This place is a zoo!

As an early birthday present, Jack and Gwen bought Robbie a membership to the Indianapolis Zoo. Gwen and I went today for a couple of hours with Jen Drosche and her daughter Olivia. Jen is part of my mom's group. Since this was Robbie's first time, we didn't know how he would react. Overall, he did really well!

We started out in "the oceans" which was a big hit. He loved the big fish in the aquariums and the sharks. He liked the way the light reflected on the walls off the water. He went bonkers for the penguins. Didn't know what to think of the polar bear or sea lions. He kept pointed at things he liked and going "ooooooh oooh!" like a little monkey.

Robbie with his Nana Gwen

One of the best parts of the whole trip was the plant life. He wanted to touch and feel everything as we went by. We visited the Plains and the Forests today also. He liked the petting zoo with farm animals, and looked longingly at the carousel.

By the end of the day, our little zoologist was tuckered out and ready for a nap. He did look adorable in his new hat. I think we are going to go back again next week!

Look, Ma! No Hands!

I haven't been able to capture it with a camera yet, but Robbie has started spontaneously standing on his own (not holding onto anything) this weekend. Several times a day he just, well, stands. It is adorable and is followed relatively quickly with a big "thump" as he falls down to his butt.

Woo hoo, Robbie!

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule: Thou shalt not mess up Robbie's routine...

The last week we have been somewhere or done something every single day. With family in from out of town for my uncle's funeral and other gatherings, Robbie is WORN OUT. Some night's we were out after 9pm which is crazy in our new life situation.

I had this nice little predictable schedule worked out for Robbie that is completely broken. We were so in synch that at 10 AM sharp, he would yawn. I would scoop him up, rock him for a few minutes and he would sleep for 2 hours. Also, he was going to sleep at 8pm and sleeping through the night (sort of...). I knew when he would be hungry and when he would be sleepy. I knew if I was going to be able to check facebook, or just have enough time for a cup of coffee.

So, we are trying to get back in a routine. Bottles, snacktime, mealtimes, naps, baths, bed, etc.

We'll see... we'll see...

Monday's Child

I found these poems tonight in the book "There's an awful lot of weirdos in our neighborhood" by Colin McNaughton. It is a book from Sam's childhood. They cracked me up!

Monday's Child is Red and Spotty
Monday's child is red and spotty.
Tuesday's child won't use the potty.
Wednesday's child won't go to bed.
Thursday's child will not be fed.
Friday's child breaks all his toys.
Saturday's child makes an awful noise.
And the child that's born on the seventh day
Is a pain in the neck like the rest, OK?

Short Sharp Shock
If your children are ever unruly,
(Of course this might never happen),
Just tell them to kindly behave themselves,
Then reach over quickly and slap 'em.

A Fat Lot of Good
Our vicar is kind.
But eats more than he should.
I suppose we could call him,
"A fat lot of good."

Mommom, Da!, Uh-Oh, and Ba!

Robbie has four words... besides the adorable jibberjabber that obviously means something to him.

Mommom -- that's me
Da! -- that's Sam
Uh-Oh -- what he says BEFORE he drops a toy/sippycup/toddler puff/etc. from his high chair
and
Ba! -- refers to everything that is NOT me, Sam, or a gravity experiment

He has several new "favorite" activities. He likes to ride his new truck, he likes to pull all the DVDs off the shelves in the DVD cabinet, he likes to "walk" with his push toy across the living room and squeal. He is really digging his newest foods: yobaby yogurts (made with whole milk, ew) and gerber toddler crunchies (think cheetos, but more expensive because they are made by gerber).



Yesterday he did the cutest thing. I actually called Sam at work to tell him about it. We have a family portrait in a frame that needs to go on the wall. We were having "supervised explorer" time where he gets to crawl around in the non baby proofed areas of the house when he spotted the picture. He squealed, crawled really fast up to it, and sat down in front of it. He clapped his hands and then leaned forward and "kissed" Sam in the picture. How cute!

One thing I'm sure of, after a week of 24/7 mommyhood... those daycare workers earn EVERY PENNY of my weekly payment to watch him from 7Am to 4Pm every day. I am so exhausted by the time Sam gets home from work. I actually fantasize about things like taking a long shower or sitting down to read a book or sleeping in until 8am or... sigh...

Don't get me wrong though... there is nothing more awesome that getting to be the Mommom to this sweet little man. He is fabulous!



Ba! Ba! Ba!

I love my life!

I love my son.
I love my husband.
I love my life.
I am so blessed!

Even though right now things are financially trying for us,
even though we feel that some days we are hanging on by a shoestring,
even though we haven't slept well in, well, nine months...

Everything is wonderful!
How blessed we are!