Saturday, January 29, 2011

Can we get a dog?

Julian loved meeting Monty the dog (and his owners, our friends Ian and Fiona, who are in DC from Britain for the next 8 months.)

From Can we get a dog, Mom?

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Mailman and The Censor

Julian loves to hold, inspect, crinkle, and otherwise handle paper. The game "mailman" is a new favorite; it involves Mommy delivering Julian a piece of paper that he is allowed to examine and destroy. A couple weeks ago, Julian mastered the skill of tearing whole pages (with Grandma's help.) He tore all the mean celebrities out of our People magazine. If the USPS won't have him, maybe there's a job as a censor in his future?

From The Censor

From The Censor

On an unrelated note, here's proof that I take too many pictures: Julian is willing to pose for the camera from any angle (here he's playing with his Pop-Pop.)
From The Censor

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Buddies

This is Julian's friend and round-the-corner neighbor Thaddeus. Here are the two little buddies on a recent evening.

From Julian and Thaddeus

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Music class

Julian and Mommy are taking a music class on Fridays this winter. We've had two classes so far and Julian LOVES it. He bopitty-bop-bops his little body around and shakes anything he can get his hands on.

From Music class

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Sitter Extraordinaire

The most exciting baby development of the last month is that Julian is now a total pro at sitting. The wobbling and tipping are over! He is having lots of fun sitting and playing endlessly.

This stacker is his current favorite toy. He can get all the rings off in just a few seconds.
From Sitter Extraordinaire

Here he is holding blocks - but check out his concentration! It's safe to say this kid loves music (and his Daddy.)
From Sitter Extraordinaire

Julian loves this puzzle, particularly the farmer.
From Sitter Extraordinaire

At night, he secretly reads the baby books to figure out what he's supposed to do next!
From Sitter Extraordinaire

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Table for Two, please

Julian's been sitting in a high chair at home for months, but this outing with his friend Rebecca marked his first time sitting in a restaurant-issue high chair!

From Fine Dining in a High Chair

From Fine Dining in a High Chair

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Julian and Flora

Here are some of the fun photos of Julian and his cousin Flora interacting. Flora is 3 1/2 months older than Julian, but he's catching up fast. They liked eyeing each other up, and grabbing for the same toys.

From New Years with Cuzzes

From New Years with Cuzzes

From New Years with Cuzzes

From New Years with Cuzzes

Monday, January 17, 2011

Happy New Year!

Aunt Cara and Uncle Francois brought the whole family to DC for a New Year's visit. We loved having them at our place for the very first time. The cousins got along famously. Emmanuelle is just amazing with babies, and Julian took to her right away.
From New Years with Cuzzes

Leo and Flora dug right into the toys and Julian had a blast playing with his big cousins.

From New Years with Cuzzes

We did our own version of a "ball drop" (it was a plastic toy thrown from the top of the steps) at our version "midnight" (it was 6pm) - Leo loved the countdown and the excitement! Here we are minutes after the big event.

From New Years with Cuzzes

From New Years with Cuzzes

It was hard to say goodbye. These cousins have so much playing together in their future, we can't wait to see them again.

From New Years with Cuzzes

Friday, January 14, 2011

More holidays

Sorry for the lagging posts! Julian has a new habit of waking up at 5am, so Mommy is finally heeding the advice to take a daytime nap with baby. Blogging has fallen to the wayside. But all the activity hasn't!

So first, our pictures from Christmas morning. It was a low-key Christmas with just Julian, John, Monica, Grandma and Pop-Pop. Julian spent hours, and we mean HOURS, playing with these rings on a stick. (I guess there's a reason it's a classic toy!)

From Merry Christmas

John took charge of the big meal, with Monica as sous-chef, and put out a fantastic spread: port tenderloin two ways, mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, and homemade butternut squash soup.

From Merry Christmas


Julian also did his rendition of Little Drummer Boy.
From Merry Christmas

Friday, January 7, 2011

Two Parties for the Price of One!

We always look forward to cousin Marcia's big annual Christmas Eve party. Even better, this year we did it TWICE (since different family members were in town for different nights.)

Julian and Marcia serenaded the group with this lovely duet.
From Two Parties for the Price of One!


Julian says "did you see my new tricked-out walker??"
From Two Parties for the Price of One!


Good thing Marcia and Chuck have a great room, because Julian's about 6'10" here.
From Two Parties for the Price of One!


So big that he's flexing his muscles!
From Two Parties for the Price of One!


Santa asks everyone what they want for Christmas.
From Two Parties for the Price of One!


No teeth yet, but he's asking for some for Christmas.
From Two Parties for the Price of One!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A Very Lesmerises "Christmas" morning

Doug, Katie, Kyra and Daria joined us to descend on Grandma & Pop-Pop's house a few days before Christmas. We played, ate, and wore ourselves out. (Julian caught a few zzz's in his jumperoo in the midst of all the activity.)

From A Lesmerises Christmas


Four days before Christmas, we did our own big Christmas morning to-do. So we'll start with a few pictures from that...
What could be better than a NEW, LIVE baby doll for Christmas??

From A Lesmerises Christmas

Santa brought lots of toys, including... a WIG and a karaoke machine for Doug! (Hmm, did Santa get the bags confused?)

From A Lesmerises Christmas

Actually, the wig was for Most Beautiful Princess Daria, who also got a princess dress.

From A Lesmerises Christmas

But wait, is that a Barbie doll? Yes, three in fact! The girls played Barbies with each other, and with Grandma and her chicken decoration. (All Christmas presents can be friends!)

From A Lesmerises Christmas

And Julian got a 3 Piece Band! Good thing he had 2 cousins on hand.

From A Lesmerises Christmas


Big cousin Kyra is the leader of this pack.
From A Lesmerises Christmas


It took a while, but we reduced this pile of beautifully-wrapped gifts to smithereeens.
From A Lesmerises Christmas


Julian got some quality time with his Aunt Katie and Uncle Doug.
From A Lesmerises Christmas


(even if some of the quality time was at 4:20 am.)
From A Lesmerises Christmas