when it rains, it pours

July 1

Sunroom

I'm a little behind so three months old seems like ages ago! He's a happy boy (read "mama's boy") and already has a smile that will make the girl's (read "mama's") knees weak.

July 2

LGBG

A long overdue playdate with Luke. Some sand pit fun then beer and barbecue lunch. Let's be honest, the playdate was just as much for the parents.

July 3

Children's Museum

LB digging this marker storage. I am too.

July 4

Downtown Ashland

Went to spend some time with our old neighbors in our best Fourth of July attire. Caught the last act of the parade, (The chair twirlers. Seriously, synchronized lawn chair dancing.) the orchestra, and delicious cookies.

The cat tried to leave with us. Or maybe he just really liked Edwin because earlier he jumped in the carseat with him.

July 5

Kitchen

Dad snuggles.

July 6

Station 7

He's probably peeking in the window thinking how cool it is to have a job where you get to lounge in a recliner and watch whatever tv you want.

July 7

Kitchen

When there is no beer left and Miriam leaves this girly drink in your fridge...

Pad Thai Restaurant

Doing a twofer because the kids and I are about to go out of town for a couple weeks. And to remind us of the wasp almost landing on Jonah story when we look back at this photo.

July 8

Sunroom

I'm holding a baby. This is what it looks like to be him. A doting father and a great-aunt that loves her niece so much she flew to town just to turn around and get in a car with two babies and drive 1000 miles through the night.

July 9

Bedroom

Getting our last rest before the journey. I like this because I have a similar photo with Leena. Oh, the dependent sleepers.

July 10

Kiki's Condo

Little Rock, AR

We made it! And before sunrise! 

Now there's something we don't see every day: a tv! And a baby butt crack.

July 11

Kiki's Condo

Getting our bearings on Kiki's neighborhood. Gutter puddles, check.

July 12

Bedroom

Richmond

Meanwhile, Andy prepares for a night of sleep study sleep.

Kiki's Pool

First pool swim of the summer for these two!

July 13

War Memorial Splash Pad

Little Rock

Puts the garden's splash pad to shame! Once Leena warmed up, she was on it!

July 14

Kiki's Condo

Making sure the kids don't forget their father.

July 15

The Riverwalk

Little Rock

Taking a walk with Grandpa Bud. It was a billion degrees, but we survived.

July 16

Little Rock Zoo

Dollar zoo day was...well, a zoo! Leena and Harper, cousin-cousins, became best friends this day.

July 17

Holy Souls Playground

Little Rock

We spent Sunday morning at the church playground. We had it to ourselves and Leena was the cutest.

July 18

Grandma Kelly's

Little Rock

Spending time with Grandma in her bed. So blessed we had this time to visit with her and for her to get to spend some time with her great grandkids. She passed away 8 days later on the 26th, just two weeks after her 95th birthday. If ever there was a life to be proud of, she had it.

July 19

Grandma and Grandpa Frost's

North Little Rock

Here's another moment I will forever treasure. Grandma Frost meeting her newest great grandson. She passed away a few weeks later on August 7. To me, these two women are the beginning of everyone I know and love as family. It is a great loss, but the legacies they each leave and the gifts they have each given are innumerable.

July 20

Backyard

Richmond

Andy is not exactly relaxing with all his kid-free time. Between his hell week shifts, he's been digging a giant ditch. Ben didn't help. He just got in and held the tape measure when it was all done. (JK.) But for real, it rained heavily the next day and Andy had to redo a bunch of the digging. So this is the literal "when it rains, it pours".

July 21

Oma's House

Kilmarnock

And this is the figurative.

I'm so glad Andy got to spend so much time with Oma in life and in the end. Theirs was a relationship I always admired, for their closeness and connection. Oma immediately adopted me as her own the minute I walked into Andy's life. I'm forever grateful for all that she shared with me. She passed away July 30, peacefully at her home.

July 22

Kiki's Condo

Rollers start to trickle into town for Jeta's big pre-wedding-celebrations weekend. Here they are meeting Jonah for the first time.

July 23

Bob's House

Little Rock

The bachelorette portion of the celebrations. 

Bob's traditional contribution: a cake for breakfast. This one perfectly decorated for the occasion.

A gay bar I can't remember the name of

Obviously we made Jeta volunteer for some ridiculous game on stage. And obviously we were the oldest people in this bar.

Ernie Bigg's Piano Bar

I think just saying where we are is evidence that we don't know what's cool in Little Rock anymore. But we do still know how to shut a place down! (We made it to last call. Woot!)

July 24

Solomon's House

Little Rock

The bridal shower portion of the celebrations. Not bad for the morning after! And the alternate caption: My mom watching the photo shoot, says "Y'all don't look older at all" in the most sarcastic voice ever. Thanks, Mom.

July 25

The Wonder Place

Little Rock

Getting in some final friend time with Mimi and her gang. Joseph looks way bigger because he is closer to the camera, but he's only 2 weeks older than Jonah. This is the beginning of their forced best friendom.

July 26

Kiki's Condo

Scrubbing up before the long journey. Another example of having the most generous people in my life...Carver flew to Memphis this morning, just to be picked up and literally drive right back to where she came from. All so I didn't have to journey with the kids by myself. We spent the night in Nashville, ordered Indian take out, and watched tv.

