Gavi is 6 months old!

Gavi is 6 months old!!!  I absolutely can't believe it.  Here is our big girl:

And with proud big brother:

And what Brad's the most excited for, Gavi ate her first food!!!  Sweet potatoes:

Check out the video of Gavi having her first food!  It went...okay...

She has gotten much less tongue-thrusty in the last week or so and is actually enjoying the food more now and has gotten upset when she's sitting in her chair and we're not feeding her.  By now she has tried sweet potatoes, avocado, a cheerio, and rice cereal.

Overall her first food experience was a success!

Before school one day this week I took this sweet picture of Gavi:

Then I hear "Mommy, look at me!" and I took this adorable picture of Leo.  It wasn't until I sent them to Brad that I realized Leo was doing exactly what Gavi was doing.  I guess he thought "hey, if Mommy thinks it's cute when she does it, she'll think it's cute when I do it!"  And he was right

Crazy Hat Day at school calls for a Wisconsin hat!"

And of course, Gavi had her 6 month doctor's appointment.  She was really sleepy so she was pretty melancholy the whole appointment:

Waiting for the doctor:

She did great!  She got 3 shots and one oral syrup.  She weighs 15.5lbs which is in the 30th percentile for her age and the 70th height percentile.  She's right on track!

Leo enjoyed breakfast this week while I was getting everything ready - look what he did with his orange slices.  Yep, he's Brad's.

Look at these cutie petuties:

When Leo says "not Mommy gets in the picture", I listen to him and get in the picture:

Bonus video: Brad kissing Gavi and getting some serious smiles and giggles:

A Very Pittsburgh Day

Last Saturday, we had a very Pittsburgh weekend indeed!  We went to family/beginner yoga at PPG Paints Arena, and we got to meet Iceberg, the Penguins' mascot!  

Iceberg felt very comfortable holding Gavi, and Brad felt very comfortable handing her off.  Brad, when a giant penguin offers to hold our baby, please pause for at lest a split second to consider if it's a good idea.  

But it was, and Gavi was totally cool!  Leo, on the other hand, had some hesitations.  He didn't want to say hi or give a high-5 or hug, which is totally fine. 

But then, during yoga when we were supposed to be getting our ommm on, he kept asking where Iceberg was.  So after yoga we went back to the lobby to see Iceberg and he kept shying away from him.  He wanted to watch the penguin safely from across the room, behind my legs, peeking out.  You know what, that's fine.  The concept of a penguin that's like 20 times your size - that's weird.

We then wanted to get donuts so we headed to the BEST donut place in Pittsburgh, Party Cake Shop, in Brookline which I hadn't been to before.  We each picked out a treat and then we went to PitaLand where Leo was such a great helper, they gave him a pita all for himself!

Brad was out running errands so I had these two stinkers at home and they both decided to take very short naps.  Here I put Leo in Gavi's crib.  Do you think they're enjoying it?

We played in Leo's room with squishy toys (Gavi) and huge blocks (Leo).

Leo told me he was going to bring be a surprise and said "one second" and held up a finger and nodded.  This is something he clearly picked up.  Turns out both Brad and I say it - kind of often - and now Leo does too.  First he came back and brought my medicine and vitamins from my drawer (with child-proof caps on).  Then he said he was getting me another surprise and this one was my Vaseline that Leo and I use as chapstick and a flashlight which he likes to shine in eyes.  We need to work on his gift-giving abilities.  I give him much better surprises than he gives me.

That night, we went to the Pirates baseball game!  Our friend Josh had extra tickets for a suite and we jumped at the opportunity.  Thank goodness for the suite because it was 90+ degrees and swampy as anything.  We had the doors open to the suite so it was even really hot inside. 

Josh gave Leo a Pirates shirt which was SO big but he really wanted to wear it - it was literally down to his ankles and he loved it despite the heat. 

Brad was really excited to present Leo with his very first ice cream in a baseball hat!  He had sprinkles, he had crushed cookies, he had pretzels - this was some goooood ice cream. 

