Second Haircut

Today M and his Mama went to a child-friendly salon at one of our local malls for his second haircut. His first haircut was in early November, but I only took video and I've been too lazy to edit (sorry Mom!) Last time I asked the stylist to leave his curls, so it grew back pretty quickly, hence the second haircut in less than a month...

It was starting to get pretty fluffy by Thanksgiving. (A very tired little M - sitting on his keyboard - after a morning of playing with Uncle M.)

He was such a sweet, mellow little guy and didn't make a bit of fuss. Perhaps because he got to sit in the chair shaped like a tractor (which also happens to be his latest word!) and watch Thomas.

He wasn't much of a fan of the clippers...



After the haircut, we played on one of those coin operated kiddy rides.

He loved it before I turned it on, but I think the motion freaked him out a bit. Now I know I can save $.50 and still have a happy kiddo!

His haircut really makes him look like a little boy. It's a little disconcerting. He was very ready for a nap when we got home, and he slept so long I had to wake him up. He was such a grumpapotamous (and wearing grumpypants) when he woke up. All he wanted to do was cuddle up and rock with me. It was so cozy - a nice reminder that he's still very much my baby.

Another milestone passed. It's a little strange, but also wonderful, to think that soon I will have lost track of the number of haircuts. So many firsts (and seconds...) It's so much fun watching this little boy grow up!

Halloween!

My baby elephant...

Sliding and swinging

I love my boy's glee when he's swinging and sliding. Makes me so happy!

A boy and his blankie

I've mentioned before that my boy loves his blankie...



Last weekend we brought Blankie outside and he showed it the back yard.

He calls his blanket "Buh-tie." I'm not sure if he's saying "Blankie" or "Buddy."

One of his nicknames is buddy. Either is pretty cute.

I love that the little guy loves his Blankie so much!

Pumpkins

On Sunday we went pumpkin picking with friends at a local farm. I met the moms and their daughters about a year ago at a new moms group. It's still amazing to me to think how much we've gone through over the past 12 months.

It was a perfect fall day. We went first thing in the morning, which was good, because by the time we left at 10:30am it was packed.

The kids are such buddies. Whenever they greet each other there are many smiles and much mutual nose beeping.

We went on a hayride to the pumpkin field. M sat on Daddy's lap and wasn't to sure of things.

At first M wasn't too sure about the pumpkins.

But then he realized that they make good drums.

And that they're fun to try to roll.


And then it was true love.


We didn't have all that much luck getting three old-year-olds to pose for a picture together. I think this picture is hilarious, and represents all three personalities well.

Nature vs. Nurture

Apparently, the urge to climb up a slide is innate in children...

My Boys

M walked over to Daddy, said "Boo!" and then sat on his lap.

Melts my heart. I love my little talking toddler!

Sliding

This afternoon we went to the park. J and I took turns taking M down the slide on our laps. It was his first time on the slide and he loved it. I do love making that baby laugh!

Teething or Cold?

Unfortunately, it's probably both...

M has been a grumpy fountain of drool for the past few days and now he has a a fever. The poor kiddo had a tough day. There were lots of pauses to snuggle with blankie and whichever parent was closest. I even got one of his very precious post-nap-snuggles. Usually M is ready to go after a nap and won't stop for anything, but every once in a while he will lie on my chest and doze for a bit. It is so sweet and cozy and wonderful.

It was a rough day for Mama and Daddy too. But, we had nice time going shopping and taking a walk to the park. He refused to let me put him down while I was prepping dinner, so I broke out the sling and made it one-handed. After a dinner where he only wanted applesauce (and to feed Mama graham crackers - I am so getting this if it's a cold) we had bath time. He loves bathing in the tub - and hates to get out at the end. Then he had about an ounce of bottle and fell asleep.

Now we're enjoying some very cheezy tv and a much deserved beer. Whew!

M has started driving things around and making "vroom" noises. It's so amazing to see him learn and grow. My baby is becoming a little boy!

Saturday Play

My active little guy!

This Moment

This Moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. A beautiful idea from soulemama.

Mini Reunion

Last weekend M and I had a wonderful visit with three of my friends from high school and their little ones. Walt, my very best friend and roommate from George School lives a little over an hour away from my mother-in-law's house on the Cape. (Walt is not her first name, but it seemed like everyone in our class was an Emily or a Sarah, so we called her by her last name. And I still tend to call her by the shortened version.) I haven't seen her in ages - she stopped by when M was brand new.

Walt and her darling little boy

It turns out that two of our classmates, twins Emily and Bonnie, have been vacationing in the same town with their family for years! It was such a strange coincidence. We've probably been in the same town many times over the last 10 years I've been visiting J's family.

Emily and her daughter Willa Rose - Bonnie and her son Joe

We went to Skaket beach. I'd never been before, J's family goes to Nauset, but it was a really neat beach for kids. At low tide you can walk really far out and there are shallow tidal pools that M loved playing in. My boy is fearless when it comes to water. He is in complete denial that he still needs to hold my hand. We really need to take swimming lessons soon!

It was such fun, if a little strange, seeing M play with the children of my high school friends. Honestly, in my mind they should still be 18. They are all such wonderful mamas.

This was the first time M and LP met. LP was so sweet about sharing his trains with M.

The boys played very well together!

Weekending

This weekend my brother came to visit from SF. It was such fun to see him. He hasn't seen M in about five months, and he is much more interesting now. (And by "he" I mean M, my brother has always been interesting!)

Sunday was another hot day in NJ, but threatened rain, so instead of the town pool we filled up the kiddy pool and splashed about. Lots of fun!

Sunday night, M had mango with dinner. He didn't let me finish peeling before he attacked it. Apparently, he likes mango as much as hummus.

Weekending

We had a quiet weekend. I had to work on Friday and Saturday night, so we stayed close to home. Lots of swimming and trips to the park. And lots of chores completed! J replaced our grungy old basement sink and I conquered Mount Laundry. M spent lots of time looking cute. He's very good at it.

M's latest favorite toy is the baby gate at the foot of the stairs. He absolutely loves opening and closing any door, but the gate is at just the right height for him.

"Will you open the gate Mama? Please?"

(this picture makes me want to wake him up for a cuddle. So tragic!)

Wanna swing?

While swinging he was making a "lalalalala" sound with his tongue (I can't describe it, but I remember doing it when I was little. It was pretty cute.)

I love this picture because he looks less like a baby and more like a little boy. (Also the reason I hate this picture...)

And, I love this one, because he's still my baby, and oh boy does he love his blankie.

I had a twinge of "my baby's growing up," when we went to the local playground on Sunday. It was the first time I let him out of the stroller to play. We ran into one of our neighbors and his three-year-old daughter. M had such fun following her around the playground and trying to do everything she did. It was so sweet. But a little sad. My teeny, tiny baby wears shoes and plays with other kids at the playground!