The Tattle Taylor

Treasure Island

2010-03-21T23:59:00.000-04:00

Last month, we met up with family in the one and only Las Vegas, Nevada. We shielded the kids' eyes for most of our morning stroll down the Strip, but allowed them to peek out just long enough to catch sight of this life-sized pirate ship at Treasure Island. Very cool.

(To a two- and four-year-old, quite possibly the coolest thing ever.)

Our first earthquake

2010-03-18T14:36:00.002-04:00

This week--Tuesday at 4:04AM, to be exact--we experienced our first earthquake since our arrival in southern California. Luckily, it was a pint-sized one (4.4 on the Richter scale), but let's just say...

We hope it was our last.

Mammoth

2010-03-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we trekked up to Mammoth Lakes, California to hit the slopes. It was spectacular.

The snow fell steadily through our entire stay and was piled high all around us--a true winter wonderland.

The kids loved every minute. We can't wait to go back.

PS We'll post video excerpts of Jack's first ski lesson soon (provided we can figure out how to load it up to Blogger). Stay tuned--it's priceless.

The official request

2010-01-29T12:59:00.002-05:00

Little J has submitted his official request for "a black swimsuit and a surfboard."

We had a feeling this was coming! Next stop: Jack's Surf Shop, Newport Beach.

1/16/10: The perfect Saturday

2010-01-21T11:30:00.001-05:00

Morning at Dana Point Farmer's market

+

Afternoon at Salt Creek Beach

= The perfect Saturday.

We are loving life in California.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T05:35:00.001-05:00

How exciting it is

as time rolls forward,

to look ahead

and dream of all the good things to come.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Anatomy of a holiday photo

2009-12-31T22:37:00.001-05:00

The location: Dana Point, California.

The props: Santa hats, "one size fits all."

Ok, maybe not all.

The assistant: Uncle Jess.

(Yes, ladies, he is this handsome in person.)

The portrait subjects:
Jack

Lauren

Caroline

Our attempts at the perfect holiday photo:

The best we could get before the camera battery ran out:

Works for us! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our dear family and friends!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T05:03:00.000-05:00

May the light of the season be with you all year.

Sunday morning, 12/13, just before church

2009-12-21T19:14:00.001-05:00

Lauren on an Early Weekday Morning in November

2009-11-23T02:51:00.000-05:00

You have got to love that face.

Jack Taylor, Fearless Warrior

2009-11-16T03:10:00.001-05:00

This photo, taken in early Summer 2008, captures our little J's personality to a T.

Adventurous, ebullient, clever and resourceful (he pieced together this get-up entirely on his own, gear courtesy of my uncle's garage). Completely, completely hilarious.

He is one-of-a-kind and we're so glad he's ours.

Upon arrival in California, Lauren expands her interests (much to our chagrin)

2009-11-09T13:03:00.001-05:00

At the immediate conclusion of our cross-country roadtrip to Cali, we headed straight for the beach.

As we pulled into the parking lot at Dana Point, Jack could hardly contain his enthusiasm. "Look!" he exclaimed, "the ocean!" The sun was just beginning to set, and the sight of its deep orange rays stretching and glinting across the Pacific blue was simply breathtaking.

Lauren, equally excited, issued a follow-up observation that caught us all off-guard: "Look, Mommy! Cute boys!"

She pointed over to three young surfer boys--tanned, blond, sand-speckled and yes, "cute"--standing just a few feet ahead. SoCal, as we've observed, is full of them.

Lauren is barely two...not even two and a half yet!

I think we're in trouble.

We moved to California

2009-11-02T01:41:00.003-05:00

It's a long story.

We landed in a little place called Mission Viejo.

We love it here.

(East Coast, you will always be our first love. We will be back to see you as much as possible.)

Caroline Was Tinkerbell

2009-11-02T01:17:00.005-05:00

Our little light.

Lauren Was Snow White

2009-11-02T01:04:00.000-05:00

Jack was a Race Car Driver

2009-11-02T00:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-02T00:52:00.000-05:00

The Sweetest Thing

2009-08-17T01:01:00.004-04:00

Caroline, pictured here at six weeks old.

Jack's T-Ball Stardom, Part 2

2009-08-13T22:39:00.003-04:00

Man, was it hot out there. Little J is such a trooper.

Jack Taylor, T-Ball Superstar

2009-08-12T14:04:00.006-04:00

This summer marks Jack's first foray into organized sports via Bam-Bam T-Ball at the YMCA. We wish we could offer a detailed account of his many home-run hits and all-star plays, but the heat made us delirious and unable to remember much beyond how cute he looked in his little blue cap.

