Splish Splash!

This is the third time Tagg has been in the pool! He figured out how to splash the first time, and it was so cute to see the wheels turning as he touched the water, then patted the water, and finally beamed as he really got splashing! He doesn't even mind all the water that gets in his face!

The second time, it was Gabi's first day here and she helped him remember how to splash. This time, though, he didn't need any help at all! :)

Pics From Around the House

Our first family picture! This was taken by JB, an employee of Arizona Healthy Families--a government program they offered to us at the hospital. He comes every Thursday afternoon for an hour and shares information with me about how Taggert should be developing, gives me ideas for games I can play with Tagg, makes sure I'm adjusting to motherhood smoothly, answers my questions about parenting... it's really great! He also doubles as the family photographer! :)

Tagg has never been a pacifier baby, but now that he's teething, he likes to chew on it--usually the handle end! We are sure he's teething now because he has had some really rough nights--the doctor said it's worse at night because he's not distracted by so much to do and because his body goes into what he called a "vegetative state" at night (his body directs the energy he's been using for activities during the day to developmental functions like teething). Tagg's also been tugging on his right ear, and he had a low-grade fever for a couple of days, so that's why we took him to the doctor--we thought he had an ear infection--but it turns out that teething causes babies to tug on their ears because the nerves that connect the teeth to the brain pass by the ears, which are more sensitive than the teeth, so babies feel teething in their ears as well as their mouths! Fascinating!!

And I just think our baby is SO CUTE!

Learning to Crawl!

Tagg's figuring out how to crawl... or is he figuring out how to do a pushup?... Anyway, here's him doing the elephant walk, and then deciding that hands and knees might be a little more effective than hands and toes :)

Tagg's First Swing Ride!

This is the big sister pushing her babybrother on the swing for the very first time! Gabi did a Great job--not too high, not too low! As you can see, he LOVED it!!!!

Tagg's First Swing Ride Pics!

At the Park

Gabi and I took Tagg and Brigham to the park today--we figured we should take advantage of the fact that it was "only" 95 degrees out! The park we went to is the best one I know of near us--there are about 4 playgrounds there, a swingset, lots of fields, a BBQ area, and a farm area where there are a whole bunch of chooks (Australian for chicken--isn't it hilarious?!) and roosters roaming all around. Sometimes you even see peacocks and bunnies! We just got to enjoy the chooks and roosters this time, though.

Tagg got sleepy, so I let him sleep on his blankie. (which is a hooded towel my Mom made for me when she was pregnant with me! I always wondered how kids come to love one certain blanket, and wondered if I could choose one and somehow get Tagg to love it--I am so glad that for whatever reason, he picked the one that's most special to me!)

This is a really cool playground--it's for older kids (and parents like Jed & me ;) and it has this crazy slide that's not very tall, but it's only about a foot wide, and it has no sides! You just put your legs on either side and hope for the best! :)

I don't know if the sprinkler system went awry or what, but there were a bunch of accidental lakes at the park! (I'm sure it wasn't all the rain we haven't been getting :) At first Gabi and I thought they were gross looking, but then Brigham got dirty and I joked that I would just throw him into the lake to clean off... but then I got to thinking that that wasn't such a bad idea! When I got close enough to put him in the water, I noticed that it wasn't gross at all! So we all took our shoes and socks off and waded in the lake!

And we found the perfect little climbing tree! Big trees just make life better, don't you think?!

Mason & Tagg!

Teresa & Mason came to visit Phoenix, and we had a girls (and baby boys :) night on Monday! Tagg and Mason had fun sharing toys...
... Taking turns being the alpha male...
...Investigating each others heads...
...and faces...
...giving each other cousin's blessings ;) ...
...and worshipping the mushroom toy! Isn't Mason adorable?!

This is Taggert's distracted smile... he is so stinkin cute! His personality is absolutely awesome! We are so excited to get to know him better and better! Having Gabi here makes me wonder what he's gonna be like when he's her age!

Taggert with our beautiful friend Deanna!

It's so much fun to spend time with our amazing friends!

Deanna's givin him some lovin!

And he's lovin it! :)

Tagg & Gabi!

Taggert has been staring at Gabi ever since she got off that plane! He follows her every move!
She sure does make him smile!

Gabi Arrives!

We picked up GABI from the airport on Monday! It is SO awesome to have her here!

The first thing she wanted to do was get in the pool! Luckily it was a hot day...

Arizona is great for that! :)

Tagg chillin with Aunt Jenna after he enjoyed himself in the pool--Gabi and I put him in a floatie and he liked it! He has a lot of fun splashing, and he loves it when I bounce him up and down too!