Fun with the Farm

Thanks to Ray's Craigslist-watching skills, we picked up some freebies a while back. One item in particular hearkened back to our childhoods - the Fisher Price Farm. We were very disappointed at the time that the new version didn't make noise. Of course, it does - but now, it uses batteries, oh yay! (The old version ran on compressed air, and possibly brontosaurus spit.)

Ray decided to clean the farm up and let Eamon play with it today. I have to admit that Ray and I were also sad that the little rooster at the top seemed to play "Old McDonald" now, instead of crowing. I left Ray and Eamon playing with the toy, and came back to Ray poking it every which way. Eamon had somehow gotten the thing to crow, and it was driving Ray nuts. We ended up stealing the barn from Eamon until we figured out how to make it crow. Good parenting, that. We did give him some toy animals to eat in the meantime. Really...

Anyway, I took some pictures that I was planning to save until I thought my father had earned them. Missy, you'll be impressed to know that they got saved a whole 12 hours. Here you go, Dad.

Eamon enjoying the farm. (For those of you on memory lane, the little things on the sides are just sliders. And now the hay bale at the top shoots the little people out the sides (the hole you can see in the roof), so that's fun.. and a great example for the kids...)

Wait, Eamon, what's that you're eating?

Is that...a pig?

What's that you say? The pig is just as tasty as... a Dad?

Hmmm....

Five months

Eamon turned five months old yesterday.

Oh, really?

For those of you with no interest in milestones, you can skip this list and just look at the pretty pictures, if you wish (like I can control your mouse!). But, because I think his grandparents care (and, honestly, so I can remember), he:

Sleeps: pretty well most nights, only up a couple of times for food. Occasionally even naps in the crib (with the swing as his last resort).

Eats: rice cereal, avocados, sweet potatoes (his favorite so far), and maybe oatmeal (not sure how that went yesterday...will try again later). Sort of uses a sippy cup, as he has no interest in the bottle.

Can hold a conversation in babbles (no consonants yet), and laughs (particularly for belly tickling).

Stands: well, when held (and has for a while). He's not up to holding himself up with his hands, but if you prop him near the couch, he'll lean in and hang on with his mouth. That's my child... so proud.

Sits: sorta, when placed.

Rolls over - Onto his stomach: well. Back: not so much. About three times a day.. still filing that under "even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.."

Lifts his head up when he's on his stomach (finally).

Reaches: for anything, passes it back and forth- and puts in in his mouth, if possible. But still eats his toes.

And has the beginnings of his first tooth. Top left canine? Not quite sure. We shall call it fang.

Fang doesn't like to be photographed, sorry.

Yum.

Eamon decided he likes avocados - but only if he can feed himself.

Amazingly, that's cleaner in the photo than reality. I see lots of laundry in our future.

Good thing he got more clothes for Ray's father's day gift (thanks for the help, Jen!)

Happy Father's Day!

What's this? I am being handed a message.

Oh, yes, to all you fathers out there: Have a Happy Father's Day!

(you'd better - or I'll eat you... dads are, in my experience, quite tasty!)

-Eamon

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Happy Father's Day, guys.

-Laura

Video from Tap Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Trip Report- Part 2: The Wedding

Hello again. Mom and Dad are still resting up, so I'll continue the update from our trip.

Mom and Dad got all dressed up for the wedding, and put something called... shoes? .. on me. Huh.

Dad ended up wearing me for much of the night, which gave me great access to his bottles (and made it very hard for him to wear his suit jacket, so, sorry, no pictures of that). 

Oh, look, a bottle!

The bride and groom looked quite beautiful.

Really, they did... Joe, and Maria:

Mom says the wedding was very nice, with lots of laughing, which seemed familiar somehow. Dad said he really wished we had gotten to spend more time with Maria, because she seems like a great person. Hopefully we'll get to visit when they're not so busy. 

Dad did get to talk to a lot of his pilot friends (somehow ALL the female pilots showed up - huh), and Mom and I felt bad for the poor non-pilots at the table, but the pilots had fun! There aren't many more wedding pictures because it got verrry hot, and Dad has lost all of his Memphis blood, so we headed home a little early - but two hours AFTER my bedtime, people!  Alicia was right - Bed. Time.

I slept really well in the crib (Grandma B. will be glad to know that they moved it away from the dizzying view), and woke Mom and Dad up in time to pack up and head for the airport. It took a few tries to get a flight out, but we ended up flying first class...Wow!

I could get used to this!

That's all for now from me.. time to find someone to change my diaper...volunteers?

-Eamon

Atlanta Trip Report- Part 1: May I show you my room?

Mom and Dad and I flew down to Atlanta for Dad's friend Joe's wedding. They're recovering from the trip, but since I slept through all the plane flights, I'm going to go ahead and give you the update. There are lots of adorable pictures of me (of course!) so it'll be a two-parter.

Mom and Dad really liked the "modern" hotel room. I wasn't so sure, especially when the bed ate my head....HELP!

However, it apparently had fun house mirrors- the second one makes me look adorable and adds crazy people to the background. That was entertaining!

You should always have a backup plan!

Both Mom and Dad were pretty amused by the expansive mini-bar. And the expansive mini-bar prices.

Dad liked the couch for a nap, but I liked the view from my crib.

Wait a minute, I can't see anything in this position!

Much better, thank you. I'm going to enjoy the view. More for you all later.

-Eamon

[edited to add: Eamon didn't give any context, but the "Backup Plan" is the spare roll in the hotel bathroom. That cracked me up. -Laura]

What's that?

What's that, Dad? Mom posted another video post? And you let her play with iMovie?


Oh my. Well, let me see it....


EEK! Please, people, send pictures of me in a dress, it has to be better than this!

In which I subject you to my addictions..

We've only gotten one set of baptism pics back so far (thanks, Laura Rose!)... so I'm mining the huge backlog of fun pics I want to show you. And now Ray is trying to help my iMovie skills.

So you get this - a product of my addiction to Eamon pictures, and to Caspar Babypants (yay, fun kids music-- Eamon and Ray dancing to this is a video for another day). And my attempt to show you what it's like to hang out with the happy little man on your stomach (for best effect, move your screen there now).

(edited, per Jen's instructions: this music is catchy. Your fault if it gets stuck in your head. :)  And if it does, click on the link below to check out his website and get more addicted. )

Music: Free Like a Bird by Caspar Babypants

Cheap amusement. I'll be working on those skills some more, I promise.

In other news, for those who care: I just found out that my second paper of the year got accepted, so I am done (well, once I finish galley proofs I am done) with all of the leftovers from my Ph.D.! Yay!

Videos

Two videos to start the weekend.

I've told multiple people how, every night now, Eamon looks at me with a glint in his eye, kicks up his little feet, and rolls over. Excuse the poor lighting, but here is the evidence:


And Eamon has started laughing. How to resist? (it's sideways.. I lost the sound when I tried to put the clip right side up.... again, sorry)

Long week

Eamon's baptism went well, and we really enjoyed getting to see a lot of people we haven't seen in a while, including a lot of both families. I didn't take any pictures, so any retrospective is going to wait on all of you all to send me yours. :) 

In the meantime, Eamon and I are going to nap. :)