Do you know how much I love you?

The scene: bedtime at the Kelly residence. Gus is about to go down.

Maman: "Hank, say good night to Gus"

Hank: "can I give him a hug Mommy?"

Maman: "of course!"

Hank, hugging Gus: "Gus, do you know how much I love you? I'll miss you Gus. See you in the morning."

Maman and daddy exchange a look of surprise and delight.

What a way to end the weekend. Sigh.

Happy 3rd Birthday Hank!

Hank celebrated in style this weekend with a small birthday party at the Playseum, an indoor play space that lets kids run wild without destroying your home.  He had about 6 friends join him in dressing up, playing instruments, pretending to make pizzas and petting small animals like bunnies and birds.  It was all capped off with a trip to bakery where the kids were allowed to decorate their own cupcakes.  Hank, the purist that he is, declined to add anything to his cake, and proceeded to eat the icing alone.

He's no dummy.

Starting the day off right with a pancake breakfast and present opening! 

With his old pal Nate, tickling the ivories! 

Yes, I know he needs a haircut. 

Making pizza at Dominos. 

Nate is comfortable with his masculinity...

Time to decorate the cupcakes...Johnny dressed for the occasion. 

Heavy on the icing, hold the cake!

Gus and Daddy cheered the decorators on! 

3 Years and 6 Months

Big week 'round these parts - these two little monkeys are turning 3 years and 6 months old! Here are the first in a series of portraits I am plan to take at 6 month intervals of the two brothers as they grow up together (if I say it out loud, I have to do it, right?)

And since this blog is taking the place of that sweet hard copy baby book I feel that I should be doing, here are some notes on Hank and Gus at these ages for me to weep over later.

Hank, age 3:

• Enjoys playing with legos, blocks, trains and cars
• Particularly enjoys playing "barista" with the coffee maker that his dad made for him out of legos.  Talk about a city kid.
• Likes to chase and tickle mommy until she falls down begging him to stop.
• His day is not complete unless he has touched Gus' eyeball at least once.
• Still not potty trained, but knows how to remove his own diaper when he wants to.  Which is often. 
• Still in his crib, but in the habit of removing his sleep sack (aka the restraining jacket) and starting to try and climb out. 
• Loves the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
• Asks his parents for money.  When we say "for what?" he says, "for Hank."  Duh.
• Has started saying "Hey!" and "Yeah"

Gus, age 6 months:

• Has mastered the art of rolling over and does so whenever he can.  Can no  longer be left unattended on any surface not the floor.
• Not quite sitting up on his own yet.  I will help him assume the position but when I stop supporting him he slowly folds over on himself.
• Enjoys sucking his own toes and chewing on his shoes.
• Has the worlds most luscious eye lashes and brightest blue eyes.  Strangers stop this child and comment on his baby blues.
• Blabs away endlessly, mostly at meal times.  Is he complaining about the food or praising it?  I fear the former...
• Still no hair...
• Thinks his big brother is high-larious...except when he does this: