Ben, age 3

• Weighs almost 30lbs
• Isn't a great eater, happy to live on breakfast cereal, sausages, granola bars and smoothies
• Currently obsessed with anything and everything having to do with dinosaurs
• Enjoys singing
• Loves reading
• Is very good at building things
• Could spend hours in the sandbox happily
• Checks the mailbox 3 to 4 times a day and asks countlessly if the package lady is coming
• Asks why over and over and over and over again
• Enjoys preschool
• Likes sitting in the helping spot and making baked goods
• Has the occassional melt down and temper tantrum

Josh, 9 months

• weighs 21lbs 9 oz


• loves clapping


• crawling


• pulling himself up onto furniture


• eating anything and everything put in front of him


• still doesn't sleep well at night time


• loves singing his own songs


• enjoys the sandbox


• idolizes his big brother


• enjoys sitting underneath the high chair


• has a big toothless grin


• thinks pulling all the wipes out of the container is a lot of fun

Trials and tribulations of a passport

Josh has started the paper work process to becoming a US citizen. Let's just say that taking passport photos at 8 1/2 months is not an easy task.

Angus and Ben

We just spent the weekend in Dunedin catching up with friends. Our antenatal class had its 3rd reunion. I'm just in awe how fast time goes and how much the kids continue to grow. This photo is of Ben and his friend Angus at the Otago Farmer's Market.

Thinking outside the box

We've had a week of too much time inside. Ben came down with conjunctivious and we had to cancel all playdates, preschool and social engagements. With the weather being a bit icky we've spent far too much time at home, inside. Today Dan came up with the great idea that I could ride the bike trainer w/ the toddler seat on the back. I'm happy to report that not only did I get my workout, but Josh fell asleep! I was able to transfer him to his bed and then continue exercising. Ben was watching Shrek 2 while this was going, fyi. So thank you Dan for being able to think outside the box and help keep me sane.

This week's first

I am in constant amazement over the milestones that my children reach and soar past on a daily basis. I try to document the various events, but it's not always easy. But yesterday was a pretty important one in the land of Erin & Dan.

Ben rode the chair lift for the very first time!

Food for Thought

Food, always a near and dear topic in our house. Ben and I continue to whip up fun food in the kitchen. Today he discovered that he quite likes licking the bowl. I'm amazed that he hasn't caught on to the secret ingredient agenda in our food, today's was spinach. He even watched me cook the spinach... amazing what a little chocolate and sugar will do for the picky eater.

And speaking of the polar opposite of a picky eater- Josh. The little guy will seriously eat anything you put in front of him. The recent addition to the list of firsts include: veggie sausage, chicken sausage, cookies, risotto, meat pie, tater tots, muffins, sand (okay that's not a food, but he did eat it).