Shelbyville - Day 2

Sunday wasn't much of a boating day. So what do you do to entertain 4 30-somethings and a 6 month old? You head to the pool! After Amy blew out a lung getting Tommy's new floaty blown up, we had a grand old time splashing in the pool.

Tommy & Tom with the New Turtle

Tommy Practicing with His Coozy

Amy & Tommy - What a Cheese

Monday wasn't much better so we packed everything up and headed back home. (Where the weather was perfect) It was all a lot of hard work so naps were in order before we left.

Tom & Tommy

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Lake Shelbyville - Day 1

This weekend marked the official start of summer. So in the great summer tradition we hit the water for some summer fun. Unfortunately Mother Nature didn't get the message and it was cold and rainy most of the weekend. Frida night we headed down to Lake Shelbyville to soak up the sun. On Saturday morning we went to Skeeters, a restaurant on the Lake. Tommy had his first go at potatoes, mashed up off my plate. I'm not sure if any of them got in his mouth or not since I picked a lot off of the floor. But the doctor said to start giving him mushy table stuff that he can gum easily.

Tommy & Amy at Skeeter's

After breakfast we headed out to the water. We got in one boarding run but the water was C-O-L-D. Tom is getting Tommy started earlly in all aspects, here he is driving the boat. Looks like a natural.

Tom & Tommy Driving the Boat

Once we got in the one boarding run, we headed over to cove #5 where all the boats gather for the afternoon fun. There, we met up with some other people and just hung out all day.

Tommy Chillin' with His Formula

Anna, Tommy, Amy, & Mindy

Lake Shelbyville Tradition

May Days

We've slowed down a little bit so far this week. Only out two of the four evenings. Tommy has been quite the interactive cheeser lately. They took this picture of him at daycare just grinnin' away. He still flirts with all the girls. And he loves when people giggle with him.

Tommy at daycare

This week he has been working on a couple of things. The sippy cup hasn't actually met it's purpose as a liquid dispensing device. So far it is more like chew toy. And speaking of chew toys, the inevitable happened the other day. While Dunkin has been caught a few times trying to take off with one of Tommy's toys, Tommy managed to get one of Dunkin's toys the other day. And I guess those are just as good to chew on.

But besides that he has been working on buzzing his lips. Which creates a nice spit mess all through the air. And yesterday he discovered that he can lean over onto our legs and buzz his lips on them for an even better sound. Enough drool to drown a cat.

Tommy waiting for his bath

Tomorrow Tommy has his 6 month doctor appointment. I'm guessing that he is up to 18 pounds and s 26.5 inches long. We'll see how I do tomorrow but one thing I know for sure is I won't be able to lift him into his car seat base much longer.

First Hike

Today was really nice out, just too windy and chilly for any river time. So the five of us hit to the park. Tommy had his first hike ever at Jubilee State Park on the other side of Peoria. He had a great time giggling and wtching the dogs romp and splash. Then he entertained himself with some fresh grasss while everyone else rested and ate.

Tommy & Jenny

Gracie & Dunkin

Checking out the Scenery

Cheeser for the Camera

T3 Chillin' in the Grass

Just Walkin' & Talkin'

A New Kind of Bath

There hasn't been as much going on this wek. We spent a lot of time just hanging out at home. The two teeth are still there. You can almost see them when he smiles. He had gotten pretty quiet for a couple of weeks but he found his voice again and talk sto himself and anyone who will listen all the time now. Dunkin has found his new favorite job...being Tommy's Mommy. He cleans him, goes to him when he cries, and everything else his paws will handle Rolling continues to be Tommy's primary form of mobility. He's getting better and better at it every day. He continues to think about crawling, just hasn't put it all together yet

Dunkin Taking Care of Tommy

The expressions of a 6-monther

We are always spending time trying to get that perfect shot. And usually the first thirty are a waste. But all of a sudden when you see them all together, it looks pretty funny.

I can't eat another bite!

What 'u lookin' at?

OMG!

Hey baby!

Not the bottle...Don't take the bottle!

Just like the puppies

Happy Mother's Day!

In celebration of Tommy's 6 month birthday tomorrow, we had a home photo shoot. And here are the results.

Bath Time

Surf's Up

Beach Bum

Nap Time

All the Sopko Babies

Busy, busy, busy...take 2

Don't let that bubbly face fool you because this one really knows how to wail. Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday night this week were ridiculous! He was only asleep for about 2-3 hours at a time. All night long. But we finally got to the "root" of the problem on Thursday. Tommy's bottom two front teeth finally popped through (LHS first).

