Bumbo Love, round II

Frankie thoroughly enjoyed the Bumbo chair when she was learning to sit up, and the Bergs have graciously loaned it to us once again for Dexter.

Dex in the Bumbo

And another one, just because he looks hilarious in this shot - did I mention how crazy his hair is?

Watch for the giant smile he gives Frankie in this video:

Frankie in the Bumbo when she was 3 months old (and bald as a bowling ball)

While it's for Dexter, and he is starting to use it some, Frankie and Hannah like to sit in it too. Problem is, they can't get out.





Dexter's personality has started to emerge, and he seems to be very social. It's amazing to me that we can already tell this. He likes to get your attention by cooing or smiling, and will smile and smile at you while he's got you in his range of vision. Frankie was so different - I had to work so hard to get her to smile, and she never cooed at me that I can remember. I remember being worried about this, because all the baby development emails kept telling me she should be doing this and how fun and rewarding it is, yada yada. I thought for sure something was wrong with her, that she'd never learn to talk. Turns out she's just a serious girl, and probably an introvert. I love this about her. It's coming in quite handy that she can play by herself for long periods of time while I nurse Dexter or soothe him. She needs her Mama time too, so fortunately for her, Dexter usually takes a good nap in the morning and we're able to hang out together.

Dexter!

Dexter will be 8 weeks on Monday, and is a very happy little boy overall. He's started smiling to beat the band this past week:

Grandparent Love

I've wanted to post pictures of the kids with their grandparents ever since they came to visit, and here they are! It was wonderful to have so much help, and Frankie certainly became attached to her Nonnie, Pawpaw, and Mimi while they were here.

Nonnie and Dexter

Pawpaw and Dex

Nonnie and Frankie

Mimi and Dexter

Mimi taught Frankie to garden and she had so much fun her fingernails were full of dirt!


Mimi and Frankie

Summertime Fun

We've been up to all kinds of summertime fun recently. We got a new (longer) hose and a sprinkler, and the girls had a blast today playing in the water.

The nodding that Frankie is doing in the video is a very pleasant recent addition to her communication repertoire. This literally just appeared a few days ago, and it's been wonderful to have her so agreeable after several months of the "nos".

We went to the park last Friday that's within walking distance from our house and participated in craft day, sponsored by Boston Parks and Recreation. The girls decorated "parade flags" and got their hands painted (they were a little unsure about getting their faces painted). Frankie liked the hand-painting very much - she stuck out her other hand as soon as the woman was done with the first, and then before she was finished with the butterfly on her second hand, she was pointing to other spots on her arm that were bare and could use a little something.

Nell and Macai came to visit, and the kids proved that you're never too old for a little time on the playmat. Macai is walking now, and is taller than both Hannah and Frankie!

Chris is out of town until Wednesday night, and I'm doing well considering. I was able to successfully put Frankie to bed, and Dexter went "down" around 7:30, although he's already been up three times since then.

The Mullet Morphs

Many times in the last few months I have been tempted to trim the mullet. Sarah kept encouraging me not to, reminding me that soon I'd be able to put the hair into a pony tail, just like our adorable friend, Ella Defoyd. The day has arrived! The mullet morphed into pigtails yesterday for about 30 minutes. Just long enough to take pictures before Frankie won the battle to pull out the rubber bands.



We also took our first outing yesterday all by ourselves! We went to the Ashe's house - very safe. While Frankie is wearing her "Big Sister" t-shirt, she still loves to imitate her "big sister" Elizabeth.

Surviving

We are half-way through day 1 of being On Our Own, with no more grandparent backup arriving until the end of September. It was wonderful to have so much full-time help. I will be posting a longer post with pictures and video of Mimi's visit, but wanted to throw up a quick post to let you all know we're hanging in there. I even managed a shower this morning.

Frankie is still sweet to her baby brother. She got really frustrated the other day when she kept trying to share her toys with him and he wouldn't take them. I tried to explain that he did not have the large motor skills yet to do so, but she still seemed exasperated at him.

Frankie gives Dex a massage (Kristen, I know you're going to laugh as hard as I did at Dexter's expression)

Tummy time!

I love you, baby brother.

Smiles! He's smiling at us now.

Sisters