Then and Now: Fletcher & Leigh

Fletcher at 11 months.

Both love books.

Leigh says "pkssss" for "books."

Fletcher at 10 months.

Both sleep like weirdos.

"Cletus" at 13 months.

We named our second baby Cletus #2.

  

Fletcher at 11 months.

  

I wonder if we've gotten better or worse at taking pictures...   :)

Fletcher at 17 months.

September & October

 

Fletcher's First Day of School!  (Pre-K)

He's really enjoying it- loves his friends, teachers, and Spanish class.

It was bittersweet to see him go off on his own-

he needs the activity, that's for sure!

Long video, but cute.

Leigh walking, and (at the end) saying "baby."

Also, Fletcher being a little bit of a bully.

Our 10th Anniversary was on October 3rd.

Here are Sara's LESS THAN A DOZEN roses

(since we haven't been married 12 years; only 10)...

Sitting on daddy during the first Packer's game this year.

Laying around, trying to get as much morning nap in as possible.



Tortilla-head!



August Pictures

Playing in her bouncy gym,

which we purchased at a resale shop.

She doesn't like it very much...

"Cruising" around the living room.

She lets go for a few minutes to balance,

but no independent steps taken yet!

Ummmm...  that's not yours...

Fletcher took this picture.

He calls it his "rockin' legs."

Wes and Fletcher made "Apple Smiles."

Peanut butter, apple slices & tiny marshmallows.

Leigh on the recliner.

Summer Smiles

We've got a lot of goofy smiles in this family.

Leigh is late for a workout video shoot. Fletcher has to pee, and is trying not to laugh. 

Leigh just farted.

Sara's dad finds Leigh's "Friar Tuck" hairdo right hilarious.

Fletcher thinks he's posing for a bicycle store ad.

I'm clearly finding LeBron's playoff meltdown very intriguing.  Leigh finds nothing amusing about that confounding wooden man.

Leigh learns to clap.  The rest of us assuredly grin like idiots.

Sometimes I think about letting a python loose in the apartment...is that wrong?

Hi there, cyberfriends.  

Things are going reasonably well...we're about to enter the dog-days of summer.  Fletcher will start school in August (!!!) and that's something to look forward to.  

As fellow parents can attest, simply getting through the day without having a nervous breakdown or wringing a four-year-old neck can usually be considered a good one.

Leigh is very cute but also very, very clingy to mommy and exceedingly shy and sensitive.  She can make life hell but she also makes it sweet...I guess that's about the summation of the parent experience.

Enjoy some pics.

Fletcher's train (on the magna-doodle).  I can't count the number of trains Sara and I have had to draw for him over the last year...at least he's starting to chip in his fair share.

"Eating" a Ritz cracker (most of the cracker ends up in soggy chunks all over the floor).

"Can't a girl get some privacy?"

This is the closest she will get to making out with a guy until she's 30.

Happy birthday to Fletch!  He deserved that cupcake after getting shots on his birthday.  Poor kid.  He did great though, considering.  We had a full-on party along with his cousin later that week, complete with race-car cake (and toxic-dyed frosting...they actually dyed the frosting black in some places...I just don't get it).

We start drinking early in this household...Actually, I think she likes the feel of the cold glass on her gums.  I had to give up holding a beer while I hold her because she can be very insistent.  Really, babies are insane with the amount of trust they have for their parents..."I'm going to lunge for this hard glass bottle while suspended five feet above the ground by only my dad's weakling arm!"  Silly.

The black and white ring on her arm was one of Fletcher's favorites when he was wee as well.  It's now lost.

Camera full! Must blog!

Greetings, friends!

The camera had almost 100 photos & films on it,

so I felt I should relieve its burden.

I write to you on the eve of Fletcher's 4th birthday.

I guess this time, 4 years ago, we were scrambling to assemble

the crib & finish the nursery.

That morning we were at the hospital and had been sent home,

so we knew he was coming soon!

With every milestone or anniversary this

year comes a bittersweet emotion.

Happy to celebrate an occasion within our growing family,

but sad that it's the first of many

without our dear mother & Grammy.

And so, on the eve of the anniversary of

my own initiation into motherhood,

I am missing my mother terribly.

I am proud to say that I wish to grow more like her.

And now, some happy pictures of kids!

Can't stay sad with these crazies!

Leigh's Lamb

Stephan, Eisley & Weston on our Dallas trip in January.

It was good to see you guys!

We'll have to come visit you in Florida.  :(

An outfit that Grandma (Wes' mom) gave her.

I'm sure she'll want a copy of this one!

The two babes.

Let me just say that a 4 year-old thinks

the rules are rewritten every day.

So, today he can climb on the crib,

whereas yesterday it was not allowed.

I've taken to blaming Wes: "Daddy doesn't want you to do that."

Leeeaaaaning...

Such trust.

Fletcher & Irene.

Awwww...  Irene started it...

Her first rice cereal.

Yummmm!!

Play-doh creations by Fletcher.

This is our family, from left:

Baby Leigh (wrapped in a pink blanket),

Fletcher, Daddy, Mommy.

Lauren with Leigh on our balcony.

She's started to discover her feet.

One thing about her: she discovers things, then moves on.

Fletcher would accumulate discoveries

and incorporate them into his day.

Leigh masters something, then doesn't

do it again for a week or more.

Mister Jelly-Face.

Clean girl.

Playing on the bed.

Fletcher took a picture of us.

Loves the booster chair.

She can't sit on her own, but she does well

if she's strapped in and has the tray in front of her.

Retro Fletch!

Hi, everyone!

I'm having panic attacks that myspace and facebook are going

to suddenly disappear off the face of the web, along with

priceless photos, videos, and materials with which to blackmail people.

Therefore, I've put some pictures onto our external hard-drive

and decided to share a few with you!