Meeting Alex 2017

We got to visit Jon, Becky, Ben and our new little buddy Alex!

Miranda, Ben, James

James and Ben

Ben and Miranda

Jon and Kevin

Jon, Ben, Becky, and Alex ♡

Alex is mine now. Sorry. Not sorry.

Meeting Ellie 2016

Janice, Darren, Ellie, and Fudgie spent a week visiting Janice's parents in Massachusetts and we were able to stop by and visit while they were there. I was so excited! When I got there, Ellie was napping. Sigh.

So I took pictures of her napping because cute.

We hung out, had some snacks, caught up, and then she was awake! Hurray!

Ellie making a suspicious "Darren-face" at James. She's learning so fast!

My head tilt suggests I am proudly displaying my baby- haha.

 

Smiling yay! I think she's smiling at Darren.

Kevin likes her too.

Best picture of grownups.

James was excited about the piano

Getting a piano lesson from Janice's mom Doris

Interactive story time with Doris and Dave

Trying out his new piano skills to entertain her.

Chaos! (for the next 18 years or more!)

Great visit! Thanks for letting us come by!

Meeting Soren 2016

On Saturday, Kevin, James, Miranda, and I met Soren at 11 weeks old and had a wonderful visit with his parents Jackie and Rob. They are in the warm sleep-deprived glow of new parenthood. How I envy them! We came with yummy Cuban sandwiches in tote. Here are all the pictures I couldn't reduce for the sake of the upcoming "Spring Break" post.

Soren is cuuuuuuuuuute. I mean seriously!

Miranda loves babies now.

Clou kids versus the BEAR- Jackie saves them

More bear fun


James, Bear, Yossi

Rob let James and Miranda "walk" Yossi

Kids having fun in the playroom. Soren will soon!

Secret bear kisses.

Candice, Tim, and Cora 2016

Candice is my friend from college, so I've known her for about 17 years. After college, we both moved around a lot, so we weren't often in the same state. We met up in New York more years ago than I care to recall, so when I found out that she's temporarily in Richmond from Facebook so I reached out to meet up while I was there. I was super excited to see her, Tim and their 10-month-old daughter Cora. I probably first met Tim 13 years ago or so and he's always been super nice. It's so great to see them being terrific parents together. Cora is such a fun little combo of them and she's such a relaxed little baby. (She goes to restaurants! My kids were nightmares in restaurants.)

Candice, me, Cora (photo by Cora)

We dropped Tim off at his friend's birthday celebration which started at Stone Brewery, and then Candice, Cora, and I went back to Proper Pie near where we started. They serve these delicious individual-size pies and we both got the barbecue and peach pie. Yes. Eat that if you get the chance!

It was so fun hanging out. I got to hold and play with Cora, and Candice and I had tons to catch up on and talk about- work, motherhood, our significant others. We're both in very similar places and it was really nice to relate, and agree, and for me, it was wonderful to see Candice as happy as I've ever seen her. Hope to see you guys again soon!

Meeting Lio 2015

Baby Lio is just a little snuggle bug. She has red hair and blue eyes, and a proclivity for being held matched only by my own children. Kevin and I were so excited to meet her! Thanks for letting us come over Sarah and Lukas!

My expression is all, "Can I have her?"

Too perfect. Is that a thing? It is now.

Kevin seems to really like her too.

Close-up!

Blissed out beautiful mama Sarah

Lukas and his baby girl- eyes open! Sort of.

Group picture!

• Easter with Lukas and Sarah 2015
• Valentine's Day with Lukas and Sarah 2015

Meeting Robert B. 2015

On the way to Charlottesville, Kevin, James, Miranda, and I were able to stop in for a very quick visit to meet Sarah and Donald's new baby Robert. Robert is so snuggly and cute, and he's only 3 weeks old! I love him so much. I have an unhealthy obsession with him really. I have been missing him since I met him.

Meeting my new little buddy Robert!

Oh Robert posed for this one!

I also got to visit with his big brother William who is so smart and even pensive. As a bonus, Sarah's mom, sister Jane, and Jane's three girls were there too! So that's a total of 5 adults and 7 children! Everyone behaved!

James (almost 4), Miranda (almost 1), Robert (0), William (3)

James bugging Sarah's niece Rosie (9.5)

Sarah's nieces Isabelle (almost 7!) and Penelope (3.5), and son William (3)

• Last time I saw Sarah, Fall for the Book, September 2014
• Sarah and Donald meeting Miranda, May 2014
• Meeting William B., April 2012

Meeting Aria 2014

So we made it into Manhattan to meet Aria, and so Hudson and James could play, but between the disaster that is Miranda's schedule, and the Brooklyn Bridge being closed, we arrived just in time for Hudson's nap. But no worries, because we entertained ourselves at the super awesome park near their apartment, the Imagination Playgound. And after nap-time we were still able to go visit.

James and Hudson haven't exactly bonded yet, but they should because they both recently had the same traumatic experience. These babies, out of nowhere, just suddenly move into their homes! Here we are holding the little intruders.

Christina snuggling Miranda and my first meeting with Aria!

Hudson and James! 

Grandma McLeod was here too. And Miranda loves her!

Imagination Playground!

Wait for it...

Splash!

Oh hi.

• Last time we saw Christina and Dan in May 2014
• Last playdate with Hudson in October 2013
• Last visit to Imagination Playground in October 2012

Meeting JJ 2013

During my recent trip to DC, I finally got to meet my friend Teresa and John's beautiful baby boy JJ! He's a lot like how James was as a baby. Couldn't you just eat him up?

My new little buddy JJ

What a little flirt!

Cute family!

Meeting Ben 2012!

Jon and Becky had a baby boy last week! His name is Benjamin Elliot and he is the cutest snuggliest little guy you will ever meet. I know because I rushed over to meet him as soon as I could.

Newborn Ben

He was born at 6 pounds and 4 ounces. I have never held a baby that small before, and he's so lovely. (James weighed more than that 4 weeks before he was born.) Did I mention how excited we were to meet him?

Kevin meeting his new little buddy

Ohmygoshsqueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal.

Jon and Becky are so happy and in love with their little guy. Becky looks great, but I decided not to even attempt torturing her with photos. Jon was fair game though. You can see his love and adoration positively oozing out of him in this photo.

Jon waking up Ben for a feeding

James took an interest in Ben as well, and between our visit and all the time I spent looking at photos of Ben on my computer, James learned how to say "baby" this week. That's a fun story for when they're 4 and 5 years old.

Two super awesome dads in action