Time to GO!!!

Look at me go!!! I can crawl!!!!

Now, if I could only figure out how to climb these steps!

Quotable Conversations...Tuesday morning

Daddy... "Good morning, Jonathan! Did you have a good sleep?"

Jun-Jun... "Good sleep."

D... "That's good buddy. Time to get out of bed and get dressed. We're gonna go get haircuts today."

J... "And get wolly-pop"

D... "Yep, you'll get a lollipop."



A few hours later, at barber shop...
J... "Get wolly-pop. Where's wolly-pop?"

D... "You need to get your hair cut first."



An excruciatingly-long 30 minutes later...
J... "Want wolly-pop."

D... "Ok, just let me finish buckling your seatbelt......Here you go buddy."

J... "Gank you, Daddy!!!!"

October

Jun-Jun here. Now it's my turn to tell you what I've been doing the past month.

Mama and Daddy took me and An-chew to a real farm. They had lots and lots of pumpkins at the farm but no cows. Cows live on farms. In the barn. They say "moo!!" Ok, so I did see a couple cows but they weren't in a barn and they didn't say moo.

No cows saying moo... but they did have tractors to sit on

and tunnels to run through and pots and pans to bang on. Fun, fun, fun!!!

We even picked out our own pumpkin to bring home.

Mama helped me decorate the pumpkin after we got it home. It had eyes and a nose and a mouth and hair.

And then on another day Daddy cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin. We stuck our hands in the hole and pulled out the seeds and the other goopy stuff that was in there. Daddy used a knife to cut eyes and a nose and a mouth in the pumpkin. Then he put a candle inside and turned it on. That was fun!!

Oh, and Daddy and Mama told me one evening that we were going to go "twick or tweet." I got to wear my policeman hat and coat and An-chew wore a lion coat.

We went to some houses along our street. There sure were lots of funny looking people out there! "Twick or tweet" was fun cause when I said "twick or tweet" to someone they would give me something to put into my bag. I thought Mama and Daddy were having fun too, but they soon told me that it was time to go home. Twick or tweet was all done. I wasn't very happy about that. So I let them know. But when I got over that disappointment, I made an amazing discovery... chocolate!! There was chocolate candy in my bag!!! YUMMMM!!!

I've discovered the joy of crayons. Sure I know they're fun to color with... but did you know that crayons can roll? Right off the table and onto the floor?!? They do!! FUN!!!!!

Have I told you that Mama takes me to the library sometimes? I like going to the library cause they have books there. I like to read books. I like when Mama or Daddy reads books to me. They let me hold the book and turn the pages. But sometimes, when they're busy and can't read a book to me, I'll "read" it all by myself.

Do you know what tomorrow is? Tomorrow is Sunday. Tomorrow we go to church!! When we go to church in the morning, I get to play with all the toys in the nursery. And see all my friends. And eat animal cookies. When we go to church at night, I get to sit with Mama and Daddy while we sing songs. I like hearing the music. And Mama lets me hold one of the song books. And Pastor prays. He says the same thing at the end of his prayer that Mama and Daddy say... "In Jesus' name...." When Mama or Daddy says that at home, I like to say "Amen!" And I like to say "Amen!!" when I hear Pastor say that. I like to say it loudly. Everybody thinks that's funny. Just doing my job, people!!

One more thing!! Tuesday was voting day. I know that because Daddy told me. And when he went to vote he took me along. I'm not quite sure what voting is cause when Daddy took me to the voting place, he went behind a little curtain by himself. I just had to wait. Daddy said voting is important, though, and that when I get bigger he'll explain it to me.

Thanks, Daddy!!

Now where are those crayons....??!?

J

Amazingly Eight...

...Eight months old, that is!!

It's amazing how much can happen in a month's time...and now that our computer is working again (Thanks, Matt!!! By the way, when are you coming to visit again? I like playing with you!!) and now that Mama's not sitting here looking at the computer, I can tell you about the latest in my life!!

