8 months old!

Hard to believe it but little peanut is 8 months old today!  She's getting so big, time sure is flying!  I've got to say that Brooklyn is one of the happiest little babies, always smiling and laughing.  Actually she is a really loud baby, she squeals (especially when she sees big brother) and babbles nonstop.  She's been saying, "Da da da" but I haven't heard Mommy yet....

Brooklyn is eating just about anything she can get her hands on and she tries to reach for everything.  She's been eating all varieties of baby food and I've been making her a ton as well.  Every morning I've been grinding up fresh fruit and I save leftovers to grind up as well.  She's chewing on teething biscuits, eating crackers and puffs.  The only issue we're having is when it comes to liquids.  She uses a sippy cup quite well and since she's still refusing the bottle, that's what we're using primarily.  The problem is that she's not taking any formula, or not more than 2-4 ounces when I'm not around.  I'm trying to ween off the nursing but I'm a little nervous about her getting enough fluids.  It's also creating a lot of fun around bedtime, the 12am, 2am, plus feedings that my little 8 month old doesn't need... we're going to have to do some cutting off here pretty soon!

Brooklie has 2 big teeth up front but she's cutting a bunch more.  Her gums are sore but she's really not that fussy about it.  Tough cookie!  She is sitting up so well and loves playing with toys, especially if they are big brothers.  I've got to say that Tucky is the best big brother!  We couldn't ask for him to be any more gentle or loving with Brooklyn!  He talks to her in the car, sings her songs, hugs her, etc.  She also beams when she sees him too, I'm glad they're so close in age!

I'm back to work now, 4 days a week, and it's been an adjustment for all of us.  The kids are taking it very well, especially since we have to wake Tucky up most mornings.  They love going to Cindy's and that puts my mind at ease, although I'd rather be with them of course!  Tuck's been doing great on the potty there, we have our accidents but he's really being a big boy about it!  It's also great because there are two boys just a bit older than Tuck and a little baby girl, almost 4 months for Brooklyn.  They are going to have so much fun together!




This past Sunday we took the kids to Scarborough Beach for a little fun in the sun, and so Jay and I could take turns surfing!  I can't believe it but I forgot my camera so here is the picture Tuck drew of our beach day.  He was a bit sidetracked by his trains so he left out a few details, but needless to say, we had a fun day together!  Tucky also got to try out our surfboards!

"Garden Boy"

Tuck has officially named himself "Garden Boy!"  We have had an unbelievable year in the garden, especially from a tomato standpoint!  Just about every other day we venture out into the garden and pick our way through it.  Tuck has told me many times to pick him up and put him in the middle of the tomatoes.  Sometimes he picks them, other times I've caught him throwing green ones and sometimes he just stands there and laughs.  Brooklyn doesn't quite know what to think of it either.

Basically we are absolutely busting at the seams with tomatoes and last night, Jay and I canned 12 quarts of whole tomatoes and then some sauces.  We've given a ton away, made and frozen sauce already, plus have a ton in the mudroom.

Garden boy loves to be in the garden and he especially likes to eat out of it.  He will grab cherry tomatoes, eat green peppers, munch on beans and peas and touch everything he can.  He just likes to stand in it too, it's really funny!  We're very happy that he's so interested in it and he did help when I planted as well!  Garden boy also likes to mention that a lot of the food we've been eating are out of Tucky's garden...

On another note, Brooklyn's two teeth are really coming in and she is trying to eat everything in site.  Today she munched on a cucumber and did a good job on it too.  Luckily she can't rip of any large pieces yet but she sure is trying!

I've been back to work all this week and the kiddos are doing well at Cindy's, although I'm missing being at home with them.  It'll take a few weeks to get on a good schedule which I'm sure the kids will appreciate, we've been traveling a lot lately.  Brooklyn's still not taking a bottle because she chooses not too although she did take a 4 oz. one the other day...once.  She has however started drinking out of a sippy cup quite successfully!  The little bugger is almost 8 months already, time sure has flown!

Bradbury Mountain State Park

What were we thinking??? haha  


So Meghan and I hiked up Bradbury with 4 kids, the oldest being
2 1/2 and the youngest being one month old.  We started out carrying just baby Samuel and Brooklyn but after awhile, both Sage and Tuck were shoulder riding!  They really did very well though, hiking quite a bit.

