Jack's 7 months old!

So remember in previous months where this cute little guy just hung out calm, cool, and collected on this chair for a few pictures? Well, those days are gone, and I'll be lucky if I can get him there for the last 5 months of his first year! I should've known better. This is the final product...

because paper is just SO yummy, this was during my initial attempt...

so I added a toy for distraction while I "hid" the sign above his head...

and finally, he just bails and says I'm outta here Mom!

Out and about...

Almost 4, and all sass...

This is hilarious to me. Kate LOVES the manequins at Old Navy. She's forever loved the little dog, but a few weeks ago, she was hanging with this whole crew while I was checking out... I told her to be careful (I was just imagining them all toppling over on top of her) and she told me she was "just holding their hands Mommy"...hmm, while that's cute and all, it's slightly odd and disturbing!

Jack's first restaurant-highchair experience!

I happened to have the camera with me one day picking up Kate at school, and the girls were more than willing to strike a pose for the occassion!

It was (another) gloomy morning, so we hit the mall for some playtime, and let Jack try out the slide....

Fun (free) day at My Gym...

The local My Gym had an Open House a few weeks ago, which was great, because it was a free chance to let both kids wiggle around for awhile... with bubbles, balls, and other stuff to climb on other than our furniture, it was a fun morning!

I wish I could be in the same room as Aunt Kimberly when she sees this video, it will surely gross her out, just for the sea of germs that Jack is swimming in!

Kate loves any chance to climb these days, and this rope proved to challenge her pretty well. Those little arms need a bit more muscle before she's doing it on her own! Fortunately, she starts her first gymnastics class this week, so we'll see what she can accomplish after working on her balance and strength with some actual coaches...

Jack went from this and hands-and-knees-rocking....

to some stealthy army crawling...

to officially crawling the week he turned 7 months old! He must be trying to keep up with Big Sis, because I wasn't quite prepared for him to be such a go-getter! It sure is a lot more exciting in our house these days!

Hanging at home...

Baltimore Grand Prix!

Thanks to my many Marriott friends, Jess and I were able to check out the Baltimore Grand Prix over Labor Day weekend. It was a nice day without the kids watching the cars buzz by like bumblebees, though we had to watch basically from under the bleachers...

unlike these folks who had the better - though much scarier - view for sure!

Though the action was pretty lame compared to the constant action of NASCAR, we did catch a glimpse of Danica in her green Go Daddy car through the chicane...

A visit with Fopper, Tyler, and Ella...

We finally had a chance to take a little road trip to PA for a day visit with Uncle Tyler, Aunt Fopper, and Ella. We thought it would be a perfect time to break out the playhouse that Ty and Heather had bought for Kate at Christmas, as we figured the baby stuff would get boring after awhile. Here, Kate waits patiently while her construction crew builds her house...

Peeking from her kitchen window. She was inside "making us lunch"

Then Kate begged Uncle Tyler to take her in the pool, which was verrrrry chilly that day! This was her initial reaction face upon entering the water!

Ella and Jack (& Bruiser the pup) shared some baby fun on the porch most of the day. They were all smiles while Heather put on a pretty sweet clapping show!

Meanwhile, Kate continued to hang with Uncle Ty, playing some ladder golf, walking around the yard...

and swinging together!

Trying to finish posting August pics!!

We whipped out the camera to kill some time waiting for Jack's doctor at his 6-month checkup. He was sitting up on the table all by himself like a big boy (at the time, that was a huge accomplishment, now that he's crawling, this seems boring!)...

A while back, Aunt Kim posted a note on Facebook "this is my 5:30am wake up buddy, where is yours?" and well, here is mine! We play quietly in his room when he wakes up so Big Sis can sleep a little longer...

Jack LOVES being outside, and he'll hang out in the swing for a long time just looking around, or watching Kate play...

Ella came to visit long ago. You'd never know these two are 2 months apart...or that Jack is actually the younger one!

I'm almost caught up! September photos to come...

It's time to party!

Leah is 3 years old! Kate was SO excited to celebrate with her cousin...

and I guess Jack was too!

Patiently awaiting the Birthday Song and cake...she was OBSESSED with the noisemakers!

Kudos to Aunt Gina for her superb job on the bird cake (a request of Leah's)!

And here are a few more 6-month pics of Jack. Same birthday hat I used for each of Kate's milestones!

My kids love to eat!

Time-out for videos!

Just chillin' at the Salisbury Zoo...

Down at the farm...

Goodbye Delaware, goodbye summer...