A few of Blake's favorite things

Drums, lawn mower trucks, and baths with Daddy.

Summer Fun

Just enjoying a warm summer day!

Back bLOG of photos!

Carter's Walking!

I'm a little behind in posting here, since I suddenly have a very mobile toddler on my hands... Around July 14, at less than 13 months, Carter started to walk! A few steps turned into 5-6 steps and then in only a couple days he was walking more than crawling. And now he is practically running. He keeps us very VERY busy and super duper cute!

Blake's new drums

Call us crazy, but we really did welcome this gift. Mom Mom bought Blake a drum set as an early birthday present, and Blake couldn't be more excited!

Today at nap time he was particularly wound up and I reminded him he needed to obey Mommy, etc, etc, and he just started giggling out loud. I asked him what was so funny and he said "I have a BIG BIG drum set!" There you have it. 

And here is the little protege banging out his favorite tune:

What I didn't anticipate was the competition over the set between the two boys. We bought Carter a little drum when we got Blake the big drum set, but of course he wants to be on the big drums. Blake (sometimes) shares, and when we put Carter on the chair I couldn't believe how well he did! There is even a little foot drum/pedal and Carter steps on that like a pro! I guess he has been paying attention to his big bro!

Peace and quiet is over-rated anyway! 

Jimmy Cone (Dairy Free)

Enjoying some favorite orange icey at the local ice cream stand.

Kiddie Pool

A day at the zoo

Cute

Carter's Crawling!

Our cutie pie is finally on the move! The world has suddenly changed for us all. For me, I'm realizing that child-proofing for number two is a little more challenging.. Blake is realizing that it isn't always fun when his little brother wants to join (er, terrorize) whatever he is doing.

Here are the first few steps. This was the forth or fifth attempt to get it on video, and Carter was losing patience with the game a bit. But still, captured for posterity!

Bubbles!

Blake found some bubbles and did a great job blowing bubbles all by himself. And then when Carter woke up Carter was THRILLED to watch Blake blow bubbles for him! Carter's little arms and legs were flapping all over from excitement!

Carter

He's just really, really cute!

Hot Chocolate Date

Blake got sick, and then Mommy and Carter got sick, and Mike stepped in and helped take care of the kids quite a bit for a few days. It was clear that Blake was missing mommy when all he kept asking was for "Mommy to PLAY with you!" So on Saturday morning I took him out to get hot (soy) chocolate at Starbucks, which is a favorite treat of his.

I love my time with my sweet boy. It is so silly to see him sitting in a big boy chair, legs dangling, sipping his hot chocolate and looking at the people around him.

I never know what he is going to say, and sometimes I worry that his not-so-quiet commentary will offend someone. We started to pack up to take our drinks with us as we walked to a nearby store, and I told Blake to hold his drink with two hands. A man was sitting a few feet away drinking his own coffee, and he reached out, picked his coffee cup off the table, took a sip and put it back down. "That's a big man!" Blake said. (Oh no, where is this going! I didn't think the man was particularly "big"!) "He doesn't have to hold his drink with two hands!" Blake continued. Phew! "Right, Big Boy," I said, "he's a grown up so he can hold his coffee with ONE hand if he wants!"

Friends

Just a sweet pick of Blake and Joanna playing together when we were at Joey and Evie's house for dinner.

Easter Bunnies!

Here are two of my "boys" on Easter! Unfortunately Carter and Blake were sick and we weren't able to hang out with the fam on Easter. But we did a little egg hunt around the house. And of course there were the ears.

Country Living

You know you live in the country when this is what you see across the street...Blake was thrilled, to say the least. He keeps waiting for the day when the tractors will be back!