Jacob goes to Washington

Last week Jacob was in Washington DC.  Daddy had a conference so mommy, Jacob, Nani and Papa tagged along for the ride.  We left early Saturday morning from LAX.  Unfortunately, daddy was on a different flight than the rest of the family (that's a long story).  Jacob loved being at the airport.  He was looking out the window the whole morning until we boarded the plane.  He was great on both legs of the trip.  He slept all the way to St. Louis and played and read from St. Louis to DC.  I was so proud of him.  We met up with daddy and Uncle Gerad at the airport and then all hitched a ride from a cab to the hotel.  Jacob was in his PJs the whole day.  I planned on changing him in St. Louis, but he was so comfy and he looked cute, so what the heck, I kept him in them until we went to dinner!

The first night we walked to a nearby restaurant that was supposed to be kid-friendly (according to the front desk).  Well the white linen tablecloths should have been our first clue that this is not a kid restaurant. Jacob was a good boy at dinner though and fortunately, the restaurant was a little loud so no one noticed he was there.  Sunday morning Auntie Alana and Jeanne joined us for a walking tour of the monuments.  It rained while we were out and about, but that didn't stop us.  We walked from our hotel to the White House, took a few pictures in the light rain and headed over to the Washington Monument.  We walked around there, got lost looking for the Smithsonian (hey it was raining and the umbrellas were getting in our way) and then went back to the Washington Monument for our ride to the top.  It was a spectacular view from way up high.  AMAZING.  I'm sure on a clear day the sight is even more gorgeous.  We then made our way down to the WWII memorial and that's when it really started to rain.  It was pretty bad.  Jacob was in a bad mood, having been in the stroller the entire day and most of the time with the rain cover on.  He had a bit of a breakdown while Nani and Papa were seeing the Vietnam Wall.  After the meltdown, we went to the Lincoln Memorial.  What a beautiful monument to memorialize a great leader.  After that we were all TIRED. We were on our feet for about 6 hours straight and were ready to go back to the hotel.  We walked back to the hotel and ordered a pizza.  Alana and Jeanne had to leave to drop Jeanne off at the airport so she could get on her flight to Greece, where she will be spending the whole summer...lucky girl!

Monday morning, daddy went to his conference and Jacob, Nani, Papa and I took the metro to Arlington National Cemetary.  We saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guards.  It was a moving experience and there were a few soldiers dressed in their fatigues there...it just made it a little more special.  Of course Jacob decided that it was time for him to talk when the soldier asked the crowd to be silent.  So we had to walk away for most of the ceremony.  After the cemetary, we were back on the metro and headed for the zoo.  Jacob saw so many animals there.  He especially liked the Panda.  My favorite was the House of Apes.  One gorilla got all crazy and climbed his tree and leaped at the kids on the other side of the window and scared all of us.  Fortunately I caught it on video.  (go to our picture link to check it out!).  There was also an oranguatan that threw up in front of everyone and proceeded to eat his throw up.  I think in the short time we were in there he did this three times.  On our way out we saw another one pee and then lick up his own urine...who says we are related to these animals?!!?   AFter the zoo we were tired again and headed back to the hotel.  We met up with daddy, Uncle Gerad and another of their co-workers and went to dinner.  Jacob was so tired from the day (and didn't really know what time it was) so he slept through most of dinner.

Tuesday morning, after Jacob fed the fish at the hotel and we ate our breakfast, we hopped back on the Metro and went to the National Air and Space Museum.  The minute Jacob was "set free" from his stroller he ran to the area where the planes were haning from above and pointed to the planes while saying "wow!"  Jacob and Papa had a great time at this museum.  They both enjoyed seeing the planes and space stuff.  Papa and I got on a flight simulator where we were able to control the fighter jet.  Papa was the pilot and I was the gunner.  It was so fun!  We were upside down for what seemed like the entire time.  I had a hard time seeing the planes I was supposed to be shooting because each time we went upside down my legs were flying everywhere.  It was a great experience and we were laughing about it the rest of the day.  After that museum we went to the Natural History museum.  Nani and I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful jewels, especially the Hope Diamond.  Jacob liked walking on these TVs that were set in the ground.  He like seeing the dinosaur bones too.  We were pretty pooped after going through the two museums so we headed back to the hotel for their happy hour and snacks and met up with daddy.  Jacob made friends with all the hotel employees.  There were two women in particular that he had fun with.  They always made sure to save him some fish food so he could feed the fish in their pond.  Each morning and afternoon they made sure to look out for him to get a high five from him. 

Wednesday Papa got up early to get us tickets for a tour of the capitol building.  Unfortunately they were only handing out one ticket per person, so he came back empty handed.  So after our morning routine we went over to the capitol to see if they still had tickets available and luckily they did.  So we got our tickets and headed over to Union Station to see what that was all about.  Papa found the Harley Davidson store so of course we had to go there.  we spent a while there looking at all the t-shirts and trying to pick one out for each of the boys.  Then we made our way to the Supreme Court building.  We went into the actual court room to listen to a lecture, but Jacob had other plans. So he and I left to wait in the lobby area.  Jacob had fun playing peek-a-boo behind the big columns.  He also finally "did his thing" in there.  He had not gone poo poo the entire time we were there, but he sure made up for it in th Supreme Court building!  Once he was clean we walked over to the capitol and he got a Jr. Police Officer sticker from one of the police officers guarding the capitol building...he was holding a BIG rifle, so we made sure to be extra nice to him.  We hung out by the water fountain in back of the capitol waiting for our tour to begin.  Jacob fell asleep before we went on the tour so he slept through the whole thing...which was great!  At the end of our tour, they let us wander around this small area.  I went to go see the Old Supreme Court room, but they closed the door right before I got there so instead I went into the Senate Gallery.  Little did I know that they were closing the capitol and were trying to kick my parents out of the building.  They told the police officer that I was in the Supreme court room but the police officer told them that was not possible because that was already closed.  So apparently they had all the police officers in the building looking for me, all the while I was sitting in the senate gallery listening to some Senator ramble on about raising taxes or something like that.  I was really only in the gallery for no more than a minute when I decided to leave and get my parents so they could take a look.  when I got back into the room where my parents were, they had a worried look on their face and the officer was standing next to them.  The officer spoke into her radio saying something like "woman found."  I thought the whole thing was kind of funny, but I think my parents were a little worried since they really didn't know where I was.  I think my dad thought I was mugged in the capitol!

Thursday morning we went walking around again.  We started off at the Jefferson Memorial.  It was VERY windy that day.  As we walked along the path to get to the memorial, the water from the Tidal Basin was splashing up onto the path.  We were able to take a tour of the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.  It was so cool to see the money being printed right in front of our eyes.  Jacob liked seeing all the big machines.  That evening we met up with my friend from college, Courtney.  She and her 3 month old daughter met us at a restaurant.  Jacob LOVED baby Audrey.  He was trying to give her hugs while she was in her infant carrier.  It was adorable.  I think he was even making her smile a little.

Friday Auntie Alana came to pick us up in the morning to take us to Mount Vernon, the home of President Washington.  The place was beautiful.  Jacob had a bit of a fit just as we were about to enter the house.  So we had to step out for a little, but then he fell asleep and I continued on the tour.  The house is right on The house is right on the river and the view is gorgeous!  We couldn't believe that there was so much to see there, we spent the whole day.  We were also planning on going to the Air and Space Museum near the Dulles airport but decided against it since it was already late in the afternoon when we were done touring Mt. Vernon.  We headed back to the hotel to meet up with daddy for dinner and then said good bye to Auntie Alana.

Saturday we got ready to leave.  Jacob was GREAT on the flights on the way home. He slept the ENTIRE time.  We had an issue with the plane in Chicago.  First the man in front of Jacob kept turning around to tell Jacob to stop kicking his chair.  I got upset, started crying and my mom kind of went off on the guy and this was all before we left the gate.  Then we found out that there was a crack in one of the passenger windows so we had to switch planes!  After all that we ended up changing our seats to sit behind this really nice family.  The flight attendant was great and gave Jacob some juice and a cookie before we took off.  We got home much later than expected but it was fine. 

Overall, we had a wonderful time.  Jacob was a trooper throughout the whole trip.  We saw a lot and our feet and legs were tired from all the walking, but it was beautiful and the weather held up for us most of the time.  It was so special to spend time with Nani and Papa.  We hope to take more trips with our family in the future and hopefully for the next one it will be a real vacation for all of us, including daddy! Nani and Papa were tired at the end of the long week...check them out at the airport

so until next time...mommy and daddy love you!

0 comments - Posted by Missy Roberts at 4:19 PM - Categories: About Jake

More catching up and Mother's Day!

We have been very busy these last two weeks, but without a whole lot to report. Last week daddy took Thursday off and we went to Disneyland.  We took Jacob to the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show and he LOVED it.  There was a part when bubbles come out and he went crazy.  He danced to the songs they sung and was mesmerized by the characters on stage.  It was so cute and daddy was glad he got to be there to see how excited Jacob was about the show.  It was a great day in the park.  We got on a few rides like Dumbo (which Jacob loves), Casey Jr. Train, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear (twice!) and the train around the park.  Jacob really enjoys riding on the train and it's a nice break for us too!

Friday, Grandpa had a procedure done so we met him and Grandma before, said a prayer with Grandpa, took him in and then took Grandma to lunch.  We had a good time with her.  Later that afternoon Jacob and daddy hung out and played a lot.  That night Nani and Papa came over and took Jacob with them so he could spend the night.  It was a nice little break for mommy and daddy and they took advantage by going to the movies.  Jacob spent most of the morning and afternoon with Nani playing at the park and stuff. 

Sunday was mommy's 2nd Mother's Day.  Jacob woke mommy up with a rose in her nose...very cute.  Then he and daddy gave me my cards and when I walked downstairs there was a beautiful boquet of flowers!  The week before I got a new jogging stroller, so that was my Mother's Day gift from my boys!  We went to church and Jacob did a little better in Sunday School.  Then we picked up Nani and Papa and went to Uncle RJ and Auntie Sonnia's house to have lunch.  Nani and Mommy had a great afternoon with Jacob. Then we dropped of Nani and Papa and went to have dinner with Grandma and Grandpa and the rest of the family.  Jacob had A LOT OF FUN with his cousins Kevin and Brittany.  They were amking him laugh really loud in the restaurant, it was cute to watch.  I had a WONDERFUL mother's day and the best part about it was I got to spend the whole day with my baby and didn't have to change one diaper!  WOO-HOO!

This week we are preparing to leave for Washington DC.  On Tuesday Jacob and I had baby day.  After Stroller Strides we went to visit baby Daniel Files.  He was almost 2 weeks old and such a cutie.  Jacob was not jealous of me holding the baby.  Actually, I don't even think he realized I was holding the baby because he was too busy playing with all of Matt's toys!  After spending a couple hours there, we were back in the car and headed over to Natalie and Orland's house to visit with baby Bella.  She was about 7 weeks and as cute as can be. Jacob had fun there playing with a basketball and their doggy.

Yesterday we got to Stroller Strides a little early so I let Jacob run around a little.  Some kids from the neighboring park took a lap around the park.  When they passed us, Jacob got so excited that he actually started running with them.  It was HYSTERICAL!  He was running among those big kids, he looked so cute and tiny!

Jacob is so much fun to be around.  He always seems to do something that makes us laugh.  His new favorite word is Bubble.  Everything is a bubble now.  I think he just likes saying that word.  He now associates Mickey Mouse with bubbles so everytime he sees Mickey, he points and says "bubble" 

alright, time to eat some breakfast and get ready to go.  So until next time...mommy and daddy love you!

0 comments - Posted by Missy Roberts at 7:43 AM - Categories: About Jake

Our chatter box

Jacob has been talking so much lately.  Well, to be exact, he says a few words now, but most of his talk seems to be in German.  The sounds he makes are so funny.  Sometimes we call him "little Hitler" because he will make these noises that sound similiar to the German language and move his arm in strong motions, just like Hitler giving a speech. 

So his vocabulary consists of water, truck, train(but it really sounds like truck), bike, car, shirt, bye-bye, football, ball, mama, dada, and belly button.  The other night I put on his pajamas with Thomas the Tank Engine on it.  He was SOOO EXCITED about it he ran to his daddy pointing to his shirt so his daddy could see the train.  The next morning when he woke up he kept pointing to his shirt saying shirt and looking at Thomas.  He loved his shirt so much that I let him wear it to Stroller Strides that morning.  I know he was wearing his pajamas, but oh well...it sort of looked like a normal t-shirt.

