The Fort

The first installation of Fort McHenry

to introduce our illustrious assistants....

the bear reads (eats) the directions

the boy assists with screws

And little E our biggest helper assisted (the most) by taking a nap.

and now for the workhorses:

dad and poppa triumph!

The Race is On

The babies are continuing their quest for motion despite an extremely nasty bug that has hit us all. Ugh, it's been miserable, but I think we are coming to the end of it? Maybe I should start rephrase to say I am fervently hoping we are at the end of it. Anyway, other than the sickness, we have been busy building a play yard for the guys in the backyard. Poppa has been invaluable in helping us with the construction of what he terms 'Fort McHenry'

When I have a chance I'll post the work in progress. The swing beam still needs to be installed, but the hardest part is complete. I apologize for the mundane post-- but my head feels like it's under water.

Bear on the Loose

The B Bear has been working very hard on crawling. Every time I see him I squirming around and inching across the room I'm excited for him and concerned for us... trouble is on the horizon. E is also working on motion. Not too long before nothing is safe around here. B is doing better with eating. Here he has just been sampling some applesauce. And tonight, we all went to get a little ice cream at the outdoor mall. B and E thoroughly enjoyed the banana ice cream that we got for H-- H was much more interested in the raspberry that Dad and I were sharing.

Feeding Time

H practiced feeding goats this weekend during our little jaunt to VA. Dad taught H to pick up pieces of corn feed off the ground and offer them to the goat (cheapskate you're thinking...) but regardless,we quickly discovered a goat will not eat everything (H had trouble differentiating between rocks and kernels of corn). However, H got the hang of it and as you can see, he was quite pleased when the goat took the proffered treat.

High Five

I occasionally get questions about why we mainly post pictures of the boys here and not of us. But as you can see, it's challenging to get in in front of the camera. I used the self timer for this shot (taken at friends' house). So there we all are, four guys and a gal.

I do.

H has a new phrase. In taking after his momma, industrial engineer extraordinaire, he continues to be an efficiency expert when it comes to speaking. His new catch all phrase? 'I do' This mean 'yes', and he uses it in that context and others.

Mom: 'H would you like to go outside?' H: 'I doooo'
Dad: 'Do you want a waffle for breakfast?' H:'I do'
Dad: 'Is it bathtime, H?' H: 'I doo'
H: 'Eat?!? I do.'

It's cute and funny. He's also started in with NO! We thought somehow we might have dodged that bullet, but out of the blue, while we were driving along the highway, he lets loose a stream of 'No. No. Nononononononono. Noooooooo. No no NO!' It was hilarious when it happened, though I'm sure in time, especially when he applies it with his will, then 'No' won't be so cute. Maybe we can teach him 'I don't'

Mighty Oaks

Oaks is a great 'kid' dog. I think initially we were a little concerned she might be fearful of the boy and the babies, and at moments, she is. Like when H tries to ride her-- at three times her weight, he's a bit much to carry; when the babies grab her hair and yank, this hurts-- I know from experience, and when she thinks H is about to trip and fall over her-- a dance that occurs because she stands directly under him during all mealtimes.

But beyond those moments of terror, there is an extremely symbiotic relationship between our boys and our dog. Check out the photo above-- both babies are fascinated with Oaks, and she is fascinated with E's bum! H feeds Oaks most of his meals and what he doesn't offer, she helps herself to as soon as he's not looking. In my pre-parenting (more perfectionist days) I recall being appalled by even the notion of such carrying ons, but I think I've mellowed. I'm almost grateful for our little Hoover, Oaks.

feed me

B continues to have some trouble eating solids; he can't quite coordinate his tongue and he dislikes objects in his mouth that he personally didn't put in there. Of course, he puts anything and everything in his mouth these days. But a spoon? A guy has to set limits... but anyway, I was trying to feed him a few days ago. I had to give up momentarily to attend to E, but I returned to discover that H had taken over feeding B for me. B was somewhat hysterical, but H was not deterred. H kept dipping the spoon in the applesauce and shoving it in the direction of B's mouth (kinda hard when he's sitting above you in a high chair). Eventually, H gave up and decided he could best help by simply eating the applesauce himself.

Sit up and Spit up

Look at my babies!!! They are growing up before my eyes. Although they still need some assistance sitting up, they are really making progress. And while you can see they are looking more and more like their own selves, they are definitely brothers-- with identical uh, 'inquisitive' expressions.

So as the rest of the title, the babies continue to be prolific spitters. But so was H, and he didn't get over it until he was nine months. Speaking of H, he is doing well. He has a cold as do the little boys. And recently, he's been having a lot of nightmares-- or they may be night terrors-- same time every night. I hope this is something that will pass, as we have finally got the babies sleeping through the night.