Darth Vader

Well our boy is definitely a very smart cookie. Today he was very slooooowwwly feeding Dancer his snack cheerios from his high chair. Very precisely picking up one cheerio, leaning far over the edge and offering it to Dancer, who quite delicately licked it out of his fingers. Back to the tray, one more cheerio, lean over the edge. Too funny. Dancer sitting patiently waiting for each one. Jack watching closely to make sure she got it and to see her reaction. Obviously a scientist in the making. Dancer got all of his cheerios.

Jack also very observant about people and faces. He always tracks Ken and loves to be picked up by him. But today I had him out on the lawn for a sun bath and Ken came out of his wood shop wearing his "darth vader' dust mask. Jack took one look, and very quietly and slowly backed over to where I was without taking his eyes off Ken. Sat up and leaned way back against me still keeping an eye on the apparition. Ken took the mask off and Jack immediately relaxed and tried to get over to him. [Joan]

Surprise

surprise mom, and dad. happy birthday mom. we are going to get a kite for you. we went flying kites today. I made macaroni and cheese for dinner tonight. I will bring it home when daddy picks me up.
Love
kiva

Prairie Dogging

We had Jack yesterday and he is now "prairie dogging". He rolls over a couple of times to move across the floor, sits up and looks around to get his bearings, lies down and rolls over some more in whatever direction he has selected. He covers a surprising amount of ground this way very quickly, and managed to sneak up on Dancer several times and ultimately pounce on her. His sunny smile and candid open face are as warm and delectable as a spring morning. What a sweet charmer he is (soooo much like his daddy at the same age). [Joan]

Toothy Grin

Your boy sleeping sweetly again. Jack changes sooooo much from week to week. That big toothy grin just kills me. He is certainly poised to take off with the crawling. Now he is all over the play blanket I put down, going from tummy to sitting up in nothing flat and getting up on his hands and knees and rocking to get a good running start. [Joan]

How do I Look?

Kiva was getting ready to get into the hot tub and stripped to the skin. She then twirled around, arms outstretched and asked with a totally free and spontaneous way..."how do I look?" Beautiful of course.

One morning this week Kiva arrived before Ken got up. When told that he was still sleeping, she wanted to go "surprise him up".

Today we were in the hot tub and Kiva told me that we needed to be careful because if we slipped under the lid we would have to be saved...grandpa would have to run and save us. She further told me that "I would save you if you got stuck." However she also told me that she is NOT AVAILABLE for saving people (her emphasis), but IS AVAILABLE for saving animals. Kiva said she is a very good saver." I asked her if that meant I was an animal, but she didn't get the connection.

Today at lunch we were having lunch when Kiva spotted an ant on a flower on the table. We then had a long discussion about whether ants could swim. Kiva is of the very firm opinion that ants cannot swim unless they are dead. Ken asked her what dead meant and she said it means.... two hand smacking smartly together to illustrate..."smashed". [Joan]

Pulling on the Grass

Jack and I spent a long time out in the yard with his toys this afternoon while Kiva was napping. Jack loved it and was quite content. He is determined to get off the blanket though and get his hands on the grass; and I'm worried about him being allergic to grass like Jim is. I use a big thick wool blanket and put him in the middle with me. In 5 minutes he has squirmed and rolled to the edge and is happily pulling on the grass, and then I drag him back. He doesn't protest, but just starts all over again. [Joan]

Granny Crowd

Jack was definitely a huge hit with the granny crowd and was just a little angel the whole time. Darling, adorable, so cute, so good, lovely, what a cutie pie, beautiful blue eyes etc. The other members really heaped on the compliments. [Joan]

Athlete

Jack is such an athlete. All day long when he is awake, he is working out. Stretching, turning, rolling, pounding, twisting, rocking, reaching, trying to pull up, trying to crawl, he isn't still a minute. No wonder he needs to eat and sleep, he's worn out from exercise. [Joan]

I Want to Go All Blotchy

Kiva and Jack were here today and we made home squeezed orange juice. Kiva wanted to give some to Jack and I told her "ok, but just a teaspoon, then we have to watch to see if he goes all blotchy" (Jack may have allergies). Kiva looked at me reproachfully and said..."Grammie, I want to go all blotchy too". [Joan]

granpa said so

What a riot they were! Quite the little angels all day. We took Jack and Kiva to Costco with us..took two vehicles...and they were so good the whole time. I had them both in one cart, and pushing the two little beauties around the store was soooo much fun. Kiva munched down big time....chicken salad sandwich....three yogurt samples...a granola sample....then part of a cheese pizza slice and a a modest amount of nonfat yogurt with berries. Amazing what the skinny little twerp can hold! Kiva spent a lot more time then usual with grandpa today....maybe thats why Ken was insisting she come too. They had a lot of fun reading stories, working in the yard, and installing the new dvd player. Kiva had food all over herself when we got home from costco, and Ken said 'I think she needs a bath", so a bath she had. She would not agree to a wash cloth cleanup because "granpa said so". Kiva had some trouble sharing grammie today...she was mostly pretty good about it, but at her request we had some playtime where I carried her around and dressed her like she was a baby. Got her water in a sippy cup so she could lay in my lap and drink it like a bottle. Kiva is certainly loving with Jack (most of the time) and is doing really good at the sibling thing especially being only 3 years old. Looking forward to my Jack tomorrow. He's going with me to Spin Group...the meeting where the women bring their spinning wheels and spin together for a couple hours. We have show and tell too, and the other women tell me I can have Jack as my show and tell. If he gets fussy we will just leave, but I think it will be fine. [Joan]