Happy Birthday Leo--today you are 2 years old!
We'll put up an update post later (with pictures), but Papa and I wanted to tell everyone how happy we are that you are our little boy and we don't know what we did before you were in our lives. We think you're pretty happy too, since lately you've been randomly saying "Happy!" and when we ask you if you are happy you say "Yes!" So sweet you are!
We love you,
Mama and Papa
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
If I hadn't seen it....
I wouldn't believe that Leo actually petted Hogarth (Mason's dog) earlier today. It's been a weekend where I haven't been able to accomplish much of what I need to get done before tomorrow gets here, partly because he's been a little squirrely. I've still got a good-sized stack of grading to do, and it looks like my original plans for this week's lunches are kaput, at least until tomorrow.
He, on the other hand, decided to sleep in a bit both days, and took incredibly long naps that only ended because we opened the blinds in his room. Lucky him.
He, on the other hand, decided to sleep in a bit both days, and took incredibly long naps that only ended because we opened the blinds in his room. Lucky him.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Ahhh fall
Finally had some time to upload more pics to Flickr. Sorry we haven't been tagging or titling them--that'll require more time somewhen--maybe Christmas break.
Thought I'd share some recent pics of the neighborhood and of our neighbor Mason--who is Leo's new best bud.
This is at the end of our street looking toward campus. Yes, those are cornfields you see beyond the trees. We live at the south end of campus which is all the agriculture and research stuff. We often see cows and horses, and sometimes tractors on our way too and from daycare. Leo loves it.
Another street in our neighborhood.
Leo and Mason on a recent playdate one evening. Leo won't let us anywhere near his nuk, but he'll let Mason grab it without a fuss. They were giggling hysterically.
Leo likes to hide in the pantry cabinets for some reason.
Thought I'd share some recent pics of the neighborhood and of our neighbor Mason--who is Leo's new best bud.
This is at the end of our street looking toward campus. Yes, those are cornfields you see beyond the trees. We live at the south end of campus which is all the agriculture and research stuff. We often see cows and horses, and sometimes tractors on our way too and from daycare. Leo loves it.
Another street in our neighborhood.
Leo and Mason on a recent playdate one evening. Leo won't let us anywhere near his nuk, but he'll let Mason grab it without a fuss. They were giggling hysterically.
Leo likes to hide in the pantry cabinets for some reason.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
PJ day
Yesterday Leo did not want to get dressed for school. We had to wake him up in the morning and the rest was downhill from there. He screamed and cried and would not cooperate about getting ready to go. Jeff somehow managed to get pants and shoes on him, but he would not submit to having his shirt changed. So he went to school in his PJ top. We sent along a regular shirt, just in case his teachers could convince him to change, but he came home still wearing the PJs.
This morning we had to wake him up again (he even went to bed early last night--8pm!) but he was in a much better mood today. No screaming or crying or anything. He was downright charming at breakfast.
Must have been because it was Monday yesterday that did it.
This morning we had to wake him up again (he even went to bed early last night--8pm!) but he was in a much better mood today. No screaming or crying or anything. He was downright charming at breakfast.
Must have been because it was Monday yesterday that did it.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Just us guys, Fall 2007 edition
So, Kirstin's been gone at the Midwest Music Library Association meeting in Cincinnati the last few days, which has left me on my own with Leo for that stretch. She comes home tonight, but has a rehearsal and a gig tomorrow, effectively making it most of 4 days of the single dad thing.
Other than not getting any school-related work done, it hasn't been too bad. He's been a little clingy, and didn't go to bed until later than I would have liked either night. There was still a bunch of coughing on Thursday night, but he basically slept through the entire night in his own bed last night. (I think I was up once to replace a lost pacifier, but that's about it.)
He's starting to get the idea of multiple words for the same thing, exemplified most recently both on the way home from day care two days this week, and then again this morning at Target, when he held out / pointed to his nukker and said "paci."
Thursday and Friday nights, he wasn't very interested in being active. But, when Meetup sent me the Champaign calendar for the week, and I saw that the Moms group was going to the Harvest Fest, which I previously hadn't heard of, I figured we'd go. I'm glad we did, because we had a good time. We made a couple of forays into the petting zoo area that runs at the farm all summer long (Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, plus the event today), and although the goats freaked him out a bit, he really liked the monster-sized bunny, even though he couldn't reach down far enough to pet it by himself. The real coup, though, was that he petted the miniature pony -- on two separate occasions. "Sof," or so he said. :) (He also liked the llama like he likes dogs -- that is to say, anytime it was at least 4 feet away.)