More Caroline (Part 5)

2009-08-12T10:45:00.002-04:00

True story: Caroline has been smiling since the day she was born. Strangers everywhere light up at her little grin.

Stranger: "Wow, she really likes me!"

Jon: "She smiles at everyone."

Stranger: (Crestfallen) "Oh."

More Caroline (Part 4)

2009-08-12T10:42:00.003-04:00

More Caroline (Part 3)

2009-08-12T10:40:00.002-04:00

I love this one.

More Caroline (Part 2)

2009-08-12T10:35:00.001-04:00

More Caroline

2009-08-12T10:20:00.005-04:00

Caroline is enjoying only-child status for the week while Jack and Lauren enjoy the many wonders of Orlando, Florida with their grandparents. We're helping our "Little C" celebrate with a series of blogposts dedicated to her and only her. Here's a peek at her first few days on earth--more to follow.

Happy Birthday, Lauren!

2009-07-30T23:13:00.004-04:00

How did two years fly by so quickly? Lauren, my baby (and always my baby), we love you so much.

An overdue update

2009-07-09T20:53:00.004-04:00

Our apologies for the long hiatus from the blogosphere. There's been lots of adventure in our lives since our move from Boston to beautiful Chesterfield, Virginia. We'll update soon with fun photos and the latest news, including the birth of our darling new baby, Caroline Grace Taylor, on April 3.

Franklin Park Zoo

2008-06-20T19:36:00.002-04:00

After a long winter of Wild Animal coloring books, puzzles, flash cards, and videos, it was time to go out and see some real, live wild animals with our own eyes. So it was off to Franklin Park Zoo, where we spotted this hulking, sleepy lion in the center of it all. Jack, always vigilant, took care to protect the young ladies in the group from any sudden moves the fierce creature might make.

Annie, next time you head out on safari, you'll want to bring him with you!

True Fans

2008-06-20T18:57:00.003-04:00

I'd almost forgotten to post photos from our Memorial Day weekend trip to the 2008 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Finals at Foxboro Stadium. Out of the 56,000 people in attendance, it's safe to say we were the only ones there with a two-year-old and an infant in tow. Fortunately, the kids were good enough to sit quietly (if bewildered) through a thrilling double-overtime-sudden-death finish to the UVA/Syracuse game. We rewarded them with a trip to the Warrior Lacrosse moonbounce on the way back to the parking lot. It was a great day.

Taking a Bite Out of the Big Apple

2008-06-12T22:50:00.009-04:00

A good restaurant in the Boston 'burbs is hard to find. So, back in April, we took our search to NYC, on a walk with the kids from Times Square to Lincoln Center, back to Times Square, twelve blocks east and back again.

Jami wanted to eat here:

Jon wanted to eat here:

Jack caught sight of a pizza drawing on display outside a non-descript eatery, and with a single directive -- "Pizza!" -- and the emphatic point of his index finger, our decision was made.

We laughed at this shop sign on the way back -- it seemed to say it all:

And with this, we simply couldn't agree more:

Beach Babe

2008-06-12T22:29:00.003-04:00

Lauren welcomed last weekend's red-hot temperatures with her red-hot, polka-dot swimsuit and a trip to Plum Island Beach. Welcome, summer! We've anxiously awaited your arrival!

Ah, Childhood

2008-06-12T22:10:00.007-04:00

This is how it should be.

A Whale Tale

2008-05-26T22:11:00.009-04:00

A few weeks ago, on a lazy Saturday afternoon, the four of us hopped in the car not knowing where the day would take us. Three and a half hours later, we were standing on a whale watching ship off the coast of Cape Cod, heading off into the deep blue ocean. What we saw out there was incredible -- miraculous, even. Afterwards, the captain himself declared this trip "insane" and "spectacular," and suggested that what we'd experienced that evening was something none of us could hope to replicate again in our lifetimes.

The humpback whales seemed to have a love affair with our boat: They swam up to us without hesitation, stretching their tails upward in graceful salute, tilting sideward to wave a warm "hello," and spraying us playfully with saltwater until we were soaked. Almost wherever we looked, whole packs of dolphins were leaping and spinning out of the water, gliding up and down from within arm's length all the way out to the horizon. Even the North American white whales were gracious enough to come into view that day -- 10 of them, to be exact -- amazing considering that there are fewer than 350 of them anywhere in the world. The kids were completely enthralled, as were we.

If only I could have fit an HD-quality video camera in my diaper bag that day! A few still images taken with Jon's Blackberry were all we could muster. Here they are.

