January

First of all, we are so excited, because Jeremy is done with his NUCCA elective! For the last 4 weeks he has had class every Saturday from 8 to 6 and every Sunday from 8 to 1. He had school for 28 days straight (minus MLK day) and we have really been missing him around here! Here's a picture of him working hard to analyze some x-rays for his class...
We've been trying to keep busy without him, and since Jaina now climbs stairs with ease and enthusiasm (i.e. we can't keep her off them) we've been spending a lot more time on the top/bedroom level of our house. That's fine for me, since sometimes they'll play happily without a referee in Reilly's room, (the computer is up here) but too often they need help "sharing" and they want to be in on my lap or tearing OUR room apart. I don't think Jeremy's been very impressed with their daily "redecorating." :) Here is Jaina being cute and reading a book in our room. She loves to look at books!
Last Saturday afternoon we HAD to get out of the house, so we drove to the Moline mall (about 20-30 min away) because they have an awesome play place for kids. Saturday afternoon is a bad time to go there, by the way, but we still had fun. Here are Reilly and Jaina in one of the cars.
Reilly has been doing really well in nursery, even with me in there as well. Jaina has even been in there with us a bit the last few Sundays. Sometimes she enjoys it, sometimes she doesn't. It depends on how tired she is at that point, since naps are hit and miss these days. Here is Reilly and his friend Kennedy looking at books in the nursery.
Here is Jaina and Kennedy that same day, later in the evening. It seems strange that they're actually closer in age (5 months apart) than Reilly and Kennedy are (10 months apart) because of the stages they're in.
This is one stage we'll all be happy to leave behind us. Someday. This is what they were doing when we weren't paying attention. Reilly does a LOT of this these days. I know it's my own fault for not supervising him a little more, but he is so fast to find ways to get into trouble! If Jaina is getting into something, and he knows better, he'll say, "No, no, no, Jia!" (that's how he currently says her name) But if we don't chime in with some "no no's" or jump up to stop whatever it is she's doing, he'll immediately join in the fun. That boy!
And would someone please tell this little girl that she is completely ready to walk, and WOULD be able to if she would just stop being so cautious and give it a try?