8/17/12
Dear Jake,
Last Friday you got to go to visit your Grandma and Poppa Gorra! You had lots of fun swimming in their wonderful pool. So instead of Friday together this week we had a sleepover on Wednesday while Mom and Dad went to Fenway Park to see the Bruce Springsteen concert. They had a great time and got to see your second cousins Tim and Jenny there.
We had lots of fun on our sleepover. Poppa brought some pizza and you had your favorite fruit, some cantaloupe. You learned how to clap this week so we clapped a lot. You have to think about it each time but then you are so proud of yourself when you hear the clapping noise. We also clapped for your Godfather Jack who turned 24 years old this week!
One night this week you stopped by Grammy's office. You were so excited to see all the things on my desk that you could get into that you had a smile from ear to ear!
Love, Grammy
8/10/12
Dear Jake,
Whenever we take a stroll around your neighborhood you always look so enviously at the kids on bikes. So this week Poppa and I bought you your first tricycle! Poppa spent the afternoon putting it together and the look on your face as you rolled down your street was worth every moment! Now you are part of the neighborhood bike gang and you are loving it. We thought about adding a horn or bell to it but I'm not sure we need to with your loud chorus of; "ba, ba, ba"!
Love, Grammy
7/27/12
Dear Jake,
This Friday your Great Aunt Loretta came to visit! When your Mom was born on December 12, 1980, the first thing Aunt Loretta did was go with your Mom's other aunts, and buy a dozen doughnuts to bring up to the hospital. They were so excited about becoming aunts that they ate the whole box before they arrived! So, on October 25, 2011, Aunt Loretta came to see you in the hospital with a dozen doughnuts to celebrate. This Friday she brought you a book called, "Brown Bear" that you loved. Your attention span is getting longer and you are able to sit and really look at books now. The cardboard books work the best because you can chew on them after we finish the story!
Love, Grammy
7/20/12
Dear Jake,
It was fun to be back to our regular Friday's together this week. You were off on vacation with your Mom and Dad last week. We did get to see you at the beach at your Aunt Terese and Uncle Dan's house over the weekend. Then you stayed at a cozy cottage with your Mom and Dad. You loved going to the beach every day and the feeling of the sand in between your little toes. I was very happy that your Mom and Dad are keeping our family tradition of having ice cream every day on vacation! Any day that is filled with salt air and ice cream has to be a good one!
Your parents are now in full baby proofing mode trying to keep you out of mischief. We are going to have to be very crafty because you are so unbelievably quick at figuring things out. You are practicing your words nonstop. Your favorite thing to say is; "Ba, ba, ba, ba". We aren't sure what it means but you sure make it sound very official!
Love, Grammy
7/6/2012
Dear Jake,
One thing is for sure, you love a party so you sure loved your first 4th of July! You woke up bright and early and went downtown with your Mom and Dad to cheer Poppa Crowley on at the annual road race. Poppa was very proud of the great finish time he had but even more proud to show you off to the crowd. Next you were off to your friends, Brendan and Daniel to see their new home. You looked very envious of Brendan's big boy bed!
The next event was the 4th of July parade. You couldn't believe the marching bands especially as the drums went by. I have a feeling we may be watching you in a band of some sort one day! The rest of your day was filled with ice cream and some beach time and ended with a tired but happy little fellow!
Love,
Grammy
6/29/12
Dear Jake,
You are a man on the move! After weeks of practicing you have mastered crawling and you are going fast. Its like a whole new world on the move. You love seeing a favorite toy or book and being able to get it yourself. Of course this has led you into getting into a bit of trouble at home and your Mom and Dad have had to say,"No Jake" a lot! After crawling for about 1 week you seem to be thinking that crawling just isn't going to be fast enough and you want us to help you practice walking. I am predicting that you will be on 2 feet well before your first birthday!
Love, Grammy
This Friday we went on a car ride to see some cows and your Uncle Mike and Aunt Jodey in Vermont! Poppa Crowley and Uncle Mike ran in a road race to the highest peak in Vermont and you were there to cheer them on. We all stayed at a condo on Stowe Mountain and right around the time that you were officially turning 10 months old, you rode a gondola right to the top of the mountain. Most babies that I know would have been a bit frightened but you looked out at the view and took it all in stride!
The weekend was filled with everything that Vermont has to offer and of course lots of ice cream. You are a great little traveler and you manage to keep yourself from napping so you don't miss a second!
