Keeping Busy in the Summer

I feel like we were pretty busy this month, but didn't take too many pictures. July started off with an America's birthday celebration, and there is no place like Boston to celebrate the 4th. While we're not yet brave or crazy enough to brave being downtown with the Pops and two rowdy boys, we did manage to see some good firework displays. Mom was assigned the fourth as her holiday to work but it still left the evenings free. On the 3rd, the city of Needham had their 150th Fourth of July celebration with big firework displays. We met up with buddy Kaya, danced to some music, got some glowy sticks, and got cozy on a blanket for the fireworks. I want everyone to know that this year I was not afraid, and I didn't put my hands over my ears. It was great! Little Reid wasn't too sure about the fireworks at first, but soon he got used to them and watched the sky in amazement. On the actual fourth, mom and I headed up to our usual spot on the hill at Millennium Park (a park in our own neighborhood) where we could see the downtown firework spectacular. I'm completely afraid of bugs, so a mention of mosquitoes was enough to send me wanting to go home and catch the rest of the show on tv. Oh well.

It does get quite hot here in Boston - over 100 degrees this week in fact - and most places including our house do not have central air. Believe us, we do enjoy our three (yes three) window units, but summer time here is all about the balance of staying cool and making sure we get all of our energy out. There is no better place to do that than visiting the Frog Pond at Boston Common. We went there with Mom on a Tuesday home from work. Reid loved splashing!

I love the Frog Pond too. I was a little bored this day because the water is too deep for Reid to crawl along in and there weren't too many other kids for me to play with. It was a fun day to get wet though.

I do love playing with and splashing my brother at every opportunity!

A trip to the Common wouldn't be complete without a ride on the carousel - all by myself!

Trying to get both of us to pose for cute pictures is sometimes challenging. Neither of us is still for long.

And we're easily distracted. Mom's hydrangea bushes turned out nicely this year though.

Little Reid at 11 months old is quite the character. He is very laid back and easy going but tons of fun. He wants every toy that I have - no baby toys for this guy! He loves cars, cars, and more cars. He can crawl and cruise with the best of them, and gets around quickly through the whole house. He's really discovered his voice this month, and his vocabulary is building quickly. He says mama, dada, ball, book, uh-oh, dog, down, all done, and can repeat lots of things. Finally after several months of being toothless, he is finally cutting his teeth. One bottom and one top - our very own snaggle tooth!

While crawling and cruising are his quickest modes of transportation, he's just started taking a few steps behind his push toy.

I'm still a speed demon riding my bike in the street in front of our house.

Watch out mom!

I left Reid in my dust!

This month I also celebrated my half birthday - four and a half officially! Mom took me and Reid to Chuck E Cheese's for a celebration, but she had her hands full and didn't take any pictures. We had fun though!

Dad's been super busy with his fellowship in Epilepsy since July 1st, so much of our fun time has been with mom - though dad's definitely home too sometimes. Mom also took us to Kidz World in North Attleboro - a place full of jumpy houses (and air conditioning). On the radio on the way home from Kidz World, I heard an advertisement that Phineas and Ferb from the Disney Channel were going to be at a nearby mall promoting their upcoming tv movie. If you haven't seen Phineas and Ferb, it's my favorite show and mom and dad don't mind it too much either. I'm not one to forget anything, so Mom, Reid, and I headed out to meet my favorite guys.

Packing up two busy wiggly boys and waiting in line for over an hour and a half to meet Phineas and Ferb was not an easy feat. Well, actually I did great. Reid, not so much. The excitement on my face at meeting the real Phineas and Ferb was worth the hassle. Before we got there, I was worried that Phineas and Ferb would be afraid, as they were probably meeting real people for the first time, hehe.

High-fiving my new buds.

For those who don't know, Phineas is on the left and Ferb is on the right. They're step brothers who invent lots of crazy stuff. Phineas even played peek a boo with Reid who was sitting nearby in a stroller.

Then we got back in line for another 30-45 minutes to meet Perry the Platypus. He's Phineas and Ferb's pet platypus who also doubles as Secret Agent P.

I thought it was funny that he was tickling my ear here.

So maybe we were a little busy this month, but doing lots of fun stuff. We definitely have lots of cool stuff coming up as Reid has his first birthday in just a few short weeks, we find out if baby JoJo is a boy or girl on August 23rd. More changes up ahead as we say goodbye to staying at Johanna's house every day - I start real school in September and Reid will be at a new daycare. Exciting times - stay tuned!

And Baby Makes Five!

