The Adventures MacLeod

Charlie's 1st Bath

2012-01-23T09:23:00.004-05:00

Much like Logan, Charlie didn't love his 1st bath. But who would when you are used to existing in a 98.6 degree environment and now you are exposed to a rather cold sponge bath. Hopefully he will like it more when he can take real water baths.

Mom apologizes for the full frontal shot.

Logan was a great helper, holding Charlie's towel at the ready so we could warm him up quickly.

As you can see in this comparison picture, Charlie is clearly much bigger than Logan was in her 1st week but they are both equally cute.

Charles Westwood MacLeod

2012-01-23T09:09:00.005-05:00

Born January 12, 2012 at 10:05pm. Charlie was a big boy weighing 8lbs 9oz and measuring 21 1/4 inches long.

Logan is enjoying being a big sister and loves reading stories to Charlie.

Christmas Part 2

2012-01-06T09:33:00.005-05:00

Christmas afternoon we went to Wolfeboro where the treats are always plentiful and the gifts from the Uncles are always ridiculous.

The Nutcracker

2012-01-05T13:22:00.003-05:00

On the second day in Maine, Grandma took Logan out for a date to see the Nutcracker Ballet. They even had their own chauffeur to drop them off and pick them up (Sido).

I suspect this is now going to become a tradition. Although mom and dad really want to join them next year.

Christmas Part 1

2012-01-04T13:22:00.006-05:00

Santa was trying to conserve fuel, so he only made one stop in Yarmouth this year - Grandmas!

New hat from Santa

This Christmas we learned that antlers aren't a good look for anyone except Rudolph.

Uncle Andrew teaches Logan a few chords

Prior family photo

Once Logan realized there truly weren't anymore presents for her, she had fun reading tags and watching everyone else open theirs.

Christmas Cookies

2012-01-02T10:50:00.006-05:00

After tree hunting in the morning we went to Josie's house for the annual cookie decorating festival.

Decorating Master

Josie's 3 steps to decorating cookies

1. let me see if this tastes ok

2. just a little bite

3. mmmm cookie!

The finished product

Logan took everything she learned from Josie and put it to good use on Christmas Eve as we made cookies for friends and neighbors.

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

2012-01-01T16:11:00.005-05:00

In Brooklyn it would've cost us $65 to pick a small tree from a sidewalk vendor. But we're in Maine now so we pay to hunt for our tree...in the snow!

Hiking out

Which one should we choose?

A rare sighting of a white winter whale

The chosen one

and she only cost us $45

Logan's decorating vision

After 15 minutes I had to intervene or all of the branches in this square foot section would've fallen off.

First Snow

2012-01-01T15:57:00.003-05:00

On December 17, 2011 we experienced our first snow storm as Maine residents.

Santaland 2011

2011-11-26T13:26:00.006-05:00

Last year we went to Santaland at Macy's on 34th street and after dealing with the crowds we decided once was enough. But with our days in NYC coming to an end we knew we had let Logan experience the magic one more time.

And a trip to see Santa wouldn't be complete without a stop at a diner for hot chocolate.

Logan's Mini Reveal Party

2011-08-25T19:42:00.003-04:00

Reveal parties are all the rage in NYC. Instead of finding out the sex in the ultrasound room, couples throw a party and reveal the sex by cutting into a cake that is either pink or blue. Cute I guess but too much fanfare for my taste.

Even before I was pregnant Logan was asking us for a baby sister. So when we found out this morning that it was a boy, we knew she was going to be disappointed. To break the news to her I decided to sugar coat it a bit and gave her a mini-reveal party. At about 1:18 is where she shows her true feelings about getting a baby brother.

It's a boy!

2011-08-25T12:55:00.001-04:00

The ultrasound technician made it very obvious what we are having.

Here's a good profile shot of the little guy and it looks like he has Logan's nose.

And here he is in his first Red Sox gear.

Logan's Dance Recital

2011-06-04T15:12:00.002-04:00

OK at this age it isn't a recital really, just an observation class. Even that was a little too much for Logan and she sat out most of the class overwhelmed by all of the adults in the room. But she finally got up the courage with 15 minutes to go and showed us all that she has learned in the past 4 months at DanceWave in Brooklyn.

Hop like a frog

Sashay gallop

The final performance

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T07:21:00.003-04:00

Logan wants to wish every mom a Happy Mother's Day.

A Mother's Day Poem

A Chinese Mother's Day Song

Extreme Face Painting

2011-05-01T19:21:00.002-04:00

Woohoo it is finally spring! That means time to get back out and explore all the NYC has to offer. We love the TriBeCa Family Festival but last year the lines for face painting were way too long. So we got there early this year and in the spirit of the royal wedding, Logan was outfitted with a crown of her own.

Celebrating with a grilled cheese from Milk Truck

Winter Sports Montage

2011-03-05T18:49:00.003-05:00

It was nearly 60 degrees today in NYC. So before it hits 90, I figured I should share what Logan has been up to this winter.

Skating

Skiing

Sledding

If you ask me, I think she shows the most promise as an Olympic luger

When the moms are away the dads will play

2011-01-02T18:13:00.002-05:00

Our New Year's Eve was amazing! Not because we stayed up and partied all night (because I didn't) but because we were able to spend it with our friends Kate, Ian and Josie at their house in Ripton Vermont.

After a long day of skiing, Kate and I were upstairs getting ready for our chill New Year's Eve festivities. We had left the children in the seemingly safe hands of their dads. 5 minutes into my shower I heard loud music, banging and yelling. Thinking for sure that Josie and Logan had overcome the dads and gained control I hurried up and got dressed. When I got downstairs this is what I found:

Snow

2010-12-29T20:36:00.003-05:00

It was a white, white Christmas and Logan loved every moment we spent in the snow.

Visit With Santa

2010-12-05T19:35:00.002-05:00

This is Logan's fourth Christmas but the first year we have had her picture taken with Santa. Pictures of kids screaming in Santa's lap always make me laugh but I just couldn't do it to my own daughter. So we waited until she got over her fear of bearded men and let her tell us when she was ready to go see the big man. Today was the day.

First step was to have Logan dictate her letter to Santa. She is a woman of few words.

Next we had to get all primped and dressed up for the big guy.

