So I never did get caught up...I still have pics and stories from our California trip (yep the trip we took almost 2 months ago). So before I fall too far behind on milestones and funny quotes...here's what my little boys have been up to.
1) James just got his second tooth this week...both bottom front teeth are now in! As tough as he is most of the time, he has to be to live with Jake, he was pretty whiney about these little razor blades making their debut. Luckily for him, we like excuses to spoil around here.
2) Jake is still obsessed with being Mexican. But finally, Arthur got tired of him using, "I don't
(fill in the blank), I'm Mexican!" as an excuse for everything. "Dude, you are only a fourth Mexican!" he explained. Jake responded in horror, "Why would you say that!?!" Jake has now resigned himself to the fact that he is only "a fourth," but that does not prevent him from frequently "speaking" in a made up language that sounds strangely similar to Spanish...that is when he is not growling like a lion.
3) James crawls now, but hates nearly every second of it. All he wants to do is get up and walk around like the rest of us. That eager anxious boy I felt while I was pregnant with him is back. It is common to walk into a room with James, in the downward dog position, yelling at his feet.
4) Arthur finally selected his aircraft and is now a Blackhawk pilot! We are super excited...everyone except Jacob. He really had his heart set on Daddy flying the Chinook (there wasn't even one available). He dealt with his disappointment well, however, and has just decided that he will fly one himself when he grows up. I am a little confused how he will fit that in with medical school and all the "lawning and edging" of my grass he insists he will be doing. But that is the best part about being a child...the future is just one big YES.
5) James is happiest on his feet. Quickest way to put a smile on his face is to prop him up again a piece of furniture or hold his hands so he can walk around...and around...and around. The funniest part is watching him "test" himself as lets go and attempts to balance. I am sure we are just weeks...if not days away from him flinging himself from one piece of furniture to the next...just like another little boy I use to know.
6) Jake is getting really good and number recognition and simple addition and subtraction (he even knows what the +, -, and = symbols mean). And yes, I may include marshmallows or goldfish in our math time as incentive. Let's just say that Jake likes subtraction the best.
7) James started saying Mama a few weeks ago (right before he hit the 7 month mark), and has recently expanded his vocabulary to include Dada and Bubba (what we call both him and his big brother). Yeah I wouldn't believe it either if he didn't use them all in context and I'd still probably think it was just coincidence if I hadn't already had one baby who spoke in complete sentences by 18 months. I couldn't help but giggle when Arthur, impressed by the progress of our premature son, asked, "Do you think that people underestimate the power of breastfeeding?" In one word...ABSOLUTELY!
8) It appears that Jake has more of an adventurous spirit than I had originally given him credit for. Aside from his love of bugs, spiders, and all things creepy and crawly (he has made me scream more than once by showing me something caught in his hand), the man at the zoo has now cautioned Arthur to "watch out for this one" when he saw the glimmer in Jake's eye as the 30lb python rapped itself around him. Jake also loves fire. Getting to light the match for the BBQ (by himself) will get him to clean up toys faster than anything I've ever tried (I still won't light a match if I can help it). TROUBLE...Mommy is in huge trouble...
So that is a little glimpse into our lives this summer.
I am so blessed to have them and there is now where I would rather be at 6am than sandwiched between their little bodies as we sleep...well, most mornings at least. :-)
PS You wouldn't get your kids dressed either if it was 100 degrees and 95% humidity :-)
I am convinced that the man selected Alabama because it is the only state in the union that would permit someone to have such a set up (although, I'm sure the bison would have selected almost anywhere else if given the choice). Lions, tigers...even a Liger..or two. 
Good thing the animals are so well fed. But in all honesty a man like this has to know how he is going to go...right?
Either way it made for a fun start to our father's day weekend. But by noon we were all melting, so we had to call is quits before we got to the feeding of the bears. But for those of you who are contemplating a trip out here, I promise to take you to our "Alabama Zoo." 
playing in the sand,
and jumping through the waves. 
1) James just got his second tooth this week...both bottom front teeth are now in! As tough as he is most of the time, he has to be to live with Jake, he was pretty whiney about these little razor blades making their debut. Luckily for him, we like excuses to spoil around here.
2) Jake is still obsessed with being Mexican. But finally, Arthur got tired of him using, "I don't (fill in the blank), I'm Mexican!" as an excuse for everything. "Dude, you are only a fourth Mexican!" he explained. Jake responded in horror, "Why would you say that!?!" Jake has now resigned himself to the fact that he is only "a fourth," but that does not prevent him from frequently "speaking" in a made up language that sounds strangely similar to Spanish...that is when he is not growling like a lion.
3) James crawls now, but hates nearly every second of it. All he wants to do is get up and walk around like the rest of us. That eager anxious boy I felt while I was pregnant with him is back. It is common to walk into a room with James, in the downward dog position, yelling at his feet.
4) Arthur finally selected his aircraft and is now a Blackhawk pilot! We are super excited...everyone except Jacob. He really had his heart set on Daddy flying the Chinook (there wasn't even one available). He dealt with his disappointment well, however, and has just decided that he will fly one himself when he grows up. I am a little confused how he will fit that in with medical school and all the "lawning and edging" of my grass he insists he will be doing. But that is the best part about being a child...the future is just one big YES.
5) James is happiest on his feet. Quickest way to put a smile on his face is to prop him up again a piece of furniture or hold his hands so he can walk around...and around...and around. The funniest part is watching him "test" himself as lets go and attempts to balance. I am sure we are just weeks...if not days away from him flinging himself from one piece of furniture to the next...just like another little boy I use to know.
6) Jake is getting really good and number recognition and simple addition and subtraction (he even knows what the +, -, and = symbols mean). And yes, I may include marshmallows or goldfish in our math time as incentive. Let's just say that Jake likes subtraction the best.
7) James started saying Mama a few weeks ago (right before he hit the 7 month mark), and has recently expanded his vocabulary to include Dada and Bubba (what we call both him and his big brother). Yeah I wouldn't believe it either if he didn't use them all in context and I'd still probably think it was just coincidence if I hadn't already had one baby who spoke in complete sentences by 18 months. I couldn't help but giggle when Arthur, impressed by the progress of our premature son, asked, "Do you think that people underestimate the power of breastfeeding?" In one word...ABSOLUTELY!
I am so blessed to have them and there is now where I would rather be at 6am than sandwiched between their little bodies as we sleep...well, most mornings at least. :-)
PS You wouldn't get your kids dressed either if it was 100 degrees and 95% humidity :-)
