Investment

I've been looking for photographers recently to take some family pictures, and I noticed that on a lot of the photographers' websites, they list their prices on a tab called "Investments."  And based on what many of these photographers charge, "Investments" translates as "really expensive."  These, of course, are the best ones.

So recently, Wes and I made another "investment," and this time not one for the house.  No, we got a double stroller, one of those expensive, jogging ones that is still hip and urban but really just short of a minivan.  It's a double BOB Revolution, the side-by-side version of the single stroller we have used and loved since Oliver's birth.  BOB is evidently about to release a new line of strollers -- just a new look, I think -- and so their old ones were on clearance.  I managed to find the very last one at a local baby store along with the infant car seat adapter, and after an evening with the instruction manual and various tools, had it up and running (haha).  I (and our babysitter) have had both the kids out in it, and it sure is a workout.  I don't know that I'll manage to use it as much as Helen and Huck's mom, who for a time documented her "Daily Stroller Constituents" on her daily jogs.  We cut a wide swatch on the sidewalk -- there's a lot of looking down and apologizing for taking up so much space -- but the thing just glides.

The best news is that I got the stroller for about a third off the original price -- which is still absurdly expensive for a stroller, but hey, it's the best.

Pacified

So I take back what I said earlier about Emme not liking the pacifier.  In fact, it's become her (and our) best friend.  She doesn't have it all the time, and she doesn't sleep with it, but it sure makes a difference in those times when she's tired but not going to sleep and mouthy but not hungry.  For weeks I kept trying to feed her more.  Anytime Oliver got mouthy -- sucking on his fingers, or for Emme, her fist -- he was hungry.  But when I fed her more, she'd spit up and get really upset when I kept pressing her to eat.  So one fussy night (oh wait, that's most of them these days), I tried again.  And she took it.  And relaxed.  And was kind of like, "What took you so long?"  Oliver learned one morning how to put it in and has on several occasions been on "paci patrol" while I am in the shower and Emme is in her lamb chair in the bathroom.  It's not a cure all, I'm terrified of how I'm going to break this habit when she gets older, but for now, I'm just thankful for it!

Aunt Laura and Uncle Greid

Uncle Reid and Oliver (in matching red hat) on the
"merry-go-round."  

At least, that's how Oliver says it. My sister and her husband made it for a long trip and short visit this past weekend. They got to meet Emme (and, in Laura's case, and to Emme's great pleasure, hold her all weekend long) and see Oliver after more than six months apart, during which time he's gotten so grown up! We sat around the house, went out to dinner, visited the zoo, did a short driving tour of Vanderbilt and Music Row, and grilled steaks. The weather, and the company, was lovely. Hoping to see them both again soon, either here or in Savannah, so that it's not so long between visits!

Aunt Laura, Oliver, and Wes watched some Sesame Street
while Reid and I worked on dinner.

My funny Valentine

Ollie finally went back to daycare on Wednesday, at which time he collected the valentines from his friends and gave me the one he made with the help of his teacher, Ms. Tanga.  Tanga had asked the kids to tell her why they loved their moms, and then she wrote it down.  This was Oliver's response.

Saturday, in the park

Ollie and Wes playing basketball.

Wes passes to Ollie.

Ollie comes to tell me about playing basketball with Wes.

What Emme did at the park.

Swinging.

Strong man.

Wes made me take a picture of this.
The label on the pole says the
jungle gym is for kids "5 to 12 years."

A John Deere man

This is how Wes keeps Oliver occupied when we have to go to Lowes or Home Depot. To Oliver, they are all "tractors."  He especially liked the one with the canopy.

One month old