Camping

Two weeks ago, we headed on our first camping trip post-baby. With temperatures soaring into the upper nineties, we thought that a trip to somewhere with water was a must. As last minute planning took us to Elk Neck State Park in MD, which is at the northern boundary of the Chesapeake Bay. Sadly, the beach was closed b/c there was bacteria int heIt as an overall success and again, Iggy was a rock star...so adaptable and easy.

And we're off. With the car packed, we are on our way one late Friday evening.

Having gotten a later start than anticipated, we ended up setting up camp in the dark.

Iggy loved the tent and helped out with arranging the therma--rests.

Good morning!

We headed on a little hike to the Stoney Point Lighthouse.

There was a painter.

Hawk Watch 2010.

We climbed to the top of lighthouse and took pictures.

Jed showing off the Bay and the light in the house.

Taking pictures in the steamy lighthouse.

Jed got stuck heading down the stairs.

We wore Imogen out.

And, we got to play in the water a bit.

Soaked b/c of Two. Oh well, it was fun.

Uncharacteristically, Two dove right into the water and wanted to stay in it the entire time we were on the beach.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

In honor of Jed's inaugural father's day, and because we are heading out for our first camping adventure with the kiddo and will be without the interweb, I wanted to post a little note about my main squeeze.



I am so lucky to have found such a wonderful man who is not only an awesome partner but an "A"-mazing (with a capital "A") father. This could not be more evident by the fact that Imogen's face lights up every time Jed walks into a room. She is always quick to smile and laugh when she is being held or nuzzled by her dad. And, she loves herself some daddy duet time. The songs they sing are music to my ears.

I am so lucky to be able to share this parenthood journey with you, Jed. It's been quite a trip so far. Thanks, my love, for your patience, understanding, and unyeilding love. You are the best, and I love you.

Happy Father's Day! Love always, Tiff

Sunday's in June

While we were out viewing the monument for Iggy’s anniversary pictures, we found a quiet bench on the edge of the tidal basin, and started feeding the ducks. Imogen LOVED it. The ducks came right up to our feet and took the food off the edge of our toes, and she laughed and laughed. Sadly, ducks are shy, and don’t like their pictures taken. But we then went and played around in the grove, and we thought that we should share those pictures with you! Enjoy!

(p.s. look how skinny tiff looks! She's been working out and doing a great job with it!)


Family portrait on a fun Sunday in June!


See you real soon!
love Jed, Tiff, and Imogen

Happy 7th Month-aversary!

This is Imogen’s 7-month anniversary in the world.

For this month, we decided to take her to the FDR memorial in the tidal basin. This is a memorial that gets overlooked a little bit because it is not as grandiose or striking in the way that things like the Lincoln or Washington Memorials are large and iconic. However the FDR memorial is actually very beautiful, well thought out, and a walking tour through the various times that he presided over (depression, end of depression, beginning of WWII, etc.). So, here she is, making her way through the memorial … enjoy!

Here she is with FDR himself

Here she is standing in a 1930’s style bread line

Here she is during a fireside chat with FDR and his scottish terrier Fala.

Good dog Fala!

Here is Iggy and Tiff with Eleanor Roosevelt. Some proud women.

Happy Birthday Dan-o!

Happy Bgirthday Dan-o!

So, for Dan’s 30^th birthday, he made the unfortunate mistake of coming to Washington D.C. to see tiffany, iggy, and me. Tiffany and Iggy were great, but Dan and I together were able to essentially obliterate the mid Atlantic’s supply of natty-boh’s.

Friday night we went to Baltimore where we let Kevin Youklis know that he should have gone to Moeller high school in Cincinnati, instead of being an aviator like he was (although Dan’s pops was an aviator, so it wasn’t a terrible choice – also Youklis is a Jewish kid, and may not have fit in exactly at a catholic high school like Moeller … just sayin’).

Great times at the ball game.

Camden Yards is such a great place to watch a game.

Imogen had a little O’s outfit to show her hope that the O’s would defeat the hated red sox.

We made friends with the others in our secion

Hung out with one of Dan’s oldest friends, Andrew, who was the salutatorian behind dan as the valedictorian – Go Crusaders.

