First off, my apologies to all my readers for the lack of blog posts recently but It’s been really busy since we came home from vacation and then we were experiencing technical problems with Hermanweb but all is fixed now and we are back up and running.

The Herman clan is gearing up for the fall and in doing so we’ve had a lot happening. First off, Mom & Dad took me to their respective offices to show me off to their friends and colleagues.  Mom’s old office was thrilled to see me again since the last time I was there I was still a bit of a mush.  Now at a whopping 9+ months old I was able to ‘wow’ the crowd with my ability to sit, clap and “high-five”.  I chatted it up with everyone and had a blast.  Next we headed down to Dad’s office where I was equally as charming.  I met everyone that Daddy works with and really enjoyed myself.  After my city trip, it was back to the suburbs with play dates, pool time and fun with friends.  Mom has kept me busy so as not to be disappointed about no longer being on vacation.  She’s done an excellent job as I’m exhausted every night.

I’m starting to crawl backwards, move around in a circle and sometimes even try to pull myself up so Mom thought this would be the perfect time to get us enrolled in a gym class.  Starting this week, I will be tumbling, jumping and swinging with other babies just my age at Great Play in Scarsdale.  This should be a whole lot of fun.  The weather is going to be cooling down a bit so I will be back on the playground again once the pool closes.  I had the most amazing summer splashing around in the water and learning to swim but unfortunately the season is coming to end (much to Mom’s disappointment).
With one more week of ’summer’ to go, although not officially, I am going to make the most of it.  I have plans all week long and am very excited.  The upcoming long weekend will be filled with fun with friends and family at a barbecue and a bat-mitzvah.  It’s going to be great and I’m excited!

The first official Herman Family vacation came to end yesterday but it was a fabulous 10 days.  Our last couple of days in the Hamptons were terrific.  Despite some morning showers on Thursday we managed to venture out to Sag Harbor to walk along the pier, browse in the tiny shops and enjoy a late lunch at Blue Sky Cafe.  Friday the sun came out again and we spent the day swimming and relaxing.  Before we knew it, Saturday morning rolled around so we took one final dip in the pool and packed the car.   For our farewell lunch we dined at the Lobster Inn in Southampton and only wished we had eaten there sooner.  The waterfront dining on the inlet and the open air atmosphere were great.  We had a delicious lunch of fish and lobster.  The dinner menu look fantastic and extremely reasonable, especially the weekday specials.  We will definitely be back next time we head out east.

In typical Herman fashion, Darren and I hosted a bbq the night we got home.  We kicked off pre-wedding festivities for Darren’s good friend, Michael Woodrow by hosting our friends and having a great evening.  Sunday we witnessed Mike and Stacey tie the knot at Beckwith Pointe in New Rochelle.  What a beautiful evening for a wedding.  The ceremony was outside overlooking the water and the setting was just perfect.  The party was a blast and we all danced the night away.  A great time was had by all!

And now, today, Darren is back at work and David and I are back to our routine.  I feel the summer coming to an end and am getting sad.  I love the warm days, the sunshine and the carefree nature of long summer days.  Before we know it, the leaves will be changing and then it will David’s first birthday.  Time is flying….

It’s hard to believe our Hamptons vacation is half over.  The last few days have flown by.  Mom and Dad have kept me very busy and I’ve been having a ball!  We have done a variety of things so I am getting an exposure to everything the Hamptons has to offer.  Sunday we went to the Atlantis Aquarium since the weather was less than stellar but by Monday morning the sun was shining and the heat was on the rise.  We started the day off with a walk to the dock and then swimming in our pool.  Dad wanted to bbq a feast for us so we picked up some great food at the gourmet meat shoppe around the corner, fresh corn and veggies at the farmer’s market a mile down the road and an array of shellfish from the local fish market.  Mom said it was a culinary delight.  I just liked looking at all the big shells from the clams!

