Saturday Annika, James and I went to Jessie and Asher's birthday party. At first Annika stuck pretty close to me. She gets shy when around new people or people she hasn't seen in a while. Whenever anyone would talk to her she would bury her head in my lap or between my legs. Eventually she felt more comfortable and let her inner chatterbox out. One of the other people there even commented "Wow - you can talk!" Of course then she stopped talking again for a little while. After Jessie and Asher were done opening their presents, they and the other kids were playing with them of course. Annika comes over to me and whispers in my ear "I want to play with the toys too." I told her she should go ask Jessie if it was okay to play with her new toys. Instead she just slowly walked over by Jessie and casually picked up a toy, waited for Jessie's reaction and then when Jessie didn't care, Annika started playing. It was a pretty interesting scene to watch. Annika is learning her social graces a little bit I think.

Sunday it was hot and steamy out. I got out Annika's swimming pool and filled it with water. She and Daddy were just leaving to go running with Uncle Dusty. I figured that when they got home, Annika and I could play outside in the pool for a while. What I didn't figure on was them being gone for five hours (just how far did they run!) and then to take a three and a half hour nap. Finally at 6:30pm I woke them up. I was feeling a little abandoned that day! James and I had a good time together though. We walked to Target (there are good and bad things about having one so close to home!) and I got lots and lots of snuggle time in with him. It's been hot out the last couple days so Annika has been in and out of her pool dozens of times. Monday night I set up the sprinkler too. It was Annika's first time running through it.

James is also having a lot of firsts lately. Yesterday was James' first time swinging! Kris called me from the park to give me the full report. Of course he didn't bring the camera with though so I don't have any pictures! He better remember to bring it next time! I guess James liked it though. Well, he liked chewing on the swing anyway - yuck! And today James played in the exersaucer for the first time. He's a pretty stable little guy so he was able to stand in it, lean on the front of it, hold his head up and play with the toys. Not bad for 4 months old! Kris even had to put it on the middle height setting. James is so tall that he's already outgrown the shortest height!

James has a bunch of nicknames. Here are a few of them: Jamesy (used most often), Jamesy-Wamesy, Gigantor, Honey Bunny, Baby Boy (and Nika is called Baby Girl and then she tells me that I have two babies, a Baby Boy and a Baby Girl), Yames and Yamesy.

And here are some Annika-isms: Saturday morning Annika woke up and crawled into bed with us. As she snuggled in by me she looked up and told me "I love you." Too cute! Sunday Annika told me "You're nice! And Daddy is nice and Andrew (our neighbor) is nice. Andrew gets me!" And tonight at dinner James was sitting in his rocking chair on the floor next to Kris. Annika pointed to James and told Kris "That's your James." Kris played along and replied back with "OK, I get James. Who gets Nika?" Annika replied "Mommy" all matter of fact like. Then Kris asked her "What if I want Nika?" And Annika yelled back at him "No! Mommy!" OK child, we get it - you're a little attached to your mommy! Love you back baby girl.