Happy Autumn Equinox!

I've missed Mama and Alden time. Alex still very much needs my full attention, so Alden has had to share me a lot. This isn't bad, but he still needs time with me alone. When my Mom asked if I would like to go with her to a Welcome Fall Celebration, I knew this would be a great opportunity to have some bonding time with my little guy. We helped make some apple cider, ate caramel apples, hiked the nature preserve, sang songs and danced, and climbed a tree. A wonderful start to the new season!

Alden was very excited to see exactly what happened to all those apples in the press!

Watching the cider poor out.

There's nothing like fresh cider!

We made caramel apples!

Alden discovered the Climbing Tree...

My little monkey was in that tree for a LONG time.

"I love this tree!"

Alden, my love...

Summer

Yes, I know I haven't posted anything all summer. We've been super busy and, frankly, I was a little burnt-out on blogging. However, I also remembered that this is the only way that I am documenting my boys' childhood. To save on cost and space and the environment, we don't print out pictures or keep massive amounts of photo albums. I print out these blog posts (in color!), and place them in a binder - which my mother so lovingly started for me - THANKS MOM!!! I print these posts because I don't believe that Blogger will always exist and the Internet could crash, implode, and so on... So, ahem, I will continue with my motherly duty...

Back to our cruise in June! It was a week long, fabulous get-a-way. Grandma Sandy retired and Grandpa Denny had a birthday - both lovely reasons for them to take their entire family on a cruise to Puerto Rico and the surrounding islands! Now, whenever Alden tells us that he wants to go on "vacation" again, he means he wants a cruise.. haha.

Daily ritual...

On the boat, Alex learned how to: crawl, sit up from lying down, pull up, and refuse baby food in preference for fresh, juicy, hot off the grill REAL FOOD. Before the trip, he was a beached whale eating baby slop. Amazing what some sun and sand can do!

He also learned how to make a touchdown.

One or two nights, fancy dress was required!

All the cousins in the boy pile wore the cutest sailboat outfits!

Alden was all politeness and manners at dinner.

Daddy enjoyed visiting Old San Juan!

And Alden enjoyed all 4 hours of the rainforest! We plan to go back someday.

Margaritaville in Grand Turk...jealous yet?

Fast forward to Alex's First Birthday/Family Blessing

Both sets of grandparents and all the cousins were present in our home. Everyone stood in a circle around the table and shared their blessing for Alex. Then, there was cake!

A couple more summer pics...

At our block party last weekend, Alex tried out his pushcart for the first time - and was hooked on walking! He can now "toddle." He takes about 2 steps before sitting down - exciting and scary!

This was taken yesterday at the Willy St. Festival. Alden was completely taken with the skateboarders. And loved that he could act out what he saw on practice boards.

Also from yesterday: Madison has an annual BIG RIG event, with trucks, cars, boats, and more trucks. Alden's heaven on Earth.

OK. Do you feel caught up? Please say you feel caught up. Phew! I will REALLY TRY to not let months go by again. Good night.

Iris and Alex

Daddy took this picture of our flowering babe...

Gonna wash those germies!

The boys' first bath together (well, without Daddy in the tub)!



You wouldn't guess that Alden has croup and Alex is recovering from the same virus after a visit to the ER last Friday, now would you? We are pros when old-hat croup come and goes. The boys (all of us, really) are very tired.. bur clean!

More Spring Catch-Up...

Our Mama has good intentions regarding this blog - but can't seem to keep it up-to-date. Eh - she does the best she can. We still love her! Here are a few pics from our Spring shenanigans...


The Springtime Bunny visited our home for the first time!

Magnifying glass and a yummy hat...


A butterfly net!


Designing some of the garden with Grandma Sandy...


Planting our tomatoes and peppers...


Watering the baby seeds...

Catching Up

I am sick at home today, so time to catch up on some posting! Our whole family has actually been pretty sick for the last couple of weeks. I am the last one to catch this eye/ear/nose/chest infection. Good golly, I don't remember the last time I felt this bad. Poor Alex - he has a double ear infection that didn't respond to the first round of antibiotics and is on stronger Augmentin now, which seems to be doing the trick.

I should update on some of Alex's development otherwise, as my Mom likes to joke, we will need to put one dollar in the therapy jar for ever less post he has compared to his brother.

Turning 9 months on April 27th, Alex weighed in at 19 lbs, 6 oz at the doc's office. Alden weighed in at about this much when he was 15 months old (adjusted to 12 months at the time, but still). Alden is right now in 3 year old clothing, weighing in at about 30 lbs. He is still small for his age, but is steadily growing, so his doctor isn't concerned. She said that he could still, and probably will, have a catch-up growth spurt in the future. But he will NEVER be chunky.

So, back to catching up on posting. Alex got his first tooth on April 18th. He has yet to get another. As you see in the pic above, he plays peek-a-boo. He can wave "hi" and "bye." He says "Da-Da" non-specifically. He signs "Milk" while nursing and eating and really anytime he sees me. He lunges onto all fours to go after something, then flops into his tummy and grunts, wiggles, and rolls around in frustration to his destination. He LOVES his kitties. He's shy around strangers. He likes to eat books and most foods. I am making Alex's baby food this time - I was too stressed to experiment with things like making baby food and cloth diapering with Alden. I must say that it is so much fun to watch Alex eat fresh food creations.

I compared Alex and Alden's (adjusted) development - and they are SO similar. It is a bit of a relief (for Alden's sake) that they are virtually identical.

Alex's head is also larger than average, not as large as Alden's, but pretty close. So there, Mr. Neurosurgeon! It's GENETIC! :)

There, consider yourself caught-up. One less dollar in the therapy jar for Alex. I feel better already.

Learning to care for my little bro...

Looking out for Alex during his first bike ride...


Alex is so easy to feed!