Grandma and Grandpa Visit - Part 2

While Grandma and Grandpa were here, we went down to DC to see the Smithsonian Natural History Museum (or at least as many exhibits there as we could before the kids' attention span ran out). We saw dinosaurs and jewels (like the Hope Diamond). We really liked the National Geographic nature photography display, but the highlight for the girls was probably the insects. Even days later, Lydia is still talking about how she held a grasshopper and a caterpillar.

Derek was a great sport at the museum and once he got fed, was just passed around to adults willing to hold him or carry him in his carrier so he could sleep.

Karina had a lot of smiles the whole time Grandma and Grandpa were here.

One of the primary reasons for the grandparents visiting was for Derek's blessing in Church. We dressed him up in his 0-3 month size white outfit - complete with faux vest and tie. We were initially nervous weeks ago that he might outgrow the outfit before he had a chance to use it. He was very handsome, though it was a bit short in the arms and legs and we couldn't button it all the way up in back.

Blessing babies in church is usually a cause of some anxiety for the parents. Many babies end up fussing by the end of the blessing. Derek did great from that respect...he didn't cry at all. Of course, that may have something to do with the fact that as we were going to the front of the congregation, I felt him pooping in his diaper. Of course, since I am me, I muttered under my breath "That's my boy" when I felt the rumbling. And of course, one of the young men in the congregation came up with the microphone right as I muttered and put it right up to my mouth. I swear I heard my comment over the loudspeaker at church (and possibly Derek's sound effects) - though everyone assured me they heard nothing. Derek continued his gastrointestinal fireworks throughout the blessing and wound up with a minor blowout, so I had to change him out of his blessing outfit immediately afterwards. Otherwise, we would have gotten a lot more pictures of him dressed up. So while he didn't cry, his blessing was marked by other, uh, marks...

And yes, I did write all that so we can use it to embarrass him when he gets older! Here's our handsome boy before we went to church.

Karina loves her new dress and we made sure to get a lot of pictures of her dressed up too.

Grandma with Derek:

As luck would have it, Derek started intentionally smiling while Grandma and Grandpa were here. Once we noted it, it was a mad rush and competition to see who could make him smile. Sometimes it would be tickles:

Sometimes, rubbing his hair:

And sometimes, just being funny off camera:

The girls love trying to make him smile.

Grandma loved cuddling up with Derek.

We picked up a kiddie splash pool and the girls got to try it for the first time during one of the few warm days while the grandparents were here.

The little slide is fun.

Snoopy was just glad to get outside into the sun.

Karina with her dress again.

Jumping is fun - especially if you have long hair that can bounce up and down with you.

Here's an after picture of our powder room that we were working on during the whole visit. We were so occupied with working on it (and spent many late nights doing things after we put the kids to bed), we didn't take a lot of pictures during the remodel. We are pleased with the results, and couldn't have done it without the help. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!

In other news, Derek and Karina had check ups at the doctor and are both healthy. Here are their stats:

Karina:
Height: 43.75 in (75th%)
Weight: 40 lbs 6 oz (54th%)
BMI: 14.8 (40th%)

Derek:
Height: 25.25 in (>99th%) (just a hair above the 99th percentile line)
Weight 13 lbs 12 oz (79th%)
Head Circumference: 40.5cm (86th%)