Just a few days ago Will started adding some consonant sounds to his babbling. We're now getting a solid "dah dah dah dah" with our constant stream of noise. And this is just in time for the arrival of some of Beth's family for Filene's Basement Running of the Brides (more on that later). But here's Will showing us that he can hold his own amidst the noise and bustle of his extended family.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Joining the conversation
Just a few days ago Will started adding some consonant sounds to his babbling. We're now getting a solid "dah dah dah dah" with our constant stream of noise. And this is just in time for the arrival of some of Beth's family for Filene's Basement Running of the Brides (more on that later). But here's Will showing us that he can hold his own amidst the noise and bustle of his extended family.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Snow Day 2009
Like much of the Midwest, we were hit recently with a lovely winter storm. It's a good reminder that winter is not over yet - everything melted last week, so we were beginning to think that spring had arrived. Not so. On Tuesday the "wintry mix" started falling, and on Wednesday, for the third time in six years, Ohio State University shut down. And when THE University closes, that means all of Columbus is locking it down.
Beth and I both stayed home, and enjoyed a (busy) day together with Will. These are a few shots of our bushes out front.
And a couple shots out back.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Squirmo Baggins
It seems like just a few weeks ago, we posted darling pictures of Will, just sitting nicely in his bathtub, chewing on his rubber duckie. HA.
It seems like he has realized that he doesn't just have to sit still anymore.
Oh, no, bathtime has now become a wrestling match.
A wrestling match between me and a soapy fish.
A soapy fish with the cutest tush on the planet.
It seems like he has realized that he doesn't just have to sit still anymore.
Oh, no, bathtime has now become a wrestling match.
A wrestling match between me and a soapy fish.
A soapy fish with the cutest tush on the planet.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Dinner Time
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Trains!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A Dekker Christmas
On Christmas morning, bright and early, we headed to Grand Rapids, Michigan to visit Nick's family! We finally got to meet the newest Dekker Grandchild, Clara. Will, is, of course, posing for the camera. Is this kid the product of two theatre geeks or what?
He got some extra special time with Grandpa Dekker.
Nick is the second of four brothers, from left to right, Greg, Mike, Dan and Dr. Nicholas "Handsome" Dekker.
Will loved his gifts, and especially loved the walker his Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike gave him - he can hold himself up on it, but mostly chewed on the handle. There are definitely days where it seems as though he will be walking tomorrow.
Another of this kid's amazing expressions.
Of course, the best part of any good present is the packaging!
And the whole Dekker clan!
We also got to spend some time with Will's Great-Grandma Dekker, and he was all smiles for her.
Then we headed to Fredrich Meijer Gardens, where they were featuring Christmas trees from all over the world. It was beautiful!
But true Dekker men don't go to see the Christmas trees! They go to see the TRAINS!
They had a giant train set that travelled through three or four rooms, over bridges you walked under, with sounds and everything.
Will was just about as taken by them as his father and his grandfather. And I got the picture to prove it.
He got some extra special time with Grandpa Dekker.
Nick is the second of four brothers, from left to right, Greg, Mike, Dan and Dr. Nicholas "Handsome" Dekker.
Will loved his gifts, and especially loved the walker his Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike gave him - he can hold himself up on it, but mostly chewed on the handle. There are definitely days where it seems as though he will be walking tomorrow.
Another of this kid's amazing expressions.
Of course, the best part of any good present is the packaging!
And the whole Dekker clan!
We also got to spend some time with Will's Great-Grandma Dekker, and he was all smiles for her.
Then we headed to Fredrich Meijer Gardens, where they were featuring Christmas trees from all over the world. It was beautiful!
But true Dekker men don't go to see the Christmas trees! They go to see the TRAINS!
They had a giant train set that travelled through three or four rooms, over bridges you walked under, with sounds and everything.
Will was just about as taken by them as his father and his grandfather. And I got the picture to prove it.
Monday, January 12, 2009
A Meyer Family Christmas
Our Christmastime with my family began with a trip to the bustling Shenango Valley Mall to see Santa!
