Hanging Out with Daddy

It's been another fun week. Tommy and I have felt much better now that we're over our colds. Our sleeping is a little messed up and he's been waking up around 3am instead of 5am or 6am. We're hoping to get that back.

There have been a couple of huge developments. When Tommy was about 6 weeks old he rolled over a few times. Well it turns out that all that was a fluke. But now in the past two days, Tom and I have both watched him roll over both from his belly to his back AND from his back to his belly. Time to get the house crawler proofed.

Then yesterday, his binky fell out onto his shirt and he reached down with his hand to pick it up himself and put it back in. Yippee! Other than these big accomplishments, we've been hanging at home and around P-Town.

Tommy Laughing and Tom Napping

Silly Faces

Tommy Learning Circuit Design

Fun with Gramma & Grampa S

This week Gramma & Grampa S came to visit. They flew in late on Friday night and we spent the whole weekend together. On Saturday we went to the home show and Tommy got to travel in style in his stroller. We were checking out garage doors and window blinds for our next projects. The hit of the show had to be the mole hunter. He got Tom to buy six traps and we can't wait for the ground to thaw enough to try them out. Tom and the puppiess will get those moles yet! Then we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Granite City. We played a lot of euchre to finish out the night. Then off to bath and bottle time.

Tommy hanging in his stroller at the Home Show

Tommy with Gramma & Grampa

The next morning we headed down for some breakfast at Panera. And then off to Lowes to pick up paint brushes and rollers. After changing into our work clothes we got 6 doors painted on both sides for the theater room, watched two episodes of Austin Powers, and at least 4 more games of euchre done. (It's unfortunate to say, but I think the guys were the overall winners for the weekend...but we'll get them next time.) After that it was off for some dinner at Applebee's and then Gramma & Grampa put Tommy to bed while Tom and I dozed off in the living room. Man is it hard to stay up past 9pm anymore!

Gracie waiting for her ball

Dunkin claiming his favorite spot on the couch

Tommy with Gramma & Grampa @ Applebee's

The dog-days of February

Things have been cold around here! Something like 15 below zero with the windchill. So we've been staying inside where it's warm and where we can get over this nasty bug we had. All those days I spent gloating about how well Tommy sleeps were for naught. As soon as this first cold came around he's been up a lot more...3 times last night. Not a fun time. So hopefully as soon as the cough gets done we'll get back to normal.

When we went to see the doctor last week (02/13), Tommy weighed in at 13 pounds and 8 ounces so he's continuing to pack on the weight. Lately he's been enamoured with his hands. He keeps making a fist with his right fingers and staring at it like it's the best things since sliced bread. No need to have all those toys when all you need is your own hand.

Tommy checking out his fist

One fun new past-time is hanging out in his spinny seat. His feet don't touch the floor yet so he is stuck wherever we put him, but he has a good time reading his book, spinning the spinners, and looking at the sun rattle. It's usually good for 5 minutes of pure happiness.

Gracie, her ball, and Tommy

Tommy getting a spot bath from Dunkin

Tommy in his spinny seat

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I know it has been a long time since we had a new entry. Between the first week of work and a whole week of being sick I just couldn't find time to write. But we have been busy. Right here you can see Tommy in his Valentine's Day outfit. He got lots of Happy Valentine's Day wishes from Ohio.

Tommy dressed for Valentine's Day

The newest toy we have is this jumper that you see here. Tommy has gotten pretty insistent to spend at least half of his waking hours either sitting or standing or jumping so it was time to give him a new way to see the world. The jumper hangs from the doorframe and you adjust the height of it. He seems to really enjoy it. And Dunkin seems to like it too.

Tommy & Dunkin with the new jumper toy

Before we were down for the count being sick this week, we managed another celebrity sighting. And this time we actually met this one. Kerri Walsh visited last weekend as part of the AVP's Hot Winter Nights Tour. She's one of the best female volleyball players ever! And she has to be one of the nicest too...she signed autographs all night long! You can see her here with Tom and Tommy.

Tom, Tommy, & Kerri Walsh

Tommy enjoying his jumper

Back to Work

Well after three whole months the day, February 1, finally dawned for me to head back to work. Honestly I'd been looking forward to getting back in the saddle again and I think Tommy was looking forward to flirting with all his new teachers and Dunkin and Gracie were looking forward to the chance for some uninterupted ZZZZs. So we were both happy that the day had come. But Mother Nature wasn't going to make it easy on us. Thursday night she dumped 8 inches of snow on central Illinois! And for those of you who aren't familiar with the area, that usually means we won't be able to get out of our house for three days. Fortunately the snow plows learned from their mistakes and it wasn't too bad out there. So after shoveling the driveway at 5am we were ready to hit the road. Tommy was the hit of the daycare and everybody had to keep dropping in to see him all day I was told.

