Visiting the Family

Eddie knows how to fly! What a kid, huh? I tell ya what, this one's destined for greatness!

See? 

Ha, and you thought I meant fly, like with wings.

No, silly, in an airplane!

He didn't sleep the whole time. Just most of it!

Typical Eddie, he was so interested in all the goings on at the airport.

He really did so well traveling to Illinois! We took a red eye hoping he'd sleep, which he did! I actually did too--a little. Unfortunately, the only sleep I got on the flight was during the meal. Yes, meal. Did I mention we were upgraded to first class? Our mileage status at work; dozens of long overnight flights to the southern hemisphere will do that for you. Anyway, it was marvelous! Lots of room, boarding first, and food. Except I missed the meal. Jonathan enjoyed it though! And then proceeded to fall asleep for the rest of the flight. He even slept through Eddie waking up, crying, and me handing him a complaining baby while I got out the necessary equipment to shush him. That's right, he "woke up" enough to take Eddie from me, but not enough to remember any of it!

After a delay in Chicago (which actually worked out fine since I got a nap and Eddie slept most of the layover!) we made it to central Illinois and the whirlwind of a weekend began!

This is pretty much how the weekend went.

One popular little celebrity!

All the attention tired him out! The first night he slept 9 hours straight, and he continued to sleep through the night all weekend! I didn't mind! How do I get him to do that now? Hmmm.

There were a lot of first encounters for little Eddie!

Uncle Caleb

Aunt Liv

 Soon-to-be-Aunt Amelia

Uncle Jesse

Great-grandpa Rusty and Great-grandma Joyce

Another highlight of the weekend was getting together with some cousins of mine who also have little boys the same age as Eddie (all within a few weeks of each other!). They had a ball jabbering, kicking, cooing, and us moms had fun comparing notes while the dads did the same, over coffee and brunch. All this while gorgeous white flakes floated down outside the window. I thought it was so picturesque! All the Illinoisans were (and are) sick of the snow!

The boys! We hope they'll be great friends through the years,

and make as many great memories as we did!

Quality time with the grandparents!

I think this might be my favorite snapshot of the weekend!

Or maybe this one! He turned 3 months old while we were there!

And, the reason we were visiting, to see Aunt Rachel get baptized!

What a special weekend! So glad we could be there!

I love this. Pretty sure there's a picture just like this one where I'm the baby.

And, no worries,

I didn't miss out on the meal on the way home!

This and That

As I thought about updating the blog, I had to think how glad I am not to have any major life changes going on right now. In the past year we traveled the world, Jonathan finished his degree, got a job, we had a baby, and moved. Pretty crazy! That said, all those things made for some great blogging material. What am I supposed to report on now? Hence, the title: This and That. I am so grateful to get to share nothing but the random and ordinary and wonderful things of our everyday life!

First things first,

 

this guy is doing just fine, in case you were wondering.

Eddie is busy filling my days with giggles and joy, cooing and squealing, cuddles and poopy diapers! I must say I do love motherhood! 

And it looks like he's enjoying life right now too!

This is what he looks like when he's

sleeping,

 

waking up,

just finished eating.

So fun, right? I mean, who wouldn't love hanging out with this guy? And he only gets more and more fun! He stays awake longer these days, makes and keeps eye contact, and responds and interacts so much more!

High five!

Jonathan continues to adjust to the full time job scene, learning the ropes and getting back into the hands-on engineering he loves so much rather than the academic research side he was involved with while getting the PhD. Personally, I think being a rocket scientist fits him rather well! His current project involves cube satellites. Pretty cool!

While he's off at work everyday, Eddie and I are keeping busy and making friends! What a blessing! I love my long-distance friendships, but it's just not the same as having someone to call up and go for a walk with, or grab coffee, or chat about everyday life. 

Speaking of friends, this one showed up last week!

Edmund is totally lovestruck! (Who wouldn't be?)

I think the feeling's mutual.

And amid all the "this and that" of life, we still have adventures from time to time! Take this weekend for example. Jonathan is getting his mountaineering license (on top of his current status as a ski patrol-er) which involves an overnight snow survival test. Since there was no snow at Baldy (near LA), they scheduled the experience to take place in Mammoth (central CA). Rather than stay home by ourselves for the weekend, Eddie and I have tagged along. So, as we speak, Jonathan is out braving the elements while we are enjoying the snowy weather from inside a hotel in a lovely little ski town nearby. 

All bundled up!

Too bad he's not big enough for ski lessons yet!

The view as we rolled out of town this morning 

to drop Jonathan off at the starting location.

The rain as we left LA yesterday did turn to snow as we got up into the mountains. Thankfully, it didn't slow us down too much, just the last 20 miles or so. I must admit driving in the snow is much more intimidating now since I'm years without practice! But it's not been too bad at all.

There's about a foot of snow on the ground!

It's so beautiful! So far, it's been a lovely taste of winter! Watch, this will be just enough cold and wet and bundling up to ruin me for our trip to the frozen tundra of central Illinois next weekend!