9 month check-up!!

I can't believe RJ is already 9 months!!! The time seems to fly by!! He is amazing, although he still is a Momma's boy... I love it!! He is such a love! He is crawling like a champ, everywhere and anywhere!! He pulls up on everything and topples over like a champ. I watch him at times trying to feel for the ground with one hand before splatting! I love watching him learn his environment and being so curious.

He weighed in at 16 pounds, 7.5 ounces -- below the 3rd percentile, his height was 28 and 1/4 inches -- the 45% percentile, and his head came in at 17 inches -- the 5%! I raise tiny kids!! I still want to eat him up!!

He is so much fun! I really don't want to forget a thing, although I am sure I won't remember the little things from memory...hence why I am trying to write things here so I will have it forever!

RJ is starting to get more hair and loves to explore! He has realized he can 'play' with Morgan which I'm not sure she really likes yet... sharing is a strong point for her... but with her brother... when he just grabs exactly what she is playing with... I watch in amazement when he kind of gives her a look and grabs for another toy... the best is when he grabs for her hair!! He knows how to protect himself!!

He is really beginning to like the play tables and Morgan will show him how to use them. Sometimes she needs a soft reminder that he was playing first!

RJ still doesn't like mushy foods... he has been eating lots of banana, avocado, and some sweet potato or squash... but his favorite is avocado! He does not like baby oatmeal or prunes... I am trying to force the prunes to help with his digestion, but he hasn't jumped on that bandwagon yet! (Morgan usually eats the rest of the small container after 3 bites go all over RJ's face)

RJ I can't believe you are 9 months and you are so much fun!! Hugs!!

Surprise!

SURPRISE AUNT MEGAN!!

Aunt Megan had a bridal shower today! Even though I think she was 'hoping' she had no clue and was surprised! Uncle Andy stayed for the shower, but I'm not sure he wanted to be the center of attention. We did a couples shower with lunch so at least he wasn't the ONLY guy in the place!!

A Megan and U Andy got a lot of nice things! She got lots of stuff off her Pampered Chef registry, some stuff from Bed, Bath, and Beyond and some random fun odds and ends!

Some of her close friends made the trip to come! Megan is blessed to have so many people who love her! And all her bridesmaids could make it!

Somehow we managed to get everything into my trunk for the return to our parents house where Megan is staying one last summer to make a little extra money at the Y before she is a married woman and never leaves Maryland! :)

Aunt Megan and Uncle Andy we can't wait until your special day!! Lots of love to both of you!

Her bridal party:

Melanie, Kelsey, Kim, Melissa, Nikki, Megan, Morgan and me!

Rasberries and Prunes

These were my breakfast faces... how can you resist?!

Raspberries and Prunes, who could ask for anything more?

p.s. Morgan was in her crib today from 2:30-7!! She must not have fallen asleep right away... or she was REALLY catching up on sleep!! RJ took a 1 hour morning nap, and a 1/2 hour afternoon nap... urgh!

CRASH!

First broken bowl by Morgan!! I'm sure the first of many!

...She didn't mean to put the bowl on the edge of the table then reach for something else and bump her bowl of salad onto the floor where the bowl shattered into a hundred pieces as her salad fixings went flying...

Note to Daddy... give her only her plastic bowls, no more glass bowls for her (or RJ) until further notice!!

It really was an accident!! I had to count to ten... but I got over it...

"I DO"

This is what happens when Morgan puts on her own jammies!

Look at me Momma!

I'M STANDING!!!

I'M WAITING FOR YOU!! COME GET ME!!! THIS IS FUN!!!

I'M REALLY STANDING!!!

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day Daddy! I know you had to work today, but know that Morgan talked about you all day today and RJ agreed in his own language!

MeMom and PopPop came over for supper tonight so that Daddy could get a yummy home cooked meal. Aunt Megan was here to. Before I got home from being out for a little bit on PopPop's watch RJ got his first 'egg' of MANY to come I am sure! Now that he moves like crazy he is going to get beat up... I see it coming!!



Happy Father's Day Daddy! Thanks for always making the kiddos laugh! They love you very much and always light up when they see you!!

Happy and in Love

PICTURES TO BE POSTED SOON (after Megan sends some to me)

Today cousin Mandy got married to Matt! Now... I need to remember to address their envelopes with Mr and Mrs the new name!!

I see a gal for speech and have known the family now for... 5+ years and they said they could watch my kiddos!! I had no one left to ask so I was VERY grateful!!! I dropped Morgan and RJ off around 1:30 and headed off to the wedding. I was sad leaving my babies, but I knew they would be in good hands and that Leah and Becca would wear out Morgan! I headed to the wedding.

Mandy looked gorgeous! She picked a dress that made her look like a beautiful bride!! She looked so happy and just in love. Matt looked handsome too... he wore a white tux jacket and black tux pants. I am so excited for both of them!! The reception was lots of fun and the hors d'oeuvres were very yummy!

When I went to pick the kiddos up around 10 they were both wide awake and Morgan was full of energy! RJ fell asleep the instant we started driving. She didn't stop talking the whole ride home! It is amazing how well she can express herself now...at two and a half! Today is a magical day... weddings always remind me of the day I wed which was one of the best days of my life!

Leah, Morgan and RJ

Becca, Morgan and RJ

Leah reading to Morgan!

Morgan loves being read to!!

Go Leah!

Peanuts

I got a package with some random things I ordered and they sent it in peanuts. I did not order anything breakable, but yet they sent it in peanuts! Better to be safe then sorry I guess...

Morgan got a GREAT idea to play in the box, and then invite RJ to join her!

RJ was more interested in eating the peanuts and Morgan had a great time throwing them up into the air then climbing out and picking up all the peanuts then laying on the floor, climbing back in and repeating the actions... it entertained her for a good 20 minutes! I was playing referee... stopping RJ from getting the ones on the floor into his mouth since he crawls like a crab now... quick and all over the place!

