More catching up

I'm determined to be talking about a few days ago instead of a few months ago, but in the meantime I am organizing the pics and keep coming across cute ones.

We introduced Saul to crayons in early August. This picture of him is so cute and hopefully is a sign of the little studier we'll have. Of course, just moments after this picture the crayons were going straight to his mouth so we took a break.

The other picture is after a hike from Timberline to Silcox Hut up at Mt. Hood. It was a gorgeous day and we had a great time. We also learned the limits of Saul's patience in a backpack and changed our vacation plans as a result.

Saul's first time coloring at his little table.

Back at the car after a great hike.

The clouds only came in as we were coming down.

Faster, Dadda!

I remember my babysitting days when I would chase the little guys in Lynnwood round-and-round the house -- through the living room to the hallway, through the kitchen, the dining room and back to the living room. The fun never ceased. And, to make it really fun, you get ahead and then turn around and surprise them as they're running.

The game is just beginning in our house. For now, Saul is happy to just sit in his push-wagon and let "dadda" - Aaron - push him around at high speeds. They both were having lots of fun. Amazingly, a few of the action shots are even in focus!

On your mark, get set..... (in the kitchen) Go! (in the dining room)

And smiling through the living room.

More from Mom's visit in August

I think and hope that Mom had fun with the grandkids. Here are a few pictures from her visit while Michelle and Claire were down at our house, as well. It's so nice to have them only 5 houses away!

Three generations of ladies - Mom, Michelle and Claire. Saul pointing out the location of Claire's eye - he's NOT punching her! Auntie Michelle reading to Saul and Claire.

15 month stats

Saul had his 15-month appointment on Monday. The stats:

weight: 26 lbs., 12 oz
weight percentile: 78th

height: 30.5 inches long
height percentile: 33rd

Nothing to worry about. Kid is "the picture of health", but I can't imagine what his weight would be if he was sedentary - a word that I don't think we'll have to worry about entering his vocabularly.

Grandma No-No-No

My mom visited in late-July/early August for a few weeks, spending her time between Portland and Tillamook with the grandkids and her mom, brothers and their wives. Saul took to her immediately! She got to our house late one night after he'd gone to bed, so when he woke up in the morning she was anxious to greet him after being away for six months. She peeked around the corner to his room and as soon as he saw her he crawled quickly to my lap and greeted her with a "hi". Once she started talking to him he got brave and was running between her and me. Within just a few more minutes he was bringing her books to read, which became his constant activity with Grandma. (I couldn't resist posting all three in the series of reading pictures below.)

I tried telling Saul that Grandma was "my mamma". That just seemed to confuse the matter, so we just went with Grandma. However, he had his own ideas. I'm "momma" in a semi-high pitched voice. And Grandma is "momma" in a lower pitched voice.

Mom became Grandma "no-no-no" over a meal. One of Saul's favorite games is the deliberate "uh-oh" of food off the tray and on to the floor. He was holding out a handful of something, probably meat and preparing to uh-oh it. Mom's immediate reaction was: "Saul! No, no!"

He sort of stopped and watched her for a minute and then went back to eating. The next meal, though, he held food out over the tray, looked his grandma squarely in the eyes and shook his head saying "no, no, no". I think Mom was a little embarrassed, making sure I knew she'd only told him that once! We think it's funny, though! If only he would NOT drop the food when announcing that it's a no-no.

We've had two clear signs of his attachment to my mom. First, after her short stay here on our couch, the morning after she left he came running into the living room bright and early hollering, "Mama! Mama!" He searched all over for her. Then, just a few weeks ago Mom and I were talking on the phone during Saul's nap. When he woke up I took the phone in and put her on speaker phone. As soon as he heard her voice he sat up and exclaimed, "Momma!" Now, whenever he holds a phone he asks for her.

One of these days she'll live closer than Pennsylvania and can spend more time with her grandkids.

Saul signing "please" as a request for Grandma to read the book. Happily reading a book with one of his grandmas.

Going in for a "thank you" kiss.

July 27 was a busy (and hot) day!

Apparently, hot days made for busy days. While organizing pictures this afternoon I realized just how much Michelle and I did with Saul and Claire on a single Monday (my day off). We went to a great little park in Northeast Portland in the morning before naptime. Then, in the early afternoon when our homes were just waaaaay too hot, we took the kids to OMSI. What I remember most about our fun day is the following:

1. The morning park time was an effort to get outside before it got over 85. We had a week or so that was in the high 90s and as high as 107, so we were attempting to get the kids fresh air before it felt like a sauna outside.

2. By afternoon, our goal was to enjoy AC. Unfortunately, I somehow overlooked the lack of AC in the car, which made the leaving and returning uncomfortable. When I put Saul in the car for the ride home from OMSI he very weakly said to me, "Hoooooot," demonstrating his full understanding of the definition of the word. Originally we applied "hot" to describe "hot coffee" or "hot tea", etc. He continues to lean towards hot beverages on the coffee table at the coffee shop with his hands down at his sides and exclaims, "Hot!" We learned during the summer hot stretch that he had expanded the meaning to describe the Volvo oven I so cruelly made him spend time in!

Peaking over the wall of the play structure with Michelle ready to catch one of them if necessary.

Out of focus, but you get the idea - swinging is fun!

Heavy! Saul starting his weight lifting routine at an early age and demonstrating that you don't need a gym membership. The way the kids spent most of their time together - one going and one coming.

They explored lots and were off to the next thing lickety-split.

Who needs the "stars and stripes" when you can have "balls and stripes".

Claire watching the fishies at OMSI. They're in a perfect location for little people.

Beginning again...but catching up, too.

As I watch the blogs of friends and family remain caught up I also watch the "last updated" counter on this blog become harder and harder to phathom. Three months?! The idea of updating now becomes crazy. But, there are so many pictures and things to share and catch back up on. So, as I'm organizing pictures, I'll also post some. Maybe in order. Maybe not. And, I'll attempt to stay more current at the same time.

To start, here are a few photos from a late-July "photo-shoot" we held up at Mt. Tabor Park. Aaron was working on capturing professional high-quality pictures that we can use in place of paying someone else to take them. I followed along with my camera and took pictures, too. Notice the little matching outfit. It seemed appropriate for the settting. When we were leaving the coffee shop on our way to the park a guy commented that Saul looked ready for a round of golf. Well, that wasn't what I was aiming for but I took it as a sign that Saul looked appropriately dapper.

A very busy, active little boy makes it hard to capture pictures that aren't blurry.

Aaron checking the last few shots and Saul waiting for more. Demonstrating that he understood the kind of shots we were looking for.