Leo saw the Pirate Parrot waaaay across the stadium, then proceeded to spent the rest of the game running between inside where he would grab one french fry with dip, and standing outside looking with Diana for the Parrot.  I don't think they saw him again because imagine just how hot it was inside that parrot suit!

Our first family of 4 outing to a Pirates game!

Pittsburgh's newest Pirates fan:

What do we think, Stamms, is this okay if he's a Pittsburgh fan, not a Buffalo fan?  If it makes you feel any better, he now randomly erupts with "WE ARE!"  and Brad responds with "PENN STATE!" sooooo yeeeahhhhh...

July Updates

We've been busy, busy, busy the last couple of weeks.  Here are some updates:

• Gavi has been getting her appendages stuck in the crib slats
• Gavi slept 5.5 hours on Monday night!  That's her longest stretch so far!!!
• Leo has been making my coffee every morning

Gavi is still adorable and loves her penguin, Petunia:

Gavi has now been paying in her activity center like a big girl!

 Bibi and Zee are great babysitters:

Leo loves to take showers!  He likes to sit in the tub, under the shower head, and play

We went swimming with our friends and Leo & Emmett are great friends and love watermelon:

Gavi and I got matching headbands.  We will be debuting them soon:

Leo likes to help Daddy fix things:

Gavi likes to smile and put everything in her mouth:

Leo and Gavi had a twinning moment, 2 years apart:

Gavi faked sick at school one day last week, then we got home and this is what she did.  Does this look like a sick baby to you?

Leo got a huh-cut:

Leo has been doing SO well with potty training!  More often than not, he goes the whole day without any accidents.  He works for M&Ms, stickers and prizes.  He got this really awesome prize and lined all of the trucks up himself!  Brad almost fainted out of happiness:

Gavi still likes to stretch...a lot... (video):

Leo and Gavi and still BFFs and I still run around like a chicken with my head cut off in the mornings but I usually remember to bring everything they need for school everyday.  While I'm running around, they are adorable together.  Leo loves to go into her room and look at her and Gavi pushes herself aaaaaall the way up on her tummy and smiiiiles at Leo:

For your listening pleasure, I present to you,Leo singing family names:  (video)

Just some pictures

Note: there are a few videos in this blog.  If you want to see them (and I don't know why you wouldn't, make sure to click the header above ("Just some pictures") or you can click here: The Stamm Fam

A few days ago, both Leo and Gavi were in their diapers.  They were both getting ready for bed (since Leo now only wears diapers to sleep), I thought it would be really cute to take pictures of them both in diapers in their chairs!  Well this is the chaos that ensued:  

I took literally 70 pictures and didn't end up with any great ones.  Gavi wasn't in a smiley mood so Leo would lean over to give her a kiss which always makes her smile, but they she would gaze at him and not look at me.  Regardless, here are a few of my favorite outtakes:

Leo had his first ride on Zee's boat!  He snacked the whole way through (pouches, cheddar popcorn, a pear, and apricots), sat on my lap, and even got a chance to drive!  We got out and walked around the fountain at the point, saw some geese, did not go too fast, and Zee avoided the bumps.  It was a really successful first boat ride!  Thanks Bibi and Zee!  

Just perusing through a magazine:

While Gavi dances on the table (video):

Playing this morning while I was getting everyone and everything ready:

Last week Gavi's school called me because she had a major rash around her mouth and on her head.  By the time I got to school to pick her up, 30 minutes later, it was all gone.  Turns out it was just heat rash.  So Gavi and I hung out at home for a couple of bonus hours.  Does this look like a sick baby to you?

Here's a video of her playing:

Last week I sent Brad this picture of Gavi's really cute outfit for school.

Theeeeen 5 minutes later I sent him this one.  Major spit up, wardrobe change.  Easy come, easy go.

A couple weeks ago, Brad and Leo were playing some basketball in our driveway.  Leo is kind of getting the hang of it!