A very happy birthday

Eleanor and Ian turned one last month. The occasion gave us an excuse to throw a little party. And by little, I mean big. It was the biggest party we've ever had! Folks were spread throughout the house, porches, and the backyard, so it didn't feel like a crowd. It was wonderful but we needed lots and lots of help to pull it off. Thanks to everyone who made it happen (especially the Pereses who brought food, and cooked, and cleaned with us on Saturday morning).

During the party, Ian and Eleanor played with friends and family, napped a little, and dined on some delicious treats. They loved the tomato and spinach pie and their iced birthday cupcakes.

They were like deer in headlights during the Happy Birthday song

A boy and his cupcake

A girl and her cupcake

The day before the party, Ian started to walk. But he didn't do it regularly or confidently until a few weeks later. He's still a bit shaky, but it is now his preferred method of transport. And now we've got two toddlers toddling all around!

Adios, Summer

The babies are having an eventful August and September. Some of the highlights include:

The Mini-Reunion. A subset of Gallaghers, including the New Yorkers, Takoma Parkers, and Annapolitans, got together in early August. We cooled off at the community pool ('cool' is the word for the dudes in the image below), feasted on grillables, and enjoyed each other's kids.

Uncle Mannie, Uncle Chris, and Kevin catching some rays

Aunt MG and Aunt Elisa relaxing by the baby pool

Cousin Gabriel (in the stroller), Ian, and Eleanor rest after frolicking in the pool

Cousins Hugh, Finn, Gabriel, Eleanor, Ian, and Owen

The Professor. My dear old friend and college roommate Amy Johnson came to visit us last month. She is a professor and researcher now and came up from Columbia, South Carolina with her dog Ella. At the Montgomery County fair, we bought cheap sunglasses, ate greasy food, and watched the pig races.

Amy and I

The pig race (or trot)

Ella and Eleanor

The Surprise Party. We celebrated PopPop Perese's 60th birthday with a party at the Pitners in mid-August. The babies ate picnic food for the first time - hot dogs, baked beans, and corn salad were big hits. (But I forgot my camera I don't have pictures of the event.)

The Teeth. Both babies have teeth emerging from their upper gums. It's definitely giving me a sense of what they'll look like as kids.

The Walk. Eleanor has become a walker. She likes to hold something in each of her hands as she walks around the house. She looks like a little tiny drunken sailor.

Watch out - here she comes!

The Talk. Ian has become a talker. He has specific words for ball (BAH), dog (DGIDGIDGI), and banana (NANA). I also think he's saying guitar (TAH) but I've been accused of hearing things before so I will wait until I'm sure before reporting with certainty.

The Virus. We had out first stomach virus a couple weeks ago. Ian had diarrhea for days, which we thought was due to teething his top front two teeth. But then he started throwing up, and became more lethargic. His dad took him to the emergency room where he was deemed mildly dehydrated but treated only with a anti-nausea drug. A couple days later, his appetite and personality reappeared. Just in time for Eleanor to get it. She didn't have it nearly as bad, but it was ugly around here for about a week.

The Lancaster Reunion. The Gallagher clan got together in Lancaster, PA to celebrate cousin Maeva's first birthday. It was SO good to see Bernie and Kate - and to get a "grab and sniff" of Maeva. My mom's back had recovered enough for her to make the trip. Kevin stayed home with Ian so that Eleanor and I could make it. It was a great trip but way too short.

Cousin Maeva and Eleanor focus on grass

Cousin Gabriel and Uncle Mannie work the camera

GiGi, PopPop, and Uncle Bernie

Cousin Maeva and Aunt Kate

Aunt MG and Eleanor

The Beach. Eleanor and Ian had a blast on the beach with PopPop (Perese) and MomMom last weekend. The weather was windy and overcast but that didn't bother us one bit.

Happy beach babies

PopPop and Eleanor dodge waves

Walking on the promenade with MomMom

MomMom and PopPop take a (brief) rest

Family portrait

And finally, The Car. Our 1994 Honda Civic was stolen from a side street while we were at the beach. Kevin loved that car. We're sad and pissed about it. And we think that the babies are disappointed, too.

(Oh, yeah, this is also the eve of their FIRST BIRTHDAY. What a wild and wonderful year it's been.)