June

 Breakfast on the porch

 Snack on the boat

 Great Grandmother's love

 Pawpaw and Ayda found a worm, which Ayda held it for at least a minute. 

Then they started fishing with it and caught one little fish.

 Ayda using her new fishing pole

 Ayda's second attempt riding the inner tube. She loved it!!!

Making forts!

 Making Fresh Orange Juice

 Love!

 Watching for Fireflies

 We got one!

 So Much Love!

It's great to finally have Ayda saying "I love you", give kisses and hugs.

She would do it but it always seemed forced or you could never understand her.

She now gives hugs and kisses a lot and on her own terms. 

It brings me joy to hear her say I love you and get a kiss when I tuck her in at night.

 Dancing in the rain

 6/4: Montgomery Zoo!

 Rhino in a mud bath

 Lion!

 Ayda's favorite today: Giraffe

 We had to teach Ayda not to climb on the fence. 

Then she decide to put her head in a fence while

 I was taking a picture of her looking at a snake. 

Just another teachable moment.

 Lynx

 Spider monkey

 Sloth Bear

 Train!

 Rest!

 Doors can't stop their love!

Ayda found the Nintendo

 6/5/14: James got his first pair of shoes. Stride Rite size 4

 But bare feet and seeing his heart shaped 

birthmark makes me smile the most

6/5: James's fifth tooth broke through the skin.

6/6/2014: Ayda finally put her ears under the water!

6/6: James started to stand on his own for 5 to 10 seconds before falling.

He is pulling himself up more everyday. 

But, still no crawling, just scooting around on his bottom.

  Talking to Mickey Mouse!

 6/8/2014: Ayda and Mommy playing while James sleeps.

 Fishing on the bridge

 Fishing in the pool

Starting her day off in the closet secretly talking 

to Minnie Mouse on the Mickey Mouse phone.

 Little James

 Getting his boat legs

 Snack time on the boat...

Red Lobster with SK and Maggie

 Playing in the dressing room

 Cookie!!!

 Teaching James about Oarse 

Going to McWane

 One of Ayda's favorite part at McWane

 Playing Dodgeball

 We got the arch to stay up

 Water Table!

 James's first attempt at feeding himself.

 After a surprise sip of Ayda's juice box (6/9), James can use a straw cup. 

6/10: James finally got himself into the crawling position. He had no clue what to do.

6/12: Started say "Mom Mom" and reaching out for me.

6/14/2014:  At 38 weeks, James finally learned to crawl and he will be able to thank his sister one day. Ayda was practicing throwing and reeling in her fishing pole. James wanted to catch the fish at the end of the line, but Ayda was following the rules of not letting James have the fish. After trying to get the fish five times, James finally got into the crawling position and started moving his legs and arms. 

Ayda made her own mud hole.

 6/15: Caught standing in his crib for the first time. He never figured out how to sit up from laying down until he started crawling. Everything started to click!

 Daddy Lunch Date

 The kid is a mess...

 Bath Time!

With a crawling James, Ayda is being the best protective big sister. 

She makes sure brother stays away from her small toys.

 Back at CHOM

3, 2, 1... Lift Off!

 Catching balls in the wind.

 Crawling makes CHOM more fun!

 Riding in the produce truck.

 Driving, his favorite!

 Making a mess in the kitchen.

On June 16, James decided that, while standing at the toy box, 

he would let go and stand by himself. He looked over at me with the biggest grin. Here he is on June 18 standing by himself after letting go of my hands.

 June 18: James decided to walk along the couch while holding on with both hands. 

This is also the same day that James pulled the wooden stool over on him 

and he received his first big bruise over his right eye.

Everyone loves a good carrot

6/20: To celebrate James's 9 month birthday, we had a Pool Day!
James also gained his sixth tooth today!

 For a little girl who was scared of swimming at the beginning of this summer, she did great today.

She swam the length of the pool, jumped in, kicked, blew bubbles, and closed her mouth when going under. She was amazing! The Amazing Ayda!

 A nap is always nice in the pool. (almost went to sleep)

 Lake = Ice Cream

 Not sure about crawling on these rocks.

 On the way to the lake, James moved during his nap. Ayda was sure he was awake and made sure to keep him awake by repeatedly screaming "Hey, Baby! Baby wake up!"
To make things fair, when Ayda took a nap after swimming, James tried to keep her from napping.
We had two tired kids when we got home.

Serious banana eating

A boy and his bear

Our artist at work

Someone has found the kitchen cabinets

 In the Bucket

We are really proud of Ayda for using a 

pipe cleaner to make a handle for the top to her pot.

 Tea Time!

 We love a good rain shower

 Cucumbers are good!

 In the space ship at CHOM

 His idea of using a walker is to push it away from him.

 This kid just loves to stand. He has great balance!

She loves her princess cupcake game. 

 Fun at Barnes and Noble

 Swinging!

 This girl kept her panties dry at night! 

(It's been a week with no accidents at night)

 We are very proud!

 We found some roly poly bugs. We let her keep one.

 What is it's name?

 "Roly Poly"

Then James has mastered crawling! 

While cooking dinner, James (crawling) and Ayda (riding her bike) chased each. 

Ayda would wait on James and the drive away, repeat.

James will laugh while crawling, laugh if you look at him, laugh if you tell him "hey". 

His personality is a laughing one. Does he cry? No! 

(okay only if his feeling gets hurt by his sister or he  hurts himself)