Benjamin Update

It's been a while since I've taken the time to give an update on my sweet baby boy. He's growing so quickly, and he develops a bigger personality each day. Nothing major, yet. He's taking his sweet time with rolling, eating, and sitting independently. But I do think we're making progress in all of those areas. I also think, based on sleep habits and temperament changes, we might be headed close to our first tooth! BUT so far in his 4th month Benjamin has continued to be an incredibly happy go-lucky kid. When I take him to nursery during church and Bible study he simply lights up at the new faces and willing snugglers who come to the window. He loves people of all kinds (especially his mommy and his sister!!) There's nothing he loves more than just having great face time with people that he cares about. Even when he's playing with saucer or his playmat, he is constantly looking for faces to watch and to follow. He adores people and it's this that keeps him from his naps. He is still a good napper, so I'm definitely not complaining, BUT he's been waking much more frequently before his naps are complete, trying to get held or rocked. I'm determined (despite how much I just want to snuggle him) to keep up with his excellent ability to soothe himself to sleep. So, I rub his tummy, stroke his face, and let him get back to resting. BUT it is SO difficult. The way his smile lights up the room makes me want to rescue him, kiss his cheeks, and say, "Oh we can cut this nap short ..." But I ALWAYS regret it later. This is a little boy who is at his happiest when he gets his 3 naps a day ...

Other than that, not much new! Here's just a picture of my happy-go-lucky guy!

[caption id="attachment_772" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Watching Mommy's face intently"][/caption]

Cottage Get Together

I was blessed to teach with an incredible team of teachers during my 5 years at KCMS. In the time that I was there, I made some incredible friendships. Even though I don't work at the school any longer, the friendships I made still mean a great deal to me. Steve still sees my former colleagues on a regular basis, so I still get updates. BUT it was great fun to be able to spend time with their wives (yes, the teachers I knew were all male) and their children. I used to hear so much about each child - and the going ons of the families ... that it was great to let my kids interact with the kids I heard so much about. With 5 families in total, and all of the children in tow, there were 10 adults and 13 children. One giant community of people who all met because they love Jesus and love kids ... what wouldn't be fun about that!

[caption id="attachment_757" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Kayleigh and Katelyn sharing the very popular barber's chair"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_758" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Kayleigh just reading a book"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_759" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Chuck helping out Adam in a fairly intense wrestling match"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_760" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Chuck getting lambasted by Sam and Ben while Konrad and Isaac take on Adam"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_762" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Dinner for 11 (the youngest two, Benjamin Van Dyk and Jared Witte, weren't available for picture) - Clockwise from the head of the table: Josie Sterenberg, Johanna Van Dyke, Elizabeth Netz, Kayleigh Van Dyk, Katelyn Witte, Zoe Commeret (with Michelle), Ben Netz, Isaac Sterenberg, Konrad Van Dyke, Sam Netz, and Katherine Van Dyke (with Heather)."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_763" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Kayleigh and Elizabeth chatting away"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_764" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Thanks for a fun day, everybody!"][/caption]

Benny's Chair

Okay, so it really isn't Benny's chair, it's either of them ... Basically, it went like this.1. Mommy and Daddy went to Ikea to buy a recliner 2. Mommy can resist most other things at Ikea because we don't NEED them ... but when it comes to the babies, she's a softy. She saw a mini-recliner. The way Kayleigh adored the old glider (now in the basement), I knew she'd love the matching little kids recliner. 3. We purchased it.

Kayleigh adores it, but Benny got a turn too. He was so proud of himself for sitting by himself, so we had to take pictures. Next up on the picture agenda: Benny and Daddy in matching outfits watching Michigan Football.

