Camera Trouble

Sigh. You might have noticed - our camera has been taking fuzzy pictures. It is driving me nuts! I really need to take the camera back and exchange it.

The other day, I happened to change it to a setting I had used before (but was still blurry). Magically, it took a great picture!

I still need to return the camera, but hopefully I can get a few decent pix in the meantime!

A-Swimming We Will Go!

Since our neighborhood doesn't have a community pool, we recently bit the bullet and signed up for membership at a nearby pool. Ian loves it! I love it because he takes good naps after swimming. It's a win-win for all of us!

The pool doesn't allow inflatables, so no blow up water wings for us. I ended up order these Puddle Jumper wings instead. We love them! I don't have to worry about where Ian is in the pool...they totally keep him afloat! (Of course, I still stay with him and watch him, but if I happen to blink for more than a second, I know he is safe!)

In fact, Ian loves them so much, he wanted to wear them at breakfast the other day.

He wore them while he was checking Mommy's e-mail.

He wore them while playing in the living room.

And he wore them while playing with all his stuffed animals in his crib (a daily game around here).

The next day, he found my swim suit top and brought it to me. I was about to have to leave for work, so I told him I couldn't wear it right then. Undeterred, he sat down, held it up again, and lifted his feet. I realized he wanted to wear it! I had no problems with that. He didn't have to go to work! It was so funny to watch him wear my swim suit top around the house. I didn't realize how big it would look on him!

All that Puddle Jumper, tankini top wearing paid off! We got to go swimming again! (Haha - we go almost every day!) We really love the pool. And it's nice to be able to sit in the shade and take a break for snack time.

After snack, Ian lined up his flip-flops in the rungs of the lounge chair. Good place to store them while we swam more!

Little buddy, I am loving getting to spend our summer swimming together at the pool! Maybe Daddy will get to come with us soon and take a video of us singing, "If you're happy and you know it, blow some bubbles!" You blow such good bubbles!

Slow and Snuggly

Ian has recently hit a stage of some super snuggly moments, especially while he is watching a movie on his portable dvd player. He loves to sit in our laps while he watches his movies.

What's more, Ian prefers to have both of Mommy's hands on his little chest while we are watching movies. He will grab my hands and make sure he is securely cuddled. Makes for some wonderful cuddles and some verrrry slooooooow progress on housework!

But that's ok. We wouldn't trade our cuddle time for the cleanest house in the world! (Okay...maybe some days it is pretty tempting... :-) )

Cuz Luv

Yesterday we got to go hang out with Gramma K, Aunt Kt, Cousin Ace, and Ian's new baby cousin. Maci is such a sweetheart and we love holding her every chance we get! It's hard to believe she is two months old now!

Cousins getting reacquainted.

They are such good buddies!

We went to Gramma K's community pool and had a blast. This little dude is fast!

Uncle James getting some snuggles with Maci.

Gramma K got the boys kickboards!

And rubber duckies that paddled their feet in the water!

Ace is a pro with the kickboard!

Haha...the spray park was so fun!

Ian had fun running through the different sprays.

Gramma K's pool/spray park has an awesome little pool that is only one foot deep. Perfect for our little guys to play in!

Maci took her first swim with Gramma K.

Mommy's girl!

Mommy love.

Whoaaa!

Maci's own little paradise. (Flotation support provided by Gramma K. Shade provided by Mommy and Aunt Laura.)

Gramma K got all the kiddos a towel. Ian loved relaxing on his!

Then Ian cuddled up with his towel and Ace's towel.

Sweet Maci trying the towel-covered Bumbo for the first time!

I love this next set of pictures. Although we've never really talked with Ian about how to act around little babies, he has seemed to inherently know that he has to be very careful with them. He doesn't try to touch Maci and if I am holding her, he will climb into my lap, being very careful to avoid getting on her. His hands behind his back say it all!

Hmmm...wonder what you do with these things?

I really don't think I should touch her.

Well, maybe just her knee. Aunt Kt said it was okay.

Seriously, what do you do with these little munchkins?

Haha...I'm looking forward to seeing how Ian interacts with Maci as she gets older. Hopefully he will be more gentle with her than he is with Ace!

Swimming wore our little boy out and he needed some Mommy snuggles.

Mommy wasn't going to complain! I heart Ian snuggles.

Aunt Kt feeding her beautiful baby girl.

Grandpa holding his great-granddaughter for the first time. Precious!

Big bro giving kisses!

Gramma K got kabobs organized and going on the grill...yummo!

Great-grandparents (again!).

Maci singing for Grandma. Grandma got her to fall asleep right away...I missed the picture though!

Ian and Ace had a blast playing with the big exercise ball.

Watching them cracked us up! They always have so much fun together!

Ian definitely loves his cousins! (And so do we!) We're so thankful for the times we get to spend with them!

Birthday Pictures

Now that it's been more than two months since Ian's 2nd Birthday party, it's high time I get some pictures on the blog!!

We had his party at a nearby park. It was perfect for our little guy who loves being outside! Fortunately, another party was leaving as we were coming, so we were able to set up under the gazebo.

Party favors for Ian and Isaac, his only little friend who could make it.

Dr. Suess and Little Red Wagon cupcakes and decorations.

Our neighbors, Serina and James (Isaac is their little boy), took these wonderful pictures. I love this one of the birthday boy!

Party table!

Another pic of the party table.

Hehe...I have no idea what I was pointing at, but obviously Ian wasn't paying attention!

Signing "eat". Time for cupcakes!!

Getting ready to go down the slide!

Tickle time with Mommy.

Haha - Ian got new sippy cups from Mommy and Daddy and was trying to drink out of them right through the package!

I have many more pictures and will hopefully post them soon, but wanted to go ahead and put a few on the blog. Happy 2nd Birthday, little buddy!