Scroll down and maybe even hit the “previous entries” button at the very bottom of the page if you haven’t been here in awhile, folks. Lots of entries in the last 24 hours.

June 12th, Ian eats something. I’ve run out of good captions for this other than “nom nom nom.” See this image larger.

Nina sucks on a fruit pouch. These are awesome for babies as it takes a lot of the “texture” issues some people have with fruits and turn it into… smoosh. See this image larger.

As an added bonus they are delicious. I’m told. These pictures were also taken because Nina transitioned to a booster seat from a high-chair! See this image larger.

*More?* See this image larger.

*Just a teeny bite of yours?* See this image larger.

June 13th… able to lift mid-sized vans with single heave-ho. See this image larger.

Nina’s walk is still a ways away from being perfectly stable, but there’s a confidence here that is hard to deny. She’s gaining speed, she’s gaining control, and she’s got an Elmo microwave and knows how to use it. See this image larger.

Yet more face-making. See this image larger.

Yet more face-making. See this image larger.

Yet more face-making. See this image larger.

Ballerina Nina strikes again! See this image larger.

*Where’s my car-keys?* See this image larger.

I wish I had known Ian was going to look genuinely happy in this shot, I would have stopped making faces. I wish kids could see how hard it is on a parent to be a parent… you have to be the tough guy, the stern one, for very good reasons. Kids reactions are to be sad or mad. You don’t always feel loved. When you do though, it’s the best feeling in the world. See this image larger.

Daddy loves his family so very, very much. See this image larger.

Hey buddy, let’s go to the park. See this image larger.

Yes, all three of us, Nina! See this image larger.

This park is great because they have distinct areas for different age groups. It does mean having to keep your attention carefully split, however. Nina looks adorable on equipment that’s right around the right size, for a change! See this image larger.

Nina minds the register. See this image larger.

Video
Click here to see Ian and Nina running the “General Store” in a local park. I’ve got videos of Ian doing this solo at a younger age – this is the first time the kids tackle it together. This video is rather large, so go pour yourself a cup of coffee while it loads, please.

One eventually gets a feel for what their kid can handle. I talked Ian over the tippy-top of this rock wall from across the park, and prayed that he didn’t bust an ankle. See this image larger.

Cheese. See this image larger.

*Let’s go home.* See this image larger.

Snack-time! See this image larger.

Little goofball… can you see her smile shining through? See this image larger.

Video
Click here to see and hear Nina being a chatterbox. If you thought some of the banter from the park was good, you’ll love this. Listen carefully for “little girl” which she says a couple times.

Video
Click here to see and hear the second part of the video above. Listen for “I’m all done now daddy, all done.” I’m pretty sure she also says something like “Daddy, I got this.” or maybe “all done.” The reassuring nod while she says that slays me. I’m not sure of some of the other things she says, but she’s doing great!

Sleepy one, June 3rd. See this image larger.

One would be forgiven for thinking that I somehow did not pass my face-making expertise on to my son based on this image. Forgiven but mistaken. Ian’s full range is quite impressive and will be displayed during the Florida pictures when we finally get to July. See this image larger.

Kids see themselves on the iPad video screen on June 4th. See this image larger.

I can’t remember if this is the only time Nina’s ever sacked out during a meal. She sure did on this one though. See this image larger.

Some catch-up on artwork. This was made as an activity at Nanny-On-Demand, the time Melissa rescued me from a horrible deadline issue. See this image larger.

Ian made this during “JAMS” at our church, and asked me to write out the dedication before he signed it. See this image larger.

The kids practice “cheers!” See this image larger.

June 5th – by now most of you have seen and/or own a print of a few of these. Those of you who have not, brace yourself for cute. See this image larger.

Sweet pea in the front yard… See this image larger.

What a hat, huh? See this image larger.

We had frolic we had fun, sidewalk-chalk and a wag-on. See this image larger.

Nina ponders a last-minute leap before the inevitable wagon-chase to downtown Rockford. See this image larger.

Perhaps a quick safety lesson… *pull it more like this, Mommy.* See this image larger.

I’ve been told that this picture is so good that it should win an award. I think it sort of looks like the one that comes in a new frame as a place-holder. 🙂 See this image larger.