Then we arrived at Macy's on 34th Street and mailed her letter to the North Pole.

Finally after 45 minutes of waiting very patiently in line, Logan met Santa. She couldn't contain her excitement at first but she became very quiet and would only whisper to Santa her wishes for Christmas.

0, 1, 2, 3

2010-10-27T00:01:00.002-04:00

ZERO

ONE

TWO

I AM THREE!

Black and Whites

2010-10-11T19:42:00.002-04:00

I finally had some time to download files off our cameras from the past few weeks and found some really nice black and white shots Scott took.

I could look at this one forever. She is so perfect and peaceful when sleeping.

I think [knocks on wood] we may be potty trained before her third birthday. This weekend she went accident free in underwear the whole time. To commemorate this achievement, here is a shot of our big girl reading on the potty. I feel like this is going to be one of those images we will have hanging on our staircase forever.

To take a photo

2010-09-04T20:18:00.007-04:00

Wow it is September already and I haven't blogged about the great summer we have had. Partly because we have been too busy enjoying summer. And partly because I have become a perfectionist now that I have Photoshop Elements and I want every pic posted to be just right.

One of the pics I have been working on is a sequence of the Sami, Odeh and Logan getting ready to take the annual shot of the cousins. It isn't easy getting these to sit down at the same time let alone smile at the same time yet somehow we did it. It took about 20 shots to get there but we finally captured them perfectly in the end. The last shot really shows Sami's wild man personality and just how found Odeh and Logan are of each other. I love it.

You can view the final photo, full size on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelbyh/4873538625/

Summer's End

2010-08-22T19:26:00.009-04:00

Even though we are in the dead of summer our "true" summer ended last weekend when Logan's cousins left for Jordan. Every year we pack as much fun and sun as we can into the couple of months they are in Maine. But once they leave, that true summer feeling goes with them and we start looking forward to the Fall.

Before they left this year we jammed in one more day of fun during their layover in NYC. After their early morning arrival we hopped on the N train and headed for the Central Park Zoo. All 3 of them, and their 5 chaperones (Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Allison, Andrew and Sabrina) had a blast.

It was fun to have the cousins together this year as they are now old enough to hang out together. While they don't always get along, they always manage to have some fun. Here are some final pictures of those three crazy cousins.

A Long and Lovely Holiday Weekend

2010-07-05T19:18:00.008-04:00

What do two parents and a toddler do over a 4-day weekend in the city? Oh not much really...

Friday
Taking advantage of the quiet Friday morning we jumped on an N train bound for Coney Island. First stop was the beach which at the early hour of 9am was only scattered with a couple old leathery Italian men and a few beach combers with metal detectors. Logan relished the open space sprinting down the beach and bounding into the water.

After about an hour we were able to peel Logan off the beach and walked down the boardwalk to the New York Aquarium. We arrived just in time to watch the sharks eat their lunch. We had then planned to hit a few rides at the newly opened Luna Park but at only 11:30 Logan was quickly fading so it was back to the N train to get home in time for nap.

That's Nemo right there

Once she was rested and refueled we went to the new playground at Pier 6 in the Brooklyn Bridge Park. They have this amazing water area that puts all other NYC sprinkler parks to shame. As you can see, Logan hated it:

Saturday
Our favorite Saturday morning activity is to walk to the Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza. The event has become fairly routine for Logan but this Saturday we stumbled upon something new, a lone piano sitting right under the arches.

Later that morning we forced Logan to go shopping with us in SoHo so after her nap, we rewarded her by visiting her favorite Carousel in Prospect Park.

Sunday
Since Saturday was relatively quiet we packed Sunday full of activities. The highlight of the day was the free concert in Battery Park, headlined by Logan's favorite - Dan Zanes. We arrived at 1pm, right at nap time so we knew it could be touch and go but Logan was a trooper. She loved the opening band, a 13 piece Colombian band with dancers. The female dancers were wearing brightly colored Flamenco-type skirts and Logan did her best to imitate the way they swished their skirts around.

At 3pm Dan Zanes hit the stage and Logan continued to dance her booty off.

About 4 songs into his set, Logan conked out and that was all she wrote so we carried the little dirty hippie, dancing baby home on the subway.

Dirty dancing feet

One would think that Logan would have enjoyed a nice long nap after that but the minute we stepped off the subway she woke up. So we managed to string her along until it was time to go to The Barbarian Group's roof in TriBeCa to watch the fireworks. I thought this would be a meltdown waiting to happen but Logan powered through and stayed awake through the first 5 minutes of the show. Even though we could only see the slightest sparks from the fireworks, due to the buildings in our way, Logan oohed and awed and then asked to go home to bed, and so we obliged.

Monday
80 degrees at 7am and due to be 95 in a couple of hours. No better day to spend inside and so we headed into the Children's Museum of Manhattan so that Logan could run around without breaking a sweat.

After the morning's adventure, Logan made up for her missed nap yesterday and slept for 2 and a half hours. We spent the rest of the day in the one room in the apartment that has AC, building forts and reading books.

When's our next vacation?

Time Flies in NYC

2010-06-12T19:18:00.003-04:00

My friends warned me that time gets away from you in NYC. Without noticing it will be 3pm before you eat lunch, 11pm before you eat dinner or 2 months since you wrote your last blog post. Sorry about that but there has just been so much to do that I forgot to stop and write it all down.

Unfortunately with all that we have been up to, it is very heard to remember everything we have done. That is because each day we have off is just so jammed pack with activities. Take today for example, Scott is away so Logan and I were flying solo. She was up at 5:30am and we were out the door by 8am to go to the Greenmarket at Grand Army Plaza. While we are there we grab a muffin from her favorite vendor and then head to the fountains just past the arches to see "Ariel's Father" which is a statue of Kind Triton or Poseidon depending on which story you follow. Then we trekked back to the house, unloaded the groceries, changed into our princess dress and headed for the Q train to go farther into Prospect Park then I cared to walk.

My favorite NYC mom site (Mommypoppins.com) had listed a free play at the Imagination playground which started at 11am. We got there at about 10:30 and Logan ran around while the theater group was getting ready. 5 minutes before the play Logan could not contain herself anymore and had to sit in the front row to wait. She was excited because I told her it was a story about fairies - hence the need to wear her princess dress. About 10 minutes into this variation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Logan got spooked by the Queen and all of her screaming about her various lovers. We got up and slithered to the back of the audience where Logan spent the next 20 minutes perched on a dragon statue for safety.

