Southern Italy & Sicily 2015

Our recent trip to Southern Italy and Sicily was incredible! While the boys got in quality time with both sets of grandparents in Seattle, we headed off to Italy for a destination wedding reception and vacation. We spent eight days exploring Rome, Sorrento, and Sicily. Here are highlights from the trip.

For more photos, see this online album (click here).

Rome

Rome's highlights were getting lost exploring the city's streets and alleyways, seeing the ancient Colosseum and other historical monuments, and finding a brewery! We spent two nights in Rome, but you could easily spend a week or a month exploring all it has to offer. It is really a beautiful and unique city. We were thankful for google maps, great food and wine, and Eric's basic Italian language skills.

Happy to arrive in sunny Rome!

Pantheon, Rome

Amazing food & wine

Colosseum 

A brewery in Rome - Brasserie 4:20

pasta!

For more photos, click here.

Sorrento

The next stop on our Italian adventure was Sorrento, just south of Naples on the Southern Italy coastline. We took a high-speed train from Rome to Naples, then had an hour car ride to Sorrento. We stayed in a beautiful hotel situated on a cliff and overlooking the water and the town - so many breathtaking views! Sorrento highlights were lounging by the pool, exploring the cute tourist town, and enjoying amazing seafood.

Gorgeous views from our hotel

Ahh... pool time

Breakfast at the hotel

Our hotel

The small marina in Sorrento - most of the city is situated on the hill

Amazing baby octopus and seafood...

Marina

More incredible views from the hotel

Pizza and wine

For more photos, see this online album (click here).

Sicily (Catania and Taormina)

The final stop on our Italian adventure was Sicily. The main attraction in Sicily were the wedding events for our dear friends Andy & Mimi. What a gorgeous event, and such warm, welcoming families. Additional highlights of Sicily were exploring Catania and a day trip to Taormina coastal city.

swimming with the locals

Off to a pre-wedding dinner in the Sicily countryside

Reuniting with Andy in Sicily!

Botanical gardens in Catania

Market in Catania - I'll take one of each...

Exploring the city

Off to the wedding reception.... in a Castle...

Fun to reunite with Park City friends!

In awe of such a beautiful venue

The beautiful couple!

Taormina

Ancient Greek Theatre in Taormina

Streets of Taormina

So much fresh seafood

What a trip! We were so thankful for the opportunity to get away for an amazing adventure and to celebrate Andy & Mimi's wedding. We are also so thankful for wonderful grandparents who took great care of the boys while we were away. 

Ciao!

For more photos, see this online album (click here).

11 Months Old [Oliver]

Hi, it's Oliver here again.

I'm 11 months! My Mom says I am growing so fast, although I am just excited to wake up each day to explore something new. Forget crawling. I haven't done that in weeks. I am on to walking and running. Yup - running. It's fun to see my mom run after me when I am getting in to the dog's bowl or trying to go down stairs.

This month, I am really working on telling my mom, dad, and brother what I mean. For example, I can say "Dada," "Isaac," and sometimes "Mamma." I also click for the dog (like Mom and Dad do) and I say "Uff" to dogs I see on our daily walks. I use my hands to say I want milk, that I'm all done with food, and that I want help. I also find pointing to be very effective, and I love to wave hello or goodbye. Oh, and it is so fun to clap at my accomplishments, or just clap when others clap too!

My favorite  activities this month are looking at family photos, playing with balls, reading books, and anything to do with water. I also love sneaking into the bathroom to lift the toilet lid and watching my mom chase after me frantically. That is the best!

Oh, and come to my first birthday party. My mom says it will be kick a$$.

Camping in Teanaway

Last weekend, we loaded up the car (and new trailer) and took to the mountains for a short camping trip. We went to Teanaway, about a 2 hour drive from Seattle.

We all had a great time. Isaac loved exploring. Ollie loved being outside. We all enjoyed unplugging for a couple of days.

10 Months Old [Oliver]

Look who is 10 months old! The big themes this month have been mobility, communication, and free will.

Oliver is fully walking now. He is able to get up and down without holding on to anything, can start and stop fairly well, and is starting to pivot. He is still faster crawling, although seems to favor walking. It's still a trip to see him waddling down the hall or across the room.

