Trailblazer

Bopping to the beat

Oliver likes all his musical toys and bounces to the livelier tunes.

He's been scooting all over the house today and he's a lot less likely to fuss about being left to his own devices.

Stephen's pet of the hour

Trying to get Ollie eating

Ollie is finally getting one tooth: the lower right front tooth. It's just barely breaking through.

He's interested in exploring finger foods, but usually he gags on whatever gets in.

Most of these never made it into his mouth, but he sure had fun trying.

And who doesn't love to swoop in really close to this adorable face, boogers and baby food-stache and all?

The little brothers

McQueens visit

Stephen graduates from kindergarten!

With brothers home sick and the entire McQueen clan visiting, Stephen said he was OK with just Mom attending his graduation ceremony yesterday (Wednesday).

It was pouring down rain when we got there, so Mom used Steve's mortar board as an umbrella as we ran to the building, jumping puddles and squealing. 

Stephen is at the very back of this processional; you can just make him out.

Standing near his buddies, Harrison and Evan

Throughout much of the ceremony, Stephen's head was obscured by the little boy in front of him. You can see his mortar board just below the cross though :)

"Playing" their ukuleles.

Trying to keep his hat from falling off while getting his diploma from Miss Lauren.

A candid moment

Stephen with Mr. Philip Merritt, the school handyman who "knows how to fix things."

Stephen resisting any sentimental moments.

Stephen always succumbs to a little tickling :)

I'm not usually the sentimental type, but I suppose I should reminisce a bit about Stephen's year of half-day kindergarten at Grace Episcopal. He's made some new friends, learned to say "goodbye" to Rockam each morning (so Rock doesn't have to stand there moaning "Go-byyye Steeeeve, Go-byyyyyeee!"), he's learned to read and has developed an interest in drawing from his vibrant imagination. I've truly appreciated his teacher, Miss Lauren Taylor, who has accepted and worked with Stephen's idiosyncrasies with much grace, compassion and I daresay amusement.