By that point I was hungry and convinced Logan it was time to head back to the train. On our way back we got distracted by some chanting coming from a rotunda near by. Logan wanted to run up to hear the singing and as we got closer I realized it was a Capoeira group. Logan really wanted to get in the middle and "dance" with them but these guys were really going at it. It was a pretty impressive, seemingly choreographed, half-fighting, half-dance chanting circle. We watched for awhile and then Logan got distracted by her shadow and started dancing in her own circle.

At this time it was noon, I was now starving and had to pee so I somehow convinced Logan that it was really time to go. While waiting for the train Logan exclaimed that she was not tired and did not want to nap when we got home but then fell asleep instantly after we got on the train.

After her nap we watched a touch of the World Cup game but it didn't hold her attention so we headed to our favorite playground. Logan spent most of her time today running through puddles from the fountains or swinging on the tire swing.

After an hour at the playground we walked back to the house, stopping for Gelato along the way. Logan was too tired to do much once we were home except conk out on the couch while watching Pocohontas. After a quick dinner she was in bed and sound asleep by 7:15. Now it is 8pm and I am exhausted. That my friends is how time flies in NYC. Did I mention it is only Saturday? I still have another day before Scott gets home.

Happy Spring!

2010-03-21T19:09:00.001-04:00

In just a few short weeks we went from this:

to this:

Hooray for Spring!

Weekend in the Hood

2010-03-07T20:09:00.002-05:00

The weather this weekend was just amazing. Highs were somewhere near 60 degrees and we started to get a glimpse of what Brooklyn will be like in the Spring. The playgrounds were packed and everyone was out strolling the sidewalks, even eating on the sidewalks already!

Since we have the great fortune of getting up at 5:30am we were able to beat the crowds this weekend and enjoyed the sites while it was still quiet. Our first stop was our local zoo in Prospect Park. Since we were there at opening, we spent the first 20 minutes by ourselves in a room with the Bearded Dragons, Owls, Snakes, Meerkats and Tree Frogs. Logan's favorite animal of the day was the owl but I liked the bearded dragons who had to spoon fed their mealy worms. Lazy things!

Then we headed over to the monkey area and had a great time with the Baboons. They were also enjoying the delightful weather by basking in the sun. While we were there a little boy was enjoying his snack of a banana and the baboons went crazy and ran toward the glass. Awesome! They didn't go as crazy for Logan's raisins but they were still very interested and I was happy the glass was thick

Our final stop at the zoo was to watch the sea lions being fed. These guys were great and Logan loved the show.

This morning we drove over to Red Hook as we heard it was worth exploring. After a snack of scones at a local coffee shop, Logan fell asleep in the backpack so we don't have any shots of her. But Scott and I had a great time trying our photography skills out on some new subjects for once. We also found an amazing grocery store that is worth the drive. It was over 2 blocks long and had a coffee counter where you took a number and had your pick of beans.

Weekend Update

2010-01-31T19:51:00.000-05:00

Apologies in advance as this Weekend Update will not be nearly as funny as SNL. Sido and Grandma have requested photo updates of our weekend escapades so here is a snapshot of what we did over the last three days.

Banana Bread and Paper Crafts
Logan and I found ourselves with a few browning bananas on Friday morning so we decided to make the best of them and whip up some banana bread muffins. Now that we don't have pristine floors, I have given in and allowed Logan to participate as much as she wants. She loves cracking eggs, mixing flour and coating the tins with butter.

Then after a nap we got straight to work on our Valentine's cards courtesy of an activity tip from Aunt Pam. Again, Logan loved getting all messy and used way more glue than was necessary but the end result was great.

Sesame Street and Library Cards

Today we walked to the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. Through the end of February they have a Sesame Street exhibit, showcasing some of the original puppets and artwork from the show. Logan was only mildly amused as she thought we were there to purchase one of the "toys." I hesitate to think what Bert & Ernie would go for. The thing that excited her the most about the outing was getting her very own library card, complete with a picture of Elmo on it. She told strangers all about it on our way home.

Yellow, Orange, Green and ... Bluish-Black?

2010-01-22T19:52:00.003-05:00

Today was my first Friday at home with Logan and the activity of the day was making play dough. I was inspired by the awesome homemade play dough Michelle gave to Logan for Christmas and the store bought Play Doh we have that is now full of dirt and debris. I found a recipe on Instructables that seemed easy enough and we dove in with vigor.

Step 1: Measure the ingredients (not so precisely) into a pot

Step 2: Stir it all together

Step 3: Mommy cooks while Logan yells instructions from the sidelines

Step 4: Knead the dough until it is smooth

Step 5: Divide the dough and form balls. Consider eating the dough.

Step 6: Add the color

Step 7: Be amazed by your creation

I am pretty excited by the end product even if our purple ended up looking more like dirty-blue to black. It was also nice to find an activity that held Logan's attention for more than 15 minutes. Any suggestions on what we should do next week?

And even though Logan loved the process of making the play dough, one would have thought I was torturing her by asking her to participate. Here is a snapshot of the 5 minutes leading up to our fun.

We are here!

2010-01-18T19:34:00.003-05:00

And by here, I mean here:

Exactly one week ago Scott and I (and a few movers) packed up our condo in Dorchester and headed to Brooklyn. It was a crazy day and the fact that we have left Boston still hasn't really sunk in for us.

Logan arrived on Wednesday with Grandma who had been watching her during the move. After learning that she was now in Yankee Country she demanded that we "turn around!" but since then has started to warm up to the idea of living in NYC. Perhaps it is her gigantic room or the myriad of playgrounds that we have been exploring. Either way she has been settling in to the New York way of life.

Tomorrow Logan starts at her new school and is a bit nervous about meeting new teachers and making new friends. Tonight she went to bed asking about Miss Nika, Miss Terry, Miss Shavon, 'Cacio, Jabril, Jaylin, Kai and Jahmi. Clearly she misses her friends back in Boston. We do too.

The Next Adventure

2009-12-15T20:39:00.003-05:00

Word is out, we are preparing for our next adventure. Come mid-January we will be packing up and moving to Brooklyn. Yup, that's right, NYC.

