Tastings and Talents

Tasting #1: Root Beer

Last weekend, Todd and I decided to get crazy and have a rootbeer tasting contest of some local rootbeers in the area (or the midwest, really). So, the winner was...Sioux City Rootbeer. Even the "top rated NY Times" one (the one on the far right), to me was nasty. We still really like the rootbeer at Brick Oven, good 'ole A&W and Henry Weinhardt's. It's a toss up with those...

Talent #1: Jumping

Derek is our little jumping bean! He loves to jump and he jumps in this thing for a good 15-20 minutes until he needs a little break...over stimulation, perhaps?

Tasting #2: Oatmeal

He tried some oatmeal this week. He looked at me like, "Whatever this is, it is nasty!" It's an acquired taste, I tell him...

Talent #2: Toe-touch

"Oh, there you are little feet, you've been hiding."
He does this a lot these days...grabs his feet whenever he gets the chance.
Sometimes, I even catch him sucking on his big toe...pretty flexible.

Thanksgiving and then some...

Thanksgiving just crept up on this year. We were happy to skip town and head out to stay with Todd's family and were also able to see some of my family too. We are lucky to have them both living in the same area :) We had a great time with family and are now getting back to the realities of life back home. Todd has been very busy at work, logging in some long days. Nothing new for me has been going on. I partly decorated for Christmas. I have yet to get our fake tree out. I'm wondering if it's even worth it now. But, I love Christmas and the Christmas tree (although I prefer a real one, maybe we'll get a real one next year). The pictures below prove that Derek is growing up, slowly (weight, that is) but surely. He is still our little banana baby...tall and skinny. These are just a few random pictures of me messing with the camera. My goal is to learn how to take some great shots of our kids, as you can see, I have a lot to learn...

Anyone ready for turkey?

Derek is now beginning to have the technique down of grabbing and pulling on Fletch's hair...he doesn't mind a bit (However, the Santa hat that I put on him is another story)

This turned out dark but I wanted to show that he sits up (kind of...before he topples over)

His little mind at work

4 Months Already

I really can't believe that Derek has been with us now for 4 months and Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Crazy how time is continuing to fly by. So, what has happened over the past few weeks?

1. We have thoroughly enjoyed the weather...although it is starting to get quite a bit cooler for our morning walks.

2. We almost found a new family for Fletch but at the last minute, I just couldn't do it. We decided that even though he can cause me some added work (with his exercise requirements, etc), we love our furry friend too much. I felt like the part in Marley and Me when they give their dog away for a little bit but realized after he wasn't there anymore, that they wanted him back. Absence I guess makes the heart grow fonder...

3. We have been battling a nasty stomach virus this past week. It started with Todd, then Derek, then me. Pretty sad when you see your little baby having the dry heaves...I know that must not have felt good. But, we are all good now and ready to eat lots of yummy food for Thanksgiving

4. We have enjoyed watching Derek getting bigger and bigger. He's our little "Banana Baby"- long and lean but boy does he like to eat. He has started to roll over...changing diapers is a new adventure. Every moment he gets, he wants to flip to his belly. Anyways, here are some new pictures...

He loves his Sophie giraffe

Best friends

Fletch usually won't go inside after our walks until Derek is inside...how cute

Our furry child

Our Little Pumpkin

I really can't believe November is tomorrow. That is just too crazy and time is flying by. Derek is getting bigger by the day and I couldn't NOT dress him up this Halloween. He was the cutest, fluffiest pumpkin. He wore his little outfit 3 times: 1 for our Church Halloween party, another for a playgroup that I go to, and a third for Todd's work. He actually didn't fuss one bit while wearing the costume. Here are just a few pictures of our little pumpkin

It's raining, it's pouring...

It's been raining all day today. I actually don't mind the occasional down pour and considering it hasn't rained here in a while, it's good for the plants. And, normally, having a little cold with stormy weather would be a delightful excuse to curl up on the couch and rest the day away. That goes out the window with a baby and a dog who loves to be outside. Dog + wet outside = muddy dog. Not in the mood to tackle that one today. Hopefully it stops enough later this afternoon to take Fletch on a good walk. It would be good for all of us.

This is about how we are all feeling right now...

Going...

Going...

Gone

Recovering

Sick Days

Well, Todd, Derek, and I all managed to get a pretty bad chest cold this weekend and we are not loving it one bit. Lots of saline squirts and bulb syringing Derek's little nose...poor baby. On a more positive note, here are some recent pictures of our little one...Can you believe he is almost 3 months?!

If he could, his whole fist would be in his mouth

A little bonding with the dog

Lounging in the highchair

2 month check

Derek had his 2 month check up the other week and he is a growing boy! These are his most recent stats:

Weight: 12 lbs 2 oz
Height: 23 1/2 inches
Head circumference: 41 cm

He is changing every day and I can't believe that in just a couple of weeks he will be 3 months old! How time flies