More!

James made his first sign tonight!

We did American Sign Language extensively with Daphne between the ages of one and two, so we're looking forward to using it with James, and watching the kids communicate with each other. It's very exciting when they first sign back to you, because you've been making the signs to them for so long that it seems like it will never click that they're actually supposed to do it too. I guess grapes are good motivation!

So, in the video, it's that little thing that looks like a clap. It's not the real ASL sign for "more," but babies rarely do the signs perfectly. It's close enough for us!




Note: Please excuse the "crazy mommy voice." It's just part of the package, unfortunately. It doesn't turn off.

James and Noah

"Cat" was one of James' first words, thanks to his buddy, Noah. Noah belongs to our next door neighbors. He's the most friendly and tolerant cat we've ever known, as you can see! He just jumped on up next to James to say hello. What a sweetie!

Daphne's Grammar

Just a quick story -

Daphne has always been pretty good with words and speech, and now that she's pushing three I find myself having more and more intricate conversations (well, negotiations really) with her on a daily basis. That said, she's still having a lot of trouble with her pronouns. The other night we were playing in her room and I threw a blanket over her head. Her response -

"Where is me, Where is me, WHERE IS ME!?!"

- Pete

Thanks, neighbor!

We are very fortunate that our next door neighbor and good friend, Bethany, happens to be a talented photographer. She took some impromptu pictures of the kids in the front yard yesterday evening. Her son, Jude, is the other little guy in the pictures. Anyway, check out her website and blog! http://www.bethanyf.com/

Sunriver Slideshow

Here are some pictures from our little vacation in Sunriver, OR. It's become a family tradition to go each year with Pete's parents and siblings. We had a blast!

Sorry it's gigantic. It was the only way I could make the vertical pictures look big enough. Eventually it won't block our "Archives" sidebar.

Olympics Theme

My apologies to Pete, Jon, and Julie, but I just had to post this.

Art

Daphne recently graduated from drawing abstract circles and squiggles, to representations of people and things. In the process I have learned that the definition of being a parent is seeing your child draw something like this -



- and knowing, deep in your heart, that it is the most profoundly beautiful image ever rendered on paper by human hands.

Pete

PS - it is a picture of our family. Mommy, Daddy, Daphne, and James are all represented if you look hard enough, and kind of squint.