1. I can stand on my knees. Don't quite have the balance thing all worked out yet so I have to hold on to something. And getting back down is way harder than getting up. I've discovered that getting back down usually involves crying...either letting Mama know she needs to come help me get down NOW or because I took the fast, painful way down.

2. I can surprise Daddy in the middle of the night. The other night I decided that I needed to stretch my legs so I stood up in my crib. When hanging on to the crib railing wasn't fun anymore, I let everyone know. Daddy looked really sleepy when he came in to see what was wrong...but he sure looked surprised to see me standing up like that.

3. I can eat. And eat. And eat. Fruits are a really good thing. Vegetables are pretty good too. Cereal...not so exciting anymore. But I'll eat it.

4. I can put my paci in...I take my paci out...I put my paci in...and I give a little suck...that's what it's all about!!!

5. I have teeth!! Two little ones in the front are poking through. See...right here...on the top... see??

6. I like it when Mama rocks with me in the rocking chair but I'm growing up and I don't need her to do it every time when it's time to go to sleep. But I know she likes doing that sometimes so I let her.

7. I do remind Mama how much I love her and want to be with her. Specially when I haven't seen her for a while and she comes in the room and ignores me. I remind her that I'm there and that I love her... VERY LOUDLY!! Works almost every time.

8. I can blow raspberries. I'm really quite good at that. I think it's funny to blow raspberries when I'm eating. Mama doesn't seem to agree with me on that.

That's what I can do! What can you do?
A

Quotable Conversations

Mama... "What's your name?"

Jun-Jun... "Jun-Jun. Jun-Jun Swaim"


M... "How old are you?"


J... "TWO!!!"


M... "When's your birthday?"


J... "May 6"


M... "Where do you live?"


J... "Marble Street. Fill-dell-pha"

Quotable Conversations (A bedtime prayer)

Mama... "Dear God, thank you for a good day"

Jun-Jun... "Dear God, tank you good day"

M... "Thank you that we could play cars and trucks today"

J... "Tank you pway cars trucks day"

M... "Please give me a good sleep tonight"

J... "Pwease give good sweep night"

M... "Please bless..."

J... "Bwess Daddy... bwess Mama... bwess An-chew... bwess granpa granma... bwess other granpa granma... bwess MeMa... bwess Uncle Ev-ret Aunt Nae... bwess Uncle Eddie... bwess Uncle David Aunt Cin-y Rachel Anna... bwess Uncle Jeff Aunt YeeAnn"

M... "In Jesus' name..."

J... "Bwess Cwitter kitty cat"

M... "And Critter kitty cat. In Jesus' name..."

J... "AMEN!!"

Quotable Conversations (During an October lunch)

Jun-Jun... "An-chew God"

Mama... "What buddy?"

J... "An-chew God"
(Mama's comment...the way he says his brother's name now sounds a whole lot like a sneeze)

M... "God made Andrew and God loves Andrew"

J... "God loves Mama and Daddy"

M... "Yep. And God loves Jonathan"

J... "God loves eve-ybody. Where's God is?"

M... "God's in heaven"

J... "Where's heaven go? Heaven go bye-bye"

Quotable Conversations (On an October afternoon)

Mama... "Is Andrew a big boy?"

Jun-Jun... "No"

M... "What is Andrew?"

J... "Baby boy"

M... "Is Jonathan a baby boy?"

J... "No. JunJun's a big boy!!"

M... "Is Mama a baby boy?"

J... "No"

M... "What's mama?"

J... "Mama's Woman!!!"

M... "Is Daddy a baby boy?"

J... "No. Daddy's man"

Quotable Conversations

Mama... "Do you think Daddy's selling any cars today?"

Jun-Jun... "Sell limon-seen."

M... "Wow!!"

J... "Sell nother limon-seen. Sell station wagon car. Sell car. Sell truck."

M... "He's a busy daddy!!"

Quotable Conversations

Lunchtime on Saturday...

Mama... "Tomorrow is Sunday."

Jun-Jun... "Go church."

M... "Yep. Who will we see at church?"

J... "Pastor Bob. Pastor Chatburn."

