Category: Family news/Updates

On day two we got up semi-early and had breakfast and then tried to make the early ferry to Mackinaw Island.  Of course as soon as we pulled into the parking lot and started speed walking to the ticket booth the whistle blew and the ferry shipped off.  In the end it was a good thing we had missed the boat because we were in such a rush we had forgotten the stroller in the car.  We had an hour to kill before the next ferry so we tracked down a shoe store.  The only thing I had forgotten to pack was a pair of tennis shoes… for me.  All I had were flip flops and silly little slip ons, neither of which were proper for tracking all around an island.

Anywho, we made the ferry, with new shoes, and after a 16 min. ride were unloaded onto the island.  What’s neat about Mackinaw Island is that there are no motor vehicles allowed, so that means bicycle and horse drawn carriage are the main modes of transportation.  As soon as we hit main street, Dave and I kept pointing to all the horses – look Ajax, horsey!  Ajax would respond- Frannie! Frannie!  (this continued throughout the day).

We had a great day on the island.  We walked all over the place, down some neat trails along the water, saw some pretty cool buildings and then explored Fort Mackinaw.  We didn’t get to see much of the Fort as Ajax had a small melt down.  We therefore cut our tour short and headed in for lunch.  After lunch Ajax was much more agreeable and ended up falling asleep in his stroller, which gave me some time to look through a few shops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, we all survived the first night in the Bates Motel and after breakfast went out exploring.  The weather was beautiful the entire trip (ranging from the low to mid 70s) and the leaves were changing.   We walked along the water to Colonial Michilimackinac and played by the beach.  After lunch we headed back to the hotel and swam.  The reason I had chosen this particular hotel was due to the neat waterpark and pool (obviously I should have read some reviews on the actual rooms).  We ended up in the pool area for over two hours and we were the only ones there, so we had it all to ourselves!  It was great and Ajax had an excellent time swimming and climbing over the structures.

After swim-time we decided to head to the upper peninsula.  We did a bit of exploring in the UP and climbed Castle Rock, which is a neat rock formation that overlooks the great lakes.  There were a lot of stairs and Ajax did about 90% of the climb himself.  I only carried him the last bit because it got so steep I was nervous.  We did dinner in St. Ignace and then went back to crash for the night.

On the beach –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swimming –

 

Since we were the only ones in the pool area we turned off all the water features for the water park, as they were just a little too intense for Ajax.  He liked it just fine with no splashing or spraying.

The UP and St. Ignace –

Ajax’s new favorite thing right now is Elmo.  Although he’s not into watching Sesame Street yet (actually, he’s not into watching TV at all), he has a few books with Elmo and he is obsessed.  He’ll stand around saying, Elmo? Elmo?  And then will point out Elmo on all the pages of his book.  Ernie is a close second.   Ajax has also been saying, hi guys.  Which I just think is so cute.

We’re currently getting ready for our first official family vacation (so I apologize in advance that there will be no updates for next week).  One of the greatest things I remember doing as a kid was going on family vacations.  Our family would go someplace big every summer – California, Washington, Disney World.  We always had so much fun.  Dave and I want Ajax to experience the same thing.

Dave and I each took a week off work (the first for Dave since Ajax was born), and we’re headed up north to Mackinaw City, which is at the very northern tip of Michigan before jumping the bridge to the U.P.  We are leaving on Sunday and will stay in Mackinaw until Wednesday and then we are heading over to Dave’s parents house.  Dave, his mom, and I are signed up to take a class and then we’ll be home on Saturday and then the Zombie Walk is on Sunday.

I made tortilla soup and Ajax thought it was the best thing ever.

“This is daycare, not hockey practice, he shouldn’t have to be so tough.”   This is what Ms. Karen said to Dave when he picked up the nino yesterday.  Ajax had a scratch on his face and while Ms. Karen was upset about it, Dave just said, well he’ll be ok.  Apparently Ajax had a bit of a scuffle with another child.   The other kid tried to take a toy from Ajax, so the kid was pulling one way and Ajax was pulling the other way.   Ms. Karen then came up and told the other kid to “let go” so the kid let go and bam – the toy came right back into Ajax’s face, leaving the scratch.  Ms. Karen said she scooped him up and tried to cuddle and comfort him, but he just said, “no, down?”   She was more upset about the incident than he was, especially since Ajax is not the cuddly type.  He is very much a rough and tumble little boy.

Today we went visiting my friend Mari and got to see her new twin girls (so cute!).  While I was feeding one of the infants, Ajax became so upset and jealous.  He kept trying to have me pick him up and was not pleased that I was holding another baby.   After I put her down, Ajax became more comfortable and played with Riley, who will be 2 in October.  Ajax didn’t pay any other attention to the babies until we were ready to leave and then it was like he was fascinated.  He kept touching their feet and hands, and at one point tried to give one a hug and kiss, it was ridiculously cute.  He’ll be a wonderful big brother some day.