Our Little Greeter

Kayleigh loves people. She has loved people since she was old enough to smile. Today, her welcoming of people takes on a different form. She's so much more verbal that it's just hilarious to be around her. This past week she sat at the door waiting for: Daddy, Aunts Sarah and Maria, and Robin. As soon as she grasps that were having a visitor, she sits at the screen door, watching the street. Each car that comes by brings her cheerful voice, "Momma!!! I see car!!! I see car!!!" When it passes by she says, "Oh different car coming ... different car for ____" When the car arrives, well, just watch and see. It's excitement in its purest form followed by a straight sprint "Runnin' ... Runnin' fast!" towards the back door, through the breezeway, and out to the driveway where she almost always realizes, "Oh ... no shoes, Momma, No shoes on!!" Here she is waiting for her aunties to come:

Here's her waiting for her Daddy to come home from work: 9-29 Waiting for Daddy

Rafa's Personality

We adopted Andre when he was already past his 1 year birthday (according to the vet). Therefore, we never had the privilege of seeing what a "kitten" is like. Rafael is letting us experience "kittendom" in all of it's glory. Here's a few quick snapshots of him being ... a kitten.

[caption id="attachment_742" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Taking over the bed"][/caption]

Rafael decided to take over the bed. It took him over 2 weeks to find a way up (it used to be Andre's hideout). But now that he has made it up, all day long, it's his favorite place (especially when he's "grounded" for fighting with Andre).

At the end of the day, though, he usually finds at least one way to win his "mommy" over.

[caption id="attachment_743" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Kisses for Mommy"][/caption]

Ikea Spontaneity

Steve doesn't like things to remain the same for very long ... especially when it's our living room arrangement. So, last week when he came up with another "new idea" I rolled my eyes. The more I thought about it, though, the more I liked the idea. It gave us more furniture for "living" in the basement play area. It gave us more space for "living" in the main floor living room. So, to make this plan work (in one weekend because I didn't want my house torn up for more than that length of time), we needed an Ikea chair. So ... to Ikea we went (with the kiddos at Sarah's house ... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!). As is typical, we didn't leave Ikea with ONLY the items we planned on. We opportunity power shopped.  (we only had 45 minutes after we made the drive) We came away with the planned signature Ikea recliner, a matching one for the baby girl, a wooden block play toy, a plastic wall mount bag holder, and some wrapping paper. As soon as Kayleigh awoke this morning she was all over her new goods ... She beat us out of bed and to her toys before we even knew what hit us ... After that she enjoyed helping Daddy reassemble our stored coffee table. All in all, a very successful (if exhausting for everyone) trip.

[caption id="attachment_732" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Kayleigh and Daddy in their matching chairs"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_733" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Chair + toy = $38 ... Kayleigh's enjoyment - priceless"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_734" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Helping Daddy assemble the goodies"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_735" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption=""Daddy, this is screwdriver ..." "][/caption]

Kayleigh and the Sunglasses

My mom bought Kayleigh a pair of adorable sunglasses last summer. This past Spring Jenny DeNooyer gave Kayleigh a pair of sunglasses to match Comet Purple outfits ... I've been trying forever to get Kayleigh to put them on. Her response was always, "Momma on ... Momma wear glasses. No Kayleigh." However, we kept trying. Finally, last week she not only put them on but decided she liked them. I wasted no time in capturing the moment. [caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Sassy Sunglass Girl"][/caption]

My only regret is that she's just a few months too late to enjoy the summer season with her shades.

Benny and the Cereal

I'm still perfecting the creation of homemade baby rice cereal. So, as Benjamin's learning to eat it, he doesn't always have the smoothest cereal. BUT we're both getting better. All last week he'd simply scream and cry through his eating. This time, I don't think any more food is going in, but at least he's stopped crying. He even smiles at times during his eating. Hopefully soon Mom will get better at making it and Benny will start to take more in his stomach instead of on his chest. Nevertheless, he takes some cute pictures while he's learning. I love my happy little son.

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="While we still tried to use a bib .. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_726" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Happy Smiles (with no bib)"][/caption]

M Go Blue ... and the Grandparents

Steve and I were so privileged to get my Uncle Ron Creswell's tickets to the U of M/Massachussets game. It was a pretty lousy game on Michigan's part (about as lousy as you can get and still win), but we had excellent seats. My Uncle and Aunt's seats are in row B in the South endzone, right above the letter C in the field paint. The endzone camera is just 5 people to your right. During kickoff practice, the girl in front of us was hit with a football. It's that close to the field. We were so pumped to have such great seats ... and were blessed to have my parents available and willing to take the kiddos so we could go. We had some trouble with traffic (both to and from AA), but it was worth it. The kids had a smashing time with G&G Creswell. Here's a few photos I stole from my mom cataloging the day.

[caption id="attachment_719" align="aligncenter" width="541" caption="Benny's Buddy, Grandpa"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_720" align="aligncenter" width="541" caption="Coloring with Grandpa"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_721" align="aligncenter" width="720" caption="Play-doh with Grammy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_722" align="aligncenter" width="541" caption="Walking the baby at Grammys"][/caption]

Unique Entertainment

Several years ago, Steve and I were sitting on the couch, watching a storm raging outside our window. We have a very large front window, excellent for views of the neighborhood (and into our house if we aren't careful about the blinds). We were watching the "romantic" storm when a bolt of lightning flashes out of the sky and strikes the giant tree in our front yard. It's a massive crack and we both spring up, thinking that for certain the tree is coming down on the house. It didn't ... it also died. Making it liable to come down on our house with any subsequent lightning strike or powerful wind storm. With some of the incredible storms we had this summer (and the potential for more storms this coming fall), we decided to have it removed. Insurance won't cover the tree removal, unless it damages our house. While we'd enjoy having some say in the remodel/rebuilding of our home, we aren't really in a financial position to do that :) ... even with the help of insurance. So, we decided to bite the bullet and pay the $1000 fee to have the tree cut down and hauled away. Today (Tuesday, Sep 21) was the day. As soon as the trucks arrived for the work, my baby girl was hooked. She narrated all that they were doing as best she could ... and she never took her eyes of them for 1 second. She was so enthralled by their work and their presence that she hauled her step stool over to the window, brought over her fruit juice and Cheerios and made it her entertainment for the day ... She sat longer watching the "Boys workin'" than she did anywhere the rest of the day.

Coffee "Date"

It was Tuesday morning; the kids were sick. Mommy had to skip Bible study (BUMMER) because no one wants sick babies in the nursery. So, since Bible study was out, I was trying to find a new way to brighten my day. After Benjamin went down for his morning nap (around 8:45), I decided to make myself a skinny white chocolate/chocolate mocha and have a slice of cream filled coffee cake from the Oostburg Bakery (Thanks Sarah from bringing it back with you!). As I prepared my coffee my cute little toddler wandered into view. "Coffee too, Momma??""No, Kayleigh, no coffee for you. You may have juice and a treat, though, would you like that?" "Yes, Momma. Treat with Momma at table." So, I cut a small sliver of coffee cake for Kayleigh and one for myself. We sat and talked (almost nearly like real adults do) about what was happening outside, what we wanted to do today, and what we did yesterday. It struck me mid-conversation just how very very grown up my little coffee date was ... such a doll. Here's her reaction to her first few bites of some of Oostburg's finest baked goods :)

9-21 I like coffee cake

I'm a Mall Walker

It's official ... I'm one of "those" moms. I didn't want to spend money to entertain the kids, but I had HAD it with being in the house. It had been several days in a row that they were napping a ton/recovering from colds, and it was too cold to take a sniffling/sneezing/coughing infant out for a walk. I was DONE sitting around trying to entertain my very active toddler without some change of scenery. So, I packed everyone up and we headed for the mall. I walked around and around the downstairs, and then rode the elevator upstairs and walked around twice. I made it two laps before Kayleigh noticed the Auntie Anne's pretzels. I figured she had earned a snack. So, we snacked in front of a very jealous Benny and then walked some more. Conclusion: Crossroads Mall is NOT sufficient for mall walking ... :( Sorry Kalamazoo, I need Grandville for that one.

