Hungry, hungry hippo

Yep, He's almost there. Last week he was so interested in the spinning beads on the back of the Hippo walker, that he would sit down right away to spin the beads. And today, he can walk behind it! He was even trying to walk with one hand! How exciting! And notice how he's showing off for the camera- what a Ham!

In other news, Zander is working hard to wave "hi," but hasnt quite figured out that he needs to turn his hand away from his own face to wave at Mama! D & the babe have also been working hard to master "So Big." Zander throws those hands up so quick, you'd think Jeff Reed just kicked a field goal. However, I dont think he's quite made the connection between reaching for the sky & our question, "How big's Alexander?"

And of course, Alexander is still enjoying hanging out with Daddy as he works on the neighbor's new garage.

Going up the stairs, trying to get away...

It is funny that whenever I'm around with the camera, Zander can barely concentrate on anything else... Of course, he's like that with the remote control, our cell phones, the dishwasher, and just about anything "adult-sized."

Anyway, I sped the video up so that the babe's one and a half minute climb didn't bore you. Without the mama-distraction, Daddy D claims that the lil' man is a speed racer!

(Grrr, the neighbor dogs just woke the baby AGAIN. Why do they bark when there's someone on my porch, but not when she climbed their steps? Grrr....)

Beautiful Sunshinin' Day

The weather has been absolutely BEAUTIFUL in Wonderful West Virginia! We've switched the AC off, opened the windows and enjoyed the last 2 days of perfect summertime weather.

Alexander recently scored a baby pool, and although he is perfectly content sitting in the colorful crock, sans the water, I enjoy an inch or two to splash around.

After a quick cool down yesterday, Zander tested out his new favorite toy; a blue bird snow sled.

In an effort to waste a little time before Z's morning nap Friday morning, we hopped over to Sheetz for a DC/DDP and made a quick yard sale find on the way home. I wasn't quite sure what the big blue plastic bird was at first. But, of course, it was a snow sled. And what child can live with out a sled in 80* weather. That's right, not one.

So yesterday afternoon I strapped Alexander in & we trekked around the back yard. He was well entertained, so I pulled out the push mower & trimmed the ice pack a bit. But the fun didn't end, so I pulled the blue bird to the side yard & trimmed back some of the bushes... and he was still content, so I played with the tomatoes.

Eventually, the Bird's novelty wore off, for me, so we went inside.

But after dinner we were porch sitting with D's buddy & rather than struggle with a squirmer, I brought out the bird, and wouldn't you know it, he still loved it! So we made circles through the front yard.

So, then this morning, I strapped Zaney back in his bird & we walked up the street to watch Daddy D help the neighbors raise the roof. Alexander's gotten a lot of construction experience at such a young age!

Anyway, he's still in love with his snow bird! And I just told the gawkers that some rowdy neighbor kids stole the wheels from his wagon, you know, so I wouldn't look crazy...

The only pool downfall, that I've identified so far is it's proximity to the grass. But the upside is that Zaney's moved from eating cat food to just eating grass. I wanted to get rid of the crab grass anyway...

Since JB & Stretch have left, D & I have decided to go "card-free." Of course, we had to pull out the plastic for Baby antibiotics & Peanut Prozac, but that's pretty much it... I think. We're eating up every not-so-delicious grain out of the pantry and harvesting zucchini & tomatoes for every meal. I was hoping to make the staples last until the end of the month, but I'm pretty sure I'll have to shop for some veggie burgers & broccoli before Tuesday!

Bye, bye

Our poor little Lima Bean is still squirming to kick his ear infection. After a 10-day course of Amoxicillan, Zander was still pulling at his ear & having trouble sleeping, so the Doc gave him an extra strength dose of antibiotics, so hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.

Yesterday, his unending crank was interrupted, briefly, when he spotted the neighbors outside moving their camper around. He watched Sue walk up & down the sidewalk. Then, the super-cute little crank-ball started waving at her through the window! So cute!

Zander has two wave variations, one is like a chicken wing. The second is like he's very deliberately squeezing a stress ball. I'll need to get a video!

