A Weekend Full of Firsts

I hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend! Henry, Alex and I did! Our friends Matt and Eve graciously invited us up to spend the weekend with them in Pittsburgh! So on Friday, we packed up the car, sent the animals to my parents house for the weekend and headed West on the Turnpike!

It was a weekend of many new firsts for Alexander. Some highlights include:

*A new milestone for Alex: We turned him forward facing in his car seat for the first time. We aren't 100% sure that he is 20lbs yet (and won't know until next week when we go to the doctors again), but we are praying that he is so he doesn't decline more on the pediatricians growth charts.
* It was the first time that we ordered a meal off the kids menu for Alex
* Alex went on his first ever carousel ride!
* We went to Alex's first Children's Touch museum!
* Alex participated in his first ever parade!

Alex likes being forward facing. Now he can talk and see Mommy and Daddy ALL the time!

Overall, the weekend went very very well. We arrived in Pittsburgh on Friday night late, so we didn't do too much..just put the kids to bed and relaxed as adults. On Saturday we had a lazy morning at the house and we went to breakfast at a local restaurant that Henry and I went to ALL the time in college. I can't believe how much Alex ate. He ate TWO whole scrambled eggs with cheese, yogurt, toast and puffs! He was like the bottomless pit! After Alex's nap we headed to Oakland to tour a local botanical garden that had a beautiful glass art display and then we headed to Pitt's campus (a visit to Pittsburgh is never complete unless we go to campus). I was very excited because after we left, Pitt converted a parking lot into this beautiful green space. In the green space are some open air cafes and a beautiful carousel. Eve and I took our boys on the carousel. Alex didn't particularly like the ride. When I put him on the panther for the first time he started crying and clinging to me. He did well once the ride started moving, although I could tell he didn't LOVE it, he didn't scream and cry. After we rode the carousel we went to the Pitt Shop to load up on new Pitt gear! We headed home then because all the boys were tired! It was a great, relaxing day. Here are some pictures from the day. Henry took some great pictures of the glass artwork that was on display....

Alex is happy about the beautiful day.
A different view of the Cathedral of Learning
The carouselAlex riding the carousel for the first time.

On Sunday we went to the Children's Touch Museum. I wasn't sure how this was going to go because Alex isn't walking independently, so I wasn't sure how much he was going to get out of the museum. HE LOVED IT. Henry and I took turns walking with him around the museum and he was just enthralled with everything. He loved touching all the things that he was able to. He loved walking around watching other kids and playing with all the toys. Alex and Daddy went down a cool slide, Alex got to drive a mini-cooper, and play a piano! On Sunday night I had a girls night out with my good friend Lianne. We met at a restaurant and had a good time eating, drinking and talking!

Alex banging on the piano. He was fascinated that it played all by itself.
Some quality Daddy and Alexander time. Looking at cars...

Alex loves to rock on the rocking horse. Just like his Mommy did at his age...

On Monday it was time to head home. But not before Alex participated in his first ever parade! Every year on Memorial Day Matt and Eve's street does a parade. Local Pitt Alumni gather and take a parade around the block lead by some Pitt Alumni band members. It was so funny! This large mass of people walking around the block. Alex contributed to the music by playing is morocco. After the parade made it around the block we all gathered back at a house and had donuts and coffee. While we were there a local church bus came around and out came all these puppets. Alex had a love hate relationship with the puppets. He loved looking at them and waving at them, but if they got too close...he wasn't too sure and wanted Mommy to hold him. After the parade we headed home!

Alex is ready for the parade!
All strapped in and ready to go!
Daddy playing his trumpet and Alexander playing his morroca
Alex had a love/hate relationship with the puppets....

It was a great weekend and one I think we will remember forever! We had a great time with Matt and Eve and they always make us so at home and welcome us with open arms. But it is always nice to be home and to sleep in your own bed!

The End.