philly-style

This past Saturday, my cousin Jordan was celebrating her graduation from high school (yay, Jordan!) with a big party at her house in Philadelphia. So, we packed up the car and headed up there on Friday night. It was our first time traveling with an "older" baby and the trunk was filled to capacity with contraptions to entertain the baby. Jc was in the front seat, my brother Jeff was riding shotgun with Stella on his lap, and I was in the back seat with the baby and our suitcases. It was a hot mess. The baby was fairly well behaved during the ride, but it was stressful. As JC said upon arrival, "the baby had one major meltdown, but Tara had, like, three". It was true. I did. And I think between the baby screaming, the dog barking, and JC and I yelling at each other, we delayed any plans Jeff may have had of starting a family by a good 15 years.

But the next day when we woke up it was party time, and all was good. The baby woke up in a happy mood and was passed around from person to person like a hot potato, so JC and I got some baby-free time and that, my friends, was awesome.

This is my cousin Reagan, 6 years old and Graydon's biggest fan. She was at his side constantly this weekend, informing me whenever she thought he looked hungry, thirsty, or "like he needs a hug". She's hilarious and she's got great taste- she thinks my brother Jeff is a "poopy head".

This is Reagan's older sister, Emily. She was equally super sweet with both Graydon and Stella.

Poppa T. He is genetically incapable of taking a good picture. Seriously.

Nana! It was so great to see my grandmother again. She regaled my cousins and I with stories of how my Aunt Marianne was such a holy terror as a child that she had to harness and leash her just to walk around the neighborhood. We were all dying. So funny.

Nana and the moose, whooping it up.

My cousin Jordan, off to St Joseph's University in the fall. She's teaching Graydon how to spell "k-e-g-g-e-r".

JC and baby with my cousins Kimm and Kori. This picture was taken right before Graydon threw up on Kimm's white pants. Sorry, Kimm. And right before JC spilled an entire bottle of breast milk on Kori's leather sofa. Sorry, Kori.



Aunt Marianne, still in need of harness and leash:

Uncle Jeff is convinced the baby looks exactly like him. Do you think so? Although, the baby does act an awful lot like him- always burping and checking himself out in the mirror. Maybe Jeff's right.

The original Poppa T! (my Uncle Ted)

Stella's idea of a good time:

Gray trying to eat Kori's shirt.

And after all this, finally, a nap:

He looks peaceful now, but tomorrow we go for his 4 month pediatric appointment, where he'll get his second round of shots (boo). Wish us luck.