[caption id="attachment_708" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="People watching at Crossroads Mall"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_709" align="alignright" width="224" caption="Too big of a bite ... she's not complaining though"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_710" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="Wishing he could have a pretzel too ... "][/caption]

Andre's Gift

This summer Andre got into drinking dirty water from Kayleigh's old baths. The tub drains slowly and he'd race in to see what he could lap up from the "moving water." If there were cups or bath toys that didn't get emptied, you could be certain to find him later that evening "cleaning up the mess." He always had water, but it seemed he preferred the moving water. So, like I always do when I have a question, I consulted "The Google." I found that cats much prefer "moving water" to still/stagnant water because it's better oxygenated and helps hydrate them more effectively. Then I saw ridiculously priced cat fountains over $150 each. I wanted my cat to be properly hydrated (and really wanted him to stop drinking from the bath water), but I wasn't going to spend $150. I did a little more research and discovered I could be a lower end model for just $29.99. I realize that's still a lot to spend on a water dish, but ... we haven't purchased anything new for Andre since Kayleigh was born. I figure since he put up with two new babies without ever once coming close to harming a hair on their heads, he deserved a great gift.

He's thanked me by completely avoiding the tub, and be even tolerating Rafa's adoption without much fuss. Here is, happily lapping up water from top of the waterfall.

[caption id="attachment_705" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="$29.99 well spent"][/caption]

Donald says...

Kayleigh adores Mickey Mouse ... that's no secret to anyone who regularly reads my blog. Lately she's been picking up bigger and bigger pieces of regularly repeated phrases from the show. I'll catch her, when talking to herself in the backseat, whisper things like, "Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse!" or she'll be muttering and out pops, "Hey everybody.." or "See you REAL soon!" It's humorous. What I didn't expect a young toddler to pick up on was Donald Duck phrases. I mean, the duck babble is hard enough for an adult to comprehend, but a little language learner??? Nevertheless, my Kayleigh repeats Donald phrases too. (We're still working on using them effectively ... typically she just erupts in one whenever she feels like it .. no clue as to what she's actually saying). As Daddy was mowing the lawn last night, Kayleigh was expressing her frustration at not being able to play with him. She's sitting inside the window sill with her face pressed against the screen shouting out to Dadddy, "Oh BOY, OH BOY, OH BOY!!! DADDY!! OH BOY!!! OH BOY! OH BOY!!" My guess, she interpreted Donald's excitement when he uses that phrase as anger and is repeating when she's angry instead of excited .... I was nearly rolling on the ground laughing ...

Donald's other favorite phrase is, "What's the big idea?!" He uses this when he's frustrated .... Kayleigh likes to use it all of the time. I tried to get her to repeat it on camera, but she was pretty distracted. I helped her get started, and here's her interpretation:

9-17 Donald Says

Friday Photoshoot

This morning I intended to take fun pictures of Benjamin. EVERYONE (Dre and Rafa included) was up and at 'em. Therefore, I got to snap pictures of a variety of subjects. Some of my favorites: Kayleigh - "Sometimes her beauty stops me dead in my tracks"

[caption id="attachment_693" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Kayleigh"][/caption]

Benjamin: "His smile brings me unspeakable joy"

[caption id="attachment_694" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Benjamin"][/caption]

Andre: "Just staying sharp"

[caption id="attachment_695" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Andre"][/caption]

Rafael: "Missin' my brothers ..."

[caption id="attachment_696" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Rafael"][/caption]

And of course, what mother couldn't love a few of them getting along:

4 Month Picture Comparison

[caption id="attachment_689" align="alignleft" width="270" caption="Kayleigh, 4 months: March, 2009"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_690" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Benjamin, 4 months: September 2010"][/caption]

The Life of the Second Child ...

When I was in middle school, yes, middle school, my dad gave me an old book they had lying around the house called, "The Birth Order Book." He thought I'd find it interesting to see what a typical first born child I am and how my brother fit the second born to a "t." The book had a real impact on the way I view myself, others, and even compatibility between people. (The book told me I was stupid to fall in love with a first born because we'd struggle with power and control way too much and that I'd be better matched with either a second born or a last child attention seeker ..???!!) I maintain that the book is wrong and that I'm just fine with another first born; Steve says the same ... just prove the stats wrong (how like a stubborn, controlling first born!) ANYWAY, my little Benjamin has a typical first born older sister. She's controlling, demanding, obsessive compulsive, and very stubborn. We're working on balancing the positives in these qualities with plenty of the negatives. BUT while we're doing that, Benjamin is forming/exhibiting his little personality. So far, he's filling in the role of the "opposite" of the first born quite well. He is easy going, relaxed (sometimes so easy going that I find him still silent in his crib, not asking to get up even though he's been awake for 20-30 minutes ... he's fine just waiting until I remember him) and content. He LOVES attention, but if my attention is elsewhere, he's okay by himself (MOST of the time).

