Brooks & Ivy: Happy 4 months, dad's day, graduation, summer, and more!

Hello!
I hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for a nice holiday weekend. This post kind of straddles the last one time wise since I solely wanted to focus on Brooks and his 2nd birthday there. The day after B's party was father's day- my kids love their daddy and he is a wonderful father. We had a nice day. I got Eric a gift that just came for the 2nd time yesterday- damaged again- so hopefully it comes in tact so I can type out what it is :)

The kids gave him this frame:

We got up and ended up driving down the shore. Not the best idea considering B was beat from his birthday and his party the prior two days, but it was Shell Day since it was the only day all the cousins can get together. B really painted his own shell this year. Ivy did a footprint just like B did his first year. You can see our past shells from 2009 and 2010 by clicking the links! It is so weird to look back and see how little B was the first year, and that last year we announced to Eric's family on shell day that Ivy would be entering the world and now she is here stamping her bitty foot. Our shells came out pretty great- Eric & Brooks did a joint shell, and Ivy and I each have one

B had a pretty busy day- he had a lot of fun. Ivy and I kind of hung out at the house because she was sleeping, and the boys went to the beach and played some basketball at the courts across the street. This is also the first time Ivy got to meet her step-cousins.

B threw a tantrum yelling water water bee bee because he wanted to go back to the beach.

I tried to get a nice pic of Eric and the 2 kids since it was in fact dad's day- however they were too tired LOL

The cousins

In addition to the shell day and dad's day celebrations- we have had a few more. Ivy turned 4 months old!
At 4 months she has rolled both back to belly (only a few times) and belly to back (pretty much every time she is on her tummy)
She has found her feet and loves grabbing them
She holds onto toys and brings them to her mouth
She is in major 'mommy' mode
She is napping 3 times a day- and going to bed around 8:30- 7/8am. This is with SEVERAL wakeups at night because she is my stinker sleeper. I can tell that 3rd nap is on it's way out so her bedtime will probably be closer to 7 shortly.
She is not swaddled at night anymore (and has not been for a while) but still for naps.
She loves watching everything- Brooks, Ming, TV, whatever.
She laughs if you fake laugh at her or cluck like a chicken.

We got a ton of good shots for her monthly pictures, it is going to be tough to pick the finalists!

And also- HAPPY GRADUATION UNCLE GRIFFIN! Griff graduated high school this past week and we are so proud. He heads to Monmouth University in the fall. I feel old :)
I did not get too many good pics as I juggled Ivy during the ceremony and didn't have my good zoom lens. She was great in the non a/c, packed, gymnasium. Because it got moved indoors and was borderline bedtime Eric & B stayed home- smart smart decision.
I tried to get a nice picture of Griff & Ivy afterwards during all the picture taking, my little bro was shocked/impressed/amused at how much of a chick magnet a cute baby can be :)

And lastly- Happy Summer! Some random pictures over the past week or so. The summer solstice passed and we are officially into summer and trying to enjoy it before it gets too hot.

Tummy time- this picture cracks me up!

Pondering

This is how we eat when I am alone with the duo. Ivy sits in her bumbo while B and I have lunch. She is very happy sitting there just watching or with a toy- such a change from Brooks who would scream after 3 minutes in it (yet now tries to get in it whenever he can)

Ivy thinks her toes are super exciting

This next picture cracks me up- not because of Ivy, but because of Brooks in the background using the baby monitor as a phone. Like father like son huh

I have been brave and have been going places with just Ivy in the stroller and B walking free. He has been pretty good so far about holding my hand or helping 'push' the stroller

We went over to my aunt and uncle's this past weekend for their grandson's bday party. Brycen is 6 days younger than B. Brooks had a blast running around the yard. There was a pool, swingset, trampoline, and sandbox- heaven!