He has become very affectionate lately.  He will give kisses on demand (even taking out his pacifier to give a kiss!).  He will also come and give me random hugs.  There have been several times when I'm standing in the kitchen and he is playing around and he will walk past me, stopping to hug my legs (and put his head through my legs) give me a squeeze and then go back to playing whatever he was playing.  It is so adorable and makes my heart melt every time he does it. 

Lately he has become fascinated with seat belts.  He wants to buckle himself in the car seat, then when we unbuckle him to get him out of the car, he tries to put the buckle back together.  When he is out of his stroller, he will walk up the stroller and put the seat belt together and he does the same thing with his highchair.  There have been many times when he will spend a few minutes standing at his high chair playing with the seat belt.  He is so funny.

Mommy taught him how to be a muscle man.  When we say "show me muscle man" he holds out his arms, with his hands in a fist and grunts.  HYSTERICAL!  Our little boy is way too adorable...okay, maybe I'm a little biased, but he really is adorable.

Alright, I'll update more later...so until next time...mommy and daddy love you!

0 comments - Posted by Missy Roberts at 1:11 PM - Categories: About Jake

San Francisco

Jacob and Mommy joined Daddy on a business trip to San Francisco.  Daddy was at a conference there for 3 days.  We left really early on Monday, April 21 for the Orange County Airport.  Jacob woke up at 3am and didn't fall asleep until the plan actually took off at about 7am.  He was so excited to be in the airport.  He looked out the window at the plane we were going to board.  He was such a good boy on both plane rides.  He fell asleep for the entire one hour flight.  Good thing his first flight was a short one. 

When we arrived in San Francisco we unpacked our stuff, rested for about 30 minutes then caught the street car down to the pier area so we could get on a boat to take us to Alcatraz.  Jacob fell asleep in the stroller as we waited in line to get one the boat and didn't wake up until we were on the island.  I'm sure he was exhausted from being up so many hours earlier in the morning.  We toured the former prison.  Jacob was a good boy in his stroller, but got a little anzy, so we took him out to walk around the cell house.  He went in a couple of the cells and mommy did not like it one bit. 

After Alcatraz, we walked over to Fisherman's Wharf and had dinner at this not-so-good restaurant.  The service was really bad, but Jacob was a good boy and discovered that he LOVES limes and sourdough bread.  After dinner we walked to mommy's favorite place in San Francisco, Ghiradelli Square.  She got her sample of chocolate and a chocolate bar and was a happy camper the rest of the week!

The rest of the week, Jacob and mommy were on their own during the day while Daddy was at his conference.  We discovered a fun park for Jacob to run around and chase the birds.  we went there each morning and Jacob had fun meeting new friends.  It was interesting walking in the city with Jacob.  I had a whole new awareness of people in the city while walking around.  I was never fearful, just completely on guard the entire time.  We went to dinner every night with daddy and Uncle Gerad and had a good time. Only one night Jacob was a terror at dinner, so bad that daddy was walking him around most of the time, and then mommy had to leave the restaurant early to take him back to the hotel.

Daddy and mommy were both surprised at how well Jacob slept in San Francisco.  He was taking anywhere from 2 1/2 to 4 hour naps during the day and sleeping through the night.  The second night we were there the fire alarm went off for about a half hour.  The siren was going off and then a man's voice was coming on over the loud speaker (very close to Jacob's crib) saying they were checking into the situation.  After about 30 minutes of hearing emergency vehicles outside, the man's voice and the alarm we found out it was a false alarm.  Jacob slept through the entire thing...I don't even think he budged!  Mommy and daddy traded off holding a pillow over the speaker to soften the noise, but it was still loud.  We were very proud of Jacob for being such a good sleeper.

Our last day there Jacob and mommy took the cable car to Pier 39.  Jacob LOVED riding on the cable car.  While at Pier 39 we saw the sea lions and then saw a show with a Pirate.  For some reason, Jacob was really into the pirate show.  To be honest, I was completely bored, but he was quietly sitting on my lap and watching, so if he was content, so was I.

We all had a great time and daddy was happy that we went with him so he didn't have to miss us too much while he was away.  our next trip with daddy is to Washington DC and Nani and Papa are coming with us...yippee...

so until next time...mommy and daddy love you!

0 comments - Posted by Missy Roberts at 12:47 PM - Categories: About Jake