 It's a great hike for kids and we took the slow climbing easy trail.   Both Sage and Tuck were loving the rocks, walking on logs and finding blue swatches!  Meghan, carrying baby Samual and all, kept lifting them up to touch them too, yeah she's a lot stronger than she looks...haha

We had a great lunch on top, finding some shade to make sandwiches and munch on fruit.  At one point Tuckyman told me he had to poop, so I looked around realizing that I didn't hike up the potty too.  I found a spot away from everyone and had him do his business, which he did, and then I had to find a way to get rid of it and carry it out...what we do for our kiddos! 

 Since Tuck really loved the shoulder ride on the way up, he wanted a ride down.  What??  So I ended up hauling them both back down the mountain, although we took a shorter trail and it wasn't bad at all.  I have to say that Sage was a champ and wanted to walk down by herself! 

The kids were definitely hitting
naptime but we let them have a few minutes swinging and sliding at the playground.  It's really a nice playground and great park area.  There were a ton of people mountain biking as well.... that will be us next year when Brooklyn is big enough!

Fun with friends at the Penobscot River!

 We have been wanting to get up to the river for so long and finally we brought the kids back over for a couple days.  It felt so nice to drive the Golden Road and stop in at Big Eddy again.
We had a bunch of friends camping out up here as well so we were hoping to catch up and get on the river with them.


It was also the first time in over a week that it was just the four of us!  It was so nice to just hang out in the woods with no one else around.  Tuck was having so much fun playing with sticks and jumping on rocks.  Daddy was setting up the tent and Brooklie was in her little stationary walker just checking out the leaves, noises and taking it all in.  I just sat back and took pictures of the kids, it was so peaceful.

 Tuck was really interested in checking out the "big bumpies" (whitewater) so he and Jay took a nice long walk up to the Cribworks.  He was quite impressed and told us he wanted to do that...we'll hold off a few years little man!  The river was running high, about 3600cfs, so it made for some good rapids of course! 

Jay and Tucky gathered up some wood and got a fire going so we could put some 'dogs on the grill.  Nothing beats cooking on a fire!  We chowed on the food and just really enjoyed being there!  It was also really nice to visit with our friends up there, many we haven't seen since the last time we were up.  Mike and Kim also caught up with us and hung out for awhile. 

Brooklyn went down easy and slept in the tent.  Tuck was a bit wound from all the excitement and wasn't ready until quite late for him.  Daddy and Mike read a book to him and then he fell asleep with Mommy in the back of the truck.  I was actually counting on getting a full nights sleep with Tuckyman in the truck but Brooklyn had other plans.  So I got to cozy up with her all night in the tent and we were toasty!  She actually slept pretty well too!

I was very excited on Saturday morning to hit up Susan's kitchen for some Big Eddy coffee and her famous cinnamon buns!  It's a once a year treat that I definitely don't miss.  I was also excited because our friends, the Bechoffer's, brought up a SUP, stand up paddleboard.  I have been really wanting to try this so I got to get out Saturday morning and had an absolute ball!  It's a great workout and of course super fun in current.  I am trying to work on Jay making one...maybe?

The rafting crew showed up around 10am, including Uncle Jeffy and Danielle.  They drove up that morning and found us in Big Eddy - nice work!  A few other kayaking friends joined in and Jay had a full boat.  High water is always exciting on the Penobscot...especially with our new raft that we're not quite used to yet.

Anyway, the Gorge had it's way and dumptrucked the raft, keeping only our friend Jess in.  Jay hopped in as quickly as he could and yanked people in, although they had to swim a good chunk of the Gorge.  Everyone was fine, some banged up a little, but unfortunately didn't get to see the gorge from on top of the water - next time!

The cribworks fared much better and we met up with them at Big Eddy.  Tuck changed up and joined the raft on its down to Big A.  I picked him up again at the top of the rapid and then we drove down to the take out.  He really liked the rapids but we'll stick with class I for a few years!

We stayed through the afternoon and naptime.  Both kids were wiped and took great naps.  Kim hung out with me while Jay and Mike got in a kayak run.  I actually got a chance to get out on the paddleboard one more time as well.  I would have loved to have stayed on the river for another week but vacation was winding down and we had to get back to Moosehead to spend one last night with the family and pack up.  We had a great time though and are planning a longer trip up next year for sure!

A week of fun on Moosehead Lake!

A great week up at Moosehead!  We couldn't have asked for better weather again, last year was tough to beat as well.  There's something really exciting about heading up to the lake without good cell service, no internet, no tv, just chilling in the woods!  We all really needed to get away and I know Tucky was very excited to have lots of Daddy time!

