Waking Up

The pleasant dream of the past month will soon come to a screeching halt. Daddy is on the SICU rotation next month so I won't get to spend as much time with him. He's on call 10 times where he has to stay at the hospital and take care of sick people that have had surgery. He'll be up so much when he's on call that they let him leave the next day around lunch time so he can go home to sleep. Maybe I could do my afternoon naps with him. In September, he's going to be Trauma Chief (and no, he doesn't get to wear a cool head dress). That means he'll be on call the entire month, but he won't have to stay at the hospital unless he's doing a surgery. At least we've had the last month to spend tons of time together. It gave us all a taste of what life will be like in a couple of years.

I enjoyed swim class last night even though it didn't start well. A kid puked in the pool right before we got there, so we couldn't start class until the water was cleaned and treated. I hung out and flirted with Colson while we waited. I'm always very happy during class, but I'm usually too intense to smile. Last night I smiled and babbled "da da da..." the whole time. Daddy was so glad he rearranged his schedule and was able to make it to class. I only have one more class left. I think we'll be doing the butterfly stroke and diving.

I'm still giving my parents problems with sleep. I STTN on Monday, but then refused to sleep by myself last night. My mouth hurts and my two bottom teeth are very close to breaking through. It makes it hard to sleep and to soothe myself back to sleep. All I want is to nurse. Mommy has been feeding me lots and lots lately in an effort to fatten me up. I'm loving it!

Mommy made a book for me. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out. Her internet friends are taking turns doing "A Day in the Life of ..." and my turn was on July 17th. It will be fun to look back on a random day in my life when I'm older. Mommy also had some fun with Photoshop and got some editing help from Uncle Matt (GF extraordinaire).

Mommy forgot...

...to tell you that I crawled on Saturday! I was up on all fours and then I moved forward. It was so cool. I haven't done it since, but she'll work on getting video proof of it after I practice some more. Army crawling still works pretty well, but they sure got excited when I tried a new style.

Boy Toys

I went to an awesome birthday party for my friend Gavin yesterday. There were tons of balloons. We got to wear cool hats. Excuse our serious faces. We both woke up a little grumpy from our naps. Yes, we both took an afternoon nap.
Then there were a series of pictures where we took turns looking at the camera. It makes Mommy giggle for some reason.
My turn! I'm a super star!
Lynelle made a very cool cake. Can you believe she decorated this herself? She's very talented. I didn't get to eat it, but my parents said it was delicious.
We were more lively after Gavin had some cake and opened some presents. Gimme that car!

I love you Gavin!
Alright, well let me lay one on you.
This boy is greedy when it comes to kisses! He wants more.
I got sleepy after a while and I kept eating the wrapping paper and cards so Daddy moved me to his side where I snuggled him.
After all of the presents were opened, we played with some fun toys. I love boy toys! My parents need to buy me some cars.

What are you looking at?
Gavin's Grandpa Fred showed me how to use some tools. I thought the hammer was particularly fun. You can tell I was in a good mood since I let people hold me other than Mommy and Daddy.
Gavin's Uncle Drew carried me around for a while. Doesn't he look cute in his Pooh ears?
I had lots of fun looking at balloons.
Daddy and Mommy were very happy with my behavior. I didn't cry in the car. I took an afternoon nap away from home. I didn't scream bloody murder. I ate at a restaurant (actually twice this weekend) and didn't cause any problems. I'm easier to bring out in public every day. Now if only I would sleep through the night again...

RAGBRAI

I knew we were going to have company so I practiced my smile with Mommy.

I was so excited to see the most beautiful bus in the world right in front of our house.

Daddy tried out the new seats with me.Mommy played with Photoshop. Can you tell that my eyes are blue or is the picture too small here?I had to pose by the Goat Crossing sign. Yikes! Daddy isn't sure if it's very nice to have me pose here and I look pretty disgusted too.We're always exploring possible future careers.I think I could get a hang of this!All of a sudden a bunch of people showed up in our driveway. It was past my bedtime, but I wanted to see all of my guests from Team Petting Zoo.It's amazing that I didn't get scared immediately.Anyway, Daddy used a great suggestion we got from an experienced mom and I slept through the night while about 20 people partied throughout the house. He put a fan on high and had it face the wall so it made loud white noise. They might just do that every night so they can brush their teeth without flinching anymore.

Here's a bonus picture from swim class last night. My hair was all wet from getting dunked so I look bald like I was a couple of months ago.

