Jenson's First Trip to Florida

We had a wonderful visit from Amy and Jenson last weekend. The kids got along splendidly. It was so good to see how Jenson is growing and to see that he, too, is a trooper on airplanes. (Amy's a trooper, too, for agreeing to make the trip by herself). Thanks, Aim!

The babies couldn't be more different. Jenson is so strong and so mobile. Mary Ellen is so verbal and so loud. But both babies are super friendly and smiley and just as cute as they can be.

Gymboree Day!

Dinner time was much more interesting with another baby in the house. Lucky for us, they were both content to hang out in the highchairs and chew on whatever was available.

We all enjoyed a visit to the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford. There actually were lots of animals to see, but our camera died after this lovely dinosaur shot so this is the only photo I had to share. Please posts your pics soon, Amy...

I just love this picture. Jenson is getting so big, and he's such a charming little guy. He really loves his Mama. Can you tell?

Trip to Universal Studios

The Fleming Family (+ Maria, aka Auntie Mia) enjoyed a trip to Universal Studios last weekend courtesy of EA. Brian and I had been anxious to check out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and I have to say that it lived up to our expectations.

While Universal is a great theme park, there aren't too many rides for the 8-month and under set, but we did get brave enough to try the carousel. While I got just a bit dizzy, Mary Ellen loved it.

Of course, this being Universal, it wasn't just a carousel. This was a Caro-Seuss-el.

I really thought that watching the merry-go-round might be enough, but she was brave enough to go for a ride (in a non-moving car, of course). Such fun!

Brian had a pretty good chat with Spiderman. Who's the kid in this family? The jury is still out.

Our 2011 Christmas Card? Likely, no. Universal is a little starved for good characters. Maria and Brian also got a good shot with the Bubba Gump shrimp, but I'll protect their dignity by not posting it...

The Great Outdoors

Ah, springtime. We've been treated to some really beautiful days as of late, and Mary Ellen and I have been making the rounds to our local parks. She loves the swings, and recently, we got brave enough to try the slide. What fun!

Mary Ellen's first trip down the slide. She wasn't so sure about the first time, but it got better and better each time.

A little drumming with Daddy.

Swings are just plain fun.

On the Move?

She's moving.

She's not yet moving on her own terms, however. Much to Mary Ellen's dismay, she's only figured out how to move backwards, and I'm not sure how much of it she's actually "figured out." The short of it is, when she manages to roll onto the tile floor, she ends up pushing herself backwards, sliding on her belly until she hits something that causes her to stop moving.

She hates it.

It makes her cry, but she doesn't stop pushing, and things just get worse and worse for her.

It makes me laugh. And then I help her get untangled from whatever mess she's gotten herself into.

And then we start all over again.

Clap Hands

Mary Ellen has picked up a few new tricks as of late. She's all over this clapping thing. You just say the words "Pat-a-Cake" and she starts clapping away. It's adorable.

She's also into waving, though it's more of a (Kneppers, you'll get this one) Dad type of wave with both hands soaring high above her head. Again, it's just pretty stinking cute.

She practiced her clapping skills last week as we watched the season opener for the Cards. She got to do a little clapping, but the practice stopped in extra innings when the Cards totally blew it. Oh well. One good thing about baseball is that it has a very long season. Plenty of time for Mary Ellen to practice her clapping, right Cardinals?

On the Move? Not just yet...

Mary Ellen is getting so close to crawling. I feel like I've been saying that for weeks, but she just looks like she's ready to do it. She can scoot backwards on her tummy if she manages to get onto the tile, but that's about it for organized movement. It's all just so fun to watch and the cuteness of it all takes my mind off the fact that my days of being able to get stuff done around the house are numbered...

Just More Cuteness