M... "Who do we learn about at church?"

J... "Sing songs."

M... "Yes, we sing songs. Who do we learn about at church?"

J... "Play cars. Play trucks."

M... "Yes, you will." {How true, little boy!! Your church experience so far has been limited to the confines of the nursery with all its wonderful wheeled toys.} "We learn about God at church."

J... "All done. Want puddin."

An-dew's Accomplishments

I am now 6 months old and I can...

1. roll over

2. suck on my fingers

3. suck on my toes

4. suck on my pacifier

5. suck on just about anything that I can get in my hands

6. smile

7. be cute

8. blow bubbles

9. eat cereal

10. eat bananas

11. eat applesauce

12. eat sweet potatoes

13. eat carrots...

14. get around commando style

15. wiggle

16. laugh

17. "play" with Jun-Jun

Who Made...

Mama... "Jonathan, who made you?"

Jun-Jun... puzzled look on face

Mama... "God made you."

Mama... "Jonathan, who made you?"

Jun-Jun... "God made Jun-Jun."

Mama... "Did God make Daddy?"

Jun-Jun... "Yes!"

Mama... "Did God make Mama?"

Jun-Jun... "Yes!!"

Jun-Jun... "God made An-dew. God made moon. God made doggy. God made kitty cat. God made el-phant. God made...."

Mama... "Yes!! That's right!!"

Busy Boys

Mama always says she can't believe how quickly time goes by...well, we have to agree. Has it really been a whole month since we've posted??!?

Want to know what we've been up to? We've been busy!

Way back in August we got to spend a few days at Grandpa and Grandma Huber's house. Saw the cousins,

ate lots of good food - including watermelon (one of my favorites!!)

(by the way, did you know that you're not supposed to eat the green part of the watermelon??!?),

washed Grandpa's car,

played outside, and went to an Amish farm. That farm had real live animals...chicks and cows and horses. I liked looking at the chicks - they were cute and fluffy. The cows weren't so cute and fluffy. They were big. And noisy. And big. I didn't really care for them too much. The horses were way out in another part of the farm.

Then just a few weeks ago we got to spend a whole week at Grandpa and Grandma Swaim's house. It took us a really long time to get to their house. It was so far away that we got to stay at Uncle Jeff and Aunt LeeAnn's house on the way there.

I liked Uncle Jeff and Aunt LeeAnn's house! They have a big yard behind their house and Uncle Jeff took me out to play with balls and kites. And they have a kitty cat. Critter Kitty Cat. Meow!!

When we were at Grandpa and Grandma Swaim's house we had lots of good food to eat and got to see lots of people. I got to meet Uncle Eddie for the first time and everyone got to see An-dew for the first time. (They all seemed excited about seeing An-dew. Haven't figured out why though. He doesn't do very much. Maybe it was because he's so cute like me!!) I got to play on the playground near Grandma's house and play with Grandma's shopping cart and go outside and look for hummingbirds with Grandpa and play with cars and teddy bears and laugh in the back seat of the car with MeMa. We went to visit MeMa one day.

She has lots of friends who live near her. I got to say hi to them and shake their hands. And they had lots of walkers and canes. I tried to inspect as many as I possibly could...so little time though!! Oh, and we went to Aunt Bernie's house and got to see more aunts and uncles.

And we ate cookies and ice cream. That was yummy! Thanks for the extra cookies, Aunt Bernie!! I liked them. Liked them better than those horses outside your house.

AND...I got to eat Krispy Kreme doughnuts!!! YUUUMMMMM!!!!!!

When we were done being at Grandpa and Grandma's house, we went to Aunt Renee and Uncle Everett's house. They have dogs. 3 dogs. I decided I could be friends with those dogs. They weren't so big and scary like some other dogs I've met. Aunt Renee even let me give them treats to eat. (Sorry, Aunt Renee, that I tried to eat the dog's treat. What do you expect...you hand a guy something and he hears the words "food" and "eat"...!!) Oh, and I got to go out and see the pigeons too. Those birds make me laugh!! They're soooo funny!!