It's a Hard Knock Life

Mommy has such a rough life. This is the sort of thing we do while Daddy is at work.

Slam Dunk

Here's a video of swim class for your viewing pleasure. Mommy didn't tape it when I was doing the back flip off the high dive. They make it seem like we did baby stuff the whole time.

The other excitement is that I slept throught the night last night (about 9 hours). My parents were very pleased with me and I snuggled with them at 6am for a little while until Daddy left for work. They hope I repeat STTN for a while until the next bout of restlessness.

Daddy is Mommy's Hero

Daddy and Mommy teamed up against me last night so I had to sleep in my own bed. Mommy was so tired that she went to bed before 9pm. She thought she'd at least get a couple of hours of sleep before I woke up, but I proved her wrong. I was awake and screaming by 9:30. Daddy came and got me and brought me to Mommy, then put me back in bed. I woke up later and Daddy foiled my plans again. He's protective of Mommy. She got me out of my crib at about 7 this morning and I snuggled with her until almost 8am. I still didn't do too great last night, but I couldn't stay awake long enough to fight both of them. Team work stinks!

RAGBRAI is coming to our area in a couple of days. We're going to have a bunch of people stay here. This weekend we're going to a birthday party for my friend Gavin. He's a big boy!

On the Move

Mommy did a video of me today. Buddy kept bumping her arm so it's pretty shaky. I've got the moves!

Mommy and Daddy put my Pack n' Play up to use as a baby prison. It keeps me away from the electronics in the TV room. I like being in there because it's a good place to concentrate on serious business if you know what I mean.

Daddy got concert tickets for The Smashing Pumpkins today. The concert is August 8th so I'll need a babysitter that night. Any volunteers? You might need to watch my cousin Hailey too because she might be staying with me for a few days during that time. It's Mommy's third time of having tickets for a Smashing Pumpkins concert so she hopes the third time is the charm.

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Now that you've already volunteered, I believe I can give you the scoop on my sleep these days. Mommy talked with Aunt Emily and they talked on and on about sleeping. I understood that Mommy was saying that I sleep too well so I decided to step up my sleep training. For the last three nights I've gotten up multiple times, not soothed myself back to sleep, demanded constant nursing at all hours, demanded cosleeping and snuggling, kicked while nursing, pulled hair, clawed everything within reach, poked Mommy in both eyes, bit down and pulled with all my might while nursing, and then smiled and crawled around at 5am. Mommy is firmly in my grasp and too tired to put up much resistance. She doesn't know if it's separation anxiety or teething, but she hopes it passes soon. I don't! I love to be snuggled all night long and I'm very nice to her during the day so she shouldn't complain.

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I have another swim lesson tomorrow. We're going to lift 100 pound weights off the bottom of the deep end and I'm going to get CPR certified. I'm so advanced at this swimming thing. I'll be a lifeguard next summer.

Skinny Minnie

I just got back from my six month check up and apparently I'm a little skinny. I weighed 16 pounds, 6 ounces (45%tile) and was just under 27 inches long (72%tile). My head has finally caught up to the rest of my body with a circumference of 17.22in (76%ile). It's not that I'm really skinny, it's just that I only gained 1.4 pounds since my four month exam and dropped 30%tiles. My weight gain is a little slow. It makes Mommy nervous because she doesn't want to have to give me formula or anything. She might introduce meat one of these days and give me fattier solids like avocado more often. She already feeds me mommy milk frequently. They're having me come back in 7 weeks to see how I'm doing. Maybe I'm just exercising too much or naturally small! Mommy won't get worried unless I start to lose my rolls or act hungry after she nurses me.

I enjoyed swim class last night. Daddy got stuck in surgery so he didn't get to come. Mommy dunked me and I didn't mind it at all. Then I put on my scuba gear and flippers and swam to the deep end. It was pretty cool. There was a really cute boy there that I flirted with. He's a few days younger than me so apparently I like younger men just like Mommy.

Head of the Class

Swim class is fun! We learned the high dive, the breastroke, and the hokey pokey. I was fantastic. My teacher recommended that I try out for the next Summer Olympics. Some of the other silly babies were crying, but I was happy as can be the whole time. Mommy might have to get a swim pass so she doesn't hold me back from my olympic dreams.

On Thursday we're going to do synchronized swimming and the 1600-m freestyle.