Nick and Will's matching hats made quite the stir everywhere they went - we had about a half dozen people in the mall stop us to say how adorable they were!
Santa was a good one this year, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay $17 for a 5x7 picture, so I stayed "outside the fence" and took a few myself. Will seemed pretty nonplussed with the whole thing.
We then went to a magical land called Kraynak's and through Santa's Christmasland! For those of you fortunate enough to have experienced this gem, it is FAR less terrifying and creepy than it used to be.
It is a little tunnel-like lane full of Christmas scenes with small cartoon animatronics and beautiful theme trees. It's been around as long as I can remember, and we used to go every year when I was young, but I haven't been back in years. It's really fun, and Will seemed to be amused.
We then tried the cute-baby-in-the-tiny-rocking-chair-by-the-tree-picture, which turned out pretty well.
He loved looking at the tree, and is clearly excited for his presents (of which there were MANY)!
HOW CUTE IS THIS KID?
I'm not sure if he really "got" that he was supposed to unwrap his gifts, but he sure tried.
And paper is delicious.
Bows are hilarious.
Maeby was quite happy to just be in the center of things, no matter how we tortured her. She IS under that pile of wrapping paper, btw.
And, the whole Meyer fam!
Nick and Will's matching hats made quite the stir everywhere they went - we had about a half dozen people in the mall stop us to say how adorable they were!
Santa was a good one this year, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay $17 for a 5x7 picture, so I stayed "outside the fence" and took a few myself. Will seemed pretty nonplussed with the whole thing.
We then went to a magical land called Kraynak's and through Santa's Christmasland! For those of you fortunate enough to have experienced this gem, it is FAR less terrifying and creepy than it used to be.
It is a little tunnel-like lane full of Christmas scenes with small cartoon animatronics and beautiful theme trees. It's been around as long as I can remember, and we used to go every year when I was young, but I haven't been back in years. It's really fun, and Will seemed to be amused.
We then tried the cute-baby-in-the-tiny-rocking-chair-by-the-tree-picture, which turned out pretty well.
He loved looking at the tree, and is clearly excited for his presents (of which there were MANY)!
HOW CUTE IS THIS KID?
I'm not sure if he really "got" that he was supposed to unwrap his gifts, but he sure tried.
And paper is delicious.
Bows are hilarious.
Maeby was quite happy to just be in the center of things, no matter how we tortured her. She IS under that pile of wrapping paper, btw.
And, the whole Meyer fam!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Rubber Duckie, You're the One...
It's hard to name a specific activity that Will likes best, because he's just such a happy baby, but if I had to choose, it would most likely be bathtime. I know most everyone says not to buy a baby tub but his ducky tub was, by far, the best ten bucks I've spent in a long time.
He would spend hours in here if I let him, and I often have to warm up the water after a bit so he can be in it longer.
He has quite a smattering of rubber duckies, which he just adores.
His favorite one is the classic yellow duckie, and it's hard to pry that out of his hands when bathtime is over.
We're hoping this bodes well for when we toss him the ocean with his uncles and dad at the shore this summer!
He would spend hours in here if I let him, and I often have to warm up the water after a bit so he can be in it longer.
He has quite a smattering of rubber duckies, which he just adores.
His favorite one is the classic yellow duckie, and it's hard to pry that out of his hands when bathtime is over.
We're hoping this bodes well for when we toss him the ocean with his uncles and dad at the shore this summer!
Friday, January 09, 2009
SIX MONTHS!
As I knew I would say, I can't believe my little Boo is six months old already! He is a giant baby, and has been wearing 12 month clothing for about 5 weeks now. He had his 6 month check up yesterday, and is 19 pounds 11 oz, which is the 85th percentile. He is 28.5 inches long/tall, which puts him OFF THE CHARTS for height. The nurse just marked down 99+! :)
He has been sitting up on his own since the week before Christmas, which is so fun to watch him play by himself or play with him. He loves toys and books, and his wooden blocks and teething rings. Then, on Christmas day, Nick and I were playing with him on the floor and he popped up on his hands and knees and started rocking back and forth. We told the doctor yesterday, and he said "well, that certainly puts him well ahead of the game!" Great. He's going to be crawling in no time! I thought I would get at least a few more months of I-set-you-here-and-you-stay-there!
