Traditionally, Labor Day marks the end of summertime. Usually, this is a major bummer. But this year, I think my family had a pretty awesome summer, making it a little easier to watch it go.

[caption id="attachment_1256" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett and His Shovel in the Boat"][/caption]

Some of this summer's highlights:

1. Emmett got his first buzz cut.


2. James and I got engaged and started planning our wedding. (Have I directed you to our wedding website yet?)


3. We visited with Cousin Gus, Aunt A and Uncle Mac in Michigan.


4. Emmett took swim lessons.


5. We had Emmett's first trip to the Jersey shore with Nana, Gran-D and Aunt Niki.

A couple of days in Maine with Gran Lucy, Grandpa Mac, Uncle Shawn, Aunt Sara and Cousin Ben were a great way to top off the summer.� We enjoyed a yummy lobster feast (and learned just how much Emmett enjoys corn on the cob), spent some time on the beach and the boat, did some shopping in Freeport for Emmett's fall wardrobe, and mainly just relaxed.

[caption id="attachment_1257" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett with Gran Lucy and Cousin Ben"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1258" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett Devours His Corn on the Cob"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1259" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett Confronts a Lobster With a Grill Lighter"][/caption]

Who else is looking forward to toddlers playing in piles of leaves in the fall and making snowmen in the winter?� I know Em and I are.

For more photos from our Labor Day visit in Maine, view the set on Flickr.

Age Timer: 19 months, 3 weeks

Topics: Weekly Updates, holidays, Labor Day, Maine

Last weekend was Emmett's first trip to the Jersey shore!� The three of us headed down for a couple of days with my parents, and despite my fear that he was going to hate the sand and the ocean, he completely pulled through and loved every minute of it.� Apparently, all you have to do is plop that kid down in the sand, give him a shovel, and he's good to go.

[caption id="attachment_1249" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Good to Go!"][/caption]

Here's a video of Emmett with dad and Nana, letting the ocean waves wash over his piggies (AKA toes) and jabbering about who knows what...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYT0LrZM0TQ&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Emmett also enjoyed tossing sand, a leisurely bike ride, an evening stroll along the boardwalk, a ride on the carousel (which he was not a fan of) and some public dancing.

[caption id="attachment_1245" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett's First Bike Ride "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1246" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett and Dad on the Boardwalk"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1248" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption=""I AM SPARTA!""][/caption]

Thanks to Nana and GranD for planning such a fabulous long weekend at the Jersey shore!

Fore more pictures from our trip, check out the Jersey Shore set on Flickr.

Age Timer: 19 months, 1 week

Topics: video, Firsts, beach

Admittedly, a lot of my free time lately has been taken up by wedding planning (awesome for me, not so great for my blog readers).� I'm sure any mom understands this, but having a kid (or kids) makes it extremely difficult to find time to do everything you wish you could.� Luckily, I've been able to motivate myself to squeeze running into my schedule (I used to be a pretty dedicated runner before I got pregnant), and as I said, with the wedding planning, unfortunately my blog has taken a back seat.� Not that I'm going to convert my blog into a place for wedding chatter in any sense, but for those interested, the wedding planning is going along quite swimmingly. We have the venue, the date, the officiant, a wedding website and I even found the dress!

[caption id="attachment_1238" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett and Dad"][/caption]

I've partially justified my lack of blogging by the fact that Emmett isn't hitting the milestones as freqently as he did as a baby.� Still, there have definitely been some developments:

1. He's been all about the babbling for quite some time, but he has also been slightly behind on his vocabulary.� Lately though, he's really been excelling on the talking front. He can now say hi, bye, dad, one, two, blue, choo choo, ball, wow, wee and eye.� Am I forgetting anything, James?


2. He's developing quite a little sense of humor.�� He fakes sneezes when we sneeze, and he's just a goofball in general.


3. He loves to dance. Like -- loves it.� He dances whether or not there's music, and I'm pretty sure he's already a better dancer than I am.� This kid's got moves.� I can't wait to catch him on video.


4. He now weighs about 28 lbs, and he's half an inch shy of 3 feet tall.


5. He likes to swim.� We've been taking parent-toddler swim classes at the Fitness and Recreation Center at Boston University, and he's definitely a fan.

[caption id="attachment_1239" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett the swimmer"][/caption]

Also, can you believe Emmett is already a year and a half old?� It's unreal ...

Age Timer: 18 months, 3 weeks

Topics: Weekly Updates, Milestones, talking, dancing, wedding, swimming

Today my awesome little nephew, Gus turned 1!� I just got back from spending a few days in Michigan visiting my family and celebrating his birthday, as well as my brother-in-law's birthday and the 4th of July in an all-in-one extravaganza.� Needless to say, my sister the event designer made sure it was fabulous!

[caption id="attachment_1226" align="aligncenter" width="462" caption="1 Year Old Gus!"][/caption]

Emmett had some reservations about Gus at first, but in the end, I think he warmed up to him.�� Here are a few shots of the birthday boy and the awesome weekend.

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Captain Gus and His Matey, Emmett"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="474" caption="Gus' party hat and balloons"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1230" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption=""Watcha got there, cuz?""][/caption]

Age Timers

Emmett: 17 months, 3 weeks

Gus: 1 YEAR!

Topics: birthday, family, Events, cousins, party