Friday, July 18, 2008

Up to date -- on photos at least

It has been a herculean task but I am finally up to date on the boys photos. The tales of their adventures will have to come later, I suppose.

Griffith has now taken to calling Allan "AlJude" which is pretty cute. He spends a lot of his time making sure that AlJude isn't getting in to trouble. The other night I was doing something in the kitchen and heard Griff saying, "No, no, AlJude!" over and over. Thought I ought to check (maternal instinct and all). I couldn't figure out what the problem was, though. So I asked him, "What's he doing, Griff?" to which he responded, "Eye!" and, sure enough, Allan was rubbing his eye which he isn't supposed to do because he keeps getting his contact out (we have lost 3 of the 4 that we got about 2 weeks ago.)

Yesterday, Allan wouldn't take a nap so Jesana put the boys in the car to take them to the pool. As you might expect, Allan fell asleep in the car and didn't wake up when she put him in the stroller. So she took the boys to the pool and put Allan under the cabana and under a canopy of beach towels and then tried to get Griff to get in the pool with her. Couldn't get him to do it. He kept going over to the stroller and peering under the towels and saying "Al!" and "AlJude!" and looking at Jesana. Whatever she was doing, it clearly was unsatisfactory. We do not leave Allan poolside and we do not go in without him. Finally, he told her, "Home!" So she gave up and went home.

We went to Gymboree Music class earlier this week and the boys did fine. Allan decided that he was supposed to be right in the center of everything and perched up on the drum. It took Griff a while to get his bearings but then he began pounding the drum like a pro. That, coupled with his hop-skip-jump-stomp style of dancing, has me thinking that he might be some reincarnated deranged Navajo or Hopi.

Allan's doing very well with his eating. He pretty much eats two meals a day orally without needing any supplementation -- still yogurt and applesauce kinds of stuff, but he's doing great and wants to operate the spoon himself and likes dipping it. Miss Edie assures us that this is a 15-18 month old skill which is great.

He is also making great progress with the standing and walking. You have to distract him or he drops to crawling but at music class he got so carried away with all the excitement that he took 2 or 3 steps without holding on to anything.

We don't have a lot planned for this weekend. Probably the farmer's market tomorrow morning if it isn't too blistering hot, then Miss Miranda and Evan are coming to sit for us on Saturday night while Jay and I go to a wedding. Sunday the Scots are coming late in the afternoon for dinner and playing in the backyard.

Next weekend is the big roadtrip to Chicago. Six hours in the car with two two year olds and Crazy Kim. I am not sure what I was thinking.

Have a good weekend!

Bubble boy


Bubbles !!!!!!


More cowbell!!!


Jingle bell Allan


Pounding away


Griff banging on the drum -- check out the look on Jesana's face. It was REALLY, REALLY loud.

Allan in the middle


Allan at Gymboree music class. He wasn't at all shy and climbed right up in the middle on the drum.

Ready for the big dip


Allan found a sucker in Aunt Lisa.

All the way over...


can you see the grin on his face? He's loving it.

In the catbird's seat


The pink princess beanbag was a huge hit. Well done, Uncle Mark.

So I turn around


to find that my youngest son is standing up on the seat of the tricycle and that his father, who is standing beside him, is too busy pontificating about something to notice. This is after I said, um, Jay? Is he supposed to be doing that?

Cooperative effort


Griff and Alex coloring the cooler with sidewalk chalk.

Bailey and Uncle Tim


The cousins


Jennifer and Bailey

Jennifer and Bailey


The thinker


I think this was right before she asked me if I thought it would be okay for her to start opening presents even though the party hadn't started yet.

The birthday girl


Miss B

Bailey, Meagan, and Ben


Very serious Griffith


Working it out


Little Cousin Ben


Doing it the easy way


Look of concentration


A little assist


Bibby giving Griff and Alex a hand.

Miss Bailey and Uncle Mark


Cousin Alex towering over us all


Cousin Alex


Party time.


Up, up, way up.....


Giving a big toss.....


Ready, set, go!


Keeping his eye on the frisbee


Face-off


I am outta here!


Griffith is probably the first person who actually wore Beau out with playing catch. Beau took the frisbee, put it on the wall and headed in the opposite direction.

Linda and Big Al


She tried really hard to spoil him -- he's got her wrapped around his little finger.

Good clean fun


Boxes are a source of endless enjoyment.

Arrrgh!!!!


Allan was feeling kinda sassy and kept yelling at me. And then laughing about it.

Big grins.


I can do it myself!


Well-pleased with himself


He has the sneakiest little grin.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Tidbits

So for the long lapse between updates. All I can say is that we have been very, very busy. I've added a number of new photos and will be adding more through the end of the week and (I hope) get everything caught up before we head out next weekend for our Big Adventure in Chicago.

Ready, set, go......


the anticipation is killing him.

Ready, set, go......


the anticipation is killing him.

Big splash!


I'm not sure that's exactly what Griffith was expecting.

Not entirely sure about this


Griffith wasn't entirely sure that this sliding down the whale's tongue was such a good idea.

Goose-steppin'



Griffith marching around the kiddy pool. Would make Onkle Markus proud.

Big Al - ready for a dip.


Let me help you with that....


Griff holding up his end.

How's it look from there, Griff?


Can't imagine why the shelf isn't level.

Sitting pretty


Springing in to action



Griffith rushing over to keep Allan from falling backward off of the step. Which Allan wasn't in danger of doing until Griffith came to his rescue.

Ready to roll



The boys in their madras shorts, ready to roll. Griffith insisted on taking the phone with him. He kept sticking it to his ear and yelling, "hello!" I have no idea why Allan was having such a meltdown. This is the face of misery though.