Fort Washington and Fort Hunt

Well the due date is officially May 3rd, and today is May 3rd.  Nothing to report baby-wise yet.

Danielle is moving around surprisingly well considering that she is nine months pregnant.  We’ve had two pretty long excursions through the neighborhood, Thursday night for Del Ray’s first First Thursday of the summer, and again today for a parade celebrating 100 years of Del Ray.  Both times we ran into tons of people that we knew and really enjoyed strolling around the neighborhood.  If we do end up leaving this area we are going to miss all the neighbors we’ve gotten to know.  Joseph scored a firefighter’s hat and a balloon at First Thursday so he was happy with the outing.

Friday we had another play date with Malcolm.  We had great weather and we went to Fort Washington Park, a large fort that overlooks the Potomac from the Maryland side.  It was built around 1800 – prior to the War of 1812, and then expanded in the late 1800’s prior to the Spanish American War.  The fort itself was pretty impressive, with a great view of the river and of Mt. Vernon on the other side.  There are lots of structures and cannons that remain, as well as nice park grounds.  Joseph walked a ton - following me and Malcolm and Malcolm’s dog all over, scrambling around on the cannons, and collecting rocks in the road.

Due to a mix-up in our signals I originally went to Fort Hunt Park, another very nice park and former fort.  Fort Hunt is on the Virginia side directly across from Fort Washington, and close to Mt. Vernon.  In fact it was originally farm land attached to Mt. Vernon.  The structures look more secretive and bunker-like than those at Fort Washington, and it was used for intelligence operations during WWII.  This picture of Joseph is from Fort Hunt, and he is wearing the firefighter’s hat he got at First Thursday.

Later on Friday I went up to BWI to pick up my parents, and Danielle was the unlucky caretaker in charge when Joseph decided to remove his diaper and poop in his crib during nap time.  The ensuing shit storm claimed many casualties, though I was surprised when I got home that there was little evidence of the chaos that must have occured.  It sounds like Danielle was stern but more patient and tolerant than I would have been.

We’re now brainstorming even more about ways to keep his diaper on him.  Safety pins, duct tape, and onesies are all part of the strategic plan.

Danielle’s last day of work was Friday, and it is too bad that it started like that.  But it is great that she got through the Newseum launch and that things are flexible enough that she is able to start her leave now.  The next time she goes back it will be to show off the baby.