Little Baby Lump

Well, maybe just Emmett.  He’s learned to clap in the past week, and honestly, it’s all the kid wants to do, whether the timing is appropriate or not.  Whatever – it’s darn cute…

Emmett was learning to clap while we were visiting my family in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving last week.  It was the first time my family was all together since Emmett and Gus were born, and the first time my extended family met Gus, so it was a lot of fun.  Gus is a lot more interactive than the last time I visited with him, so it was interesting to see the two babies get along.  Although most of the interactions between them involved Emmett sitting on and poking at Gus’ face, it was great to have them both in the same room.

Some highlights in pictures:

Emmett attempts a game of Patty Cake with Gus

Gus tells a very engaging story to Emmett, Aunt Lulu & Gran-D

Gran-D jumpstarts Emmett's gambling problem

Nana causes Gus to make odd facial expressions

Emmett practices his clapping

The babies’ first Thanksgiving was a big success in my opinion.  And if Emmett were still in my belly, he would’ve been about the size of a 20 lb. turkey   Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving!

To view more pictures from Thanksgiving, check out my Thanksgiving ’09 set on Flickr.

Age Timer: 10 months, 2 weeks

I can’t believe it’s already been 10 months since Emmett was born, yet it still seems like so long ago.  This past Sunday, James, Emmett and I went to Shawn and Sara’s to babysit one-month old Ben while they went out for a lunch date, and it seemed like such a flash back.

I also realized how much easier it is to look after a one-month old than it is a 10-month old.  My gosh!  It’s crazy to think about how our lives have evolved in 10 months.

Checking out his cuz

Sleepy Ben

James pacifying Ben

Oh, what Shawn and Sara are in for in 9 months …

Age Timer: 10 months

Emmett spent last weekend up in Maine with Gran Lucy and Grandpa Mac to give James and I some time alone to celebrate our 2-year (dating) anniversary.  While it was fun to do some adult things like go out to dinner in Harvard Square, have intelligent conversation and see a movie at the theater, I’m not gonna lie – I missed the little goober.

Of course he just had to do some growing while we were away.  Lucy noticed a budding tooth in the front, top row of his gums while he was in her custody, which has without a doubt contributed to his crankiness this week.  Luckily though, Lucy also came up with what I’m calling the apple remedy: a semi-peeled apple for Emmett to chew on, which really does the trick.   It keeps him occupied, and it feels good on his gums.  A lifesaver!  Check out the apple remedy in action:

Tart!

The Apple Remedy

In other news, it’s my sister’s (Aunt Adrienne) birthday today.  Happy Birthday, A!

Age Timer: 9 months, 3 weeks

Busy isn’t even the word to describe the past couple of weeks.  Packing and moving (and unpacking) took over our life for a while, and then once we were done with that (well, almost), we headed over to Michigan for Labor Day weekend to visit my sisters, brother-in-law and new, 2-month old baby nephew, Gus.

Emmett tries to reason with Gus

Besides the unfortunate incident of me leaving my digital camera in the seat-back pocket on the flight to Detroit,  (I’m still mourning its loss, which included an adorable video of Emmett on his first-ever flight) we had “great times” in the Great Lakes State, watching an Olympic sailing qualifying race, hanging out with babies and taking pictures (on cameras other than my own).  And Emmett’s first couple airplane experiences went surprisingly well.  A little bit of crying here and there, but nothing we (or other passengers) couldn’t handle.

In other news, Emmett has not one, but two toofers!  Two of his bottom front teeth have broken free, and James and I agree that now he looks just like a classic cartoon baby.

The rest of this week will involve finishing touches on the apartment and new digital camera shopping (so we can take pictures of said apartment).

Man, it feels good to blog again!

More of last weekend in pictures …

2 Month Gus

Getting changed together

Adrienne, Gus, me & Emmett

James keeping Gus pacified on a yoga ball

Party pic with Aunt LuLu

Family pic in the park

Age Timer: 7 months, 3 weeks

James had his first Father’s Day last Sunday, so of course I did a successful job of teasing him by wrapping his presents and displaying them on the kitchen table the Wednesday before.  I know — evil.  To be fair, there were three gifts, and I let him open one each day starting on Friday.  Father’s Day itself was fun.  We indulged James’ craving for KFC, then later went out to dinner to Charley’s with his parents who were in town to help James’ step sister move.

James, Emmett & spoon on Father's Day

Overall, I think James enjoyed his first Father’s Day.  I bet he’ll love it even more as the years go by and Emmett actually understands what’s going on

Age Timer: 22 weeks, 5 days