Bobblehead

Both of our kids have larger-than-average heads. They always have. Walker's looks especially large because he's so skinny everywhere else (except his tummy, that is). Ben claims that it's a "Hagan head" but I'm not totally sure that I agree with that statement. I think we are a family of nice, well-shaped, average-sized heads. I don't think Ben would disagree with me, but he'd still say that Walker has a "Hagan head." Anyway, tonight, at dinnertime, we were getting Walker to shake his head back and forth "no" and we couldn't help but laugh. It's like his little head gets going and then has trouble stopping. :) You'll also see me try to get Walker to drum his fingers on the table. Earlier, Ben had been drumming his fingers on the table and Walker tried to imitate him by repeatedly punching the tabletop with his little finger. It was so cute. Sadly, I was not able to get him to recreate that cuteness on video. He does a little "talking" in the video, but nothing that anyone would understand - including us. :) You will see what I mean. He is very adamant about the things that he says...if only we could understand him! :) Anyway, enjoy - if you have the patience to watch this video, that is!

Typical Walker

If it were up to Walker, this is how he would spend much of his time.

Hanging with a binky, both blankies, and a book.

checking out what's new with the Backyardigans in the jungle

He is pretty adept at walking around with a binky in his mouth, an arm (or leg) through each armhole of his sleep sack (turned blankie), in search of his mama or a book. We should have named him Linus. :)

Walker the Talker

So, finally, Walker has decided to say his first "official" word. I only say that it's official because it's the only word he uses consistently, independently, and in the right context. Other "words" that he says are a bit random...one never knows if he is actually saying a word or just a sound that coincidentally sounds like a word. Anyway, here are a few pictures of the boy using his new word..."uh-oh." :)

He dropped a piece of watermelon and his milk cup on the floor. Perfect time for me to grab my trusty camera and take a picture of him saying "uh-oh." (I'm a little nuts, I know.)

It's cute how he says "uh-oh"...he is so exaggerated in his articulation.

And this is just a random trick that he and Lainey like to do. They put their cup/spoon/fork in their mouth and swing it back and forth. Not to worry, our kids would be happy to teach your kids their totally appropriate and awesome table manners. :)

Backyard BBQ

Yesterday evening, we invited some friends and their families over for burgers. I went to college with these girls (and one of their husbands) and, as always, it's a true blessing to be able to see them and get together. Thanks for coming over, girls. So wonderful to see y'all!

My kids enjoyed crawling around with Ashlyn. So funny. I'm surprised that they didn't get squashed at some point!

Sweet Ashlyn. Teething and completely attached to that block!

controlled chaos :)

the mamas and their babies

(Don't we have a cooperative group of children?)

the girls (and Lainey, who wanted to take the picture with us)

Lainey's First Movie

This morning, Lainey and her dad went to see Winnie the Pooh at the movie theater while I took Walker to the grocery store (I'll give you one guess as to who had more fun...haha!). This was her first trip to the theater and Ben said that she did great. She loved it and ate so much popcorn that "her tummy was too full for lunch." And we know that Lainey and her tummy have frequent conversations about fullness. She asks, and, obviously, her tummy gives her an answer. Did I just use too many commas there? Perhaps. Anyway, I'm glad that her first trip to the movies was a success!

Lainey and her GIANT bag of popcorn (that she shared with Ben). :)

17 Months and Backyard Playtime

Walker is 17 months old!

Sadly, I don't feel like I have much to report this month - at least nothing really new. Maybe it's the heat! Anyway...here are a few funny tidbits about Mr. Walker and then, to follow, some pictures of our evening spent playing outside. It's so hot that I'm grateful for our evening playtimes...our only chance to be outside without melting!

First, a quick summary of Walker at 17 months old.

Activities:

• jabbering - literally moving his mouth up and down and making all these different sounds and expressions
• giving me this blank, "deer-in-headlights" look when I take pictures of him (unless someone is behind me making him laugh!)
• trying to talk ("Uh-oh" is a new word that he's trying to say...I think this might be his first "official" word. We'll wait and see if he can use it unprompted and independently!)
• flushing toilets - public ones, too :)
• unrolling toilet paper
• pointing out the moon
• hating diaper changes
• not loving swim lessons
• loving Dora
• "blowing the house down" when we act out The Three Little Pigs
• hating the feeling of having grass stuck to his wet feet (serious meltdowns)
• splaying his toes and arching his foot when you try to put shoes on his tiny feet...making the task quite difficult
• getting teeth - he has 12 at the moment...the final one, #12, is poking through as I type and is causing him to drool like a faucet
• rearranging my refrigerator...putting cold drinks in various interesting spots, putting condiments on different shelves...
• stealing his sister's chair
• pushing the buttons (repeatedly) on the front panel of the TV
• likes running his finger up and down over his lips and he likes doing it to others, too :)
• obsessing over balls - footballs, baseballs, tennis balls, soccer balls...you name it
• opening books and reading, pointing out things on the pages, turing the pages - he does a lot of this independently, not necessarily needing us in the room with him
• making a funny guttural noise when I say that something is "yucky" (Lainey did the same thing.)
• walking on his tippy toes
• holding up his hands in a "Where is it?" pose when reading his peek-a-boo books
• eating markers and crayons and Play-Doh
• looks at us, points at something, then looks back at us and says, "attss" or "ettss" (Obviously, he's trying to say something very important.)
• carrying his blankie around with one arm through one armhole

Notice the grass in the fuel tank.

Awhile back, I told Lainey that cars needed "gas" to move. I think she interpreted that as "grass" and ever since, grass has been stuffed into the fuel tanks on the Little Tikes cars.

Walker loves dragging things behind him...vacuum, toy train, butterfly net with a soccer ball inside it...

This is Walker's new trick. He loves getting on his tummy and swinging back and forth, back and forth. Just like the big kids do. Except he falls on his face every once in a while. :)

Hi, Cuteness! Happy 17 months!!

And now...onto some brother/sister shots from our evening in the backyard. Ben kept throwing a ball up into the air and it was up to Lainey to catch it. This next series of pictures shows the various expressions Lainey exhibited while anticipating her dad's next move...

And, inside we go. Time to cool off!

Cinderella

On Friday evening Aunt Allyson, Kelley, and I took the girls to see Cinderella performed by the Plano Children's Theater. Despite being about 15 minutes late to the show (our dinner took a bit longer than expected) we still caught the last 30 minutes or so and the girls seemed to really enjoy it. Afterwards, we played around outside and Cally "directed" the girls in reproduction of the play. Well, it was sort of a reproduction. Mostly just some dancing and twirling and running down the stairs.

Cally (9), Ella (almost 5), Lainey (3),

reflection of an absent-minded photographer (33)

cute cousins

These two are always on a mission...somewhere...to do something...

Lainey and Ainsley, having some conversation while Ella smiles for me

Lainey and Ainsley, still conversing and Ella, still smiling

the mother hen and her chicks

solving the world's problems

a little singing

a little dancing

and a little running down the stairs

(a very, very grainy picture...bad lighting, faulty camera settings)

Cute...I love this picture of these two.