Exploring the Suburban Jungle

2008-04-19T00:26:00.005-04:00

Jack's most recent fascination: Jungles. He's been looking to locate one in the Boston area for a while now, and this week, he deemed the landscaped shrubs outside our local fitness center good enough. Here's a picture of our rugged explorer stepping into the "wild," clearly happy with his find.

The Advantage of Hitting the Playground When All the Other Kids Are at Home Eating Dinner

2008-04-18T23:10:00.016-04:00

Yesterday, with no other kids there to contest him, Jack declared himself ruler over the Tavernside Park sandbox.

Meanwhile, Lauren assumed her own throne at the other side of the playground, beaming as if she'd just been crowned a true princess.

My Children, Brave Souls

2008-04-09T08:46:00.008-04:00

Last Wednesday, when despite heavy cloud-cover and high winds, the forecast hinted at the chance of hitting the 50 degree mark, I jumped at the opportunity to whisk the kids into the stroller for a jaunt around the neighborhood. Jack must have known better, because he was slow to acquiesce to my wishes even after accepting my offer of a stash of jellybeans to accompany the ride. Lauren, too, seemed to sense this was a benighted idea: her expression turned stoic the moment I settled her into the top seat. Even so, the two of them nobly withstood the blustery conditions for a good 45 minutes without obvious complaint. My darlings, one day I will make this up to you, I promise!

Belated Easter Wishes

2008-03-29T00:48:00.003-04:00

Easter weekend, Lauren kept her eyes peeled for the Easter Bunny...

... then obliged us by donning her own bunny (snow)suit, tail and all.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Love You, Too

2008-03-23T19:28:00.003-04:00

Here's Jack sporting some new pre-Mother's day pj's, winning my heart all over again while he's at it.

Angel Face

2008-03-22T19:10:00.003-04:00

Lauren, our little love, may you always stay this sweet!

Step Into Liquid

2008-03-22T17:59:00.004-04:00

Born a stone's throw from the ocean, Jack's love for water knows no bounds. Admittedly, we've allowed the tub faucet to run unabated more than a few times in deference to his calls for "Mo' watta!" These days, as his little mind adds to his burgeoning vocabulary, every water-related word brings pure delight: "Fish!" "Swimming!" "Ocean!" Here's a favorite photo of our budding Jacques Cousteau/Matt Biondi/Laird Hamilton. (Gotta love that t-shirt.)

Our Dual-Purpose Balcony

2008-03-22T17:14:00.007-04:00

Jon has alerted me to an unforeseen benefit of the long winter season here in Boston: "When you run out of room in the fridge," he explained, "you can just put what doesn't fit outside, and it stays nice and cold."

Hello Sunshine

2008-03-22T16:50:00.008-04:00

The sun is teasing us right now, sending thick beams of bright light streaming through the windows of Lauren's room. But a crack of the front door and a check at weather.com confirms the real story: Winter is holding its grip, with temperatures hovering steadily at 29 degrees. Here's Little L smiling anyway.

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

The last eight weeks of 2007 went by in a flash, and we're well overdue for a blog update. A recap of of late-fall and early-winter Taylor family adventures is on its way soon. Happy New Year!

Lauren's First Flight

2007-10-31T01:49:00.000-04:00

Hooray for little Lauren! She survived her first foray into air travel with flying colors. After six hours on the plane, we expected fussiness and tears, but this angel baby was all smiles. Here's the picture to prove it. She's simply amazing.

Daddy's girl

2007-10-14T22:00:00.000-04:00

This morning, before church, I asked Jon to dress little L while I got ready. He put her in this gorgeous embroidered cable knit ensemble that instantly made her the envy of all baby girls everywhere. I was lucky enough to capture the father-daughter moment on film just before my camera battery gave out. Priceless.

Nurturing Jack's Creative Side

2007-10-14T21:30:00.000-04:00

Jack loves to paint, color, and draw, but I've been reluctant to give him the tools necessary to craft his masterpieces out of fear that doing so might mean the irreparable destruction of clothes, carpet, walls, and the like. Last week, however, I came across a set of markers billed as "The World's Most Washable Washable Markers." Although skeptical at first, I decided to give it a go. Here's a photo of Jack putting the world's most washable washable markers to the test. After covering his entire body in purple, blue, and orange, we dunked him in the tub sans washcloth to see what would happen. To my total delight, the body art disappeared completely within a matter of seconds with no scrubbing and no visible traces of color. So it looks like Jack has the greenlight to tap into his inner Vermeer (or should I say Pollack?) after all. Somewhere, Mimi -- Jack's great-grandmother and an exceptional artist in her own right -- is smiling.