July 27

Nashville AirBnB

Getting ready for day two. Carver already has the crazy eyes that come with hours in a closed space with a toddler and a baby.

July 28

Sunny Point Cafe

Asheville, NC

Making sure to finish the road trip on a full stomach. Carver was a champion in entertainment, patience, and all-in-all everything. I'd probably still be in Little Rock if she hadn't helped me get back to Virginia.

July 29

Children's Museum

Richmond

Back together again. So happy to be in the same state as my better half. I loved spending so much time in Little Rock, but being a single parent is hard. And anybody who has to do that without an end in sight, is a winner every day in my book.

July 30

Otter Cover

Kilmarnock

These two being cute and sitting together like they love each other. A sweet sight for a sad day.

July 31

Otter Cove

Ducky/Jonah time in the morning. A relaxing way to end the hectic month.

corn fed

June 1

Sunroom

Oh how time flies. I feel like even more so with the second one. This guy is showing us more and more personality every day. Especially how serious he likes to be in photos.

June 2

ARC Park

It took Leena about 45 minutes to warm up but once she did I couldn't get her off the slide. It took food bribing to finally get her back in the car.

June 3

Garage-Ma-Hal

Securing the floor on the upper level, one screw at a time.

June 4

Lewis Ginter

Our first splash pad experience since last summer when Leena was just barely a crawler. Safe to say she's enjoying it (and being able to run and her swimsuit that is too small. Ha.)

Living Room

The fairness game. Jonah boy deserves to make an appearance also.

June 5

Lewis Ginter

Andy was at work yesterday and I didn't want him to miss this excitement first hand. (We also wore a swimsuit that fit.)

June 6

Bott House

This is the kind of day we have when Andy is not around. Major explosions.

Bedroom

And major meltdowns. To be fair, she went to the doctor the next day and had an ear infection.

June 7

Changing Table

It might be the pink towel, but I think Jonah looks like Leena here. I haven't compared early photos yet, but this makes me want to even more.

June 8

Neighbor Ben and Katie's

Everyone is helping to dig the water main out but Jonah and I. We are relaxing on a blanket, watching everyone sweat, and drinking beer.

June 9

Living Room

I was having a really rough morning a couple weeks ago. The result: Kiki booked a flight for as soon as she could get out here. At least Porter is excited about it. JK. We all are.

June 10

Cheesecake Factory

These two. After the fact, I told Kiki that was my first time out to dinner with both kids. It went pretty well and several people commented how cute Jonah was. Duh!

June 11

ARC Park

Right before she scooted over to be on the same side as Dad.

June 12

Front Yard

Looks like a perfect summer day over here!

June 13

Three Lakes Park

Checking out some new territory today. And I'm glad we did because there are great walking trails, lots of nature, and an awesome playground.

Sweet 95

Kiki put us all to shame with her order. A banana split meant to feed a family of seven. At least. I think it took her a week to eat the entire thing.

June 14

Back Patio

Corn fed. Truck box sittin'.

June 15

Front Yard

I don't know why I even get out paper...

June 16

Front Yard

Leena won't let anyone rest.

June 17

Schemmel House

A huge storm came through last night and hit Lakeside really hard. This is my sister's neighbor's tree. Luckily it fell away from the house! They had to chainsaw a car-sized path so people could get in and out of the neighborhood.

June 18

Otter Cove

We escaped our dark, hot house for some beautiful river weather. (Oh yeah, we lost power Thursday night.)

June 19

Otter Cove

Happy Father's Day to the only guy I could ever imagine sharing my life and kids with. She loves him so much.

Front Yard

Jonah is still skeptical.

June 20

Quinby, VA

Andy drove out to the Eastern Shore to pick up a few things. This was the back yard he was working in.

June 21

Daylily Dan's

Andy tipped us off to this place so Sister and I took the boys on a stroll to check it out. Hundreds (probably thousands) of daylilies!

June 22

CMoR

Great Father's Day gift from Ducky! First of many days, I'm sure, that we will spend here.

June 23

Cyborg Room

The greatest gift these days, though, is simultaneous napping! I had enough time to lay out the quilt I'm making for Leena's birthday. Next up sewing, which I am really bad at.

June 24

La Casita

This dingy-looking Mexican restaurant right up the street is the best I've had since living in Richmond! And it looks like the Indian restaurant in the East Village!

June 25

Living Room

All the entertainment he needs is right there at the end of his legs. Thank goodness.

June 26

Back Yard

Our beautiful hydrangea bush surprises me every year with it's resilience. I always think, "Surely we killed it this time."

June 27

Bathroom

Let's hope this isn't a foreshadow for Leena's future...

June 28

Living Room

Tummy time all around. Leena's happy little (blurry) face and Andy's proud papa face are so cute.

June 29

Lavender Farm

We had a really great family day then date night. Spent the morning getting a tour of the lavender farm, then Leena took a 4.5 hour nap, then Andy and I went out on a date for the first time in many months. Most adult I've felt in a long time!

June 30

ARC Park

I wish Andy could retire because I really love his days off and being able to do family (and friend) activities. We met Molly and Alice at the park for the morning.