Since Christmas

January was a blur, just like every other month. Well, let's back up a little because this post will include Christmas. By way of update, Jameson has two of his 2-year molars. I always blame his temper tantrums on the other two coming in, but let's be honest, the kid's two and emotional meltdowns are par for the course.

The boys are loving each other a little more. They make each other laugh, which is adorable. And then sometimes Jameson repeatedly rams his metal Tonka truck into Blake's head, for which some reason Blake doesn't like.

Yesterday I was getting dinner ready. Blake was napping in his crib, but I wanted him to wake up soon, so the door was open. I heard Jameson laughing, so I went to see what was going on. I sneaked in as stealthily as I could because I suspected I was going to walk in on something that would melt my mommy heart. What I saw kind of alarmed and impressed me. Jameson had used the glider to climb into Blake's crib, and he had somehow brought with him a truck or two. Jameson was jumping and laughing and talking to Blake, and Blake was unharmed and appeared happy. I didn't really want to encourage Jameson climbing on the furniture like that, I mean he could have really gotten hurt if he fell just right, but I was so curious that I asked him to show me how he did it. He tried to repeat it, but kept falling. It was just a lucky moment, I guess!

Jameson has started having play dates with other kids in the neighborhood. It is so cute to watch. He was playing with a neighbor girl at our house on Thursday, and I couldn't believe how well they interacted. They galloped around the house side by side, counting to ten, then stood on the coffee table, jumping around in circles counting to ten, then took turns trying on a hat.

Blake sits up now! He is also starting to get really grabby. He's more interested in toys and reaching for whatever he can get his hands on. He also screams like a pterodactyl. I see his two bottom teeth starting to come in, which could take a couple more months. He is a really happy baby. He still isn't sleeping through the night. Last week, he actually did it three nights in a row, but now he's getting up three times a night again. He sucks his thumb and still likes to snuggle.

"Hiiiii, brother." Wearing the cute matching jammies from my parents.

Both smiling - this is truly a miracle.

Jameson got the Little People Zoo from Santa Claus. It was a hit! Here he holds the androgynous Guatemalan zookeeper. (That sounded racist.)

The day before Christmas Eve, we got the boys' pictures taken at Penney's. It went amazingly well, despite the melancholy that Jameson demonstrates here. And about that thumb sucking...yes...we are working on it.

Blake sits up as of January 28th. He thinks he's hot stuff, and he's right.

Five months old! He loves his monkey. I find him sleeping on his side with his face smashed into the monkey's belly.

"Uh-oh, kisses?" Jameson has learned that a kiss from Mom makes owies feel better, and he takes advantage of it often. Sometimes asking for "another one?" if one kiss didn't help.

I was trying to take a picture of Blake playing in his exersaucer, when...

...Jameson wanted in on the action, so we took a selfie with my phone's super blurry front-cam.

My mom knitted this adorable, soft blanket for Jameson. It came in the mail when J was sleeping, so Blake tried it out. He approves.

"Sit on chair, take picture?" Well, how could I resist?

This is what you get when you try to get the LaRocco boys to take a photo with Santa.

The circa New Years' Day timeframe when I realize, "oh, I should have taken a picture of them in front of the Christmas tree!"