Dazzlin'

2007-10-14T20:45:00.000-04:00

The first time I set eyes on a dazzleband(tm), I knew I wanted a baby girl next. So when a surprise package of these to-die-for hair accessories arrived this weekend from the dazzlebands creator herself, it was all smiles for Lauren and me both. Here's little L. modeling the goods. Thank you so much, Tarah! We love them!

At the Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-14T19:26:00.000-04:00

We spotted this cute little pumpkin patch off the side of the road yesterday and pulled over to explore. It was especially brisk out and getting colder by the minute, but we managed to snap a few pics before the kids started shivering. Here's a look:

Steeler Mania

2007-10-14T18:52:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that my dad is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan. It turns out that little J shares the same passion for the team (is there a gene for that?): he insisted on wearing this jersey for three straight days and nights after it arrived in the mail. I thought he'd never let us wash it! Go Steelers!

We're Back!

2007-10-14T16:13:00.000-04:00

Hello again to all of our family and friends! We were on a forced internet fast for more than a month thanks to a major delay in moving to our new place, hence the long hiatus from the blogosphere. It's a long story, but in short, the apartment's previous tenant and rumored pro-athlete hadn't exactly left everything spic and span on move-out day. In fact, the leasing office personnel characterized the apt's condition as "The worst we've ever seen." So we camped out in the city for a few more weeks, everything boxed up, while walls were patched and painted, carpet replaced, etc. It was worth the wait. We're here now and thrilled to finally be roaming the pretty and preppy Metro-West 'burbs. And with so many lovely little spots for picture-taking nearby, we promise to be posting photos galore. Here's a quick one of little L to start.

On the move

2007-09-16T21:06:00.001-04:00

We are in the process of moving this week so check back later for updates.

Lovely Lauren

2007-08-13T19:53:00.000-04:00

Here are a few more photos of our new little dream baby. She is wonderful beyond words.

Mom Recovers, Lauren Sleeps, & Jack Parties at Poppy's Place

2007-08-10T12:34:00.000-04:00

I'm just getting back on my feet after an unexpected and most unwelcome post-delivery infection put me back in the hospital through Tuesday. Thankfully, Lauren was an angel throughout the ordeal, comfortable and content in the familiar surroundings of Brigham and Women's. Hospital policy banned little Jack from even one visit, so my dad whisked him away for a week and a half of non-stop fun at Poppy's Place in Virginia. I miss him so much I can hardly bear it, especially since today is his second birthday (he has lots of presents waiting for him here in Boston). By all accounts, though, and as this photo suggests, he's having the time of his life. Happy Birthday, Jack! We love you to pieces!

Introducing Lauren Alexis Taylor

2007-08-03T17:52:00.000-04:00

We're thrilled to announce the arrival Lauren Alexis Taylor, born at Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston on July 29th at 2:55pm, weighing in at a healthy 7 pounds 15 ounces. She is so beautiful and angelic that we can hardly bear to set her down (even now, I'm typing this one-handed). We can't wait to introduce her in person to all of our family and friends.

Countdown to Baby #2

2007-07-12T11:17:00.000-04:00

As of today, we have only three weeks to go before our new baby girl is scheduled to make her debut. We can't wait to meet her!

Ladies' Man

2007-07-08T14:20:00.000-04:00

A month shy of just two years old, Jack already has a way with women. In recent weeks, he's refined the art of winking, smiling, and looking sufficiently adorable as to impel whole packs of little girls to chase him from place to place with glee. Here's a photo of the phenomenon in action, this time outside Prudential Center in downtown Boston. As you can see, he doesn't seem to mind the attention!

Summer Fun

2007-06-25T21:39:00.000-04:00

It's been too long since our last post! Here's a quick recap of what we've been up to since we last checked in at the Tattle Taylor:

June 24, Boston, MA -- When out of Jon's arms, Jack almost stole the show from Mitt Romney -- and almost knocked down a speaker or two -- at a campaign rally back at Fenway.

June 23, Cambridge, MA -- Truly the son of a one-time "lacrosse legend," Jack watched the Boston Cannons Major League LAX game at Harvard Stadium with keen interest. Look for him on the field in a few years....

June 20, Ipswich, MA -- Jack and his friend Riley were ready to set sail (and away from the rainstorms!) at beautiful Crane Beach on the north shore.

June 16, Boston, MA -- Go Sox! Jack cheered on his new home team from prime seats at historic Fenway Park.

