7 months old!

Today marks 7 months since Ali's birth! I can't believe how fast it is going by. She is growing up so fast. The pictures I am posting were taken this morning (after breakfast that is why she is between outfits she got food all over the first one). I have been trying to catch a certain face she makes when she is laughing for over a week now and I finally got it here. Of course, she would have to not be wearing clothes when I finally catch it, but it is one of those things I never want to forget about her time as a baby, so here it is for the sake of posterity.

Here she is playing with a teething rattle that was mine as baby (Mari also played with it). Still no teeth, if she is like her siblings her first one will appear a day or two before she turns 8 months old. Her eyes are still blue with some yellow in them like mine and Mari's and her hair is the same color Mari's is at the roots.

Sleeping arrangements

Mari still comes and gets in bed with us every morning sometime between 1-4 a.m. Ali sleeps in her crib from about 10-10:30 until between 1-3 a.m. I took this picture a few nights ago, because it is just too funny some of the things Mari brings to our bed with her. Once or twice James has sent her back to her room to get a different toy because the one she brought was too noisy or too big. Jake still occasionally shows up for cuddles shortly before 6, but most mornings he would prefer to sleep in.

Soccer

Jake started 4-year-old soccer this last week. In these first group of pictures their uniforms weren't in yet. I thought the first picture is funny, because neither one of them were excited about having their picture taken. I can't believe they are at that stage already.

These two pictures are from his second game. He is wearing his uniform in them.

Helping James study.

James is studying around the clock 7 days a week for his engineering licensing exam at the end of October. He studies at the breakfast table before leaving for work, at lunch on his lunch break, after dinner upon arriving home and then again once the kids are in bed. Here is Mari studying her math like her Daddy one morning,

She also commandeered one of his scratch sheets of paper, decorated and displayed it on the fridge.

If you look closely at the picture below, you can see where she got into his notebook and "helped" him work a problem with orange crayon.

She helps him most mornings, but sometimes Ali gets to help him too (like when I have to go to the restroom).Here is Ali helping her Daddy study.

Four years ago, Jake was the one helping his Daddy study for his Fundamentals of Engineering exam (the FE is the first test in a two test series, the one he is taking now--the Principles of Engineering or PE, must be taken after working under a licensed engineer for 4 years and passing the FE, which he did). Hopefully, he will pass the first time (like last time) despite all the help the kids and I manage to give him.

Up, up and away!

Ali has been crawling for a while now, but I have been in sort of denial about it. However, on the 14th of September (exactly 6.5 months old) she pulled up to standing all by herself. Ever since, she has been all over the place!

We have had to start using the baby gates again to try and keep Ali safe (and me sane). She loves trying to climb them already.

Ali doesn't spend much time in the crib, but I took these picture of her pulling herself up in it before we lowered it.

Above, Ali is blowing rasberries on her arm while admiring herself in the mirror on her toy jumper.

She is such a happy girl! I love her big gummy smile.

Belated Fathers' Day trp to the zoo.

Above, Mari and Nana looking at fish in the aquarium.
Last year, for Fathers' Day, we were supposed to go the zoo with my parents. We found out on Fathers' Day that we were expecting Ali, and with the heat we decided it wasn't a good idea to go at that time and my parents took a rain check. We decided to go over Labor Day weekend as that way we could go on a Sunday, which wouldn't interfere with the coffee house schedule and James would still have Monday off, so it wouldn't affect his study schedule (he is studying for his engineering licensing exam which is at the end of October). The temperature was only in the low 80s and it was perfect weather for going to the zoo. We had a lot of fun. Last time I went with my parents, Jake was a baby.

Above, Mari and I in the aquarium; below, Ali has a wee talk with Nana.

James, Jake, Mari and Papoo rode on the train.

Ali looking thoughtfully at the Komodo Dragons. Daddy, Jake, Mari and James enjoyed seeing them as well.

We took the double stroller for Jake and Mari, the infant stroller for Ali and the Moby wrap for Ali. Ali ended up in all three at some point as you can see from this picture and some more further down.

Halfway through, we took a break and got some ice cream and played at the playground.

Mari loves the Giraffes, and below you can see Ali loves the Moby wrap. Without it, I would not be able to go grocery shopping with all three of them.