We also recently had a visit fron the newest member of our family, Mary, who was born to Jim's brother Jeff and his wife Amanda lst month.
She weighed just 8 pounds when she was here and I couldn't believe how little that seemed. It was also hard to remember when Eleanor and Adam came home and weighed just 6 pounds. Seeing our newborn neice was really a treat--and Alex was quite fortunate to be able to hold her for the photo!Eleanor, our little eater, has reached the big 1-7. 17 pounds that is! This morning Adam was 16 pounds 7 ounces, and she was 17 pounds 4 ounces. Holy moly the girl likes to eat. She is fabulous with solids, so I'm hoping 
she is put on regular old formula and goes up to 2 solid meals a day at our pediatrician appointment next Wednesday. She's going to be 20 pounds before her first birthday at this rate. Adam has shown some interest in rolling over. We are thrilled. He spends a lot of time playing on his side now. When we allow him on the floor that is--gotta watch out for that reflux. He's been spitting up a little more lately, and it's not pretty when it has peas or sweet potatoes mixed in. Ick.
Eleanor has been getting her knees under her like she thinks crawling might be fun. She isn't ready by a long shot, but she always wants to do more than her little body can. Adam's favorite greeting is now sticking his tongue out at you. If you don't return the greeting he is very disappointed. For Father's Day, we went to visit Grandpa (my dad)in Rochester. Nana was there, of course, as well as Uncle Kevin and Aunt Erin (who own three houses right now--but that's a whole blog entry in itself), Nancy's parents, and her brother and sister-in-law and their kids.
Eleanor is much more the social butterfly than her brother. He is content to sit around and watch what happens---she wants to be in the thick of it. Even better if she's the center of attention. I can hear everyone who knows me laughing, even as I type that. Yes, she's more like me every day.
She holds her hold head and chest up by outstretched arms and prefers to watch Baby Einstein this way in the morning. Speaking or mornings...she wakes up so happy! She just babbles and babbles on and smiles continuously. This has made me more of a morning person, which is no small feat. She will sqeal and almost shriek at toys and the TV quite a bit during the day. Her whole face lights up when anyone in the family walks into the room. 
She loves her "Mr. Crinkly" which is this star shaped toy she chews on and it makes a crinkly sound. As you can see from the photo, she likes showing off her tum-tum--which is quite "prosperous" these days, as Jim would say. She is quite particular with her likes and dislikes, though (hmmm...I wonder where she got that) and will scream at the top of lungs until you figure out just what she wants. Of course, you're rewarded with a big toothless grin, so it's worth it.
I don't think he likes bananas either. Although Adam sleeps great at night, he hates falling asleep. He will thrash his head back and forth and bounce himself in the bouncy seat if it will keep him awake. He still has a bald spot on the back of his head from this. When he is on the play gym, he kicks so high that he is kicking the hanging toys. Just today he started showing some interest in rolling over. He is much more relaxed than Eleanor though, so he isn't as motivated. Adam has one eye that sometimes is straight and sometimes turns in, so we will find out what needs to be done about that at his appointment with the eye doctor next month. When I stick my tongue out at him, he will do the same in return and then smile immediately. He sqeals almost every time I walk into a room, which is great! I am so excited that they are starting to recognize me.