Pool Time in the City

This weekend we tried out a "pop up" pool that one of our neighbors passed down to us. Having a tiny backyard and front yard, the logical place to enjoy the pool was right on the sidewalk. Too bad I didn't capture Penelope's dad in the camping chair sitting beside the pool, occasionally "making waves" in the pool by pushing on the sides with his feet, the image is not really complete without that!

Great Grandpa's 90th Birthday

Last weekend we were in Atlanta for Ben's Grandpa Nevius' 90th birthday. It was a really nice trip, all of Grandpa's children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren were in one place for the first time in a long time, so we made sure to get a few photos. Below are some:

Words, Songs, & Other Tricks

So Penelope is really in mimicking mode these days. Practically every day we hear her say some new word that we just used. The latest list includes a phrase in addition to single words (although in fairness to her it is probably just one word). Here's the list: apple, all done, closed, & outside. In addition she is working on a couple of songs. So far we have "Row Row Row" from "Row Row Row Your Boat," and "Babies, Babies" from a very special Yo Gabba Gabba episode all about, you guessed it, Babies! (For the record, that's right, she watches some TV. I'm not going to say any more for fear of sounding even more defensive.) Last, she continues to add to the list of "tricks" she likes to do. Right now she will put her shoes away with the other ones at the end of the day and she is also adamant about helping put the groceries away (including trying to carry the cantaloupe all by herself). It turns out she may really be a girl after her mom's heart after all.

Nana's Family

This weekend we traveled to Indiana to say good-bye to my Nana who passed away the week before. Nana was what I called my mother's mother, and what we are hoping Penelope will call my mom someday. It was one of those bittersweet weekends that gathered together in one place a lot of family that rarely come together these days. Below is a picture from the weekend of five of my Nana's seven great grandchildren (the five whose parents grew up in Indiana), held by four of her granddaughters and one grandson-in-law. The oldest is my nephew Gable, who is 21 months old, and the youngest is my nephew Conley ,who is 4 months old -- we've had a prolific couple of years in the family, adding 5 children in a mere 17 months!



Also below is a picture of my Nana, my sister Rachel, and me from when Rachel was just a baby that I like. She was an incredibly unique person, and we will miss her.

Penelope & Her Sidewalk Chalk

Today Penelope embarked upon her first sidewalk chalk drawing session. It was relatively successful, as evidenced in these photos. In addition to sitting still for a few minutes, she also decided to mark the trail to the park (where her dad and Gabby were) Hansel & Gretel style, by stopping every few yards to bend down and christen the sidewalk with her own personal style. The best part, though was that when we came back in the house and I asked for the chalk back, explaining that it is an outside toy, she actually handed it over without argument, fit, crying, throwing, swiping/hitting, limp noodle move, whining, or any other negative behavior. I am pretty sure this will never happen again.

Words, words, words!

Penelope is mimicking words left and right these days. So many that I can barely keep up. But I am trying! Here's a list that will almost certainly be outdated the moment it it posted: shoes, socks, book, frog, cup, bird, baby. For the record, I am not saying she is actually using these words the proper way yet, but she is definitely trying to learn them and has some, like dog and bird, down. Also in the category of showing us she knows way more than we realize, when looking through a picture book, we can ask her to point to a number of things (ball, brush, hat, boots, socks) and she does quite easily and happily. It is seriously mind boggling to watch her at work and realize that she comprehends so much more then she can tell us.

DJ Names

I wish I could say that we hadn't already once considered what Penelope's name would be if she were ever to take up DJing as a career or hobby. When initially considering it we came up with "DJ PJ" - not particularly original, but neither are her parents, and let's be honest, her chances of becoming a professional DJ are slim, so the game didn't matter much. Then this week on the sheet of paper we get everyday from her daycare that tells us how her day was (aptly named a My Day sheet), the note said that "P-nel" had a great day. Well there it was, Penelope's obvious DJ name. So 18 years from now when DJ P-nel is gaining fame for pumping out the greatest club mixes, you'll be able to say I knew her when she was just lame old DJ PJ.