Damien and Lucas Go Swimming

Another great playdate with Lucas. On another Monday afternoon the weather in Berkeley was just gorgeous, so Momma got out Damien's pool and sent a message to a few of Damien's friends to come join in the water play. Fortunately, Laura and Lucas were game. The boys had a blast in the water with each other. Both of them cried when their mommies pulled them out of the pools for being to cold (so we projected). Apart from a small fight over the beloved red tower, the boys had so much fun playing together.

Like father like son.

Yes Lucas, I will bless you again.

Arm wrestling, baby style.

Arm wrestling proved dangerous, so we made the boys back up a few paces.

Enjoying the pool side by side. Damien is unaware that Lucas has the precious yellow ring.

Oh wait, it's you again. What's up buddy?

Darn it, I feel for the giraffe trick, now he has the precious yellow ring.

Oh my gosh Damien, I want it back.

Where's Lucas, let's just say he was getting too close to my yellow ring, my precious.

Damien Visits Lucas' House

On another Monday afternoon, Damien made a trip to his buddy Lucas' home. Damien was so excited, and loved playing with Lucas' toys. He's not so great on the sharing part, and wanted whatever toy Lucas was playing with and would grab it out of Lucas' hands. After some mat playtime, the boys were moved to the hardwood floor to work on their crawling. Lucas has mastered the backwards slink, Damien still usually screams when on his stomach. But with Lucas to watch and the beloved red tower, Damien spun around a bit on his tummy without protest. Other babies might be the key!

Welcome to my castle Damien.

Lucas, how did you get way over there?

Mom, why do you keep taking that toy out of my reach, you are going to make me cry.

OK, are you happy now, this is really hard work, I'm about to melt down.

Damien and Lucas Go to the Marina

One Monday afternoon, Damien was able to coordinate with his buddy Lucas to go for a nice stroll down at the Marina. The boys took nice long naps during the walk, and then awoke in time to have a little face to face playtime. It was pretty windy down at the Marina, and since it was pretty hot in Berkeley, the boys were a little under dressed. But they tolerated the wind for a little bit to squeal at each other. Everyone had a blast.

Hey, it's Lucas, I haven't seen you in a while buddy, my how you have grown!

Yeah, Damien I am practically all grown's up now.

Let me bless you my friend.

Damien Plays at Cal with His Pals

Damien met up with his very first friends (dating back to when they were all in utero) on the Cal campus for a little afternoon fun in the gorgeous Berkeley weather. Since he usually just gets together with Maya and Lucas for stroller walks, this was the first time that we got a photo of the three of them together. Since Damien and Lucas both consider Maya their girlfriend (none of them apparently had the exclusivity talk with her) they were a little wary about sharing her! So, the boys both tried to impress her with tummy time prowess.

Damien: "Lucas, get your hand off my girlfriend."
Lucas: "She's mine dude, she was mine first!"
Maya: "Oh boy, here they go again."

Damien: "That's better. Although I don't know if this threesome is going to work."
Lucas: "I'm gonna play hard to get, I hear the ladies love that."
Maya: "Oh this is going to get so old."

Look how high I can hold my head up!

Oh yeah, I can do it to. And look at this cool panda hat I am sporting.

The lovely Maya and her mom Odessa

The handsome Lucas and his mom Lauri

Damien Hosts a Baby Party

Damien is taking after his Momma and being quite the social bug. Damien decided to welcome some of his baby friends into his home for some playtime on his new playmat with some of his new toys. Momma baked cupcakes for the first time since Damien was born and some Banana Chocolate-Chip bread and made mimosas for the Mommies. Apart from Jack (who is 5 months and good sized himself) Damien was the biggest baby but also the youngest!!! It was a fun and successful party, Damien said he would love to host another one real soon. =)

Damien plays with Elyse (the older woman - by a few days!).

Damien shows off his tummy time skills while Elyse and Jack play with their mommies.

Jack (with Mommy Emily) shares with Elyse.

Lauri with her son Lucas (born a week before Damien).

Lucas and Damien meet again - the boys had a lot to say to each other this time.

Odessa and the other older woman Maya (a month older than Damien) - love how Maya is eying the mimosa!

Kristin and sweet little Elyse

Damien's First Play Dates

Damien has been on several walks with his pals Maya and Lucas and their mommies, but this week he had his first "play dates" indoors. The first, with Lucas, was after a nice walk which went a little too long for Damien's comfort. So, Lucas invited Damien inside to have some milk, which Damien happily accepted. After his bottle (of Mommy's milk) Damien noticed Lucas for the first time sitting on the couch next to him on Lucas' mommy's lap. Man the look on Damien's face was priceless, he was like "what the heck is that!" After a good long stare, Damien was on to more important things, like taking care of business! It was a brief, but fun play date (at least the mommies found it hilarious).

Later in the week, little Maya and her mother Odessa came over for tea and cookies (which little D helped mommy make). Maya was showing off her napping skills (an area in which Damien is having some challenges). Damien was not impressed, however, and was more than happy to be the baby of the hour. Eventually, Damien got bored with Mommy and Odessa's conversations about work and childcare and other such things and finally fell asleep. But, not willing to let Maya have the last laugh, Damien was sure to wake up first (much to mommy's chagrin).

All bundled up for a walk outside of Lucas' house in North Berkeley.

Completely enjoying his play date with Maya.

Damien and His "Twin" Lucas

Mommy has met two new Berkeley friends through baby classes at Alta Bates and has been going on walks with them and their babies in Berkeley (the Marina, Tilden Park, etc.). It has been really great for mommy to get out, get some exercise and hang out with the super cool new mommy's. On this last outing, Damien showed up in the exact same outfit as his pal Lucas (born one week before him). What is super funny about this coincidence is that the outfits are both hand me downs and are not currently available (thank you Leah!). As you'll see below, besides the matching outfit, both mommies picked the exact same color green hat to go with the outfit. Super cute and super funny.

The "Twins" all bundled up to go for a walk down at the Marina.

Close up of skeptical Damien

D's pal Lucas.