More Flags Equals More Fun

Flag 1: Hooray we made it to Six Flags...

Flag 2: ...with Uncle Dan and Auntie Tine!

No Flag: Roller coasters are scary!

Flag 3: LOVE LOVE LOVE the water park! (James climbing out of the giant octopus)

Flag 4: Nap time!

Flag 5: Fun in the sun!

Flag 6: Luke enjoyed the mini water fountains.

Flag 7: James really loved the mini water fountains.

7 flags - scary flag = Six Flags

So fun!

Two

It rained a couple of days ago and James found this tin filled with water. His own private little swimming hole. He dove right in!

James has been very particular with what he will wear lately. So if you see him in the same two outfits for a few months, just know that I wash them whenever I can. This current outfit is his Thomas the Train jammy top and his "red train shorts' which are really just red shorts that I had to somehow convince him to wear because the Thomas jammy bottoms were dirty.

Mothering tip for the day: A mother who navigates the waters of the terrible twos can weather any storm. ~Anonymous

Biscuit Face

Why oh why can't I find Biter Biscuits anymore in VA? Thank goodness my wonderful mother brought some more with her when she came to visit.

This is one happy boy!

Little chipmunk cheeks!

Thank you Grammy!

Air and Space

We spent a day at the Air and Space museum this weekend. James loved all the planes and ran around like a mad man pointing out all kinds of things. His favorite was going up to the 7th floor observation deck and watching the planes land at Dulles airport. More planes please!

He also liked to check out all the signs...probably because he saw other patrons doing the same thing. Or maybe because he is such a genius he can already read....I'll let you decide.

Luke even enjoyed the museum and kept looking up at all the planes hanging from the ceiling.

Grammy and Luke having fun! Luke has started "dive bombing" when being held. James went through this phase too. Not my favorite because at any moment baby boy is trying to dive right out of my hands!

New Hat

Uncle Morgan taught James a new trick. You may recall the last time he taught James how to chase Zion with a stick. This new trick is a little better then chasing Zion, but is about on par with the other trick "Uncle Mog" tried to teach James...how to make music with your armpits. It's amazing what soon to be Dr. Uncle Morgan can come up with.

Two Dogs and Two Boys

Clover has come to stay with us for a couple of days, and Zion and James couldn't be happier. Luke is still a little unsure of two frisky doggies running around.

James is the pied piper of the dogs. These three are running in their own little pack.

Here is morning playtime with the dogs. Clover is reading, Zion and James are about to race and Luke is playing at the table. Fun times!

On our morning walk James talked nonstop about the dogs. He gave me updates on who was ahead (like it was a race) and tried to pet them if they walked close enough to the stroller. I am not sure we are going to let Clover go home, she is too much fun to have around!

Edisto Island

3 big cousins
2 little cousins
3 sweet baby cousins

James and Luke love spending time with their cousins!

Also, a couple of funny pictures of my boys on the way home. Surprisingly we had a rather uneventful ride...all 11+ hours of it to and from the beach.

A Persistent Superman

Some funny stories from our morning walk...

Last night James slept in his superman outfit, and he was still wearing it when we went out for our morning stroll. Usually when we turn around to go home James asks to walk. Actually he asks to "James walk home". Guess that means he is done with walk. This morning he was really stopping to smell the roses, walking slowly and looking around as he walked. I kept calling his name, "Come on James, we need to walk home". And he ignored me. No surprise there. But then I started saying "Come on Superman, we need to walk home" and he started to respond. He would repeat "Come on superman!" and start walking really fast.

We walked by Dan and Christine's house and James immediately sprinted up their front steps and to their front door. He was trying to open the door when I told him that Dan and Christine were not home. He looked puzzled and said "Play Dan. Play Tine." I repeated that they were not home. He walks slowly down the stairs. Suddenly he smiled and started off running again, this time to their back gate. Again he tries to open it. Finally I told James that they were at work. He thought about that. "Dan work. Tine work. Daddy work." He looked satisfied with that explanation and we continued our walk home.

James is starting to mimic Luke's babbling and they were both saying "BABABABABA" at the top of their lungs for a good portion of the walk. They kept a great beat and I think it made me walk faster.

Polly want a cracker?

In just the last couple of days James has started repeating everything we say. EVERYTHING. Time for John and I to really watch ourselves. There are only so many times you can trick him that you actually said "firetruck". His latest favorite phrase is "Oh dear". Learned that one from a veggie tales. All day I hear "Oh dear, puppy walk" or "Oh dear, Uke need eat"...you get the idea.

Here is a video of James counting. He is really proud of his new trick. My favorite is when he skips numbers or repeats numbers....1-2-4-5-1-7-8-9-10!

Time for Bed

Anyone look tired to you?

The boys decided it would be way more fun to stay up and play then go to bed at 8:00. It is now 9:00 and we have one down and the other is about to follow. Love these kids! The way they giggle together is so precious.

Luke had his 9 month appointment today and he is doing really well. He is right on track with all his major milestones except for his gross motor skills. No surprise there, this is one social little fella. And our PT once a week is really helping him. So I left the pediatrician's office with a spring in my step.

Stats:

Height: 31 3/4 inches (100%)
Weight: 20 pounds 10 ounces (45%)
Head Circumference: 17 1/2 inches (21%)