Thar she blows!

I spotted a tiny fleck of white on Peter's lower gums tonight. I tried to wipe it away, but it didn't budge. Looks like Petey Pie's first tooth has erupted! I think it's the lower front left tooth. Now for the nearly impossible task of getting a photograph of it...

Let the mess begin!

Now that Peter qualifies as a "steady sitter", he is ready to try some self-feeding. So far, he is not able to put things like puffs in his mouth (they get lost in his chubby little fists), so I decided to try the net feeder with a little bit of avocado inside. He actually "got it" a little more than his sister did the first time she tried it, but then he realized that it was a whole lot more fun to use it as a paintbrush and gavel. The mess he made was phenomenal.

Charlotte, of course, couldn't let Peter have all the fun. She insisted on using a feeder herself (good thing I have two), but wanted me to put pieces of her quesadilla in it instead. Let's just say that quesadilla is NOT the best food for a net feeder. After a while, she requested some avocado, but then she informed me it was "yucky" and gave it to Peter. Peter gleefully seized the opportunity to make double the mess. Oh my.

Cheesy McCheesersons

Strange days

Odd things happen in the summer when the thermometer reaches triple digits. For instance, Peter somehow ends up in his exersaucer with no clothes on. (Yes, he was wearing a diaper. I may not be the best mother, but I'm not stupid.) Well, I'm pretty sure this was after a blowout diaper and I was too lazy to obtain a new outfit at that particular moment. Regardless, Peter did his "work" on the farm sans clothing.



Charlotte thought this was HIGH-larious and stationed herself right next to him while repeating over and over "Peter's NAKED! Peter's NAKED!"

The next day, we were upstairs in the bonus room and I took off Charlotte's one-piece romper (yes, she does experience consternation while wearing this since she can't reach her bellybutton, but she can stand it for a few hours at a time) to change her diaper. Again, sloth got the best of me and I didn't put the romper on right away. One thing led to another, and Charlotte's dress-up bin came out. She asked for my help in putting on not one, not two, but THREE skirts, a pair of kid gloves, and a fabulous hat. I added the lei and snapped a photo of her saying "cheese".



I swear my children do not normally run around in the nude, but when it's so hot outside I seem to be a little slower dressing them once the clothes come off.

Then, Peter somehow wound up tangled up in a discarded Tinkerbell outfit. Didn't he look fabulous in it though?

Where's that margarita I ordered?

Peter had his first experience sitting in a restaurant high chair last weekend. Coincidentally, he did it at the same restaurant where Charlotte first sat in a restaurant high chair. It was even at the same table -- they must always put the families with teeny tiny kids who look like trouble at that table. Peter did a pretty good job in the high chair, but he reached his limit after 20 minutes or so.

Cannonwood Cares 2010 Motorcycle Run

Our neighborhood non-profit, Cannonwood Cares, Inc., held its first charity motorcycle ride on Saturday. Our President and Mayor of Cannonwood, Ronnie organized it, and Dusty, of Southern Cruisers, planned and led the ride itself. We wound up having 22 bikes join us, and we raised over $1,700!

Sarah and Lee organized a lunch for the riders at Henry Horton State Park, Alicia and John provided magnificent logistical support, and Faith Carol handmade and wrapped 57 cookie bars.

The bikes are all lined up.

Dusty and Ronnie conduct the pre-ride briefing.

The bikers not just listened, but joined in a lively and very serious discussion about the rules of the ride.

Alicia and Sarah unfurled the Make A Wish Foundation banner . . .

. . .and the riders took off!

Father's Day 2010

Niki and the kids treated me to a great Father's Day today! We started out the day at Pinkerton Park. We've learned to go early in the morning on summer days before the swings and slides hit 140 degrees.

As the Father, on Father's Day, I decided to swing Charlie as high as she wanted.

Okay. That's pretty high.

Peter's turn.

I took this picture from the ground. Peter is not swinging as high as it looks.

Niki got into the act, too.

Stringer Swingers!

Charlie took a break from the swings to pound out a melody on the bongo drums.

Niki chatted with Grandpa Spike on the phone while Peter sat on the picnic table and chomped on things.

The remainder of our day was magnificent. I'm a pretty lucky dad to have these kids and Niki as my family. I am equally lucky that they treat me like it's Father's Day every day!

Just your typical summer afternoon

I love these little mugwumps.

Strap her in!

I was putting together and adjusting Charlotte's new carseat, so I needed her to sit in it. She was surprisingly entertained by the experience. In fact, when I unbuckled her and told her she could get up, she refused and asked to be buckled in again. I complied, and then I seized the opportunity to take a few photos of the captive subject. She was obviously in a pretty goofy mood.

A love that runs deep and true

I cannot describe just how sincere and intense Charlotte's love for Top Ramen, aka "noonles", has become. No, I didn't spell that wrong. She says "noonles" instead of "noodles". Anyone quick to criticize the lack of nutrition in Top Ramen has clearly never had to deal with feeding an extremely picky 2-year-old. (I don't know why I'm so defensive about this, but I just am.)

