{rub-a-dub dub}

Eli enjoyed his first solo (meaning: without big brother) bath while Dean napped yesterday. It was also his first bumbo-less bath and he loved it. He kept standing and sitting, standing and sitting (hence the red mark on his bottom). He was all smiles and giggles.

{dean - 2 years}

{eli - 8 months}

{observing}

Dean could be a professional bird watcher - if he wasn't also a bird terrorizer, that is. He stares for long lengths of time just as well as any of the professionals do. But then it happens. Out of nowhere and with no warning his puny body breaks into a full-force run at his bird targets. All the while shrieking and flailing to his heart's content. It's terrifying, actually, for both his parents and the ducks. And it's ridiculous. Okay, AND hilarious.

We love him for it.

{foraging}

Forage: To wander or rove in search of food or provisions; to collect food.

A.K.A. Eli's life story. Let's face it, this kid will eat anything, edible or not. And off of any surface, sanitary or not.

Here he is "roving" about in our pantry when someone accidentally left the door open. It's a common occurrence these days - you'd think we don't feed him. What a forager.

{grandma}

My Mom's in town and the boys have had so much fun with her. Here are some pictures that I took of the boys with their Grandma at the park down the street.

{my guy}

What a man I have! When there are manly chores to be done, don't you go thinking one bit that a little rain will stop Devin. Or a lot of rain. Or thunder and lightning. Or even Hurricane Bertha for that matter. Okay, maybe Hurricane Bertha would stop him. But please tell me, how ridiculous does he look drenched from head-to-toe mowing during a thunderstorm? Oh, and in a Viagra shirt, I should point out. Well, I was there, so I'll tell you. Pretty ridiculous. (And I mean that in a grateful sort-of way.) And everytime I would peer out and signal for him to just give up and come indoors, he would just point up and shout out, "I think it started raining." Yep, that's my man. At least he didn't get struck by lightning. This time, anyway.

I love you Devin. Thanks for risking your life (well, almost) for the sake of our yard. *wink*

{delectable}

When Dean was a baby he ate zwieback toast but now there are... drum roll please... MumMums (or numnums as we call them)! These are Eli's favorite. They are less messy, healthier and even easier for little man to munch than those age-old zwiebacks. (By the way, can you "munch" without teeth?) Anyhow, it's so funny to watch him savor every last compressed-rice morsel. What a chunk - but oh, how he loves his numnums!

Oh, and I especially love how he has to brace himself at the end as if the incredible yumminess is just too much for his floppy (yet, rotund) baby body to handle without a kickstand. What a goofball.