Saturday, Dan and I hung out a our favorite local gastro-pub, the Argonaut. After that we went to a bbq at a smoked / pulled pork master’s house, the Pendarvis. Delicious (no pictures). We then went to the Nationals game and followed that up with a trip to my favorite dive bar, the Tune Inn (mom, you remember that place, that’s where we got drinks after Imogen was born). While I don’t have pictures to share, let me try and paint you a picture, we met Sean and Arun at the ball game, made numerous new friends in our stands, shouted at an outfielder of the Cincinnati reds for the whole game (BRRRRRRUUUUUUCCCCEEEEE!!!!!!) and then went to the Tune Inn where we ran into a bunch of people who we had met before, and rang in Dan’s b-day with style. The next morning, my liver staged an outright revolt attempting to secede from my body unilaterally (just like South Carolina). All in all it was a great weekend, and it was fantastic to see dan, who I hadn’t seen live and in person since the Hero, Josh Duell, drained three pointers all over the court in Dayton for the NCAA tournament in 2009. Happy birthday Dan, welcome to your fourth decade, and enjoy!

Firsts

With the passing of Iggy's momentous six month birthday, we decided a post on Imogen's "firsts" would be fun.

First time she wished everyone a merry christmas.

First time she found her fingers

First time she rolled over from her tummy to back sometime in January (not the greatest video by any stretch of the imagination!).

First time she rolled over from back to front sometime in March.

Bouncing in her exer-saucer.

Sitting up by herself for an extended period of time (and being very excited about all the clothes on her changing table. Do I sense a diva in our midst?).

First time she tried solids. She hated the plain rice cereal.

She definitely preferred the taste of the pears.

Among the first times that Iggy decided to start traveling (backwards).

First time eating homemade baby food. She was not a huge fan of the green beans.

Giggles

Profiles in Courage of Blog Readers - AUNT LINDA

So, we're starting a new feature ... "Profiles in courage of blog readers." This chronicles some of our most consistent readers, and profiles the courage that they show every time they open their web browser to the bodgers building bodgers website. Today, we showcase Aunt Linda!

Coincidentally enough, today is also Aunt Linda's birthday, so Happy 29th Birthday Aunt Linda! (That's Imogen waiving "happy birthday")

So, lets talk a little about Aunt Linda. She is an adventurous soul who has really lived a great life (so far, even better things to come we're sure!) She's lived from Portal North Dakota, Bellingham Washington, Canada, Cheyenne Wyoming, etc. She's been all over the map, pursuing a number of interesting careers, from being a musician, to a teacher, to a textile industry entrepreneur, and re-inventing herself all along the way. She currently lives in British Columbia Canada, and has developed a new love ... knitting. Before we talk about her new love, lets just bring you up to speed on her other love ... music. Linda is a fabulous musician, and she has used it to be both an artist, performing with a number of various ensembles and symphonies, playing just about anything that she could get her hands on, but excelling as a flautist.

Well, lately she has taken the same dedication it took to become a world class flute player and applied it to knitting. At the shop that she helps run (i think the shop is on bowen island, but I could use a little confirmation on that one) she even looms her own fabric. yeah, you read that right. WOW! That's just amazing.

Well, who was Aunt Linda before all of these amazing things made her who she is? Well, she was the first born of Bethel and Barbara Belcher (much like Ms. Imogen). She had nomadic parents who were always willing to pull up stakes and move for Grandpa Bethel's job (also much like Iggy). She had a mother who was fun, and sometimes forgetful (yet another trait she and Imogen share). She's had adventures, she's been a great mother to her kids (hi you two!) and she's been a fantastic aunt, but unparalleled to any of that, she has been a fantastic Aunt to Imogen. I can't even express how much fun it is to get emails, to see the beautiful things that she has made for Iggy (that is a hand knit blanket, with the most amazing hand done detail work we have ever seen. Just breathtaking)

or that she has sent to iggy (that is a "let them play Canada" hat promoting youth sports in the Great White North), or her embracing of stirrup fridays (i'm a size 13 shoe by the by).

All in all Tiffany and I just want to say Happy Birthday, and thank you for everything! It has been awesome, much appreciated, and more than necessary, but we love and cherish every minute of it! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT LINDA our first PROFILE IN COURAGE OF READER!