T-minus 4 Days until August

I can't believe it is almost August, which means it is almost September and I'll have to go back to work (wahhhhhh!) soon and give up all the extra Riley sunny beach/park days I've grown accustomed to these last few weeks. Not to mention, it's been nice having playdates again! We've been busy (and our August calendar doesn't seem to be letting up)lately being sick (Coxsackie struck again), going to the petting zoo, partyin', and hitting the beach! Riley has really taken to the ocean lately which means when we go Jim and I are in the water non-stop....in reference to my previous post of being bummed out about Riley's ocean scaredy-cat ways, be careful what you ask for! ha ha

As far a Riley's new developments and stuff....we're pretty much down to one bottle/day and it's in the post-morning wake-up water one. He can't shake it...it's like a smoker's morning ciggie- he can deal with the sippy all day/evening but he NEEDS the morning water "baba" to feel awake, I guess. Anyway, we plan to soon cut that one out too so we can recycle the last remaining 4 bottles we have been hanging on to for the last few weeks. He's been talking alot...woke me up at 1am a few nights ago to tell me that "he wants milky in the baba"...I said fat chance and gave him some water. We went for Riley's first blackberry picking session yesterday at The Berry Farm behind Delicious Orchards with my family yesterday morning and he loved it. Then again, he may have been such a good boy b/c he knew the post-picking snack of cinnamon apple cider donuts was dependent on how well he managed to keep himself calm and clean, ha ha ha. Riley seems to have ditched his love for Nemo (well, besides his love at night for the plushie) and instead has watched Cars and Shrek- variety seems to be the spice of life lately in the DVR!

Alright...here's some pics of our latest encounters:

Evening beach date with Isaac in Manasquan

Poppy pretending to smooch a cow:

Feeding the horse:

Our new obsession (coloring our own wrapping paper):

The pogo was so 1977

Since all kids love to dance, we thought it was only proper to teach Riley some of the classics



I think tomorrw we're going to teach him the windmill, or at least introduce him to the circle pit.

Beach! Beach! Beach!

So, We've been taking Riley to the beach for some time now- even during the Winter/Spring to get him acclimated to it as I love me some beach-time and wanted him to be comfortable there too (or at least love it as much as he did last summer when he was a lot less mobile). He's awesome in the sand *(except for yesterday when he got some in his mouth and started croaking like a toad..for once, he did not throw up, so yay Team Cook!) but until yesterday, has been a bit wary of the ocean water. My p's came down last Friday for a surprise beach day and every time my dad or I asked Riley if he would like to go down to the water he would scream Nooooooo! and run towards the boardwalk. Needless to say, both my dad and I were a tad bummed as we were hoping he'd come around to enjoying the water this summer as much as I apparently when I was his age. Well, fast forward two days- when Jim and I took him to the beach on Sunday there was a sweet sandbar and despite the crazy waves not to far off from the sandbar, Riley was a ocean-lovin' fool (even in 62 degree water)within 45 mins of our arrival. No fear...just running toward the waves like a crazy man- a crazy man who came home and slept for 3 hours. This morning, after sleeping for a nearly unprecedented 11+ straight hours, he was like, Beach? Beach? So, either he was dreaming of sandy days at Manasquan or maybe he wasn't happy with Jim and I for letting him chill in his crib for a few minutes before going into see him.

Special shout out to Miss Cali Scott- Happy 2nd Birthday! Riley had a good time swimming in your kiddie pool and abusing all your toys in the new backyard playground!

Oh, and since we didn't pull out the camera this weekend, here's a pic of a rather cool dragonfly that Jim captured resting on one of our tomato plant posts!

Part 3

I know you've all been waiting with bated breath for Part 3 of our holiday weekend...hee hee. On Saturday, we hit PA for a little fun with the Stoudts! It was a hideous day here in dirty Jerz but it ended up being really nice at their place! Anyway, good food, good friends and Nemo (thanks Dylan for being such a good sport and watching for Riley's sake)- what more could you ask for out of a summer weekend BBQ?

Cheesers

Mia being cute as ever


Riley on his first scooter


Oh and in Nemo related news- Riley now calls the turtle, "The Dude" as in, "I want the Dude". Oh and he was nuts over The Pierces' and the Stoudts' feline friends this weekend- it was ME-OWwww this and ME-OWwww that for days!

Part 2

So, we spent the 4th with the Pierces in Milltown. Milltown pulls out all the stops for Independence Day...Riley got to ride a train and take a ride on his first pony, which he was ambivalent to until I started loudly "singing" the Bonanza song and then of course, he loved it. Then, it was a Major Meatfest at La Casa De Pierce with more than few trips thrown in to the swings & slide. Riley had a gazillion kisses for "Gib-thin". We had a great time (and the food was delish!)- thanks for having us over!

P.s.- Liz, when Jim went back into your house from the car on our way home, Riley of course, said "I want the Gibson" a couple of times...Michigan J. Riley he is- will only speak when he wants, never when his parents want him to! Oh, and he passed out before we even got on Rt 18.

Makeout session or as I like to call "blackmail" for when Gibson and Riley become teenagers and are ripe with "the sass":




Some pics of the train and Riley in Gibson's wagon:

Holiday Weekend...Part 1

Yay for holiday weekends! We had a prety laid-back weekend, even though we did quite a bit of traveling- to see the Pierces on July 4th and the Stoudts on July 5th! The Wojo crew came over on Thursday for some baby pool (emphasis on the "baby" since Jonah could barely stand up in it) action!

I'll start with some pics of Thursday's playdate:




This particular playdate was rather momentous in the Cook household as I broke the seal on Riley's juice intake- he had his first taste of juice in sippy box form. He loved it but not sure if it was the juice or just the fact that he could squeeze it all over the place. I'm going to use the juiceboxes as treats in the backyard/at the beach until he can figure out how to work them properly.


P.s.- Jim is still on vacation today and Riley is at school on Mondays so were "celebrating" by going to see a movie. I haven't seen a movie in a theater since I was 8 months pregnant- seriously, I'm so embarrassed by the giddiness I feel over being able to go to see a movie. ha ha ha.

Hello Maplewood!

So, we got a chance to see the Palaitis Posse' new casa yesterday in good ol' Maplewood...it was great to see how big Luca has grown (Riley still calls him Caca) and Riley was absolutely delighted to see "THE BABY CACA". He's obsessed with checking out out his friends' blogs on the computer (Hmmm, where would he get THAT from?). He recently started saying Gibson (Ghib-thon) and also calls Olivia "Via" when he sees her pics. He can't say Deville but he had a good time playing with him yesterday- they are definitely little boys as they had a good time taunting each other with various swat maneuvers.

Anyway, here's photo proof:

Easily my most favorite picture of the day:

Luca and Elmo:

Luca and Mama:

The boys (crocfest 2008)

Riley going nutso in Maplewood:


P.s.- Thanks for the Nemo plushie Kar, Riley is in love.