Evening the Score

With the news on Tuesday of Baby Boy Hitch's arrival in early November, the grandchild count on Mommy's family's side is now at an even 2-2. Yippee!! Not to worry though; despite the apparent numerical tie, the girls will surely find a way to keep the upper hand!

Swimsuit Season

Even though she doesn't see much sun at this age, Marci still enjoys lounging indoors in her seersucker suit.

Here's Piper showing off her "outie" on the beach!

And here she is again, looking a little sandy and very happy.

Marci, in her matching cherry swimsuit, takes frequent dips in the "drool pool" these days. Surely there's a tooth in there somewhere that's going to break the surface soon!

Family Road Trip

We're back from our family road trip to Indiana for Daddy's twentieth (WOW!) high school reunion. We covered 1,993 miles in one week, and surprisingly, all of that time in the car wasn't too bad. We followed the strong urging of friends and took along a travel DVD player for Osten, and he passed more than a few miles playing with it. He even watched it occasionally, too.

Marci stayed busy watching her brother and playing with her stuffed giraffe.

The best part of the trip, by far, was when we weren't in the car! Here we are at the Steak 'n' Shake in Macon on our first leg of the trip.

By the last leg of the trip, we had gotten a little stir crazy and were more than ready to get home. This hotel near Chattanooga was not too kid-friendly. Luckily, Daddy makes a pretty good jungle gym . . . especially when he's enthralled in the Georgia-Fresno State championship baseball game!

Father's Day

For Father's Day, we took Daddy on a dolphin tour.

The dolphins swam right up to the boat, and we had some great views of Tybee.

Whew! All of that salt water and sun can really wear a little guy out.

It can also work up a little girl's appetite!

Big Brother Boot Camp

Life lessons by Osten began this afternoon. So far, Marci is the only glutton for punishment who has been convinced to enroll in big brother boot camp. The baby gloves are off, at least when Osten is doing the handling, but surprisingly Marci is seeming to enjoy his, um, guidance. And, if he's able to teach her to drink from a sippy cup, we just might be able to find ourselves a few recruits!

Big Brother Benefits

Being a big brother is definitely not without its benefits, especially now that Marci is eating baby snacks!

Things That Make You Go "Vrooom!"

The only thing better than a pile of trucks . . .

is a pile of trucks and a helicopter. "Vrooom!"

Girls Rule

Here's Wrigley doing a little girl-bonding with Marci this morning.

They're clearly on their way to becoming fast friends. With the count now at 3-2, it's become official that girls rule in this household!

On the Go Again . . .

It was another busy weekend, for sure! Mommy got Osten's activity table out of the attic, and Marci was standing next to it and posing for pictures in no time!

Osten spent quite a bit of time in the driveway on Saturday, and it's never looked better!

Meanwhile, Marci flipped through a Southern Living magazine while Daddy watched TV.

And Osten took a run around the bases at the YMCA on Sunday and discovered a soccer ball on a nearby bench. He made it to second base without even touching a bat!

A Walk on the "Y" Side

We walked the trail at the YMCA on Sunday, and Marci had her first ride in the backpack.

And Osten was thrilled to walk by himself.

Good thing we brought along lots of water!

Marci didn't seem to mind the heat too much . . .

Potty Break!

After a shot-gun start this week, potty-training has become a little, er, hit-or-miss (great pun!) One step forward is usually followed by a step or two backwards. Here's a prime example: After announcing this morning that he wanted to wear his training pants, Osten discovered that they are great for the backyard baby pool!

Marci, albeit clad in a conventional bathing suit, also got in on the pool action . . .

and so did Daddy! Even though it didn't get us any closer to being diaper-free, the potty break was fun for the whole family.

Well, so much for potty-training, at least for now . . . Osten (in his training pants and all) was soaking wet from head to toe for most of the afternoon, and he couldn't have been happier!

Bubbles: One of Life's Best Simple Pleasures

What trip to the beach would be complete without bubbles. They're fun for all ages! And, since they're so easily transportable, they're fun on the porch . . .

and while running on the beach in your diaper!

It takes a little practice to get the hang of it . . .

and they're guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

Wild Dunes: A Growing Boy's Retrospective

What a difference a year makes! Here is Osten on the playground in 2007 . . .

and here he is, one year later, in 2008!

Osten on the slide in 2007 . . .

and here he is, one year later, in 2008! Cout 'em - four bandaids on his legs alone - what a treat! (Bandaid Count = 4+ even though Boo-Boo Count = 1). And his pirate shirt glows in the dark. He picked it out all by himself in the pro shop. (We'll spare you the pregnant pictures of Mommy at the beach in 2007 and wait until next year to do a retrospective for Marci!)

Little Picassos

Still blogging the beach pictures ... Here's Piper creating a one-of-kind masterpiece.

Osten also designed an original plate keepsake. The MOMA ain't got nothin' on our little Picassos!

Once again, Marci happily watched from afar, but something tells me it won't be long before she starts hitting the markers!

Since Daddy had to leave a night early, Osten called in an update. Yes, he has officially begun collecting bandaids and can usually be seen sporting at least one or two on his elbows or knees. Boo-boos are optional, but bandaids seem to have become a key piece of his wardrobe ... apparently, they have replaced his pants!