Party!

Last Saturday we had a party for both boys' birthdays. (Jacob's birthday is August 22, but I didn't feel like having a separate party.)  It was just for the Zylstra family.  (We'll do one with my family when my sister Deb and her kids are here from Idaho.)

Anyway, here are the pictures!

John enjoying the wrapping paper...and the blanket Beppe made for him! 

the older boys helped John open his present! 

cutest swim shorts ever! 

John's new bike from Pake and Beppe

Jacob was excited to get a couple of presents, too! 

T-ball set from Uncle Phil and Auntie Rosaline

singing to John--Tijs got to blow out his candle! 

Jacob blew out his own in one blow! 

messy boy--Jacob picked out chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.  He also helped me make the cake!  

silly face

John was pretty happy with the cake! 

 

One Year Old!

John turned one on July 7.  Yes, I realize that today is July 17.  We've been pretty busy lately.  More about that to come.  Anyway, he went to the doctor last Wednesday, so I have his new stats:

Height: 31 inches
Weight: 24 lbs, 7 oz.

New  Skills: Standing by himself for seconds at a time, walking along furniture, waving goodbye, saying "FFF" for fish, pointing, saying "uh" for uh-oh, using a sippy cup.  I think it will be another week or two before he's brave enough to walk by himself.  He will take three to five steps, though, when he really wants to get between two places.

Teeth: 7 to 10.  I say that because the front four are all the way in, and three of the other front ones are very visible.  I also felt three molars poking through, but they haven't completely broken through yet.  He's been pretty crabby lately, which is like a personality change for him.  He's usually so happy and smiley.

Well, here's the good part--some pictures and videos.

John (Gulliver) in the land of the Lilliputians

He's learned to be a very fast crawler in order to keep up with his big brother! 

He's already started climbing things...Uh, oh!  I'm going to be in big trouble in a few months! 

11 1/2 months already!

Johnny loves to help me put clothes in the dryer...well, he probably just likes playing with the dryer door.  I can't believe how big he is getting.  A couple more weeks, and he'll be ONE!

Johnny is also crawling ALL over the place...which I prefer because otherwise he's pulling up on my legs and wanting to be picked up.  He's getting pretty fast!

Brother Love

First time we tried this, it worked!  I'm really starting to work with Johnny on walking.  I don't think he'll be walking by his first birthday, but we'll see! 

 Snack time in the family room!

Normal Day Life (In Videos)

I thought I'd upload some current videos of the kids...

Johnny is learning what "NO!" means...well, I'm trying to teach him!

Sometimes this is what I do when I need a break...both are entertained for at least ten minutes...

Johnny keeps working on learning the walk...with anything he can find that will move on the floor!

Jacob is learning to play baseball...and to wear underwear.  He's now potty trained (with the occasional accident, of course!)

No longer a toddler...all boy!

My little boy is getting so big!  And he is SUCH a boy!  He plays rough, he yells all the time, but at least he's held on to his daily two-hour naps!  

Jacob's newest obsession is guns.  His daddy bought him two already, and I don't think it's going to stop any time soon!  Here he is loading his gun and preparing for battle. 

Taking a second before getting ready for his onslaught. 

"Fight"  (these are his actual words!)  I also hope you noticed his outfit....he did the slippers and the backpack himself...

My nephew Simon wore this outfit for my wedding July of 2008.  I can't believe it fits Jacob already!  Good thing because he'll inherit three more of the same outfit over time...

Watch me go!

April 17

May 9

Johnny's preferred method of walking--he does this all the time.