Too big

Both kids are getting way too big, too fast. J's starting to speak much better, he's doing 3 & 4 word sentences. "Mommy, fop sing eese" (mommy stop singing please) and other lovely things. He's also started counting to ten but I don't think he understands the actual concept of numbers - he insists he has 2 sisters, 2 mommies, and 2 daddies. (LOL!) When he "counts" he always goes up to 2 for just 1. Someday. He's great on colors. He loves the color green. Orange he struggles with - he calls it either yellow or red.

Sarah, is already starting to babble a little. Just little 'dadadada's here and there, it's so cute. Haven't been able to capture it on video though. She also loves to stand up and is pretty strong. She can't get to standing herself (although sometimes she throws herself forward while she's sitting like she's trying to) but if you stand her up next to something she'll hold on. She can't wait to start eating food - I just bought her a little booster seat and some cereal, which we'll probably start on Sunday. With all her issues, I'm a little nervous, but I am pretty sure she'll do fine. (of course we'll have benadryl just in case)

First trip to Costco sitting next to each other. They did great. J was sweet and kept kissing her head. (awww!)


Like I said, he's getting too big.


The kids with Grandma and Grandpa G. I think this is the first time Sarah's been held by my mom and she didn't start screaming. Yay!


Standing up!


J's amazing tower of blocks.

They crack me up

Even when I feel like hitting my head on the steering wheel of the van, (which has happened a couple times in the last few days, J has impetigo so we're staying away from friends and we also took away his binky in the car so there's lots of yelling from him and Sarah screams....), suddenly there will be quiet and they're both laughing at each other. Makes it feel somewhat worth it. Although...couldn't we just skip all the screaming and stick with the laughing?

After a nap, I was able to snap a few pictures. He's been so anti-camera lately. I was getting the super serious face from him and couldn't stop laughing.


He looks so grown up in this picture...like he's thinking: "Really Mom....More pictures??"


Finally my laughing broke him, and he started laughing too!


And little miss Sweet Pea is sitting up. She loves the camera, always has a smile ready when I point it at her.


Sweet kids. I love them so much.

Flag

Today (the Friday of Labor Day Weekend), we decided to be spontaneous and drive up to Flagstaff. We're sick of the heat and thought it would be fun, plus Sarah's getting better about being in the car. We headed to...


J was fascinated with the gnome guy.


You stuck your hand in his mouth - if you told the truth you could get it out. Both our hands are still attached to our bodies. :-)


A tree maze. J liked it fine the first time with Shawn but when I tried to go through with him he ran out. Hmmm...


Sarah just observed from the stroller.


The storm lurking in the background would eventually catch up to us.


The mountain is hidden by the rainstorm!


J being his usual cute self.


"feeding" a fake raven


We watched a bit of the raptor show at the arboritum, til J threw a fit and the rain started. But...this bird was named Bailey....(it's a hawk of some sort, he flew over the audience!)


And this bird (a raven with 1 foot) was named Lily! We thought it was funny.


On the way home we saw storm clouds ahead...


...and we ended driving THROUGH a thunderstorm. It felt like we were in the cloud - we were driving through the mountains and could see where the lightning hit the ground, and hear the thunder not even a second after the lightning strike. The rain was pouring down, the road looked like a river - rocks from the sides of the mountain were falling down! People were pulling over but not us! We made it through just fine but it was quite incredible.


And, to end the trip on a high note, J chewed on his disgustingly dirty toes. EWWW!