And in-between seeing all my grandpas and grandmas I've been... keeping An-dew entertained... keeping all my cars and trucks in running order... eating yummy food... you know, the usual!!

J

Birthdays and Beef

Greetings from An-dew again!

We celebrated some more birthdays this week!! Tuesday was Mama's birthday. Daddy and Jun-Jun and I got her a present. And we had a special cake. Daddy said we were supposed to sing to Mama before we ate the cake. Jun-Jun didn't like that idea. At all. Or he didn't like Daddy's singing. He sat there and cried through the entire song. And since Jun-Jun is my big brother and I do look up to him, I figured that was what I was supposed to do too. So I cried through the entire song too. Daddy really does have a good singing voice, so I'm not sure what Jun-Jun's problem was.

Oh, that cake...Daddy and Jun-Jun and Mama ate it. I watched them. Very closely. I was really hoping I'd get a piece too...maybe next time.

Happy Birthday, Mama!!

And then last night we called Grandma Swaim...got to see her on the computer...and said Happy Birthday to her too. Well, Daddy said it. I thought it. She said she had a nice birthday too. Did anyone sing for you, Grandma? Did anyone cry? We can sing and cry for you when we come to visit in a few weeks if you want us to. Ok?

Today after lunch, Mama put us in the car and took us to a place where there were nurses and doctors. Fortunately nobody stuck a needle in me this time. This time they wanted to see Jun-Jun. They let him sit on a bed that had sides like a boat. And they gave him some cookies to eat. And then they shone a light in his ear. And then they squirt some water in there and pulled out a piece of his lunch. The doctor said you're not supposed to eat your lunch with your ear, no matter how good the chili might be. I'll have to remember that cause it didn't look like Jun-Jun had much fun getting water squirt in his ear. Mama said Jun-Jun did a good job for the doctor, all things considered. And I really didn't mind being there cause there were so many new things to look at and lots of new people to smile at.

Guess that's all for now. Gotta go pack my suitcase...Mama said we're going to visit Grandma and Grandpa Huber tomorrow. And I get to meet my cousins.
A

An-dew Reporting

Finally! A chance to get down here on the computer!! Everyone else is upstairs taking naps right now...and Mama thinks I am too. Please don't tell her where I really am. At least not until I'm finished typing this...!!

Wanted to fill you in on what we've been doing recently.

A few weeks ago Mama took me to the doctor's office for my 4 month check up. At first it wasn't such a bad place to be...people came in the room and looked at me and talked to me and held me. They told Mama that I'm now 26.25 inches long and weigh 15 pounds 7 ounces. Tall and skinny is what the nice lady said.

But then things weren't so nice. After the doctor left, the nurse came back in and she stuck sharp, pointy things in my legs. And they hurt. A lot. So I told her. Loudly. Very loudly. I guess she finally got the message because she stopped sticking sharp pointy things in my legs and left. Mama said the nurse had a good reason to do that to me. I'm not so sure.

Oh, the doctor also told Mama that I could start eating cereal. The stuff isn't so bad.

I like to help Mama sometimes. You know, hold the spoon myself or take my bib off.

Some days Mama doesn't give me any cereal. She says I need a break from it some days. Something about what it does to me.

Laughing is a good thing. I try to find something to laugh about each day. Fortunately, I have a very silly mama and daddy and they give me lots to laugh about.

And Jun-Jun...he's been keeping busy too. Almost every day he gets out his cars and trucks and shows them to me. I'm not allowed to play with them. Yet. I'm too little. That's what Mama and Daddy say.

He's getting pretty good at drinking from a cup like Mama and Daddy.

And he got to help Mama scrub potatoes and wash green beans the other day.

Gotta go. It's a long trip back up all those stairs. Better get started now so I'm back in my crib when Mama comes looking for me.

