Sand Crabs, Scuba Steve, a sunbathing skunk and a whole lot more!

We (Dan, Rochelle, Ben, Daniel, Robyn, Paul, Alex, Molly, Dominic, and Uncle Dandy) went to the beach a couple of weeks ago. We mainly went so that the boys could go scuba diving and catch some big fish for dinner, but the diving turned out murky, so no fish for dinner. But, we did have a wonderful time playing in the sand, eating it (the babies!-mostly Alex), dipping our toes in the freezing cold waves and hiking!

Alex and Dominic LOVED the sand! When we first got to the beach, Alex stepped on it with his toes and got this really surprised look on his face. Then he took a couple of steps and fell on his hands. He looked at the ground with his eyes as big as saucers and a huge grin on his face and started wiping his hands back and forth! Then he graduated to throwing it and eventually eating it! He was pooping sand for a couple of days.

Dominic's hidden explorer side came out when he hit the sand. He stepped way out of character and almost immeadiatly started crawling all over the beach. He enjoyed the hidden treasures (rocks, sticks, plants, ect.) he was finding every where. He thought the sand tasted interesting, too.
Uncle Paul was determined to bury himself and even dug his own grave. Dominic thought the hole was really interesting and almost crawled head first into it.

They loved the hole until we put them in it, and then suddenly it became a jail!
ALex thought it was hilarious to torture Daddy when he was buried. He thought it was the funniest thing in the world to grab Pauls head and throw sand in his eyes. Notice Alex's beard!

Dominic is normally so CLEAN! Even when he eats dinner, so it was really funny to see him with sand all over his face and in his nose.

Dan on the left and Uncle Dandy on the right, lounging around after their dive.

Dominic and Grandpa Dan

ALex and Paul in their matching Oregon Ducks hats.

Rub a dub dub, five peaple in a tub! Dan got a free one-night stay in the Jacuzzi suite at the Beach Front Inn from his work, and he generously shared it with the whole fam!

This is the view from our room! This is Paul flying his box kite.

Here is Ben with his airplane kite walking back to our balcony.

Hosing off the sand crabs.

Have you even seen a skunk at the beach? He just sauntered out onto the sand and we thought it was a little dog until he got closer. ACK! Luckily he didn't stink up the place.

Scuba Steve came to visit (Ok, so it was Paul, but don't tell the kids).

Here is Paul with his kite close up.

Daniel and Dominic playing peek-a-boo!

And, this is what Alex looked like about 3 minutes after we got in the car to drive home. He slept the WHOLE way! Amazing!

Block Wars...

So, Alex got a whole bunch of blocks from Sari and we decided we would play with them. Then it turned into a game, and finally a contest. The big question is Who won, Father or Son? Cast your Vote as a comment.

From Larva to Toddler

Happy First Birthday Alexander!

April 7, 2008: this is what Alex looked like just a couple of hours after he was pushed into the world!

I can't believe how much he has changed in such a short period of time!
He had a wonderful Birthday and was such a happy, funny boy all day!
We sang to him ...



...and then gave him the top of the cake to pulverize. He thought it was the highlight of the day!



Dominic was thrilled as well when Gramsi let him in on the deal. As you can see, Molly is in the background talking on the phone and has no idea that Dom is eating it.
The boys thought it was really fun to feed each other. Dominic actually stuck his fingers in Alex's mouth a few times and Alex didn't bite him (surprisingly). He gently sucked the cake and frosting off of his fingers.
Here is Dom, dancing with fire! I will do a post in the future about Alex's biting habits...then you will really understand why this can be so dangerous.

Sugar rush?

Presents were amusing. He still doesn't get the whole "unwrapping" part of it, but he did a little better than he did at Christmas.

Alex loves his new ball! Actually, he has been playing with it for a week and a half now, but still thinks it is the best toy on the planet. *sigh* If only all of our hopes a dreams could cost $2.39! Dom is the in the background eating the wrapping paper. Yummy!

He kept trying to put the ball on Dom's head.

He also got a new swing from Gramsi and Grandpa (to share with Dom). And some adorable bath toys, which I failed to get a picture of (also from Gramsi). Aunt Molly and Dom got him an adorable red hoody sweatshirt. I somehow missed a picture of it as well.

Alex had a Double B-Day party with his cousin Gavin on Sunday, because Aunt Anastasia and Uncle Mark were visiting from Portland. Gavin turned 1 on March 18. We are singing to them in this picture, which was apparently very frightening. I guess we won't tryout for American Idol.
Gavin and Alex both enjoyed the cake and presents.

All in all, Alex had a fun Birthday. He had his first haircut (I'll save that for another post). He also got to have his car seat turned around, which he absolutly LOVES!!! No more fighting to buckle him in his seat (at least for now). He thinks he is such a big boy and enjoys seeing his parents in the front seat instead of just hearing our disembodied voices. :) Every time we glance in the back seat he just grins at us.
We love Alex so much and are amazed at how much he grows and learns and changes minute by minute. And, although he his not as big as Fiona's 2 year olds, I still look at this 23 pounder and say, "He's HUGE! Was he really only 6 lbs 13 oz just one year ago?"

To Gramsi's House We Go

Every Friday, Alex and Dominic hang out at Gramsi's house for the day. Last week it was really sunny, so we stayed outside almost the whole day, much to Alex's delight. (He is OBSESSED with the outdoors and throws a tantrum everytime we go inside.)

Dominic found out that Gramsi makes a great motor!

He laughed and laughed the faster she pushed him. Notice how he never holds on...

Alex thought it was fun, too! I guess Mommy makes a good motor as well.

When we first went outside Dom was weirded out by the grass and wouldn't leave the blanket.
Then he found the sprinkler and it was all over! He played with it for an hour!
The hereditary tongue! (Grandpa Dan sticks his tongue out when he concentrates, too.)