Peas in pods

I can remember taking this exact same picture of Pip about 2 years ago. Vivian is simply beside herself with energy and excitement these days. She wears a perma smile and is eternally either bouncing or kicking. Here she speed crawled (what's the past tense of crawl?) over to Pip and took over exploring the cabinet. So thrilled with herself.





She's mastered making bubble sounds by moving her finger over her lips and blowing air. She also makes a little wave 'bye-bye' when you say those words by opening and closing her fist. She's very proud of that move.

Phil commented the other day that he thinks she has even MORE energy than Pip. I didn't think it could be possible ... but maybe he's right. Today in the bath she REFUSED to sit, literally bouncing and cruising up and down the tub. The fact that she took two tumbles under the water did absolutely nothing to slow her. You have to basically hover over her in the tub to keep her safe. Needless to say it was a short, but fun, bath.

Soccer training

Phil and Pip have begun to play soccer together in the kitchen. Turns out that Pip is definitely right-footed. He's getting the hang of using only his feet and catching the rebound off the cabinets.

Usually he prefers the fast pace of kicking it back and forth, but sometimes he also gets a "kick" (pun intended) out of a game of keep away. Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IF0lAazDAM

I was playing a lot of rugby

Phil re-injured his back injury playing rugby this past weekend. Very sad for him. Apparently, though, I'm not the only one who finds his "recovery phase" quite dramatic. Pip was so impressed with the theatrics that he put on a reenactment:




And of course, the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMKh247hXPc

Tunneling at Mom's group

Jameson really got into the tunnel at Mom's group and I got some cool photos.






Meanwhile, Vivie hung out with her other buddy Connor.

Costco

Today we took a family trip to Costco, which is becoming way more frequent than anyone wants to admit (they've cornered us twice for the hard sell on their executive membership because apparently we spend as much there as entire companies .. yikes).

Vivian is so excited to be a big girl now and ride along without her car seat. Happily, they were all about sitting next to each other and were peaceful the entire time.


Pip went so far as to kiss Viv's hand while he waited for his pizza. Viv loved it.



I must say, I am not sure if it's the ultimatum I've recently laid down ("PIP -- YOU WILL SHARE YOUR TOYS WITH VIVIAN OR YOU WILL GO TO TIME OUT. I. AM. NOT. KIDDING.") but he seems to be turning a corner and deciding to give up fighting with her over his toys. Instead, I've caught him playing with her (happily!!) a few times now. It melts my heart.

Here's a video of them bouncing (I missed the good stuff):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueNpUHCoPnE

Cade's a lover, not a fighter

This weekend we were thrilled to host Glenna and Cade! What fun. Vivian got to be excited about a playmate her own size. Well, of course, except for that Cade is quite a big man so even he was bigger than her.

Cade turned out to be all about lovin'. He is an except hugger and gives fabulous Eskimo kissed. Vivian was enamored.

Vivian attempted to return the favor and teach Cade how to crawl and eat puffs. He was not impressed.

Tasha and Aislinn also came to visit and we had quite the successful 3 family sleep-over, if we do say so ourselves. Pip took the opportunity to show Aislinn his new-found appreciation for ice cream cones and what do you know, she shared the same affinity!!

There were too many precious moments to recount, but a lasting one for Pip was the game of "1,2,3 go to sleep" that Aislinn taught him. She slept in her pack n play in Pip's room. After a rousing time in the bathtub, several books, and a few songs, they were told to settle down and go to sleep. All I know is I left the room and Pip was standing, feet atop the footboard of his bead, holding on to Aislinn's pack n play, and peering at her. Both were awash in giggles. We heard lots of laughing and talking until eventually they passed out. Pip told Phil the next morning that Aislinn and he were trying to time their sleep by counting to three and then saying "go to sleep!" Of course, this was too much fun to stop and actually sleep. Tonight Pip requested the game with Daddy ... there was lots of "1,2,3 ... go to sleep!" and "1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 ... go to sleep!" and "A,B,C,D,E ... go to sleep!" and 'twinkle, twinkle little star ... go to sleep!" and not a lot of sleeping.

Vivian rediscovers her bouncer

After Cade left Vivian asked for a turn in the bouncer. Her little legs were pounding up and down in the air as I was trying to plop her in there. She was so excited. She went absolutely kangaroo in there! I tried to get a video, but she was tiring out a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QngeHabKp4o

Pip, of course, could not be outdone. He jumped in there himself and bounced away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWkzv09d44