Rockefeller State Park

Last weekend was a great weekend mostly because Patrick had what they call a "golden weekend", they are rare but very exciting, in that he does not have to work Saturday or Sunday...YEAH! We decided to use our golden weekend to drive up to Sleepy Hollow. We didn't tour the town, but we visited Rockefeller State park and went for a walk. It was beautiful and good to get out into nature.
This was a picture taken before we left. Andy was put down for his nap and when we went to check on him this is what we found.

Looks like Andy was practicing his wrestling moves on the puppy.

Anyone know if this hold has a name?

At a look out point over the River.

Andy and Breyton riding in the stroller. It is good to know that this stroller would really work for two kids.

While Patrick posed for a picture with Andrew, the Badger's were picking raspberries in the background, Yummmmm!

On our walk we saw Lilly pads, dragonflies, fish eating bugs, turtles, ducks, and a cardinal to name a few.

Breyton decided to get out and push his stroller for a while. He is so cute!

It almost looks like the blue and green dragonfly was hunting the black and white dragonfly.

By Tuesday, August 4th, it looked like Andrew and his puppy where friends again.

Andrew is a very good eater, if you give it to him he will eat it. He loves food!! I have not found a food yet that he will not eat. Sometimes I even give him the sour blueberries on purpose to see his face pucker up, but it doesn't. I wonder if he even takes the time to taste his food?

Below he is eating black beans and rice, one of his favorites. (8/5/09)

So now that Andrew is very mobile he is crawling and pulling himself up and into everything possible. On Thursday I turned my head and he was gone, I could hear him but not see him. This is where I found him, munching on a cheerio he had discovered.

I will admit that I was worried that he would get himself stuck. I watched to see what would happen. He got himself out without any problems, maybe a few minor bumps on the head.

A "Few" New Pictures

I thought the Grandparents and anyone else who is following "Andrew's Blog" might be in need of a "few" new pictures. So here you go...

This is Andrew with his friend Breyton.

Can you tell Andrew just adores Breyton? (07/18/09)

Now that Andy can crawl he follows me around the house. When I am cooking dinner I find him in the kitchen with me, often trying to get into the garbage, these "toys" help to entertain him. (7/24/09)

(07/28/09) Andrew was playing and I got the camera out. When he noticed the camera he got excited and hurried toward me...

Almost there...

Stopping for a break and to checkout what is underneath the carpet...

Hi, Mom!

Andrew still loves his bath, he re-realized that he could splash and thought it was very funny. We couldn't get any good pictures of him splashing because he moves too fast.

He is also very found of standing up in the bath these days, it is a little scary, but fun to watch.

Today Andy and I went to the Playground. It was very humid so after a little bit of playing I got out the water. Andrew drank a little out of his cup until he saw my cup. I shared with him, he took a sip, then pushed the cup to my mouth for me to drink. I gave him another sip and he gave me one. We repeated this several times. He also is very fond of sharing his pacifier with me. What a kind boy to share with his mother.

Driving, Crawling, Standing, and Stuff!

Here is the video of our little Chauffeur from the Fourth of July like I promised.

It seems like I am always behind on posting. Andrew can now sit himself up from laying on his stomach. He can scoot himself around the room in a sort of sitting bear crawl. It is quite enjoyable to watch him learn. He is still teething but no teeth have appeared, he loves food and wants to try everything. He definitely is becoming a little person who knows what he wants and is very determined until he gets it. He is jabbering up a storm but no real words yet.

Today, Andrew discovered the joys of crawling. Although he's still a bit wobbly, he can now officially move himself around the house. He can also pull himself into a standing position to reach for things that have been placed higher so that he can't get them. It's amazing how quickly kids learn. I think Julie and I are in trouble! Here's a couple of videos to commemorate the occasion.

Andy has also learned to copy me. Before you know it, we'll have a little mini-Pat running around. The downside is that it looks like I'll have to stop swearing so much ;)

Fourth of July

Patrick and his fellow medical students had the fourth of July weekend off. Megan Garner planned an amazing camping trip for all of us. We went to Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondacks. The only way to get to the camping spots was by boat. Megan and Chet and David and Lori paddled over in canoes. As I needed to hold Andrew Pat opted for an aluminum motorboat. Pat and I got there in the late afternoon of July 3rd everyone else had arrived that morning. They set up camp on an island with only one campsite on it, very nice. Although it rained most of the time we were there we had a great time and are planning our next trip. It was really beautiful and quiet, a nice change from the city.

Patrick feeding Andy Cherry Puffs.

Standing around the fire.

Chet set up the tripod to hang the pot on for our yummy sausage stew.

It also served as a place to let clothing dry out.

Chet and his master piece and our stew cooking. We also had a dutch oven, thanks to Lori, Megan made the most delicious biscuits in it and then Lori made a cherry cobbler in it for desert. I don't think I have ever eaten so well camping.

On the the fourth of July we went on a hike up to castle rock, which overlooked the lakes.

Here is David standing on some kind of water storing or blocking wall, we couldn't quite figure out its purpose.

Taking pictures of David.

Andy enjoying the hike, and watching David and Chet on the water wall thing.

So exciting!

Hiking up!

A great place to stop and rest and take pictures.

Here is one with Chet and Megan, with Patrick and Andrew in the back ground.

Can you spy what this is a picture of?
It is small and blends in pretty well with all the debris.

From the top. What a view!

Andrew enjoyed the view for a short moment, and then quickly realized that he didn't like the wind and that he was hungry.

Me at the top. I borrowed Andrew's bandanna.

Another picture of the view.

Andy needed to be feed before we headed back down, but it was a bit difficult with the wind.

On the way back down we realized that we needed a family picture and everyone else was still taking pictures at the top. We placed the camera on the rock and set the timer.

There where some amazing fungal samples, which made some cool pictures and I learned about the Macro setting on our camera.

Andrew fell asleep on the way down. So cute and safe with his Dad!

Me trying to master the Macro setting.

I actually didn't notice the slug until after I took the picture.

Back at camp, trying to stay dry in the tent. We cleaned up shortly after this picture and headed home, everyone else stayed and played a little longer.

It was about a five hour drive home. Andy was a great chauffeur...

actually we stopped to feed him and let him play out of the car seat.

He thought this was mighty fine and was hysterical.

I will try and get the video posted next.

When we got home we got Andy ready for bed. Patrick ran to the store and I started to do the dishing, I was feeling a bit sad that fireworks had not been a part of our celebration when all of the sudden right out our window several shows started. We are high enough up to see several shows but not so high the shows near us looked too small. Andrew even woke up for a little bit and got to enjoy the fireworks. He seemed to like the it. It was a perfect ending to our fourth of July weekend.