The pups don’t get in as many photos as they did before Griffin and Reid. These two really get along pretty well. Brutus is the one to go up to Lily and snuggle. He’s also typically the antagonistic one who tries to get Lily to play, but not always. Lily gets sassy with him every now and again and plays keep away with their nylabones. They are fun to watch together.

Tuesday this week Reid had his 15 month check up with Dr. Wilde. The appointment went great though I didn’t snap a single picture. He is growing really well and weighs in at 24 pounds 7 ounces (74th percentile and up 2 pound 6 ounces from his 12 month check up), 30.75″ (34th percentile, 1.25″ taller than his 12 month checkup), and his head continues to grow well too coming in at 49.5 cm (98th percentile, up 1.1 cm from his 12 month checkup). He is a late walker, having just begun walking about 11 days before this 15 month checkup. The doctor also says 2-5 words is typical for this age, though Reid is currently at zero. Dr. Wilde was explaining that by 18 months he’ll be able to point to his body parts, etc., and I replied that he’s already doing that. Then Reid demonstrated by pulling up his shirt and pointing to his belly button. Dr. Wilde said that was great, his responsive listening is awesome – to which I replied he understands everything and does what you ask, unless of course he is demonstrating his stubbornness.  He does babble a lot, but he doesn’t regularly say any words. He typically squeals or screams and points if he wants something (and then someone gets it for him, hence he hasn’t had to use any words). He does use a bit of sign language, as he holds his arm out and opens and closes his hand, which is his way of saying “more”. Though he doesn’t use words yet – he is the best mocker. He can mock eye movements, lips or faces, and many sounds. He regularly gives us a good chuckle when he’s being silly and imitating any sound we make or things like liking a finger he will do the same. After his appointment I had the rest of the afternoon off so I took it upon myself to take out Reid’s infant car seat base and carrier and replace it with his big boy Diono rear facing seat. I also took Griffin’s out and adjusted his shoulder straps and reinstalled it too. No small feat, but I’m glad to have Reid in his new digs. His new seat is a bit more spacious and easier to get him in to for sure. He certainly was too heavy to carry around in his car carrier seat anymore anyhow! Brutus wanted to join me at the end and really was campaigning hard for a ride around the block as he refused to get out.
This boy chased a squirrel or something and then just sat perched like this forever and wouldn’t listen to me as I called him inside. It was really kind of cute. He was just sitting there waiting and observing.  Griffin continues to have fun at his weekly soccer lesson. He has two coaches this session, Steve Locker (the founder and owner who has collegiate coaching experience and Ivy League titles) and coach Kyle. It’s a smaller class with only 9 kiddos so that also makes it fun.  Griffin is learning sight words at school this year and is getting so good at reading the artwork in his room of Family Rules. Daddy has been home a couple times in the afternoon to get Finn off the bus. This particular day he took Reid out while they waited and they kicked around the soccer ball. This reminds us both of when Griffin was about a year old and walked around our back yard dribbling the soccer ball.  Reid’s not quite there yet, but he does like kicking it! We started and finished our donut puzzle pretty quickly this week also.  On Friday evening we headed to the annual St. Joan of Arc Festival just down the road in Powell. We were suckers, of course, for all the cheesy carnival games and came home with various plastic swords and footballs. Griffin also rode several rides and I tagged along on the fast circular coaster and Kevin rode the fast twister with Finn.  Hannah, our new short-term nanny started on Monday. She is the summer nanny of my friend Kim, and the sister of Kim’s long-time nanny Lindsay. This is a win-win for both of us as we needed someone, her job with Kim was ending as summer is over, and she is in a transition period with her college/career situation. She was scheduled off on Wednesday and Thursday this week while she worked her last days at Starbucks so Jim and Pat graciously came and watched the boys for us again. The kids had a fun time and we’re thankful for their help, of course! I love in the mornings after Griffin gets on the bus and it continues down our street that after they go around the turnaround and come back I can always see Griffin peering out the window as they turn up Southfork :). Do you see him? On Saturday we attended the Grace Marriage program at church from morning to early afternoon and then returned home to regroup and then onward to Ten Pin Alley in Hilliard to celebrate Rowan’s 7th birthday. There was laser tag, arcade games, pizza, and cake! And here are a couple from Sunday morning in the nursery where Kevin and I volunteered in the giraffe room. Griffin has moved up to children’s worship which meets in the other wing of the church, but he loves to help us when we serve in the nursery. He actually has been staying with us during the service for awhile and coloring with all of the things he’s brought in his coloring bag.  We had our first Landscape Professionals Educational Day at Millcreek this week too. We had 4 different seminars, tours of the nursery, breakfast and lunch as we continue to build our base of landscape clients.