I'm a traveling man

Waiting for our flight, which was delayed four hours, in the Detroit airport. I bet momma wishes she could sleep in airports like me!

Note: From now on this blog will be written by El Jefecito himself.
I, Theo James, had an adventure! Mom and dad dragged me to a wedding (but then left me in the hotel so they could eat good food, drink and dance without me). It was my first time outside of Washington State. We woke up early on Thursday and spent the whole day "traveling". I thought it was fun to see all the lights and people at these big buildings they call airports. I'm not sure why people complain about airplanes - I had lots of leg room and slept the whole way! Our first stop was going to visit Cara and Nick in Northampton, MA for their wedding and then go to Minnesota to see lots of people that I think might be related to me and some of mommy's friends. I was a trooper!
Mommy fed me on take off so my ears would pop and then she made me suck on a pacifier for landing (even though I was sleeping soundly). I didn't mind the four-hour flight delay in Detroit because I just slept in my stroller. Mommy forgot to bring ear plugs for our nice neighbors on the plane but luckily I was a good boy and we did not need them. I'm sure the folks sitting around us were relieved. Mommy says I had more luggage than Daddy and her combined and so coming home from Minnesota was a bit more challenging as Mommy was alone with me and all my stuff. Luckily there were lots of folks willing to lend Mommy a helping hand so she could hold me more. I can't wait to fly again to Chicago for Thanksgiving and I just got my passport in the mail and so I'm all ready to go to Peru with Mommy in February.

My passport photo! It only took like 50 tries and lots of crying to get one where my eyes are open, arms are down and mouth is closed!

Meet Theo Party
Mommy's aunt and uncle, Beth and Larry Rocheford, hosted a wonderful party for me after we arrived at the Minneapolis airport on Sunday. I met lots of Daddy's friends and most of the Rocheford relatives (am I really related to these people?). Everyone was smiling and giving hugs and passing me around like a football but I didn't mind because I love to be held.

Cousin Lauren eager to hold me and she even changed my diaper!

Cousin Lauren and Uncle Jim (our photographer) getting to hold me.

Auntie Rita made a beautiful Macalester blanket for me.

Aunt Beth and Grandma JoAnn passing me around.

Look at our happy family!

Aunt Michele and cousin Sara love me!

Studly Uncle Larry ready to hand me off because I was starting to cry.

Grandma JoAnn, Kerry (mommy's old babysitter), and Mary Gilligan O'Rourke posing for the camera.

The best great auntie Rita with me after our walk along the Mississippi River.

Hanging out with Friends
The rest of the week we went for walks and visited friends (many of whom also have kids my age). We also went over to Auntie Annie and Uncle Eric's awesome pool which they kindly heated to 85 degrees so I could go swimming. We couldn't find any Little Swimmers that were small enough for me so I went in the buff (how embarrassing). Enjoy the video below!

Mommy, Maggie Clayton and me after our walk in the park. She made me an awesome blanket too.

Gramps was so happy to hold me in the morning that I think he was late for work at least once.

Rosa Brandt and her two-day old baby boy, Ansel. I can't believe that I was smaller than that!

Mommy's high school friends, Jaclyn Thomas Maynard and Andrea Kramer Winiecki, hanging out me.

Mommy, why do you always dress me up in funny outfits? She made me wear this to the wedding and my big party.

Five of Mommy's good friends from medical school: Brent Kudak (and his wife Anna), Brent Nelson (and his wife Katie), Bryan Donald (and his wife Katie), Laura Meyer (and her husband Aaron), and Mommy. There were SIX boys (I was the youngest at two months and the oldest was 3.5 years) and there was one cute one girl (and one more baby due Nov. 4). Mommy says things have changed a lot in four years!

Mommy's college roommate, Sara Mathison (pictured with her son Luke), came to visit us in Seattle before we left on our trip.

"That's right, I'm only two months old and I can sit up...sorta"

Grandma babysat me so Grandpa and Mommy could go watch the Twins beat the Yankees game 5 to 4!

Balsam Lake, WI
Grandma and Grandpa Pastorius have a little wooden cabin on Balsam Lake, WI, that I got to stay at for a night. I'm in LOVE! They have a sail boat (Grandpa can't wait for me to get older and go sailing with him) and a pontoon. I met the dogs, Winnie and Louie, who were jealous that everyone paid more attention to me than them. The fall colors were at their peak and were reflecting on the lake like a mirror. The lake was calm and we were the only boat on the whole lake for our sunset pontoon ride and it made Grandma nervous because if anything happened she was worried that I don't know how to swim and I might sink! Good thing nothing happened because I wasn't wearing my ridiculous and over sized life jacket (see prior post) and I just had my first swim lesson this week so I would have been in trouble. I saw lots of wildlife, including an eagle, an eaglet, deer and an arctic loon. It was very relaxing and fun to have s'mores by the bonfire and see the full moon reflecting on the water (ok I was in my crib but Mommy enjoyed s'mores with her family while I slept). I was so tired after our pontoon ride that I forgot to wake everyone up at 2am and I slept through the night (for the first time!). Mommy said it was glorious!!
The cabin is fun! I can't wait to visit next summer when I turn one and can go fishing, swimming, and drive the pontoon!

My first pontoon ride on Balsam Lake.

Fall colors on Balsam Lake.

Getting kisses from Winnie.

Bald eagle on Balsam Lake

A bald eagle eaglet on the top of the sail boat.

A rare arctic loon migrating south for winter.

Beautiful sunset over Balsam Lake.

Guess who bought me this outfit? My bestest auntie Annie!!

Welcome to the Nut House! "Who are these people and why do they dress me up all the time?"

Moving On
It was a busy week for my Grandparents because they sold their house, 1315 Wyncrest, where they lived for 22 years, and bought a new town home! It was good to get to stay at 1315 where mommy grew up (we even stayed in her old room). Grandma saved all of Uncle Dan's Lego's, Knex, and Lincoln Logs so I can play with them when I get older. The new town home only a half-mile away so we'll be back in the neighborhood again soon. It was a wonderful trip and so much fun to see everyone. Can't wait for next year! Thank you!