He's napping now, and I'll go work on putting together the wagon he got for his birthday in a few minutes, and then take some time to just be a grown-up for a little bit.
Other than not getting any school-related work done, it hasn't been too bad. He's been a little clingy, and didn't go to bed until later than I would have liked either night. There was still a bunch of coughing on Thursday night, but he basically slept through the entire night in his own bed last night. (I think I was up once to replace a lost pacifier, but that's about it.)
He's starting to get the idea of multiple words for the same thing, exemplified most recently both on the way home from day care two days this week, and then again this morning at Target, when he held out / pointed to his nukker and said "paci."
Thursday and Friday nights, he wasn't very interested in being active. But, when Meetup sent me the Champaign calendar for the week, and I saw that the Moms group was going to the Harvest Fest, which I previously hadn't heard of, I figured we'd go. I'm glad we did, because we had a good time. We made a couple of forays into the petting zoo area that runs at the farm all summer long (Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, plus the event today), and although the goats freaked him out a bit, he really liked the monster-sized bunny, even though he couldn't reach down far enough to pet it by himself. The real coup, though, was that he petted the miniature pony -- on two separate occasions. "Sof," or so he said. :) (He also liked the llama like he likes dogs -- that is to say, anytime it was at least 4 feet away.)
He's napping now, and I'll go work on putting together the wagon he got for his birthday in a few minutes, and then take some time to just be a grown-up for a little bit.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Adventures (warning colorful post-not for the weak-stomached)
I don't even know where to start, so maybe I'll start at the end (now) and work back to the last post.
Today we got back from a 4-day-accidentally-turned-into-a-five-day trip up to Wausau WI to see my Mom and stepdad. The trip up Friday night was uneventful--Jeff picked up Leo from school and then they picked me up from work at about 3pm and we left from there, arriving in Wausau just before 10pm. The only way we could get Leo back to sleep after having been asleep in the car was to take him into bed with us. Things started to get interesting when Leo woke at some point (I don't remember when) [ed. note from JD: at 11:38, after we'd gotten into bed just after 10:00] and puked all over us. He seemed fine right after and was rather cheerful with his "oops"es. We all got cleaned up and went back to bed. Fast forward one hour, repeat. Fast forward another hour and a half, repeat again--although by this point Leo is not so cheerful and barely awake as we clean him (and us) up. He doesn't seem to have a fever, so while we're concerned we aren't alarmed. We all go back to some semblance of sleep and when we wake in the morning it seems if everyone is well.
Saturday Leo is in good spirits although he has no appetite and a bit of a fever in the afternoon. He takes a good nap and all seems well. We celebrate early birthdays (mine's on the 17th and Leo's on the 26th) with a cake and Leo enjoyed picking individual sprinkles out of the frosting.
Saturday night Leo pukes once, minor at that, but does not repeat.
Sunday afternoon Jeff starts to feel queasy and spends quite awhile dry heaving and then having all sorts of fun in the bathroom for the various reasons stomach bugs cause at both ends. He's banished to the couch at bedtime so that he doesn't wake Leo and I up with his frequent trips to the bathroom. By late Sunday evening I'm also feeling queasy, but go to bed with the hopes that it's all power of suggestion. Alas, in one spectacular swoop I am proven wrong (no dry heaves for me thanks).
All of Monday (the day we were going to return to IL) sees me in the bathroom frequently--who knew the GI tract could hold so much?! My mom, who has patiently been doing laundry and other cleaning behind us, starts to make comments about it being like following behind the elephants at the circus. Thanks mom. There is no way we can make a 7 hour car trip Monday, so we make various phone calls to work and daycare.
Tuesday (today) Jeff and Leo awoke feeling much better and I was still pretty run down. But, we had to get back to IL, so we left Wausau at 9am and got back to IL at 4pm. the trip was uneventful except that Leo did not nap. He was, however, very well behaved the entire trip, including today. While we were gone our new table and chairs were delivered, and we Jeff put them together while I unpacked and entertained Leo.
