Molly 5 Months

WEIGHT: 16lbs = 75th percentile

HEIGHT: 25" = 75th percentile

HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE: 16 1/2" = (drumroll please).....

20th percentile

She is officially the Michelin Man.

Molly has been putting everything (EVERYTHING!) in her mouth.

We figured she was ready for solids when she tried to eat the wipes:

and then when she sucked her toes almost completely off her foot:

So, we gave her some baby oatmeal and I think this face says it all:

She pretty much went into mouth lockdown after that:

It does look, smell and taste like cheap wet paper so we really couldn't blame her for not liking it. So the next day, we tried a mashed up banana:

If only we could find some food that looks like wipes and tastes like toes...

Father's Day 2009

Who planned this?! Who planned a wedding anniversary, a birthday and Father's Day all within a week? I suppose we might be responsible for two of those and therefore the third....

Anyhoo, Father's Day was great except for the fact that because he is a father, Brian is not able to sleep in past 7am and his "breakfast in bed" looked something like this when he walked downstairs:

So, instead of breakfast in bed, Brian got to do this:

The next part of the plan was to take the water taxi over to the National Harbor and have a picnic lunch.

James was pretty excited about going on the boat:

I mean, REALLY excited:

The National Harbor is a planned community that is still a work in progress, but there are lots of shops, restaurants, boats and public spaces to play in. This is "The Awakening," a 100-foot statue of a buried giant trying to pull himself to the surface. It's in a sandy area and kids can climb all over it - great fun.

James was, of course, terrified.

Here's Molly enjoying our picnic lunch....

Happy Father's Day:

From the kids only a dad could love....

Happy 3rd Birthday James - Take One

Well, it happened. James survived three years with us. He lived through the trial and error of his infant years, the "sure, we'll bring him - he can sleep anywhere" days of his toddler hood, and most recently, he survived the embarrassment and humiliation of potty training. Well done, kiddo, well done.

So, what do you do for such a sweet boy turning such a BIG age? We threw him a little party, of course. Nothing fancy, just us and Uncle Kevin and a couple of fun activities....

Like a Fun Slide...

and motorcycle rides....

and what three year old's birthday would be complete without a dragon roller coaster and a ferris wheel? (that's James in the back)

you know, just a little something we threw together....

HA! Don't be ridiculous! We're saving all that stuff for when he turns FOUR.... We DID do all those things on James' birthday, but it was a part of a festival just down the road from our house.

Earlier that day, we did a more appropriate birthday party at our house....

It was brunch time so I thought it would be great to do yogurt parfaits in wine glasses (James' was plastic) and a banana bread cake. You can see here, how much James loved the yogurt parfait idea....

he really DID love all the legos....

Cute party guest, sister Molly. OR Mawwwwy as she is called by James.

and of course, after 1 gazillion thwarted attempts at touching the cake, James blew out the candles and immediately did this:

Happy birthday big boy.

Mommy is ALWAYS Right

This week, we met up with good friend and baby-sponsor (see this post), Susannah and her sweet kids, Max & Clara at a fun little park about 20 minutes from us. The kids ran on the playground, we rode the train and we rode the carousel. Then it was off to McDonald's for lunch. I know, I know, Best Mom Ever!

I told James in the car, that if he stopped kicking the window, there would probably be a train at the park and look:

I was RIGHT!

I told James that if he stopped running with a stick,

we could probably ride the carousel and look:

I was RIGHT!

Here's Max. He's brilliant in that 5 years old and doing long division sort of way....

I asked him what the name of his horse was and he said, "Google."

I asked James the name of his horse and he said, "Icky Wocky Horse."

So.....

Molly, who spits up ALL DAY LONG (requiring multiple wardrobe changes) did the entire carousel ride BACKWARDS and strapped to my body and did not so much as blow a bubble. What. Ever.

As the ride was ending, I told James that if he kept touching the pole with his lips (ugh),

he would get sick and look:

Turns out - Mommy is ALWAYS right.

4 years, 3 states, 2 babies.

On this day, four years ago, Brian and I were married in Cortona, Italy.

Leading up to that day, we survived a health scare, lost luggage, and a wild-goose-paper-chase through the streets of Florence.

Brian was, apparently, just surviving ME:

This pic was taken on our first night in Tuscany.

Five days before the wedding.....

Happy Anniversary babe.

Sunday in the Park

There's a great waterfront park near our house. Lots of grass to run in, lots of bugs to look at and lots of shade to sit in and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Brian and I were reminiscing that five years ago, a "picnic in the park" would involve picking up some sushi, a bottle of wine and two glasses and sitting for a couple of hours. Flash forward five years and two babies later, and this picnic was peanut butter and honey sandwiches, assorted snacks and LOTS of running - not so much sitting.

James: Here Daddy, you have this stick and I'll have this one.....

Two kids strapped in and one baby sleeping - this stroller has now paid for itself.

Pleeeeease?

Oh, this kid!

Yesterday we were running late for school....

Me: Hey buddy, can you turn off the TV?

James (walks over to the TV): What am I waiting for?

Me (very confused): What ARE you waiting for?

James (louder): What am I waaaaaaaiting for?

Me: Uh, please?

James: Good job Mommy! I am very proud of you!

What?! 

This kid!

This kid:

who helps us take out the trash with his underwear on his head is making ME say PLEASE!

Awesome.

Friends and Neighbors

We have been so lucky, twice now, to move into a neighborhood (sight unseen) and have the NICEST neighbors. James and Molly are the only kids here in the mews and our neighbors love them like their own. Thank goodness because we tend to be pretty loud and leave a pretty big footprint wherever we go. We are a lot to love these days.

Neighbor Pilar with Molly. Molly ADORES her and Pilar is teaching her Spanish.

Pilar also brings James little treats every now and then. 

This one was his favorite fruit - watermelon. 

This is Pilar's husband, Peter pulling James around the courtyard in a makeshift cardboard box sled. The "reigns" are bungee cords. I was surprised that James didn't ask to wear his helmet and pads.

Neighbor Karen (reference the magic carpet ride) is also always thinking of James. This was a new castle for him to play in on the day of one of our get-togethers.

This is James (sopping wet) in Neighbor Pat & Cheryl's garage shortly after Cheryl instigated a water balloon fight. It was slightly unfair considering that she had all the balloons.... 

It was all fun and games until Cheryl, not wasting any more time with tiny balloons, started chasing me around the courtyard with a watering can. James did not approve at all and immediately sent us all to "TIME OUT!"

"Luckily" it was all captured on video - thank you Neighbor Karen.

That night, we put James in some dry PJs and put him in bed, but THIS is how James usually likes to end our parties:

'Atta Boy.