The Paci Fairy

As everyone knows, the Paci Fairy comes when you are two and a half years old. For Finn that as July Fourth. The first step was to sit down with Mom and write out a kind note to the fairy explaining the process. It seems he thinks that everyone needs to have their job explained to them so that they can do it right.


Step two, one that we didn't know existed, was to use all of your pacifiers one last time, even putting two in your mouth at once if necessary.


After their final use, you place the pacies into a bag with the note and leave is outside of your door when you go to sleep.


In the morning, after the paci fairy comes, the bag is still there but now has a fun toy in it rather than the pacies! What happened to the pacies? We may never know.

4th of July!

Well, actually the Third. We went down to the River to watch the fireworks. They started about 30 minutes after we thought they would so we had plenty of time for our picnic we brought: fried chicken, pickles, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies. There was also another kids who payed with Finn much of that time. While it was cute at the beginning, when the kids was throwing ball at Liam, we had enough of that fun.


When the fireworks began, Finn was completely engaged. The good part was that the fireworks were on the other side of the river, so the BANG was not too loud for Liam, but they were still big enough to watch.


Finn watched very intently and paid attention through the whole thing. Even Liam, who was asleep earlier woke up as well. It was such a hit, we almost fought the crowds to go down the the Mall for the Capitol Fourth. We ended up not going, but watched it on TV. We had a more exciting thing happening on the fourth itself...

Building a Train Table

Finn had set his train tracks up on the floor in the playroom. The uneven carpet led to more derailments than the line safety manager deemed acceptable. To fix the situation I thought I could make a table or the trains to run on.

The first step was going to Home Depot. It is a convenient trip, just a mile or so away and thy have everything needed to build a train table. An hour later and ready to load legs, reinforcement, AstroTurf, and a 4' x 8' piece of plywood into the car. Unfortunately the plywood was bigger than our car.

Never to be daunted, I carried the board home on my back. Sure a gust of wind almost knocked me over along with my wooden sail, but I made it to our stairs. At that point I also saw that the board was too big to get up to our condo up the stairs. It was then that I decided that the table should be smaller than I originally hoped.


Finn helped measure, mark and cut the wood. Of course his helping was more sitting "over there" than being actively involved, especially when the drill or saw was out.


After the framework of the table was attached Finn helped me tack the AstroTurf in place. Since hammering is about his favorite activity this week, he hammered with extra gusto.


Once it was all done, We took our picture at the table to commemorate the event.


Finn loves the fact that the trains no longer slip off the rails and Thomas is safe. And that is what matters most of all.

Sleeping baby

Modeling

We thought it would be good to take pictures of Liam each month on the second. Our friend Cailin did this with her daughter and it was interesting to see her grow up in the same frame of reference. Of course the always boisterous Finn needed to steal the show.

Finn was especially proud on the Mickey Mouse band-aid on his leg. He cut himself stumbling in the grass and liked to show it off.

The main event was Liam who also decided to was a good opportunity to ham it up. They are definitely not bashful kids.

Enjoying the weather

So it has been such a cool nice summer up until bout a week ago. We took the best advantage of that as possible including going out on the weekends as much as we could.

Finn seems to need to lay down in the grass on the Mall each time we're there and I feel some commensurate need to take a picture of it.


Liam also enjoys each of our jaunts out of the house too. He is very alert and looks around at the environs taking everything in. I definitely love seeing him become more of a boy and less fetal with each day.

Memé in the house!

Sarah's mom came to help out and see the boys again late last month. It's amazing how fast they change ,so it is important that everyone gets as much a chance to see them at every stage as possible.


Of course, visitors always means going out in the stroller. (of coure, no visitors also means going out in the stroller, but I am desparate for a segue to these picures). Here is how darling they look in being rolled around town.

Future Lifeguard?

Finn is completely comfortable in the pool this summer. He has even let go on the need to hold onto the noodle now. Perhaps this will lead to teen employment.


To be a lifeguard requires more than a knowledge of swimming with a floatation vest on. Here Finn gets instruction on how to test the water for the correct chemical balance.


In a reality, I think the lifeguards liked this as much as Finn did. One took pictures of the others showing him what they were doing. They have also mentioned this day to us again we we've been back to the pool.

Collecting things at the park

Whn finn goes outside he likes to explore and collect treasures. It's a time-honored tradition of little boys everywhere. I can see one day a bullfrog coming home in a pocket.


