Picture Day

We went to Charlottesville last weekend for our annual photo shoot.  It was a bit of a hectic trip, but well worth it for the photos!  Our amazing photographer, Jen Fariello, put together this montage from the shoot.

Self-Feeding

Finally!  

It's amazing what putting a big cake or cupcake in front of a baby can do! Both T and J did not start self-feeding until that first taste of sugary goodness.  Too bad not everything tastes as good!  But at least they realize the benefits of putting the food in their mouths themselves!  He's eating a pb&j here, which is probably just as sweet and nutritious as a cupcake.

Birthday Boys

Happy Halloween!

Date Night

 The best part about the above photo is the block and the plastic cow on the floor.  You can dress us up, but you can't hide the evidence of two babies in the house!

Again, this is so typical.  Toys on the floor and the remains of dinner on the boys' clothes.

Love. it.

First Haircut

Pre-haircut.
The frat boy shag was getting a little too long. Seriously. When wet, his bangs would go past his nose. I made him an appointment with Liz, my hair stylist.

Umm, the haircut hasn't even started yet and the lip starts to quiver!
As you can see, I am doing my best to distract him. For some reason, he HATED the smock.

Liz: "Okay, Jay, I'm just going to give you a little haircut.
Jay: "Uh, what you talkin' bout, Willis?"

And 6 oz. later, he was all trimmed up and looking like a big boy!

Happy 6th, Piper!

Last week was Piper's birthday and we celebrated with our new friend, Red.

It's amazing how these things are so fascinating to children.  Also amazing that Thomas is not scared of these things.  Personally, I think they are a little freaky, especially "Cav Man" featured in my last post.

College Game Day

Tailgating:  The Next Generation.

Complete with the red cups (containing goldfish).

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

 

Mary, Cavman, Thomas and William.

Final Score
UVA 48  VMI 7

 

First Steps!

Baby Jay took two steps today!  I'll try to capture it on video later this week (you know, in all my spare time).  Stay tuned. 

Seen & Heard

Today Thomas cut the top of his foot.  I put him on my lap, cleaned the cut and stuck a band-aid on it.  When I finished, he hopped down and said, "Thank you, Dr. Mom."

Just Because

This is SO him.  Total goofball.

Seen & Heard

At preschool today, Thomas told his teacher that he helps out at home by folding the laundry.  

Oh, the Places He'll Go!

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know. 

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.*

If you ask Thomas how he liked his first day of school he will tell you this:

"I liked it.  I didn't want to leave. Mama had to drag me out."

And that would be an accurate description.

*this post brought to you in part by Dr. Seuss

My Little Picasso

Seen & Heard

Tonight during dinner:

Thomas: "I love you, Mama. You are the sun and I am the moon."

Summer Vacation Highlight Reel, Part II

Jay's baptism.

Nothing is more special than having ALL of your family together at one time.

Summer Vacation Highlight Reel Part I

We've had a fun summer. July was chock full of family trips and family fun and family traditions. So many photos, I haven't really posted, so I am going to try to do a highlight reel in the next few posts.

July 4th, our annual family reunion up at the lake:

4th of July Parade


The beach (at the lake)




Margaritas!
(I started this tradition, and it's been well-received)


And the homemade ice cream even froze!
All in all, a great family weekend.

Happy Birthday, Jennie!

Special birthday message from Jay: "I hope I can continue to be your lucky charm. The months since I've been in the picture have been so much better than those months before I arrived, don't you think? Happy Birthday!"

Happy Birthday, Haley!

Hip hip hooray!
Three cheers for your birthday!

9 Months

Well, folks, 9 months in, 9 months out! Jay has now officially been out in this world longer than when he was incubating, and what a cutie he has become in these 9 short months. Seriously, where does the time go?!?

Weight: 21 lbs 12 oz (75%)
Height: 29 1/4" (75%)

He's starting to babble, mostly "da da" and "na na" (which I like to think means Ma ma, but who knows). He's waving "hi" and "bye." He is a superfast crawler and pulls up to standing. Yesterday he almost took a step on his own. It's only a matter of weeks before he is toddling around on two feet, trying to catch up with big brother T.

Grace

The boys and I spent the last four days at the lake with G's family. During our drive home, I was able to capture this with my cell phone camera:

If it's not enough to melt your heart just looking at the image of Thomas reaching out to hold Jay's hand, the conversation between the two of them would have done it. I wish I had the audio to along with this photo. If I did, it would go something like this:

Thomas (to Jay): "Thank you for Renee and Pop Pop's. Thank you for the guest cabin. Thank you for the tool shed. Amen."
Jay: (making squealing noises in response to Thomas)
Me: "Thomas, what are you doing?"
Thomas: "Saying Grace."

And then my inside voice agreeing wholeheartedly with everything he just said out loud. And adding in a special thanks for my two beautiful boys and for the love they are developing for each other.

Amen.

Shark Attack!

Vacation

Brothers being, well, brothers.

Happy to be out of the car after the 9 hour drive.


Our view from the living room. . .

and then just beyond the living room doors. . .

and of course, no vacation would be complete without this:

You can bet I went right out and bought this immediately upon arrival.
Deeeeeeeeeeeeeelish.

July?

Um, where did this month go? We've had a lot going on. Lots of travel, both for work and for fun. Jay's been busy. He's babbling, he's gotten three teeth! He was baptized. He sits. He crawls. He even pulls up into a standing position!

My baby is growing up right before my very eyes. And I'm loving every minute of it.

Cupcakes with M.

Our friends welcomed a new baby a few weeks ago, so we invited new big sister M. over to make cupcakes in honor of the birth day.

M. would make a good pastry chef. Absolutely no temptation to eat the cupcake or the decorations.

T, on the other hand, couldn't finish one cupcake! Too busy snacking on the baked goods.

The finished products.
Welcome to the world, Baby A!