Back to School

G's first day of school was Wednesday. This year, he goes five mornings a week, instead of three like last year. Growing up so fast! His mixed-age Montessori classroom has kids who are 3, 4, 5, and 6. When a dropped him off, he walked timidly into his classroom, though there were no tears. Just a hug and "Bye Mom."

First Steps

This video is actually a couple of weeks old now. I kept thinking I would get a better one, but he hasn't been  interested in walking much since this. On my own time, Mom. On my own time.

{Forgive the diaper...he was mid-clothing change.}

Weekend Scenes: Stormy Saturday

It felt like our last weekend of summer. G goes back to school this week, and Saturdays from here on out are filled with football games, friends and family. {Kent has season tickets to see his beloved Hawkeyes.} So a rainy Saturday led to a last-minute decision to visit the children's museum in Iowa City. We met up with Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Austin at the museum, then went out to dinner at one of our Iowa City favorites before returning home after dark. Both kids were happy but exhausted, and we carried them to bed.

G shopped in the museum's kids' market. Please note that the first item in his cart was a box of veggie burgers. 

Miles thought this air pressure exhibit was funny but frustrating. He just wanted to grab the ball.

Both kids' favorite was a room filled floor to ceiling with air-filled plastic tubes.When they put a ball or scarf into one of the tubes, the object whooshed around the maze of tubes before shooting back out at them.

Before leaving, we rode the carousel outside the museum. G picked the elephant.

"It's Easy. Just Put One Foot in Front of the Other."

Lately G likes to take Miles by the hands and guide him around the house.

12 Month Baby M

It's true what they say about second children: they grow up faster than the first. We can't fathom that a year has already gone by. He weighs 19 pounds, 2 ounces (16th percentile), and measures 30 inches (55th percentile). He still has six teeth, and seems to be working on a few more. He amazes us with his awareness and sociability.

What he's been up to this month:

• He gives kisses and hugs.
• In addition to climbing up the stairs, he now climbs down them.
• He takes about three steps at a time before falling down. 
• He seems to understand more and more of what we say: He responds to words like water, hungry, ball, etc., with a nod or head shake. He also can identify his nose, mouth and hair.
• He's enamored with dogs, mimicking their sounds and reaching out whenever he sees one.
• He's proving to be quite opinionated, letting us know with no uncertainty how he feels about something. 
• He still loves to eat, especially fruit like peaches and blueberries.
• One of his favorite things to do is put basketballs in the hoop in the playroom. He seems to have a natural inclination toward balls and sports.
• These days he likes books, but mostly ones that have interesting textures or animal sounds. He has little patience for stories.
• He is quite social, and always has smiles for older women.

First Ice Cream Cone

In addition to his first piece of cake, Miles also enjoyed his first ice cream cone last weekend.

Ice cream-eating was very serious business for Miles, who focused on it as if it were an Olympic sport. In fact, he hardly came up for air at all. He consumed the entire thing in less than 3 minutes, then attempted to lick Grandpa's fingers when it was complete. 

He is a boy of my own heart.

Weekend Scenes: A First Birthday Party

We had a weekend of celebration featuring balloons, ice cream and, of course, cake.

On Saturday, when the weather was lovely, we took Grandma and Grandpa Jerousek to Jester Park to see the buffalo {or "fuffalo," as G says}.

 The boys enjoyed climbing through this hollowed-out tree and peeking through the holes.

We spotted this very large flock of birds, and later discovered {after some digging by our family librarian} that they were pelicans.

Later on Saturday, Grant wanted to go to Target to pick out a gift "for Miles." He chose a tube of animal bath toys, which he brought home and helped me wrap. On Sunday morning, he presented the gift to Miles. "I can share with you," G told M. Then Grant took them downstairs to play with them and proceeded to hoard them the rest of the day.

We borrowed a blow-up bouncy house for the party, which was a hit with the boys and their cousins.

Of course, the day concluded with cake and ice cream.

Miles wasted no time devouring it, then whining for more.