When we moved to Boston three years ago we left a city we loved for my job at The Barbarian Group. This time we are leaving our home city for Scott's new job at R/GA. We never saw ourselves moving to New York City, especially with a two year old in tow, but you can't pass up great opportunities. Thankfully Logan is a very solid Red Sox fan at this point so there is no chance of her converting to the dark side.

Scott and I spent last weekend in Brooklyn and found a great apartment in Park Slope. We looked at over 15 apartments in 3 days and this was the only one that felt like home.

Not only is the apartment bright, it is also spacious. We even have an extra room for visitors and Grandparents/babysitters. We can't wait to move in, although it will be hard to leave our first home behind. That said, if you know anyone looking for a 2 bedroom condo in Dorchester we know a great one for sale ;)

Fall Fun

2009-11-11T17:10:00.002-05:00

Here is 2009's edition of the yearly Fall Fun post. This year Logan is not only walking but full on running and getting into trouble so it has been an extra fun fall.

We started the season off at Russell Orchards again and ate our way through all of their different apples.

We went to Maine the weekend before Logan's birthday and enjoyed the relatively warm weather.

Next up was Wolfeboro for more birthday festivities and some good old fashioned frolicking.

Indian Summer

2009-11-08T13:07:00.005-05:00

Today's Indian summer weather reminded me that I have failed to write a summer recap post. Since this may be the last day of warm sun that we have for 6 months, we can look back to these pictures to help us get us through the cold days ahead.

New Kittens

In early June we adopted Statler and Wally from the empty lot near our house. Here is a picture of Statler before we had scooped him up. Wally is not in this picture but knowing those two he was probably not far behind.

Boat Rides with Cousins and Uncles

Logan loves her cousins but her Uncle Andrew, she is not sure about him. What a look! Logan still associates Maine with Sami and Odeh and every time we head to Grandma and Sido's she asks "see Sami and Odeh?" But now she answers her own question and says, "no, they in Jordan."

PEI Potato Field
Heading up to PEI for a week's vacation meant freedom for Logan. She could run as fast and as far as she wanted to without having her mom grab her by the arm to save her from oncoming traffic. This shot was from was early on in our vacation when she was still looking back over her shoulder expecting me to be on her heels.

Wading Through the Shallows
The water near the PEI house never does get deep. Logan can wade out as far as she wants. Plus the water is super warm.

The Dairy Farm

Logan fed baby cows on the farm with a bottle.. But I think her favorite part was strutting around like she owned the place.

Field of Flowers

This is the same point where mom and dad got engaged 4 summers earlier. The importance was of course lost on Logan but she loved the "llellow" flowers.

Her Ocean Chariot

Sido and his ladies rowing out to the Betty boat.

Logan's bathtime jams

2009-09-01T20:43:00.004-04:00

Logan's take on an old favorite

Sing along with Logan.

"All for me grog, me noggin noggin grog. All for me beer and tobacco. Well I spent all me tin with the ladies drinkin' gin and across the western oceans I must wander."

Best Parts of Summer

2009-07-27T21:05:00.006-04:00

I know it hasn't felt like summer so far this year but we have been doing our best to make the most of it. Despite the bad weather we have been able to squeeze in some of our favorite activities and it isn't even August yet.

Climbing Rocks

Boat Lessons from Sido

Eating S'mores

Ice Cream Cones

BonfiresBoats off the Betty

and Cousins!!

Unfortunately the Great Cousin Summer of 2009 is officially over. Sami and Odeh still have another couple of weeks in Maine but Logan, Scott and I are headed to PEI before the season ends. Logan loved playing with her cousins this summer and I loved watching her grow and learn. Even if it means she screams "mine" just a little more often, it was all worth it.

Yarmouth Clam Festival

2009-07-18T12:57:00.009-04:00

The 44th annual Yarmouth Clam Festival (Logan's 2nd annual) is here!

We kicked things off at the annual Godowsky cookout and parade party. This year's theme was Hats Off to Broadway and the bleachers were decked out with stars, balloons and even a red carpet. The bottom bleacher has transformed from a place where the 20-somethings hang out to kiddo-row. Hopefully there is room for the little Malin and Oulette babies next year.

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see how Logan does in this year's Diaper Derby. Her competition is getting lots of press but Logan smoked her in last year's crawling event and we expect a repeat performance. She will be carb loading tonight.

Adventures in Haircutting

2009-07-15T20:25:00.006-04:00

Logan had her first haircut on July 13, 2009. There was a time when we didn't think she would ever have hair. Truth is she still doesn't have lots of hair but what she had was looking a bit scraggly and was getting in her way. So we made an appointment with the Hodgkins' family hairstylist Kathleen. She has been cutting my brother's hair since they were 2, maybe even younger.

I have to give Kathleen credit, I have trimmed Logan's bangs twice and thought I would poke her eye out which is why they are so crooked. Kathleen was able to time her cuts at the perfect moment in order to avoid any nicks or pokes with the scissors. And by moment I mean fraction of a second when Logan wasn't moving.

The result is great. Logan's hair looks very cute in the back and I have sworn to let her bangs grow out for now.

I am not so sure about this, hence the binky.

Come on mom I want to move my head just a bit.

Cousins Reunite

2009-07-06T20:57:00.003-04:00

Watch out Maine, the Rizkallahs are back in town and Logan couldn't be happier. I am not sure it is possible that she remembers last summer and the time she spent with Sami and Odeh but she certainly acted excited to see them again. Her and Sami are new best friends and Odeh is a protective older cousin, making sure Sami is careful and always shares.

Not so fun run

Post race popsicles

Delicious HFCS

When we are older, we will think this is gross.

A Big Help

2009-07-06T20:36:00.003-04:00

Finally some sun this weekend and Daddy took the opportunity to wash three weeks of rain off the car. Logan loves to help us clean and was excited that we didn't complain when she jumped into the suds this time.

A bubble beard

Yum!

Pump Up the Jam

2009-06-28T07:15:00.001-04:00

Pump Up the Jam from Shelby MacLeod on Vimeo.

Statler and Waldorf

2009-06-08T21:21:00.001-04:00

Introducing Statler and Waldorf (Stats and Wally), the newest MacLeods.

