Devon: June

Devon is a little ray of happy at our house. He has never ending energy and always wants to play and have fun. I feel like a gushing Mom every time I sit down to write about my kids, but I can't help it and I'm not gonna stop ;)

I took Devon to his first, real movie at a theater. We went with my brother and sister and a few of their kids and saw Shrek 4. He clung to his little cup of soda, ate his jelly beans and sat for the entire movie. He loved it and can't wait to go back.

About once a week we have "tattoo day" at our house. Devon will start to draw on me with a pen so I draw on him, myself and we just have fun coloring our skin. I always give him a "Mom" tattoo on his arm. It is the only tattoo, real or otherwise that I will allow.

Devon loves to pretend and use his imagination. Here we was being "Sampson" our cat on his way to the vet.

I am happy that Devon hit a new milestone (in my opinion it's a milestone) and gave up his "papash". We have been slowly throwing them away as they wear out and I didn't buy new ones. Finally, the last one just had too many holes in it and it was no longer safe for him to have in his mouth. We told him that he could choke on it and that we had to throw it in the garbage and that was it. He did ask for it for the next few naps and nights, but we just talked to him about it having holes and that we had to throw it away and he seemed to understand. He is also less attached to his blanket and even slept without it a couple of times. The blanket thing doesn't bother me, but I was getting so sick of having to hunt down ONE papash night after night.

The evening ritual. Wrestling and playing on Mama and Daddy's bed with Daddy.

Devon is getting better at eating more food and has put on a few extra pounds. He has also developed an affinity for jelly beans.

Charming a set of twins at the park. "Hi, I'm Devon. Nice to meet you."

Devon is amazing at using a computer. Seriously, it's sort of freaky. He can totally navigate the mouse and pull up Google Earth on his own. He loves to play video games and watch videos with his Dad on youtube.

Joe took Devon to work with him last Friday and they took this cute picture on the copier.

Some of my favorite quotes:
Me: Devon, what are you doing?
Devon: I'm reading to the Statue of Liberty.

Me: Are you OK, Devon?
Devon: Sigh. Yeah. I'm just resting. I'm Daddy.

"Daddy, make a smiley face."

Devon loves to play Playdoh, watch the "crazy show" (America's Funniest Videos), paint, color, ride cars, play soccer and sword fight. If you sword fight you better defend yourself because he doesn't take it easy on you. My strategy is to swing and retreat.

Audrey: June 11 months

It's been a rough week for Miss Audrey since she has had to deal with her first time getting sick. She almost made it a whole year, but not quite. She has been running a high fever, not urinating, not eating or drinking, fussy, and vomiting. After a couple of trips to the pediatrician, a catheter and Urgent care I think she is finally starting to feel better.

Audrey has been "Army crawling" all over the house. If she has somewhere specific she wants to go she gets there fast! She goes from sitting to her belly pretty seamlessly and has pushed up to her knees a couple of times. I think next month will be her month to really crawl.

Audrey loves to eat grapes, crackers, noodles, Cheerios, pretzels, green beans, yogurt and eggs. She really hates ham, tofu and laughing cow cheese and will almost always spit them out.

She gets up pretty early, but it's nice to have some time that is just us girls and eat breakfast and chat. She has the sweetest smile and I never tire of seeing her little dimple and toothy grin. She loves to draw, but the fact the the pen is connected to the pad frustrates her into screaming fits.

"Shake, shake, shake your bean bag" is her favorite song at story time.

I stopped using her infant bath tub and put her in the regular bath .... which she hates. I basically just try and clean her as fast as possible and get her out. On the rare occasion she enjoys the bath she loves to splash the water and poke the bubbles.

Audrey loves to watch cartoons with her brother. I am amazed at her attention span, but she will sit for most of a movie and watch quietly. She also does a great job playing toys by herself and will keep herself entertained. She still prefers Mama to pretty much anything else at this point, but she is starting to reach out for other people to hold her.

Audrey loves her Daddy and perks up when he walks into the room. He and I have such different dynamics with the kids and it's fun for me to see the new and fun things he introduces to her.

Like all siblings, Devon and Audrey don't always get along, but when they do it is so sweet and tender. Audrey thinks that Devon is hysterical and the feeling is quite mutual.

She is babbling more and more each day and I have heard Mama, Dada and what, but we can't call any of them her "first word" since she was just babbling and not knowing what she was really saying. It is so cute to hear her little voice start to emerge and words start to form.

I can't believe this little-not-so-little baby doll will turn 1 year old in just a few weeks.