flashback.

i can't help myself.

history repeats itself.

as a toddler, i was known to sleep on the stairs.  i think this was during the not-wanting-to-go-to-bed (stay-in-bed) phase, and eventually, the sandman would catch up to me.  is it a coincidence that some of my earliest memories are listening to the cheers theme song?!

i'm not one to let the kiddos play on the stairs, but i couldn't help but capture this moment.  it's been a while since i've done a comparison shot, anyway...

 circa 1983

of course, mister mister couldn't be left out of the fun. 

 or the bullydog.

(she looks thrilled, huh?)

repeat.

can you tell i get a kick outta doing this?  i really truly really do.  here's my mister jack on april 30 of 2009.  total and severe chubby cuteness.  chocolate-covered, lip-smacking bubba.  

 i miss that chubby face!

i had to go back to my data, but wouldn't you know - i took these pictures of duey on april 30, 2011.  how funny.  i kept telling myself that in order to get the same effect (springtime dead grass!), i needed to jump on this outing.  i only snapped a few because #1 it was quite chilly to be in a t-shirt and #2 the girl doesn't stop moving.  oh, no!  i got another one of those babies!

 funny little smirk

 ok, so she does stop moving - if only to watch her brother run circles around her

3 months shy of a birfday

dylan june is 9 months old today. yesterday, she started eating those silly puffs-o-flavor. i don't really know what they're made of that make them dissolve so quickly, but they're actually quite tasty. watching her long fingers grab for the bits was pretty comical; a tad shaky, the coordination will just take practice.

she follows me room to room on her hands and knees, picking up her arms like a doggy wearing snow booties. she can pull herself up to her knees, and if she's sitting on my lap, she can pull herself up to stand. and just like her big brother, her top four teeth are days from poking through. her gums are so white and swollen and her chew toys just make her burst into tears.

she is still extremely cute. do i even need to say this anymore? she's started to clap when you pick her up, and at my mother's request, we are working on SO BIG. (although, i still don't get why this is something they need to learn...) she babbles incessantly, blows raspberries, gets a full-body wiggle when she sees her dada and is continuing to bite me at every feeding. her bellybutton looks like it's gonna be an outie too. man, that outie gene of mine is fierce! she's a great sleeper and full of smiles. i couldn't have dreamed up a better little girl.

time for a comparison, yes?

a sweet smile

a little scream

a little snarl

ok, so only the outfit's the same...

even the wave in their hair is similar

and, both love their toes

naked

do you have that certain something that you never leave home without, always have on your body or close enough to reach out and touch? maybe it's some jewelry or a watch, God forbid your mobile phone or possibly it's a tube of chapstick. well, mine is my camera. it's either on the kitchen counter or wrapped loosely around my wrist or mostly, pushed up against my right eye. and yet as of today, it's been at the repair shop for a mere 4 days, and i'm coming unglued. i don't even feel right about blogging without having it plugged in to upload new funny faces or creative parking spaces for toys a la jack miebs. i have been pretty consistent with capturing those milestone days like the 3 and 6 month birthdays, but unfortunately, the 6 month picture will have to be a few weeks late. i just pray that my camera is back in my hands before jackie's THIRD birthday. still trying to wrap my head around that one...

jack benjamin, 1 hour old

yes, the perfect smelling, little dude that was a simple 7 pounds 8.5 ounces is now a full-on syrup smelling (on a few mornings a week), 34 pound boy. always a truck in hand, making vrroooom sounds or asking me to watch how high he can jump. singing to himself in his room, laughing until he gets the hiccups, telling me to be careful and good job, mama. he is certainly coming around from the holy terror that he was last year, well shoot, even 3 months ago. he has new words and phrases daily; i watched as he walked into the bathroom, closed the door and then excitedly announced: poo poo, mama! the kid is incredible. right down to moments in the grocery store when he announces that i toots. never knew i could love this much.

you should never compare kiddos because they just all develop, grow and learn at such different rates. but in this case, i must. picture wise, it's ok. right? plus, it's fun to take a walk down memory lane...

oh, i could go on and on and on...

dylan will be 6 months tomorrow. kind of hard to believe she's at that half-way mark. she doesn't go in for her well baby check-up until next tuesday so i can't provide you with any stats just yet. but, i can tell you all about her. the latest (but not greatest) trick is a rather annoying. she's found her voice - or that of a peregrine falcon. she's has learned to shriek and squeal, and truthfully, i would not be surprised if birds began to flock toward our house. cute at first. obnoxious to date. still no teeth, but man, are we a drooly mess. her chubby, starfish-shaped hands stay slimy and cold throughout the day because she can't keep them out of her mouth. she sleeps in 12-13 hour stretches at night. not a lot of interest in food just yet, but i'm sure at our visit next week i'll be urged to get on that baby food train. good bye non-smelling diapers, hello peeee-uuuuu!

comparison

this happens on a daily basis. of course. usually what dilly's actions are now compared to where jack was. but as far as the pictures, well, they are almost one in the same...






i just can't believe how similar they are!