Photodump

As has become our norm when visiting Baltimore, time that wasn't allocated to other activities was spent hanging with family around my folks houses.  After our lunch with Ali, Peter and I decided we need to take a break from restaurants for a bit. Cole is just not in a place where sitting still for a meal at a restaurant is an option. Of course, we'll revisit going out to eat with time, but for now we'll work on manners at our dining room table. So with no more outings on our agenda we spent our final days in Maryland just hanging around, lounging by the baby pool, and exploring the gardens.

 Our little girl may be the queen of sass.

As grandparents often do, every time we go to visit she is welcomed with a few new toys. Like a ride along car or wheelbarrow.

Following our trip to Maryland, my dad came back with us to Memphis. He comes to visit every few months (as I wrote about here and here) and his trip was planned before we decided to take a week long trip North. Coincidentally, we were on the same flight back to Memphis.

We went to playground but it was a tad warm so we spent most of the time in the shade snacking.

We also made our way to the zoo, where Cole was quick to show her PopPop the sea lion and her new love of the fountains.

Our trip and visitor were so much fun, though it made for a very busy ten days. We're going to stay local for awhile before we make our way to the beach in late summer.

A Funny Thing Happened

People, my daughter had her first kiss! I was blindsided. We were at the park in Maryland having what I thought was a pleasant time when Cole locked eyes with a boy in the playground tunnel. He was just a few months older than her so the kiss was as precious as it was surprising. I had my camera out and was poking my head in the tunnel just as they decided to smooch. I got a picture of the moment before and the moment after. Cole was pumped! Her daddy, Scottie and I were all dumbfounded. This child has more flirt in her than Peter and I combined!

After we left the playground, we walked around the park for a bit. Cole watched some older boys playing lacrosse and then found some flowers to smell. She's quite the fan of flowers so we taught her to smell with her nose, as opposed to with her hands. 

21204

Our last week has been jammed packed, which is exactly why the blog has been so quiet. We got back from a week in Maryland on Wednesday. Over the weekend, I attended one of my dearest college friend's bridal shower and bachelorette party in Pennsylvania. When I priced out airline tickets for the trip, we quickly noticed that it would cost more for me to go Friday-Monday than it would for all of us to go Wednesday-Wednesday. So, Peter used some of his vacation days and we visited with my family.

When I say my family, I mean lots of my family. On my mom's side, nearly everyone lives in the same zip code (it used to be 21212 but in the last few years everyone has moved into 21204). Being that so many of my relatives are still in Baltimore, we get to see everyone each time we visit. My mom hosted a small sixteen person family dinner on Thursday night. My sister, who recently relocated from San Diego to Hoboken, drove down to visit. Fortunately, she works from home so we were able to hang for a bit before she headed back to New Jersey. 

We made sure to visit with Ali, who took a job in Baltimore not too long ago. We grabbed lunch at a spot near her work. Lunch was decent, but Cole forgot her restaurant manners. She just wanted to run around Fells Point chasing balloons. And really, who can blame her?

By the way, it was windy and raining, hence the hair.

Maryland Christmas {The End}

Last Christmas post until December, I swear.

The final days of our Christmas trip were spent hanging with my family. 

At Pop Pop's house, that meant playing and climbing his stairs.

Since we don't have stairs in our house they are a bit novel to the baby girl. 

I'm afraid she may put them on her Christmas list next year. 

Cole also got lot of snuggles with Aunt Kelsey.
Since Kelsey lives in California she so Cole don't get to visit, it's pretty special when the see each other. 

Back over at Scottie and Big's house, Cole spent lots of time with Peggy Sue.
What can I say? She's a dog person. No surprise there, really.

Cole was also spoiled by lots of visitors!
My sister has kept up her high school friendships in a way that absolutely shames me. (Keeping up with people is not one of my strong suits.)
Anyway, I've known the girls below for 15 years or longer. And each one of them is a doll!

Cole got loads of quality time with her grandparents over the break- though surely it never feels like enough. 

We'll be welcoming all five of her grandparents to our house in the next couple of months. 

Everyone wants to help celebrate her big first birthday!

Maryland Christmas {Snow Days}

Cole saw her first snow while we were in Maryland. It was so romantic. The snow fell on Christmas day.
(Turns out she would have seen snow if we'd stayed in Memphis, too.)
Cole looked around the winter wonderland before deciding to try a taste.

The day after Christmas,  it snowed again.
We stayed toasty warm inside for all but a little while.
Bundled up, Cole got her second chance to play in the snow.

Unfortunately, while I packed Cole's coat I didn't pack any reasonable snow shoes for myself.
So our outdoor adventures were short lived.

Maryland Christmas {The Rest of the Middle}

After a cozy Christmas morning, my mom hosted Christmas dinner at her house.
My grandpa was there along with many of my aunts, uncles and cousins.
Cole was the star. But Peggy Sue was a close second.

We took the opportunity to snap some portraits.
Cole and her great-grandpa.
Cole and her uncle.
Cole and her other uncle.
Cole with a sassy face, Peter, my siblings and me. 
And so on it went.

Peggy Sue was extremely curious about the dinner and dessert spread.
She's not the most obedient dog but I hear that comes with the breed.
Either way, Cole loves her! Just two active lady pups.

Maryland Christmas {Some of the Middle}

Christmas morning Cole was the first one up.
She had no idea that the day was special, she's just an early riser.
Like every year, we slept at my mom's house.
After coffee and a gift exchange,  we headed over to my dad's. 

Over at my dad's house, Cole took a short nap while we ate breakfast.
We had our tradition Christmas morning casserole, which tastes like the holidays. 
After she woke up, Cole was keen to play in the doorway with her Pop Pop. Who needs gifts when there are doors on hinges?!

Cole was getting and giving loads of kisses Christmas morning.  

No one complained.