He is an absolute joy of a child who smiles and laughs at everyone and everything. We adore seeing him learn and "get" things. His newest tricks include making little noises so we will look at him, reaching for me when I walk in the room, and holding himself up on his walker. Of course, chewing, drooling, pooing, and puking are all still favorite pastimes.
**And, a little note to all those pediatricians out there (yeah, you, too, Dad!), what are you thinking with the butcher paper on the exam table? Are you expecting my child to just sit nicely and not destroy it the minute he wiggles and squirms and drools? Save a tree (or a butcher) and just wipe the exam table with some 409.
He has been sitting up on his own since the week before Christmas, which is so fun to watch him play by himself or play with him. He loves toys and books, and his wooden blocks and teething rings. Then, on Christmas day, Nick and I were playing with him on the floor and he popped up on his hands and knees and started rocking back and forth. We told the doctor yesterday, and he said "well, that certainly puts him well ahead of the game!" Great. He's going to be crawling in no time! I thought I would get at least a few more months of I-set-you-here-and-you-stay-there!
He is an absolute joy of a child who smiles and laughs at everyone and everything. We adore seeing him learn and "get" things. His newest tricks include making little noises so we will look at him, reaching for me when I walk in the room, and holding himself up on his walker. Of course, chewing, drooling, pooing, and puking are all still favorite pastimes.
**And, a little note to all those pediatricians out there (yeah, you, too, Dad!), what are you thinking with the butcher paper on the exam table? Are you expecting my child to just sit nicely and not destroy it the minute he wiggles and squirms and drools? Save a tree (or a butcher) and just wipe the exam table with some 409.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Save Handmade Toys
We've had an eventful few weeks, and I'm sure there will be a barrage of posts to come, but I want to bring something to everyone's attention ASAP.
As you (may or may not) know, I am a huge fan of handmade wooden toys. We have tons of great plastic ones, but there will always be a place in my heart for maple blocks or pine cars. Will has a number of these toys (Melissa and Doug brand is a great one), but I have recently discovered Little Alouette. Amy and her husband did an amazing workshop at our New Year's Festival last weekend. One of Will's Christmas presents from us is a membership in the wooden-toy-of-the-month club (this and other AMAZING toys are available at her Etsy Shop).
Amy brought to my attention a terrible thing that is happening to not only handmade children's toy manufacturers, but kids' handmade clothing, furniture, and accessory builders. The Consumer Products Safety Commission is instituting, amongst other things, $4000 worth of testing per toy starting in August 2009. Most of the small toy and clothing manufacturers we have come to know and love, the very same ones that have helped made Etsy what it is today, will not be able to afford this testing fee and will have to cease selling these items.
Visit the Handmade Toy Alliance and support our friends, family members, and favorite toy and clothing makers. And support Little Aloutte as well for bringing this to my attention!
As you (may or may not) know, I am a huge fan of handmade wooden toys. We have tons of great plastic ones, but there will always be a place in my heart for maple blocks or pine cars. Will has a number of these toys (Melissa and Doug brand is a great one), but I have recently discovered Little Alouette. Amy and her husband did an amazing workshop at our New Year's Festival last weekend. One of Will's Christmas presents from us is a membership in the wooden-toy-of-the-month club (this and other AMAZING toys are available at her Etsy Shop).
Amy brought to my attention a terrible thing that is happening to not only handmade children's toy manufacturers, but kids' handmade clothing, furniture, and accessory builders. The Consumer Products Safety Commission is instituting, amongst other things, $4000 worth of testing per toy starting in August 2009. Most of the small toy and clothing manufacturers we have come to know and love, the very same ones that have helped made Etsy what it is today, will not be able to afford this testing fee and will have to cease selling these items.
Visit the Handmade Toy Alliance and support our friends, family members, and favorite toy and clothing makers. And support Little Aloutte as well for bringing this to my attention!
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