A

Wee-Be-S

Last week Mama took us to "wee-be-s." In case you don't know, you have to get in the car and drive to church to go to "wee-be-s." And it really was a lot like church except there were mostly kids there and they weren't dressed up like they usually are for church. And there was a barnyard up at the front of the church. And we sang some songs...I know, I know, we sing songs at church too, but these were different songs. And we made some crafts...I liked the stickers the best. And we went outside and played bubbles and ran in the grass. And Pastor Bob was wearing a t-shirt. It had a pig on it. He never wears pig t-shirts to church. Oh, and we had cookies and iced tea for snack. Sometimes at church we get animal cookies but we never get iced tea.

I wonder when I get to go to "wee-be-s" again?

J

PS...Mama made "boo-berry" pie last week too. It was YUMMY!!!

A Message for Grandpa Swaim

He-he-he!!!

J

Growing Up

Hi everyone! An-dew here!!!

Just wanted to let you know what I've been up to. There's been a lot of the usual...you know - eating, sleeping, watching my brother, smiling, eating, sleeping, getting my diaper changed, eating, sleeping....

But this week I added something new to my list of things to do...I FIGURED OUT HOW TO ROLL OVER!!!!!! YIPPEE for me!!

I must say, though, that while rolling over is a wonderful thing, it's not always so fun being on your belly. Mama said one of these days I'll figure out how to roll myself from my belly onto my back again. That would be good cause I don't like staying on my belly.

A

In-nee-pen-ence Day

Happy In-nee-pen-ence Day everyone!!

Yes, I know it was really 3 days ago, but let me tell you why I didn't get to write about the day sooner...

On In-nee-pen-ence Day Daddy doesn't have to go to work. Instead, he took us to a place where they had lots of tables set up with lots of things to look at. Daddy told me that people could buy those things if they wanted to. But we didn't. We just looked. Boy!! was there a lot to look at! And I'm not just talking about what was on the tables...there were people everywhere...and dogs...and cars...and police officers...and cars...and balloons...and cars...and big bouncy slides...and cars...and a trash truck.

When we were done walking around there, we got back in the car and went to a restaurant for lunch. Mama said it was a Chinese restaurant. The food was pretty good...Daddy even gave me some salmon to try...but did you know they have fruit at the Chinese resaurant??!?! Lots and lots of it!

Later, after I got up from my nap, we ate some supper and got back into the car. We drove for a while and then had to sit in the car for a while cause it was raining and Daddy said that it wasn't time yet. I don't like waiting.

Finally Daddy said that it was time to get out. It wasn't raining then and I got to chase some bubbles that another little girl was blowing. It did start raining again...just a little bit...but Daddy had his umbrella. (Did you ever watch an umbrella pop open? You should try it sometime...it's FUN!!)

Daddy said we were going to watch fireworks. And they soon started. BOOM!!! BOOM!!! Fireworks are FUN!!!!!!! At the end Mama said we should all clap and yell if we liked the fireworks...so I did! I think fireworks are FUN!!!

Poor An-dew! He didn't like the fireworks as much as I did...he cried! (Mama said he was tired and hungry too.) Sorry, An-dew. Maybe you'll like them better next year.

A busy day like that doesn't leave much time for writing stories on the computer!

So what did you do for In-nee-pen-ence Day? Leave me a comment and Mama will help me read it.

J

Mama said...

Mama said we should tell you that she's changed the comment section of this blog. She said we should tell you that anyone can leave a comment now. And she said we could tell you that we like getting your comments. Keep 'em comin'!! Please!

Oh, and Mama said that it's time to tell you whose picture was in the last post...

It's a picture of...(drum roll please...)

Jun-Jun!

Jun-Jun at 3 months old...

And An-dew at almost 3 months old...

Thanks for your guesses, everyone!!

J & A

Can You Tell...?

Who is this...Jun-Jun or An-dew? Leave your guess as a comment and we'll let you know who knows the Swaim boys!!!

Harvey Cedars...FUN!!!

A few weeks ago, after we ate breakfast, Mama said we were going to New Jersey. Daddy helped us put everything into the car and then helped me get into my seat. I even got to take Doggy and blanket along!

We were in the car for a long time. When we got out, Mama said we were at a school and we were going to meet some people. She wasn't kidding! There were lots of people there. And they all wanted to talk to Mama and say hello to me and look at An-dew. Somebody said that it was the school that Mama used to work at.

