Randoms

 "I very love my family." -Brooke's new phrase when she hugs or kisses one of us.

He was 11 weeks on Friday. He's a pretty smiley baby. We're *this close* to getting a laugh.

 I cannot get enough of him sucking his thumb. I think it's adorable, especially when it's what stops him from crying or helps him go to sleep. Speaking of sleep, night #1 in his own room Once you're back to uninterrupted sleep, the thought of giving it up is painful.

No pressure, son (and thanks again for the cute shirt, Michelle!).

Birthday cake pops are one of her favorite treats. And it's a good excuse to go to Starbucks, not that I need one.

 

Worn out after a visit with Grandma and Papa T. Such a sweetie.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, Matt. I couldn't ask for a better partner in raising these little ones that God has blessed us with. Thank you for being such an involved, supportive, loving, FUN, hands-on Dad. You're a great leader for our family and we're all so blessed to have you. We love you!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

The same weekend that we took Brooke on the train, the White Sox happened to be playing a 3 pm game on a Saturday with beautiful weather predicted. Apparently that was our weekend to be fun, relatively spontaneous parents because we decided to take the kids after getting tickets around 1 pm that day. Matt was a little more excited than I was. It was Brooke's first game (in the middle of her naptime), we were going to have to take Miles in the Baby Bjorn (he had yet to be in it for an extended period), and I'm just generally not good with spur-of-the-moment activities. I like to plan, worry, trouble-shoot, then plan some more.

However, this might have been the most fun I've had with Matt at a White Sox game. He wasn't super-stressed about getting there in time to see the World Series video, we were allowed to pay to park in the regular lot instead of looking for a bargain spot, walked at a somewhat leisurely pace to the field, and he wasn't so engrossed in the game that I felt bad talking to him. Our seats were amazing and cheap (5 rows behind 1st base), but also in a very crowded section. I found myself wanting to "shhh" the man behind me who kept whistling and waking Miles up. Brooke was also really wanting to see Southpaw, so around the 4th inning we headed to the landing where we saw Southpaw taking photos with kids...except that he stops doing that after the 3rd inning. So, we looked for Southpaw for an inning or so before settling into a section that was much less crowded and where Brooke could move around a little without spilling someone's drink.

 

She liked seeing all the things we read about in her White Sox book (of course we have one). We had a great time the rest of the game even though we ended up not getting to see Southpaw at all up close (he takes the 8th and 9th innings off - seriously? He only works for 3 hours a few days a week.) Now anytime we talk about going to the White Sox game, Brooke says, "And we're going to see Southpaw right away, right?"

All Aboard

Brooke's been really into transportation lately. She loves spotting airplanes, trains and trucks, she's noticing red and green lights, all that stuff. So Matt had the idea that we should take her on the train. We've only lived within a few miles of the Metra her whole life. We're cool and innovative like that. Anyway, rather than venturing ALL THE WAY into the city (we're actually not cool at all), we decided to just take her a few stops down the line to Elmhurst for dinner. Here she is waiting for the train - and arguing with Matt about something. Probably not wanting to have to hold his hand.

She kept saying, "Chug-a-chug-a, choo-choo!" and "Go faster!" She also had commentary on everything we passed. It was so fun to watch. Although I'm not sure the weary Friday afternoon commuters that shared our train thought it was as much fun to watch/hear as we did.

When the conductor came by and gave us our tickets she got REALLY excited. She kept saying that she needed to hold it, even when we got off the train.

She's also really into throwing coins into fountains.Then we stopped by a toy store, got dinner and ice cream and then headed back.

On the way back she and Matt ventured up to the upper deck. It was a fun trip. I really wish I could accurately convey her excitement in words. It was one of those rare times that the expectation lives up to the reality.

Oh, and Miles and I were there, too.

Pool Days

We headed to the pool for the first time this year on Memorial Day. It was Miles' first time out. I'm pretty sure it's going to be impossible for me to take the kids out there alone. Stay tuned.

 Brooke got to try out her new floatie. We're hoping this gives her a little more confidence in the water. But not too much. It's a tricky balance.

