Dimples

Hee hee! He's going to hate me someday for publishing this one. But who cares because it is so cute. Why don't bums stay this cute? Lane is all over the place trying to keep up with his big brother. He standing up to everything to see what is on the other side, fishing in the toilet, climbing the stairs and taking headers down them, and transferring between furniture already!

Little Teeth

Lane has cut his first teeth! The two bottom teeth are here! Two weeks ago at the cabin we noticed the first one. The second one popped up just a few days ago. He is doing very well adjusting to them, just the occasional crankiness, but you can't blame him, it must hurt. He is doing all these funny noises, I think because they feel odd or because they are sore. For a while he we were calling him Chewie, he sounded like a baby Chewbacca, it was awesome. New things happen everyday!

ISR Swimming

On Monday we started ISR Swimming. It is a little late in the year to start swim lessons, but this is when it worked for us. Zackary had NO FEAR last year and this year he wasn't quite sure of the water, even with Aaron and I. So we decided to start them and get him more comfortable in the water. ISR focuses on survival not actually swimming. By the end of the lessons Zackary should be able to do swim float sequence to get to the edge if he were to ever fall into a pool. He is doing so well, the first couple of days he wasn't sure if it but today he really began to be comfortable. Just 4-5 more weeks to go.

Lane is not liking it as much as Zackary. He is learning to float and not too happy with it. Today, like his brother was doing much better and actually floating on his own. It is pretty amazing to see what they can learn in such a short period of time. The lessons are 10 minutes a day for 4-6 weeks, not the easiest schedule for 2 little ones in the middle of the day, but it is worth it. The peace in knowing that if anything ever happened, they will know how to keep themselves safe.

Tap Class

Yes, Zackary is in a tap class. It is so cute and he really likes it. Well I think it is the teacher Ms. Kyna! It is a class he takes at Rolly Pollies, every week we go to a gym class and the tap class. It has kept us busy this summer in the heat. He talks about her all the time! Today was the last tap class so I had to capture some shots.

Notice he is the only boy, he really doesn't mind, he has several girl friends in the class.

I love the partnering they were doing.

Pancakes

Isn't it funny how the 2nd child gets to try new things much sooner than the 1st! Lane devoured a real pancake this morning. Not some Gerber graduates or special baby pancake, a real Bisquick pancake loaded with syrup. I'm sure that at 8 months it is not part of a recommended diet but whatever...he loved it! It did call for a full bath after, he had syrup everywhere but who cares...Pancakes rock!

He is a lucky kid, pancakes are made quite frequently at the Allan house. Whenever you ask Zackary what he wants to eat... Pancakes is the answer, no matter the time of day!

Grizzly Aaron

I thought this was a great manly shot of Aaron. My wonderful, kind, loving, supportive husband. I don't know what I would do without him.

I wish I could get 'the chops' back!

Camping

We went camping over the weekend and boy did we have a great time. It was really nice to get away and be completely UNPLUGGED. No phone, email, Internet, computer, or tv, how peaceful it was. Aaron's parents have a cabin in Flagstaff (this is about to as close as camping as you will get me). Really didn't have to rough it but we still called it camping. Aaron got to take Zackary fishing for the first time. It only lasts about 15 minutes with a 2 year old but they did catch a few things.

This was the 1st catch. We went the next day and caught a fish, he is in our freezer...Zackary insisted on putting him in the fish tank, if you recall from before, he likes to put things in his fish tank.

Lane did great despite the fact that there wasn't much crawling space for him.
This was Zackary's 1st push pop. It was so fun to watch him try to figure it out. It was like old times showing him things we had when we were kids.

Allan Cousins

We had the Allan's over for dinner, a last get together before our new addition. The kids are having so much fun together now. Derek is almost 3, Lauren is 5, Zackary 2.5, it is chaos but what a great time. I just think about when Lane is a little older and Baby Boy Allan arrives (Mark and Celia's new baby) I just wanted to confirm that for everyone! How much fun we are going to have with our families.

Gangsta Lane

Here is Gangsta Lane! Watch out he is tough, spatula and all! For all of you blog followers, if you recall I did a post of Zackary in a do rag. They are just look so different to me. Similar personalities, laid back, roll with the punches, mellow when they should be, and rambunctious others. Lane is such a sweet, happy baby. He sure puts up with a lot...kisses from Otis (I think he might like them though), getting bumped over by his brother, getting drug out of bed to go somewhere, etc. And he is still happy!

Bath Time

How fun is bath time now? They thoroughly enjoy themselves taking a bath together. I have this great bath seat I got for Zackary and never used it, as a matter of fact I almost sold it! I'm so glad I kept it. The chair is perfect when there is two to tackle in the bath. These bath pictures are a must! I have finally figured out why they make tubs in the master bathroom this size. They really aren't big enough for adults...perfect for 2 kiddos!

My Wine

Wow that title sounds bad. But check out the name on the wine bottle! It is my wine! Well close just picture an 'e' at the end instead. How random is this? I never see my name on anything, except a plate they found years ago. My parents found this dessert wine in Texas when they were there on vacation. I can't wait to try it.

My Babies

My babies. What makes someone happier than having 2 beautiful baby boys? I am so blessed to have such wonderful, sweet, kind, beautiful, and handsome boys. They both have the most beautiful blue eyes, warm olive skin, and blonde hair. Everyday, I love them more and more.

They... my babies, are what makes my world go round. They... are what make me smile. They... make me realize what life is really about.

These are some more if my favorites from our May session with Tami Proffitt.

Watermelon

We had the boys photographed together, well it seems like yesterday, but it is now pushing 2 months ago. Again, Tami Proffitt gets the best shots of the kids. They both have really changed since then but here are some of my favorite shots. These ones were taken at Water Tower Park in downtown Gilbert, you know the awesome park Aaron designed! She brought the watermelon and we let them at it, oh did they enjoy themselves.

Pulling Up

Lane is now pulling himself up to things. Everything is happening so fast! He just starting crawling and is already crawling up the stairs in our little play room and pulling himself up to the toy box. I guess he better move fast to keep up with his big brother. I couldn't believe it, I showed him how do go up the stairs one time and now he is doing it over and over. He can't quite make it down them yet, but soon I'm sure.

Lane is all over our house now. Where ever the action is, he will make his way there.

Extra Fish

Here is the story of the fish tank.
Aaron and Zackary had some 'Daddy Son' time one day and ended up at the pet store to buy dog food...then it turned into an excursion to buy a fish tank for themselves. They bought some fish and some plants and we hunted some rocks from our yard to make a cave. This is their 'thing' they love it. Every night before bed they feed the fish and watch them for a while. We have of course been back to the pet store a few times to get new fish. Zackary holds them the whole way home saying "these are my new fishies." All the fish have names also and he knows every one of them.
So here is more to the fish tank story. It has been a bit of a battle to keep the top closed and fingers out of it. We frequently hear it open and close several times a day. How tempting right? Fish and water and a lid that is supposed to be OFF LIMITS. So we have found a few additions to the fish tank. He is putting fish in it, the only problem... they are plastic toys. Then we find more...a pretty big shark floating on the top.

Then we find more...half of the tank was full of different animals. Notice the dinosaur looking to be fed. This was all with the help of a friend he had over. They thought it was hilarious, in fact it really was! They were playing quietly, to quietly, for two 2 year olds. They were up to mischief!
I will inform you that no casualties occurred in this experiment!

Little Helper

Zackary is my little helper. He loves to help feed baby Lane. If he sees me put Lane in the high chair he will go and pick out food for him and sit in the chair to feed him. It is so nice to see them starting to really interact. The only problem is... he likes to eat all the finger foods.

Well there are two problems...the mess is twice as bad after a 2 year old feeds a 7 month old!

Check out his paws. These boys have the biggest little hands, if that makes any sense.