New Meows! from Shelby MacLeod on Vimeo.

Lessons from Wyatt

2009-05-25T21:21:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago Logan met Wyatt while visiting in Maine. Although Logan rarely listens to the lessons Scott and I try to teach her, she seemed to have no problem learning from Wyatt.

Don't eat my bum!

Wyatt is thirsty. He drinks from a bowl.

Maybe I should give this bowl thing a try

Yup that works well, thanks Wyatt!

Eating Seaweed...Still

2009-05-25T21:08:00.003-04:00

I prayed that this summer Logan would be over her fascination with eating everything at the beach and around the dock. Guess my prayers have gone unanswered.

Hrm, what's this?

Looks kinda yummy

Guess I will have to taste it to find out

Look mom you want some?

Logan's Most Awesome Day

2009-04-26T20:20:00.009-04:00

Typically our weekends are spent around the house, doing laundry, cleaning rooms and running errands. They are so boring that Logan gets excited when we go to Target, just because she gets to ride in the wagon. Well this weekend we decided to blow her mind a little bit and scheduled a Sunday full of amazing adventures.

We started at the Franklin Park Zoo. It is literally 2 miles from us, it was nice out and they have zebras so I figured why not. Logan loves zebras. Here she is trying to climb into their enclosure.

After 20 minutes of staring at the zebras and another 5 minutes of kicking and screaming because Logan didn't want to leave, we moved onto the tropical forest building with the monkeys. Logan is quite good at making monkey noises so I thought she might get excited to see a few primates. She loved to watch the lemurs spring about and hang upside down but I think she would have stayed with this mommy gorilla if we would have let her (and if there weren't other kids in line waiting their turn).

After all that excitement it was time to take Logan home so that she could rest up for the afternoon and the big event we had planned.

You look soft, mind if I cuddle up next to you?

So what could be more exciting than the zoo you ask? Elmo of course. We bought Sesame Street Live tickets a few weeks back after Logan started screaming Elmo's name while passing a billboard on the Pike. We just couldn't resist although we were a little afraid of what we were getting ourselves into.

After the initial excitement wore off, Logan stood on our laps in a semi-trance state, kinda like when she is watching Elmo on TV.

Every once in awhile, Logan would awake from her trance, squirm out of our laps and make a break for the stage. I swear this child has no fear, she could have cared less about whether we followed her or not. After I threatened to leave a few times she got the picture and decided that dancing in the aisle was just as good as dancing on stage with Elmo.

And here she is singing her favorite Sesame Street song towards the end of the show. I think it is safe to say that Logan had a great day. Mom and dad thought it was OK too ;)

World's End Hingham, MA - 2009

2009-04-25T14:58:00.003-04:00

We took advantage of the 80 degree weather today and went out to World's End. Last year we went in June and I think it was warmer today in late April. I think Logan has become soft over the winter as she wanted no part of going barefoot in the sand. She tiptoed around grimacing until I put her shoes back on.

These trees were beautiful. Any idea what kind they are? I think we need some sort of iPhone app that helps us city folk identify things in nature.

Logan's BFF

2009-03-23T21:47:00.003-04:00

Logan and Nelly - Best Friends Forever

Meet the Pig

2009-03-14T19:10:00.004-04:00

We had a very eventful day today. In the morning we went to the Harvard COOP for story time and a visit from a very special guest, the pig from If You Give a Pig a Pancake. I wasn't quite sure how Logan would react to meeting her first real life character especially one that looked like this:

Logan freaked out, but she wasn't afraid, just overly excited. She almost couldn't take it when we had to wait in the line for her turn to meet the pig. Finally she had her opportunity and went right up and gave the pig a high five.

After that much excitement Logan went home and took a two hour nap. It was delightful for mom & dad. After her nap, and a late lunch we headed to the Charles for a walk in the warm(er) weather.

While on the walk we found a playground and Logan worked off all of her post nap energy. The slide and the swing are definitely her favorites and she even did the slide all on her own after a few trips down with mommy.

Boston Children's Museum

2009-02-15T18:26:00.003-05:00

One of the best decisions we made early this winter was to become members of the Children's Museum. Logan is a tad on the active side so being cooped up in the house can be problematic. If we feel like it is going to be "one of those days" then we jump in the car and are there in 15 minutes. There Logan can run, climb and scream without bothering anyone or anything. She loves it.

It is fun to yell!

Wintertime Fun

2009-02-09T21:07:00.003-05:00

We went to Maine on Saturday to visit Grandma and Sido on their 41st anniversary and to escape the city. It was nice to break or weekend routine which consisted of running errands in order to not feel trapped in our house. After a lovely dinner on Saturday night (courtesy of Scott) we got up on Sunday and got out to enjoy the 40 degree weather.

We took Logan on a sled ride in the morning, through the woods and down to the bridge and back. She loved being pulled behind mom and grandma and eating any snow her mittens could grab from passing snowbanks.

In the afternoon, mom and dad went to go visit baby Lucas while Logan hung out with Grandma and Sido. She spent the time pulling the yard penguin around and then catching a ride with him when she got tired.

After about an hour and a half out in the fresh air it was time for a snack. Logan sat herself down in her seat and stretched out like she owned the place.

So I have my foot on the table, go ahead and try to move it.

Crazy Animal

2009-01-24T08:38:00.002-05:00

First Frosty Frolic

2009-01-11T10:29:00.001-05:00

First Frosty Frolic from Shelby MacLeod on Vimeo.

Fish Face

2008-12-29T20:07:00.001-05:00

Fish Face, originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins.

This is one of Logan's many amazing talents - the ability to bust out a fish face on command. Skillz!

Sami Reads a Story

2008-11-16T19:18:00.002-05:00

Cousin Sami was visiting from Jordan this weekend. After a long day at the Children's Museum he and Logan relaxed by reading a story together.

Sami Reads a Story
Originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T20:51:00.004-04:00

"This candy is all mine"

Logan is 1?

2008-10-27T20:34:00.006-04:00

Wait a minute, one? When did that happen? Where did the year go? Seriously? 12 months ago today I was...er, never mind, nobody needs to relive that. Instead let's relive Logan's rocking birthday celebration.

The house was full of people so Logan was a little apprehensive at first and snuggled in between Nora and Elizabeth for safety.

Once the birthday crown went on Logan came out of her shell, the Diva emerged and the real fun could begin.

"I can't seem to shake the paparazzi, cameras just love me."

"Look at my new ride"

"I got not one, but two new rides!"

"Uncle Chris knows I love pink."

And then it was time for the compulsory frosting smeared face shot. Logan started out delicately dipping her finger into the frosting but finally got right into it and didn't disappoint the crowd that had gathered.

Fall Fun

2008-10-12T20:04:00.004-04:00

The past two weekends have been full of quintessential fall activities. Last weekend we went to Russel Farms in Ipswich to go apple picking and Logan managed to grab a few good ones.

Yesterday we drove to Providence to visit Aunt Nora and walk around the artist street fair.

Today we went to the Topsfield Fair with Aunt Pam. Logan loved all of the animals, especially the chickens and pigs.

We took a break from the animals to watch the band Vics and Sticks featuring Logan on the tambourine.

Walking?

2008-10-02T22:21:00.003-04:00

Bunie this one is for you.

Walking?
Originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins

Summer Wrap Up

2008-10-01T21:02:00.013-04:00

As first summers go I think I had a pretty good one. It started out with a plane ride which I wasn't too thrilled about. I am smiling in this picture just to make mom happy.
When we got off the plane we were in a place called San Francisco and Grandma and I strolled all over the city. Here I am on a pier near the Ferry Building.

After we got back from San Francisco I met these two crazy guys. Mom says we are related but I think that is still up for debate.
But I decided to humor mom and spent some time hanging out with both of them. Sami and I had a good time riding in wagons and going to PEI.
Odeh was a good swimming buddy and he also makes a mean boo-train.

Speaking of swimming, I love the water. I also love to eat seaweed, rocks, shells and sand. mmm,mmm good.

Sido and Grandma took me on the Betty for lots of adventures and lots of naps. Sometimes my crazy uncles tagged along too.

My first Clam Fest wasn't that great. It rained during the parade and my mom made me crawl in some silly race the day after I came down with croup and an ear infection. Stellar parenting decision if you ask me.
But she made up for it by taking a whole week off work and brought me, daddy and Sami to PEI to visit Bunie.

After the trip to PEI the summer started to wind down. In early August the Rizkallah family headed back to Jordan. Odeh and Sami calmed down long enough to take this nice picture with Sido and Grandma.

Then Uncle Chris came home and we went to Wolfeboro for the weekend to see him.
Mommy just packed up all my bathing suits and shorts today so I think summer must really be over. Hopefully fall and winter will be just as much fun.

Turn the Page

2008-10-01T20:55:00.002-04:00

I mean I don't want to brag but she is a genius right? So what if she eats stale cheerios off the floor, this kid is bright.

Turn the Page
Originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins

Beach Beauty

2008-08-27T20:02:00.002-04:00

We love the beach and water and Logan does too. Problem is she also loves eating sand and rocks. I hope that by next summer her palette is a bit more refined and we can actually allow her to play in the sand without fearing that she will devour it.

Prince Edward Island

2008-08-11T20:51:00.003-04:00

Two weeks ago we took Logan and her cousin Sami on vacation to Prince Edward Island. Bunie and Grandpa have a house on the island and Scott and I haven't visited since we got engaged three years ago. It is one of our favorite places to visit and we hope Logan looks forward to this vacation every year.

While we were there we took approx. 300 pictures but we can't share them all on the blog or this would become quite the lengthy post. You can view more of the pictures on my Flickr page.

First Ice Cream at Cows
Best Ice Cream in Canada

First Popsicle

mmmm, Bunie makes the best popsicles

So this is what having two kids is like

Logan's First Clam Festival

2008-07-31T23:43:00.004-04:00

Logan's first Clam Festival was slightly hampered by torrential rain. Unfortunately she missed all but the tail end of the parade but at least was able to see the HMS and Yarmouth High School bands. Boy were they good.

"Hey quit your drumming would you, I am trying to nap in here."

Sami and Odeh didn't mind the rain one bit.

And finally the news you have all been waiting for, Logan placed 4th in the finals of the 2008 Yarmouth Diaper Derby. She came in second in the first heat, advancing to the final where she did not make it more than two crawls past the start line. I am still questioning the age of the winner, someone should have checked his birth certificate.

"Seriously, they are making me race other babies? How absurd"

Water Baby

2008-07-10T10:16:00.003-04:00

Logan has always loved bath time. The water seems to calm her down and she loves to put as much of her body underwater as possible. 80 degree bathwater is one thing so we were curious to see how she would react to the cold ocean water in Maine. Seems to me like she hated it, what do you think?

mmmm, seaweed

Scenes from ET

2008-07-07T21:34:00.003-04:00

Two weekends ago while we were visiting Bunie and Grandpa in Wolfeboro, Aunt Elizabeth decided to recreate a famous scene from ET, with my child.

hey, get me out of here or increase my hourly rate

Simple Pleasures

2008-06-25T19:55:00.005-04:00

When I was around Logan's age I loved my "boo train" which was nothing more than a box with some construction paper decorating the sides. I am pretty sure Allison created the sweet animal illustrations.

The Boo-Train

Like Mother, like daughter. Logan seems to have the most fun when playing inside a paper bag. We don't have a name for it yet so please let us know if you have any suggestions.

---Update---

Logan has her own boo-train custom made by Odeh. He even included a seat made of duct tape and a steering wheel. I am not sure Logan knows what to do with all the fancy features.

World's End Hingham, MA

2008-06-02T21:42:00.004-04:00

Although I have lived in Boston on and off for 6 years I had never once stepped foot in the South Shore. Well unless you include the mall in Braintree. I had no idea that beautiful beaches and parks like the those we visited on Sunday existed so close to Boston. I always thought I had to escape to Maine in order to find picturesque beaches and woods to explore. Now that I know, why would we ever go to Maine? Just kidding mom.

