We All Scream For...

Nothing says summer like ice cream (well, actually, I would argue that ice cream is an all-season treat, but that's just me). And a true indicator of the coming season is the re-arrival of the ice cream man who makes his way through our neighborhood every few days. I was a little surprised to hear his carnival tunes blaring at 9:30 Saturday morning, but hey, ice cream for breakfast works. Ethan and I ran out to meet him and score a few treats, and sat on our sunny back porch to enjoy. I can't think of a better way to start the weekend.

We actually had a lot of ice cream this past weekend, because it was one of the only things Ethan could eat. The poor guy is finally getting over what was a nasty virus that left his mouth looking like an 80 year old man with no access to dental care (or a toothbrush, for that matter). Luckily, the weather was gorgeous and we were able to get outside and distract him. The sandbox provided hours of entertainment.

I just had to post this picture - take a look at this outfit. Yes, those are PJ bottoms. Just another day in the Ethan vs. Mommy fashion wars. Guess how pleased I was when our neighbor stopped by with her two (adorably dressed) little boys...sigh.

Adam

It's hard to believe our mini-munch is 6 months old today. Adam is a delicious chublet who is an absolute joy to be around. He is rolling and scooting, growing thigh rolls, laughing, starting to babble, and generally exploring his world. In celebration of his 1/2 birthday, the things I cherish most about Adam:

• His eyelashes - a total waste on a boy; in fact, people have started asking if he is a girl because those lashes make him look like one. He seems to know he's got great eyes, because he bats his eyelashes and raises an eyebrow when he's feeling flirtatious.
• His smile - Adam has the gummiest, biggest smile that just melts my heart. Because he gets a little less attention than he probably should, he gets so excited when you go over and talk to him. He kicks his legs, yelps, and flashes his killer smile as a reward for the attention.
• His attitude - this kid goes with the flow like no child I have seen, a nice counter-balance to a certain 2-year old who has some very particular tastes.
• His absolute adoration for his big brother, even when Ethan isn't being very gentle. No one rocks his world like Ethan does.
• His giggles - for some reason he thinks diaper changes are hilarious, and therefore so do I.
• That he sucks his thumb while he sleeps - I am sure this is something I will hate in a few years when I am trying to break him of the habit, but for now I think it's adorable.

Chillaxing

The boys are interacting more and more these days - it's so fun to watch. They clearly adore each other and seem to have a special bond that is different and in some ways stronger than the bond each has with us. On Saturday, they were just hanging out on the couch together so we tried (rather unsuccessfully) to capture a few shots of the twosome.

"Look at my cool new shoes, Adam!"

"OK Dad, please stop taking our picture now..."

Mr. Rabbit

Easter is one of those days that's so much more fun with a bunch of kiddos around. We were lucky enough to have Miss Molly and her parents come spend Easter eve and Easter morning with us, and Ethan loved having a partner in crime for egg-dyeing and egg-hunting activities. Here we are Saturday afternoon dyeing eggs. The moms' true personalities came out on this one - Melissa was teaching Molly all about mixing colors and creative expression; I was really concerned that we had too many green eggs and not enough orange ones. And we wonder why Ethan loves order so much...

The next morning, Ethan and Molly found that the Easter Bunny had come, leaving them a trail of eggs to their baskets. Unfortunately, that silly Easter Bunny left a truck puzzle for Molly instead of Ethan! But he got over it and enjoyed his basket too.

Here are the kiddos heading downstairs...Look Molly! I found another egg!I'm getting the hang of this now - collect as many eggs as possible. Not sure why, but I'll do it.
Hmmmm... there are two baskets here - which one should I let her have?

I think it's safe to say that Ethan and Molly enjoyed their egg hunt. But I'm not sure they got the whole Easter Bunny concept, and I'm guessing this just confused them even more:

Wisdom

Today Adam and I enjoyed the almost 60-degree weather and went for a long walk on Scarborough Beach. When we first started walking, I was thinking to myself, "I cannot wait for summer! Adam will be sitting up by then, Ethan will love playing in the sand and waves...". But as I got further into my walk and deeper into my thoughts, I began reminiscing about the last time Adam and I walked on that beach - it was October 30th of last year, and Adam was just 4 days old. It was a day much like today, and Noni and I took Adam out for some fresh air and a snooze in the sling. And it feels like it was just yesterday, as does last summer, when I was chasing Ethan around that same beach, my belly full of Adam. Where does the time go? A wise woman (my mom) gave me this advice about parenting: "Don't wish any of it away, not even for a second. Before you know it, they'll be all grown up." She couldn't have been more right (aren't all moms right all the time?). As parents, we have such a tendency to look forward to the next stage, when they'll be crawling...when they'll be walking...when they'll be talking...when they'll be out of diapers, instead of just enjoying where our kids are at that moment. What was I doing wishing for a summer day, complete with crowds, noise, heat, mosquitos, and messy sunscreen, when I had today - a gem of a day in the middle of a rainy month; an uninhabited beach with only the sounds of seagulls, the waves, and a cool breeze; and a cuddly munchkin, not yet fighting for mobility and independence, but content to ride on his momma's chest. Maybe it isn't great swimming or sunbathing weather yet, but it sure is a perfect beach day.

I didn't have my camera with me today, but here are a couple of cute beach shots from last weekend, when we took Noni and Papi to that same beach. They got a nice walk in while Ethan, Adam, and I looked for rocks and played in the sand. I learned that two year olds are much more interested in what's right beneath their feet than the promise of what may be a mile down the beach...

Rites of Passage

Milestones are always exciting for parents, but there are a few that are REALLY exciting because they signify a growing independence (and a corresponding decrease in parental workload). Ethan hit a couple of these this past weekend. First, he mastered going up and down the slide (safely) all by himself. Mom and Dad got a glimpse of being able to sit on the deck on a Sunday morning, reading the paper while Ethan plays happily in the backyard (we'll see if Adam agrees with this plan). Here's a video clip of Ethan on his slide - sorry for the length, but he was getting tired and pokey by the time we took it. For those of you who can't understand Ethan-ese, he's saying "ready, wee!" at the top of the slide, and then "I slide!" at the bottom.


Ben also wanted to post a picture of the second milestone, but we'll spare you, since it involves the potty... yes, we also got glimpses of a future with only one boy in diapers. Hopefully it's not too distant!