Jenny & Tommy on the First Day of Work and School

Dunkin & Gracie Before Their Much Anticipated Nap

Even though this onesie is about 6 months too big still, Tom couldn't wait to try it on him. There aren't many options for this little guy...Ohio State...Mechanical Engineering...Caterpillar. Sure hope he likes cars, trucks, and big noisy machines.

Tommy in His First Cat Outfit

And the weekend wouldn't be complete without the Superbowl. Tommy was more interested in trying to say his first words with Wang and showing off the belly he has got going than the final score. What a final drive though.

Tommy & Dave Practicing Words

Tommy & His Belly

Talking Up a Storm

Dunkin, Tommy, & Gracie Hanging Out at Home

Things have been pretty quiet since we got back from Colorado. I've been feeling sick, Tom's started feeling sick, and Tommy has the sniffles. Which equates to using the sucker a lot and he does not like that one bit. But he has still managed to expand his vocabulary quite a bit. He talked for about two hours straight last night. So far he can say "OOOOO", "OHHHH", "AHHHH", "AHH-GOO", "GLUG", "ARRR", "OO-EH", & "COO". Here's a small sampling of the little guy.

Videos at Home

Tummy Time

Kicking Practice

Vail Vacation - Take 4

After being in Colordao for 6 days it only seemed natural that Tommy should get some fun in his first snow. But, he preferred the idea of sleeping instead. We finished dinner and headed back to the condo to pack up for the flight home. Friday was pretty uneventful as we got home just a few minutes delayed. And after all that Tom still wanted to play volleyball so we packed right back up and headed out for some Friday evening fun.

First thing this morning, we went to the kennel to pick up Dunkin & Gracie. So now we are all back home and recovering from our week of fun in the snow. Give or take, next year, Tommy will be able to use his snowsuit for more than just a photo-op. We'll hit the tubing hills and get pulled around on a sled all week. Can't wait!

Tommy in his Tigger Snowsuit

Family Photo

"Snow Boarder in Training"

Vail Vacation - Take 3

After such a hard day of work on Tuesday, Tommy and I just stayed in to rest on Wednesday. But we did still get in some pool time and a good deal of naps. And after a ultra-cranky dinner at Bob's Place in Avon, CO Tommy was ready for some gigglin'.

Jenny & Tommy post-swim

Tommy & Tom

On Thursday it was back to Vail for one last day of snowboarding for Tom, one last massage for Jenny, and one more day of daycare for Tommy. This time he was with Alice at Small World Nursey - Vail. Apparently he was sleepy from his day of rest on Wednesday as he spent most of the day napping. But Alice still thought he was mega-cute and absolutely loved his dimples.

Tommy & Jenny Heading into Vail for the Day

Alice & Tommy Getting Ready to go Home

Vail Vacation - Take 2

Tommy hit the slopes for the first time on Sunday morning. Granted it was in his front pack and without skis or a snowboard. But he still got to ride to the top of Vail in the Eagle Bahn Gondola to have lunch.

Tom & Tommy Hanging at the Eagle's Nest

On Monday the guys went to Beaver Creek to board. Tommy, Amy, & I met them up for lunch and Tommy got to see his first celebrity, John Lynch of the Denver Broncos.

Amy, John Lynch (kneeling), & Trent at the Golden Eagle Inn

On Tuesday Tommy went to his very first day of daycare at Small World Play School in Beaver Creek, Colorado so I could try some snowboarding. Tommy didn't seem to care where he was and was pretty happy when Tom and I left. I however cried a little bit. Glad that we got that over with before I go back to work. Tommy spent the day with Louisa who said he was wonderful. His first report card said, "Easy to get to smile! Great dimples! Loves to be held." Which is certainly accurate.

Once we picked him up we grabbed some dinner there in Beaver Creek. After taking his snowsuit off we found out that they label not just the diaper bag and blankey but also the kid. Then when we got home we figured out they label the actual diaper! Extra security measures to make sure the right kid gets back to the right family.

Tommy and his outside label

Tommy and his inside label