The best part about a week of vacation is having no plans!  That was us!  We really didn't set anything

up for the week except wanting to head over to the river for a couple days.

On Saturday, we spent most of the day finishing up with packing before heading North around naptime.  The kids slept for a good bit of the ride but we had to make a few stops as well.  We arrived in time to help with dinner and let the kids play a bit too.


We really had no plans except wanting to hit the river a few times so we really took one day at a time.  Basically, here are a few of the activities of the week:


Swimming in the lake
Lots of swimming, not quite as warm as last year but still super fun for the kids.  Brooklyn even got in a few times.  The water was a bit lower though and dropping during the week.  We all love swimming up here, especially the kids.

Elephant Mountain B-52 bomber crash site hike
Short hike nearby, great for kids in terms of distance but felt like a graveyard... There was debris everywhere and a memorial to those who died, a bit creepy in my mind.  We ventured off and got on a moose trail for a bit, still fun exploring!  The kids all did really well on the hike though and wanted to do some more.  Luckily, Tuck didn't totally understand the whole plane crash thing...I think.


Treasure Island pirate treasure hunt
Round 2 this summer!  The kids loved the first trip so much that another was planned.  Aunt Meacy did a little preparing and the kids paddled out again with EE, Papi and the parents.  I stayed put with Brooklyn, she really doesn't care for her life jacket yet.  Tuck and Spencer each found some choo-choo treasures and Evelyn found some little ponies as well.  This is a really special tradition that I think EE and Papi started this summer.




Biking
The kids love biking!  They all spent many trips back and forth on the road with their bikes.  Even though the road is dirt, it's pretty smooth and perfect for biking, plus there's no traffic.  They're all getting really strong legs, we'll have to take a few longer trips next year I guess!


Fishing!!!
Catching Nemo's were the sport of choice for much of our vacation!  The kids touched the worms, learn to cast and reel in Nemo's!  The chubbs were biting like crazy and Tucky, Spencer and Evelyn all caught a ton of fish...or probably the same ones a few times.  They were all really interested in fishing, it's such a great thing.

Trains and tractors, but mostly trains

We brought up our box of extra tracks and trains to use all week.  Tuck and Spencer spent a lot of time setting up tracks and driving trains around the tracks.  It's amazing just how long they could sit there and play!  Both boys are really into trains and were rattling off the names of all Thomas' friends throughout the weekend.

Family time!
Lots of cousin time, Uncle Andy and Aunt Kristen time and EE/Papi time!  This is one of the few times our whole family gets together and as the kids grow, we are all trying to spend some time together up here.  It's really a lot of fun, especially the fact that the kids will get to grow up doing this together!

                                                      Whitewater rafting

Tucky, Spencer and Evelyn all got to go whitewater rafting on a stretch of the Penobscot River!  They put in at Big Eddy rapid and paddled to the top of Big A.  They loved it and both Tuck and Spencer wanted more "big bumpies!" 

Camping at Big Eddy Campground

We spent one night camping out at Big Eddy with a bunch of old friends up in the area.  We set up the tent, which Brooklyn and I used, and Jay and Tuck slept in the back of the truck again.  The truck has turned into Tucky's own special sleeping area, he loves it!  He's actually been sleeping so well in there too.  Apparently Jay said it's quite comfortable as well.  It was so nice to camp out, just the four of us, and enjoy some quiet time.  We had a nice campfire, Mike and Kim hung out and we just played at the river.  I'm hoping to do some extended camping trips here next summer!

Big Boy pee-pee's on potty (or in the woods)
Tucky had a fantastic week of going potty!  He had a few accidents of course, but overall he was right on top of it and stayed dry for a lot of the time. We're so proud of our big boy!  He's been filling up that pebble jar quite quickly, hope it stays as he goes back to daycare.

Kayaking and canoeing on the lake

We took a few paddles with the kids!  Brooklyn wasn't psyched so she stayed land bound but Tuck was loving the kayaks.  We even got out the whitewater boat for a poor display of my weak flatwater skills.  I keep thinking that a pontoon boat would be really fun up here as well, although we all love our self-propelled boats just fine. 

Lots of fun meals and great food

We baked and froze some food ahead of time but took turns cooking and cleaning all week.  We had more than enough food for the week and ate very well.  Plus, we got to have big family meals and fun conversation all week.

So, I'm sure I left out some adventures, like making smores on the open fire, but you could say that we had a great week.   The kids are pretty spent now and ready to spend some time at home, as am I.  We couldn't have asked for better weather for the second year in a row!