SUPERMAN or the next KARATE KID????

We think it is pretty funny how E balances when he walks on his own. He looks like Superman or the Karate Kid. Here he is doing some toddling around the house. Igonore the painting and drywalling we've got going on. We finally had to install a baby gate to the family room stairs. Fortunately we only need it up when he's upstairs, and only until he masters going up and down the stairs by himself. We've always found it obnoxious (especially when we didn't have kids) when people have baby gates up all over their houses (Do they really not watch their kids enough??). His new thing with walking is trying to 'shake'/let go of our hands if we are holding on to one of his. He very much wants to walk on his own most of the time. We went to IKEA for a couple of things yesterday and he just had a BLAST walking around, waving to people, and looking out over the balconies. We couldn't believe how much walking he did for his age! He was a tired out little boy when we got home.

Our 1st Camp Trip!

E's 1st Camp Trip!!!

The shirt says it all, along with the cutest/stylish REI baby camp outfit from Auntie E & Miss N.

"Um, Mommy, how are you planning to fit all of this in the car??"

Can't believe how much we had to pack: tons of blankets, heater, playpen, stroller, firewood, & box full of old documents to add to the fire.

We made GORP the day before. E helped to 'mix it'.

Totally not nutritious, but we can't have a camp trip without it.

We decided on this location.

First time in-state, and near home (just in case we had to make a quick mid-night exit;) )
Very family-oriented camp ground.

Our little camper.

We had to wait till he was old enough, and it wasn't too cold- perfect right before his 1st birthday!

Our home away from home.
We found the best campsite- 180 view of the lake, and plenty of sun to keep us warm.
He hung out around the stroller while Mommy & Daddy fished.
Fortunately, he's not quite an avid walker on the bumpy ground yet, so we didn't have to worry about him toddling into the waters- but, I'm sure we will have to next time!
Dad persuaded me on bringing our 'not-so-compact' stroller, and it turned out to be a lifesaver: stroller, hang-out base, nap carriage, high chair. Best part, it cruises across the rugged terrain like a mountain bike on a single track! Oh, how I LOVE this stroller. Does it come with a double seat attachment?!?
Like I said, I LOVE this stroller.
Perfect table height for use as a highchair.
Just wish I could have gotten the baby table placemats to stick to the icky picnic table.
E's playroom away from home.
This is where he first surprised me by suddenly appearing by my side when he figured out he could just walk to where he wants to go!
Me & E at the playground.
Breakfast in bed.
It was soooo chilly outside that I just let him eat in our heated tent.
It got down to near 30 each night, but was beautifully warm in the upper 70s each day.
He actually slept with us for the 1st time in his life, and in the same room with us for the 1st time. Our little cuddle bug.
Me & B

We had such a fun first family camp trip...

...it is so nice to be home though. Three days of fresh air & sun, two freezing cold nights, sleeping on an air mattress, outhouses, no showers, too friendly raccoons, no coffee maker on a timer, lots of camp fire smoke, and a baby spending its first time away from his nursery and playroom is quite the feat. But, we're so looking forward to our next outdoor adventure!

Boys will be boys

According to the nurse, I'm supposed to expect plenty more ER visits. (what?!@!) As she put it, "boys will be boys".

E had to get his first 'stitches' on Friday afternoon. Within a split second, doing what he usually does, he fell onto the patio cement steps and broke his forehead skin. The poor little thing let out the most ear-pitching scream I ever heard and instantly began bleeding. By the time we loaded him in the car to the ER he was calmly playing with Daddy in the back seat, while I had tears streaming from my eyes. Fortunately, it was 'just' a laceration, no fractures, and he'll heal in a couple of weeks. (Those should be some good-looking 1st birthday pics ;) ) He was amazing at the hospital and had a blast with the nurses. They thought he was the coolest, calmest baby they've ever worked on! He's such a trooper and seemingly doesn't realize he has a boo-boo.

His 1st real boo-boo shortly after we got back from the ER.

They were able to glue it together instead of stitches.

Snack time with Daddy (wonder what they were watching on tv).

The glue didn't last too long. I got back from a bridal shower today to discover that he had once again bumped his forehead and the boo-boo opened up. Sure doesn't look like he minds it at all.... It was my first time away from E for more than an hour (minus our anniversary).

This certainly wasn't his first bump. He's probably averaging three a day somewhere in the vicinity of his forehead. On Tuesday he started letting go of objects to walk... wherever and whenever he pleases. Yes, he's walking everywhere now, on his own accord, and getting plenty of bumps and bruises. He's a tough little one.

