the sweetness of summer

oh, the joys of summer! to me, summer means making fresh raspberry jam and salsa, granola with dried fruit, and always - fruit leather. this is my first batch of apricot fruit leather drying in the sun, the same color as benjamin's hair.

certainly a highlight of the summer, cousin james arrived! these two are definitely going to be buddies ... once they are old enough to recognize that the other exists.

i created this simple little onesie for benjamin to remind us of our babywise schedule. we have been successful, as benjamin has slept through the night since 11 weeks old. that is such a turning point.

i introduced benjamin to his exersaucer recently. i think he looks like a mad scientist experimenting with specimens in his lab.

another playdate. sometimes we play with real friends ...

and sometimes our friends are not so lively ...

benj had his 4 month appointment yesterday. he is in the 50th percentile for weight and head circumference and 90th percentile for height. he is a healthy, happy little guy other than a sad case of eczema that he'll probably have all his life, like his dad. i asked the doctor if i should be giving benjamin vitamin D drops like several moms i know. my doctor prefers to have his patients just get some sunshine every day. i told him that was no problem for us!

watching baby einstein videos or snuggling and reading in the hammock ... because as they say, summer is when laziness finds respectability.

i think we've been swimming every day this week ...

we have been spending lots of time in Midway; on walks, at the pool, or on the lake. when we are at home we do battle with the millions of ants invading our home and the snails in the garden. the ants are winning, the snails are losing. i use the excuse of rocking benjamin to sleep in order to read and read and read. favorites so far this summer have been: Matched, The Zookeeper's Wife, Room, Bossypants, Hope Was Here, This Life is in Your Hands, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, and Square Foot Gardening, to name a few.

and we're off!