The lack of sleep and usual weeknight schedule has kept us quite busy and away from the computer. But that didn't stop a lot from hapeening all week. Sunday morning, we hit the grocery store & Lowes circuit for various supplies and we ran across the most wonderful sight...The World's Largest Grill from Johnsonville! Tommy's first trip of many.

Sunday evening we had the v-ball crew over for the season's first cookout. Tommy hung out on the deck and trampoline taking it all in. The puppies only got one brat out of deal since they're on a diet.

Tommy & Jason hanging on the Deck

Tommy Hanging On the Deck

Monday night we celebrated Cinco de Mayo with Mark, Lindsey, & Wang at Jalapenos. Margaritas were flowing. Monday was aso a big day because we switched over to size 3 diapers. Much more room and hopefully more absorbancy. Tuesday night we met up with our friend Troy from OSU to catch up on everything with him. He is getting married this August, moving to Chicago afterwards and is going back for his MBA this fall. Now he has a busy life! Wednesday was v-ball. Katrina hung out with Tommy through the game, evil front tooth and all. Thank goodness for Baby Tylenol. He still wanted to chew on everything including her sweatshirt strings, her fingers, and even her socks.

Tommy & Katrina at V-ball

Thursday night we finally stayed home and had dinner in his very own high chair. That entire effort is still a complete mess. Tommy is a very good helper and trys to help himself to his spoon each and every bbite. Unfortunately he hasn't figured out the useful-ness of the handle end just yet. On Friday, Jess and Adam were in town for a wedding and we were able to meet up with them for dinner. They saw Tommy last January when we were in Colorado on our snowboarding trip but he spent a lot of the night sleeping. So this time he was much more interactive.

Tom, Tommy, & Jess at Logan's

Saturday and Sunday we had a big wakeboarding/camping trip planned with Troy and Amy. But Mother Nature wasn't in favor of the whole thing as a big storm came in last night. So we canned the camping portion of the outing and headed over to Lake Clinton for a day of wakeboarding. Temperature was between 65 and 70 most of the afternoon and the water was between 70 and 80 depending on where we were at in the lake. This was Tommy's second boat trip but we did have a first-timer along. Troy and Amy's new dog Vettey had her vary first boat trip ever. Her lifejacket didn't come in in time, so he didn't get to jump in the water, but she had fun hanging out on the boat. Tommy and her are about the same size and they had fun giving each other kisses.

Tommy Checking out the Boat Floor

Vettey's First Boat Ride

Busy Busy

It's been a while since I've gotten anything added and I know the T3 fans are getting anxious about it. So here goes with what we've been doing for the last couple of weeks.

We had to get a new vehicle when we got the puppies so it is only reasonable that we would get a new ride once T3 hit the scene. So after much research, a fair amount of "debate" we settled on an F150. It's an '06, low miles, and pulls the boat great! And the rear windows are nicely tinted so Tommy doesn't get mad at the sun poking through at him anymore :)

Tommy's Pimp New Ride

So now with the new ride we needed to get the boat out and tow it around some. Fotunately, there's a nuclear power plant nearby, ergo warm water, so we could take the boat there and get a chance for Tommy to take his first boat ride. We headed over last Saturday on a balmy 62 degree day and dipped the wakeboards in for the first time. With wetsuits on, it wasn't too uncomfortable in the water. Tommy did really good all afternon hanging out with Amy.

Tommy and Amy in the Boat

We also had to get a new toy to start off boating season this year. Tom had to have a trampoline so he could practice his wakeboard jumps and flips. It serves a dual purpose though since Tommy likes it too. He giggles and smiles when he goes up and down on it!

Tom & Tommy Chilling on the Trampoline

And lastly, we had a baby shower last night for Trent and Amy. Tommy got to play with his friend Dax. And he got act as a twin "sit-in" so Trent could practice holding twins.

Tommy, Trent, & Dax

And in the meantime Tommy's been working on his food repertoire. We've gotten through almost all of the stage 1 foods. Green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, peas, applesauce, peaches, pears, & bananas. We're skipping prunes because that seems like cruel and unusual punishment. Tommy is starting to sit up. He gets about three seconds in a tri-pod position before he tumbles to one side or another! Everything in the world ends up in his mouth. Hair, hands, book, doggy tails...you name it, he's gummed it. No teeth yet but they're still coming...we've got the drool to prove it. And the biggest news is that Tommy has graduated from the sling in his bathtub sitting/reclining in his blue bathtub. A little practice like this and he'll soon be in the big boy tub.