Tuesday after a morning dip in the pool we drove to East Hampton for a walk around town.  We strolled Main Street browsing the high-end shop windows while cooling off with some delicious homemade ice cream from Scoop du Jour.  Mom and Dad took me to see the big houses near the water and then they introduced me to Two Mile Beach.  Wow….that was spectacular!  I was captivated by the ocean and the breeze.  Mommy put me down so I could feel the water and the sand between my toes.  I liked the water but not the sand so Mom and Dad lucked out that they didn’t have to deal with me attempting to eat it.  Not this time anyway.  After a taste of the beach, we ventured to Sagaponack for dinner at Townline BBQ.   BBQ is not quite my taste yet but Mom and Dad loved it.  They chowed down on bbq brisket, pulled pork and ribs while I happily played with my straw and munched on a few veggie sticks.  The restaurant was the perfect choice because of the ultra casual setting.  There were tons of other kids and the noise level allowed me to talk all I wanted although I was pretty busy with my straw!

Today the weather was cloudy and cool so we decided to make it vineyard day.  After lining their stomachs at the Hampton Bays Diner, Mom & Dad took me to the north fork to explore the wineries.  We had many great destinations to choose from thanks to all the recommendations that poured in from friends and family but in the end we stopped at Duckwalk North and Osprey’s Dominion Winery.  I sat comfortably in my stroller while Mom & Dad sampled an array of chardonnays, reislings and cabernets.  After each tasting we sat outside on the deck enjoying some tranquility.  I was mesmerized by all there was to look at so I was a good little boy.  Came evening we headed further into Westhampton for a great italian dinner at Baby Moon Cafe and then a drive along Dune Road.  The rain started up just as we arrived home, luckily.  What a great day!  I can’t wait to see what they have in store for me tomorrow….

Today was our first full day here in the Hamptons and despite the dreary weather, Mom and Dad managed to make a fun filled day for us.  My morning started with a father/son walk around town and down to the docks so Daddy could give me my first view of Hampton Bays.  I was all eyes checking out everything.  I was so excited I practically jumped out of my stroller.  Next we picked up Mommy and off we drove to Riverhead.  After fueling up at the Riverhead Grill on french toast, pancakes and eggs (well, Mom & Dad did that) we walked to the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium where I was introduced to the world of fish.  We arrived just a few minutes too late so we missed the sea lion show but we walked around the entire aquarium learning all about the different fish.  I saw interesting looking ones like the Lake Malawi Chichlids, cuttlefish, puffer fish and a bunch of other sea animals surch as urchins, crabs and frogs.  I was enthralled by everything.  My eyes darted all around the tanks as I took it all in.  I even liked looking at the sharks.  There were so many different kinds, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  Aside from the indoor exhibits, we visited the outdoor exhibits including the penguins, sting rays, and seals. We skipped the reptile section because mommy hates (aka… is afraid of) them.  Overall, we spent over an hour at the Aquarium and enjoyed every minute of it.  I know I won’t remember any of this when I grow up but Mom & Dad will tell me all about it.  All I can say, is that If you are out in the Hamptons and it’s a cloudy day, I think you should check it out.  It’s a short drive and as a bonus the Tanger Outlets are close by.

Hello from the eastern end of Long Island.  This morning Darren and I packed up the Jeep and off we went on our first family vacation with David.  We are so excited to take a week to do what Darren and I never do – relax!  We decided six weeks ago that it was time to disconnect and recharge our batteries.  So off I went to find us a place to do just that.  After days of research we picked a house in the Westhampton area that is near the beach and has a pool.  It should give us just what we are looking for – serenity.

Today was our first day but since we had a late arrival we didn’t have much opportunity to take advantage of the amazing weather.  We arrived late afternoon and took a stroll around Southhampton til it was check-in time for our house.  We browsed in the windows of the high-end shops, checked out the fancy cars lining the streets and stopped for a sweet treat. Our plan for the next seven days is to swim, eat good food, read and most importantly, have uber quality time as a family.  The weather forecast seems promising so hopefully we will all come back with a ’sunkissed’ look.

