Baby Talbott Update

From the ultrasound at 19 weeks:

I can't see the actual evidence, but the caption says it all!

Does anyone else think his profile looks like Linus from Peanuts?

High five!



And the bump (at 21 weeks) for those that have requested it.

He's kicking up a storm, after the first flutters (felt aboard the boat at 20 weeks.) Thanks to generous family and friends, we already have a surprising amount of gear and clothes. We are working hard on the nursery, figuring that I might as well make the most of the second-trimester energy.

-S.

Wesley's First Birthday

Wesley's first birthday had a cars and trucks theme. Andrea (with help from team YKI) did a great job, as always, with inventive decorations and activities for kids and kids-at-heart alike.

The bounce house adjacent to the picnic tent, and the car activity mat.

Wes enjoyed the bounce house, and hang time with cousin Riley and half-brother Dylan.

The Jeep cake Andrea decorated for Wes (before)

(during)

(after cleanup)

Everyone else had the chance to decorate individual car/truck cakes, and then it was present time.

Rick shows Wes how to make the motorized ATV go.

All sugared up after cake, Wes did several laps up the stairs, with Shannon and Mark spotting.

Happy Birthday, Moose!

August Birthday Bash

This year, we hosted the annual August party for Mark's extended family. There are so many family birthdays in August that we always get together to celebrate. We had a festive backyard picnic and pool party, with all the second cousins (minus brand-new baby Owen) as the main entertainment for the afternoon.




Isaac, Lucy, Annalese, and Dylan enjoyed the backyard.

Barbara and Mimi enjoyed Wesley.

Biding time until allowed to get in the pool after lunch.

Dylan was the first to get in the pool. When we asked him if he was panting because the water was cold, he said, " I'm SO EXCITED!!!"

This one afternoon justified a whole season of pool maintenance. We had a blast!

Da West Coast Posse

After we returned from Washington State, the Dinoias joined us after their trip to the beach. We had a short but wonderful visit, about 50% boat and 50% pool/deck. They agree there's no finer way to spend a summer on the Chesapeake!

We hosted several mutual friends for a cookout, including steamed crabs. Caitlin decorated the crab-banging table beautifully. We almost hesitated to mess it up with Old Bay and crab innards. (Almost.) And Jen made amazing fruit tortes with skyr (Icelandic yogurt.)

Waiting for guests to arrive. The dress up box has still not lost its allure.

Washington State

We went to Seattle under the guise of "Shannon attending a veterinary conference," but turned it into a wonderful vacation. We had great weather, making the most of the cheap covertible car rental we had optimistically reserved months earlier.

We stayed north of the city in Mukilteo, and from there we explored the Boeing factory

and took the ferry to Whidbey Island, where we admired the coastline and visited Coupeville and a lavender farm (lavender chocolate ice cream-yummmm!)

and kayaked in the San Juan Islands, spotting bald eagles and seals:

Not bad for a (mostly) free trip!

Fourth of July

Shannon's cousin David, his wife Kinsey, and sons Cooper (4) and Luke (nearly 2) joined us for the weekend of the Fourth. We sailed to Galesville to witness their adorable small-town parade. Several vintage firetrucks made Luke happy; Sandy, not so much. The pony club with their patriotic ponies, families and civic groups on hay wagons, and kids with decorated bikes rounded out the parade.




We were all beat LONG before fireworks time, which was probably for the best for younger kids and older dogs. We invited friends over on Sunday for a cookout and pool party. David brought to life Shannon's vision of patriotic frozen cocktails. We missed getting pictures of Cooper's bravery on the diving board. Hopefully David can supply some.

New Crew!

A new crew member will join the Salty Dogs on or about December 29, 2009. He/she has some pretty tiny shoes to fill!