On Friday night we loaded up the car and headed out to my parent’s house in Brooklyn to house-sit as they headed to North Carolina for a week of vacation on the beach.   We stayed Friday and Saturday night and then headed home on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday we bummed around the house and barn, played with the horses, dogs, and cats.  Ajax just loves animals.  He chased the dogs, tried to pet the wary barn cats, and fed the horses.  I have now come to realize that Ajax calls all horses “Frannie.”   He would go up to each horse, pull up a few strands of grass, and then try to fed each.  He would get nervous once the horse would lower its head to his hand and would end up throwing or dropping the few shreds.  I tried to show him to keep his hand flat while feeding a horse… he’ll get it.

We let the dogs sleep in the house on Saturday night and Ajax was floored.  He was very gentle and by extension, they were very patient with him.  He kept trying to grab Cole’s tail; Cole not knowing what to do, would just flop right over onto his side and just lay there.

On Saturday night we went out to eat at this great BBQ place.  I do believe BBQ is Ajax’s favorite meal of all time.  He ate everything from pork rinds to baked beans to corn bread to pulled pork.  After Dave and I finished eating, we then sat there another 30 minutes while Ajax continued to eat!  We kind of got a little worried, since he just kept eating and eating.

Overall, a very nice weekend in the country.

Ajax’s favorite person right now is Frannie.  Who is Frannie you ask?  Why a horse of course.   My mother’s horse.  Her full name is Elegant Francesca, but everyone calls her Frannie and right now she is hands-down Ajax’s favorite thing in the world.  Every time he sees a picture of a horse he starts calling out – “Frannie! Frannie!”  He will then look around like he expects to see her no matter where he is.  This is odd as I can guarantee you that Frannie has never once been to our home.

This weekend we are going to house sit for my parents and of course this means more time with Frannie.  We’ve told Ajax this numerous times and I think he’s very excited to see his horse.   Since we’ll be out this weekend, that means no posts.

I think our family has been pretty lucky as far as the accident front goes.  Ajax has had a few bumps and bruises, but nothing major.   I mean this from the kid that just last week made up a brand new game which involved leaping off the couch onto a mound of pillows.  Dave thought it was hilarious; nearly gave me a heart attack.

On Sunday I disassembled our dishwasher which had broke down (we totally fixed it), and while we were working on it, Ajax was of course right there with you, basically inside the darn thing “helping.”  At one point we had closed it up, thought it was off, and then reopened the door.  We quickly discovered that it wasn’t off, but had been placed to the plate warming setting, thereby heating the coil in the bottom of the dishwasher.

Well, as soon as the door opened, Ajax dove inside, again to “help.”  Dave immediately recognized that there was heat emitting from the dishwasher just a split second before Ajax grabbed the coil.  We ran his hand under cold water and then placed aloe on the burn.  It didn’t blister, but was definitely an angry red line right across his palm.

He kept holding up his hand saying, hot hot!  Dave and I felt horrible, but Ajax seems to have moved on.

Today Mr. Dave turned the big Three O!  As it was his birthday he got to pick today’s activities and what he really wanted to do was go hiking, so we headed out to our favorite park.

It was a little overcast and cool today, which made it a perfect day to be out hiking and that also meant that the park wasn’t crowded at all.    Ajax had an excellent time.   He was all about running and then when he would get tired, we’d load him into the wagon and he’d snack on goldfish.  He had a little difficulty getting moving as he kept stopping to pick a up single leaf or stick and throwing them off the path; what a little cleaner.

After the hike we headed to a large playscape and let Ajax climb and swing.  He had such fun.  He also played with these two children, who I thought were about his age, but after speaking with the parents turned out they were actually 21 months and weighed about 22 lbs.  Ajax was a good 2 inches taller than each and currently weighs in at 28 lbs.  I was like, wow!

We actually know Ajax weighs 28 lbs because we were concerned he had an ear infection and Dave took him to the Doctor’s office on Friday.  No ear infection to report, but the Doc said his cuspids were coming in and his 2 year molars. Painful!

Yesterday was my birthday (29!) and I had the day off (holiday, of course).  Ajax and I headed out to Brooklyn as my sister got on the road to Alaska and we wanted to see her off.  Emily is driving out with her friend, Elena, who lives in Alaska and flew in just to drive back out with Em.   They think it will take about a week to get there and Emily will be living in Eagle River (about 15 minutes outside of Anchorage).   She is very excited!

Tonight Ajax entertained us by trying to jump.  It’s the funniest darn thing.  He would squat down low, tuck his elbows into his sides, smile wide and then shoot straight up!  Of course his feet never left the ground, but he laughed and laughed and then trotted off.  Of the dozen attempts or so that he made, his feet left the ground one time, and then he feel over.  Dave and I almost died laughing, it was hilarious.