All About David

Well, he did it... David turned 2 years old!!!! He had his birthday this past Thursday but we waited until the weekend to celebrate. We started Saturday baking yummy cupcakes with mom:And enjoying the beater:
We decided to have a birthday lunch (so we could work all of the sugar out by bedtime). We started off with a blessing (Daddy, please allow me to turn three):
And had a lunch of ALL of David's favorite things: GREEN BEANS, HOT DOGS, CARROTS (with his very own pile of dip-dip) and of course a PICKLE!!!!!
Up first, the pickle. Gone!!!! .....David has always been a very good eater!!
For dessert, we had cupcakes!! Mom helped blow out the candles:
No cutlery required...eat like a 2 year old.
Like Father Like Son:
Birthday Boy!!

Half-way through his cupcake he decided he wanted another pickle.....it was his birthday...it's good to be the King ?!?!?

Then, we had presents:
A new book for reading!!!!

And sleeping:
The grand finale: a new tricycle mom found (slightly used):

He took to it right away...next stop, the Tour De France......

With Monkey along for the ride!!!

David continues to be the apple of his mom and dad's eyes!!! He is growing up soooo fast!! His learning is increasing by leaps and bounds and he can count to ten (usually forgetting the number 2), knows all of his colors, shapes (triangle, square, circle, oval, heart, diamond), and letters through E. He has started to construct short sentences (although he gets very frustrated when mom doesn't understand). His favorite phrases are "I did it" and "mom, watch!". He is very loving with Delaney and kisses and hugs her in typical two-year old boy fashion. He is very quick to tell mom when she is "sad" i.e. crying. He has become somewhat picky about what clothes (and socks) he wears and many a morning has started a battle over clothing choice (not quite sure where this comes from!) Overall he is a happy, easy-going boy displaying all of the characteristics of a 2 year old discovering he can think for himself!!!

We will post later in the week about Delaney who is growing as fast as David and the two of them have their parents completely overwhelmed. And happy.

THE PLAYSET!!!!!

For David's birthday, we wanted to get the kids a playset. We did our homework and ordered one online that was delivered promptly, too promptly for our current lifestyle. Part of the deal was we need to erect the swingset. The instructions said it would take the normal family 6 hours. We figured probably double that would be a good estimate for us. It only took 2 weeks...those college degrees were of no help whatsoever.....This is what it looked like upon delivery:

After several rain delays, we finally got the "core" of the set up. Here is the frame going up:

Mom actually helped some too:
Then we had, shall we say, a "significant" precipitation weather delay:
FINALLY, the weather cooperated and we finished....and there was much rejoicing!!!
I don't know who was happier....Daddy or David!!!
Despite the weather delay, David got some outside time in the snow!!!
David gets to say bye-bye to too much inside time and his favorite inside toys:
Our sweet Delaney has fully mastered rolling over and we are madly trying to get some pictures of that but haven't been successful yet. She's almost 5 months now and cute as a button:

Family Pictures

We recently had family pictures taken by our favorite local photographer, Addie Tally. I've uploaded some of our favorites:

Some looked more like "real life" than posed pictures......

And this looked like an REM music video:

Art, Cereal, and Siblings.....

Recently Momma Shedd visited and she brought David an art easel. It has been a huge hit as David will spend hours (OK minutes....but we will take what we can get) drawing (or asking mom and dad to draw "ah-panes").

If you know David, you know what he REALLY likes is cleaning the easel:
We recently started Delaney on rice cereal in the evenings (in a desperate effort to get her to sleep through the night--we will try anything!). The first night went well:
By the second night Delaney seemed to like the cereal a bit more:
And quickly decided she should be in control of the spoon:
Overall I think she is happy with the cereal:
Delaney continues to grow quickly and her little personality shows itself more and more. She is VERY smiley and happy and LOVES to be around people. She is far more social than David was. In some ways though, they are two peas in a pod:

Snow and Stuff.....

2011 is off to a great start!!! We brought in the New Year with a little "bubbly"...and David LOVES bubbles......here he is checking the quality control of the bubbles :-) The fireworks were put on hold due to a local thunderstorm.

David started the new year off with a much-needed haircut to lower his ears. The last time he got in the barber's chair, it took 3 of us to hold him down (hence no pictures that day). This time, he wasn't overly thrilled but did very well. We were all very proud of him!!!
The Christmas morning snow was amazing so imagine our surprise to get a SECOND bit of snow after New Years!!!! We were spoiled with the Utah powder. Mississippi snow is wet and cold, but that did not stop us from jumping in and enjoying the experience.
Mom pulled David through the front yard on the sled........
David LOVES wagon rides. Sled rides??? not overly thrilled :-)
Unfortunately, the Big Snow didn't keep dad home from work long enough :-(

... mom and the kids put the fireplace and blankets to good use on the home front (slackers)

Little Delaney is now 4 months old. She still isn't sleeping regularly through the night :-( But she is growing fast and her accomplishments now include enjoying some "Bumbo" time:
Here is a trip down David' Amnesia Lane at 4 months: Two peas in a pod I'd say :-)
Delaney has her 4 month well-baby check-up tomorrow so check back for her stats.....mom is guessing she will weigh about 14 lbs.......