Thursday, November 14, 2013

Washington D.C.

This past weekend we headed out once again- this time to Washington D.C. We were in town for a wedding of a friend from Princeton, Karis.  We were lucky enough to have the Chens host us for the weekend so we got to spend lots of good time with their sweet family and still see lots of other Princeton people as well!

On Friday evening we were greeted with an awesome dinner.  Samantha is, of course, ready for some delicious food!
 After dinner the girls started playing together.  It was so fun to see them interacting because the last time and the time before we all got together, Samantha wasn't moving - now she can actually do things with Cadence!
 Cadence let Samantha play with her toys and read her books.

And she even shared her bedtime story time with her Daddy with Samantha (it only looks like Samantha is engaged in story time here- her attention span with books still lasts for approximately two pages)
And turns out S and C have the same taste in PJs (it's either that or they are both so skinny that their moms can only buy them carters PJs!)
On Saturday we headed to Karis's wedding, while Tiff and Julius graciously watched our daughter.  The cousins seemed to have a lot of fun together in the hour they were awake together (S naps twice a day and C only once and it turns out those don't line up very well.)  So thankful to have Samantha in such good hands!
Samantha tried to claim Cadence's chair.

Cadence looks stressed out by this development
But she definitely shared her walker with S. 

And C tried to teach S how to walk.  No luck yet by any means!

And then Cadence went to sleep and S got her Auntie Tiff and Uncle Julius all to herself for some playtime.


Meanwhile we headed into Washington D.C. for Karis and TJ's morning wedding.  
The ceremony was at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square, which is literally across the street from the White House.  
It is literally the President's church - presidents have been going to church here since James Madison, and the designated President's pew was the pew in front of where we sat for the ceremony (imagine me having a history geek moment when I realized that half way through the ceremony!)
It was a gorgeous ceremony, with encouraging scripture, a beautiful bride, and a heartfelt homily.
After the ceremony we popped across the street to checkout the White House.
With Charlotte :)
The reception was at Washington Nationals Ballpark- what a fun and unique place for a reception!
Had so much fun catching up with Sarah!
Cocktail hour started on the field and the dug out- cracker jacks, pretzels with cheese sauce and popcorn...
And continued in the batting cages.  The bride tried her hand at bat!
And then dinner and dancing was held in the Diamond Club with a great view of the field!
Husband and Wife :)
Most of the girls- Jacqueline, Lisa, Charlotte, Karis, Me, and Anna

Andrew and I
With Charlotte and Phil!  So fun to hang out with you guys!
On Sunday morning Tiff and I headed out for a walk with the girlies-we so often talk on the phone with each while we walk, it was so nice to finally be walking in the same place!
One final group pic before we left- love those Chens!

Before leaving DC we stopped for brunch at Emily and Chris's house.  Emily is another dear friend from Princeton.  Samantha loved meeting Emily!
And playing with their dog, Puff!
So wonderful to catch up with these ladies!  And Em- thanks for a delicious brunch!
What a wonderful weekend filled with all sorts of different Princetonian friends!  

Thursday, November 7, 2013

10 months!

Samantha turned 10 months on Monday- crazy!  Some of her little baby friends are starting to have their first birthdays, and I can't believe that it will soon be Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and then we will be parents of a one year old.  Time warp, I tell you. Samantha is starting to grow out of her 9 month clothes, and we think she's about 18 pounds this month. 

I think I say this every month- but what a long baby we have!
Sticker gone.  She is soooo busy these days!
This month she started to wave at people.  Definitely charming people in the grocery store.
She hardly ever sits still.  This literally lasted one second. 
She yells things all the time- lots of dadadada and bababababa etc.


Finally- the sticker stands a chance!
She is crawling so fast now!  And she loves crawling around and around in circles trying to catch us.  She also loves when we crawl and hide behind something and then pop out.
Still putting everything in her mouth, too!  Especially food.  New favorites this month- clementine, beef, rice, and mac and cheese.  She still loves pork, pasta, and basically everything you put on her tray. 
She makes music on her own right now- shaking maracas and banging on things with her drum mallets.  She's still loving music together but now she crawls away from me for most of the class.
She also pulls herself to kneeling position on everything.  What a busy girl!  
Love this little one!

Boston

We headed up to Boston last weekend for Laura and Abby's shower.  It's nice to not be teaching so we could make a long weekend of the visit, let Andrew do some business, seem some historic sites, and get in some time with bunches of friends.

On Friday we had half a day to do a little site seeing North of Boston, near where we were staying.  I was hoping Samantha's first National Historic Site would be Minuteman Park in Lexington and Concord, but alas the threatening rain forced us inside.  Luckily Lowell National Historic Site was a great back up.  So fun to see where the Industrial Revolution was centered in the United States. 
Samantha and Daddy driving the trolly in the Visitor's Center.
They had a weaving room set up just as it would have been at the turn of the century. After teaching the Industrial Revolution for seven years, I finally get how the power, shuttle, and machines worked together.  So loud and so cool!
Outside the original mill buildings
Back in the hotel room, S crawled around like crazy.  And chomped on my toes- you know the usual.
She also is loving hanging with her Daddy :)
Then on Saturday we headed to Laura and Abby's super cute house for the baby shower.
With Laura :) Can't wait to meet their little girl!
Abby and the pink pom-pom.  Those three pom poms have now been at one bridal shower (knee's) and three baby showers (tiff, mine, and laura's)- hope they keep traveling! Lauren- who knew when you bought them how much use they'd get!
Eating some lunch before the guests got there.  Delicious sweet potato sandwich.
Hostesses and Laura's mom making some kitchen magic.
This is what happened most of the shower- crawling everywhere- unfortunately not enough napping in sight.
Love this little skeptical one.
Opening my present :)
Beautiful cookies made by Auntie Vasanta.
Abby's cupcake masterpieces.
Delish!
Bib decorating station.
S loves hanging with her Auntie Vasanta.
Just chilling with her new friend Nora.
Samantha is in to everything these days!  Checking out the new bins in the updated nursery closets- of course she's opening the one with electrical cords.
The Princeton crew + Abby.
  After the shower we got to have dinner with Caitlin and Marshall- loving that we got to see Auntie Caitlin!
Then on Sunday we got super lucky because Christine and Stan were in town for a wedding.  So nice to have them conveniently on the East Coast.  We enjoyed having brunch with them.
And then went for a walk- beautiful fall afternoon!
Just snuggling in Aunt Christine's scarf.
Basically the best daddy ever.
The Hu-Lieu crew and one peeking Samantha.
Love this little one (and thanks Uncle Stan for the beautiful photo!)

Friday, November 1, 2013

Dinner with Great-Grandmom and Great-Granddad

On the way back from our Virginia reunion, we stopped at my grandparents house in Maryland for dinner. It was wonderful to see them!  And they loved seeing Samantha crawl all around- made them both laugh!

Beautiful view out their back porch!
S practicing her organ playing
Trying to adjust Great Granddad's chair.
Just pulling off her socks and throwing them around.
Cuddling with Great-Grandmom