a quick update

We closed on the house yesterday! So we now have a town home and a country home, but hopefully we won't have the country home for too much longer!

In the meantime, Jed is going to enjoy a weekend with Marmie, Daddy, Uncle Brian and Aunt Dara while Mama heads to DC for a weekend with Shannon and Caroline to celebrate Shannon's upcoming nuptials. Maybe Eric will make a post over the weekend, but if not, I'm sure they will take some post-worthy pictures that I can put up on Monday.

things that make you say "wow"

Wow! I thought this was a toy, but it's food!

Wow! This stuff falls apart!

Wow! I ate a lot!

Wow! I have a lot of hair in my eyes!

Wow! This is NOT photoshopped!

Be

Back in October, Jed helped Be celebrate her 94th birthday. She will not see 95, but I am so happy they met.

saucer love, continued

thanks!

After seeing our post about Jed's trip to Arizona and his new-found love for the exersaucer, Clare and Jace decided to loan their beloved saucer to Jed. They even delivered it when they came for a play-date earlier this week. Unfortunately, we didn't get the camera out during the play-date, but I think everyone had a great visit, and Jed is now happily ensconced in the saucer! Thanks, Clare, Jace, and Betsy!!

Clare enjoying the saucer's wonders

and Jed doing the same

looking for a house?

Then we've got a deal for you.

hanging around

and lastly... this morning's hair was extra-crazy

Arizona!

Jed's first flight and first time-zone-change went very smoothly! The pressure changes during take-off and landing didn't seem to bother him a bit and he slept great while we were there. We had a wonderful visit and we're so happy Jed got to spend some time with his Arizona relatives!

Jed and Uncle Ken (Eric's mom's brother)

David (Eric's cousin's son, Theresa's grandson), Jed, and Aunt Theresa (Eric's dad's sister)

By the end of his first day in Arizona, Jed was at the end of his rope!

Aunt Theresa, Uncle Mike (Theresa's husband), and Jed

Jed and his cousin David
David captivated Jed, as did this "exer-saucer." I think we may have to acquire one soon!

Jed with Aunt Theresa and Uncle Mike

Jed and Uncle Ken

Jed, Uncle Ken, and Eric

Jed + aunt, uncle and cousins:
Carley (Jed's second cousin), wearing purple, is in front of her mother, Susan (wife of Eric's cousin Chris). In the middle of the front, Aunt Theresa holds Jed. Esther (fiance of Eric's cousin Tom) is in the black jacket. Behind Esther and beside Theresa is Taylor (Jed's second cousin, daughter of Eric's cousin, Greg). In the back from left to right are Michael (Susan and Chris's son), Eric, Uncle Mike (hidden behind Theresa), Greg (Eric's cousin), and Chris (Eric's cousin).

Jed and Aunt Theresa

Jed and Aunt Carol (Ken's wife) at the botanical garden.
The green stalk-like things in the background are actually glass sculptures that are part of a special exhibit. Thanks very much to Aunt Carol for suggesting this trip! The garden, even without the sculpture, was beautiful, and the sculpture was fantastic.

sculpture at the botanical garden

at the Desert Botanical Garden

glass sculpture at the botanical garden

Aunt Carol and Jed with glass sculptures at the botanical garden

Jed and Uncle Ken

Jed + palms

And finally, a note about cousins:

• Eric and his first cousins are, obviously, first cousins.
• Eric and the children of his first cousins are first cousins once removed because they are removed from each other by one generation; likewise, Jed and Eric's first cousins are first cousins once removed.
• Jed and the children of Eric's cousins are second cousins because they share the same great grandparents. Because they are in the same generation, there's no need to use the word "removed" in describing their relationship.
  
• In any case, cousins are cousins, and we're lucky we have so many!
  

a quick update

As usual, Jed's ability to adapt amazes us! His first flight was a smooth success (for him, his parents, and everyone else on the plane), and after a long day of travel he still managed to get right on mountain time. We'll post many more pictures and details once we get home, but here's one shot from today's visit to the Desert Botanical Garden.

go west, young man!

Tomorrow, Jed (with parents in tow) will set off on his first plane flight and his first time-zone-crossing for his first visit with his great aunts and uncles, Ken and Carol and Theresa and Mike. (Ken is Eric's maternal uncle and Theresa is Eric's paternal aunt.)

Eric's firm is sending him to a conference in Phoenix, so we decided to take the kid to meet more family members. We cannot wait to show him off and I'm looking forward to some 75-degree weather, but we're feeling a bit uncertain about baby travel. Thankfully, we're staying with family rather than a hotel. I'm hoping Jed's generally happy disposition will serve us (and our fellow plane passengers) well tomorrow and in the coming days as Jed deals with a two hour time difference and lots of new faces. Look for a new post early next week and wish us luck in the meantime!

blogged babies meet!

We got to meet Eli, of New Kid News fame, this weekend! Eli is 4.5 months old and Jed is 8 months, but they are almost the same height! We had a great time with Eli and his parents, and I think the boys enjoyed meeting each other, although Jed showed his love for Eli by trying to grab Eli's cheeks and eyeballs.