Summer in the City

This week has been what Summer was all about. Even though Monday was pretty humid, we hung out by the pool so it didn't seem as hot. The rest of the week was absolutely beautiful! We had fun hanging out with family, at the beach and having picnics at different parks!

Hanging at the Pool!



Fun at Short Beach



Piers Park - this park is beautiful, it over looks the harbor, has an amazing view of Boston and and has a sprinkler to keep cool!





The amazing view!

Bringing Evan Home!

It has been almost a week since Evan joined our family and the adjustment has been just amazing! We had a couple bumps along the way but we are getting into a good routine. Just this morning, since Charlie had to go back to work, I managed to get all three boys out the door in plenty of time to drop David off at school!

Bump number one post-delivery was that around 10am on Saturday morning, 9 hours after Evan was born, when a water main pipe burst in Weston, MA affecting the water supply for the Boston area. There was a boil water order issued and water was not to be used for cooking or drinking. They even went as far to advise people to use hand sanitizer after washing your hands. That made things interesting while at the hospital. Even though the water was "safe" for showers I decided it was better not to shower since I was doing so much skin to skin contact with Evan. I also couldn't drink my ice water, since all of the ice was "contaminated".

Bump number two was trying to get discharged on Monday. We arrived home around 4pm, but we were expecting to be discharged a lot earlier. The Pediatric department was concerned about the amount of weight Evan dropped. Newborns normally drop on average 7% of their birth weight but that morning Evan was weighed at 9lbs 1oz, which put him at a 10% loss of his birth weight. I was a little surprised by this because nursing was going so well and Evan was latching like a pro. They even had a lactation consultant come by to make sure. I was even more surprised when the Attending suggested that I pump in between feedings so that they could mix it with formula and feed him using a dropper. First of all, I was nursing him on demand, and the last thing I wanted to do in between frequent feeds was pump. Second, adding formula when my milk hadn't even come in was something I was just not going to do. I have nothing against formula feeding, but give my milk a chance to come in before you start suggesting that he needs formula. I said that I didn't want to do that, all I wanted to do was go home.

Thankfully I have the Doc around. He told the doctors that we were pretty much leaving, no mater what they said. I had been there since Friday night, I missed my other boys, and I just wanted to be back in the comfort of my own home. I knew that once my milk came in, Evan's weight issues would disappear so I just wanted that chance. Besides, as the Doc said, changes in weight of an ounce or two are within variation of the scale. They had scheduled an appointment at our pediatricians office for the following morning for a weight check and we told them that if there were still problems with his weight we would re-evaluate it at that time. Well, sure enough, my milk came in late that night and at his weight check the following morning he was weighed one ounce off from his birth weight.

Now that isn't to say I have Weight Gain 3000 in my breast milk, but more likely that there was a difference in the scales. Needless to say, it was pretty near impossible that he was continuing to lose weight, so that made me feel so much better and I didn't have to supplement!

Here is Evan ready to go home!


He is just such a good baby, he nurses well and he is starting to learn the difference between day and night, which means that I get a little more sleep at night instead of having our marathon nursing sessions like the first couple of nights.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day, so we took the boys over to the park to play. We are trying to make sure not to disrupt the boys routine. While David loves his new brother, Shaun is taking a little longer to warm up to Evan. We felt that by keeping things business as usual, it would make the adjustment period easier on everyone! And so far so good!

Below are some pictures of the boys from the park yesterday!

David & Shaun Turn 3 & 1

Yesterday we held the boys dual Summer Beach Party Spectacular! Since Shaun's birthday was June 10 and David's birthday is August 9th, I decided to do one party somewhere in between! It's hard enough to find free weekends during the summer, let alone TWO!

We hired the Rec Dept to help host our Beach Themed birthday party and had it down the street at the local park. It worked out really well since we don't have the space or the backyard for a summer cookout. Two staff counselors came and set up games, prizes and goodie bags (shovel and pail) and entertained the kids for two hours

We couldn't have asked for a better day. It was a little windy but that breeze offset the heat from the glorious sun (who had been on an extended leave of absence for the month of June). I was just happy that it wasn't humid. I'm pretty sure that no one has forgotten David's first birthday party, with temperatures in the high 90's, and so humid you couldn't even breath.

The best part was seeing all of David and Shaun's friends running around and playing all the games. The parachute was the biggest hit of the day, but they also loved trying to Jump the River, and the Scavenger Hunt for beaded necklaces! We even got to do circle time thanks to Miss Sally!

It was a perfect day, the boys had a blast and we're so thankful for those who came and joined us for some fun in the sun! Here are some pictures of the birthday boys!

Birthday Boy David!


