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First off...every week just before SHARK WEEK, it's COUSIN WEEK here in Dallas. This used to be called Nephew/Niece week, but since you're here and they're YOUR cousins, it's now called COUSIN WEEK.
Every summer more and more of your Uncle Dana's and Aunt Mendi's children come up to Dallas to spend time with Mimi and Pops, go to art Camp and hang out with their Uncle Aaron and Aunt Holly. This year, they got to hang out with their Aunt and Uncle...AND their cousin!
So, in reverse order, you got to chill with Holden:
Cuddle with Grayson...
Goof with Griffin...
and play with Haley!
You really were fascinated by this small contingent of your first cousins. They all really love you and delighted in making you smile and laugh! Cousin Week will only get better and better!But, of course, no matter how much you love your cousins, they simply can't compare to your four-legged friends. This week you finally got up the courage and motor skills to go after your dogs. You love these critters a lot and just stare at them, mouth agape, smile plastered on. When the dogs are playing, you are watching. When the dogs are near, you're interested. When the dogs want to lick your face, you open your mouth up wide for a kiss. We really need to work on the last one.
But, we caught a really sweet moment on camera as you got to pet Toby for the first time (by your own volition). It was really sweet for you. Probably not so sweet for Toby.
You pet him...
You grab him...
You see him...
You WANT him! (He's smartly skeptical)
Toby did really well with this encounter. They really do seem to like you...but they really shouldn't pass judgment until you start crawling.This week was also filled with some awesome new sleep habits.
First, check out these moments that your Grandma caught. This is a new sleep technique that you've mastered called the "chillax":
The "chillax" is often performed while napping in the swing:
And, of course, everybody's favorite which you just started this week was the "Ostrich":
There was also a great sleep move I witnessed called the "teeterer"... in which you are sleeping on your side...and then lose your balance a little and almost roll to your back, but you flail your arms and legs to catch you back on your side. Then you fall asleep again on your side and lose your balance a little and almost roll to your back...rinse and repeat.
You also had some waking feats as well! Namely, you found your feet.
I was so lucky to be there for it! This was, by all accounts, your third feet finding mission. The other two occurred during diaper time, and really complicated things. This was photographable and less complicated. But still quite an accomplishment!
Check it out!
No feet:
Oh hey, those are my feet!
These are MY things on the bottom of my legs? They're pretty bendy...
I will try to rip them open and see if there's milk inside.
Nope...no luck. I give up. These suck.
Oh hey...what are these things at the bottom of my legs? I like them! I will grab them!
I will wiggle them all over the place! a LOT! I WILL CATCH YOU!
We counted...all ten toes were accounted for after this incident.You also had some great moments with Grandma, who got to babysit with you a bunch this week. (And one day, I'm going to get her to write a blog entry too! I know she can do it!)
She caught you really really REALLY smiling:
And fighting a T-rex (which shows some serious dexterity!)
Speaking of dexterity though, you really surprised me with a major leap forward in your hand eye coordination. You've been grabbing things you want for a while now, and manipulating them too. You even started doing this "I see it...I grab it" thing that's really cool. Except at dinner. On Sunday we had dinner with all your cousins and Mimi and Pops at a Japanese restaurant. I was eating and had you in my lap.
In a split second you had reached forward, grabbed my Bento Box and were pulling it toward you. Luckily, your Mom reached out with lightning reflexes and saved both you and me from getting majorly teriyaki'd!
So, Cousin Week was an astounding success! Next week will be even more of a challenge! We're going to the Beach...to stay in a house...with ALL of your cousins! Including two you haven't met yet! (And your Aunt Deborah and Uncle Keith!)
So get ready for some more adventures, some more cousins and more developmental milestones! (just as long as they don't involve you and me covered in teriyaki sauce!)
