To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

I know I just posted a sleeping picture, but this is one I really like and couldn't resist posting. Rush has started rolling over on his tummy and snuggling with his little monkey blanket. He should be ready soon to join Winnie in the kid's room!

Watch Out, Thanksgiving, It's Already Christmas

Here is Winnie playing with her "Little People" nativity scene--she calls it the "Baby Jesus house." (while Rush chews on a camel). Cary decorated the house tonight, so we are already set for the holidays. Once a few finishing touches are done, we will post some photos of the house. My favorite holiday activity so far was playing freeze/dance with the "Rocking around the Christmas tree" Hallmark snowman thing. Winnie would start and stop the music, and I would start and stop dancing. Then it turned into this fast feet blues brothers thing we were doing together. Very fun.

Sorry for so few posts lately - we will ramp it up again soon. I guess two kids under two is starting to take a toll!

The Days Are Just Packed

I'm gonna be an Art-iste

Cary has started using our balcony door as an easel for Winnie, and it is awesome to have her art on display. Winnie has become a lot more vocal lately (favorite new words are 'yes,' 'Rush,' 'help,' and 'up'). Beyond that, she is starting to understand how to draw, and as you can see: will rock the right OR the left hand as she sees fit.

Of course we want to support whatever Winnie wants to do as she gets older, whether it be music, sports, art, writing, xbox360, etc. But since a drum set is out of the question in a one-room loft, we'll push for art in the meantime!

Rush - Growing Up Fast

Maybe it is just me, but I feel like Rush is growing up faster than Winnie did. Perhaps because he has Winnie as a coach? He has been spending a lot more time in the jumper-station-thing than she ever did (although in classic brother/sister fashion, she now suddenly is interested in it and wants to be in there whenever he is). He is starting to laugh and smile even more, and getting some improvement on his ability to put toys in his mouth - which is good, because he cannot figure out how to keep a binky in!

Zoo Time! (Again)

After spending most of the nicest November day of all time in beautiful Swansea, Illinois, I was ready to get out with the family and enjoy the weather. We managed to get to the zoo for an hour and have some fun. First, we went to the Children's Zoo, where Winnie relunctantly petted a goat, but then was so (so so) excited to pet the Gunea Pigs. I was having focus issues with my autozoom, but this picture is cute anyway. Some girls a few years older came over, and you could tell that Winnie was loving the idea of hanging with them around the gunea pig area. Next, we went through the penguin area where Winnie had a great time counting the penguins. She can only count to two, so it took quite a while to get them all. Winnie also showcased the future, when she wanted to be anywhere but in a photo with her dorky Dad.

Rush was a very happy boy, and was all smiles.

It's good to have such a wonderful zoo in town, and we hope to go more and more every year!

Four Months

Rush had his four month checkup at the pediatrician last Friday. He and Winnie had been sick all week with bad colds, so we had all been miserable last week. Dr. Zuckerman (the best pediatrician in the world, I think) said he looks great! He weighed in at 16 lbs, 3 oz. I can't remember length, but he was in the 85% percentile, whatever that means. He said that he was impressed because Rush was really strong and so good natured (which was not news to me!)