Mama G + Three

Stew's sister, brother in law and our nephew were in NH for bike race and we got to see them for dinner and drinks on Sunday.

It was so great catching up and seeing the three of them...we don't see them often enough seeing they live in Florida.

But - IV absolutely had a blast with his cousin and couldn't get enough of my SIL, Shannon...it's so great to see and I loved watching him take in all the attention. All I could hear was "more, more" from IV.

IV caught in the act.

My Dad has probably always dreamed of this day...and that day came. He took IV fishing for the first time.

I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but it went well and IV seemed to get the hang of it pretty quickly. I think sometimes we forget that IV isn't an 8 year old...he still is only 2. After about an hour, IV was off playing with a dirty old ball he found on the ground, but hey - he's 2! Right?

I can't wait for them to go out again.

Today, I took the morning off to get out of the office and go blueberry picking with my Mom and IV.

The pictures say it all...

Happy Tears? Is there such thing? I don't know. I don't know if that's what I want to call "them"...and by them, I mean mine.

But on Saturday night, I cried. I cried real happy, emotional, prideful tears. Sounds sappy, I know.

See, I had seen an advertisement for the "Pittsfield Hot Air Balloon Festival" for a few weeks and thought "IV would love this." There was the promise of Fair food, Hot Air Balloons and Helicopters. How could we not go?

So after his nap on Saturday, we packed up the car and made the 20 minute trip up to Pittsfield. The weather was perfect and we were all excited.

We did everything you would expect us to do at a small, local Fair/Festival. We ate junk food, watched the Helicopters, played the dart game for a cheap stuffed dog and bought soft serve.







All is great right? Sure. Until IV sees something for the first time....the "KIDDIE RIDES". I thought there was no way he'd want to go on any rides, I mean, after all he's 2! Boy was I wrong. He was adamant about going on one of the rides and repeatidly asked as Stew and I stood there, looking at each other like..."really?"

So there I stood, in line to buy tickets for our first "Kiddie" ride.

I stood in line with IV, handed the tickets to the ride conductor and placed him on his choice, a blue car. I strapped him in and walked outside the gates. I couldn't believe it. I stood outside the gate with Stew and watched a bright eyed little boy...sitting patiently for the ride to start. I called out his name and he flashed me a HUGE smile. I yelled "I love you, buddy" and he responded. "I love you too, Mama."

I cried. 

I cried as the ride started and his laugh echoed throughout the ride.

I cried as he waved to us.

I cried as he ignored us.

I cried...all while trying to capture this special moment.












My baby wasn't and isn't a baby anymore and that makes me cry...happy/proud/sad/overjoyed tears.

And - sometimes you just have to let them go and let them be big for a little while. Then sit back and say "Well done, Mama. Well done."

Stew and I ran anther 5K last weekend. We totally signed up for it two days before - which I think was a good thing. I didn't have time to think too much about it.

We dropped off IV in the morning at my parents house and headed over to the race.

It was a Hula themed race - both a 5K and 10K, but we were there for the 5K. The after party is what sold me. Free beers and a BBQ poolside.

I finished in 24:46 and Stew came in a few seconds after me. Such a fun time...I just love doing these races together. And a new personal record was awesome!

Up next: Cigna 5K on a Thursday night (next Thursday) and we have a 10K at the end of September.