The Past Week

Our future Northwestern football player.
LOVES playing in the sand, and with the bucket/shovels he got for Easter.
He's so good at sharing with other kids at the playgrounds & beach.
Enjoys watching Mommy & Daddy fish.
We can't wait to get him his own little pole & tackle box in a couple of years!

Recently started to slide sitting up.

He loves watching the big kids run around the playground.
He's a chick magnet every time we are there- always some cute little girls wanting to play with him.

Still loves swinging. Can't believe how big he looks in the swing this year!

...one day...

Spending quality time with Daddy on one of his days off.
It is so cute how they have the same hair line :)

We had some of our friends over the other evening for dinner.

Their little girl is so sweet. That's her playing with E's toes.

We've been so busy sprucing up the yard.

We planted a flower garden for E.

Started this year's vegetable garden.

These are some of our tomato plants, strawberries, thyme, rosemary, and basil.

We'll be planting beans, cucumbers and more tomatoes in the garden in a couple weeks.
Good Eats!
Hopefully this year we'll actually be able to get a good harvest.

I've been incredibly busy working on E's party decorations for the last couple weeks.

This is one of his banners. Got the idea from an old PBK catalog.

These are his favor bags for the kids coming to the party.

I actually made the bags by hand, used some twine for the handles, and sketched the sailboat.

So cute. Got a couple more still to go.

Not telling what's inside :)

We took a road trip to see the 'Greats' and a state park for one day. E is such a super trooper in the car! We've also had a couple of playdates, and enjoy seeing his buddies at the playgrounds and library. B's been golfing at the country club every day possible- he's getting a nice tan. I've been going for a 4mile workout everyday- and E, at his age, is amazing and will sit calmly in the stroller for an hour. Of course, I let him walk around for about 1/2 hour before hitting the pave. Besides trying to keep 2100sq ft clean, and floors swept everyday (E will put anything in his mouth), and all the party plans/decorations, we are working on the home-improvement projects for this year. Oh, being a home owner is so much fun:) Honestly, sometimes I miss the days of our little city apartment, especially with a baby to keep me busy enough. Thank goodness we have landscapers to handle the mowing and pruning!
One thing we did was to 'decorate' the familyroom window well- it looks like a really cute classroom window with a petite bush and his frog stake. Next week we are going to be installing a wall behind the familyroom tv (keep E out of the cords). That should be bit of a project for us, not to mention all the painting that I still have to do. Fun times!

A Step in Time

July- 2mths old (3rd month of life). We realized he REALLY enjoyed standing!

August- 3mths old. Standing lean against ottoman.

September- 4mths old. Standing lean against Daddy.

September- 4mths old. Standing with Auntie E.

September- 4mths old. Instantly loved standing up against toyshelf to play.

September- 4.5mths old. Learning to walk/shuffle feet.

I taught him with a 'marching' song, "Left, Right, Left/Right/Left", and he seemed to respond well to it.

October- 5mths old. Loves standing in entertainer.

October- 5mths old. Walking.

November- 6mths old. Walking with Daddy with two hands.
December- 7mths old. Prefers playing standing up!

January- 8mths old. Shuffling from toyshelf to baskets.

January- 8mths old. Pushing walker.

February- 8mths old. Getting around with walker.

February- 9mths old. Cruising with walker.

February- 9mths old. Cruising with walker.

February- 9mths old. Moving from object to object.

February- 9mths old. Cruising furniture.

February- 9mths old. Walking holding on with one hand. March- 10mths old. Cruising everything & everywhere.

March- 10mths old. Cruising basement wall.March- 10mths. Walking outside with walker.

April- 11mths old. Walking by self!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, you had to know this post was getting somewhere. Finally.

I am THRILLED. Seems that little stinker has been holding back on us. After spending the last month sky-diving into our laps while walking back and forth between Mommy & Daddy, I finally got him to keep his eyes focused up, and away he went. Wonder how long he's really been able to do this. It's about time. Can't wait to see what will take place over the next couple of days.

I was starting to feel like this was taking FOREVER. He's never wanted anything to do with crawling/being on his belly/hand & knees so he's had to develop strength and balance in an entirely different way; but, as they say, babies don't need to crawl first, they just have to learn to do things in a different way. Don't think this was his only 'lap' for the afternoon- I had him pooped out by bedtime. Oh, I'm so proud of him.

