Abby & The Beach

Abby hasn't always loved the beach. We've been doing a beach day or two per year since she was born.

The first time she was about as interested as Jack was this year. Less so. She slept about as much as Jack did this year. (flowered cream wrap dress).
The second time was the first official Gramma Picture Day... I think (pink jumper)
The third time she didn't care about the beach as much as she cared about the people at the beach. When forced close to the water she was wary and did not, at all, like the sand, not even a little bit. (bright green sundress)
The fourth time it was all we could do to keep her on the beach for a couple minutes to take pictures. She reluctantly played in the sand and, finally, at one point, stalked off intent toward home regardless of whether or not the rest of the family was going to follow. (olive green sundress)
The fifth time ran everyone ragged running in the sand, chasing the waves, giggling and having a great time. (bright blue dress)
This last time was more of the same, though still wary of that water and a little more directive about it. She wanted the perks of the water this time, but she was going to make sure she wasn't forced too near it. (oh how I wish I'd dressed her up)

Jack's First Day @ The Beach

The above picture pretty much sums it up. Jack was fascinated with the Ocean. He was fascinated with the sand. He didn't seem to know quite what to make of it all, but he was intently paying attention... intently.


(brought to you by Gramma's Birthday Picture Day)

Dad Energy Again

The different energy given when there's a different energy behind the camera...

Abby & Jack's Mother's Day

Just made them pose for two minutes... not nearly as simple it sounds perhaps... but it's at least reasonable.

Take 24: The One Where We ALL Blinked

Trying to get a mommy/children picture for Mother's Day we proved we apparently all have a little of my mom's blood in us. It all comes full circle.

Jack's First Swim

In all the hoopla I may have forgotten to mention Jack loves the bath now. He splashes with determination, not the cute little graceful splashes, but big manly kerPLUNKSH splashes.

The pool was no different. In fact, I'm not totally sure he understood what the big hubub was about. I mean, don't get him wrong, he liked the unconfined splashing opportunities. He liked that we were on his level and not reaching in over the bath unable to really connect. He didn't love how bright the whole experience was, but he didn't complain.

All in all he was cute.

Abby & Jack... the haps

Well, sheesh, a week and a half and no posts.

What's going on?

Abby has crossed some sort of development threshold. Her already ridiculously brilliant verbal communication has just sort of tightened up. Oh and she threw in a big stick of drama in there too. She frequently tells me, "I'm going to go adore Jack now." Its always a treat, sometimes bitter-sweet, to see her logic... she can be fixated on getting those books over there like she was headed to do when we ask her to turn around and do something else and the first response is none as she is focused on her goal, the second, she's just so betrayed that we don't understand that the value of her goal is just as important as the value of our order. She fell madly in love with taquitos last night. She was very sweet and worried for me when I was sick. If there had been a tv camera crew here it would have made everyone cry, "Momma, please wake up, its time to wake up" (I wasn't unconscious but might as well have been). She loves to write notes (that use up the WHOLE PAGE) like the one she wanted me to give her teacher while I was sick and she couldn't go to school (related slightly):

Dear Miss Janet, My momma is sick and everyone needs to come over and bring lots of presents and even Miss Janet has to come and no one can leave. It will be... I want it to be a party. But it's tomorrow... and Jack is the cutest baby you'll ever seen. Don't touch his head only his tummy. Miss Pat, Miss Milly and all my friends, even the boys, have to be there. You can have lunch and dinner with me. You can have treats with me. I don't think I'll have enough room in my car but its fine. It's okay. You can play with my dolls even.... (it went on but I ran out of paper).




Jack is still chewing on any knuckles that cross his path.
He just needs to catch your eye to give you a smile.
He gets especially happy (smiles then flails around happily) when he sees me and Abby.
He laughs at pretty much anything Daddy does.
He still rolls whenever he's put on the ground even if it puts him at great peril.
He likes formula if he must have it, but would prefer natural. (I hope I don't ever forget that completely pure squeal of joy he made when I got back from 10 hours at the ER and offered him the real thing)
Speaking of squeals. Jack squeals now. With happiness, anger, love, laughter... it's all a bit silly. (the nursing squeal was the longest in history).
Oh and the grabbing. He can grab and boy does he try. He focuses with all his might to try to get his hands to meet up together around an object which usually results in things being swatted to the floor or food plates being pulled into caregiver's laps. He's close though, he can feel it!