Okey(s) from Muskogee

Reinforcements have finally arrived. Jenny Brown & Stretch have invaded Wheeling, and they are here to stay. Or at least until we get tired of crafting or the fall semester starts, whatever comes first...

Stretchy is on Summer vaca from Oklahoma State & JB hated her job, quit and decided the best place to begin her new nomadic life would be with me, in West Virginia. I think it is fantastic that JB recognized that her job (and Oklahoma) were making her miserable and was pro-active to fix the situation. Way too often I find myself, and see my friends, just accepting what they have, rather than making the necessary changes to find/make/achieve what they want. Baby's got sauce.

To celebrate their arrival, we met D @ the work pavilion for a picnic. What fun! We even got to see Daddy in his uniform; so cute!

Zander LOVED the pavilion. Literally, he was trying to eat it... How much wood would a woodchuck (which we saw by the railroad tracks) chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

He also LOVED papa stretch. And showed his affection by spitting up on his head. That was pleasant. Seriously stupendous.

Of course, that didn't stop Stretchy from putting the lil' plum back up on his shoulders for a better look at the shortest train ever!

Alexander loved the train. He was mesmerized. As soon as he spotted it coming up the track, he couldn't take his big blue eyes off of it! Followed it the whole way off into the distance. I wonder what he was thinking?

After our picnic, we headed to the book store in search of craft-spiration. I never knew there were so many craft books, with so many pretty picture. Almost too much for a girl to handle....

But now it's back to work. JB & Stretch headed north to visit the kin folk. And I'm headed back to the kitchen to make some more Strawberry Jam & finish pureeing Winter Squash for Zander. Yum!

Sitting on Top of the World

Zander's starting to get pretty good at sitting up, playing with his toys. Of course, he would still prefer to stand, but that will come soon enough.

When he is on his belly, he plants his feet on the blanket & pushes his rump up in the air. Kinda like a Downward Facing Dog yoga position, except he balances on his head, rather than his hands. So cute!

And he also does rapid fire push ups and a Yoga Cobra Pose.

I guess he was paying attention to the Wii Fit Yoga last month when my mama lent us her machine. :)

"Family Weekend", Daddy renamed Father's Day!

Our pediatrician suggested we introduce spoon feeding @ 4 months, but everything I've read, and with Jenn's experience, we decided to wait to introduce rice cereal until around 5 months (I couldn't wait until 6!). The APA says the risk of developing food allergies is greater the earlier solids are introduced and that you cant beat breast/bottle nutrition before 6 months.

Last week we introduced carrots. And did that boy like them! Yummy!

I'm so excited to keep introducing new fruits & vegetables! I'm hoping that with solid foods, Alexander will start spitting up less! How great would that be?

So, in anticipation of his new baby food diet, I pureed & froze single servings of carrots & sweet potatoes for the little guy to eat later. Denis & I made the rounds to all the local farmer's markets on Saturday looking for more local, organic veggies to cook up for Zaney, but all we came home with was yellow zucchini.

I got so excited about making the baby food for Zander, I finally got my act in gear & cooked up the strawberries we picked last weekend in PA and can a few jars of jam. D just called & said blueberry season starts July 20 in WV... I guess that means we'll have to get cooking on the wine next!

Last time JB & Stretchy came to visit, Jenny made Alexander a colorful birdie that I was supposed to make into a colorful mobile... I never made the mobile, but Zander LOVES to play with the birdie!

He also LOVES to play in the Waleski Kiddo's old bouncy car!

He's kinda like a pimp, laid back, cocked to one side, rollin' through the back yard..

After a very busy, chore-filled weekend, we all relaxed in the back yard with the BR couple, their babe and the neighbors... unfortunately, we stayed up watching the fire way too late!

"No, I want hug!"

Moldovan Men?

What do you think, does Alexander look Moldovan? Just a little extra tongue:).