Party's Over!

Yup, after two days of new teacher orientation, I am officially a back-to-work mama. It's a tough transition(on mostly Jim and me...) but Riley seems to be enjoying "school" so far so we're happy. It's been going pretty well at daycare- he doesn't cry when we drop him off and he's really happy to see us at the end of the day, so what else could we ask for? (Well, there are a few minor issues we'd like to address after an actual full week there but we're waiting b/c a) we want to see if the issues continue when the "B" team of summer caretakers leave and the "A" team arrives and b) we understand that there's a big learning curve for taking care of someone else's baby and we don't want to seem like nitpicking jerks. School for me is crazy but I've been gearing up, however unwillingly, for the chaos that will be my life for the next month or so while I settle back into classroom life. I have freshman so that's nice b/c the pretty much will have their tails between there legs until say, Christmas break or so.

Anyway, here's some pics of "the last days of summer":

Swimming in the pool at a friend's BBQ:


We got to meet little Isaac! It was very nice to hold a little bean again and Riley contained himself and did not smack him as he did when he met his new cousin John a few weeks ago.


Manasquan this weekend:


First day of school pics:



And one last pic of Maggie-leeners sunning herself:

Gee Gee's Arcade fun!

Auntie Heather and Olivia came down for a beach visit a couple of weeks ago- the weather was overcast (which is actually awesome when babies are involved since there's alot less worrying about the sun and overheatin') and the sea was a tad angry that day...but we had a great time playin' in the sand and at the shore's edge before the thunderstorms set in that day and we hit Gee Gee's for some pizza & arcade fun!

Anyway, here's some pics of the fun (thanks Heath!):

Slam Dunk Livi!


Livin' la vida stroller


Group pic (- El Preggo)

Behold....The Spoonicorn!

Okay, Riley is a fantastic eater but sometimes he needs a little coaxing from us to enjoy his mealtime...usually this means we just give him something to play with while we shovel in spoonfuls of whatever mashed goodness is on that evening's menu....but sometimes drastic mealtimes call for drastic measures.

And so it goes a little something like this:

THE SPOONICORN is Born!


Heee heee heeee heeeee


I want to be a spoonicorn too!

Reading is Fundamental

7 days and countin' down...

Book readin':


Our other "babies"....I should say Jim's other babies b/c my sole responsibility of weeding and picking has kinda run amok all summer:

So, today is our last official day of "no commitment" summertime- next week, Riley starts Pre-daycare (a few days of easing into the new place) and on the 28th of August, he'll be an official daycare kiddo as I have two fun-filled packed days of orientation as a new teacher at Shore Regional High School. Many people have asked me lately if Jim and I are "ok" with sending Riley to daycare...and 99% of me feels completely great with it b/c I have a strong feeling he is going to love it! Jim has been back to work since he's 2 weeks old so I think it's a much easier transition for him but still a little tough b/c it is a weird feeling to let someone else take care of your kid. The remaining 1% of me that is selfish & anxious and doesn't want someone else to get get his snuggles (hell, even his bites!) and see his "firsts" first is not okay with it, but there's really no better option so sure, we're totally cool with the little man going off to "school". Plus, I've been rationalizing any of the sensitivity I have for the whole transition with a comment made to me by my friend Heather last year...(who also teaches and had to have someone watch her daughter last year when she went to work)- basically, since he'll nap a bit in the morning and then also in the afternoon, it's really only like 4 hours that he'll be "missed" by us. Plus, the place we found seems super (clean, friendly, and small) and I can't imagine Riley not digging it since he'll get constant attention and get to play with other kids (or I guess, "learn" to play with other kids!)- I hope that remains the case! Whatever gets you through it, right?

I just wish that everything wasn't happening all at once, but again, that's the whole point of this all..going back to work which is going to be NUTS since stepping back in the classroom is not an easy transition...in fact, there is no transition, as a teacher, your job depends on you to be able to start RUNNING)

All those people that tell you "time flies by"....I just have to say, DAMN STRAIGHT IT DOES!

P.s.- Riley has two new best friends in the work! Go, go, go Skater Baby and Baby Wojowhoski! And Gibson should be here before no time! It's Baby Madness up in here!

No news is good news, right?

Doing his best Ed Grimley impression:

Separated at Birth?

If Riley ever chips a tooth, he's going to look like this:

KING TUT....

So, we went to Philly on Friday to see the King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute with a bunch of my family- was a good time and the fun didn't stop there as Riley's uncs and his Grammy and Poppy came to Brick the next day for some beach/dinner fun.

Here's a few pics of the madness of this past weekend:

So, on our way back to Unc Woob's, we walked through Chinatown and some grocery store clerk (we were buying PRETZ and weird Asian sodas) took a liking to Riley and gave him a lollipop. He loved the outside of the lollipop so we figured since we kinda on vacation, we'd let him have a few licks. He was just like the Tootsie Roll Owl and on the 3rd lick, he bit down, and didn't like it so much:



Riley partyin' with Uncle T:

The day after...(I kid, he didn't have any beer and this pic was actually taken a few days before The Garvey Clan entered the foray):


Anyway, it was a good couple of days visiting (read: EATING) with our family...and we even ended the good times with a trip to the Point boards last night for a few games of the toy claw, some good wt sightings, and some Kohr's frozen custard!

Happy 10 months un-birthday!

HAPPY 10 months...wooo hooooo! We've had a crazy couple of days with some family in town, pics to follow tomorrow when I get a chance to upload 'em.

Here's a pic of Riley on Saturday, he was being entertained by his grammy and big chunk of watermelon only moments before this pic was taken.