and eventually they started working on a synchronized wading routine.

but after a few minutes they were splashing around like water babies...

the initial foray into the pond required a little parental assistance...

"we built a tall tall tower."

kale was so excited to meet uncle hubie and cousin calliope that he fell asleep.

rye and kale take a page from the tommy fred and georgie tess playbook and do a little sibling snuggling.

blanket and baby. photo credit: riley spade

nothing like a cool, sweet treat on a hot day.

kale gets a little milk, mama gets a little ice cream and everyone is happy.

different babies, same struggle.

looks like someone caught a big fish (sort of).

we kept telling riley, the baby will come when it's springtime. and look it's springtime!

babies love to give kisses.

there's always time for "one more story".

squinty, naked baby.

"you see that spiderweb?"

you'd think all this kid every did was snuggle (and, in fact, you wouldn't be wrong.)

kale spends a little qt with his great gram.

special craig and kale share a little face time.

enjoying the old time music and the people watching.

babies who brunch.

only 8 days old and already we're nursing in public like it's no big whoop.

first. bath. ever.

whatcha looking at?

sittin' in the morning sun....

rock on tartufi! (shout outs to cousin calliope for the pants and habib for the blanket)

hello world!

riley and nama get busy with the sand down by the river.

"the baby is drinking milk from da nipple."

baby power!

sometimes, it all overwhelms.

riley thinks poopspreader....er...kale, is pretty good.

it took a great deal of coordination to create and serve Kale's first dinner at the Spades and Poffs. and he slept right through it all.

getting kissed can be startling.

It just so happens that the other tiny baby kale has arrived in the garden.

Baby Kale arrives at home, just two days old.

welcome to the family, kale!

can you believe the lips on this kid?

kale sutton wood spade.

riley got a new baby too. he named his poop spreader which left us free to name the other new baby in our family...

no more manual labor for uncle dean, from here on out it's all baby care all the time.

only a day old and already an old hand at getting photographed.

hello peepchick!

riley and his new baby brother sport matching tie-dyes courtesy of nama.

here he is.... brand new baby spade. less than a minute old.

what a difference two days makes - no more baby in that belly.

looks like a basketball - is, in fact, a 41 week belly under that shirt.

dean came to offer post baby support, but since the baby has not yet arrived we put him to work doing manual labor.

eventually, from the safe harbor of mommy's lap, rye touched a soft soft kitten.

it's good to stay hydrated when driving long distances.

leila brought some tiny kittens by - riley thought it prudent to keep a safe distance. (also you might notice that there is still no new baby).