Hot Town, Summer in the City

Going to see the monuments never gets old.
Got some solid shots here, but the next ones will be even better because YOU will be in them!

Dear Baby Girl,

After thirteen years in the DC metro, I have pretty much nailed down the DC tourist circuit—I can navigate the monuments, museums, and historical sites like no other. However, it is a rare opportunity that I get to play hostess to DC virgins. Your Great Aunt Tricia, cousin Casie and cousin Woodrow gave me such an opportunity. I made certain that Tricia and Casie hit at least one Smithsonian, all the major monuments, and of course the White House. Baby Woodrow got to see the White House, but he missed out on the others as we did not want to overwhelm him at such a young age. Perhaps he can come back and see the monuments with his first cousin thrice removed (YOU), and you can take over as tour guide.

Anyhow, whence monument-ing, and things of the like, your mother is notorious for one thing: misjudging distance. I believe that this folly originated in my collegiate years of running cross country. We ran all over the city at a rather brisk pace and thus I think everything is closer than it is. When I say something is a block away your Great Aunt Joanne will ask me, “A real block or a Taylor block?” I swear I do not do this on purpose. I am just trying to maximize sight-seeing in a short amount of time, and that requires an immense amount of walking. If such walking is not met with haste, then well… it can take a while. You, Baby Girl, will not have to worry about this as you will have a smooth ride in my jogger stroller and we shall zip around town uninhibited.

In any case, despite my likely pushing everyone to trek just a little too far, and your father pointing out my overly ambitious itinerary on numerous occasions, I think we all had a great weekend (at least, I know I did). Casie and Tricia hit up the American History Smithsonian (my favorite one) on Friday while I was at work, and we all did our monument tour at dusk on Saturday after the shower. Tricia officially took her first cab ride, her first uber ride and her first metro ride, so it was certainly a weekend of firsts. The DC cab did not disappoint as he was a complete and utter lunatic, jibber jabbing away about politics. Might as well give the Mainers the full city life experience.

On Sunday we had brunch in DC and then moseyed on over to the White House (me: “oh it’s just a couple blocks!” Joanne: “Yeah right!” Dad: “You’re insane”). The brunch was lovey and I have to hand it to Woodrow. He is one of the most well behaved, pleasant, adorable kids I have ever met (I suppose this is really handing it to his mother Emily, and not to him… I have to give the mother credit for these things as I intend to take it for myself with you). He always had a smile on his face, even throughout the baby shower, and Dad was happy to have an element of testosterone in our crew, albeit a young one. He will be less than two years older than you so if I can get Emily back down here (which I intend to) you are sure to be buddies. I also need to get Casie’s son Colby down here as he is a history buff and had his mother facetime him at all the major sights. He surely needs to see them in the flesh.

… I digress. As I was saying, it was a very fun and exciting weekend for me. I loved having everyone in town and I miss the Morri very much as I seldom get to see them these days. Everyone has their own family and living in different parts of the country makes it difficult. HOWEVER, I do intend to take you to Maine for Thanksgiving this year and we will make the rounds so you can meet everyone and I can tell you about it later because you won’t remember meeting them at two months old. It’s not a big deal. They will remember meeting you and they’ll have to remember you in the womb because it was commemorated with their first trip to DC (at least some of them anyway).

Love,

Mom

P.S. Does White House get capitalized? I wasn’t sure about that but I feel as though it is a proper noun so I capitalized it. Perhaps your grammar will have surpassed mine by the time that you read this.

Top Left: Tricia and Casey from the top of the Lincoln.
In case Great Uncle Garry doubts her, she did ascend all of the steps! No elevator!
Bottom Left and Middle: Emily and Woodrow. I LOVE the picture in the middle.
Look at him looking straight into the camera and smiling! Smarty knows how to work it.
Bottom Right: You, me, and Grandma.

The weekend activities tuckered Dad right out.
He did an excellent job as co-host, and is back in his mesh shorts.
Sigh. It was so nice to see him wear real clothes for a couple of days.
Bottom Left: Collection of baby shower cards.
Bottom Middle: Dad sucking the helium out of your balloons. Like a mature adult.
Bottom Right: Dad folding your newly acquired tiny socks. I found this funny.