June 9, Kennebunkport, ME -- The cold wind and clouds couldn't keep Jack from enjoying every minute of our impromptu visit to Goose Rocks Beach near Kennebunkport, Maine.

June 7, Plum Island, MA -- Walking stick in hand, Jack explored the sandy trails of Plum Island, a pristine beach and national wildlife refuge near the New Hampshire border.

June 6, Boston, MA -- Jack sampled four tasty scoops of ice cream for a good cause at the nation's largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival and fundraiser for pediatric cancer research.

May 31, Bluffton, SC -- Jack and cousin Sarah had so much fun at Aunt Katy's graduation, they didn't want to leave. Congratulations again, Katy! We're so proud of you!

A Big Boston Hello

2007-06-25T19:13:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to say "hello" to family and friends who have checked in of late, only to find no updates on little J's latest adventures. We're working on a mega-post now to make it up to you!

Surf's Up!

2007-05-31T13:48:00.000-04:00

Our Memorial Day post must have generated some real sympathy among our family and friends, because by the following day, we had not one but two invitations to real-deal sand-and-ocean beaches.

Wednesday morning, our friend Whitney and her adorable daughter Riley showed us the way to Good Harbor Beach near Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was gorgeous -- so much so that we could hardly believe we were just 40 miles from the city. Jack made the most of every minute, racing through the waves, rolling in the sand, and jumping into every pick-up game of frisbee, wiffle ball, and catch happening among the other beachgoers. At one point, I asked him, "Jack, is this the best day of your life?" He threw up his arms in an emphatic "Yes!"

And it got even better. Almost as soon as we cruised back into Boston, Jack and I, still sandy and now slightly sunburnt from the morning's outing, whisked away for an impromptu getaway to the South Carolina coast. This trip came courtesy of none other than Poppy,* who surprised us with the invitation just the evening prior. By sheer luck, the airline seated us next to him on our connecting flight from Charlotte to Savannah. By the time we arrived, Jack was sleeping soundly, but when he woke up the next morning to that familiar lowcountry sunshine, his little face was immediately beaming with delight.

Here's a sampling of photos from Good Harbor. Many thanks to Whitney, our fabulous photographer for the day. Stay tuned for pictures from our south shore (way south!) getaway in an upcoming post.

*My dad's post-grandchildren moniker

Memorial Day 2007

2007-05-28T22:09:00.000-04:00

For the last three years, we've spent our Memorial Days (and close to every day in between) on the beach in Hilton Head, South Carolina. This year, we attempted to simulate the experience Boston-style, with a walk to Boston Harbor and the nearby sandpit at the North End playground. Here are photos of our beach-baby-turned-city-slicker enjoying the holiday. He had a blast.

A Zen Moment Turns Ugly

2007-05-24T14:59:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, with the sun gleaming and the sky cloudless for the first time in weeks, Jack and I decided to celebrate with a stroll to the New England Aquarium, where the good weather meant that there would be harbor seals swimming in the front display pool. There is something about watching these glossy-nosed creatures glide through the water that translates to perfect peace; Jack, his own little nose tucked up against the glass, was basking in it.

This was, of course, until a six- or seven-year-old girl bearing a striking resemblance to a bulldozer ran up and bodyslammed Jack to the concrete to catch a better view. The tears that came streaming down his cheeks could have filled up the seals' pool twice over! In a show of classic Northeastern courtesy, she exhibited no signs of remorse, and her mother, just behind her, barely muttered a "sorry."

My maternal instincts kicked into high gear, and it was all I could do not to toss these two into the shark tank. Mustering every ounce of willpower to quell the adrenaline, I whisked Jack away, sobbing and bruised, managing to eek out an "It's ok" to the perpetrators while I tucked him into his stroller for a quick escape.

Afterwards, Jon advocated a more direct-action response to the assault. "You can't let that stuff go," he said. "You should have just smacked her."

Next time, we're bringing him with us.

Mittens in May

2007-05-20T15:37:00.000-04:00

This week, just when we thought spring was finally upon us, the sun left town and the temperatures dropped like a rock. Even in the face of heavy winds and rain, Jack was undaunted. He managed hours of play at the Coolidge Corner park in nearby Brookline, braving slippery equipment and knee-deep puddles, happy as a pig in mud. And when, by the end of the week, our umbrella finally succumbed to the elements and left us soaked over several city blocks and with no stroller canopy to cover him, Jack yelled out an observant "Brrr!" and kept smiling the whole way home. We'll all be smiling when the weather warms up! Wish us luck as we bear up against the last vestiges of the long New England winter. Brrr!