We are spending a lot of time on the floor - Madeleine gets her tummy time and James has gotten into the idea of picnics (even if they are pretend and somehow a train is always involved). They start out cute and fun and somehow end up with two dogs and too many toys, but for an indoor picnic they cannot be beat. 

 

She's getting so big!



We went to an apple orchard today that was almost two hours away, and yes that is super far with two small kiddos - but holy cow was it worth it. It was way up in the mountains and just seemed to go on forever and ever. In addition to having the best scenery, the orchard was first class. They had every kind of apple, many other fruits you could pick if in season as well as homemade goodies (we picked up pumpkin butter, peach salsa and old fashion apple cider doughnuts). We were so amazed that we just ended up walking around for a few hours. It is most definitely a day trip but it is one that we are going to make into a yearly tradition.

 

 

 

James' Best Friend

Duke and James have become almost inseparable, they would do everything together if they could. At first it was hard to tell if Duke was just putting up with James because James would slip him some food every now and then or if he really liked the attention. But now, Duke will initiate the play - and of course James is never one to turn down play time.

Toothless Smiles

I absolutely love toothless smiles, I don't know what it is about them - but they are just magically. No matter what is going on at that moment everything seems so much better when I see a toothless baby smile. Its even better when its my baby. When James got his first tooth, John found me crying in James' room because James would never have a toothless smile again. Yep, I love them that much. But its ok now, because at least for a little while longer I get to see those toothless smiles everyday. And I am loving it!

Photo Dump

Here are just some pictures that I have taken with my phone over the past week or so that I wanted to share.

James was taking a "trip" to go see Nana and Ross, he packed his bag, had his phone and keys and was all set!

Since we have a stainless steel fridge, James hasn't been able to play with magnets - I bought him this oil drip pan as his very own magnet board. It has worked out great!

 

This is how James has been sleeping - on the floor next to his bed, surrounded by books and blankets with his pillows over his head. Its gotten colder this week so at night he adds his comforter but it still cannot be that comfortable.

This was at Madeleine's 2 month appointment last week. She is 11 lbs 9 oz and 23 inches - what a big girl!

Our lazy weekend mornings :)

Getting the two kids for a picture is never easy but we are determined to get a good picture one of these days so once every few days we try. Getting James to stop whatever he is doing is never easy, especially nowadays when he has really gotten into pretend playing. He doesn't like to break character so we have to make sure hes not acting like a dinosaur or train - because then we would get a dozen pictures of him roaring or cho-choing. Not exactly what we are going for.

 

Madeleine is easier, she just gives us the stink eye - its like she already knows whats coming. Since she can't talk back to us (yet), John and I have gotten really good at figuring out what shes thinking.

"Don't you dare..."

 

"And now I have to sit here and wait while you chase James around? Not cool, now I'm bored."



 

"Well if you would throw the ball then the dogs wouldn't be trying to get on the couch, duh."

"I don't get it, whats funny about a dinosaur and a train?"

 

"My foot is not ticklish, don't even try it. I'm warning you..."

 

"I told you not to tickle me!"

"Kissing me is not going to make this better, I'm going to tell Mom!!"

 

"MOM!!"



"Wait, what was I crying about?"

 

Three Day Weekends

No matter what we plan to do, three day weekends are always the best. Saturday was of course the start of the football season so that naturally made this weekend extra special anyways. John has taught James the "O-H" "I-O" chant so they have been doing that all weekend. On Sunday we went to our neighborhood pool and met some neighbors who not only went to Ohio State but the husband grew up in Gahanna right down the street from us. The more we get settled into becoming Southerners the more we are reminded that most of Charlotte is made up of Northerners - which is why we seem to fit in so well! Today we went to an annual festival down here, and even though it was only 88 degrees I think it felt like it was 100. We only stayed for a few hours because of the heat but it was awesome. We were told it was very family friendly but we had no idea that it meant how much great kids stuff there would be. James was still a little too young for most of it but in a few more years this is going to be a huge hit.

 

There were several bounce houses, most with slides and James will never turn away from a slide - especially one in a bounce house.

 



James loves trains, like is borderline obsessive about them right now. When we saw this ride, there was a decent line already but James was still able to get on... if he wanted to sit in the back. James calmly told John that he wanted to wait until he could drive the train.  John gave me this look of panic that said "there is no way that James is going to wait back in line and watch all these other kids have fun on the ride without flipping out". But thats what he did! He just stood there and waited all while telling John how he is going to get to drive the train. Now when the ride stopped, he all but pushed the kid out so he could climb into his seat - but it was awesome.

 

Have I ever mentioned how much I love fair food? Especially deep fried oreos? Because I do. They are awesome. 

 

Have I mentioned how much James loves slides? Especially the big ones that he is not allowed down without an adult? Because he does. I was  too busy eating my deep fried oreoes to go, so John went - John knows not to bother me when I've got oreoes.

 



Poor little girl was stuck in the hot stroller the whole time, she slept for most of it but I know she was hot. Shes a trooper.

 

Once we made it past the rides and the food, we hit up the crafts section. John found this awesome handmade wooden duck whose feet rotate when pushed. And it kept James from running off, he was too focused on pushing the duck that he stayed right with us. Except when his duckie had to go potty. Then James nicely placed his duckie in the grass, just like Duke.