GaGa

Sure...MP2 can say ga-ga-ga-ga all day long, but last week Gaga was rolling off my tounge as MP2 and I headed to Nashville for my first big post-baby-night out. Some friends and I were attending the Lady Gaga concert in Nashville. Nevermind that I only know one song - I was there for the people watching, well, and the booze!

Some may think it crazy to drag a 9 month old on a 900 mile round trip just so mommy can go see a concert with her friends, but those folks don't know this mommy or her buddies. So off we went. A six hour drive becomes an 8 hour one when you have to stop every two hours for an hour...but who's complaining. Not me...and clearly, not MP2 when it means hanging out at Panera and cruising on their coffee shop vibe furniture!

Upon arrival to Nana & Papa's we found lots of preparations had been made. MP2 likes to swing? Check! Swing is hung!

Oh, he likes to stand up?? Coffee table is cleared of everything and ready to serve. Living room is nice and empty and ready to set up his leap frog table, and other toys for lots of fun playtime!

The trip wasn't all fun and games...at least for me, since I had to work while I was there. Luckily, Nana took off from work and hung out with MP2. I think they had a great time. MP2 even seemed to totally enjoy their visit to the world's creepiest Easter Bunny....I am not sure what to say about the photo, except it is a total contestant for the Awkward Family Photo of the year!

Our last night in Nashville was the concert (poor planning on my part, huh??), and I was too busy having fun to take more than this one picture. Good thing I have my memories! Oh, wait. ;-)

Keep on the Sunny Side

CoMO has had some strange spring weather...we've had 80 degrees, followed only a couple of days later by days so cold I didn't want to venture outside. This has forced us to take advantage of the good ones when we have them.

A couple weeks ago, on a nice warm day, we packed a picnic lunch and went to Rock Bridge State Park (sans dogs, which was simultaneously exhilirating and guilt laden). It was nice to take a short hike in the woods, followed by spreading out a blanket and having a late lunch and MP2 crawling session.

Another nice day found us on a walk after brunch with some friends and their 2.5 and .25 year old sons (which is a whole other story - suffice to say, while we had a great time, brunch just isn't what it used to be). We discovered a nice bed of blooming tulips on the Columbia College campus, and I thought it would be a great photo op.MP2 has also blossomed (how's that segway??) into a standing machine. It's hard to believe that only a few weeks ago he was hardly crawling. These days, more often than not, when we go to get him after naps or in the morning, we find this -

What a big, big boy we have on our hands!! He's also beginning to do some serious cruising around on the furniture. There's no holding him back!

With skills like these, the future's so bright, you've got to wear shades (ha ha)

On the Move!

...as I'd mentioned, MP2 is no longer doing the inchworm. Pretty much every chance he gets, he's pulling up to standing on whatever suitable thing he can find. Check him out

Man, we don't know what we're in for!

The Great Outdoors

Since we find ourselves with warmer weather, we are choosing to spend lots more time outside. I think both MP and I both find ourselves neglecting things we should be doing in favor of doing fun things with MP2. He LOVES to swing. He's also no longer "inchworming" but has found his way not only to the true crawl, but also pulls up on things all the time. It's harder getting out and about, because while he loves to be in the midst of new people and places, he wants to get in on the action now. There is no more just holding him in our laps as he watches the world go by...

Riley - still not so sure of him. Most of the time she runs the other way now that he's mobile.

This past weekend we went on our first picnic at Rock Bridge State Park. We took a short walk, but in the end just spread our blanket out in a field closeby to the parking lot and MP2 loved crawling around - you know enjoying nature...

Today, after brunch, we hoped MP2 would take a bit of a nap, so we headed out on a walk. He didn't sleep, but we did find a great bed of tulips to pose for pics...

Spring is in the Air

Over the last few weeks, we've seen spring come and go, but I am thinking it's safe to say that this time it's here to stay. Any nice weekend day has found us itching to get outside. We usually take the dogs and MP2 and head to Hinkston Creek Trail. CoMO is a great place to have a dog - there are so many great off leash areas, including Hinkston Creek, our favorite. The dogs will swim, and we take the stroller and go on a nice long walk through the woods.

Here are MP & MP2 enjoying one such day (and further evidence that MP2 looks just like his dad!)


We've also discovered that MP2 loves going to the park. He seems to be really interested in other kids, and loves watching them play while he swings. We try to use the other playground equipment, but really, he's still a bit small. This does not stop MP from trying to send MP2 down the slide...it's actually really cute.


Another of our favorite weekly activities these days is taking MP2 to Mizzou Rec Center's Family Night at the pool. Every Friday night from 5-7 members can bring their family to the indoor pool for a fun time swimming. We've been bringing MP2 for several months, nearly every week. Both MP and I want him to be comfortable around the water. So far, so good...he LOVES it. He splashes, stands, and when water inevitably gets into his face, he seems to care not a bit.


Okay, so maybe he got one thing from me. At 9mos old, can I count on the blue eyes sticking?

At the 9mo doctor appointment, MP2 weighed in at 19 lbs 4 oz and is 27 5/8 inches long. He'd been precariously perched in his infant seat for several weeks, so we decided it was time to graduate to the larger convertible carseat. He seems to be happy riding tall.


In more crawling news, MP2 is all over the place. Basically, the moment he touches the floor, he is after any one of the following:
bottom shelves of tables/bookcases
electrical cords/outlets
doors/drawers/cabinets
dogbeds/dog toys

He is also able to locate any dirt or lint or doghair or tiny piece of trash on the floor with astonishing speed. Gotta keep an eye on this one all the time. At least he hasn't found the wine rack yet!


He's still inchworming, but he manages to get around pretty quickly this way. I won't say it's the most graceful look, but hey, maybe he got something else from me after all ;-)