Happy Birthday Mom!
(a day late. sorry.)

Dexter's very first modeling job

The picture finally appeared! It's scrolling across the front page at the website for Personal Creations.

What incredible natural acting ability he has! He's able to play someone of the opposite gender at only 3 months! Some actors never have that kind of skill.

Why I haven't had time to blog (an excuse in the form of photo essay & paranthetical phrases)

(Dexter walking at 10 months)

(The boys' first baseball game)

(Look, it's a Dexter holder)

Dexter eats cake!

Dexter's first birthday (cake) from John Parisi on Vimeo.

Happy 1st birthday Dexter!

(I have no babies anymore!)

Happy 3rd birthday Cooper!

I can't believe my baby is 3!

Dexter breaks into comedy

Dexter doing his best Groucho Marx:


"Last night I shot an elephant in my pajamas and how he got in my pajamas I'll never know!"

Can you tell his parents are lawyers?

We went to the zoo today & after hours of animal watching, eating, tram riding, & walking, we told Cooper he could ride in the stroller or walk & he chose to walk. Shortly after that, he threw a tantrum when he found out we were leaving the zoo. He calmed down & then John offered to carry him on his shoulders. As Cooper rode on John's shoulders they had this conversation:

Cooper: Dad, sorry I yelled.
John: That's okay, kiddo.
Cooper: Dad, my options were ride in the stroller or walk, right?
John: Yeah.
Cooper: My options weren't carry me or ride on your shoulders, right?
John: Right. Cooper, are you trying to say that if you had the option of riding on my shoulders we wouldn't have argued?
Cooper: Yeah.
John: Well, that's very disingenuous of you Cooper.
Cooper: Thanks!

The scary part is, by the time he's a teenager he's gonna win the arguments because I started to side with Cooper, until I remembered that the argument had been about leaving the zoo and not walking/riding/being carried. Smart kid.

Goin' 'sploring

Little Red Schoolhouse just opened their new building (which Cooper quickly pointed out is not red, or a schoolhouse, but just a grey building) so we took the boys to see it. It's really nice & Cooper loved the new kids play area with puzzles, sticks (his current obsession), and other activities. We did some 'sploring outside too.

So Big!

Dexter's growing so fast! I attempted a 9 months picture, but the sign went into the mouth. Pretty predicable really. So we got some assistance from big brother Cooper.

Caycee K. turns 3 today! Happy birthday Caycee!

Random links & strong feelings

I'm thoroughly disgusted by this...
Blogher.com article: "Does Breastfeeding Cause Divorce?"
I'm just so outraged about it I don't even know what to say, so I'll let you all read it for yourselves.

and thrilled by this...
Recipe for Parisian bagels
I made these bagels today (I added dried onion flakes) & they're delicious. I tried one this afternoon & it's taking all my willpower not to go in the kitchen & eat the remaining nine.

Celebrating the Fourth

We spent out Fourth of July with Grandma & Grandpa.

There was swimming...

and playing at the park.

Dexter was a little confused. He crawled into the room with the dogs when my mom called them for dinner, & even crawled over to my dad for his "turn" to be petted like the dogs. Weirdo.

We went to a nearby lake for the fireworks display, but the bugs were so bad we had to move into the van to watch it.

(P.S. There are more photos of Dexter, but I promise I haven't forgotten about Cooper. He's just become much more difficult to photograph & even runs from the camera now. Unless it's a modeling job, & then he's a complete ham.)