 

 Miles spent most of his time lounging in the shade.

 

Brooke had fun driving the golf cart with Daddy. Those carnival rides have her convinced she's ready for her license.

 

 Miles showcasing classic ATNR (A developmental reflex. I'm a nerd.). But I am thinking of selling this to a neurology or child development textbook company. They need some up-to-date pictures.

  

Brooke also had fun playing in the sand and on the playground with Grammie Deb. Come to think of it, the majority of her time that day was spent out of the water.

 

Two Months

Miles was two months on Wednesday. It's so hard to believe he's already/only been here two months.

So far, according to the doctor he's a pretty big boy for only being breastfed. He's 13 lb, 5 oz (81%), 24 1/4" (96%) and surprise, surprise, has a head circumference in the 93rd percentile. He's starting to outgrow his 0-3 month stuff and is in size 2 diapers.

We're getting the hang of each other. He's generally pretty happy. He likes to lay on his back and check things out, but only if there's someone nearby that he can see. We get lots of coos and smiles. He seems to be a guy's guy so far. I love watching him charm Matt. (Disclaimer: while I do put him in a lot of preppy clothes, he's not always as prepped out as this post would have him appear.)

It's not his favorite, but he's so much more tolerant of tummy time than Brooke was.

Literally overnight he started sleeping a ton better at night. Last Wednesday he went 7 hours in a row and has gone 6-8 hours in a row ever since. I feel like a new person. Naps are all over the place and I'm still holding him for a majority of his afternoon naps. The pacifier still helps him if he's fussy and tired, but we have to hold it in for him. Lately he's been really into chewing on his fist and just the other day he found his thumb. The mom who's tired of holding a binky in hopes that the thumb continues, but the girl who had to wear headgear for a year wouldn't mind if it doesn't.

Sister

These two continue to be quite fond of each other. Brooke is still very sweet to Miles. She always notices if he's not in the room with us and will want to go check on him. She's also still a bit more clingy to me. I hear the phrase, "Hold me, hold me, hold me," whined multiple times a day. And of course I oblige whenever possible. Life's changed pretty dramatically for her in the last couple of months.

  

She's catching on to the photo ops (just not the posing). She walked over to Miles for this one and said, "Do you want to take our picture?" I love how he's watching her.

 

Here she is being a "mermaid." It doesn't really fit with this post, but I didn't want to forget I had it. She is so entertaining.

Here Comes the...Timmerman Family

  

 We went down to St. Louis again last weekend to watch Krissi's brother, Danny get married. Of course, the whole family was in the wedding and we were looking forward to seeing them all dressed up.

 

 
The kids and I drove down on Wednesday afternoon so we could be around in time to celebrate Tim's birthday that evening. Once again, Miles did not enjoy being in his seat for 4+ hours. But we got there. Brooke had fun playing with Lexi and Tim's friend Kenny's little girl, Kennedi.

 The next day, Krissi and I took the kids by my grandparents' house. The girls had fun playing with the pinwheels (or "wind blowers" as Brooke calls them) outside with Grandpa Charlie.

  

Afterward, Gigi read to them. I swear they were both riveted before I got out the camera.

The next day, Luke came over and he and Brooke had some fun in the pool. Brooke was super-tentative initially, but by the end of the weekend was much more comfortable in the water.

 

 The following day was the wedding. Of course Lexi was a pro at being a flower girl (I think this is, like, her 8th wedding).

Luke wore a sign that said something like, "Uncle Danny, here comes the bride!" Precious.

The beautiful couple responsible for those adorable offspring. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, the wedding was outside. And the high that day was 98*.

The girls during the cocktail hour. If only the rest of the reception went like this. When we decided to bring Brooke, we had visions of her dancing the night away with Lexi - forgetting about the 2 hours of toasts, speeches, and dinner that come with a wedding. Brooke was pretty miserable by the time we left that night. Which means Matt and I were fairly miserable, too. Live and learn.

A tired girl and boy hanging with Papa T.