Birthday Planning

I am so excited about E's first birthday, more than I ever thought I would be. I've been planning and working on decorations since... well, let's just just say for about a year. I know that first birthdays are supposed to be quaint and simple- but, I'm way too thrilled to celebrate our first son's first year and how precious he is to us!!!!!!!!!!

Of course we are going with a bit of his nursery nautical theme, but mainly just blue/brown. One of his baby showers had the absolute cutest handmade invites and I just had to use the idea for his 1st birthday invitations. I tried to find store invitations, but I had invisioned such a custom look that I ended up making them myself using the paper print from his nursery. After spending a month making them, they turned out perfectly. Though, I know I'll never have this much time again to make invitations (or, spend planning and decorating for a party). Our office has become party decorating headquarters.

This was the adorable invite from one of his baby showers.

And, this is the front of his 1st birthday invitation.

Just too cute!

I finally bought a birthday outfit, after a much amusing debate with the hubby. I found a fabulous boutique website with precious clothing, and had my heart set on this little number (not like I didn't like everything else): www.hiccupschildrensboutique.com/bosmblrooupe.html

What little one year old boy wouldn't look adorable in this?!!? I showed B the outfit. He didn't like it. Then he read the description: "...faggoting on the collar.". He proceeded with the following comment, "Yeah, he'll look like one too!" Haha.

So, as much as I had my heart set on this little outfit, I have to admit, B made me laugh. After an attempt to try to get him to like some Jon Jons, rompers, bubbles, he pretty much banned me from ever 'dressing' little E up like, well, a 'girl'. Hahaaha

Anyone else think this little romper is just cute?!

Thanks to my sweet Cousin, he's got a collection of darling Strausburg Jon Jons, rompers, short-alls to wear in a couple years. And, I can't wait for him to wear them! Cheers.

Needless to say, I compromised with a pair of seersucker trousers. (Ha- I know what you are thinking Emmalee ;) )

Happy 11 Month B-day, Little One!

Happy 11 month birthday to our little E!!!!! Can't believe he'll be one in just a month. He is cruising and walking with his walker, though all over the place. He is getting better and better at going up the stairs and 'stepping'/climbing up on low platforms. His appetite has finally started to regulate and is eating less and less. He loves his bananas, vanilla yogurt, pears, spaghetti, mac n cheese, and wants anything that Mommy and Daddy are eating. He is able to drink out of a regular cup, but still uses a sippy cup to avoid a waterfall. I got rid of the sippy cups with handles because they are pointless (why does he need handles if he was capable of holding his own bottle at 1mth??!). He loves to laugh and giggle, and imitate M&D's laughs. He is in to everything- some cabinets are getting locks, and he can seemingly get to anything on the corner of tables. He enjoys trying to put puzzle pieces and shapes into their corresponding holes, loves his colors, shapes, reading and flipping the pages of his books, sorting (I think my pickiness has worn off on him). He is starting to get to the 'stranger anxiety' phase- he's gotten clingy to Mommy even around people he knows. He loves music and jiggles his little legs (dances) to the beat. He knows a ton of words and commands, and will 'sometimes' pick up and/or search for a particular object when prompted. We believe he just started saying "Daddy/Da Da". He is great at taking things in/out, turning on/off the lights, opening/closing. He finally rolled from tummy to back just the other day (this kid is on his own schedule), and I've even watched him sit himself up (I still really don't know how he did it). His naps are all over the place since he is starting to transition from 2 to 1 naps a day, and they vary in length. As long as he feels rested is all that matters. When he gets 'cranky' we tell him he needs to go 'percolate'. I think he's grown 1-2 inches just in the last month. He no longer fits under desks/tables without bumping his head. It's amazing how big he is getting and how much he has grown/learned just within the past month!!! It's hard to believe that it will already be a year next month!

E's 11th Month Photo.

This was the best I could get;)
And, these pretty much shows exactly what he is like at 11 months- just wanting to 'go, go, go'! Forget about sitting still.

I hope you find the following video hysterically amusing. Nothing sweeter than his incredible smile and laughter!

Fisher-Price recently came out with a retro collection of toys- 1980's- guess that makes me retro too. Ha. But, I love seeing some of the toys from my childhood, especially the jack-in-the-box which used to scare the heck out of me. However, my little guy has got it all figured out. I wonder if I can sneak this into his stash of b-day gifts without Daddy knowing (teehee).