I was looking closely at Niko's head last night and discovered what looked to be a halo taking shape up there.

If only the behavior matched the look...

Nipped in the bud

These could possibly be the cutest babies you ever saw (at least Rachel and I think so)....

But then they'd have to compete with these two. Life's good with a best bud.

Splish splash

Next on the train-my-child itinerary: teach Niko how to clean the dishes. As this is my least favorite job, I figure if I can get him early, he might actually pass his Daddy up on chores he's capable of doing (sorry, Luc). Notice that technique.

And after just one outfit change and a few briberies, they're done. Now we need baby # 2 so we can train 'em up on laundry duty.

Peaches in the Summertime

Just when you thought we'd disappeared for good, we come up for a little air. Peach-scented air. That's right, it's CANNING time. Since I have serious ambitions to be that Grandmother one day who pulls out canned peaches for dessert after making fried chicken and potatoes, I figure I'd better master the technique early. Not that our peaches resemble the ripe, juicy images I had prior to picking; they are a bit on the hard side, but we're all go anyway.

Niko selected the music, Greg Brown's Canned Goods and Gillian Welch (bet you can guess which one!).

Our bounty was good....glowing orbs of fleshy sweetness. Niko tested them all out.

"Come taste a little love of summer, my grandma put 'em all in jars."

Toilet training

Now, some parents I know are beginning to talk about toilet training their children. Niko and I decided to go the "untraditional" route as always, and he's really getting the hang of it. Just check it out yourself below.

Step 1: lift the seat and commence scrubbing.

Step 2: Sometimes it stinks but you have to really get in there.

Step 3: This is where Mom usually pulls me off.

Don't worry, Noni, it was already cleaned pre-baby scrub:)

Cycles

I remember talking to Mom once about how when you have a baby, your day goes in cycles, and those cycles repeat until it's bedtime. Of course all of this is incredibly exhausting (for both of us) so I thought I'd show you how our day usually goes. Here's the sleeping...

And here's the awake time.

Exhausted again....

Trouble again....

And back to sleep again. I might have to hide my hair thing and the food for the next round.

Bumper boats

Yesterday we taught Niko what you need to do to swim in the big boy pool. First you need an older, wiser caregiver with you if you want to go swimming, which is why I selected Isaac...

You lean in close, and if you can do so while showing off your delicious buns, then all the better...

Leg over the edge...

And Voila! Two critters in the pool...

Now if only it were heated and bubbling...