swim class!

Swim class with Georgia! Papa and Abby are swim class experts, but Mommy and Nate finally went for the first time to watch. We snapped lots of photos before being told by one of the lifeguards that no cameras are allowed until the last day of swim class. Oooops!  Rather than let the rule-busting photos go un-viewed, we will post them here. 

 Abby and Papa head for the water ... Georgia and her Daddy were already in the pool!

 

 Being a father-daughter duo was not a prerequisite, but it seems to be the norm for this Saturday at least.....  Notable quote from Abby on the way to the pool: "Maybe when I'm 4 I'll put my head under the water."  In other words, don't you dare get the swimming pool water close to my head.

Swimming with their papas!  As we were all getting ready to head to swimming class that morning, Mommy asked Abby whether there would be chairs near the pool where Nate and I could sit and watch her swim. She thought for a long time and then said "Yes, but only those really HIGH chairs."  You're probably surprised to read this, but no, Nate and mommy did not sit in one of the lifeguard chairs to watch swim class. We sat in the bleachers. With Georgia's grandma!

Abby and Georgia, with purple noodles tied around their midriffs, hold on tight to the lane markers, while their fathers stand close by!

sun-day

This morning papa was out buying a used exercise bike for the basement (thank you Craigs List. Fitness, here we come!) and needed to take the carseats out to fit the bike in the car ... soooo .... what fun to have the carseats in the kitchen!  Abby immediately went to elaborate make-believe-land where she and Po were going out to a "late dinner", so the kids (i.e. Nate) had to stay home with a babysitter.  Abby's in her seat. Po is in Nate's seat in the "far back seat". Betsy is in the booster seat. And fox is riding on the yellow rocking "horse" thing.

Then after Nate woke up from his nap a miracle occurred.  Both kids were engaged in "self-directed playtime" as we call it here for about 5 minutes.  Many photos were taken to prove that this actually happened.  Abby - with legos. Nate - with baby toy basket.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

And even closer....

What'cha lookin' for Nate?

Hi cutie.

Abby builds and destroys and rebuilds and re-destroys lego tower after lego tower.

PS - Abby also DRESSED herself this morning completely. Took jammies off. Put panties and shorts and t-shirt on (and selected them all herself). Proof that she can do these things if she really wants to (vs being asked/told/cajoled/bribed to....).  Abby has also mastered the zipper and can zip up her own sweatshirts, jackets, etc! Our big girl.

po-n-playtime

Abby proudly shows off her baby - Po, who is "sitting like a big boy at the froggy table."

Other funny Abby quotes about Po as of late include: 

"Po slept for FIVE days. He had a really long nap."

"Did you be-rember when Po's family said that we could come over for dinner at their house?"

Abby shows off her tower building skills while Nate shows off his wiggles!

Hi guys!

Nate thinks it is absolutely hilarious when mommy puts a toy on her head and lets it fall off.  9 month old humor at its finest!  In other 9 month news, Nate has 4 teeth pretty fully in (2 top and 2 bottom), and 4 more just starting to poke through the gums (also 2 top, 2 bottom).  He's not crawling, occasionally does a butt scooch, can almost pull to a stand by himself, and loves to "walk" around the house with mama or papa holding his hands.  He remains our jolly dude.

backyard picnic

We had a fun lunch picnic in the backyard over the weekend!

Arrrrrgh.......give me more sweet potatoes says Nate!

and we're back

After two solo-parenting stints (Papa and Mommy both got a turn) and a solo-grandmaing stint (thanks Grandma!) we are happy to be back to our family-of-four routine!  A few stray photos....:

Nate tries a frozen peach slice.

Kebabs, corn, and frozen peaches. What could be tastier?

Grandma and Abby play hide-and-seek with a frisbee in the backyard.  Abby is always more than happy to tip you off as to where she is hiding / where the frisbee is hiding...

Found ya frisbee!

Abby counts out three fingers to tell us how old she is.

Papa and Abby's pebble project by the sandbox....

action

Lots of activity here these days.  Sarah is off to Aspen tomorrow, Grandma arrives on Saturday, Jamie is off to Boulder on Monday, Sarah returns on Tuesday night, Grandma leaves on Friday, Jamie gets home on Saturday. Whew.
Last weekend was Akaash's birthday party!  A real firetruck came!

But then, about 5 minutes after the firetruck got there, a real emergency happened somewhere and the truck and firemen were off roaring up the street, sirens screeching.  Kids were puzzled by this turn of events.

But then, there was birthday cake!

Back at home, Nate shows off his baby mum mum eating skills.

Could he be any cuter?

Wait, he just got cuter....

Oh smiles. Mommy is going to miss her little jolly Natester during this longest trip since he was born!  Yikes.

Hey sweet fella.

Nate and Abby and Papa and Grandma will have lots of fun together!

What a sweet little dude.

Of course Mommy will miss her big girl Abby too!  As Abby said on mother's day morning: "I love you mommy. I love you very much. Thank you.  You love me A LOT." 

big boy

Nate hangs out in the exersaucer, which was vintage to begin with when it entered our household 3+ years ago but seems to have aged exponentially since Abigail enjoyed it.

We think it has something to do with the elastic that is supposed to hold the seat pouch thing in place....good old Nate sinks down and doesn't seem to mind.

Outside, Abigail wants to teach Nate how to be a big boy and walk.  He needs to pick up his rattle first.

Go Nate go!

two little monkeys

Look what mommy found when she got home from work today .... two little monkeys (and Snoopy too).

It's work travel month here.  Mommy had a trip to Boston last week, Papa is in Princeton now, Mommy to NYC on Thursday, then Mommy is off to Aspen next week, then Papa to Boulder.  When mommy and papa find themselves simultaneously in different parts of Colorado, Grandma will come to the rescue and hang out with these two little love bugs who love her very much.  We are rooting for good behavior and sound sleeping.

 

Nate says "let's hear it for plaid overall shorts!"