Back to School for the Boys

The boys started a new preschool this year. Actually, they are in a Parents' Day Out programs two days/week if you want to be all PC.

It was hard to leave our old program where Claire was for 3 years and David was for 2 years. I cried all the way home after I went to the new parent orientation. But I really wanted everyone in the same school system (old preschool was in a different county) and the new preschool is literally 5 minutes from our house. Now that we have made it through the first couple of weeks, I have been completely happy and at peace about my decision.

David clearly has other thoughts about it. Ha! He is such a goof ball. A picture with his backpack and lunchbox on the the first day.

David and his teacher Miss Ann. She is great! He really likes her but he is still very clingy to me when I drop him off. He told me on the second day that he only wanted to stay 1 hour. His teacher told me he started crying a little bit when he realized he was going to be there longer than 1 hour. He's decided he is okay with staying 5 hours now.

Luke had a great first day, although I forgot to put shoes on him. He hasn't worn shoes all summer and he isn't walking yet, so I didn't even think about it. I guess he was fine since the teachers never said anything to me about it. He was crying when I picked him up, but they said he had a good day.

Luke with his teacher Mrs. Teri. She has been there for like 17 years and she has 5 grown boys. I'll have to get a picture with his other teacher, Mrs. Diane, later on in the year.

I had a hard time leaving my baby boy for the first time. I've been away from him but I have never left him anywhere before. It was such a nice break when I got home, I was really happy he went!

Happy Birthday Aunt Ashley

My sister's birthday is on July 15, which is also Will and my's anniversary. We always try to get together at Mom & Dad's house for birthday dinner.

Here is my little sis posing with these blackberry creme things she made. She cooked most of her dinner because she is on a gluten-free diet and had to get all her recipes together for my mom. They were yummy, but involved lots of blending and straining, which is too much work for me!

Claire and my niece Evie. They are three months apart.

Luke, David & my nephew Ian ... the boy cousins. David definitely has the biggest head.

Me with my mom & sister.

Luke: 10 months old

Narrated by Luke:

"I don't know why Mommy makes me sit in this chair every month for a picture. I'll just smile and sit still and maybe she'll leave me alone."

"I've started eating table food. Black beans are my favorite, but they are really messy."

"I also had my first big accident. I was mauled by a cat. Ha! Actually, 2-year-old girl scratched my face at HER birthday party. See the scratches across the bridge of my nose and under my right eye and down my right cheek? I cried a lot and there was a lot of blood and my Mommy freaked out a little bit. But then, Daddy arrived and calmed everyone down. And then Mommy left us at the party with Daddy and went to book club. Clearly, she recovered."

"I also really like cheerios. But I have a hard time getting them in my mouth sometimes because they keep sticking to my hands and face."

"I love to explore in the kitchen. Mommy just keeps picking the stuff up and I just pull it right back out again. I think it's pretty funny and she thinks I'm pretty cute."

"I went to VBS this year with my brother and sister. I only got to go because my Mommy was teaching a class. It was pretty fun but I missed my morning nap everyday so I was pretty grumpy when Mommy came to pick me up. My teacher made a really cute photo album of my week and my Mommy was super-excited about that."

"I can stand up in my crib now. This is what I look like when Mommy comes to get me in the morning. I jump up and down and get real excited when she opens the door to my room."

"I have really messy hair in the morning and sometimes I cry if Mommy doesn't come get me fast enough."

"One last thing. I finally have a tooth now. It came in July 4th weekend and I spent most of the weekend indoors with my RiRi and a low-grade temp. But my Mommy was really glad I finally got a tooth ... I think she was beginning to worry."

That is all for this month.

Swim Lessons

The kids took swim lessons daily for two weeks at the beginning of the summer. The staff did a great job!

This is Claire's 3rd summer in swim lessons and up until now, she could only doggy paddle. Now, Claire is now able to swim underwater and do an overhand stroke.

This was David's first time in swim lessons and he is much more timid and cautious than Claire is. I honestly didn't think he would even get in the water without me, but he surprised me! He did great too and at the end of the lessons he could swim underwater and float on his back. (I hate to say that he has regressed over the summer since we didn't swim all that much AND I always made him wear a life-vest when I had Luke to watch too.)

David floating.

David getting ready to glide underwater.

Claire is about to start swimming (in the middle with her head underwater).

Claire's group getting ready to jump in and come up for air and swim to the side (all by herself).

Luke was such a good boy ... sitting quietly in his stroller while the big kids swam.

Claire and her friend "C" from class. (C's dad is our pediatrician.)

Claire swimming on her back.

David (in blue) getting ready to swim for the wall.

Claire and C again with their medals.

Our whole group (8 kids) and their siblings. We ended up in a group with two other moms that I knew from the gym where I workout and all of the other kids in our class were either cousins or friends.

Claire and David with their swim medals.

Luke: 9 months old

Another month closer to ONE! Notice that little red spot on Luke's head right above his left eyebrow? We have lots of bumps on the ole noggin since he is a full-fledged crawler!

First trip to the beach (in Gulf Shores, Alabama). He loves the sand!

This little boy is still just as happy as a lark. He loves riding in his push-car. He also loves reaching down and picking up rocks and grass to eat while sitting in his car. How did his arms get so long?

Another happy face. I get my best pictures in the high chair because he is restrained! Notice that there are still no teeth!

A few bullet points from the 9th month:

-Weight: 19lbs., 50z. (25th percentile)
-Height: 27-3/4 inches (25th percentile)
-Wearing size 3 diapers and size 9-12 months clothing
-eating Cheerios and starting other table foods
-babbling is on for real ... he says "mama" and "dada" indiscriminately
-stand holding on to someone or something
-look for a dropped object

Memorial Day Festivities

We usually spend Memorial Day grilling out with our neighbors, but this year they were out of town. Sooooo ... we invited my sister and her family over for water fun & grilling.

Actions shots of the kids playing on the water slide.

Will and Uncle Jon grilling dinner.

My little sis, Ashley.

The kids convinced the daddies to get in the water to cool off.

Family photos.

My sister's family.

Even Baby Luke got to put his feet in the water.

Luke: 8 months old

It's been a while since I did an update on Baby Luke. (He is almost one now!)

But for record-keeping purposes and his lack of a formal baby book, here is the 8-month report.

Luke is sporting his Mickey Mouse onesie because he spent his 8-month birthday in Disneyworld.

He is still loving to grab the card.

And is now trying to get out of the chair every time I photograph him.

I love this sweet face! He is all grins.

And giggles!

And guess what else happened this month? Luke started crawling! He is FAST and CURIOUS!

A few bullet points from the 8th month:

-Weight: 18 pounds, 3 ounces (I only know his weight because we went in for an ear infection)

-wearing size 3 diapers and size 12 months clothes

-sleeping 12+ hours at night and napping 2 times during the day

-CRAWLING

-he can bear weight on his legs when held upright

-he can pick up objects with his fist

-pass an object from one hand to the other

-play peekaboo

-get into sitting position from stomach