Almost her first word

Lillian makes the p noise for up. We don't count it as her first word quite yet but she is getting close!

New Nanny: Hello Jessie!

Today Jessie started with us as our new full time nanny. She will be spending this week with both kids and then watching Lillian full time while Simon is in preschool. 

Welcome to the family, Jessie!

Lillian signed more

My Irish girl signed more for potatoes today.

Last Day in Boston - Aug 22nd

On our last day in Boston we took the family out to Moody's Deli in Waltham for an amazing breakfast sandwich. Lillian is at the point where she shares our eggs and fruit, but we normally bring something for her so she doesn't feel left out while we eat. Gaga and Papa handled feeding our littlest bottomless pit while Simon ate his own serving of eggs. When that was all wrapped up we hopped in the car and headed to Gigi's to see her one more time before we headed home. Simon was so tired after his long week that he passed out in the car. He woke up surprisingly well and just needed a few minutes to come back to himself before we went in to have lunch with Gigi.  Then we headed home for Lillian to nap and Simon to take one last boat ride, and started packing up for our flight home early the next day.

A rolling stone gathers no moss - and we were certainly rolling! 

Papa feeding Lillian, while his own sandwich waits!

Simon is drinking water in a to-go coffee cup. He was quite excited about it.

Lillian was totally entranced by the measuring cups until she realized that she could listen to the book too!

Lillian's first sign - milk

Alan was changing Lillian's diaper this morning and he started talking to her and asked if she wanted some milk (then did he the sign). She got super excited, did an almost snap and then she did the sign. Then she got pretty pissed that I wasn't there to give her milk. She hasn't repeated it today for me but of course when I'm right there she has what she wants! 

Here she is this morning, almost 10 months old.

Play Date with Karen and Zac

Lillian and Zachary (Karen and David's boy) were due one day apart but Lillian came a couple weeks early and Zac came a couple weeks late. As a result she is technically almost a month older in age, but they are still very close in size - if anything Zac is bigger. For all that he outweighs her she definitely holds her own. There were some really fun interactions as each kid always wanted what the other had.

As a non kid bonus, Karen set up a pack and play so while the kids napped we could do some adult catch up time.

Lilly: Hmmm... Zac, that looks interesting.

Lilly: Let me see that!

Lilly: I'll take that.
Zac: Wait!!

Lilly: focus on a quick get away

Lilly: Auntie Karen, I love this!

Lilly: Mama, look! I came by it honestly, promise!

Playing together

It doesn't happen too often, but it is great when it does. Simon is showing Lillian how to put the shapes in the right holes in her new toy (thanks Karen and Dave and Zachary!)

Monday - Jake visit (frisbee) and first Campfire

We have been packing a ton into every single day in Boston. Monday Simon spent the morning reading with Papa and Lillian slept the morning away. We went downtown and had Lizzy's ice cream and Simon had a big kid cone! He was very serious about eating it all. Then Jake came over to visit and Alan and Jake taught Simon to throw a frisbee. Check out the video - no surprise that our little athlete picked it up quickly. Lillian and I sat on the edge of the yard and watched the boys play.

We rounded out the day with a campfire in the new fire pit. Simon had his first weeny roast and even got a s'more. We added raspberries to the traditional marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker. It was amazing and will be a forever addition in our household.

They read every book in the house while Simon wore his hard-hat.

Don't drip!

Jake traced Simon a bunch of times and then took this picture.
That is Jake's thumb photobombing.

Showing off his kick!

Catching the frisbee: 

Throwing the frisbee: 

First weeny roast.

A new fan of marshmallows

More pictures after the jump:

Leominster August 2014 Visit

It is now a tradition for us to spend a day in Leominster when we come to Boston to visit with the family and have the kids get together. Simon loves getting together with his cousins and kept pulling me aside during the day to say 'Abby is so nice'. When it was time for lunch, Simon only had eyes for his cousins and had to figure out where they were sitting to eat before he would commit to his own seat.

Jake and Simon immediately started playing. Simon is the slightly littler one.

Dressed like little twins.

Abby was awesome with Lillian. Abby just made her laugh and laugh.

Managing to play baseball even by the pool.

Auntie Amy was one of the brave ones who got into the pool.

Lillian was *so* tired on the way home. Amy wouldn't let her sleep.

Happy Birthday Simon (2 months late)

Auntie Amy gave Simon his birthday present when she saw us in Boston.  Simon ADORED his present and wore it non stop for the week. He also liked the books, but the hat was a huge win.

Guess who got a cool workerman hat from Auntie Amy?

Simon's First Kayak Ride with Papa and Gaga

We are at Gaga and Papa's new house this week. They are right on the Charles River and they are becoming serious kayakers. Simon was so excited to ride on the boat too and on our second morning he got to go out with them. He did great and totally loved it. We will try to do it every morning of our trip. What great fun! 

Get your life preserver on!

Full set of pictures after the jump...

Meeting Gigi and Auntie Sharon

Kids playing around the island

Lillian at the Park on the Slide

She went down a slide for the first time!

Lillian the climber

Lillian is definitely an explorer. She has been able to crawl up on the blue chair for a while, but she recently has got it down pat and can get up onto the chair faster than you'd imagine. She laughs and laughs when you pull her down. She is going to be a climber for sure.

Scooters with Breanne - the Pee Incident

Saturday afternoon Breanne awesomely came by to hang out in the back yard for a bit and then walked to Scooters with us. Since Lillian had been playing in the water she had her swim diaper on - which is less absorbent than a normal diaper. Unfortunately when we popped her in the wrap and headed out no one thought of that. I wore Lillian down to Scooters in the sling and Breanne volunteered to wear her back home. Since Lillian had been playing in the water the sling was bit wet from the trip down. On the way home Alan left us to grab dinner at Whole Foods, so it was just me and Breanne and the two kids. 

We got to the Paulina Brown Line Stop when Breanne started to say something like 'I think she might be peeing' and I looked and saw a stream of liquid coming off the bottom of the sling and Breanne moving her hand out from underneath it.  *sigh* Lillian had peed all over poor Breanne. Luckily we weren't so far from home and Breanne was an amazing sport about the whole thing. I think I will owe her MANY more ice creams before this one will be lived down. 

Note to self: make sure to change out of swim diapers before heading to scooters in the future.