Birthday Boy Shaun!


Shaun on the Move! (he didn't really stay still long enough for a good picture)


Circle Time: Everyone put your hands on your mouth and say Shhhh!


Circle Time: Everyone Jump real FAST!


David jumping under the parachute!


Jump the River


Running the bases


Happy Birthday to you...

Summer Recreation!

As I have posted about before, we are really fortunate to have an amazing recreation department here. It's only mid-July and the boys and I have already been to three concerts and seen Silly Willy the Clown. The Stack's joined us today and the kids had fun watching the show, playing on the slides, getting balloon hats and having a picnic lunch. Here are some pictures of the shows we have been to so far this summer.

At the park to see Nancy Lynn Cooper:

Nancy Lynn Cooper singing


Shaun playing along with the music


David having fun singing songs


At the park to see Annie's Natural Wonder Band:

Annie and the Natural Wonder Band preform:


David playing the musical plum!


That's right...the *Ladies Love Him*


At the park seeing Silly Willy the Clown:

Silly Willy preforming


David and Brady with their new balloon hats!

David


Cameron & Brady

David and his BFF

We finally had a chance to get outside today! It was cloudy but at least it wasn't raining. It was fun to watch David and his BFF Briana playing together. They are two peas in a pod. Here are some pictures of David with his very best friend!







I snapped this cute picture of David when he stopped running around for 2 seconds!

David's Buddy

David has made a lot of great friends this past year, all thanks to the amazing Rec program our city has. Last summer we met Briana and her Mommy at the park and they have been friends ever since! These two are a riot when the get together. Check out David with his buddy at the playground today:

The Parks: Hollywood Studios

Yesterday we went to Hollywood Studios (what used to be known as MGM). This park is designed more for older kids and adults, but we were able to find some fun things for David to enjoy. We got to meet all of the Playhouse Disney Friends, see Kermit in 3D, met Sully & Mike Wazowski, and watched David shrink in the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground.

Here are some pictures from the day.

David outside the Playhouse Disney show:


David with the Monsters, Inc. Crew:


The family with James P. Sullivan


David on the big roll of film slide:


Charlie in front of Mickey's Fantasia Hat:

The Parks: Epcot

Yesterday we spent the morning at Epcot, came back for naps in the afternoon, and then went back for dinner and the light and fireworks show. David had a good time and seemed to enjoy himself. He didn't really like the loud bangs from the fireworks, so he just covered his ears and continued to watch!

We rode on Spaceship Earth (or the BIG Globe, as David called it), helped find Nemo, used our Imaginations with Figment and learned about new ways thatplants and veggies can grow. But the best part of all was getting to meet Mickey Mouse and the Gang!!

Here are some pictures from our day at Epcot:

David at Epcot!


The gang in front of the waterfall that goes up!


Mommy & Shaun


Mickey Mouse & David


Us with Goofy!


Us with Mickey Mouse!


Spaceship Earth:


Getting Ready for the Fireworks:


Today we went to Hollywood Studios. David really enjoyed some of the attractions there like the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. Tomorrow is our last day to enjoy the parks and the pool before flying home on Saturday.

The Parks: Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom

I am finally getting a chance to upload some pictures from our trip. It's been so much fun and I really haven't had a chance to get on the computer. Not to mention the time it has taken for me to organize and edit my pictures. Perhaps if I were not such a perfectionist when it comes to my photos, then I would have had some posted earlier! At some point I will create a slide show of all the pictures but this one is just an overview!

On Monday we went to Animal Kingdom. We took a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari and the the Wildlife Express Train, saw a live performance of the Lion King and got to pet the goats and sheep at the Conservation Station. Here are some pictures from our day at Animal Kingdom.

David's new friend:


The Safari:


Mommy & David checking out Mickey Fishing:


Mommy, David & Shaun checking out the Flamingos:


David wanted to take his own pictures but posed for Auntie Kristin:



On Tuesday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom. We went on Small World, took a Jungle Cruise, saw Pirates, had fun in Mickey's Town and the *big* kids got soaked on Splash Mountain. David even rode on his first roller coaster! We plan on going back on tomorrow since there was so much more we would like to see but did not have the time.

Here are some pictures of us at the Magic Kingdom:

For some reason, David started calling Cinderella's Castle the *Sand* Castle, so here is his picture in front of the Sand Castle.


David on the Jungle Cruise boat ride:


David's first Roller Coaster:


On the Merry-Go-Round with Mommy:


Shaun on the tram, time to go home!


Later I will work on our pictures from Epcot. That is where David got to meet Mickey and the gang. Thanks to a tip from the Stacks we only waited in line one time to meet all five characters!