I caught Peter singing this morning.  He had his own version, but the tune and context were unmistakeable: "Rain, rain no away.  Hum anin anoder day!"  That about sums up the mood around here.  As temperatures have climbed for the past week or so, we have taken every opportunity to be outside and Peter is finally trying out so many of the toys that have been limited by the winter weather. 

 

 What can I say - the kid loves his "hat"

Feeding the ducks and geese - or rather, overfeeding!

At a cooking playdate enjoying the dessert he prepared.

We finally left Nashville for the first time since Thanksgiving.  A couple of weeks ago we loaded up and went to the lake for a visit and a much needed change of scenery.  The weather did not cooperate, but we can already tell that Peter is going to have a fun summer.  He just adores that place, and we didn't even go down to the water!  

Davis's first Game Day - Daddy's lucky charm

After a week of GORGEOUS spring-like weather, we are now back to threats of snow.  Just in time for the playset that Hayes and his dad have been laboring over for hours and hours... and hours. 

The delivery

Elapsed time : 0 hours

Elapsed Time: 3 hours

Elapsed Time: 6 hours

Quality Control - Inspected (& APPROVED) by Agent #2 1/2

 Elapsed Time:  14 hours

Including one lunch, one hardware store run, one omitted swingset part, three attempts at one step, a rainstorm and countless "tank ew"s from Peter

Elapsed Time: 16 hours

Hayes will continue to assemble in the coming days, but we owe Dr. Tommy a huge debt of gratitude for the time, energy, and sheer elbow grease it took to get so far this weekend.  If Peter's smile is any indication, this "home" (as Peter calls houses) will be what he remembers most about this house decades from now.  To give him such joy is a remarkable feeling.   Now if only I could relax and let him play up there without the guardrails attached yet....

Common sights these days:

Smiley boy - but the camera can't catch that smile for anything! 

One tired soldier!

We're still here!  Alive and kickin'!  Well, maybe not kickin'... perhaps punting is a more appropriate description given the energy level around here.  There are two very well-rested members of this household and two who are less than well-rested.  I will leave it to you to figure out who's who.  The past few weeks have been busy, though I can't say that I have a great deal to show for them other than two very rapidly growing boys.  Peter is practicing being a fantastic big brother, and it's clear that Davis already admires him so much.  He turns toward Peter's voice and watches him throughout the day, while Peter often offers kisses and sweet pats.  The only thing better than hearing your child tell you he loves you is when you hear him tell his baby brother that he loves him.  Despite all the love, we are navigating the very muddy waters of an occasional near-injury, and it's not Peter I'm worried about.  Davis hasn't needed stitches yet, so I consider our plight a triumph thus far. 

Both boys have in the past two weeks moved up a size in diapers and clothing.  Is this what it's like with boys all along?!  I suspect that our Costco membership is going to pay off in spades once they're both eating solid food.  Between the boys and Hayes's marathon training, I am surrounded by bottomless pits... and for once, I'm not one of them! 

We have made a couple of trips to a nearby children's museum, Peter's new favorite place.  

Can't imagine why.

The toddler imagination is kicking in...

 

Davis finally met his godmother, my cousin Emily ...

 

... and Peter refused to look at her until the last day of her visit, when he begged for her to stay.  

 

3 weeks old - 8 lbs, 14 oz

 

5 weeks old - 10 lbs, 1/2 oz