Baby Burrito and Brock's Big Adventure!!

This is one the of the boys' latest favorite games. We keep blankets on the floor for them to play on, and they love to get ahold of the edges and roll themsleves up. Both boys have done this multiple times, but we managed to get Kyle on film this time. Too funny!!

Then, yesterday, we went into get Brock up from his nap, and found this:

Needless to say, we spent the evening lowering the mattresses on the cribs - safe and sound farther down, but much harder to lift in and out!!!

Sit!! Stay!!

No, we did not get a new pet!! These are just words that are heard in conversation around the Leman house these days. If you listen carefully, you may also hear a small voice saying "mamamamama". Brock knows how to say mama, but we're quite sure that he doesn't know what it means. Hopefully he will understand soon, as he's getting pleanty of positive reinforcement when he says it:).

Thanks, Aunt Ruthie for the inspiration for this post. She brought the boys these shirts from a restaurant in Michigan called The Stray Dog. So cute and appropriate for this time in their lives!!

"I love to sit up!!!" Brock has been our expert sitter for a couple of weeks now, but Kyle is quickly catching up, even getting himself into a sitting position from laying on the floor.

This shot was taken about a week ago - "Do I have to sit up??"

Ah, much better!! I got here all by myself this time!! Thanks, Auntie Kelli, for sending these big boy toys all the way from Colorado!! We are growing into them quickly!!

"I'm so glad that Mommy got out all of the new big boy toys for us to play with. Our baseball game is great!!"

This is where they end up if we need to make sure they "Stay" in one place. Doesn't he look resigned??

If Mommy doesn't put us somewhere to "Stay", we can end up in all kinds of trouble. Late last week, Mommy was in the other room, thinking that Kyle was playing safely on the floor, when she heard the lamp scooting acrosss the glass coffee table. Who knew that he could get almost behind the couch and a hold of the lamp cord??? Mommy and Daddy do now, hence the "Stay" place!!

The next shots are an action sequence captured today as the boys sat on the floor playing:

"I love you, brother!!"

"I'm gonna get you, brother!!"

"I've almost got my brother!!"

And the domino effect. "Help!! We've fallen and we can't get up!!"

We can't crawl yet, but we can.............

Empty off the bottom shelf of the CD tower (I know - this will have to find a new home soon!!)

Roll on top of each other* - we let nothing get in our way when headed across the floor towards a toy!!

Pinch each other*(but mom, I was just squeezing those irresistible cheeks!!) -

Stand on my head and feet - Kyle has discovered this one completely on his own. If he can get his body in this position, I can't imaging that crawling is very far behind!!

Get ourselves in to potentially painful situations*(can you see the head bonking Brock's about to get from his brother in the jumper above??)

You can't see Brock's face in this shot, but his mouth is on Kyle's head*. We call these "kisses", but I'm afraid that he's trying to figure out how to work his two teeth!!

Make piggy faces, complete with snorting sounds - baby style (moving air fast through his nose:).

Pulling at each other* - does anyone see an antagonizer/antagonizee trend?? One theory is that he's paying Kyle back for all of the in-utero kicks to the head that he received (during many a sonogram, Kyle's feet were on top of or next to Brock's head). Don't worry - Brock gets his share of pinches, pulls, etc. from Kyle, too!!

"I love to rub his hair!!!*"

*NO BABIES WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS BLOG!!* Mommy waits just long enough to get a picture before intervening and rescuing the baby headed into harm's way!!

I didn't get a picture of this yet, but Brock can sit up on his own - completely unsupported!! He does great for long stretches of time, until he sees a toy that he can't reach. Then, over he goes!! He also is a pacifier stealer. Anytime Kyle has his with Brock's reach, Pop!! out it comes from Kyle's mouth via Brock's little hand. He doesn't even try to suck on it, just snatches it away from Kyle. Too funny!!

Catch Up - Colorado

Home again, Home again......

The trip to Colorado went well despite some minor car trouble and Mommy not feeling well one day. The boys were awesome the whole time, including both flights. They charmed the other passengers enough that they didn't seem to dread the sight of 2 babies so much. The airport process was challenging, but doable with Grandma's help. It would have been very difficult w/ only 2 adults, especially in the security process, as each baby had to be held and the stroller/carseats torn down to their most basic pieces. This was a real task but we survived. We struggled a little bit w/ United not wanting to let us take our carseats on the plane on the way home (they were very accomodating on the way there), even though there were extra seats available. They relented at boarding time and we were grateful as the boys slept almost the entire flight home and probably wouldn't have done as well, had they not had their seats. Here are some photo highlights -not a lot of beautiful Colorado mountain shots, but pleanty of baby-love pics:):

Mommy, Daddy, and the boys at the airport waiting to board.

Were loaded up and ready to fly!!

Aunt Kara LOVED spending time w/ the boys. They got very used to all of the extra attention, too!!

Aunt Kara, Mommy, Brock and Kyle

The Iowa Uncles with Brock and Kyle. We love them, even though they're Hawkeye fans!!

Kyle thinks Aunt Kara is beautiful!!

Brock and Grandma Martin - two kindred spirits!!

Brock and Grandpa Martin - looks like someone's had a long day!!

Daddy reads the boys a bedtime story!!

Where are Brock and Kyle??????

Brock and Kyle flew out to Colorado (with Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma Martin) to suprise Aunt Kara for her birthday. It was a secret in the making for the last 2 months, one that was very hard for all to keep, especially when talking to Aunt Kara. She came to the airport, expecting to pick up Grandma, and was shocked to find her two favorite men waiting for her!!
It has been lots of fun, and Brock and Kyle have done amazingly well with the flight, time change and schedule changes. Mommy and Daddy are so greatful that their boys are good travelers. All of this would not have been possible if Grandpa hadn't been driving out and able to take all of the equipment that we needed. It's been a fun time, and the best part was the look on Aunt Kara's face and the response of "This is the best birthday ever!!!".

Happy Birthday, Aunt Kara!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Kara!! We love you and miss you, and hope that you b-day is extra special.

We have a winner.....finally!!

As you may remember from my earlier feeding post, Kyle is our bottle loving baby, and hasn't been so fond of the baby food. But I do believe that we have had a breakthrough!! It all started with the beloved sweet potatoes. Grandpa had a few left from last year's garden, and Grandma generously donated them to the boys' cause. Mommy baked them up, and voila!! Kyle loved them. He opened his mouth like never before, looking like a little bird. The sweet potatoes have opened his world, and he has been much more receptive to many other foods. Thank goodness for sweet potatoes!!!

"Can't you move any faster with that spoon?? I love those sweet potatoes!!"

"I always open my mouth, but I love these sweet potatoes, too!!"

Too cute for words!!

"Yummm!!"

Licking the bowl clean!!

Licking the spoon, already licked the bowl!!

There's another factor that seems to be increasing Kyle's love for solids - these silly looking baby feeders. I will admit, I was a skeptic in the beginning, but broke down and bought some after hearing from several people whose babies had loved them. Boy, was I wrong in doubting!! The boys think that they're great!! They don't even seem to mind that the fruit is filtered by a mesh bag, and go to town when given one!!

"Here's my peach mush - That's all I left!!"

Going to town on my feeder!!

Here's a cute snuggle pic of Kyle with Mommy, just because I love it so!!