Adventures in America: Thanksgiving!!

Bear with me; this is late, I know. You've probably just gotten over scrolling through everyone's T-day pictures and updates and then here I come throwing you one more out of left drumstick.

I doubt I need to tell you but just so we're on the same page, this was Ty's very first Thanksgiving.  There was snow on the ground that morning which really puts a body in holiday spirits and makes for a perfect baby's first Thanksgiving (for non-locals, white Christmases are rare enough here, white Thanksgivings...almost unheard of).  I'd considered giving Ty some turkey to try but he was in a "fowl" (get it?) mood and ended up crying through his baby food and retiring to bed without a single taste of Thanksgiving. After bathing and tucking him off to bed I loaded up my plate with room temperature fare and joined everyone late. So that's parenthood.

But it was wonderful to be with family :D I thoroughly enjoyed (and stuffed) myself. Twice. Thursday with Todd's family, Friday with mine. Marriage is a fattening institution.

Ty had the most adorable hand-me-down First Thanksgiving pajamas that I am still in love with, and I had to make him a festive roast turkey hat. Had to. Everyone loved it and him in it and him just by himself. It's good to be home :)

And one more :) (Note: this is the outfit Aunt Coco brought him from very fashionable Italy)

Now that I've got this Thanksgiving post out of the way, I can wish you all a Merry Christmas. Carry on with December ;) 

Tales of *tiny* Ty: Eighth Month Round-Up

Crawling, pulling up (it's happened...), smacking things on tables and floors, we are one active little boy these days! The crawling thing really happened fast. One day he goes from a nervous hands-and-knees position onto his stomach, combat crawling or working his way across the floor in a series of complex tummy swivels. The next day it clicks and he's crawling. He can go from room to room, if he has enough motivation, and we officially have to keep our eyes peeled for any little thing on the floor. I mean, really...he's into sock fuzz and tiny carpet runs.

On that same train of thought, he enjoys playing mostly with things that aren't toys. Keys, paper towel rolls, belts, if it's not a toy, he'll take it! It's not always a bad thing, but someone remind me not to spend a lot of money getting him "nice" or cute toys. It'll be a complete waste at this stage.

Perhaps (and by that I mean, absolutely and indisputably) the biggest change this month is the continent  he calls home. We landed in America yesterday (Tuesday) at about 6am for a good three months visiting family and friends, and working on support raising and maintenance.

We took the direct flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Atlanta. Any guess on how long that is?  I'll tell you. It's 16 hours. Just so we're clear, it's a direct flight. That's code for no stops. By the grace of God, we had three seats together which was a life saver. He slept for about three hours on the floor, three hours on the extra seat (lolling over onto our seats), and maybe 1.5 cumulative hours in my arms at different times.

 He had a few episodes (the kind that provoke a stranger to come up in his face and say, "why are you crying?" to him and, "can I do anything?" to me. Um...no?), and it was an answer to prayer that he slept as much as he did and had only as many melt downs as he did. But if you're thinking of making a 16 hour direct flight with a baby, consider taking me up on my offer of unsolicited experiential advice: don't. Wait until they're like seven and even then think better of it. Not only is the trip itself highly stressful and exhausting, the recovery time is...as yet undetermined. Who knows how long it will take his tiny little body to adjust to this time zone? I'll have to get back to you on that.

So that's the latest. Keep your eyes out for our latest Tales of *tiny* Ty series, Adventures in America :)

And brace yourself...Ty had a bunch of adorable little clothes waiting for him when we got here, and I foresee MANY pictures documenting his stylish self!

Tales of *tiny* Ty: Seven Month Round-Up

I stand amazed. Not only because I am now in possession of a seven-month-old, but the seven-month-old I am in possession of has improved dramatically. I can't count the number of good naps he's taken or the hours he's spent happily stuffing things into his mouth while sitting up over the past month. A few weeks ago I even remember saying that he'd had the best week of his life. My mom thought I was being mean but I was paying Ty a huge compliment! He's been a real joy to be around and I think I've joined the club of parents who talk about what a blessing their child is :) Congratulate me.

Back in his newborn days I'd heard from more than one source that once a baby reaches three months, things change and they mellow and life is better. I'm sure they say that both to encourage the moms walking around with bags under their eyes who find themselves crying for no reason, and because it's usually the truth. I won't dispute the fact that Ty did start sleeping through the night prior to three months, but outside of that I did not experience the great change that supposedly happens at that milestone.

