marblehead | favorites

a few of my favorite things from marblehead -- one last morning at the lighthouse (with donuts, of course), mikey's new sweatshirt from F.L. Goods, listening to the waves lap the bellies of the boat in the harbor while i nursed oscar, hydrangeas in full bloom, walking around town - boys in a line, boys worn on backs, boys in the stroller, bright colored hidden doors (some open for peering into), historic plaques on nearly every house - history not forgotten ... 

marblehead | whale watching

While in Marblehead we drove up to Gloucester and hopped aboard a ship to go whale watching. This time, we weren't disappointed! (If you remember last year we went on a "whale bust" in Nova Scotia.) We saw humpback and minke whales and a whole pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphin. I think we could've left Amos and Mimi on the boat and they'd still be there. 

I want to remember forever how Solly tightly held Sleepy Dog as they watched the whales breach the water, spray and dive again, over and over. We ran port to starboard, back and forth as the boat spun to keep up with the whales. Majestic, bold, dauntingly beautiful. I hope that my boys will always be enamored with and drawn to the things of the sea. 

month nine | oscar fox

Nine whole months! I always feel like 9 months of pregnancy lasts forever and ever, but then nine months of a fresh new babe passes in the blink of an eye. You're the happiest guy around. You absolutely love those big brothers of yours and they're pretty smitten with you too. 

In this last month you've consistently slept through the night all but one night I think. Thank you child. You say "ma" on repeat when you want more of something, but that's your only word. Not even a "mama" or "dada" consistently.  Sometimes you still like to perch on my hip to see what's going on, but mostly you like to crawl around to wherever the brothers are.

I love being your mama. You are a constant source of joy to our family. I'm looking forward to one more trip to the coast with you in tow this fall and of course starting to plan your first birthday party! Oscar, keep growing big and strong. We sure do love you littlest one! 

marblehead | out and about

we pitter pattered all over marblehead. on foot, in the car, down by the ocean, to the ice cream parlor, and back again. i loved our sibling date to The Barnacle (the best margarita of my life) and The Landing. i loved our crew playing in the street every day...morning, afternoon, evening. oscar started sleeping through the night in marblehead. solly learned to ride a bike without training wheels. mike's entire side of the family was under one roof for not enough days. we chatted 'round the table while a 1000 piece puzzle was worked, nightly. we ate meals outside on the back porch in the unfamiliar-to-us cool july evenings.

martin band of brothers | july 2018

The summer of...

Amos: fishing

Solomon: bike riding (with no training wheels) 

Ezra: potty training (you're a pro)

Oscar: climbing stairs, weaning and sleeping through the night