Little Helper

I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of me at the pool party. Mommy swam around with me lots while Daddy socialized. I got passed around at dinner time...pass the salt and pepper and snuggly baby. I put up with it pretty well. I helped Mommy fold laundry yesterday. She found some dresses in the closet that she had forgotten about. Hot pink is my color. It matches my tongue. See?!
Mommy, why are you taking pictures of me when you should be putting away those towels?
Super cute jazz hands.

Sticking out my tongue never gets old.
Hiya, everybody!
Mommy thinks I look like a Berryhill in this picture. It's something about the cheeks. What do you think, those of you that know what Berryhills look like?
Daddy installed Photoshop for Mommy so she tricked out this picture. Pretty crazy, huh?
Grandma Cathy came and stayed overnight last night. Daddy and Mommy went on ANOTHER date and I got a bottle at bedtime. I decided that Mommy needed to snuggle me at midnight to make up for that, but she was very happy to get the cuddle she had missed out on earlier. Grandma swam with me in the party pool and we had lots of fun, but she had to go home. She's going on a motorcycle trip with Grandpa and has stuff to do before they leave.

My first swimming lesson is tonight. I can't wait! I love water.

Giggles

Here I am! Daddy did this video of me yesterday.

Video Fun

Try not to smile. This is what Mommy and Daddy did during my nap this afternoon. Daddy taught Mommy how to do the videos all by herself. That way you'll get to see them on a regular basis! She'll put one of me on here later, but until then, enjoy my daddy!!!

Futility

Baby proofing is futile. I am determined to hurt myself and earn the name Thud, Jr. Daddy had that nickname when he was little. Fortunately, my parents have spared me from pain so far, but I'm working on getting into everything. Mommy removed all of the floor lamps, barricaded the remaining cords, took things off the floor, and put outlet covers into all of the plugs on the main level of our house. She made the bathroom into a prison when she took a shower so I couldn't get to the door stop like I intended. That white little thing just looks so delicious! However, she didn't get to the basement yet and Daddy took me down there to play when he got home yesterday.

I love all of the speaker cords. I'll take a brief break from attempting to strangle and electrocute myself simultaneously to pose for a picture.Thanks for moving me closer to all of these fun toys! I'm going to go for it.Almost there...Got it! Daddy doesn't need to be able to play his iPod through the speakers anyway.Oh, maybe he thinks otherwise.Next, I'll try to pull the entire 61-inch TV onto my head while sticking my hands into the XBox and changing the volume to Gulfstream jet level. So far I have two of those three tasks accomplished...

Oh, and before Mommy forgets, I can pull myself from laying on my tummy to sitting up. She's not sure how I do it because she hasn't seen the process, but she knows I can do it.

Photoshop Fun

Mommy has a friend that likes to play with Photoshop and she fixed up this photo of me. The original was dark in the face and there was a post coming out of my head.If you'd like to see more cool pictures, then check out this blog and you can see a bunch of beautiful twin pictures.

Mommy and Daddy had a fantastic date on Monday. They went out to eat, explored the pet store, went to Get Smart (really, really funny), and then had to run through torrential rain to get back to the car. Mommy loves rain and thinks it's funny when Daddy gets wet. I was asleep when they got home and I slept all through the night. Mommy is getting used to getting plenty of sleep again. Grandma took me shopping and played with me so I was good and tired before she put me to bed. She knows just what I need (and what Daddy and Mommy needed)! I'll miss her when she's gone.

Swimming

Daddy dipped me into the party pool last night. Do you like my bikini?Mommy helped me swim a bunch, but she isn't going to share those pictures. Unfortunately, she needs a new swimsuit because her top appears to be way too small. Hehehe
Daddy did his best to not get wet while helping me explore. Mommy thought my top looked too tight so she took it off. Babies gone wild!
I loved to jump up and down in the water. My head even went under once and I didn't mind.
I enjoyed kicking my legs when I floated on my back. It was very serious business and I didn't smile because I was too busy.
The Buddy jumped into the pool with us and joined in the fun. I got some good snuggles from Daddy.My swim diaper was full of water. I promise, I wasn't peeing.Daddy wanted to hear Joshua Redman play at the Iowa City Jazz Festival so we went even though the concert started at my bed time. They thought I'd fall asleep, but I was awake the whole time. I didn't get too upset until the last song.Mommy and Daddy took turns holding me and entertaining me. I flirted with the people sitting behind us.Grandma H is coming to visit today. She's going to put me to bed tonight and let Mommy and Daddy go on a date. They're going out to eat and to see a movie. I've been sleeping really, really well lately so they hope I'm good tonight.