Another Photo Shoot: 15 months old and Dad in the picture ...

Twice when we've gone to visit my parents in Florida, we've gotten pictures of Rhys taken by a local photographer (see here and here).  I think the pictures turned out really great and keep books of both sets on my desk at work.  However, since Jeremy didn't come with us on either trip, when people look at them, they keep asking me where Rhys's dad is.  (I swear, I'm definitely not trying to pass myself off as a single mom- I find taking care of a baby hard enough with two people!)  

Fortunately, we were able to rectify this problem with a new photo shoot after Christmas.  I think these turned out really nicely too and love having great pics of all three of us.  

I look forward to sharing these at work as well.  :-)

And showing off his dad's eyelashes

Beach Boy

While we were in Florida, we took Rhys down to the beach one late afternoon.  The last time we took him to the beach (see here), Rhys wasn't yet mobile or really aware of where he was, so I was excited to see how he would react now that he can run around and explore.  I was also a little concerned that he would want to spend all his time eating sand.  Fortunately, that was not the case.

Rhys was mesmerized by the beach!  He found a hole in the sand and had a ball taking sand out of it and then putting sand back in it.  He also enjoyed showing us sand he had found, running away from the hole towards the ocean, and then running back.  I think he could have entertained himself for hours there and it was so much fun to watch him exploring it all!  I believe a beach vacation is in our not-so-distant future.  :-)

Christmas in Florida

We flew down to Florida to spend Christmas with my family.

Rhys was very busy on the flight down: he spent a lot of time opening and closing the window shade, turning the overhead light on and off, waving to the people in the seats near us, and eating the various snacks we brought with us, generally spending only about two minutes at a time tops on any on one activity.  He did fall asleep on final descent, but overall it was a pretty tiring flight!  I was really glad that Jeremy and I were both flying down with him.

I remember being so nervous last Christmas, the first time I flew down to Florida with Rhys.  It was just Rhys and me that time.  He was almost 3 months old and I was so worried -- worried about being able to handle everything on my own, worried that he would need something that I didn't have with me, worried that he would start crying uncontrollably on the plane.  (Never mind that he was generally a pretty happy baby who didn't do a lot of uncontrollable crying; I was really nervous he was going to pick that moment to start!)

Looking back on it now, I'm kind of wistful.  It's a very different game now.  Granted I couldn't put him down at all during that flight, but it really wasn't bad.  He stayed put on my lap, was entertained by a few plastic rings and a rattle I brought and pretty much slept or nursed the whole time.  I even got to listen to an audio book on my iphone.  :)  Not so much now.  We can put Rhys down, but now we have to worry about him running away!  I like to think that in a few years Rhys will have at least a slightly longer attention span and might be able to entertain himself a little better (books, games, coloring, videos?), but right now entertaining him on a flight is a full-time job!

The flight was definitely worth it though.  We had a great visit in Florida.  Rhys loved re-exploring my parents' house and spending time with family.  Jeremy and I also loved having extra hands to help with Rhys (particularly first thing in the morning!).

Here are a few shots from our visit:

with Nana

At Christmas Eve dinner:

with Aunt Galina

with Grandpa Jeff and Nana

Opening presents:

with Uncle Dwight

Reading new books with Dad and Mom:

Checking out a local light display at the home of some family friends:

And with my parents dog, Cooper:

(No judgment, please: Christmas is a busy season. I guess Rhys just felt like he needed a break- he climbed right in and shut the door by himself!).  :)

Then and Now

While we were in Florida for Christmas we visited the place where we had our wedding reception nearly seven years ago and decided to recreate one of our favorite wedding shots:

I really love how this turned out.  I still love the original, but I'm feeling pretty darn pleased with the developments in the new version.  :-)

Confab with Santa

Rhys enjoyed his visit with Santa:

While admittedly Rhys has met Santa (who is our town mayor and the general contractor who remodeled our bathroom and kitchen) before, nevertheless he is still generally pretty good about meeting and going to new people.

We're not quite sure when (or if) separation anxiety will set in, but I'm enjoying this current phase of friendliness and smiles.  Rhys seems to be enjoying it as well and has learned that he can generally get people to smile back and talk to him if he smiles at them.  When we go out to restaurants, stores, etc., I notice him looking around for a target to smile at.  He generally finds someone who will take the bait.  On the rare instance he doesn't though, he usually looks rather confused.  In Rhys's world, a stranger's just a friend he hasn't met yet. He doesn't understand when he encounters someone who is not interested in meeting him. My boy's an optimist though.  When he does come across this strange type of person, he doesn't let it bring him down; he usually just keeps looking around and smiling.

Thanksgiving Adventures, Part III: Homeward Bound

After meeting so many new Works relatives, it was time for Rhys (and us) to head back home.

Next stop: Long Island, NY

The first leg of our trip back home was to Long Island, NY.  To get to Long Island, Rhys got to experience a transportation first: his first ferry ride (from Bridgeport, CT to Port Jefferson, NY).  He enjoyed looking out at the water, but was most taken with trying to open up the trash cans and playing with this broom that he found in the corner:

He even tried to use the broom to make friends with a little girl we met on the ferry, but this unfortunately backfired when he ultimately hit her in the head with it.

Side note: her mother was not impressed.  When Rhys and I ran into them again later in the trip, I said something like "Oh hello again- don't worry, we don't have the broom this time!"  The mom didn't smile, but just said completely deadpan "Yes, I think that's a good thing."  Oops ... albeit well-intentioned, our child was apparently a bit of a ferry menace!  I was admittedly glad we weren't going to see them again.  :-/

Rhys and Jeremy watching as we
approached the shore

Once we safely disembarked without further incident, we drove to meet our friends, Tony and Rachel, and their kids, Emily and Carter, for dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse, where Rhys soon experienced two more firsts: his first teppanyaki dinner and his first balloon animals (our chef at dinner was very talented as he could not only squirt sake across the table and into your mouth and flip a shrimp tail into his hat, he could also make very impressive balloon animals.  Rhys was pretty mesmerized by the show and was also rather taken with the balloon animals.  :-)

Back at Tony and Rachel's house, Rhys enjoyed watching and playing with Emily and Carter, who impressed us all with their energy.  It was tricky to get them all to stay still long enough for a picture ...

Then it was time to get back in the car for one more stop before home.  Rhys cooperated by keeping himself busy in the backseat and taking a little nap.

We credit Emily and Carter for helping to tire him out.  :-)

Last Stop: New Jersey

Our final stop on our Thanksgiving adventures was to visit our friends, Saj and Courtney, and their daughter, Hannah, in their new home in New Jersey.  Since they used to live twenty minutes away from  us, we had gotten accustomed to seeing them regularly and were excited for the opportunity to catch up.  

Saj and Rhys go way back- they first
met when Rhys was just a day old!

Hannah and Rhys enjoyed getting reacquainted as well and we loved getting to see how Hannah has grown!

*********

Then, finally, after seven nights away, it was time to go home.  Rhys had proven himself a very good road tripper, but it was time to get him back in his own crib.  And so, we returned home very thankful for wonderful friends and relatives and for having had the opportunity to catch up with so many of them.  It was a good Thanksgiving.