On a side note... I usually tell Morgan, "See you later alligator" if I run out to the store or she is going down for a nap given by Daddy and she always says, "I'm Morgan." Today when I told her to tell RJ, "See you later," she told RJ, "See you later alligator!" It was too cute!!

Beach

Should I, can I touch that stuff?

SAND?!

RJ's first time on the beach!

Morgan 'riding' RJ like a horse

RJ asking why he needs sweats on!

I feel wind!

Morgan was saying, "Look at Momma RJ"

Daddy and the kiddos hiding from the wind

Daddy and Morgan all bundled up!

Our first trip to the beach with two children! It went well, wind and rain also decided to join us! We made the best of it. We went to the beach Wednesday, but as the day continued so did the layers! We started out in our swimsuits... then to t-shirts or cover-ups... then to adding sweats and a towel over our laps... We did touch the water and dig in the sand! We went out to supper and walked the boardwalk. Both kiddos fell asleep in the stroller. Morgan missed out on rides!

Unfortunately we woke up on Thursday to rain falling. We went to Uncle Bill's for breakfast (yum!) and attempted the boardwalk in the rain... Morgan wore her dog towel over her head and around her and RJ was safe under the stroller canopy. We didn't last too long though because it was raining, blowing, windy, and chilly! Not a good combination!

We had some great family time and can't wait to go back again!

Twins

Hannah and RJ

Today we played with the Giampa twins. Morgan was very excited to 'play' with Hannah and Angela... but once we got there of course she just parallel played... She got brave today and actually played on the swing set! Go peanut! RJ liked the swing too! Morgan ate pretty good today, probably because she was in the company of other little kiddos!

After we got home I put both kiddos down for naps and started packing for our trip down the shore... doesn't sound like the weather is going to be so hot, but we are still going to go down and hope for the best! We'll see how it goes!

Almost summer?

Swimming this morning... oops... I should have listened to the weather... tanks and shorts wasn't really the right choice today.

A Melanie dropped Carleigh off for her one week stay while she went to Vegas. A short stay before her extended all of July stay... hopefully she will like sleepovers!

This afternoon we had a crazy thunder/hail storm. Who would have thought, hail in (almost) summer. Global warming causing this? Why (cold) hail? I don't remember having this type of storm growing up!

On to happier thoughts... today Morgan woke up and everything was "Me" today! She referred to herself as me all day long today! It was neat! She learned that she can call herself Me instead of Morgan all the time!

Day away

Today I had graduate class all day and then Megan's bridesmaid dress fittings. Her dress is one color and I tried to get her to let me wear yellow (it would match) but she declined my request. I was hoping to stand out!

My graduate class is all about self esteem and your self concept. Since I got the biggest dress size by a long shot I reminded myself of how my class makes me feel! I need to build up my self worth again! Class will do that! :) One more class tomorrow and then three more graduate credits done, yipee!

The kids stayed with Aunt Megan at MeMom and PopPop's house today b/c Daddy had to work overtime. They sounded like they had a good time!

A few pictures of what I saw a couple days ago that I missed today while I was at class... Memories...

Thursday

Not a very exciting caption... not too much exciting went on today!

The kiddos slept until 8:30 ish and then we played around for a little bit before I packed us up and headed to my private client Raegan, then headed to MeMom's. Once we got there it was time for naps for Morgan and RJ.

I had graduate class tonight and Daddy was working so they spent time with MeMom (I found out they both slept from 3ish to the 5:30 ish hour!). Why don't they sleep that well with me!?

Graduate class went fast... I am enjoying the class... it is an interesting (and easy) class! Hopefully I can apply some of the things I am learning to my small groups... if nothing else I will have ideas to share with other teachers and my sister!

Gotta love feeding time when Daddy is in charge! These photos were taken a few days ago! Mmmmm...

Spur of the Moment...

RJ playing with his musical octopus

Today started out great! Both Morgan and RJ slept until a bit after 9 this morning. They were both in happy moods when they got up!

We watched some Sesame Street and played. Ate some yummy breakfast and then it was time for RJ's nap.

*** Side note: When I asked Morgan what she wanted for breakfast, giving her several choices... oatmeal, cream of wheat, pancakes, waffles... she answered, "Mushy cheese." Mushy cheese?! What in the world was she talking about? Mushy cheese?! I showed her every cheese I could think of... string cheese "No," sliced American cheese "No," shredded cheese "No." Each No got more upset...then I saw in the door what she wanted... Cream Cheese... "YES! Mushy cheese." Too cute! I almost didn't want to correct her... but I decided it would be a good idea to tell her the correct name... for future use!! ***

After RJ woke up and Daddy woke up Daddy wanted to go on a family bike ride. He attached the trailer to his bike and Morgan and RJ rode along on the back of his bike and I rode behind all of them. Biking isn't my forte, but I always humor Daddy and go with them (and pray I don't fall)!

Aunt Jo invited us to come over to her house for a small carnival/fair at the local elementary school. Daddy had to work so Morgan, RJ and I decided it would be fun to go! I was very tired, but I wanted to see Jo, Sean and the girls so we went. Morgan and Claire were so happy to see each other! Zandi is walking like a nut and RJ was crawling! No more babies around!! We went to the fair where there were lots of little games that cost two tickets each to play (50cents each) and each game you won some kind of prize! Morgan had a blast!! RJ didn't really want to stay in his stroller, but he didn't complain too loudly! We also played on the school playground before heading back to Aunt Jo and Uncle Sean's house. Once we got back the girls at chocolate pops... then some noodles b/c they both said they were hungry. Too cute!!

Home and bed! Long, but fun day for all!!