These initial two pictures are just the classic “messy baby photos” that everyone has to take after their child enjoys blackberries for the first time (before we became parents this would have made us cringe):

This morning we took Lex to Segals (a local kids store) to buy him a new car seat.  While there we also bought him some snazzy new See Kai Run tennis shoes.  

And of course we had to test those new shoes out at a local playground:

Our boy is certainly going through a lot right now.  He is crawling like a maniac these days (the traditional method, not just the arm pull) and yesterday he walked halfway across the room by himself.  He and I were hanging out by a dining room chair and the next thing I knew he pulled away from me and headed over to the coffee table on his own.  I had horrible images in my head of him face-planting on the table corner, but he made it safely!

Meanwhile Lex is babbling up a storm.  He says lots of mamas and dadas, but he also says something that sounds remarkably like “I’ll do it.”  Knowing Lex, that’s precisely what he’s saying!

He’s still getting over his cold (or maybe he got a new one?), so there’s plenty of coughing from the crib at night.  But recently we think he’s started having some nightmares as well.  He’ll start screaming about an hour after he goes to bed and when we walk into his room we’ll find him on all fours, eyes still closed.  But he’s clearly terrified of something.  It doesn’t take long to soothe him, but it happens pretty regularly.  (Who needs sleep anyway?)   

And finally, diaper changing has become an Olympic wrestling event at the Weaver household.  Getting Lex to remain on his back for any amount of time is next to impossible.  Here’s a picture of Tim’s latest brave attempt…I’m not sure who’s winning this round:

In other news, we made an offer on a house a few days ago.  Assuming that today’s inspection goes well, we will soon be new home owners.  Yay!

When my mom heard that Lex and I were going to California, she had one request: “Be sure to get lots of pictures of my grandkids together.”  Easier said than done!  Amy and I even took the kids to Picture People at the mall one day, and after thirty minutes we still didn’t get a good shot of all three together.  Anyway, here’s one of our attempts for a group photo in Amy’s backyard.

The kids are placed into position:

Lex instantly starts crawling away:

Tobin starts strangling his sister:

Meanwhile Lex continues on his journey out of the photo:

Lex is unhappy when placed back at his starting position:

So he crawls away again:

And the photo session draws to a close.

Here’s Lex and his aunt Amy:

Lex’s first carousel ride (at the Oakland Zoo):  

Crawling with cousin Tobin:

Lex’s typical expression:

Mr. Bare Buns:

Exhausted after a photo shoot at Picture People at the mall:

Still practicing standing in the crib:

Again, smiling:

Tobin all dressed for his swim class:

Lex watching Tobin’s class from the bleachers upstairs: