peek into the future

erin's become a master tricyclist, and her favorite thing to do is speed around the deck while scott or i "race" her. she was finished eating dinner yesterday, and wanted us to race her. Jack was also out on the deck, first time that he was outside in his walker. We told Erin to race Jack, which she thought was big fun. That is, until Jack took off like lightning after her, and actually gave her a pretty good run for her money!

Then, so as to not be outshone, erin refused to race again, but instead stood on the back of the walker like a skateboard. Which totally backfired, as Jack took off walking, carrying her with him!

today

from erin - "daddy, you're a really good poopie wiper".
from daddy - "it's what I've always aspired to be"

jack

little bugger now likes carrots, pears, applesauce, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. He hates bananas and apricots, but I'll have to try them again to know for sure! He is also still doing a weird worm-crawl, but VERY effectively - and is a MASTER at sitting himself up from a prone position. He's even sitting in the middle of the floor, on his hands and feet, as if he's trying to stand up by himself! and, he crawls over toward things and you see him reaching up, SO high, trying to pull himself up....better get out the next round of toys soon!

all growed up

also, the night of my birthday, Erin was sitting on my lap, and she was asking about the manicure and massage that Scott got for my birthday. I was trying to explain it, and it must have sounded good, because she said "When I grow up, I want to do that too". Then she held her fingers ~4" apart and said that when she was that much bigger, she was going to do that. I hugged her and said that she would grow up soon enough, that "i love you just the way you are". She said "well, I don't. I want to be Big, right now, just like you." big hugs, all around.

ms. manners

the night of my birthday, we went to the DERC pool, but it was raining, so we had a picnic. Erin turns to me and says "so, how was YOUR day today mama?". Then, with me still cracking up, she turns to scott and says "how was YOUR day today, mister"? little grown up!

kermit

This week I started letting jack sleep with a little, super silky soft frog. it's the sweetest thing how he curls up on his left side, and snuggles with it, all the while petting it so softly with his fingers!

fashion preferences

Last week when Brooke, Ben, & Ann were here, Ann was on a kick to learn to sew. We found these panels you could buy, pre-gathered at the top, so all you had to do was sew a seam up the back, and 2 ribbons on as straps, and voila! A dress! Erin was very excited about the idea that you could make your own dress, so last night she helped me put it together. Then she tried it on, but the straps were too long. So when she went to sleep, I shortened the straps for her. This morning she, very excitedly, tried it on. But then she kept looking down and fiddling with the top. Finally she looked at me, and said ?mama, I want more of my boobies to show?. We?re SOOOO in trouble with her!

lots of memorable moments!

first, jack is now officially allowed to start eating fruits & veggies, so i tried some apricots. poor bugger does NOT like apricots! or rather, theyu don't like him! was up frequently last night, howling, apparently because of gas, based on the volume of stinkers he let loose in the morning!

on another jack-note, it's been almost a week since he woke up before my alarm, needing fed! will keep my fingers crossed - go big boy!

and erin had a hysterical moment tonight - for starters, momentous event, she finished ALL of her dinner! actually, she finished before both scott AND i! so proud of herself, we let her be excused from the table, and she sat in a chair next to me. being finished eating, she apparently decided that the proper thing to do next was to make conversation. "so, mama, how was your day today?" is what she came out with! then she jabbered a few words that made no sense, then "whatever", "i don't care"! silly grown up little goose!

Happy 4th of July!

Thursday & Friday we went to Gallipolis, OH to visit Ann, Brooke, & Ben. Kristy & Chase came for Friday and the 3 original triad babies, and their new siblings, all played well together! They all had their moments, but it was fun! A few notable memories ? at one moment Brooke was running through the yard w/her butterfly net, Chase was running w/his baseball & bat, and Erin was rocking her snuggle-bug like a baby ? each being completely true to his/her own personality!

Saturday we hung out at home, until Kayti?s barbecue in the evening. Erin was a big HAM all night, making silly faces at folks, etc. At one point Jack was in his exersaucer, w/a circle of people around him. He?d been there long enough and decided he wanted out. He was looking at one guy, starting to wimper and ?ask? to be removed, but the guy was being ?funny? and saying things like ?no, I?m gonna leave you there, you can?t come out yet?, etc. Jack got more & more upset, until HUGE pouty-face kicked in, the biggest I?ve seen in a LONG time. Then he started to actually cry, and I came across the room to save him. Jack turned toward me in his exersaucer, raised his hands to me, and clear as a bell, cried ?MAMA?! The whole room went quiet and everyone was amazed that they?d gotten to share in his first words! I?m not at all confident that he actually knew what he was saying, but I?ll take it! My baby boy!!!!

For background ? Pouty-Face is what Jack does when he?s upset. If he doesn?t like something, you?ll get a little warning as he makes this BIG pout/frown, and starts to whimper. If you don?t address his concerns in a timely fashion, it?ll morph into full-on wail, but usually you can intervene in time. It?s so sweet!

Sunday we went to COSI for the first time, and Erin had a blast w/King Triton in the water-play exhibit, among other things. But Scott & I will most fondly remember afterward, when we had ice cream, and Erin said ?Ow, My Head is Cold?. I don?t think the baby books have a place for ?baby?s first brain freeze?!!!!

Monday I went shopping w/Jack for some new clothes (Kristy & Ann laughed at me for stuffing him into 3-6 mo sizes, even though he?s 20+ lbs), then we went to the pool for the afternoon. It was big fun, though chilly! Jack would immediately start to cry as soon as his feet got into the water, then stop crying immediately when you got him out! Erin picked right up from where she left off last year, well on her way to turning into a fish this year!

forward progress!

it ain't pretty, but jack crawls! he gets where he wants to go, in a forward direction! the other night he was on the bathroom floor, and rolled himself over, then scooted backward ~5 ft.....which was funny because the tile floor was cold and he was NOT happy! but now he's making forward progress, which is also funny because his little knees & elbows have rug burn!