He thinks he is sooo big

James is 10 months now but he thinks he is about 18 months. He wants to be doing whatever other people are doing. Eating solid foods, clapping, dancing and playing with swords, apparently. 

We got these blow up swords from a birthday party (I love our neighbor for giving me two) and James and Zach play "swording" which basically means Zach swings his sword around - he is not allowed to hit James, while James chews on his sword. Zach usually tires of it quickly and tries to sword with me or Norman.

I also tried tying James in to the chair at Zach's table to see if he would eat better in there. He is not a bad eater, but gets distracted easily. He is held in there by a sassy polka dot scarf I had lying around which is hidden under his belly. I had to sit right next to him as he insists on throwing his big, chubby body side to side and forward. He thought he was a big boy like his brother. And did eat a bit quicker. But it was not worth me sitting on the floor next to him.

Sometimes I wonder...

How is this my life? 

I really, really try not to go to the grocery store (or anywhere to be honest) with both boys.  But sometimes it is inevitable. I just need milk or bananas or diapers. So I figure I might as well make it entertaining for myself and strap the boys into the double cart. Wearing their sunglasses.

At this point James was just learning to sit up so he is basically hanging in there by the chest straps.

Again, more amusing for me.

As a side note, oh how I miss that baby's hair.

I can't even stand it

I love this baby so much. All I do is kiss that face off and babble like a ninny at him.

Mornings around here

My favorite thing to do on the weekend mornings it to let Zach get in bed and "play" with James. It buys us a good 20 minutes of child-free quietish time. Our rooms are close enough that I can hear everything and am able to run in there when I hear "James eat this!" etc.

But both the boys love it. I can tell when James first sees Zach by how his coos change from annoyed to excited. We have started putting up the railing in the hopes James might be close to pulling up (not happening) and Zach is none to pleased that he can't get in there on his own any longer. Frankly I am not either. That means I have stumble in there and put it down for him. That is 30 seconds I could be laying in bed pretending I am 25 again.

PS I will only being buying matching pajamas from now on. So. stinkin. cute.

Chillin in the Cutty

Once the weather turned warmer that meant it was officially time to break out the Cutty. We recently moved it to a storage area closer to us so he has better access to it. We are overjoyed. 

Zach is actually super excited about it, especially since Alex figured out his car seat fits nicely in the back. You don't need a chest belt when you are in a 5 point harness. The top was down only for photos, when they got going he did put it up. Because that skinny steel frame holding the canvas top offers excellent head protection.

Even the baby got in on the action. He tried to eat the window handle.

9 Months

This month I am actually totally fine with James being 9 months. Most likely because he is actually 10 months now.

But even when it was real...him being 9 months did not make me want to hide under my desk - or in a closet. I love him at this age. He is still so "baby"; chubby and giggly and snuggly. He weighs almost 20lbs which I do not know because I took him to his 9 month check up - that would be good mothering. Nope he has an ear infection, caught early this time. He will get his 9 month check up done later this month. Maybe.

He just cut both his bottom teeth which we are all (his nanny included) glad are here. Those teeth are trying to turn my sweet baby into a monster. Normally he is so happy and loud but not the past few weeks. He turned very clingy and starting chewing on me. Not awesome.

James would like to be moving and I am pretty sure he is going to be a scooter like his brother. (side note: why are my children so weird??) He still sits up then throws himself forward to grab something, showing flexibility that he does not get from the Walls, and pulls himself back upright or falls on his face and starts to roll around. He also pivots around on his bottom and has really gained some movement with that. He can pivot to go backwards. He does not go on all fours, he does not rock. (see photo above of his "stuck" position). He just sits, flails and pivots.

Anyway, normal non-teething James still "talks" constantly and very, very loudly. But my favorite thing he does right now is dance. When you sing the intro to Cat in the Hat which is "Here we go, go, go, on an adventure..." he puts his hands up and wiggles back and forth. Very in-the-club really. He also claps and blows kisses when you say bye-bye. I have the best nanny ever. You know I did not teach him that.

What some of you might have caught on to is that this means my baby watches TV. That is right. Alert the APA immediately. Every morning as Zach is eating his breakfast and watching Cat in the Hat on PBS, James is strapped in next to him eating puffs and singing/trying to grab his brothers' breakfast. It is the only way I can get ready for work and not have someone talking to me while I try to put on my mascara. And he loooooves Cat in the Hat. I will walk in an both boys will be mesmerized by Cat going into the swirly wirly ocean or bouncing along with a song about putting on layers of clothing. PS I feel no guilt at all. Not one bit. It is not like he is watching Maury or Jersey Shore.

James has had something unfortunate happen this month...he is now sporting the reverse horseshoe. AKA hair on top and around the collar but NO WHERE ELSE. It is very mohawk looking straight on but from the back, the ring of hair at the bottom is pretty terrible. I don't know what is going on, but every day his hawk gets smaller. I guess this is what people talk about when babies hair falls out and comes back in different? And let me tell you this in between phase is not doing him any favors...but I do like to spike it up. This did not happen to Zach and I don't appreciate the twinners trying to be different. Let's keep mommy in her comfort zone for a few more months.


James at 8 months

James at 7 months

James at 6 months

James at 5 months

James at 4 months

James at 3 months

James at 2 months

James at 1 month

Crabbin'

While at the beach, Vince introduced Zach and I to crabbing on the bay side. Vince was obsessed very into getting crabs so he went over to the bay side about every 3 hours to check the nets. We had to stop on the way in to get crab nets and chicken necks. Gross.

But Vince and Zach went over and set them up and he showed Zach how to pull up the nets slowly at first then faster so that the crabs don't jump out. And to my surprise (but not his) he actually caught 4 the first day!

Zach loved to look at the crabs in the cooler. But he did not want to touch 

or eat them.

Liv caught a stone crab with just one huge claw.

Love his face. The crab is obviously dead and he is really not so sure about that claw.

James was equally confused. Not scared but 

annoyed that this was not something he could get into his mouth.

Moms are so annoying that way.

Art by Zach

A few months back (why is everything a few months back, PS) Zach's teachers mentioned that he is really not interested in coloring, drawing or writing. He does it, but he holds the crayon super lose and does not want to do it for long. So we were "encouraged" to have him draw, write and use stickers at home. Becuase I will have more success? Ummm, no. You have seem the "success" of my attempted craft projects....

But I saw this on Pinterest. Still, that seemed like a LOT of work, which got me thinking about the chalk floor mat I bought 3 years ago at the Nutcracker Market that was just sitting in the closet. I thought that mat, plus a few snaps could become a cover for Zach's inside table.

Sure enough, a set of large snaps and hammer later, it was done and wow does he like it.

The very first night he and his dad sat down and drew this castle complete with a dragon with hair like Zachary (aka on his forehead). They both were super into it I had force them to go to bed. I don't know that it is his first choice of things to do, but it seems to make drawing more fun. For now at least.

Happy Baby

I am so in love with my happy baby - have I mentioned that? I adore this face.

And this one:

Who are you looking at James? My feet?

Oh and he is so precious in the bath! I just kiss those cheeks.

Ha! Did I get you? That last one is Zachary at the same age. They are twins and it is so, so weird.