Jumpin' for joy

Thanks for the jumperoo, Aunt Sally!

You know what comes next...

Portraits of a melt-down

These set of pics really give you a glimpse into our "Cousin Week"...

JP: I love sucking my finger; it really soothes me.
Noah: I love sucking my two fingers while simultaneously cleaning my nose; it really soothes me.

JP: Mom, are you seeing this? Soothing may require my whole fist.
Noah: Isn't it nice to snuggle a cousin...

JP: Remove the arm, buddy.
Noah: You wanna be big spoon or little spoon, JP?

JP: I can't take anymore!! He's got a leg on me!
Noah: I'll be big spoon.

Grandma's kiddos

My mom, Sally and Noah all came for a visit a week ago, and we had a blast watching the kiddos play... breaking up fights... going to the park... redistributing cars... and spying on the boys via a video monitor. (Can you believe they successfully shared a room at night AND naptime?!?) Here's some last day pics... you can tell everyone's needing a good long nap.....

Awesome Aunt Sally

One of the quieter moments of the super-fun, super-crazy visit! You're the best, Aunt Sally! (Apparently finger-sucking runs in the family...)

Cousins at the Park

Monkeys on a bridge

Summer's Birthday Bash

Who would have thought in Incerlik, Turkey, that Summer and I would meet and become friends in San Antonio, Texas 30+ years later!?!? Happy Birthday, Summacita! CRAZY!

Elise is FOUR months old!

Stats:
Weight, 16lbs, 3oz (95%)
Length, 26.5 in (off the charts)
Head, 42.2 cm (75%)

Beauty and the Binky

I've got fingers!!! Elise recently discovered her hands. They're such fun and always showing up in the darndest places. She loves to hold them together, which Pat calls her "I'm such a little lady" pose. Check out that darling smile she's grown...

She also loves her green binky from the hospital. Is it time for a nap? Just turn her on her side, pop in the binky and give her a blankie to love, she's off to sleepy land. She and Poodle are getting rather chummy too...

"Yes he can! Yes he can!"

JP enjoys pools of all sizes... especially throwing himself headlong into them. This (almost) 2 minute video documents his latest passion. (And yes, he's singing "Yes he can!" as he climbs up the ladder :)

Happy Birthday, Gamerica!

We celebrated the Fourth this year with much fanfare... a borrowed baby pool (see above), lots of friends and some great trout on the grill. We even got to see a few neighborhood fireworks before the police came and saved our home from certain destruction. JP really enjoyed (in this order) 1) playing in the pool, 2) playing in the pool, and 3) playing in the pool. He also enjoyed saying "Happy Birthday, Gamerica!" and watching the sparklers our neighbors lit. Here are our little dears before the starty parted.

I did it!

John Patrick is occasionally agreeing to work on his potty skills and this is a photo of achievement from last week. I had to include it because the look on his face is sheer, unadulterated triumph. (Mirroring my own, I'm sure.) Note the eerie way Bob the Builder is IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSE. Coincidence???

Elise Cooing

Elise and Mommy chatting away before a diaper change. (And John Patrick in the background insisting it's "Buffalo's Turn!" Apparently buffaloes wear diapers too, and lay claim to the changing table.)