Enter: Video evidence I was trying to take a video of Ben's fantastic job in his exersaucer, balancing very well, having excellent head/neck control ... meanwhile, little miss-don't stop paying attention to me has to intervene. Despite the fact that she never shows her face on camera, you can see, immediately, the life little Benny leads. :) The whole time, he just smiles and keeps demonstrating how good he is while Kayleigh tries, very hard, to pull Mommy away ...

9-16 Benny's Head Holding

Kitten + Toddler = too cute

As I was attempting to persuade my husband to allow me to adopt this new kitten, I used many tactics (some below the belt ...). It NEVER occurred to me to play the toddler card. "Kayleigh would really love to play with a kitten, etc." This is probably because I really didn't expect her to want to play with a kitten. She moves so fast and isn't generally tender (the moments with her brother still shock me), so why would a kitten catch her eye? Because they are in the same life stage ... exploring their world, trial and error, curiosity about EVERYTHING, no problem with a mistake because life is full of time to try and try again, completely devoid of the fear of the unknown because everything is unknown! Together Rafa and Kayleigh give me more to laugh about than I ever imagined ... Interestingly enough, not only are Kayleigh and Rafa in similar stages of development, they have very similar personalities ... active, constant, don't stop until I slam into a brick wall of exhaustion and fall over into a coma. Snuggling is a thing to do ONLY when exhaustion keeps you from doing more "exciting" things. So, Kayleigh and Rafa are my two "Actives." Benny and Andre ... my two "mellows." Both of them are content to take a safe and comfortable view of the action and let everyone else have it out. Sure they let me know, quite forcefully at times, what their needs are, but more often than not ... watching is just fine with them ... Sit back and enjoy the show :).

Here's the show we got from Rafael these past two days:

[caption id="attachment_669" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="A bed is wherever you crash land"][/caption]

This other one warrants a little story. Benny and Andre are safely perched, watching the action. Kayleigh is chattering away to her Rafa. I'm scrubbing a few bottles in the kitchen, where I'm not more than a few paces away from all of the "dependents," as I call them.  I hear the following: K: Rafa on snack table R: chirp, chirp, MMMEEOOOWW (his sharper cry brings me to peer around the corner. She has him with two hands by the belly and is lifting him unto the television table where she eats her snacks). K: No? No snack table??? Rafa sit on couch R: chirp, chirp, chirp (as she toddles him to the couch) MMMEEEOOOWW (still unharmed just not exactly happy) K: No? Okay ... Rafa in Benny's Bumbo (Yes, she knows a Bumbo by name). Rafa in Bumbo. (IN she plops him and there he stays ... for quite sometime, resting and watching her eat her snack.)

Rafa's new comfort spot aside from his pregnancy pillow turned cat bed??? Benjamin's Yellow Bumbo

Sometimes I'm positive that I'm certifiably insane ... you know, committing to house training a kitten and introducing him to an existing cat who is quite possessive while caring full time for an almost 4 month old and a nearly 2 year old ... but, these quiet moments with the snugglers seems to make it worth it. (The kids snuggle too just not nearly long enough to snap pictures!)