So far the excitement surrounds flower petals, sticks, stones, and pinecones.


Anything that keeps his attention and involves running around the park is alright by us.

Pretty Fly for a White Guy

Liam won't keep his hat on straight. As soon as we put it on, he twists and turns and spins it around. There are worse things I suppose. Fashion is so abhorrent these days, but I figured he'd wait a few yeas before defining his own style. I guess we were wrong.

Another Liam Play Mat Photo

Playing around

Liam is the play mat master. He looks at the toys and pretends to be superman.


He finds it all very entertaining and smiles, laughs, and waves his arms the whole time.


Soon he'll be able to grab the toys and use his arms, which will make the play mat even more fun.

More chores...again

Finn loves the dust buster. Whenever there is a spill, Finn is there. Wherever dust collects, Finn is there.

It's not all work and no play. Finn finds time in the day to laugh between chores.

Liam's all smiles

It was three months before Finn smiled. We know everything is a little slower if baby comes early, but we didn't really understand until we had a full-term guy smiling at 6 weeks.

However long it takes, it just matters that they get there. Finn and Liam are already different in sleeping, moving, crying, and even smiling. Seeing the kids so different already just highlights how two kids with the same parents, in nominaly the same conditions can be so different. Each is just as wonderful as the other.

No, it's not a bill

Liam got his first junk mail. I thought it was a bill, but it was just a social security card. I guess it is a bill if you figure he'll pay into it, but likely never collect benefits.

It also proves that he is well known in this town. The letter was just addressed to Liam Noel in Alexandria. It got here just fine.

My Big Birthday

I was home for my birthday this year. Unlike the Megabashes of the past, this birthday was low-key. We went into DC for some summer fun and then ended the day with a brownie.


Finn went on a carosel ride with Sarah. A fun part of any ride, whether the train or this carosel, is holding the ticket in preparation for going on the ride. Finn handed the man the tickets and picked his pony. We don't go to the horse races anymore, but he can still pick a winner.


After the ride, we stopped at a street vendor for what was billed as an Italian sausage. Any Italian would have been mad at that description. It tasted like a knockwurst, but even blander if that's possible.

On our arrival back to the house, Finn and Sarah made brownies for my Birthday cake. Some of the batter escaped Finn's mouth and made it into the pan and was baked.


Finn even helped by putting the candles into the brownies.


Quite a simple and laid back birthday in all. It was exactly what I wanted. I even got a fancy new umbrella and cuff links so I look good and dry when I get to work. Thanks Family!

Pool party

The pool is a great place for everyone to go. If I am arond, I take Finn into the big pool, and if not, he plays around in the kids' pool while Sarah keeps an eye on Liam.


There are always plenty of kids to play with in the little pool. There are also two giant lockers of toys that belong to the community to use in the pool. The best are the noodles.


Since this shot, we've gotten a swin vest and Finn can swim around the big pool by himself, with close competent adult supervision.

The term "competent adult supervision" is one we've been seeing on the packages of baby stuff. I like it. It recognizes the reality that not all adults are competent to watch kids. Unfortunately the incompetent person is also likely incompetent to judge themselves as incompetent.



Speaking of competence, it is a battle to keep Liam from getting sunburned. We do our best through umbrellas, sheets, and other screens. On the plus side, ,he seems to like the pool as much as Finn does.

Basketball

He may not be worthy of a Div I scholarship yet, but I'm pretty sure that he is better than I am. Even when he misses the lay-up, he gets his own rebound. The loud footsteps in gym are a little intimidating to opponants. You can tell because they all left.

King of the Playground

While he may no King of the Playground, Finn is very social and likes to play with whoever is there. For example, here is a nice picture of him playing "go down the slide after me".


Another of his favorite games is "tie my shoe for me". That game has a twist since he wears Velcro shoes.


In all reality, he is very eager to share his toys and likes to join in with whatever the other kids are doing. He plays very nicely and hasn't fully attacked anyone yet. I'm sure it will happen, but it hasn't yet.

Good Morning‽

Now that the budget is close to finalized, I should have a little more time and will add words to the blog posts again.

This picture was from the busy days. This is what I looked like the morning after getting home from work at 11pm. I'm glad those days are behind me and I have the required primping time to look beautiful again.

Liams First Baseball Game

Finn's new train

He's very happy to get a new train.

Grandpa comes to town

During dad's stay here we got a ton of great pictures.