He is also communicating so much, and boy is he vocal! He is pointing, grunting, and babbling a lot. He started clapping (adorable) and we're working on a few sign language words with him. He did the sign for milk today, which was so cool, and as soon as he wakes up he points to where he wants to go - which is usually outside.

Along with mobility and communication is a sense of independence and free will. He is an opinionated little guy and lets us know what he wants.

Oh, and he now has four teeth!

I feel like he is growing and changing so fast right now. We love getting to know his little (big) personality, and can't believe he'll be one in a couple short months!

A few outtakes...

Fourth of July in Tricities 2015

Our annual fourth of july in the tricities was a blast! Per usual, we spent the long weekend staying cool by the pool, eating fabulous food, and leaving the kiddos with grandma and grandpa for a date or two. Prior to the fourth of July weekend, Isaac had been in tricities vacationing with grandma and grandpa, so we were especially excited to reunite with him. Here are a few snapshots of the weekend.

Oliver LOVES the water!

Father's Day 2015

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed the weekend with:

• Friday happy hour at our favorite neighborhood spot, Lantern Brewery
• Saturday Sounders match with my Dad (we lost, but a sunny, gorgeous day)
• Sunday lunch on my parent's boat with the full Jabbusch crew

Additionally, we are having such a fun time watching Ollie get mobile. He's now taken 3 steps in a row on his own... so fun! 

Out And About

It's almost officially summer! We've been enjoying the sunny weather and longer days by getting out and about. 

Last weekend we went to Chelan (Eastern Washington) to visit friends and celebrate their daughter's first birthday. 

I work from home part-time, which means I get to enjoy time during the day with Ollie.  As he gets more active and mobile it is so fun to take him out to play. This week, we've been to the zoo twice, the park, and daily walks. (And in case you were wondering, "Where's Isaac?" - He has been on vacation with G&G M all week... we miss him but we hear he's having a blast!)

Here are photos of our adventures this last week.

Fun in Chelan Celebrating Cote's birthday

Mom & Ollie - Fun Out and About in Seattle

9 Months Old [Oliver]

Oliver is 9 months old!

At his appointment this week, our big little dude weighed 26 lbs and measured 31" (staying at the 99th percentile for height and weight).

He is a crawling and cruising machine. And, he took his first solo steps this week! 

He is charming, assertive, funny, inquisitive, and such a joy.

May Trip to Tri-Cities

Last weekend we traveled to eastern Washington to visit Grandma and Grandpa M. Here are a few photos from our recent adventure.

Oliver and Grandma

Isaac and Grandpa

Checking out the sweet trucks at the Kids Fair

Excavator!

The Boys. Pit stop in Cle Elum for dinner on the way back home.

8 Months Old and On the Move! [Oliver]

Oliver here.

My Mom is pretty busy chasing me around the house, so she asked I write an update about what I've been up to (I wrote one at 6 months, too. See that post here).

Well, I am 8 months now. Which feels pretty big because I am doing some pretty cool stuff. For example, I figured out how to move around the house... on my own! At first, I figured out I could pull up, stand, and move my legs to get around. My mom sure looked surprised (and pleased) when she saw me standing in my crib that first morning...

After I mastered cruising around on foot, I figured I'd finally try that thing they call crawling. I got the hang of it this month, although I much prefer to stand up if I can (see videos below that my mom uploaded).

My favorite things this month are:

• Playing "take the ball" with the dog
• Grabbing big brother's toys when no one is looking (I've got a ninja-speed grip)
• Harassing the doggy (who I call "augh")
• Babbling in different sounds and consonants
• Following the doggy
• Laughing with big brother
• Pulling at the doggy's ears
• Pulling at mommy's hair
• Waving and clapping
• Figuring out how objects go together (like sunglasses go on on daddy's head) and sharing objects (like giving the doggy his ball, or a piece of food...)

Can you tell I really like the doggy?

Well, I'm off to bedtime. My parents have me on a pretty set schedule these days, but I feel very rested and only wake my mom once or twice at night to eat. 

Also, I will have my Mom write soon about our recent adventures to the Tri-Cities. So check back soon for a new update.

Until next month!

Ollie