Family Photos

We had our first family photos taken by a professional recently. Jeff loved the location--outside and amidst a big sprawling oak tree. It was a really cold day so they didn't turn out as natural as we had hoped--we were all trying not to shiver!

Visit with Santa

We've been so busy getting ready for the holidays and with work that we haven't had any time to take photos. This is my busy time of year and we have had so many large transactions that I can't believe any of the people I work with are even remotely ready for Christmas.

Tyler had his visit with Santa, but wasn't very excited to be left alone with the guy in the big red suit. I left work for an early lunch and met Jeff and Tyler at the mall on a Thursday afternoon around 11:30am for the Santa visit. As we had hoped there was no one in line and we zipped on through.

Smiling

This past weekend was our first weekend with no real activities in months. I was a little under the weather but we each got to relax and enjoy the time together. The stacking cups and ball he is holding are his extra special toys. He will drop everything and come to get a cup or one of those balls. If I had known that the cheapest toys in Toys R Us would be sufficient, I could have saved myself a whole lot of effort and money over the past year!

Leaves are also the new hit in our hourse---playing with them, crumbling them and watching them fall is apparently very entertaining.

Tyler the Turtle

Tyler the Turtle learned to trick or treat this year. We were so pleased that he kept his costume on the entire time. We visited each of his grandparents and then went to a friends house.

More Birthday Photos

My friend Kristin (her little girl Emily is in the photo) sent over some additional photos of Tyler's birthday party. It so nice to have friends who love your children and cherish the special moments as well.

You can see on Tyler's face how he's thinking long and hard about the cake. He eventually tried it, but wasn't thrilled.

Tyler's favorite foods at the moment are bananas, mushrooms and graham crackers. I think they are so appealing, aside from the taste which he seems to love, because he can hold them and bite them by himself. No parents needed.

First Birthday Party

We had a little party for Tyler yesterday. He got to play with a few other little kids for the afternoon and taste his first piece of cake. He wasn't too thrilled with the cake, but he liked the kids!

Mommy Time

We are seeing our first real signs of separation anxiety in Tyler. He starts to cry now when I leave the room and when I hand him off to someone he clings with all his might. It's nice for the ego but listening to his cries is heartbreaking.

Profiles

Tyler had his one year check up. He's 25 pounds and almost 32 inches. That's less than a pound gain from three months ago, but almost 3.5 inches. He's definitely getting taller and starting to thin out around the waist. Unless he starts putting on weight again all those new clothes I bought for winter will be falling off him! We switched from formula to milk and he seems to be doing ok. No bottle and he went right to sleep tonight, so it doesn't seem he minds the transition much.

First Presents

My PSU roommate visited for the weekend and she and I went to see a Penn State game and got to catch up on each others lives. She brought Tyler his first birthday presents and he loved pulling the paper apart. I finally was able to wrench the box away from him. So much for the actual gifts!

Labor Day Weekend

It is such a gorgeous weekend! Yesterday Jeff and I went up to the first PSU game of the season. PSU won against Florida International 59-0. It was great weather and a beautiful day to be at a game. Tyler got to spend the entire day with my mom. Today it another beautiful day and we have been enjoying the yard. Tyler just sits and plays with the grass. Later this afternoon Jeff will be golfing and Tyler and I will be spending the evening with friends.

Drool!

Tyler now has four teeth--two on the bottom and two on the top are almost all the way in. He is getting more, and the drool is coming in buckets! Tonight he was content to play in just one corner. He's also picked up a new habit--when he's tired and we must be missing the rest of his signals, he pulls a pillow off the couch and lays on it.

Swimming

We have been spending a lot of time in the pool this summer. It's important to us to make sure Tyler is comfortable in the water. He has really come along, from simply splashing with his hands and clinging to us the first few weeks, to kicking and floating. He even puts his face in the water. The weather was beautiful today, almost 90 degrees, and the water was 82 degrees.

Standing Around

Tyler is really getting his feet under him. He loves to stand at the gates and push things through. It's fun for a while until he decides he wants the items on the other side. Jeff went fishing on the Jersey shore with his Dad and brother on Saturday, so Tyler and I got to hang out all day together with no interruptions. He is getting so big, and talks so frequently. I'm sure he is having a conversation with me, as it's a frequent back and forth, but I don't know the language--those noises just aren't making sense to me!

Stats

Tyler went for his 9 month check up a week or so ago. He is just over 23 and 1/2 pounds, and 30 inches tall. He's in the 80th percentile. At his other appointments he was always in the 100th or high 90th percentile, so his growth is slowing a bit, thankfully! We are already into 18 month clothes, and I am starting to buy 24 months for winter.

Beach

I received some additional great pics of the kids from our beach trip. We had such a good time, that we are already talking about planning for next year. Jeff and I would love to take a few days before the end of the summer and either go camping or back to the beach, but I don't know if it is going to happen.

Swinging Free

Tyler has a swing at my mom's house and loves it. He smiles so big every time he is in it. This picture is of him at the beach playground on one of the overcast days. I had forgotten how good swinging aimlessly through the air feels. . .but his smile reminds me.

Floater

On our way home from the beach we stopped at Jeff's parents shore house for a quick visit. The temperature was well into the nineties so it was a good day for our newphew Johnny to float around in the lagoon.

Beach Babies

We spent a week at the beach in Ocean City, NJ with friends of ours and their 1 year old little girl, Emily. The kids had such a great time in the sand. The best thing we did though was purchase individual size pools for them on the boardwalk--Best $5 we spent all week. We just filled them with an inch or two of ocean water and Tyler was content to hold a toy and splash with the other hand for long stretches. The kids ate less sand and we weren't constantly running after crawling babies.

It was so nice to be able to just enjoy each other as a family without the demands of errands, work, cleaning and daily life.

Bath Time

Tyler is crusing around the furniture holding on (and falling down) so he seems to get so much dirtier. Those little fingernails collect everything! He loves bathtime and can't get enough of the splashing.

Stars

Self-feeding is going well. Tyler loves the Gerber stars that dissolve pretty fast, but because they get soggy, as soon as his fingers are wet they stick. And stick to anything!

Deck eyes

Ruger went missing the other night, we looked and looked for her. Our other dog wouldn't leave the deck, and we found out why. . . Ruger dug a hole to get under the deck after some animal and couldn't get herself out. Jeff had to rip apart the deck steps to give her enough space.

Outside

With Tyler crawling around so much the only way for us to accomplish anything is to secure him somewhere. The stroller is the best. We also see a new funny face once a day or more.

Sun

It's amazing how the weather turns in just one week. The ice and 30 degree weather are gone and the sun has been shining brightly. With 80 degree temps we have been taking advantage of the opportunity to be outside.