After we got done talking to everyone, we got back in the car and went to Harvey Cedars. Mama said that I'd been there before but I didn't remember it. Grandma and Grandpa Huber were there and I got to play with them while Mama took care of An-dew.

Harvey Cedars was sooooo much fun!!! I got to run around outside lots and eat ice cream and play in the sand

and see a turtle and eat ice cream and go out to see the ocean

and eat ice cream and play in the playground and...did I mention that I got to eat ice cream?

That ocean was amazing! It's soooo big! Mama and I went and stood close to the water...we got wet!!

Then I walked around and looked at the sand and the shells. I even got to pick out some shells to give to Daddy. Maybe An-dew can come out to the beach with us next time. He was taking a nap.

Speaking of An-dew, he wants to tell you about Harvey Cedars too...Ok, An-dew, your turn!

Mama took us to Harvey Cedars and it was lots of fun! (I like that word, too!) I got to hang out with Grandpa and Grandma.

I got to be outside a lot and see lots of new things and meet lots of new people.

And I made my very own special friend.

Her name is Lily and I got to see her whenever it was time to eat. Her family sat at the table next to ours and she always came over to say "Hi" to me. She was so nice...I hope I get to see her at Harvey Cedars again sometime. (Hi Lily!!!)

When do we get to go again???

J & A

Daddy

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!!!!!

We decided to give an award to the best daddy in the whole universe...and guess who the winner was!!!....

DADDY!!!!!!

We'd like to submit for you consideration the following reasons why Daddy is the winner of this award...

1. Daddy plays trucks and blocks and puzzles and.....!

2. Daddy sells cars

3. Daddy lets me climb all over him (and I'm sure that he'd let An-dew climb all over him too, 'cept An-dew doesn't know how yet)

4. Daddy reads story books

5. Daddy sings us songs

6. Daddy makes silly faces and says silly things

7. Daddy takes us to get ice cream

8. Daddy prays with us

9. Daddy loves us and hugs us and kisses us

10. Daddy loves Mama too!

And you know who else we love? Our 2 grandpas.

Happy Father's Day to you, too!

LOVE YOU, DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J and A

'Membering

A few Mondays ago is was Memorial Day. Mama and Daddy told me that it was a day to remember people who fight to keep our country free. Ok. You know, I really don't know what all that means...suppose some day I will...but I do know what 'membering is...and I remember what we did to celebrate that day. Let me tell you...

I remember that Daddy didn't have to go to work that day. That's always a good thing cause then I get to play with him. We did get to play a little bit after breakfast, but not for long. Mama and Daddy were busy packing things into the car. Then we went for a car ride. An-dew came too.

When the car stopped, we got out and walked around in a park. Daddy said it was called "Washington Crossing." (Who is Washington and why does he have a crossing?) I remember that we walked up and down paths under the trees and saw geese and people on motorcycles. Can you guess what I liked best about that part of the day?

Even though my car seat was hot, Mama and Daddy made me get back in and ride in the car some more. But not far. This time when we got out we had lunch.

After lunch I walked around with Daddy.

We explored the field nearby and saw lots of fun things. Poor An-dew...he was still stuck in his seat. You know, some day I'm going to rescue him from that thing.

Then it was back in the car. Next thing I 'member is waking up in another park. Bit unsettling to a guy like me...and I let Mama and Daddy know what I thought about that.

Then we drove to another town and got out for a walk. Of course that meant that Mama and Daddy got to walk and I was stuck in the stroller. And so was An-dew. But he really doesn't seem to mind that so much. Daddy said we were in New Hope. There were lots and lots of other people there.

We walked down the sidewalk and then back to the car. Oh, almost forgot! We walked past a horse...he was really big and scary...and we stopped for some ice cream. (Stick around my Daddy if you like ice cream...he's really good at finding good ice cream places.)

It was a "fun day"...even though I didn't 'member any soldiers.

What did you do for Memorial Day?
J