First Sign!

Yay! Devin is 'talking' (with his hands anyway)! This morning he very clearly signed for 'more' during breakfast. His version is generally one-handed but he's got the basics of it. He had been getting close the last two days and today it looked like something clicked. Interestingly enough, we were playing Mozart this morning. And of what did he want more? What else would a little monkey want? Why, banana, of course!

(This is a later picture of his closest attempt yet. He is still not very consistent in reproducing any sign yet. He certainly does understand them though.)

Up, Up, Little Balloon

Look what came out of our little trip to Harris Teeter! I thought we were just getting milk and OJ, but as we were checking out one of the cashiers came up and asked if Devin could have a balloon. What fun! (for Devin). I can just see the trip in a couple of months...'mommy, balloon...puh-leeeez!' On second thought, I'd be lucky to get the 'puh-leeez'. With this little impatient one, it'd be a command. I'm cherishing these quiet moments while I can.

We are off to the pool on this beautiful day!

Man of the House

My man of the house has found the remote control.
"It's mine...muhahahaha!"

Basketballs and Grass

While Uncle Eric and Dad played basketball, Devin explored grass....















He loved watching them play.



















Chris wants me to note that he made this shot.










Devin's reaction to Daddy's basket!

This is now a basketball drum...

Playpen Fun

Devin's new favorite activity: standing, wherever and whenever he can. The best place is his playpen, though, where he cruises from corner to corner, pausing only to teethe on the edge between steps.

Devin's First Camping Trip

Ah, stupidity. There must be something in the definition about parents who dare to take their baby camping....
Actually, it wasn't that bad. Although it wasn't as sweet as this first pic might indicate, either. He only slept in his own little tent for one nap. And was much happier sleeping between the two of us at night - go figure.

Maybe he'll enjoy his tent when he's older.








First morning at the campground in Fredericksburg. It was a contest between the sun and Devin to see who would wake us up first.









Breakfast and Devin's adorable jester hat.

The chill of the nights was nothing like what we experience on our below-freezing camping trip last March, so there's an improvement right there!








After Devin woke up from his good morning nap, we headed over to the rec. center. Here Devin got to practice with a full size basketball.

How many Sia's does it take to dunk a basketball...?








After lunch we headed to the indoor pool where Devin would finally get to use his raft.

He couldn't wait to swim and started trying to paddle like he saw Grandma doing.










After many, many breaths later, Chris and Bampa were able to mostly inflate the float.











And they're off...our little water speed-racer.













Bampa and Devin relaxing after all the hard work.














Picking up a hitchhiker.















What does the duck say?










Back at the campsites. (It was nice waking up to that view)

Mom and I shared a sip of the scotch whiskey (with a family name on the label) that I had brought back from Edinburgh.






Our last night, it took 3 hours to get Devin to go to sleep. A little fussy and fully wired. He was so cute and active that after a couple hours I had to get out the camera and take a few photos.

(I didn't get the one I wanted though of him playing peekabo with me around the corner of the tent).







He ripped off his socks and found that they could be a toy.













We made it! Now time to rush up, pack, check out, and get in the car in time for Devin's nap.

Cruising Cuteness

Devin favorite new activity: standing. And more specifically: cruising. So when Carla offered us this 'garden' toy that is great for cruising babies, we didn't hesitate.








Devin loved it immediately. Most of the photos I have of him of course are sitting since I don't trust him alone cruising yet.
















Here, in typical fashion, he's pulling himself up and ready to walk out the door.

Goodbye Lunches

Chris said goodbye to some colleagues last week as his transitions to a new job.



Devin and I rode up to Pentagon Row (again to Noodles & Co.) for to meet his group for lunch.
Sgt. Williams claimed Devin as her 'boyfriend' and I didn't hear him denying it.












Devin also got to meet Chris's project manager and had fun playing in his arms.










A few days later, we went back to see Emy who we'd missed at the previous lunch. A year ago, we were all at the Las Vegas conference together. Finally she got to meet Devin. Devin just ate up the attention. The rest of us just ate the good food and had some laughs.



Note: No Maggie Moos this time, though it was so tempting....

Basketball Star

A month or so ago we got Devin his first basketball hoop. Just recently he started making actually baskets. Chris calls this the 'Vince Carter Dunk' as Devin propels the ball AND his elbows into the hoop.









And quite proud of himself too! Of course his dad is off camera cheering like the crazed fan that he is!

Mother's Day Events

I'm a little behind on posting...We had a fabulous weekend. We began with a picnic at the park on Saturday - thankfully the afternoon weather just barely cooperated.



It must have been hard work for my men to get ready because this is what they looked like just as our moms were arriving.










Out came the sun and dried up all the rain...

Roses and gifts, of course, before the food...
(food not pictured because we ate it too fast)










Sunday, the weather held out in the morning for a nice mother's day ride. The photo was actually taken earlier, but it is the only one I have of Devin in his new trailer. He seemed to do ok on the ride. Daddy rode his bike along side him and he took some interest. Couldn't stand wearing his helmet, though, but his parents wore theirs. We are going to have to work on that.

'Lil Blue Eyes in Great-Grandpa's Hat

Ah, Gramps' hat! I think there are pictures of all the cousins in his hat at one time or another.











My 'lil' ol' blue eyes' harkens back to those rat pack days with Ol' Blue Eyes.

Deep in the heart of me...I've got him, under my skin.

You and me, here on the raggedy edge: one year later

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to our Moms! You are the best and we hope you know that.

Here on my first mother's day, I see that this blog turns one in a few days. Wow, last year we had just gotten back from livin' the life in Las Vegas. Devin was easy to feed and get to sleep in the womb and I was wondering what it'd be like to be a Mom. A year later and still quoting firefly...

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle."

“Love. You can know all the math in the ‘Verse, but take a boat in the air you don’t love, she’ll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells ya she’s hurtin’ ‘fore she keens. Makes her home."