Snips and Snails and Dinosaur Tails...

Hi All!

So I realized as I was looking through my photos this month that for a good portion of the month I just forgot to take pictures - which is a shame because we had a really great month and the boys have been super cute!  I guess I've just been too busy enjoying them in the moment to try to track down my camera.  As the three of us have settled into our routines, and I'm learning better ways to deal with the difficult moments, I find I'm enjoying my time home with my boys more and more.  And the time is just flying by!  Alex is already three months old and Ian is approaching two and a half already.

Alex with his newborn hat

Alex sticking out his tongue at me

Now that Alex has passed the three month mark he has opened up a whole lot more to the world around him.  He gives big huge gummy smiles pretty much whenever he notices someone is looking at him.  He has even started laughing on rare occasions - usually at his brother.  In fact the other day they were having a laughing contest - taking turns laughing at each other - until Ian let out a very loud, very scary laugh and Alex started crying.  He LOVES to babble and coo - I think he's going to be a little chatterbox when he gets bigger.  He has started to grasp toys now - and then bring them all promptly to his mouth - and is really getting into using the jolly jumper - he mostly stomps and 'dances' but he's taken a few little jumps.  In another few weeks and he'll really be bouncing away.

Alex in the Jolly Jumper

My boys!!

Ian has been doing wonderfully with his potty training - almost no accidents during the day, and he's even starting to wake up at night to ask to go.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we are on our last box of diapers for him.  He's also starting to put together sentences now - still pretty rudimentary at this point - but he pretty much always gets his point across.  He has been surprising me with how good his memory is - especially if I promise him something - or tell him we will do something 'tomorrow' or 'later' - he is quite quick to remind me if I forget!  He continues to be an excellent big brother to Alex - and is starting to interact with him more and more now that Alex responds to him by smiling, laughing or cooing.  He also likes to pretend to be a baby - which I mostly find cute - except he took it a little too far when he tried to imitate the baby spitting up...

The boys - goofing around

Ian giving Alex a ride

It has been wonderful to have Uncle Gary, Auntie Tif and Matthew back in town.  Ian LOVES his cousin Matthew and will frequently ask me dozens of times a day whether we can go play with Matthew.  They even attempted a sleepover - but I think they were a little too young  - they only lasted until it was time to actually sleep.

Ian and Matthew - attempted sleepover

We have been trying to take advantage of the summer weather while it lasts - and took a trip to Grand Bend and well as went up to the family cottage at Sauble Beach as part of Alex's three month trip.  Ian loves the beach and had a wonderful time at Sauble.  He played on the beach - crab-walking in with the waves or jumping over them, he built sandcastles - and stomped them to the ground pretending he was a T-Rex, and collected a whole bunch of beach treasures for his nature collection.  Alex tolerated the beach but wasn't a huge fan until we got him his own little beach tent - then he seemed to warm up to the beach - even taking a little snooze on the sand...

Alex at the beach

Ian and Daddy at the beach

Ian's sandcastle

Ian exploring at the cottage

Ian at the cottage

Alex - 3 months old - at the cottage

Awhile ago Aunt Hayley had sent us a design for a strap-on dinosaur tail for Ian - which I thought was a great idea but not sure if I would find the time (or have the skill) to make it - so Grandnan graciously agreed to make it for him.  It turned out wonderfully and Ian has been having a ball wearing it around and pretending he's a dinosaur. Check out the video - so cute!

Ian's dinosaur tail

We also want to wish cousin Matthew a very happy 2nd birthday!  We went to the African Lion Safari to celebrate and had a wonderful time.  Ian and Matthew loved watching at the animals and playing on the climbers and splash pad.  Unfortunately Daddy had my camera at the time so I couldn't take ANY pictures.  But check out Uncle Gary's facebook for some great ones.

Alex after rolling over - yay!

Well - I will try to keep my camera a little more handy this next month - but no guarantees.  I will however continue to hang out and play all day with my two sweet little boys and try to enjoy my time home with them as much as possible. 

Lots of love,
Amanda

PS.  Here are a couple of other videos if you want to watch... just hanging out with the boys!