Theo with a flower

Quintessential Franklin

Bruh

 Franklin can say "bruh" for brother. Here they are posing in their matching pjs!

Charming little muffin

Teddy time

Dada

 It became official over Mother's Day weekend. Franklin's got his first word and it is Dada. Daddy's been Franklin's favorite person since he was old enough to track a person walking across the room, so its fitting. He calls us all Dada, too. This morning when I got him up he saw me and repeated, Dada, Dada!

Mother's Day visit from Grammy Betsy

 Sweet Theo picking little lawn flowers

 Classic Theo - I told him to smile...he's just like his Daddy.

 A Mother's Day weekend hike at Mary S. Young State Park with both boys

 Theo's favorite Grammy accessory next to her scarves: the iPad!

 Aw, cute.

 Reading the newspaper with Grammy

Videos!

Franklin is 9 months old!

 Franklin is 9 months old and so much is changing with him so quickly! In the last week he started self-feeding crackers regularly and actually said his first word! He hasn't said it since, but still, I think we should count it. He looked up at Matt and said "Da Da" clear as day. Usually this syllable is babbled at least 3 times or so, but not this time. Da Da it is! He is also getting pretty mobile, though he's still staying in one general area; he just spins around on his belly. So close to crawling, though, and can kinda get himself going in one direction or another for a couple of inches if properly motivated. He's definitely working on getting those knees underneath him, and once he does...its off to the races. He's really into taking toys out of containers and banging them together, and playing with his brother, of course. He jumps so high and fast in his bouncer now I think he might pop right out of it. 9 month stats are: nearly 30 inches long (90th percentile) and 20 lbs 6 oz (50th percentile). Getting longer and leaner, but still bigger than Theo was at the same age. Not sure how much Theo weighed at 9 months, but he was only 21 lbs at 1 year!

Hangin' on the deck

Finally starting to self feed!

Franklin's been slow on the whole I'm a baby I'm supposed to put everything in my mouth thing. But the other night, we finally got some cracker gnawing going on.

The wonderful Theo

I've been thinking lately about the wonderful boy Theo is growing into, and so, as he finishes his fortieth month, I thought I would share some of his world. He has a wonderful imagination and sense of humor. He embraces silliness as all kids should, but I particularly appreciate this about him. He loves to have dance parties, one of my favorite silliness outlets as his mom. He has, as always, incredible verbal skills and has become quiet the accomplished rhymer of late. He's even started recognizing words on signs and asking "what does E-N-T-E-R spell?" He even understands the concept of zero. Of course, as three-year-olds will, a barrage of questions about why and what are part of daily life. He's tremendously creative - right now its all about drawing whales in oceans and building planes and bridges with his duplos. One of his favorite games right now is "synchronized diving" which involves jumping off the couch, either alone or with a playmate - but one at a time - and splashing into the carpet sea and looking for sea creatures, while sometimes pretending to be a mermaid. He is a great big brother and likes to help by finding safe toys for Franklin to play with. They make each other laugh uproariously and Theo says Franklin is a cutie beauty. More than anything, I appreciate his energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes this can be overwhelming, and he runs around the house spazzing out while I'm trying to have a quiet moment or get something done, but his joy of learning and enthusiasm for life's small pleasures also keep me laughing, smiling, and wondering.