Counting - the new order of numbers

Brooke's been working on her numbers.  Yet this past week she's convinced this is the order...

1, 2, 6, 10

It's quite amusing to listen to her.  Funny to watch her too, as she holds her fingers up to her mouth while she counts.

12 Week Magic

I think we're turning the corner of Keira's fussiness, as we hit the 12-week mark.  Things are improving greatly as she gets a bit older, and as Mom learns to be careful of what she eats.  Mom has discovered that Keira has very kissable cheeks, showering them with kisses throughout the day.

A House Full!

Bob and Anne, and their brood of Evan and Nora came to visit for the weekend.  Evan is just a couple weeks younger than Brooke so it was lots of fun to watch them play together.  The toy sharing went very well...always a questionable situation at this age.

Evan shows off a toy.  I'm sure playing with someone else's toys must be like Christmas...discovering all sorts of new things!

Keira enjoyed new company to dote on her.

There were hugs to go around by the end of the 2nd day.  Really, they're hugging, not wrestling...or maybe Brooke is wrestling Evan into giving her a hug...

Nora just turned one and is busy trying to figure out this walking business.

A great weekend to spend with friends!  Thanks for trekking out here!

Happy Birthday Dad and Grandpa!

Dad and Grandpa share the same birthday so we celebrated together in Cincinnati, with Aunt Kiki and Uncle Matt coming up from Atlanta.  It was a fun weekend to be all together under one roof.  Aunt Kiki did lots of book reading, first with Brooke,

then with Keira, whom really delighted in the "visual stimulation," as her legs furiously kicked away as she intently watched the book.

With the hot weather, we took solace in the neighbor's pool, as Brooke practiced her swimming.

She also loved dangling her feet in the "waterfall".

Uncle Matt, Mom and Aunt Kiki sit poolside cheering on Brooke's swimming efforts.

Aunt Kiki jumped in to take Brooke for a ride on the "boat" (aka raft).

Mimi watched over Keira in the cool house.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!  We hope the girls helped make it special!

Funny Expressions from Keira

Is that camera in my face again?

Woo Hoo!

Like Maddie, I can also stick out my tongue!

A trip to the Dairy Farm

We took an outing to a local dairy farm, where Brooke got to see (and smell) cows.  "What do cows say?  Mooooo!"  Here we are by the baby cows outside.

Laughing at a baby cow.

Apparently scared of a baby cow.

Brooke near a big cow, who apparently is in need of some milking!!!

At last, Brooke enjoys her favorite thing the whole world -- MILK!

Scott and the Baby Bjorn

I never thought I'd see the day where Scott "willingly" puts on the Baby Bjorn.  But alas, it has happened!  Due to all the yard work over the past month our lawn was destroyed and now has been reseeded and needs nightly watering.  So as Mom puts Brooke to bed, Dad's in charge of Keira.  This evening he decided to take her with him on the watering duties.

I included this one so you can see the finished product of our backyard project. 

This was the "in progress" picture -- they had to tear down the wall that we built last summer and rebuild it as it started to lean out (original contractor didn't build it right).

Keira is 2 Months Old

Keira's 2 Month Well Check went well:

Weight:  11 pounds  (50%)

Height:  22 inches  (35%)

Brooke keeps herself busy while Mom attends to Keira (typically changing a diaper, as that's what we seem to do all day long!).

One day at lunch Mom stepped into the other room, only to come back and find Brooke reading the paper!  I guess all the book reading is paying off.

Happy 4th of July!

Uncle Brad and Aunt Heather visited for the 4th of July weekend.  Brooke had a lot of fun showing them all her toys and was happy to find someone to hold her ("Up Pease") as these days Mom and Dad don't seem to have empty hands/arms to accomodate that wish.

The two brothers enjoying the morning with the girls (Brad, Brooke, Keira, Scott).

We attempted to get a picture of the girls together in their 4th of July outfits...

However Brooke wasn't too enthusiastic about Keira leaning over on her.  She nearly elbowed Keira in the head...luckily Uncle Brad swooped in to save Keira.