Fun with food coloring

Last week we decided that we needed some new play dough since the old stuff got left out for too long and was a bit dry. I learned something from this experience. I was raised in a home where food coloring was considered a precious commodity and as such was used sparingly. Everything that was colored with food coloring looked a little pale. So, this time I let Isaac color the play dough while trying to explain to him that food coloring is to be used sparingly. Somehow that just didn't sink in to his two year old mind quick enough. In fact I don't think that I even had a chance to explain it fully before he had managed to grab the food coloring from me and start squeezing it out rapidly in the pan. As a result he made the most beautiful and deeply colored play dough I have ever seen. I did not realize that was possible with food coloring. I have been thinking a lot about the role that food coloring will have in our family and if it will continue to be a rare commodity in our home.

Isaac was not satisfied with merely coloring the play dough, so we moved on to his milk. That is when I pulled out the camera.

William was participating from the bumbo seat and enjoying the action.

Bedtime

Just a couple shots from a few minutes ago. Poor Aleks has a big deadline at work tomorrow and has hardly slept. I thought that he was going to stay in there with Isaac, but he is now hard at work on his computer.

Brotherly Love

Isaac has really taken to William. At daycare, he does not want to go outside without William and asks to see him regularly. He loves to give him kisses (and throw toys at him while I am feeding him, lest you get the idea that we have a perfectly harmonious relationship here).

He hugs and kisses like a boy.

Sharing.

Sharing stickers with William.


Some shots of the big boy. He is such a happy and smiley kid. I love it! Our pediatrician mentioned that this was her favorite baby phase back when we were in with Isaac at his two month check up. I did not really appreciate it then, but I think that I am appreciating it more now. He is smiley and interactive, not mobile, not eating solids, and at least knows when it is nighttime (that does not mean he is going to sleep through it, though).

Big Boy

So, we have known that William is big (he is wearing nine month old clothes and has been in size three diapers for a while now). But yesterday at his four month check up it was confirmed. When our pediatrician (who we love) walked in to examine him, she said in a hushed tone: he is huge (or something like that). It was really funny. She commented that he is almost as big as Isaac (kind of true). It is good that Isaac is nice to him now, so he won't be getting payback from William.

So here are the stats:
weight: 18 lbs (95th percentile)
head: 45cm (95th percentile)
height: 26 in (85th percentile)

He has the girth that his father did as a baby and I guess that Isaac has his father's looks. Not sure where I fit in to this picture.

BBB: Big Boy Bed

We have made the switch! Isaac is now sleeping on a big boy bed (on the floor). It took a little help from Thomas and his friends in the form of some new sheets (he is really useful).

Unfortunately I am up really early right now with him, since he seems to now think that getting up in the five o clock hour is ok again. Grrr...

Kids

While on the reunion, Aleks' sister-in-law snapped some great shots of the kids. I think that these really capture a lot of William's features. He is a very happy and interactive kid.

Isaac is a tougher subject, but she got this really nice one of him and Aleks.

Family Reunion

Summer is definitely here. It is wicked hot and humid and we had a family reunion with all of Aleks' extended family. It was great. The week before the reunion Aleks' brother and his family stayed with us along with his mom. It was a lot of fun.

Isaac and Jack are reliving the days of jumping on the bed when we visiting them last Thanksgiving in Germany and visiting Brugges (see here for version one of this).

Kay with all of her grandsons:



We all headed down to the Cape for a week. We rented a house for Aleks' immediate family. That meant 18 people under on roof, eight of whom were age 4 or under. We have all had kids in the last year, so there were 4 kids that were one year or less. It was pretty fun. The kids had a blast and we were busy managing the tears and toys. Somehow I don't seem to have that many photos (I guess that is because we were spending our time managing the kids and not taking photos?)


Isaac really took to his oldest cousin Kasia. He is still talking about her.



Bedtime with the boys.



Playtime with cousins:



This was a somewhat impromtu trip to the beach. We had gone to Provincetown and planned to see some of the dunes, but after wandering around the town in the 95 degree humid heat, we decided we will come back in the fall to see the dunes and went to the beach instead. It was amazing. I had not brought swimsuits for us, so we made due and had a lot of fun.



We got some pics of the boys with their great grandparents. Isaac was not really in the mood.



Then we took advantage and got a four generation shot (there are three Williams in here).



After the reunion Mike and Jessica and their kids spent a night with us. This allowed Isaac one more chance to play with Kasia.



Aleks and Mike with their newest babies.