Air Nina in 3… 2… See this image larger.

Hey, HEY… traveling! See this image larger.

It is ok to photograph potentially sad children, you just have to write a funny caption. Um… I got nothin’. See this image larger.

He just got done throwing seed-helicopters in the air from a neighboring tree, if you’re wondering. See this image larger.

She can’t possibly do more harm than the deer. See this image larger.

Anybody else look at this picture and think of Flamenco dancing? Rat-tatta-tatta-tat-TAT-tatta-TAT… TAT-TAT! See this image larger.

May 28th, like the title says. How did Nina get in this chair? Wait for a couple entries and you will see her awesome “climb” video! See this image larger.

Paging Dr. Nina! See this image larger.

Peek-a-boo!!! See this image larger.

Hi kids! Where are you? See this image larger.

Oh they’re going on a trip in their favorite rocket ship! See this image larger.

Awwww! Rest up, ladies! Fun night ahead! See this image larger.

Ian smiling… get camera! See this image larger.

He’s still smiling! Click click! See this image larger.

I know why he’s smiling, it is our evening destination! See this image larger.

Yup! Our triumphant return to Java Gym! See this image larger.

Cute! On the way to Java Gym, we were trying to figure out how we would trade off taking care of Nina back at the ground-level table while the other parent chased Ian around the structure. See this image larger.

But little girl refused to be coddled safely at a table. No… little girl got fierce! Little girl got brave! *GRRRR!!!* (Truth is, she’s practicing this face… expect to see it in a few more pics shortly!) See this image larger.

One foot-wide mesh filled with ankle-eating holes? We TRIED to stop her! Look at her go! See this image larger.

Did this foam MOUNTAIN slow our girl down? Heck no! See this image larger.

Still goin’! See this image larger.

Somehow I ended up adopting 5 more kids that day. While parents are allowed up in the fun structure, very few do… thus I became popular very fast. We played cops and bad guys and ran all over. It was fun! See this image larger.

A well-deserved nap on the way home… (You can see Nina in the reflection of the mirror if you look carefully.) See this image larger.

Video
Click here to see if Nina had any fun while at Java Gym. You tell me! (The boy in the blue shirt, in both videos, is not Ian! It is one of the kids that started hanging out with us… I think Nina might say “Ian!” when he says “Boo!”)

Video
Click here to see Nina tackle a foam mountain!

The kids freshly returned from a walk in the wagon on May 24th. See this image larger.

Not sure if that license plate has been photoshopped. 😉 See this image larger.

Finding peace. See this image larger.

The Chapmans on the move! See this image larger.

Ian shows off super-hero strength! See this image larger.

Nina gets called for traveling… that’s a basketball/car joke. See this image larger.

Airbag unnecessary at this point. See this image larger.

Video
Click here to see Ian making a leap of faith at the Y on May 26th.

Something I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy with both of our kids is watching them develop a sense of humor. It is also extremely important to me as a milestone and as an attribute in a human being. I guess I’m saying, if any person lacks a sense of humor, we’re generally not going to get along. Maybe you feel the same. Nina’s been great with our peek-a-boos and our tickling… the subject of this video strikes me as a different kind of humor, though… I’m simply telling her not to do something over and over again, but in a way that says “I’m kidding, this is actually ok.” If you think about it, I could be yelling the same lines, and she would be horrified. Thus, here is a budding sense of humor.

Video
Click here to see Nina’s sense of humor come shining through… This is a fairly large video, and repetitious as all get out, but it is still hilarious, shot on May 19th. (Slightly out of order… “automobile” happened the day after this video.

May 20th, our neighbor Rob and his daughter Ferris join us on our playground equipment. I needed to mow the lawn. See this image larger.

May 21st, I know everybody probably thinks that their kid is a genius. Ian built this car out of a chair and some mats. See this image larger.

So I have to ask. Have you met Ian, boy genius? Here he is. See this image larger.

We have a survey that checks to see how well your kid is developing with gross/fine motor skills and other tests. I took this picture because one of the questions would be about stacking blocks, I was sure. This is what I would consider to be 5 blocks tall, going on 6. We were recently asked if she could stack 2. Roger that. See this image larger.