Here are some shots of Logan dipping her toes in the ocean for the first time as well as trying out her hiking backpack.

woah this water is much colder than my bath

mom that smile is a bit overkill. take it down a notch

i like this backpack as mom's hair is easy to grab (by the fistful)

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-26T21:41:00.004-04:00

We didn't make Logan train all weekend. ;) Now that she is 7 months old we decided it was time to bust out the "big girl" stroller and give it a road test. On Saturday we walked around Beacon Hill with Maren. On Sunday we walked around Memorial Drive and today we walked down to the South Boston beach. It was nice to finally get outside and enjoy some warm weather.

And don't worry, she was covered head to toe in SPF 50. We also learned that putting suntan lotion in her hair is not a good idea. We need to invest in a few sun hats.

walking makes me tired

nobody will mistake me for a boy in this dress

even when I wear sunglasses the paparazzi still finds me

refueling stop

51 seconds of pure delight

2008-05-18T20:36:00.004-04:00

Need I say more.

51 seconds of pure delight
Originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins

Diva in Training

2008-05-18T20:24:00.002-04:00

Her glasses are a little crooked. We still have some work to do before she can reach full diva status.

Floor Surfing

2008-05-18T20:11:00.003-04:00

Logan is getting ready to crawl. I am not sure we are ready for it yet but she doesn't seem to want to wait. But before she can crawl she has to learn that floor surfing will not get her anywhere.

getting up on her imaginary surfboard

catching a wave

Afraid for My Life

2008-04-27T20:34:00.003-04:00

I think Logan has it out for me. She is plotting my demise and all she needs to complete her plans are her teeth. Lately she has decided to latch onto my chin and gnaw on it after making this really low growling noise. I am scared for my life.

Uncle Andrew's Recital

2008-04-27T20:27:00.005-04:00

This weekend we went to Andrew's senior recital for music school. He will be graduating in two weeks with a degree in jazz performance but on Saturday he had the opportunity to showcase his talents to a theater full of friends and family. We were all impressed as we had no idea he played instruments like the tympani drums or marimba. It was awesome. Logan absolutely loved the drumming but the clapping at the end of each piece scared her to tears.

Uncle Andrew on the Tympani Drums

Today Rice Cereal, Tomorrow Sushi

2008-04-21T19:44:00.003-04:00

Today we decided Logan was ready to try real food. Alright I don't know if I would call Rice Cereal mixed with formula real food but it is a start. She seemed to like it even though she didn't keep much of it in her mouth.

Red Sox Hoodie

2008-04-21T17:38:00.003-04:00

These photos were taken on April 6th when Logan was lounging around the house in her favorite Red Sox hoodie.

Houston we have rollover

2008-03-30T21:06:00.003-04:00

After a month of teasing us with near rollovers Logan finally did it. She rolled over from her back to her front on the 26th. Of course the first time she reached this milestone was at daycare but I still flipped out when I saw it in person. She didn't understand why I was making such a commotion, she looked at me as if to say "what's the big deal mom, I do this all the time?" Here are some pictures of her after rolling over again this morning.

Easter Sunday

2008-03-23T17:37:00.004-04:00

We celebrated Easter by going for a walk in Harvard Square and eating noodles at Wagama. Like you do.

Scott walking with Logan.

Logan the Cat

2008-03-21T10:41:00.002-04:00

Logan is getting quite vocal these days. Unfortunately for Scott and I it is not all cute cooing or giggles. At times she sounds like a cat in heat.

Untitled from Elizabeth MacLeod on Vimeo.

Thanks to Aunt Elizabeth for sharing this video.

Giggles

2008-02-18T19:09:00.001-05:00

If you are suffering from seasonal affective disorder, then I recommend that you watch this video as it will most certainly cheer you up.

Giggles from Shelby MacLeod on Vimeo.

Pitchers and Catchers Report in 2 Days

2008-02-12T15:59:00.000-05:00

Like her mom, Logan is a fair weather football fan. She is already over the Patriots loss and is looking forward to spring training. The Red Sox wanted to thank Logan for bringing them luck in game 3 of the 2007 series by allowing her to pose with the 2004 and 2007 trophies.

Super Bowl Sunday

2008-02-03T12:03:00.001-05:00

Go Pats!!

"Eli who?"

3 Months Old

2008-01-27T16:05:00.001-05:00

Logan is 3 months old today. Besides being a great smiler, she is a bit behind in the other developmental milestones. So we started her birthday off with some sitting up exercises. As you can see, she has some hard work ahead of her still.

This is Logan's last day before she starts daycare so these are probably the last smiles we will see in a long time. It will probably also be the last time she lets mommy get a good night of sleep.

Christmas at the Hodgkins and Desiderio's

2008-01-19T08:32:00.000-05:00

After opening stockings at Bunie and Grandpa's we drove to Cousins Island to spend the rest of Christmas at Grandma and Sido's house. We arrived just in time for dinner with the entire Prior clan. After opening presents we went to the Desiderio's for desert where Logan was the star of the party.

"This is the same dress that Aunt Allison wore for her first Christmas."

"This is Uncle Andrew, he is a rock star."

"Big Nick bored me to sleep with tales of the Yankees."

"Suzanne wanted to hold me the entire night."

"I really liked Aunt Mary, except she didn't let me have my binkie."

"I am not so sure about these two, they were hitting the bottle pretty hard."

"Sido liked to give people instructions on how to hold me."

"Alright mom it is time to go, Dez has had a little too much of the bubbly stuff."

Christmas at the MacLeod's

2008-01-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

The first part of Logan's first Christmas was spent at Bunie and Grandpa's in Wolfeboro, NH.

"Seriously mom. a reindeer hat?"

"I like hanging out with Aunt Elizabeth."

"Mittens is a good napping partner."

"Alright people, enough with the stupid hats."

"Aunt Nora is a good napping partner too."

Graduation Day

2008-01-18T08:37:00.000-05:00

Logan graduated from her Great Beginnings class on January 17th. We tried to get a few good class pictures but it was tough to get one where someone wasn't crying or squirming out of place.

From left to right. Back row:Logan, Ezra, Jack.
Front row: Ava, Sam, Aliya, Jonah

Had to show this one because Jack kept sliding off the cushion and Logan kept flirting with Ezra.

At this point in the photo shoot Logan pooped and the smell upset Ezra and Sam.

Monday Jan 7th

2008-01-09T08:49:00.003-05:00

On a Walk, originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins.

