Who knew a box could be so much fun!

Peeking out the window.


Buddies in the box.


Sophie's pride and joy!

This past week the car seat we ordered for Sophie finally came in for us to pick up. We went with a 5 point harness system that went up to 65 pounds instead of 40 for the added security. It is supposed to be safer than a regular booster in case of an accident. Anyway...Sophie was so excited for Avery to get her old seat and for her new big girl seat with her own cupholder!

The box was just the right size for a doghouse she said. Soooo...that afternoon for an hour or so we decorated it. We used glue, markers, sparkles, stickers, anything she could find. She was so excited about it that when her friend came over that afternoon she asked him if he wanted to decorate it.


Sophie and her little bro spent the afternoon crawling in and looking out the window. Check out the cute pics of them!

Sophie the Guru

Hi Everyone. Jeremy here for the first time. Please, please.....no more applause.

This week we ventured to Meijer (technically, Meijer Fresh......anyone know where the Fresh came from? Email me...better get back on track). Shopping is always easier with 2 parents. Becki was holding Ave and I was pushing the cart with a very rambunctious Sophie sitting in the captain's chair. Sophie kept yelling "Yeahhhhhh!!!!!!". Of course,we would typically frown on such behavior in an upscale joint like the Thrifty Acres. However, right when we were about to ask her to stop, something cute happened.

After a few fluorescent-light-shattering roars from Captain Sophie, we could swear Avery was repeating her. So, with judgmental eyes glaring from other shoppers, we began to encourage her to scream so we could see if Ave was copying his big sister. Sure enough, with impeccable timing, after each Soph shout, Avery would wait about 2 seconds, open his eyes wide, and lean in and yell.

Well, at least we know Avery respects his big sister. And, we also know Soph has embraced her role as a mentor. Let's hope she puts more focus on teaching him quieter things in the future, like calculus. However, Becki and I were witnessing our kids coooperating and having fun together. Public disorder or not, it was wonderfully heartwarming as a parent.

Sophie the Mentor

Jeremy here for the first time. Please, please, no more applause. You're embarrassing

Staph infection

So Avery had this little red bump on his chin that looked like a zit. We watched it for a bit thinking it was probably nothing and would go away. Well after a week of watching it get bigger and bigger Jeremy called the doctor. When he talked to the nurse, she said, "It's probably just from his pacifier. Us thinking, He doesn't use it that much. Well he said we wanted to see the doctor anyway. Good thing since it was a staph infection. Poor guy. The doctor said he usually just prescribes an ointment but since his was so far along, he had to take oral meds as well.
Long story short, get a second opinion!

Avery update

Things are going well here in the Water household. Avery is continuing to do new things each day and is no longer able to be set down in one area without wandering to another. He isn't quite crawling but moves pretty fast by pushing himself with his feet and pulling with his arms. He quite often does the downward dog yoga position. He loves looking out the front window at all the passers by and trees when the wind blows.
He has started on solids and LOVES them. So far he hasn't found a food he doesn't like, although I'd say green beans are his least favorite. Unfortunately, the amount of dirty diapers has greatly increased with his food intake.
It's wonderful to watch him and Sophie interact. She loves holding him and is a great help when he is crying. As soon as she starts acting silly, he stops his crying and watches her. If only we could just get her do to it on cue instead of when she feels like it. Avery loves grabbing her hair and crawling all over her when she lets him. As I write she is calling him Mr. Boy, Mr. Man and they are laughing together on the floor.

Opening Day

Opening day for the Tigers!

Pool Party Fun

Recently we went to a birthday party for one of Sophie's friends. She took a while to warm up and participate but once she did she had fun. Avery was ready to go from the start. He loves the water already. Check out some shots from our fun day.