End of Summer

I can't believe summer is already over!! We have stayed busy, busy, busy and the kids have had a great time (sometimes too much fun - note picture below for anyone worried these two don't have enough toys!!). Max really started consistently walking at about 10 1/2 months - now there is no stopping him. He barrels through anything in his way - chairs, tables, people, nothing holds him back! He's not too big to let me carry him though!!

Cate finished up in the "Twos" classroom and will move into the "Younger Threes" class room. Most of her friends are actually in the "Older Threes" class, but so far she handled the transition days just fine. I just have to be better about setting up playdates now that she won't be with them everyday! This fall she also starts a more sports oriented class at the Little Gym that will introduce her to different sports like soccer, golf, basketball, etc. Erick also wants to find a good swim class for her this winter.

We had our first pool party in 4 years and it was a blast (and exhausting!). Lots of friends and coworkers came, and even some of Cate's friends from school. Sadly, we were so busy we didn't take any pictures!! Both kids - but especially Cate - have spent a lot of time in the pool this summer.

We only made a couple of baseball games as a whole family, but we also went to the Nationals Family Day at one of the museums and got to meet two players. In addition, Erick has gotten two of the twelve names he needs on Max's authentic jersey.

Cate and I went to a family day at a local emergency room. They had a bouncy house, ambulance, fire truck, and all the kids got a little teddy bear to get "xrayed". We missed out on face painting so I had to bribe Cate with ice cream! She is quite the little girl now, everyday she seems to grow up a little more! She is really learning her manners (when she wants to) - saying "Yes" instead of "Yeah" (better than me!), and "Please" and "Thank You". She also picks up everything. For example, the other day I spelled something out instead of saying the word and she said "Mommy and Daddy, you don't talk about me!" Too smart for OUR own good!!

Besides the obvious first of Max walking, we had some other firsts. Cate wen ton her first boat ride. Friends of ours brought their boat down with their three kids and Erick and Cate went out on the river. She had a great time. Not quite as exciting, but Max got his first haircut (a mohawk, naturally!). Cate also went along for her second haircut.

 Up next...birthday parties, football, and spending more time with family and friends!!

He can walk!!

The evening before he turned 10 months old...(never mind daycare told me the next morning he was "walking all day yesterday", we saw it first!)

Summertime

Since my last post right before 7 months, Max has started full-on crawling (including up the steps into the kitchen) and cruising! A couple days before he turned 9 months he really started standing unsupported and in the past week he has started standing from sitting without holding on to anything. He'll be walking in no time (Cate walked at 10 months).  Max grabs any movable object close to his height (including other older kids at daycare) and use it as his walking support. He also climbs on to anything he can - chairs, shelves, tables...he's not picky!

At 9 1/2 months, Max weighed in at 21 pounds, 3 ounces (60%), 27 inches (10%...maybe this is off?!) and head circumference greater than the 97%. He has a healthy appetite and has tried all kinds of food, pureed and plain ole finger food like Cheerios, avocado, peas, green beans, broccoli, pasta and even sweet potato fries! I am trying to get him to start using a sippy cup (and apparently lounge in chairs like he owns the place!). He is saying da-da, and sometimes ba-ba, ma-ma, and na-na. I think his fourth teeth on both the top and bottom are finally pushing through, so he won't be lopsided anymore!

Cate is still enjoying her gym time and we even went for a little extra time and took Max on Mother's Day. This summer she is doing tumbling only - she wasn't really enjoying the dance part of the spring class. She loves the balance beam!

Cate got all 3s (out of 3!) on this "report card" for the spring. Summer is more of a camp (vs school) type atmosphere for daycare, so more play, water time, etc. Cate will let the teachers fix her hair all fancy, but mommy and daddy aren't allowed! She has been so good using the potty. She still won't go number 2 at school, but otherwise she is great during the day and we are going on over a week with no  nighttime accidents (knock on wood). That is especially important since this is how each night starts...and sometimes it ends, too!

Cate is already listening to pop music - her favorite songs are Walk the dinosaur by Was Not Was and My Songs Know what you Did in the Dark by Fall Out Boy (not that I expect most readers of this to know those songs, but I look forward to telling her her first two favorite songs in 10 years!). The latter song was performed live on tv the other day and she made me rewind it 5 times so she could dance to it. When they played one song at the baseball game, Cate wanted to know why they didn't play her other song! We think she is going to be a little drummer when she grows up! One Saturday we went to Old Town and our little rockstar got to play on some drums!















The pool is open and Cate loves it again. Max has only been in  a few times so he's still getting his sea legs! Besides swimming, we are trying to go to as many baseball games as possible, although the heat may hold us back some this summer.  Erick is trying to get all of the Opening Day players to sign an authentic Nationals jersey for Max. They have "Signature Sundays" every home weekend, but you have to show up to find out who is signing!

 We are lucky to have such a happy little family  and Cate and Max get along so well! We have been enjoying visits from family and friends and look forward to some more this summer!

Vacation

Our "stay-cation" started with Easter weekend and the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. A year after Cate's first, she was still the youngest hunter, but much quicker this year!  Cate and I also dyed Easter Eggs and made sugar cookies.

On Sunday, Cate enjoyed going through her and Max's Easter baskets (it was almost as good as Christmas!).  We also went to the Aldersgate service where Cate promptly fell asleep and Max was anxious to get going!

After church, we headed into the Washington DC Hilton. Monday was the Washington Nationals Opening Day, our little family tradition (we even got interviewed by the local radio station on the way in talking about it being Cate's third opening day!) It was nice weather for most of the game, and we had a great time watching the Nats win. We met up with some friends at the end of the game including an former nanny who kept Cate entertained with stories and new games.

On a much colder Tuesday, we headed to the zoo. The gorilla house was a success, but otherwise we were reminded why we didn't bother to travel anywhere with a toddler and a baby...they were some cranky kids! Cate was an angel for Aunt Cami and Uncle Barney who we met out for dinner that night!!

We went to the Air and Space Museum and National Gallery on Wednesday- more fussiness, but Cate did enjoy stealing pebbles from inside the National Gallery! 

Max is getting faster and faster at scooting, plus can sit up really well now. He also can pull up to standing...a little early if you ask me! Erick even got him to "walk" around using Cate's shopping cart.  He has gotten his third tooth on the bottom and two are breaking through the top. He is very vocal (and loud!) and loves to say da-da.

Cate has started the "why" phase...suddenly she just started asking why about EVERYTHING. She is also starting teenage sassiness a little early. The other day Erick was telling her to do something and she kept looking around him, avoiding eye contact, saying "what's that noise, is that dada's voice??". She is finally to eat more than black beans and olives and loves Uncle Brent's ribs (and his doggie)!