Many of you know that the Bolton family is rapidly expanding! We're expecting baby # 3 in January. Again, I'm convinced he's a boy and I've named him Jo Jo. Is that an improvement from Chocolate? Anyways, here he is at 11 weeks and 4 days. Boy, girl, what's your thought? We'll know for sure in August.


Baby Chocolate at 11 weeks 3 days, who turned into wonderful Baby Reid.


Baby Gilbert at 11 weeks 1 day, who turned into wonderful Cooper. Do we all look alike?

Fun in the Sun!

Another month, another set of adventures for the Bolton Boys. This month took us all the way to Myrtle Beach for some fun in the sun.


I am still OBSESSED, and I mean ob-sessed, with sports. I love watching, I love playing, I love trying to guess who's going to win, and I love trying to figure out all the rules. I'm now into playing baseball in the backyard with daddy. He pitches, I hit, then I run around like a crazy man trying to score. Sometimes I slide into base, which is what happened here, or should I say faceplant. Daddy took this picture of me as I got up, then gave me hugs and made me feel better. Even I have to laugh at this silly picture now that my face doesn't hurt anymore.


But I'm not the only messy one, oh no. Little Reid is quite the babbler, or growler. He is never quiet for long, so when he is quiet, watch out. Mom was watching tv, not paying too much attention as she thought he was playing with toys. Things had been quiet for too long, and when she turned around, she found Reid had helped himself to his own jar of baby food. Guess the little guy was hungry!

He looks like Winnie the Pooh and his jar of honey!

It's a good thing us boys clean up pretty nicely!


We took our annual trip with the Bolton family. We went to Myrtle Beach again this year, to the same place we went last year that had the indoor water park and the beach. It was Reid's first beach experience. He wasn't too sure at first.


He especially wasn't too sure of the ocean. He cried anytime he got anywhere near it.


I, on the other hand, can't get enough of the beach and water!






Reid eventually warmed up and enjoyed playing in the sand - still didn't like the water too much.

Our family of four!


Reid went from stationary to crawling like a maniac in just a few days! He can follow you anywhere!

Reid and his cousin Corinne who is 3 months younger than him.

Reid, just like big brother, loves anything on wheels. He'll push his cars around anywhere and make a noise that sounds like Vroom Vroom.




By our third day there, Reid realized that the sand was quite tasty. He picked it up and ate it by the handful. Eew.


Cousin Samantha and I had fun riding the waves and yelling about the big Kahunas!


The four Bolton cousins - Corinne, Cooper, Reid, Samantha.






Daddy and his boys!


Me and Bubba.


All the Boltons


One night we went to play Putt Putt.


Never mind that my swings were about waist high, I was awesome, and as always, the winner.


Samantha


Reid and Gigi were along for the ride


Back home to the real world, and soccer season was winding down. Reid dressed in light blue for my last game. Go blue jays!


Team blue jays. I'm number 5.


No trophy this year, but we did get these pretty cool medals. Coach told me I did a great job this year. No doubt as I was the number one scorer!


My bestest friend Kaya has a winter birthday like me, so every year she has a big half birthday party in the park. We love to do silly things.


Playing with our friend Lulu.


Posing like a silly guy under a tree


Mommy and sleepy Reid got in some snuggle time.


Daddy's neurology residency is finally over! Wahoo. Gigi and Bubba came in for a week to watch him at his graduation dinner. On to Epilepsy fellowship! We're proud of you Daddy!


Little Reid is quite the funny guy. He's 10 months old this month. At his 9 month check up he was 20 lbs 1 oz and 29.25 inches long. He was also diagnosed with pneumonia so got his first round of antibiotics for any of us kiddos. If there is a cold to catch, no doubt little Reid will catch it to the fullest. Overall, he's a super happy kiddo. When he's well, he's a great sleeper and great eater. No more baby food for this guy - he's a little Mooch! He crawls anywhere and everywhere. He cruises around. He's starting to stand for a few seconds but nowhere near taking steps. He's found his little voice and babbles nonstop.


Little ham, pushing around his favorite police car.

I had been looking forward to the movie Cars 2 for years now. We went to see it the first night it came out in 3D. I had a special date with just Mommy and Daddy. Life is pretty good. Stay tuned for next month's adventures.

Playing Ball

We are sports nuts around this household. See some videos below of Cooper and Reid playing ball.

One of four of Cooper's goals at his last soccer game of the spring season.

Number two of four of Cooper's goals in his last soccer game of the spring season.

Cooper and Reid playing ball together - and of course, Reid's first word (besides Mama and Dada) is ball. Listen for yourself!