Getting to know you

The Minnesota trip has come to a close. I wish visits weren't so few and far between, because Jack really had a wonderful time getting to know his cousins and aunt and uncle. Thomas was especially intrigued by Jack, and would follow him around the house, often dropping down to a crawl, much to Jack's delight. They scampered around, chasing each other, climbing the stairs (about a hundred times a day, I say wearily, because I still don't trust him not to fall down them so I had to join them on each trip), and entertained themselves well playing with cars and looking at books. Jack even enjoyed bathtime a lot more with a friend around.

There were, of course, a few times when they didn't play so nicely.

I just love that little lip. I'm sure Jack would've preferred that I intervened rather than just stand there taking pictures, but it was so cute I couldn't help myself. And besides, Jack has to learn how to fend for himself. He's not used to being littler than other kids. The bigger boys were very kind to Jack (much more so than they usually are to Thomas), and spent much of their time reading to him (Matthew) or playing peekaboo to get a laugh (Ethan).

And though he didn't have much to do with Ava this time around, I know they will be great friends someday, since they are so close and age and Ava will be used to playing with boys with those three big brothers.

It's Ava's five month birthday today! Happy birthday, Ava! I bookended this trip nicely, arriving on Ethan's 5-year birthday and departing on Ava's 5-month. I'm sad I didn't get more pictures with Ava. I guess I figured Alison was doing a much better job of taking Ava portraits than I ever could, so didn't bother. But she has a quality than can't really be captured on film anyway. She has this coy little smile and a way of turning her head when she looks at you that makes her seem like the belle of the ball that she inevitably will be someday. She also has a sweet little bobbly head thing going on, that delicate little neck not quite yet strong enough to support that big beautiful head  of hers. I loved it and knew that that would be gone by the next time I see her, and loved it even more for that. She has such a mellow temperament, smiling serenely at you despite all the commotion going on around her. And she is snuggly! Oh I will miss you Ava. Come out and visit soon, before you stop being a baby completely. It's going by much too fast.

I think Jack was as taken with his only aunt and uncle as I was with my only niece. He had lots of smiles for his uncle Chris,

and he loved cuddling up to his aunt Alison for a good book. That is the source of another story, actually. I think he reserves all his new things for his aunt Alison. He took his first few crawling steps on her birthday (an homage to her, even if she wasn't there), and he stood up on his own for the first time in her presence. Then when I left him with her this morning so I could go for a run, I came home and she announced that he had said his first word. "NO!" I exclaimed. What was it? Book! Or, more accurately, "boo." But he says "boo" while pointing at a book, Alison explained, so that seems to be what he's trying to communicate. But he says boo a lot, I told her, like when he first wakes up in the morning. Alison said, he's probably asking for a book. I still wasn't convinced. Then, as if on cue, he held up the book he was holding and asked me, "boo?" I think she may be right. What a great first word to choose, Jack! We sat there for a while, trying to see if he knew any other words, and I think we got "buh" for bird and "wuf wuf" for dog when I would say "woof woof". This is going to be really fun.

Thank you for the visit, Minnesota family! Jack misses you already and can't wait to see you soon!