Burke's 25th Week- Gma Karyl comes to town



Burke is quite the Koala bear hugging us back or latching on when he is held. He will even act shy when someone says hello by turning into whoever is holding him, while simultaneously smiling in return.



We spend a lot of time on the floor. 

 Grandma Karyl came to visit and get a Burke fix. She noticed his ability to take a toy when offered one with coordinated hands that immediately bring the toy to his open mouth.

 Saturday while we waited for some storms to clear the four of us went to Olathe to see Dan's club's new plane. The club's other Cessna 150 plane was totalled back in April with a bad hail storm. Dan has been working hard to find a new club plane.

 Burke's first exposure to a real airplane, other than all the airplanes in his room and on his clothes.

 Dan gave Burke a lesson of all the plane parts.

 Burke is already an aviation enthusiast, holding onto his first yoke at five months old. I think he's got the hang of it don't you?

A proud Dan loved sharing his passion with his mom and son.

 We then drove to Powell Gardens, east of Lee's Summit- an hour drive southeast from Shawnee.

 After lots of car time, Burke was lubed up with sunscreen and given a prime view of the garden from Dan's chest. Gotta love the Baby Bjorn.

 They had an edible, organic garden. This cabbage was just beautiful. Sorry, no taste testers allowed.

 A beautiful water garden. Starting to get hot....

A silly monkey citing in a banana plant

 I think the heat had gotten to us. We started seeing Dinosaurs and Dan even tried to steal one of the eggs. Bold move.

 On the way home, Burke had had enough. I spent a good 30 minutes entertaining him. This was just one of many attempts to calm an antsy Burke.

 His love of his rubbery monkey toys revealed that he has started teething this week. Bring on the teething rings and orajel. Don't let Burke get ahold of your finger, he does bite. His little jaws are strong.

 We have a funny bottle that has a stuffed lion animal around it. Burke will pet the lion's mane while he stares the lion in the face and eats furiousluy. Pretty stinking adorable. Take that Lion. Burke is NOT afraid of you.

 Our friend Cheryll handmade these little blankets for Burke. He loves sucking on them and petting them. He however does not like pacifiers which we are totally fine with.

 Just a snapshot of Burke and I in our favorite snuggle chair before I am off to work.

 Burke J Croft of the microphone, check it!

 Awwww! Teething rings are a newfound friend this week for our little dinosaur. Relief!

Burke's 24th Week- Happy Father's Day Dan!

 Our house was painted this week (interior) so we were living among tape and covered furniture for 5 days, but we are so pleased we had it done and it looks great! Here the boys practice rolling over.

 An action shot, mid turn (assisted turn at this point)

 Look at me pushin' up Mommy!

 We have been taking evening walks in the BOB without his carseat even though he is supposed to be 8 months old. He can sit up with assistance so we figured he could enjoy a better view. He likes to explore his strollers straps and suck on his harness.

 He never makes it home awake.

 Friday night we babysat Grier kids. Here we were playing a mean game of Mother May I.

 Reid and Gage were buds.

Happy First Father's Day to Dan!

 In the morning we grabbed donuts and went to the park to enjoy the view of the lake and ducks flew in to greet us. Gage got to go for a romp at the dog park with Burke checking out all the puppies from the Bjorn.  In the late afternoon we went to the neighborhood pool to test out our new frog floatie. We cooked ribs for dinner - with Dan's help. All in all we hope Dan had a great Father's Day.

He is the best dad!!!

 Our lil tad pole ready to go to the pool! 60 SPF - check, swim diaper - check, nerdy hat - check, smiles- nope, gonna leave those at home

 Burke is still a serious swimmer, not especially happy in the pool, just absorbing his surroundings.

 Hmmm. What is this contraption they have put me in and why is this water cold?

 Mommy, my toes look like raisins. Is this normal?

The pool wore our lil man out. Naptime- nighty night.

Burke's 23rd Week

By the look on his face you would think the elephant is biting him.

 Yet another victim of Burke's slobber. 

 We had a special guest for dinner on Friday night, Aunt Polly. She enjoyed Burke's clucking noise he creates when enthusiastically sucking down a bottle. He now gets 1 bottle that has half formula in it.

 Lets go WILDCATS! Burke is counting how many years until he gets to experience college. Woops. Not enough fingers.

 Burke is 5 MONTHS OLD.

He is blowing raspberries (even on mom's shoulder). I even got to see him rollover again this week with some coaxing from dad. He can get his feet underneath him to arch himself up while on his back. Nothing is funnier than when he has his pajama gown on and he slams both legs on the mattress. He is laughs at himself to show how proud he is of this move.  

Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh MY!

Burke's 22 Week- Burke's first trip to the pool!

Burke enjoys a spatula and keeps me company in the kitchen while I bake cookies.

Burke is wearing some 6-9 month clothing now, but still fits in select 3-6 month stuff. Here he sports an outfit from Grandma Jean. Don't worry. We took the hat off before he went to daycare. It was hot! We did leave on the bib though. He has experimented enough now that he can blow raspberries and drool enough to soak his onesie. He also pulls up his shirt or bib with both hands to suck on it like he is draining a sponge.

Nonna brought Reid and Tessa back to KC from Camp Nonna. We talked her into babysitting Burke so Dan and I could do the Hospital Hill Run in downtown KC Satuday morning. We had the Griers and Nonna over for a pasta party Friday night to "carb up." Here Tessa gets her turn to hold Burke.

There's Dan on the last stretch to the finish! He ran his first half marathon with mono! It was 80 degrees at the start and is a hilly course- hence the name- Hospital Hill. He asked at the end, " If this is what you people do for fun then what do you do for work?!?" He is proud that he finished, but I don't know if he feels the need to do it again.

Our friends Joe and Cheryll with their pooch, Bailey at the finish. Joe also ran the half marathon.

The Crofts at the finish. I just did the 10K.

Little booger with his summer muscle outfit on. What a hunk!

Hey you! Why you taking a picture over there?

Sunday evening we took Burke for his first swim at our neighborhood pool. He wasn't especially excited, just more intrigued by the water, maybe because it was cold. It was kind of busy, but he seemed to just calmly absorb this new experience.

His shirt said "Muscles courtesy of Daddy"

We must have worn him out. He was zonked by the time we walked home.

He has outgrown his baby tub so we moved to a pad in the BIG tub. He did get more excited in here. Maybe because it was warm and he could wiggle more.