ANYWAY, Charlotte got her grubby little mitts on a recently purchased economy-sized package of her noonles today. I have no idea what she had planned for them, but there was a mysterious gleam in her eye. I confiscated the prize, but then thought better of it and handed it back for a photo op. In the first photo, she is saying "cheese", but as previously discussed, her attempt to smile for the camera fell a little short. In the second photo, she is giving the package a big smooch. Can you feel the love?

Heart and soul

I look at this cell phone shot I took of CJ and Zozo playing the piano over at Alicia's house and I pretend they were playing something fun like "Heart and Soul". In reality, CJ was walloping on the keys and tunelessly wailing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" while Zozo delicately pressed the keys and giggled when she made a sound.

Peter at 6 Months

Peter had his 6-month check-up today and according to the doctor, he is doing great! But we knew that already, so I don't know what our doctor went to all that med school for. Peter is a bouncy, happy, baby boy. His bright blue eyes sparkle and he smiles like it is his job. When he wakes up in the morning, he wiggles as hard as he possibly can. But he has his serious side, too. He is sitting on his own now, and will concentrate on a toy for long periods of time, grunting and cooing happily. He loves holding things and manipulating toys with this fingers. Before he tires of a toy, he will have turned it over, clicked it, tapped it, twirled it, gummed on it, swung it, and done everything he can possibly do with it. He likes pulling Connie's ears, and Connie tolerates it. He loves watching Charlie and she loves poking him in the face. He is a good, happy little boy - he truly is a joy to have in our lives.

Okay - here is Peter by the numbers. He weighs 16lbs, 13 oz. He is 26.5 inches long. That puts him in the 25th-50th percentile for weight and in the 50th percentile for height. What was Charlie like at 6 months? Check it out.

6 MONTHS OLD!

Yesterday, our little Petey Pie turned six whole months old. (By the way, a few days earlier his Michigan State University roommate was born. Declan and Peter should be great roommates -- their daddies had a terrific time rooming together at MSU last century!) He is such a smiley little dude that everyone he meets comments on his gorgeous grin and blue eyes.

We celebrated the milestone by going swimming with Zoey and Demetri at their neighborhood pool. Buddy boy loved floating in the pool and watching Charlie Jo and Zozo running around all over the place. It won't be long before he's crawling after them. He has been getting up a little on his knees lately during tummy time, but I'm actually guessing that crawling will be at least a month off. CJ started crawling after she turned seven months old, and Peter will probably do the same.

We have a lot of travel coming up -- a week in Michigan and almost two weeks in California. Lots of new experiences for the little guy, and lots of cuddle time for the grandmothers.

Together again!

Thank GOODNESS Joslyne and Zoey came back to Tennessee for a couple of weeks before the official move to Boston. I'm not sure how we have been surviving without them. Today, CJ and Zozo were back in action together playing in the water in the front yard. They are so stinkin' cute together. It's a crime to separate them. Did you hear me Joslyne? A CRIME!

Contrast these photos to the ones from their first swimming playdate last summer. It's so much fun to watch those nutburgers grow up!

First time on the swings!

Peter loved the swing, but only if he was sitting all the way forward and hanging over the front.





He also loved chilling in his stroller and chewing on his toys. Now that he can sit up just about all on his own, it's a whole new world!

Our New Chrysler

Back in April, we sold our beloved Mazda6 SportWagon and bought a Chrysler Town & Country. It was a hard decision. We really liked the Mazda - it was fun to drive, looked fantastic, and was very useful. In addition, we had been all over in that car - we had taken it on vacation to Northern Minnesota, out to Williamsburg, Virginia, all over Tennessee, and back and forth to Detroit and Chicago multiple times.

But, our family has grown, and we decided that we would like a bigger car for our long-distance drives. Although I flirted with the idea of a conversion van, we decided to get a Swagger-Wagon.

Our new rig is Inferno Red, with a gray interior, has swivel seats, dual DVD players, power doors, and a fairly responsive 3.8L V6 mated to a 6-speed auto. By comparison, my parents' first minivan, a 1986 Dodge Caravan LE, had wood-grain siding, three doors, two bench seats, a carburated 2.6L I4, and a 3-speed automatic.


It joins a fleet of (mostly red) Town & Country and Grand Caravans owned by our friends, and continues the vaunted Stringer line of red Chrysler minivans.


We have already driven it to Destin on vacation and found that its swivel seats delight grandparents and kids riding in the back around town, and that its multimedia capabilities make long drives on the freeway with kids easy as pie!
We have also taken it camping and found that its rear deck makes a perfect kitchen/closet/staging area/changing table/etc.!

We can't wait to see where it takes us next!

Happy Birthday, Niki (and Erin)!

Happy Birthday, Niki (and Erin)!

Niki - we love you!

Camping with Charlie

Over Memorial Day, while Peter and Niki flew to Chicago to visit Aunt Erin and Cousin Sosi, Charlie and I headed into the Tennessee woods to go camping with the Hancock family.
We actually spent the night in a tent at Rock Island State Park, and did a little hiking the next day.
Beautiful gorge on the Caney Fork River.
We were a little inexperienced to make it all the way to the falls. We'll try when Charlie is a little older!