The original "bear"

What a great day! We went to the Air and Space Museum--Graham pointed at the planes, Julia kicked her legs and was just excited to be out and about.
Then, we went to an outdoor sculpture garden with a BIG fountain that the babies loved...it was next to the Natural History Museum...where Graham and Julia met many many Big 'Stuffed' animals!

Among those was a "Grizzly Graham Bear" ... as ever, Julia did not take the threatening Big Bear too seriously...and Graham put up with his sister's ongoing antics to steal his binky.

All in all, Graham squealed with delight...loving all of the stimulation. Julia loved the walk along The Mall and outside best of all!

So many museums, so little time!

No more Pasta Bolognese...

Ravioli is so much easier to clean up after! But Graham and Julia really took to a great pasta Bolognese dish on Sat and Mon nights...needless to say, each night was bath night!

It's a picnic!

Given the heat here in DC lately, last night served as a perfect opportunity for an outdoor dinner. When we returned from our walk, Graham and Julia and I dined Al fresco.

Or course, Julia wanted to show off her 'how-to-tear-a-tablecloth-off-the-table-while-leaving-the-dishes-intact move' ... needless to say, I thought she needed more practice so kept pushing her stroller away from the table!

When Terence came home a bit later, we all played outside for awhile...

It really doesn't get any better than this!

Great day for a walk...

Oh daddy daddy!

Last Saturday--before it hit 90 degrees here in DC, like This Weekend! ugh--all 4 of us went to the park to check out the slides ...

My tulips--all 125-150 of them--were also in bloom, and Daddy Terence and the kids posed ...Julia, the little Hula Girl, and Graham, the 'hang ten' kiddie.

Life is good.

Miss Poodle

Cool shades...

Graham also examined his shades but decided not to try them on.

Julia checked out her shades before heading out in the 73, yes, 73 degree weather today....complete with sunscreen, sunhat, and shades...She dug it at first...then, 'hey, this is cramping my style'...and she tore off the shades...as she did the sunhat!

We had a fabulous walk, either way...

The Tunnel

Graham and Julia have so many great toys - I think we all love the tunnel though! Here's Julia modeling for us in the tunnel!

The Fabulous Mame!

Mame has been so wonderful to all of us...caring, in the true sense of the word, for Graham and Julia every Sunday and any evening she can squeeze out of her packed schedule of a FT job and Graduate school at Georgetown..she is also the Wizard who makes the videos 'appear' and who designed the blog...THANK YOU MAME. LOVE the video of Julia walking.

"Mom! Why can't we eat these every day?"

Graham and Julia had cupcakes for their birthday desserts on Sunday after Bunky was here...

How did they fare?

Graham loved the frosting, but turned up his nose to the actual cupcake.

Julia?

She devoured both cupcake and frosting...then eyeballed Graham's..."Hmm, he's not eating his, maybe he'll let me have some."

See for yourselves!

Watch out! Julia's heading your way!

Here it is - in her official online walking debut - Julia! She can lift toys half her size and walk with them, too. She's quite the little gal! Stay tuned!

Peek a boo

Graham went gaga for Auntie Mary's gift package of amazing clothes and decided the packaging was good for a game of peek a boo ... too cute! I'm not sure if Julia is also playing peek a boo or just trying to eat the wrapping paper!

Apple. Book. Poodle.

What do these words have in common?
JULIA!
On April 3, she decided to walk as much as possible...
and talk.
Book (of course, in our home, you can't get away from books!)
Apple (from a new book she has on the alphabet)
and
POODLE! From Lola, the pink poodle ... Julia was a pink poodle for Halloween, and she had a poodle theme for her birthday.
Of course, it comes out poo...dle or toodle.
Graham said Apple but had a look about him like "big deal! I can do that, and I will talk when I'm in the mood." And so he will.

Clowns, talking, walking...what next? Graham, the virtuoso!

This has been a lovely weekend...Friday, Aunt Annie arrived for the birthday, and took mom and dad out to a lovely dinner to celebrate the babies' first year and our first year of parenthood.

Then, Gramma Dot came for a visit on Saturday. That was fun!

And...drum roll, the main event on Sunday:

BUNKY THE CLOWN!!!

Oh boy, it was fun. Serious clowning fun. Bunky was lovely with the babies and they had no fears getting close to the tricks and treats Bunky showered on us all...balloon animals, magic hat tricks...not to mention those SHOES and that NOSE and that clown MAKE UP! Thank you, Bunky!

Friends came over and we celebrated with champagne and food.

Here are a few photos ... more to come throughout the week!

Happy 1st Birthday Graham and Julia!

It's been one entire year, but it feels like one day.

Terence called me at 4:13.

"Weren't we donig something a year ago?"

Yes. Graham was born at 4:13.

Julia, at 4:14.

Oh, the joy. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, as they are today.

This has been the best year of our lives, thank you Graham and Julia!

Graham and Julia have had a wonderful birthday. Aunt Annie is in town, so we strolled over to Cosi and ate...while Graham sat and watched people walk by busy Pennsylvania Avenue. It was 72 degrees! Julia talked to everyone who walked by...

"ah. ahhahaha. yayayayaya. bleh. bleh."
wave
wave
Graham was Mr. Chill, very relaxed, as ever, when he is sitting in his stroller.
Then the babies opened gifts...Julia went GAGA over pink outfits she opened...we're in trouble. She loves clothes!
Graham sat on the couch very quietly and read a book with Pang (Amonrat) while Julia was dancing around about her clothes.
It was one perfect day!

Passport photos

Julia got her passport photos yesterday. Soooooo adorably cute! Her big blue eyes staring out ... we had a good time, just the 2 of us, while her brother slept at home.

It took me 2 weeks to figure out that I'd never get the 2 of them out of the house together for the passport photos. Live and learn!

Today, Graham and I will stroll over and get his photos done, then next week we'll fast track their passports. So much fun!

Fabulous Photos! Thank you Auntie Mary!!!

Check out the photos of Mary with the elephants, and with Graham...and all of the other photos! Taken by Mary...