The Jumpin' Monkey

We found a toddler's paradise on Monday! We were looking for something to do, and we ran across an ad in the phone book for the Jumpin' Monkey. When I looked on-line, I was so excited to take Matthew there, and I wish we had one of these in Michigan. They had 8 inflatable play domes, with slides and plenty of room to jump and roll around. In the center of the building was a giant play space, stocked with every toddler toy imaginable. All along the sides there were dress-up rooms, filled with costumes and props for the older kids. They even had a coffee snack bar! This was a perfect day. I know Matthew was really needing some time to just be a kid for a few hours. It was great having all these new toys to play with!!

After we left the Jumpin' Monkey, we headed off to the beach to watch the waves one last time. He loved watching all the kids playing in the sand, and was captivated by the waves and all the seagulls (which he called doggies).

Today we are heading home. We will miss Nana and Papa, but are also very excited to see daddy and Sierra again! Bon Voyage Virginia Beach!! We'll see you next year!

Show a little love to someone you know...

Matthew is such a sweet boy!! He is very cuddly this week especially. I think he is really missing his daddy and Sierra. He has been giving me so many hugs each day, and is so snugly with Nana and Papa.

He is already very particular about his love of turtles. It seems that every time he sees one, it brings a smile to his face. I couldn't believe he did this, and I was fortunate enough to catch it on video.

Another day at the park

With another day of 80 degree weather, my mom and I took Matthew back to the park on Saturday. It was a bit windy, but warmer than Michigan, so no complaints here. Notice how the azalea's are all in full bloom and look so beautiful! It's nice to be someplace that is in full springtime bloom!! We hope the weather cooperates, so that we can visit the azalea gardens tomorrow (Monday). My dad took vacation days on Monday and Tuesday, so it will be nice to spend some time with both Nana and Papa together. Our vacation is going by so quickly! We sure do miss daddy and Sierra though. Only 3 more days and we will be back home. Hope it stops snowing by then :-) Here are some photos from yesterday's outing. When we got home, Matthew entertained himself with the Huggies box for at least 20 minutes. He would pull a diaper from the box, stuff it back in, pull it out again. The fun was endless for him!! We brought all these toys, and yet he still prefers my cell phone, a remote control, the camera case and a box of diapers to the real things!!

A Very Busy Day

Yesterday Nana, Matthew and I took a trip to the Norfolk zoo. Finally we had our beautiful sunny Virginia Beach weather. We were happy to see that my Detroit Zoo pass got us into the zoo for free here too!! It was a beautiful zoo, with palm trees and bamboo everywhere. The animals were all in a natural habitat, which made them hard to see sometimes, but I was happy to see that they were not all in cages.

After the zoo, we took a ride over to Croatan beach (the beach that only the "locals" know about! )We saw a few surfers out in the water (though the waves are only 3' waves!) Matthew was not a big fan of the off shore breeze or the bright sun! He was absolutely terrified of the sand!! I tried to sit him down on the sand and he just looked at me and cried to be picked up. I think he was afraid he would sink into it!~ We ended up laying down a blanket from Nana's car on a sand dune next to the walkway, so that we were out of the wind, away from the water, and off the sand :-) Oh well!! Mommy got a little sun, and Matthew played on the blanket. Not a bad way to spend an hour! We headed back to the house around 3pm, since Matthew was feeling pretty crummy today, and not eating much at all. We were hoping the outdoors would help him feel better.

As you can see in the photo, he was not his happy self at the end of the afternoon. He came back to the house and took a long nap! Today (Saturday) he is finally back to his normal happy self, with a new molar tooth in his mouth! No wonder he was not eating yesterday.

Thursday - A trip to the park

It was been raining now since Sunday, and today was our first sunny day. Matthew is still under the weather, so we thought some fresh air might be just the right medicine to help him get better!! Here are some photos of Matthew with his Papa and Nana at the park. It was such a joy to see him laugh and interact with his Papa on the swings!

Virginia Beach - Ocean Aquarium

Matthew and I are spending 10 days with my (Michelle's) parents in Virginia Beach, while daddy works in Florida. We made it through our first plane ride with flying colors. Matthew fell fast asleep the moment the plane taxied out on the runway, and did not open his eyes again until it was time to get off the plane. What an ANGEL we have!!

Matthew is sick again with some kind of nasty cold/flu bug (hurry spring!!) and it was cold and rainy outside, so we spent our first day indoors trying to beat his cold. Good thing Papa and Nana's house is so warm and cozy. We didn't mind hiding out for the day.

