Another trip to Houston

We went to Houston this past week and just got home yesterday. It was such a nice visit, but it's always nice to be home. We went in town to celebrate Papa's birthday and go to Jill's baby shower. What fun times! Here are some photos...

Jake & Miles in their awesome new Elmo chairs

Dada reading to Jake in his Elmo chair

Miles, chillin' in his new chair. Soooo proud of himself...

Miles doing some shopping

Aunt Milly reading to Lucy & Jake

Taffy reading to Miles

Jake loving the fountain at Papasitos

All the kiddos watching the fountain

Miles (look at those curls!!!), Jake & Lucy

Jake playing peek-a-boo

Miles loving the crock at Papa & Taffy's

Jake trying to hide in the crock...not quite big enough

Sweet Miles

Happy 14 months!

I started this post on the 19th and just finished it!! 

Jake & Miles are fourteen months old today. As always, I can't believe it. I actually don't have any pictures to go with this post...just a little update. They are sooooooo close to walking and we are on the edge of our seats...just waiting. They are now letting go of things while they are standing up - on purpose - and are thrilled with the whole free-standing thing. I am so anxious for them to walk because I think it will allow them to enjoy a whole new set of activities. The playground/park, museum, etc. Can't wait!

We are teetering back and forth between one nap and two naps. That is kind of frustrating just because it is hard to plan anything. Usually if they have a day or two of one nap they need to catch up with two for a few days. I am totally ready to move to one long nap. It means we can get out and do more, but each time we have dropped one it has been a process. 

They are still eating really well, but I am definitely starting to see a little bit of the picky-toddler emerge from both of them. It's challenging because their tastes are getting a little more different so I find myself making so many different things in order to get each of them to have a meal that they like. Sorry if this is TMI...We have had some struggles for a few months with toddler's diarrhea...no fun. They had that pleasant issue as their only symptom for about 6 weeks. We finally figured out (with the help of their wonderful pediatrician) what it was and that it could be fixed with some tweaks to their diet. Yay!! They weren't getting enough fat and protein. Once I fixed that the problem vanished. Finally. Current favorites include - turkey, tofu, pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, eggs, waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, veggie meatballs, bananas and just about any other fruit you can think of, smoothies, goldfish, graham crackers 'pizza' (english muffin w/ pizza sauce & cheese) and cheerios. They are still sensitive to dairy milk so we are on soy, but they are tolerating the dairy yogurt pretty well.

They are so so sweet that I just don't know what to do! Jake is a total ham - making faces, giggling, playing peek-a-boo, etc. Miles is really into checking out how things work. If you give him a new toy he just turns it over & over, examining it before playing with it. They are both such happy boys and are so social. 

"Vacation"

Vacation takes on a new meaning when said vacation includes two 13-month-olds. We took the boys to Hilton Head, South Carolina this past week for eight days and just returned on Sunday. We had a wonderful time, but it was also a lot of work. Travel logistics with two babies are difficult. The actual travel days were the hardest, but the boys adjusted wonderfully and really exceeded my expectations. They slept really well and generally just enjoyed having everyone around all of the time. I think Peter & I need a vacation to recover from our vacation. The boys loved it...they loved the beach, the boats, the birds, having so many people around, watching their older cousins, and so much more. They are so close to walking, but have not taken unassisted steps yet. They also seem really close to having some words. Right now they are working on ball, duck, dog, boat, bird, night-night, yum-yum...they officially have mama & dada down. Jake was such a little ham...waving, loving, flirting, lunging. Miles was as fearless as always and could not get enough of whatever we were doing. They play hard and love hard. They were so much fun! Here are some pictures from the trip, with captions above...

Miles crashed out on dada on the plane...don't even get me started. Jake did not sleep.

Jake & mama

Jake loved opening & closing the window shade

Dada with his guys

Jake watching the airplanes at the airport

Miles & Jake...loving our room with a view

Salty dogs...

Sweet Jake

Miles, blowing me a kiss

Miles post-bath

Happy 4th. Jake enjoying the beach

Happy 4th of July. Impossible to get both boys looking at me & smiling...especially on the beach

Strolling on the sound

Mmmm...smoothies

Jude, Jake & Philippa

Miles - LOVING the ocean

Miles

Jake crawling in the sand

Just enjoying the view

Eva & Brian

Walking around Harbor Town

Look...boats!

Harlan & Robyn cuddling

Game night

Eva & Jude

Jake, Poppy & Max

Jake & Jake

Jake & his love-hate relationship with ice cream. So good...but soooo cold! More, please!

Miles & mama ordering yummy peach ice cream

Hanging out at the marina

Miles was so tuckered out from his first day at the beach that he crashed out on the way home in the bike trailer

Beach time

Going for a ride in the bike trailer

Playdate palooza!

While I was in Houston I got together with a bunch of my close girlfriends and their bambinos. I've been friends with these girls as far back as 5th grade! It was so much fun! We managed to get a group shot and here it is. I wish we would have gotten one with all of the mamas too. Next time!

Dane, June, Cate, Jake, Gretta, Savannah & Miles

Savannah & Jake playing piano

Jake was facinated with the big boy!

Loren & Gretta

Jake

Savannah

Blythe in the middle of the chaos!

Catie & Savannah

Adrienne, Cate & Baby Collins cooking in mama's belly!

Blythe & June

Jake & Cate