[caption id="attachment_671" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Not too bad for just the end of their first full day together"][/caption]

Penny Pony Rides

I learn new things the longer I become a stay-at-home mom. Some of them are sad, others odd, this new learning makes me believe in people again :) ... (You know how sometimes people as a whole make you lose faith in humanity, but then the kindness of stranger, or an unexpected community can restore it again ...) Here's a new learning for me. I was at the West Main Meijer (the one closest to our home, though not always the one we frequent) and overheard some women in front of me talking about "Sandy" the penny pony. They were chuckling to themselves as a little girl, whose father was still in line and busy with two other children, approached the pony, picked up a penny from a small stack near the base, and popped it in. She rode the pony several times and then her father called her to leave. On his way by the pony, he deposited several more pennies on the stack by the pony ... The woman in front of me described the scene to her mother, "Isn't this sweet?," She says. People drop their extra change at the pony for other's peoples children. So that a parent who really wants to permit a pony ride, but doesn't have cash, is able to provide the ride without change of their own. The assumption is, that if you ever have pennies, you stack them there for someone else when they need them.

I tucked the idea away since I always have pennies I don't want, but rarely bring them into the store. I had forgotten again until an elderly lady approached me in the check out line. I was bouncing Benny in the Baby Bjorn (he is on a feeding CRAZE and it had been almost two hours, so ... you know, he was starving), and Kayleigh was chatting cheerfully with a couple behind me. This elderly lady and her husband had been Kayleigh's new friends. The woman came up and said, "Is your beautiful, friendly daughter allowed to ride the P-O-N-Y?" I chuckled because we do spell things for her ... she hears familiar words in conversation (even unrelated context and flips out). I said absolutely and she deposited pennies into my palm. This triggered my memory and I looked, curious to see how many people were in on the Penny Pony Donation Plan ... Sure enough there were two tall stacks of pennies neatly lined up on the base of the pony. I smiled, thanked the lady, had Kayleigh thank the lady, and after checking out, let Kayleigh have her first penny pony ride.

Next week when shop (or tomorrow, whenever I discover that I don't have everything I need yet again), I'll deposit a few of the many unwanted pennies I have in the the tray in the van. Such a fun tradition ... such a pleasant way to end a shopping trip.

Kayleigh's first pony ride: (Please excuse the messy hair, we have limited time to leave with Benny's crazy feeding as of late ... we basically feed him and RUN ... if hair isn't done or clothes not perfect, oh well ... time is of the essence!) :)

[caption id="attachment_664" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Don't let her somber expression fool you; she is in awe that such a thing exists!"][/caption]

Andre and Rafael

5 years ago I met a sweet, lovable, emaciated young cat. He was pure white with penetrating green eyes. He was clearly struggling as a"wild" cat. I couldn't bear the thought of the coming winter as I knew he'd end up at the shelter. I asked Steve's uncle to "trap him" the next time he came by (they had been feeding him). We picked him up a few afternoons later and took him to the vet. He was diagnosed with a very debilitating condition known as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. The vet wanted to put him down immediately. We said we'd care for him through his immune system issues and promised that when it became too difficult for him to live that we would do the humane thing. The vet scoffed at us and said she'd probably see us sooner rather than later. We left heartbroken; this week we celebrated Andre's 5th year with us. Because we adopted Andre during Andre Agassi's last US Open before retirement, we found it fitting for our newly adopted kitty. We were the last station before this cat's life ended; our only indoor lifestyle - plenty of food and lots of mid-day naps seemed like our Andre was in his retirement too. I don't know if it was the US Open again, or Andre's 5th year with us, or as my husband and Bri Bri claim, my subconscious being unsettled  with 2 adults, 2 kids and 1 cat or what... but when my sister in law and her family were looking for a home for a 5 week old black kitten, I felt compelled to beg Steve to take him in. Steve, like he always does, gave me what I wanted. So now I'm snuggling Andre at my feet and this year's US Open champion, Rafael in the crook of my arm.

How's Andre taking it??? Like the champ he is...and in fact, much the same way he took us bringing home Kayleigh and Benjamin, a little miffed at mom, but largely indifferent to the newest thing disrupting his peace. It's almost as if he is choosing to say, "Yeah, I've been here longest; Mom always makes changes, but in the end, I know where I stand." What a good boy.

So, in a tribute to Andre's 5th birthday and Rafael's first night in our home... some pics of our furry babes.

[caption id="attachment_655" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Andre - taking his turn on the ever popular "lap""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_656" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Rafael on his first night home"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_657" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="My favorite from the photo shoot"][/caption]