Life's a Beach... Ball

Jack is teething, which means he tries to put everything in his mouth - even that which is just a little oversized...

Wheel... of... FORTUNE!

Pat, here's our next contestant, Ryan Fleming! (He doesn't even need the studio audience - listen for him to say, "Good job, Ryan!" right at the beginning).

6 Months

Dear Jack - we just got back from your 6 month well baby check-up, and you are a completely different baby from just two months ago! Operation Make Jack Fat was an unqualified success - you now weigh more than 17 pounds (40th percentile) and are measuring 28 1/2 inches long - that's longer than 97% of babies your age! You were showing off your great hand-eye coordination and flexibility.


You are starting to sleep better - still not great, but generally better than 45 minutes at a stretch! You love to watch your brother as he runs and runs and runs and I remind him that he has an attentive audience. You are turning into a real foodie, trying pears, bananas, brown rice, and avocado without even batting an eye.

Look at those guns!

Sophie the giraffe is your favorite toy - it must feel so good on your new chompers to gnaw on her legs and ears. You're sitting up nice and strong, giving you a new perspective on the world (though you often still end up on your back or side as gravity catches you off-guard).

You have completed our little family perfectly and I can hardly remember life before you came. We have so much adventure ahead of us!

Love,
Mama

Thirty Five

Today is my 35th birthday. As usual, I got to do some things I really enjoy, like work in the yard with my boys. Jack and Ryan gave me a big stack of seed packets and new gardening gloves, so I was eager to start planning the planting.

Jack, the supervisor

Ryan helping trim branches to make pole bean teepees

Even Star came out to enjoy the early spring sunshine

and then I made some baby food for Jack:

Bananas, pears, avocados and mangoes

A fancy-pants steamer/pureer my friend Jillian loaned me

Mmm... sweet potatoes

Avocado, the perfect first food

Love those green peas!

Sam's parents and sister came over to watch the boys while we went out to dinner and saw The King's Speech, which was really good. All in all, the day passed with little fanfare, which was a-ok by me.

Teeth? Teeth!

Jack has two bottom teeth, but they're a little camera-shy.

Chef Jack

Ooh- we're making pancakes! Is it time for the baking powder, Mama?

No, really, let me put in the baking powder - here, I'll open it with my two tiny teeth...

I'll put it in this bowl, shall I?

Ireland Forever

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with Sam's parents and sister; Jena, James and David; and Nanny Joyce. Grandma Janet sent Jack a soft book that she sewed celebrating all things green.

My tablescape, soon to be populated with corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, Irish soda bread, and Guinness.

Jack and Dadoo

Little Hikers

We headed up to Green Mountain with our friends Scott & Heidi and Max & Suzy, plus the next generation of outdoorsmen and women. While Ryan loves to ride in the backpack, he enjoyed the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs, as well as collect some sticks and rocks.

Max, Suzy and Maia came back to our house so Jack could show off his Exersaucer and I could pass on one diaper covers and other baby stuff that we no longer need.

Crowded house!

Baby Maia

Ohana Means Family

We leave for Kauai in 47 days (not that I'm counting or anything...) and have been talking about the trip to get Ryan excited. Here's a little lunchtime interview to see how much he has retained: