ollie eats and is 5 months young

After meal after meal of Oliver staring at our forks as they move from plate to our mouths....after grabbing our plates and food on our plates....we decided that Ollie is ready to eat some solid foods. If you have fed a baby before, solid foods are anything but solid, but you get the idea. Here is a shot before we got started. Clean face. Clean shirt. Ready to go!

But none of that lasted for long. He dove right in a did a great job. Much better eater than Charlotte was her first time for sure.

Can you tell that he is loving it?

Big sister Charlotte had to join in as well. She did a great job feeding her little brother.

She had to open her mouth wide to demonstrate apparently.

Ollie has been eating for the last 3 days now and now that he is a 5 month old we have some new pictures as well. Enjoy.

He loves grabbing his feet and has become an avid roller over-er in the last two days. If you lay him down on his back he will be on his tummy in no time. He hasn't mastered tummy to back rolling over just yet, but in the mean time he is loving his feet. They haven't found their way to his mouth just yet, but just give it a few days.

More toe grabbing.

Full body shot. He's filling out nicely as they say.

He is a happy boy for sure!

one month later...

So, one month has passed since we have made the intial move to Cincy.  We are currently living with Dickie and Jenanne and I know that their house has never been so loud!  I am not sure if they have taken a walk in the past month without Charlotte tagging along and I am sure that their house will never get that new house clean or smell again after our family leaves! We have had a very busy month with moving me into my new office at school, finding a babysitter for the kids, planning a birthday party, finally getting to play with cousins, getting Ohio driver licenses, finding a new church home and watching our house being built.

Here are some pictures of how we have spent our days...

The house has come a long way and we are starting to get very excited...

With all of  this construction that has been happening it has really fueled Charlotte's love of diggers and all things construction.  She has enjoyed watching her house go up!

Digger trucks and construction have not completely filled our time in the past month we have also been lucky to have time to picnic, play at the lake, take some walks in tutu's and enjoy some pool time!

Of course, we have set time aside for cuddles with dad, trips to the reds game with the Smiths, fun at Parky's Farm and another trip to Coney Island with Aunt Paula.

As July comes to a close and August is coming so quickly we are starting to get used to enjoying time with family and settling into life in Cincinnati.  Before we know it, school will be starting and we will be into our new house!  What an exciting month, here comes yet another!

a 60th birthday surprise for dad

After Charlotte's 1st birthday party two springs ago, dad mentioned to Melissa that she could throw him a party any time and that his 60th birthday would be coming pretty soon. Melissa, in her mind said, "challenge accepted," and so on Saturday it all came together. After planning for months we were able to put together a day to celebrate six decades of Dick Hess. We chose to theme the party around Cincinnati and baseball, two of dad's favorite things. We even made a station on pandora, that played his favorite music all afternoon. It was a surprise party and we did our best, but I think dad was more surprised to see some of the people who showed up to honor him and celebrate the day. Melissa did a great job pulling it all together. We also had  lot of help from her parents, letting us use their home to host the party as well. Family members chipped in on food and games and as you can see by the pictures, it was just a great day! This first shot gives you an idea of Melissa's vision for the party. It pretty much sums it all up.

We even dressed Oliver up to go along with the theme. He is loving getting to know his family in Ohio.

There were games for big kids and little kids as well.

Dad's sister, Susan help put together 10 questions about dad to test all of our knowledge about him. The winners took home a box of cracker jacks. How appropriate.

Here is dad pretty surprised to see his boss from work, who lives on the west coast.

Sorry, just another picture of Ollie.

Melissa made a banner that said, "welcome to the big leagues." It was the theme for the party.

Love this picture of Melissa, Charlotte and her cousin, Honor.

The birthday boy getting ready to blow out all 60 candles.

He enlisted mom and his two granddaughters to help out.

Charlotte and Honor helping themselves to a slice of cake and some ice cream.

And yes, we did serve it in miniature baseball helmets, just like the ones you get at the stadium.

We also had everybody take a quick polaroid with fun props so that they could make a page in a scrapbook for dad. It will be a great way to go back and remember this day.

Charlotte's first swig of an IBC root beer. She said, "ooooh, that's cold."

Opening some of his presents...

Love this picture of the family.

We were all pretty tired after the party as you can see.

Happy birthday dad! You are now receiving the reward from all of your hard work and discipline. The best is yet to come!

-jay

new traditions...4th of July

When we moved away from Richmond and back to Cincinnati we left a lot of good friends.  We also left all of our traditions there as well.  We have always been a big fourth of July family.  We just love everything about it.  So all week I have been scouring events and activities that we could try to incorporate into new family traditions here in Cincy. This year we headed out to Coney Island on the third of July for their balloon glow and firework display, we also got the benefit of having a complete thrill seeking toddler in the family and a baby that can go anywhere and be happy!  Grandpa and Gibby adventured to Coney Island with us and although I wanted to take the evening to sit down and read and discuss the Declaration of Independence with Charlotte and what it means I think everyone enjoyed Coney Island much more.  I think we have made our first new tradition.  Here are some pics of the day, enjoy!

Charlotte loved every single ride we put her on and when each ride was finished ask for more!  It was hard explaining to her that some rides she was too short for or deemed too small...she would of rode them with no problem!

While C was running around Coney Island living it up Grandpa, Gibby and Oliver had fun watching her and all was thankful when we planted it to hear a symphonic band and watch the balloons begin to inflate.

I don't think any of us had ever been that close to a hot air balloon when they had put one up or seen so many.  It was pretty amazing!

We filled our time before the firework show with some last minute rides and "ice-mmmmm" cones for all!  The lines were a bit longer at this point so we needed some daddy entertaining while we waited in line.

We ended our night with fireworks.  It is always like playing the lottery when you bring young kids to a firework show from year to year, but both enjoyed it and Charlotte could now announce every color that she saw in the sky at the top of her lungs!

Happy fourth of July, hope you also make some fun family memories!

-melissa