Grandparents = Fun Times!

While we've always enjoyed grandparents' visits, they're even more fun now that Lucie and Ryan are older and able to do more things. When Chris's parents were in town recently, we all went out to breakfast and then spent the morning exploring the park with Ryan and Lucie. We had four adults to two toddlers - now that's my kind of adult to child ratio on the play structure! Here's Grandma Laura enjoying cuddle/story time and Grandpa Ralph out and about with the stroller.

With my parents here for an Easter visit, we had a few more delicious breakfasts out (notice a theme here? R & L love pancakes) and some fun play at the beach. It was the first time Lucie and Ryan really enjoyed the beach as they dipped their toes in the ocean and generally got as wet and sandy as possible. Here Gigi takes Lucie on a water collecting expedition, while Papa helps Ryan show off his sandy toes. Lucie and Ryan sure are lucky to have four wonderful grandparents in their lives.

Easter Egg Excitement

The highlight of Easter Sunday for two toddling 18 month olds? The egg hunt, of course. Ryan and Lucie had a ball taking part in the festivities at Aunt Betsy and Uncle Saul's house. Their cousins Milo and Maggie were very sweet and left the most visible eggs for Ryan and Lucie while they pursued the well hidden ones. R & L had a great time picking up each egg, giving it a shake, and placing it with satisfaction in their basket. It wasn't until their cousin Emily opened up an egg for them that they realized there were treats inside. How cool was that?

Now a few days later, R & L aren't ready to part with their baskets and plastic eggs. They love to walk around the house, dropping eggs in special spots for their parents to discover at a later date. Just this morning I went to put on my shoes and there was a purple egg. I found another in the laundry basket placed carefully under last night's pajamas. And so the hunt lives on...

"Cheese!" Times Two

In Ryan and Lucie's first year, we got a bunch of great photos of the two of them together. Now that they are walking, however, forget about it. Not only is it tough to get them both physically in the same place without the use of a five-point harness (hence all the stroller and high chair shots), but it's even more difficult to get simultaneous smiles.

Here Ryan does his best toothy grin, while sis tries to eat her snack cup. Then, Lucie smiles demurely, and Ryan feeds a Cheerios craving. Ah well, enough attempts for the perfect photo - we're off to the park.

10 Million Strong, and Growing

Lucie and Ryan had their 18 month checkup this week with all eyes were focused on the weigh-in. Helpful reminder for us that child growth charts are not an exact science. Or even make sense. Consider that Ryan gained just over 2 pounds in the last 11 weeks to tip the scales at 24 lb 6oz (height was 33 1/2 in, 80%). That was good enough to move him from the 20th to the 30th percentile for weight. Meanwhile, Lucie gains a nearly identical amount (2 pounds to 20lb 13oz with height at 32 1/2, 60%) but falls from the 5th to the 2nd percentile?

Who knows. Bottom line is that Lucie is once again on an official high caloric diet. The good news is that now we have many more doctor-suggested options: creamy peanut butter, mashed potatoes and gravy, and lots of cheese. No doubt Ryan's Buddha belly will benefit as well.

Another new addition to their diets -- Flintstones chewable vitamins. Turns out the same vitamins that helped Megan and I grow are still the best option for our little ones.

Art Project Day

Thanks to great boxes of art supplies from their buddy Logan, Lucie and Ryan are enjoying exploring their creative sides. I love to watch their different approaches as they begin drawing. Lucie takes her time, making careful polka dots and placing stickers in just the right spot. Ryan, on the other hand, dives into his work head first (practically literally). Blue, green and brown pen quickly cover everything.

It seems that Ryan has forgotten the line from one of their favorite books,
Yummy Yucky, going something like this, "Blueberries are Yummy!, Blue crayons are Yucky!" He definitely agrees with the blueberries part, but his mind still isn't made up on the tastiness of blue crayons. Good thing it's all washable and non-toxic. Bleh!