No, for us six months has been the big one. So, let me put that out there: If you still want to pull your hair out (if you have any left, that is, as it's probably still falling out by the handful at three months postpartum) when the baby turns three months and one day, be encouraged with the thought that change may still be in sight a little further down the road. And really, it will be here before you know it.

I thought we might have a crawler on our hands by this time, but he's yet to make his move. We've caught him raised up on his hands and a knees a few times, but it's a pose he can't hold for long. We're safe for now.

He's been eating very well for the most part and Todd usually feeds him breakfast and dinner. Back when we first started I was also trying to give him something at lunch too, but he was refusing to take it and I didn't force it. I don't think you can force food on a baby. For now we let him eat as much as he'll take from the bowl I make him. We trick him into eating vegetables by giving him bites of fruit. So judge us. I feel like now is not the time to have food battles, that will come later we we can communicate with him, and when he's actually hungry for food. As it is now he still nurses 5-6 times a day so I doubt he's ever actually hungry for food. No, now is the time to teach hm that eating is fun!

His favorite things are apples, tags, and Todd's belt buckle. He'll take an apple any way he can get it. When Todd or I eat one, he spits out his paci and tries to pull our hand holding the apple to his mouth :) We enjoy sharing one with him. He also has some applesauce nearly every day with his dinner, and it is by far the food he loves most.

Regarding tags, he finds them on everything. Play mat, blankets, stuffed animals, you name it. Seriously, he's got a thing for tags, and they don't all feel the same. Todd's belt buckle is probably his latest obsession. He likes the way the metal tastes, feels, and looks, I think.

And now for the pictures :)

Have I mentioned how much I love bath towel baby?

Pre-bath :) 

The time we caught him sitting with is hands nearly folded on his highchair tray, just watching us in the kitchen :) 

Yes indeed :) 

Such a big boy...how did this even happen?!

Who's Who?

Ok, misleading title. The identities of the babies pictured below are obvious; right? The two average-looking babes on either side are Todd and myself, respectively. Just so-so, we know.

BUT—, that stunning specimen of an infant in the middle...now he's a different story ;) All three of us are about six months, give or take a few weeks I imagine.

So, your next step is to tell me who Ty favors. We already know the correct answer; I just need to make sure the general public agrees.

While compiling this image, Todd commented that pictures have come a long way. So have babies, apparently ;)

Here's my keepsake of Ty's six month. Little glimpses of his little life right now :)

Picnic at the Park

There's  a little park and playground near our house and this week we took Ty for the first time. It was fantastic. We didn't really do much, besides take an inordinate number of pictures (and by "we" I mean, mostly "me"), but it was fantastic. The equipment has probably been there for, I don't know, a bunch of years and there were kids running around and people sitting at cement tables eating takeout...it was a park of parks.

But what MADE this place for me, what really sealed it in my mind as one of my new "old haunts" was the way the evening sun poured through the trees and lit everything up all golden and prefect. Perfect if you're like me and came armed with a Nikon wrapped around your neck. Probably super annoying if you're playing catch or frisbee or something. But I was just there to take pictures of my tiny boy doll (uh, that'd be Ty, just so we're clear). I went a little, shall we say, over the top. I click-click-clicked until Todd and Ty had probably both about had it.

But I think it was worth it.

I did say this was a picnic at the park. Butternut and avocado coming right up!

Here's some proof that I was there (Todd's idea). I fed him his "dessert": applesauce. He's a big fan.

I think we'll go back sometime. Like when Ty can, you know, play ;)

Tales of *tiny* Ty: He's got MORE skill

You may recall that back in his first month of life, Ty really started to develop of few of his talents (click "here" if you missed that post). In the months since, he's found the time to pursue more of his interests and hone a few more skills. I gotta hand it to that kid; he's fearless. And strangely well coordinated.

Take windsurfing, for example. Not just anybody can pick that up.

He's also gotten into bouldering and rock climbing. This one makes me a little nervous, but boys will be boys. 

Keyboarding! Now there's a hobby I can get behind. 

Baking is also something mom encourages. Nice and low-risk. 

That said, though, I admit to being really proud of his giant leap for babykind, even if all the other moms said I was crazy to let him shoot for the moon...

 While I thought chasing falcons in the Himalayas was kind of extreme, I tried not to discourage him from pursuing his dream: 

And of course I was wide open to him developing his costuming talent (after the rock climbing, it was really a tame venture). Gandalf was an obvious first choice... 

...though Superman wasn't far behind.

But Bert from Mary Poppins was my favorite. It's a jolly holiday with you, Ty!

That boy...what will he think of next?!

;)

Have a great Monday!