Summer fun

It's crazy hot here (again), but I had a play date on the calendar so we had to venture out. Thankfully, I planned it at a park that had a cool water play thingy (I don't know the actual term).

Leo and Addison staying cool in the shade. Moms and kids settle in for some lunch.
Leo and I try out the water fountains.
He didn't love it, but he didn't hate it. He found it very funny when I pretended to lap up the water.
"Ma, it's 100 degrees out; I don't think I'm going to get a chill so you can lose the towel."

Happy baby photos!

Pouty lips.

So proud

See those blocks? The one stacked on top of the other? My son did that. With his pudgy little hands and his lips pursed in concentration, he placed one block on top of another. Before today, he would chew the blocks, throw the blocks, bang the blocks together, but today he stacked. I could have grabbed the camera or the video camera to capture it, but instead I decided just to enjoy it. I handed my son blocks and he skillfully placed them (he even successfully made some triple stacks). It brought tears to my eyes because I was so proud. Leo may not have met the traditional milestones yet, but he's doing some really cool stuff and I'm so privileged to witness it.

My son, the comedian

Hanging out with Addison

It is pretty much impossible to get both kids to look at the camera at the same time.

Here they are in their boats in the pool.
Playing with the learning table.

hair solutions

First birthdays

I'm obsessing a little over Leo's first birthday. Every evening while Tom watches the Olympics, I surf the net looking at cake recipes, decorations, favors, etc. I've got big plans and we'll just have to see if I'm able to pull it all off. Trying to recreate a Martha Stewart cake opens you up to a world of disappointment. So when Tom's coworker invited us to his daughter's first birthday, I jumped at the chance to scope it out. It was much more of an "adult" party since it was held at a restaurant. Plus, they dressed the birthday girl up in a very ornate, traditional Indian dress complete with jewelry and nail polish. (Nail polish on her fingers and toes! I kid you not.) She looked very grown up even though she was smaller than Leo.

Here's Leo posing with the birthday girl. Cutting the cake.
Reunited with Sujatha.
Better than last time.

Play date at the Museum

We meet up with some moms and kids today at the Children's Discovery Museum for a "Taste of the Circus". There were some clowns and jugglers and men in unsettling tight leotards. Leo wasn't very interested in the show, but had fun in the infant room at the museum and hanging with his friends outside afterwards.

Here are the kids getting settled for a little lunch outside of the museum. Addison and Leo
Doug
Sophia, her mama Jenn and Doug

Hair

As you know, Leo was born with a lot of hair. We weren't particularly surprised since Tom and I are hairy folks and I had a lot of heartburn during the latter half of my pregnancy. But then it started to fall out. He's about three months old here (and looks a little like a chemo kid, yikes!)
Well his hair has come back full force and it's getting really long. I wanted to wait until he is a year old (or very close) to have his first official haircut, but I'm not sure if we'll make it. It is almost in his eyes in the front.

And it's very long over his ears, which he often pulls at because I think it probably tickles (though I worry sometimes he has an ear infection).
(A happy baby picture, just because)
So I think I may have to break down and get his mop top trimmed. I'll probably hold out for Nana's visit next month. Tom wants to just use his industrial clippers here at home, but I want the photo op of an official salon visit. Plus, I'm sure the sound of the clippers would scare the crap out of Leo.

Willful creatures

It's amazing how much Leo has been acting like a toddler, even though he doesn't toddle. He still doesn't crawl, which is causing him immense frustration so he throws little fits. I've stopped handing him what he wants or moving him to where he wants to be, and just encourage him to "figure it out". He's starting to express some serious preferences and thinks dropping food off the side of his tray is very funny. He's lucky he's so cute because he is becoming a handful. It's so strange that this is the same baby that was more or less a little eating/sleeping/pooping blob that barely made eye contact. He's such a little person now and it makes things very interesting.

"Thanks mom, but I'll brush my own teeth."

First word?

So Saturday morning, Leo was sitting on my lap and Billie wandered up. Leo looked at her and, clear as day, said "cat". I couldn't believe it and he hasn't said it since, but I think that was his official first word. I have to admit I'm a little disappointed it wasn't "mama"; maybe that will be his second word.

Here are some pictures from this weekend.

We usually discourage TV watching, unless it is Olympic soccer. We finally created a play space for Leo.
He seems to like it.
In the pool with dad.
Check out the cute naked baby butt.

Leo's newest trick

Back on my feet

Sorry for the lack of blog posts, but I was hit with the stomach flu on Wednesday and it was pretty ugly over here for a couple days. Thankfully, Leo is an easy baby so I could parent while lying on the couch. I'm extra super thankful that Leo didn't get the flu too.

Since we've spent so much time inside, we hit the park this afternoon. Leo enjoyed some swinging. Bath time with dad.

The Oregon Coast

On Saturday, we headed to the Oregon Coast to attend the wedding of Tom's college friend. Our destination, Oceanside, is a gorgeous little town that time forgot. It is absolutely beautiful, but only has one restaurant, one coffee house and no grocery stores. I was definitely anxious about taking the baby there, but we picked up a porta-crib in Portland and hit the grocery store in Tillamook (a small farm town eight miles to the east, famous for cheese). Leo did well during the whole trip and even spent three hours with two sitters and a handful of other kids while Tom and I attended the wedding on Sunday night. Tom worked with him all weekend on clapping and waving. Neither are perfected, but both are much improved. Leo is getting better and better at eating finger foods, which was great during the trip since a few Teddy Puffs kept him busy on a number of occasions.

Hello, Sunshine! Waking up on Sunday morning. Having fun with dad.
Eating at the one and only restaurant in town. We made such a huge mess that we couldn't go back, so it's a good thing it was a short trip.
Checking out the beach.

Walking the beach with dad.


Don't worry, Tom didn't attempt to enter this cave.

Relaxing after the walk outside our hotel, enjoying refreshing beverages.

Oceanside.
North of Oceanside.
The bride, Ramune, and the groom, Guus, exchange vows overlooking the beautiful beach.
Soaking in the ocean air one last time.

Showing off the Peruvian sweater from Ito.
The view from our hotel room porch. Once we were back in Portland, we took a trip to Powell's City of Books, but spent almost the entire time in the children's section.
Tom was all tuckered out from a fun weekend.