Newport, Rhode Island

For a last solo getaway before Baby #2 arrives in November, Steve and I headed off to scenic Newport, RI. Andrew stayed with the grandparents in Carlisle. We stayed at the Cliffside Inn in the Garden Suite, courtesy of our Austin employer, RVi.

We spent our vacation wandering around the town, enjoying a stroll on the nearby beach, and going on the mansion tours, which sparked our interest in the Gilded Age, the people and the wealth that existed back then.


On the front steps of the Cliffside Inn


The bedroom of our suite


The downstairs of our suite, which had a reading area, whirlpool tub, separate bathroom, fireplace and private garden area


A view from the Cliff Walk, whose steps were right outside the B&B


On the Cliff Walk


We hadn't heard of this university before, and we were a little jealous of how lucky the students were to attend classes in such stately buildings.


Marble House


Chateau-sur-Mer


The Elms was easily our favorite.


Near the sunken garden of The Elms


The expansive lawn of The Elms


The Breakers - the most famous of all the Newport mansions; owned by the Vanderbilts


The Vanderbilt children's playhouse of The Breakers


The International Tennis Hall of Fame with grass courts open to the public


Even the mansions' TREES were huge and awesome.

A Cat Called Kitty

At times, Kitty can be a spaz and a stinker to Steve, me and the other pets, but with Andrew, she has always been very gentle and sweet. She always uses "soft paws" when she plays with him, she always wants to sleep under his crib or on its railings, and she always sits there patiently and without flinching when Andrew comes up to pet her or to show her a new toy or when he accidentally pokes her in the eye.



The good buddies sharing a toy

Misc. June

Andrew is almost 15 months old and has had 4 haircuts from stylist Dad at Salon Kretzing. We decided to take him to an actual kiddie salon to see how he would like it. Apparently, no type of distraction, be it an Elmo video, a salon chair disguised as a Jeep, or Nickelodeon-colored walls, will ever work on our little guy. He knows he's getting a haircut, and he will protest. Besides, Dad does just as good of a job, if not better, at home...for free. :)






This weekend we picked strawberries at a nearby farm with Grandpop and Grandmom Kretzing.

Faker, Faker...

Having perfected the fake crying, fake coughing, etc. that accompany toddlerhood, Andrew now hams it up with fake reading.

Carol's Wedding

This weekend, we attended the wedding of Steve's older sister, Carol, to Tom in Perkasie, PA. A beautiful ceremony was followed by an intimate reception at their house.


The newlyweds arriving in style in Tom's Barracuda with hemi


Tom and Carol making their way down from the house to the reception tent


Andrew and Grandpop Harold




Sharing a meal with Grandmom Jean


Andrew feeding his cousin Emily a cracker at the "kids' table"


It was a humid evening, so Andrew worked up a sweat by walking everywhere.


Like his uncles, Andrew passed out from an evening of partying with the Kretzings and the Brubakers.


The next morning in the hotel pool

Pool Time

Lead Me Not Into Temptation

While I only caught the very "tail" end of it, Andrew had been there for awhile trying to touch the far-too-tempting swishing tails of Reggie and Kitty. They couldn't be bothered by it as they were so enthralled with the bird action going on outside.

Mother's Day 2007

We ended Mother's Day with a picnic at Grandmom Jean and Grandpop Harold's house. Half of Jean's own children, their spouses and half of her grandchildren were present.

Next Stop: Learning How to Chew Gum

This is the Way We Wash Our Clothes

Whenever it's time to fold the clean diapers, Andrew is always eager to help. Unfortunately, he usually UNFOLDS all the diapers.

Falling Asleep on the Job

Andrew got a little tuckered out while playing.

April Antics

If we let him, he would go up and down the stairs ALL DAY LONG.








Doing his best imitation of John Travolta in "Perfect"


Perhaps a new Star Wars character costume?


Cassie always growls when Kitty and Reggie come up to snuggle with her, but she always tolerates them.

Springtime

Our Spring baby: From Texas bluebonnets to Pennsylvania daffodils




He takes his job of guarding the fort seriously.


Lining up his arsenal of bubbles


Little Jack Horner ain't got nothin' on A.

A Lion Tamer in the Making

March Magic

Andrew likes to challenge us to feed him sideways.


The biggest brown eyes on the block


"Silence, please. For my next trick, with my eyes closed, I will attempt to reach through the railings to make contact with another species."


Ta-da!

February "Flurry" of Activity

Going to a friend's house for some fun


A's First Sledding


And away they go...


Heading home for a nap and hot chocolate


Have warm, happy dreams, Li'l buddy.


Baby got Bach. We were waiting to move the piano back inside the house after the floors were done, but the frigid temperatures made us move it in earlier. It's up on blocks temporarily, the perfect height for our pint-sized pianist.