Meredith (is she really even from Jersey?!?) we decided to go out of our way to see where Tim's school is. And on the way home... WEGMANS! 

You guys! There is a Wegmans on the way home from Tim's school! 

So, we stopped. Happy wife, happy life, and happy fourth of July.

Gemma 10 Months

If nine months was a disaster, I don't know where ten months came from! To all the professional photographers, 10 months is the golden age.

Gemma is a monster she's so big. At 10 months old she's got lots of new tricks. She pulls herself up and b-lines for the stairs at any time she thinks we aren't looking. Her hair gets longer but refuses to lay down. She loves FaceTiming while standing at the coffee table. Her teeth have made themselves known and we think she is getting more on the sides and top. 

In the meantime, the teeth allow her to eat more and more solids. She is still loving her puffs and purees but grandparents keep slipping other foods like pancakes and french fries on her plate too. She wants nothing to do with water and is offended that you even suggested it.

Gemma is a such an extroverted baby and says her first official word, "hi." And she says it a lot. She also says many other non-sensical things. She nods her head yes for seemingly no reason and when Aunt Katie FaceTimes, she turns her head to one side in the cutest way.

Gemma's a climber and a lunger and a mover and a shaker. We can't wait to see how these characteristics continue to make themselves manifest. 10 months old baby girl and we love you so much!

A Presidential Welcome

Every time Tim would visit me during undergrad he always had a DC bucket list a mile long. Somehow, after 4 years, Mount Vernon stayed on that list. I can't tell you exactly why that is but I can speculate. I am sure it has something to do with limited budgets and all the other free things in the city instead. That said, it was top of the list once we moved here as working adults. As soon as Light the World! calmed down we gathered up sunscreen, bugspray, and Meredith and Jeff and headed to Virginia for the afternoon.

It was hot (note: Gemma is not wet, that's sweat) and it was buggy but we had a great time. We are watching Downtown Abbey for the first time right now and I am obsessed... because 2011 just hit me here. I'll just be over there with my crackle nail polish and jeggings, reading the newest Hunger Games while listening to Nicki Minaj... Anyway, I know it's a different time period and the wrong culture but in the servants quarters and through the house it's all I could think about. 

Natitude

My job provided the opportunity for Tim and Gem to join a group of 55 high school students for a baseball game and we are never ones to turn down free tickets. He had to get her and all his stuff there by himself and we struggled to keep her cool but ultimately we had a great summer night cheering for the Nats Cubs! Go Cubs Go!

You can learn about perks of my job here and also see some other baseball posts: Fenway, Nats, Orioles, Washington, Boston, and more Sox. I guess I have a thing for baseball... or is it just hot dogs?