Today Mommy took me to the doctor for my 9 month check up.  When we walked in I thought the place looked familiar and I sat on the floor playing with toys while we waited for my name to be called.  Once in the room, I was really excited because it was time to find out how much weight I gained and how much I grew.  First up was my height and I grew two and a half inches since my last visit.  At 28 1/2 inches long I am still in the 50th percentile but growing nicely.  Next up was a trip to the scale.  I liked this part because I had things to touch but the nurse didn’t let me.  She gave me a paper measuring tape to play with and I was in heavan.  According to the scale, I gained only two pounds since my last visit so at 18 pounds even that put me in the 10-25th percentile.  So much for all my good eating habits.  Next the doctor walked in and it was all down hill from there.  I remembered my last visit and the shots that followed so immediately out came my lip and then the tears.  I didn’t like last visit and I didn’t want another repeat of those needles.  The doctor examined me from head to toe and I cried and pouted the entire time.  Mommy took it in stride and managed to ask all her questions and listen to the doctor as he answered them.   The doctor says my upper body is very strong but my lower body is lagging behind just a bit in strength development.  What does that mean, really?  Not much…other than I won’t be crawling just yet and probably will be on the later side when it comes to walking.  That’s okay… Mommy walked at 15 months and although I have Daddy’s looks I seem to be taking after my mom as she long and lean and a late walker too.  I still don’t have any teeth and all I do is play with table food, crackers or other treats that are put in front of me.  Don’t fret, I’ll get around to liking real food eventually.  The doctor did give me free reign to eat pretty much whatever I want including ice cream and cookies which my grandparents are thrilled about.  I don’t think I’m quite there yet but eventually I will enjoy those indulgences along with all the healthy food mommy will be serving me.  My next visit is after my first birthday and my intuition tells me it will be a doozy!

Driving across country is one of our goals for a summer vacation in a few years.  Darren and I are no strangers to road trips especially since we drove over 1,500 miles on our honeymoon.  We love to explore national parks and all the hidden treasures tucked away on the journey from city to city; especially good places for homemade pie!  Right now the Pine Country Restaurant in Williams, AZ tops our list.  Given our ambitions, it is no surprise that when the Today Show “took a vacation” this week sharing many great destinations across the U.S., the segment on Road Trip Tips really interested me.  Anne Curry interviewed an editor from Travel & Leisure who provided great destinations and some very good tips for trekking around the country.  Click on this link to see some great ideas for summer travel.

Our master plan is to rent an RV someday and hit the open road.  We want to see the country and sample some great cuisine along the way.  We will check out delicious down home cooking and bbq while we take in the mountains and the prairies.  We look forward to sharing great memories with David and showing him the world first hand.  Now he just needs to get a little older before we put our master plan into action.

After the mega-drama that ensued between Jason, Melissa, and Molly on The Bachelor, I swore that I would not be suckered into another season of manipulation by ABC.  And I almost made it.  That is until a few weeks ago when Darren was traveling and the baby was asleep.  Against my better judgement I tuned in and it was all downhill from there.  I liked Jillian from last season so I was curious to see the guys she had narrowed the group down to and who might potentially capture her heart.  Having not watched much of the drama amongst the men unfold I didn’t find myself particularly ‘rooting’ for one guy over the other.  By the time the finale came around I didn’t really think any of the guys were going to be picked.  I thought bringing back Reid was a ploy for ratings and I just didn’t find him all that believable on the After The Final Rose Ceremony.  I think he was over her and everything that went down during the finale but the producers wanted him to play it up for the sake of ratings.  In my opinion, his body language didn’t show a guy who was still madly in love and saddended by the loss of his true love.  I’m definitely going against the grain with that thought though.  I didn’t exactly think Ed was a fabulous choice either but then again having only watched a few episodes I didn’t have a complete picture of who he is.   Jillian & Ed did seem genuinely happy so hopefully they will follow in the footsteps of Trista & Ryan and actually make it down the aisle.  We shall see….

Nominations are now being taken for the next Bachelor.  I am thinking about submitting my brother in-laws name.  He’d make a phenomenal bachelor!!!!!

Grandpa George will be turning 85 on Tuesday so Saturday the Hermans and the Sterns celebrated this fabulous milestone with a family gathering.  The soiree was held at the lake house and what a perfect backdrop for celebrating.  Judy and Bob as always were amazing hosts putting out a huge spread for lunch and dinner for all to enjoy.  The weather was perfect and the water was delightful.  Bob took many of the ‘city’ folk that joined us out for a ride on the lake showing them the sites while the rest of us kicked back on lounge chairs and the hammock soaking up the sun and enjoying some family time.  Grandpa was only expecting the immediate family so needless to say he was surprised to see some of the extended family who came as well.  The kids had a great time running around, playing in the water and taking rides on the tube.  David was too young to partake in those activities but he got lots of love and attention from everyone while he played on the grass and took a quick dip in the water.  A good time was definitely had by all!