Sorry I haven't been great about updating the blog with new images. I need to do a Christmas wrap-up soon. Hopefully this will keep everyone happy in the meantime. And Allison if you are reading this, you owe me pictures of my nephews. I haven't seen them in so long, does Odeh have a mustache now?

Goooh Face

2007-12-23T08:37:00.001-05:00

Goooh, originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins.

"No mom, that shirt does not go with those pants. Puh-lease!"

Say Cheese

2007-12-19T15:59:00.001-05:00

SMILE!!, originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins.

Logan has been smiling for a few weeks now but today she started hamming it up for the camera. Here is a look at her first smile caught on film.

Uncle Sam

2007-12-17T21:29:00.001-05:00

Sam stopped over on Sunday to meet Logan after a long night out in Boston.

Logan and Sam, originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins.

"I am not sure it was a good idea for mom to let this guy hold me."

Logan, Baby Orangutan or Don King?

2007-12-16T18:07:00.000-05:00

Yes Logan your parents are crazy but seriously where did you get that hair and will you ever grow any hair on the front part of your head?

Drowning in Spit-Up

2007-12-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Our little spit-up queen was caught in action today. She was in her crib making hilarious noises that I was hoping to capture on video. Instead I captured her faulty plumbing at work.

Botched Photo-Op

2007-12-10T09:41:00.000-05:00

Logan was very awake and alert on Saturday so Scott and I were trying to take a few mom and daughter pictures. Logan decided that she was literally sick of the papparazzo and showed her displeasure by spitting-up everywhere.

Bathtime

2007-12-07T13:37:00.000-05:00

On November 28th we decided it was time for Logan to try a real bath. Logan hadn't been a huge fan of the sponge baths the doctor recommended so we didn't think she would like this either. But to our surprise Logan loved the warm water and became very alert and happy. We have now made it part of her bedtime routine.

Thanksgiving Part Two

2007-12-03T12:57:00.000-05:00

After desert at the Prior's we drove to Wolfeboro to spend the rest of Thanksgiving with the MacLeods. Logan met Nelly and Uncle Chris for the first time.

Aunt Nora thought I was crying but I was really just singing her a song

Uncle Chris

Nelly likes to smell my diapers

Bundled

Thanksgiving Part One

2007-12-03T11:51:00.000-05:00

We spent the first part of Logan's first Thanksgiving at the Prior's. Everyone was thankful for Logan's arrival but mom also gave thanks for epidurals.

Logan and Aunt Pam

Logan and Sido

Uncle Tuck and Uncle Andrew"These guys are trouble"

Mmmm Turkey

Logan or Sami?

2007-11-19T12:22:00.000-05:00

Which one is Logan and which one is Sami? Leave a comment and let us know which picture you think belongs with which baby.

Top

Bottom

Zonked

2007-11-18T20:09:00.000-05:00

Going,

going....

GONE

Drank too much

2007-11-18T06:49:00.001-05:00

Mom and dad aren't nice, originally uploaded by shelbyhodgkins.

When you drink too much in college you might end up sleeping with the lampshade on your head. When you drink too much at the MacLeod household you end up wearing the fake nipple on your head.

Boob Food

2007-11-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

Now that Logan is out in the world, mom is excited to be able to eat cured meats, soft cheeses and to drink wine. She is so happy she took a picture to document it.

Nap Time

2007-11-12T19:54:00.000-05:00

We nap frequently these days. Thankfully Logan enjoys sleeping almost as much as mom and dad.

First Walk

2007-11-12T19:42:00.001-05:00

On November 4th we took Logan for a short walk in South Boston. It was probably a little too early for mom to be out walking around but it was too nice to stay inside.

Children's Hospital

2007-11-05T17:41:00.000-05:00

Logan was only home for 17 hours before we had a follow-up apt with our pediatrician. Logan had been slightly jaundice after birth so they wanted to check in on her. They drew her blood and her bilirubin level was 19 which is just shy of the dangerous 20 mark.

We spent one night at Children's before they let us go home again. We were home for less than 12 hours again before we had another follow-up apt. Her bilirubin level had rebounded again so we had to right back into Children's for another two nights. It was very hard on mom and dad as she had to spend all her time under the bili lights, leaving little time for cuddling and bonding.

"I hated these goggles, they gave me a rash so I kept pulling them off. Mom didn't get much sleep because she had to watch over me, making sure I kept my stupid goggles on."

The Adventures MacLeod

Charlie's 1st Bath

Charles Westwood MacLeod

Christmas Part 2

The Nutcracker

Christmas Part 1

Christmas Cookies

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

First Snow

Santaland 2011

Logan's Mini Reveal Party

It's a boy!

Logan's Dance Recital

Happy Mother's Day

Extreme Face Painting

Winter Sports Montage

When the moms are away the dads will play

**Snow**

Visit With Santa

0, 1, 2, 3

Black and Whites

To take a photo

Summer's End

A Long and Lovely Holiday Weekend

Time Flies in NYC

Happy Spring!

Weekend in the Hood

Weekend Update

Yellow, Orange, Green and ... Bluish-Black?

We are here!

The Next Adventure

Fall Fun

Indian Summer

Logan's bathtime jams

Best Parts of Summer

Yarmouth Clam Festival

Adventures in Haircutting

Cousins Reunite

A Big Help

Pump Up the Jam

Statler and Waldorf

Lessons from Wyatt

Eating Seaweed...Still

Logan's Most Awesome Day

World's End Hingham, MA - 2009

Logan's BFF

Meet the Pig

Boston Children's Museum

Wintertime Fun

Crazy Animal

First Frosty Frolic

Fish Face

Sami Reads a Story

Happy Halloween!

Logan is 1?

Fall Fun

Walking?

Summer Wrap Up

Turn the Page

Beach Beauty

Prince Edward Island

Logan's First Clam Festival

Water Baby

Scenes from ET

Simple Pleasures

World's End Hingham, MA

Memorial Day Weekend

51 seconds of pure delight

Diva in Training

Floor Surfing

Afraid for My Life

Uncle Andrew's Recital

Today Rice Cereal, Tomorrow Sushi

Red Sox Hoodie

Houston we have rollover

Easter Sunday

Logan the Cat

Giggles

Pitchers and Catchers Report in 2 Days

Super Bowl Sunday

Snow