May!

Well, the month of May has involved things like going back to work. :)

As such, I turned around and it was the 31st! The 19 or so pictures below highlight a few of the big happenings around the Cook household including:

1. Jackson deciding he's potty-trained! Suddenly, he just wanted to use the toilet, and we certainly weren't going to stand in his way (ew!). To help reward him, we let him rack up stickers and then get a candy treat. This to was to pass, though, as Jackson decided he didn't want a candy treat, the relief was it's own reward. He's been wearing "real underwear" for weeks now, and holding steady! (The only reason for the quotes around "real underwear" are that they are festooned with Nemo, Blue's Clues, and Spiderman!)
2. Visit to Vegas...Nana had an architecture conference and so we drove out for a long weekend to (we thought) see them. Apparently, the real cause for the trip was grandparent time, which left Jen and I with a night out, a matinee showing of Star Wars III, and lounging poolside. Thanks, Nana and Neddy!
3. Desert (and not-so-desert) life. A new sandbox is about the only thing in the backyard that resembles the desert surrounding our house. :) The crows remind us of our parched perimeter, though. (The crow photo was taken on the way back from Vegas...)

Well, enjoy!

We've enjoyed hearing from those of you who have dropped a line!

A beautiful shot by Jen of Jackson playing under the weeping willow in our backyard. You wouldn't know we were in the middle of the high desert, would you!?! 

Jackson and friend Tyler in the new sandbox! Sand is a totally engaging experience for little kids. They literally needed to be pulled away from it to do something else. 

Check out that (only slightly digitally enhanced) sky! 

A common sight in the Mojave!  

What a great hat, Nana! 

Delaney: I'm ready to run! 

Delaney: Yes, Nana, you may kiss the royal hand as I sit upon the Neddy throne! 

Jackson: Maaayybee you want to take my picture! 

Neddy, too! 

Nana makes a great nap spot! 

It's easy to picture him at 15... 

Raarrrghh! 

This is the closest any of us had ever been to a full-grown lioness!

That's right, she was sleeping above us! Jackson was very interested! 

Nana and Neddy are more fun than a barrel of Elvis impersonators! 

Chillin' in Vegas! We went to see Nana and Neddy, and to show them "My Delaney" 

Let the record show... 5 dinosaur stickers = 1 red lollipop! 

Oh! I didn't realize I had an audience! 

His just dessert! Jackson is enjoying a "red lollipop" for going to the potty five times!! 

Growth Chart: Girls Birth to 36 months

Delaney had her checkup today at the pediatrician. She's off the chart ( Growth Chart: Girls Birth to 36 months ) on weight (10 lb 4 oz, an entire pound gained since her last visit two weeks ago), 90th percentile in length, and in really good health.

Really good, that is, except for the diaper rash, which led him to point Jen in the direction of Wal-Mart to get a tube of (I kid you not!)!

If you look at the growth chart, you'll see that the ranges aren't very large, but she is a big baby!!

The day after she was born, Delaney's pediatrician wasn't available to check on her, so the alternate doctor came by. He's a neonatalogist, who, according to several reliable sources, believes that every baby is sick until proven healthy. After looking at Delaney, he turned to Jen and said,

"Your baby is very large... Why?"

Jen was a little taken aback, and, not sure of what else to say, proceeded to tell the doctor about how large she and I had been as babies

"Are you diabetic?"

Because any baby that is "too large" or "too small" (read: not between 7 lb 4 oz and 7 lb 10 oz, exaggerated), is obviously the child of a diabetic mother.

Jen said that, no, she had been very healthy during the pregnancy.

Because of Delaney's large birth weight (9 lb 9 oz), she was subjected to blood sugar checks every three hours immediately before nursing. By the time we left the hospital, her heels looked like those of a heroin addict. Desperately hungry AND lanced... welcome to the world, Delaney!

But, as we found today, all's well that ends well. Delaney is on her way to a wonderful life, God willing.