In other news...Leo now officially calls the grandfathers "Bebop." He doesn't seem to have a name for the grandmothers yet, although he often referred to my Mom as Mama (since she's my mama I guess it makes sense).
Two weeks ago Glenn and Carol visited briefly, and fun was had by all. I am however, way too tired to remember details at the moment. I leave Thursday for a three-day conference in Cincinnati, so let's hope all is back to normal. When I get back, I play my first concert with the BACH ensemble on Sunday.
Here are some recent pics.
A Leo and Mama moment after dinner (in IL--see the many unpacked boxes in the background).
Leo preferred to use the booster seat at Grandma's while it was on the floor.
Leo explaining to Grandma that you can see birds! and cars! and dogs! out the window!
Leo and "Bebop" Ervin making fun of Mama for taking pictures. The only meal for which Leo actually used the booster seat in a chair.
Leo was fascinated with all of the pocket doors in Grandma's house and like to combine this interest with his enjoyment of the booster seat.
Today we got back from a 4-day-accidentally-turned-into-a-five-day trip up to Wausau WI to see my Mom and stepdad. The trip up Friday night was uneventful--Jeff picked up Leo from school and then they picked me up from work at about 3pm and we left from there, arriving in Wausau just before 10pm. The only way we could get Leo back to sleep after having been asleep in the car was to take him into bed with us. Things started to get interesting when Leo woke at some point (I don't remember when) [ed. note from JD: at 11:38, after we'd gotten into bed just after 10:00] and puked all over us. He seemed fine right after and was rather cheerful with his "oops"es. We all got cleaned up and went back to bed. Fast forward one hour, repeat. Fast forward another hour and a half, repeat again--although by this point Leo is not so cheerful and barely awake as we clean him (and us) up. He doesn't seem to have a fever, so while we're concerned we aren't alarmed. We all go back to some semblance of sleep and when we wake in the morning it seems if everyone is well.
Saturday Leo is in good spirits although he has no appetite and a bit of a fever in the afternoon. He takes a good nap and all seems well. We celebrate early birthdays (mine's on the 17th and Leo's on the 26th) with a cake and Leo enjoyed picking individual sprinkles out of the frosting.
Saturday night Leo pukes once, minor at that, but does not repeat.
Sunday afternoon Jeff starts to feel queasy and spends quite awhile dry heaving and then having all sorts of fun in the bathroom for the various reasons stomach bugs cause at both ends. He's banished to the couch at bedtime so that he doesn't wake Leo and I up with his frequent trips to the bathroom. By late Sunday evening I'm also feeling queasy, but go to bed with the hopes that it's all power of suggestion. Alas, in one spectacular swoop I am proven wrong (no dry heaves for me thanks).
All of Monday (the day we were going to return to IL) sees me in the bathroom frequently--who knew the GI tract could hold so much?! My mom, who has patiently been doing laundry and other cleaning behind us, starts to make comments about it being like following behind the elephants at the circus. Thanks mom. There is no way we can make a 7 hour car trip Monday, so we make various phone calls to work and daycare.
Tuesday (today) Jeff and Leo awoke feeling much better and I was still pretty run down. But, we had to get back to IL, so we left Wausau at 9am and got back to IL at 4pm. the trip was uneventful except that Leo did not nap. He was, however, very well behaved the entire trip, including today. While we were gone our new table and chairs were delivered, and we Jeff put them together while I unpacked and entertained Leo.
In other news...Leo now officially calls the grandfathers "Bebop." He doesn't seem to have a name for the grandmothers yet, although he often referred to my Mom as Mama (since she's my mama I guess it makes sense).
Two weeks ago Glenn and Carol visited briefly, and fun was had by all. I am however, way too tired to remember details at the moment. I leave Thursday for a three-day conference in Cincinnati, so let's hope all is back to normal. When I get back, I play my first concert with the BACH ensemble on Sunday.
Here are some recent pics.
A Leo and Mama moment after dinner (in IL--see the many unpacked boxes in the background).
Leo preferred to use the booster seat at Grandma's while it was on the floor.
Leo explaining to Grandma that you can see birds! and cars! and dogs! out the window!
Leo and "Bebop" Ervin making fun of Mama for taking pictures. The only meal for which Leo actually used the booster seat in a chair.
Leo was fascinated with all of the pocket doors in Grandma's house and like to combine this interest with his enjoyment of the booster seat.
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