Rhode Island, It's For Me

I honestly can't count how many folks we have been able to catch up with over the past three and a half weeks -- it's been so, so much fun to see everyone. One group that we don't get to see often enough is the Rhode Island crew. John's cousin Beth has graciously hosted gatherings several times and Aunt Ellen has pulled the group together so that we can see lots of people at one time. This time, Molly took real advantage of her cousins and several other family members to run herself silly (and exhausted). It was also the first time we got to introduce Jack to these guys. Aside from promptly spitting up on Beth's rug (it just means that he likes you), he was his usual smiley self.

Both munchkins were excited to see Aunt Kathy

Aunt Karin and Jack had some good conversations and we got to catch up with Cousin Becca -- she is finally able to put weight on her foot that she broke six months ago! What a trouper.

Jack has become a real baby (not like that faker he was before) while we've been out here. He rolled for the first time yesterday, is doling out big smiles (especially post-eating), has become pretty interactive, enjoys a super stretchy neck that likes to drift into the horizontal position while sleeping, and is actually a pretty good sleeper -- and an efficient eater (a big part of maternal sanity). He reserves some of his biggest smiles for Molly (and for me, but I think that has more to do with the fact that I am his food source) and it's a gift to see the sibling bonding beginning to happen. Molly really has, to my surprise, been completely fine with Jack from day one. We did some preparing with books and such but I think she just likes to have someone else around who can eventually share in her mischief. She's solicitous of her little brother -- looks for him in the morning, has mostly stopped stealing his binky out of his mouth (and brings him binkies if he's crying), likes to lie with him on the play mat, and pats his head (gently, even). She also just goes about her business a lot of the time and doesn't pay him much mind -- fine by me. We'll see what happens when he's old enough to get his mitts on her stuff.