The brunt of Zander's attention has been focused on Peanut lately. Poor kitty. Zaney's love has driven him to a prescription of Prozac and a few bald spots. Zander just wants a buddy, you cant blame him... entirely.

Babushka's Brooklyn'd & a Wonderful Weekend Wedding

Despite our 1am arrival in Brooklyn'd, Alexander was up & ready to party. Mama was not. After a 2:30am bedtime, thank goodness D & Babushka volunteered to get up with the lil' clubber at the crack of dawn.

Zaney warmed up to his grandparents quickly, so we thought Saturday's wedding in NJ was going to be a breeze. Yev would drive us over for the ceremony & pick us up at midnight after the reception... I canceled the hotel reservations & was pretty excited about saving all that money.

Then D & I walked around the corner for dinner Friday evening with the Atomic Russian (Anyone remember him from our wedding?), 20 minutes later, Yev called and said Alexander wouldn't stop crying. Anna said he was crawling from room to room looking for me & eventually when he couldn't find me, the bawling commenced. I could hear him from the front door of the co-op. Poor guy!



So, we pulled out the credit card, rebooked the hotel rooms & packed up the Russians for NJ.

(I borrowed, without permission, the good pictures of J & L. We forgot our camera for the ceremony, and just took horrible pictures at the reception!)

J & L made such a cute bride & groom; they could have been on top of a cake!


L is a fashion designer in NYC, which should have come as no surprise! Her dress was perfect! It looked vintage, but she probably had it made just for her. She looked beautiful; and J's smile never faded the whole night!

Anna walked Baby A around the hotel while we were at the ceremony, but when he saw us walk into the front lobby after the ceremony, he just started crying & reaching for me... This seperation anxiety's gonna kill me. I need to start looking for a traveling nanny... I think Jenny Brown would be perfect!

We put Zander down for a nap before we headed down to the evening reception & he slept the whole time!

The reception was amazing! My mom loved the Purple Haze Martini's, the boys couldn't get enough Shrimp & crab claws and Jenn enjoyed the "big water!"


After a fashion consultation with D's super-stylish NYC cousin the night before, I decided to wear the red dress... My uncle (Not Uncle Vinnie) pointed at my belly & asked if I was pregnant... I guess I should have worn the black one...

Uncle Vinnie & Aunt Ro looked great, and they sure hosted a fabulous party!

D tried to capture the hilarious Smith-family dancing tradition without success. Of course A & C were break dancin', Grandpa was rockin' the suspenders and Little N never left the dance floor.

Although I didn't know most of the music the DJ played, he was probably the best DJ I'd ever heard. He kept calling the old & shy out by saying things like "If you think the lady you're with tonight is the most beautiful women you've ever seen, bring her to the dance floor. If we don't see you up here... "

Of course, Zander decided to wake up right when D & I returned to the hotel room and he didnt go back to sleep until after 3am.

Needless to say, I am still recovering from No Sleep in Brooklyn'd.

Is it too early to pick favorites?

Our crop of onions & taters... Unfortunately, D cooked up all the potatoes in one batch with curry & rosemary... there are still a few in the fridge.... I suspect they'll be there a while...

Jenn & her brood arrived Sunday afternoon to spend the week with the Okeys & us. It didn't take long for Ethan to befriend the neighbor-girl. Alexander LOVES watching the big kids play! Boy does he want to run after them; I'm sure it wont be long now!

And he loved the bubble too!

But his favorite thing of all, playing with his big cousin Baby Norah. Norah is one year & one day older than Alexander. She is so loving toward him. She gets upset when he cries & runs to find a binky to stuff in his mouth. She even offered him her thumb, when she couldn't find a bink yesterday!

Before the Waleski crew arrived, Zander helped us do our grocery shopping and got his first big-kid ride in the shopping cart!

Although the weather has been overcast, Stretchy inflated Jenn's pool yesterday & Zander got his first swimming lesson from the big kids.

Of course, Norah was trying to ease Z into the joys of the baby pool,

And Ethan initiated him by fire, or water, as the case may be...