On Monday, it was off to the indoor Ocean Aquarium. Here is a photo of Matthew petting the sting-rays! Don't worry...their barbs are removed. No crocodile hunter moments here. He was perfectly safe, I swear!!

Matthew loves turtles, and he got a big kick out of seeing this huge turtle up close and personal. The turtle was playing along real well too, as he seemed to play hide and seek with us. Turtles this size are exactly why I am not a big fan of swimming in the ocean!!

He enjoyed learning all about the turtles after the exhibit...what they look like...how they taste:-) Good thing he's spreading his germs all around right? And I wonder how he gets sick so often?!?!

Next we headed to the alligator exhibit. We didn't dare to venture as close to these guys though. Matthew is just the perfect size for a nice alligator snack. Matthew found a stuffed Alligator in the gift shop, and gave it a hug...very cute!! He also gave it lots of kisses, which is why we bought the alligator for him to keep (you could ring it out when Matthew was done...yumm!!)

What aquarium experience would be complete without seeing the sharks? We tried to take photos, but the shark tank was too dark and creepy, so all you see is our red eyes and a big flash. (We would have had the shot, I'm sure, if daddy was with us with his fancy camera and stealth camera skills)

We did take a moment to experience what life would be like inside the mouth of the shark, with all those ferocious teeth...and yes, Matthew tasted those too...It was a great first day in Virginia Beach...stay tuned, more to come :-)

Our fearless boy wonder!!

Here is Matthew thoroughly enjoying his time with the Mongolian BBQ man, who came to our church event on Sunday!

First haircut - March 30, 2008

Greg and I took Matthew in for his very first hair cut on Saturday. We debated about whether or not to do it at 13 months, but decided to take the plunge, since the hair in back kept itching his ears, and I kept running his to the Pediatrician thinking he had an ear infection :-) Doesn't he look so cute in the baby cape! Wish we could take that home for painting days!!


Matthew was the best behaved client in the joint that day!! All the ladies marveled at how quietly and patiently he sat there. Of course, he had his hair cut first, so he was a different boy by the time Greg got his turn! My good friend Mary did the honors. She does great work...if you need a salon, she works at 15 and Van Dyke :-)



When he was all done, we collected some of the fallen locks for his scrapbook, and Mary presented him with his First Haircut Award. What a fun family day!! He looks like such a little boy now! Gone is the infant, in rolls the toddler!! Just in time for the beach this weekend!!

This is what happens when...

Mommy takes her cell phone away from Matthew. (He's not tricked by my giving him and old cell phone to play with either, even when I power it up!!)

Bon Voyage Jodi!!

Our sweet friend Jodi flew back to Brussels for a six month work project this Saturday. She stopped in for one last visit before she left. We love our Jodi Time!!

We attempted to take a photo of the three of us together. I included it in case anyone needed a good chuckle today :-)

Winter Walk

Matthew and I went on a much needed outdoor walk last week. The weather was a near perfect temperature. He loved looking at all the people and dogs walking along the streets. His favorite word is doggie. He calls cats, squirrels and bunnies all doggies!! It is very cute! We love this hat, though we can't wait to put it away for the year!

Waiting for Spring to Arrive

Matthew and I had endless fun one afternoon. I had gone out to get the mail, and Matthew thought it was hilarious that I was on the other side of the glass storm door.


I went in to grab a camera, and captured these great shots. We are both getting a bit stir crazy indoors!! I think our vacation to Virgina Beach is coming at the perfect time!!

I bought a zoo pass yesterday, and we are going to get some weekly use out of it this summer. I am finally going to be able to take my time, and explore all there is to explore.

First Steps Today!!

Matthew took his first solo steps today...actually he took 4 of them!! My favorite part is that he took those steps right over to Corina today at her house after we went out to breakfast, so she was able to be there for the most monumental of firsts in his life!! Isn't God so cool the way he works out even the smallest of details?!?! Greg missed it though, since he is working in New York this week, and flies home tomorrow. Matthew is growing up so fast! It's hard to believe this time last year he almost fit in the palms of our hands!! God has been so good to us!

Love,
Michelle

Favorite new toys...

Someone here likes our toys better than his own...can you guess who???

Snowy Day

Here are some photos from Matthew's first snow outing. Hopefully the sun will come out and stay, and it can be his last for the season (mom is hopeful anyway!!)

A walk in the mall with Grant

Last week Matthew and I went for a walking play-date with our friend Grant. Grant is still not able to play with his friends until RSV season is over with, so we take morning trips to walk through the mall before it opens. Grant is doing great lately!! Hopefully he will just need to be indoors for one more winter.