I’ve noticed an echo follows me everywhere I go. Whatever I say, Sawyer repeats the last word or two. Brinlee has started to pick up the habit, too, but there is a big difference. Sawyer softly repeats it, so it really sounds like an echo. Brinlee shouts it back to me or out into the audience, I’m not sure which. His new favorite word is yucky. Everything is yucky, yucky, yucky.
/
/
/
/The kids have learned an important new word, “Whoooooaaaaaa.” When daddy takes a turn too fast. Or when we go over a big bump, they all chorus with, “Whoa.”
/
/
/
/This weekend we got to go to two birthday parties. Our friend Jamison, who lives in our neighborhood turned two, and we went to her party. The kids had a big time. They got to slide and play in cars and chase balls. They also got to stuff themselves silly. They had yogurt, applesauce, chips, popsicles, grapes, cupcakes (we brought our own wheat-free cupcakes), and anything else they could get their hands on. We frosted those cupcakes which was a M-I-S-T-A-K-E. They were covered head to toe in frosting. Fortunately we were walking home, because I would never want to put them in the car like that. We put them straight in the bath. After the bath they were bouncing off the walls because they were so hopped up on sugar. Everything was hysterical to them. Caisen also enjoyed the party. As the youngest attendee, he got lots of attention and holding, which is all he wants.
/
/
/
/The next day we went to the Guinn Girls’ second birthday party. Alyssa, MaKenna, and Isabelle were excellent hostesses (and the future wives of my three sons). Their backyard is like Disneyland. The only thing missing is the characters. It pays to be the only grandkids on both sides! The kids all had a big time sliding and driving cars and swinging. Once again, they stuffed themselves silly. And once again they came home hopped up on sugar. Of course, this time we were smart enough not to frost the cupcakes. We didn’t want to have to hose them down in Kim’s yard before we put them in the car.
/
/
/
/I forgot to mention in my last update that Caisen is well on his way to sitting up. He does the tripod sit very well, though he’s not always in the mood for it. Sawyer seems to have a special love for Caisen. He’s always entertaining him and playing with him. He’s very gentle with him. Kimball and Brinlee like him too, but he’s not that useful to them yet. They will play peek-a-boo with him, and he goes crazy laughing. Once he gets mobile I think they’ll be more interested.
/
/
/
/On our way to visit my parents, we stopped for lunch at Steak n Shake. There was an older couple and their daughter. They were watching our family and the dad was making sort of obnoxious comments. He was the type of person who talks just to hear his own voice. After they finished their meal, they approached our table. Brinlee had her hair up in pigtails and looked adorable. The looks right at her and says, “What kind of crazy hairdo is that? You get that done in Brazil?” Brinlee dropped her head and looked so sad. I replied, “I lived in Brazil, and little girls do their hair like that all over the world.” Brinlee would not look up. He really hurt her feelings. So he tried taking her cup so she would look at him. She wouldn’t. I told him to leave her alone, she didn’t like it. She wouldn’t look up until he was gone.
/
/
/
/Tonight I was peaking at Brinlee through a transparent cup, and I said, “I see you.” She repeated back, “I see you,” as she looked back at me through her cup. A few minutes later, I asked Kimball, “How are you?” He responded, “Fine……..How are you?” I just about jumped right up! It was so cute! Sawyer will say, “What’s that?” I can’t believe they’re suddenly connecting words. I think we’re about to have a conversation explosion, and it’s exciting!
/
/
/
/
/
/We went to play with Kate and company. Her whole downstairs was open and available, and the kids chose to congregate and play….in the hallway.
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee and cousin Madelin.
/
/
/
/
/
/The kids love to rock in the chair in their room before bed.
/
/
/
/
/
/Daddy helped them breach baby fortress.
/
/
/
/
/
/Kimball, meet chocolate ice cream.
/
/
/
/
/
/All the cousins
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee likes chocolate ice cream.
/
/
/
/
/
/This is good. I need more.
/
/
/
/
/
/We got Gran and Granddad a bench for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The kids decided to help Granddad put it together.
/
/
/
/
/
/More help.
/
/
/
/
/
/All the cousins together for the first time.
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee is always putting on Caisen’s bibs (though, to be fair, they were hers before they were his). Brinlee, Kimball and Sawyer entertaining Caisen.
/
/
/
/
/
/Gathered around the beloved light switch during their sacred diaper time.
/
/
/
/
/
/This is our sweet, happy, smiley Caisen. Every time I pull out the camera, he stops.
/
/
/
/
/
/Caisen doing his jig at 4 months.
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee working hard at putting on daddy’s shoes.
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee climbed into Caisen’s jumper, but couldn’t get out.
/
/
/
/
/
/Daddy has Caisen in stitches, like always (yes, that’s another one of Brinlee’s bibs).
/
/
/
/
/
/You need to share that rootbeer!
/
/
/
/
/
/How about a bite of that burger?
/
/
/
/
/
/Caisen got a taste of cupcake batter. And this time it was mommy who gave out the deliciousness!
/
/
/
/
/
/We had two birthday parties to go to, so we made wheat-free cupcakes and had a baking demonstration. Everyone learned how to lick the spatula. The spatula was a big hit.
/
/
/
/
/
/After bath the kids were driving Caisen around in his stroller.
/
/
/
/
/
/Kimball wanted a turn.
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee swinging at the Guinns’ house.
/
/
/
/
/
/Caisen is making out with a pink donkey.
/
/
/
/
/
/I love roller coasters!
/
/
/
/
/
/After a few times down the track, Kimball went no hands.
/
/
/
/
/
/I wanna go again! They actually did a pretty good job taking turns. Kimball liked pushing the car back up to the top.
/
/
/
/
/
/Brinlee, Sawyer and Caisen having a chat.
/
/
/
/
/
/