This weekend Alex met most of Mommy's extended family for the first time. On Saturday, we visited with Tootsie Nani and met Uncle Chris and Aunt Rosie, Chris Michael and Teresa, and their daughter Bronwyn. According to geneology.com, that's Alex's Great Grandmother, Great Uncle and Aunt, First Cousins once removed, and Second cousin, respectively. Whew, that's a mouthful.
It was great to see Tootsie Nani with both of her great grandchildren. The second cousins didn't know what to make of each other at first, but promptly swapped keys and had a grand old time. It looked like Bronwyn even tried to kiss Alex.
On Sunday, we continued the grand Pashouki tour with a trek to Saratoga Springs for Wendy's baby shower -- Tootsie Nani's third great grandchild is due right around Easter. Wendy's house was beautiful, and Jennifer did an amazing job of decorating and organizing games and party favors. Andrew was a trooper for helping Jennifer prepare for the festivities by, among other things, hand writing many tags and almost losing an eye for the cause of decorating flower pots. Wendy and Kurt both looked so thrilled to be expecting their baby girl.
Uncle Ray met Alex for the first time, and he later said it really made it hit home that he is about to become a grandparent himself. Peter (that's a first cousin once removed, if you're making your own family tree at home) and Alex really hit it off, too -- they were even dressed alike.
That's why I wasn't surprised that Alex was so enamored with Peter's playing -- more on that in a minute. Alex had a grand old time climbing Wendy's staircase again and again, which was part of Mommy's strategy to ensure he was nice and tired and would sleep in the car.
The staircase had a barred landing, which Alex and Pop Pop thought was just a rockin' place to hang out. The still photo doesn't do my little soul man justice -- check out the Jail House Boogie Video!
After the shower, we went to Uncle Ray and Diana's new place for dinner. What a wonderful home! I can't wait to bring Alex up there again for horseback riding lessons once he is old enough. It was there, meeting their rather large dogs, that I became convinced that Alex first word is going to be (or already is??) "dog." Both when we were at Wendy and Kurt's place meeting their Yorkies, and at Uncle Ray and Diana's, when Alex saw the doggies he would get very excited and say D-uh, D-uh, D-uh! He wasn't quite hitting the G, but I think it was dog nonetheless. He also waved bye-bye to Diana at the dinner table, and I think did the sign to ask for milk. So it was a big day, communications-wise for him.
After dinner, we headed out to Bailey's Cafe to see one of Peter's bands, Soul Session, play. Alex was asleep when we arrived, but after a while poked out from the Ergo to just stare and stare and stare some more at Pete while he played. He even, at one point, pulled off of breastfeeding to hang his head back and stare in awe. He stared at Peter, not the other two guys in the band. The music was fantastic, and at least two total strangers came up to compliment me on how much of a delight it was to watch Alex enjoy the music. He was a trooper -- didn't cry at all despite it being pretty darn late.