A Puree-a-holic
Here’s what I included:
30 Minutes
Prior to the strained muscle in my back, I had no excuse not to keep in shape during this pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Hooper I attended a prenatal yoga class weekly. It was a light workout, but it kept me flexible and feeling good. This time around, there has been no time for a yoga class. I’ve contemplated going now that I’m not working, but am unsure if it’s a good idea with my back so instead I’ve stuck with my physical therapy treatments. Back to the beginning of my pregnancy.
I turned to friend Jon Ham, who runs “Fitness on the Run” with his wife Cari, for their series of prenatal workouts. Both of them are previous gymnasts, which is how I know Jon, and the workouts they feature use much of your own body weight which has always been what feels right after years of gymnastics conditioning. With the use of very little added equipment, Cari has a series of three prenatal workouts that you can download for free. Including the stretching session at the end, these workouts take a mere 30 minutes. I used to do them during Hooper’s morning nap, then I’d spend the rest of the day feeling oh so good.
If you click on this link and then again free ebook, it is the first selection. Enjoy!
Photo source
The Lawnmower
The other day Hooper and I got in trouble. It was a nice spring day so I decided to let Hooper mosey around the backyard. We recently planted grass and it’s been growing so beautifully, minus all the gnats. Anyway, I watched as Hooper did his usual shenanigans. He transported dirt from the flower bed to the ivy, he played with the rocks, he ran around. And then he started pulling out the grass. It was one of the first times he actually stopped moving so of course my shutterbug instinct kicked in and I snapped away. Truthfully I didn’t care what he was doing, so long as it was safe, as I now had my picture opportunity. That’s what happens when you’re nutty about photography, you see. So nutty you may just wind up in Pakistan when you believed the 24 hour bus ride you were on was taking you to a mountain region in India, but instead you’re welcomed by this:
But that’s a separate story and perhaps just another time my shutterbug instinct got the best of me. You can see now why I didn’t think the grass pulling was a big deal. I mean it’s not like there was a gun in my face. Anyway, Willy came out to join us and we were busted. He was upset to say the least. I tried to be as cute as possible and simply explained that Hooper and I were playing a new game called “Lawnmower”. The anger drifted quickly.
What do you let your little ones get away with when Daddy isn’t around?
28 Weeks
Well hello third trimester, glad to meet you. Please treat me well. Now that I’ve officially greeted the last leg of this journey, lets move on to the regularly scheduled program.
Every now and again someone will ask me what I’m having. Of course they are referring to boy or girl, but I typically answer with “I’m hoping for a human”. These days, however, I’m beginning to wonder if it is possible for a human to birth an octopus because these kicks, jabs, and wiggles are feeling more like something with 8 legs than 2. I’m having trouble deciphering the baby’s position because just as I get a kick in one spot, another one comes on the opposite side. So yes, now when people ask what I’m having, I respond with “I think an octopus”.
The Wishlist
Of course there is always a line of delineation between what one wants and what one needs. While the registry post for baby 2 compiles a list of things we need, this little list here is things we simply want. Let a girl dream, okay?
1. Aren’t these vintage hangers adorable? Etsy has some available like this one or this one, but I really just can’t fathom spending money on something that hides in a closet anyway. Something to keep my eye out for when I’m out treasure hunting.
2. Kid’s Records. We probably listen to Hooper’s records more than our own. I love the old western ones with tunes like “Polly Wolly Doodle” or “Skip to my Lou”. We also love the old Sheriff John records. Most of the ones we own came in the form of hand-me-downs, but it’s also something I keep my eye out for.
3. I think this coat rack would also work as a towel rack in the kid’s bathroom.
4. Vintage Toys. We have a good collection of vintage Fisher Price toys, many of which were my own as a child. I’m always on the lookout for something fun. Etsy has tons of vintage toys available, but you can find them much cheaper in the thrift stores, flea markets, or consignment shops. I rarely use Etsy unless it’s something I can’t find and can’t live without.
5. Vintage Books. My lovely mother-in-law bought Hooper the cutest vintage Zippy the Monkey a while back and I was stoked when I came across this Zippy book. I have a weakness for all vintage children’s books, nothing beats the illustrations and simple stories of a simpler time.
6. Vintage Clothes. It’s hard to rationalize spending much money on clothes in light of the fact that babies grow very fast and that this next baby will have a closet full of hand-me-downs from his big brother. But, of course, I keep my eye out for a good deal or anything so gosh dang cute that I just can’t turn down. I’ll share some of my finds soon, but how ’bout that little train romper? Yummier than a cupcake, no?
7. Vintage Plastic ware. I swear, this has been one of the hardest things to come across. I have a modest collection from Hooper but always have my eye out for cute plates, cups, and/or bowls.
8. Stuffed Fox. Etsy seller Sleepy King has the sweetest handmade plush foxes and owls, oh my. This fox has been one of our favorites for a long time. So cute!
9. Modern High Chair. I’ve wrote many times about how much I love our simple and cheap restaurant style high chair. I don’t take it back at all. Nothing beats the cost and simplicity. But this beautiful high chair? Ya, when money grows on trees I’m using some fallen leaves to pick me up one of these lovely chairs.
Registry, Part II
I made my personal recommendations for those expecting their first baby here. Here’s what I’ve compiled on the “must have” list for the second baby. If I’m missing something, by all means, throw a bone my way.
1. Twin bed + mattress + bedding. This is so that baby number two can have baby number one’s crib. I contemplated getting a second crib and keeping Hooper in a crib longer, but ultimately decided it would be better to save the cost of a second crib and invest in a big boy bed that will suit him for the coming years. I realize I will also need the guard rails, which I have just begun researching. The to-do list lengthens. I have lots of bedding ideas too, so many that I plan to compile them into a separate post. We have a lovely vintage twin bed waiting to be handed down to us, except that it’s in Arizona and getting it in time is posing a problem. So, I will be scouring the local thrift stores to keep my eyes out for something just as lovely.
2. Baby Book. Yes, I am a documenting freak. I have a very thorough book that consists of month to month tales from Hooper’s first year. I also have a photo from each week of his life, from birth to one year. I can’t wrap my head around completing it for Hooper and not doing the same for the next baby, so in addition to having this blog and all the stories it holds, I will be double documenting. I already purchased the book from Etsy seller Two Giggles. The seller is very easy to work with and I love that the books are three ring binders. I added lots of extra pages to Hooper’s and plan to do the same this time around.
3. Changing Tray. I contemplated this one for a while too and am of course open for any suggestions people may have. I was debating changing both kids diapers in one place, but then think it would be annoying if one is sleeping and the other one has a shitty diaper and … well you get the idea. I’m not sure where I’d put the changing tray in Hooper’s new room since he’ll no longer have a crib to lay it across. I figure it could go on his dresser, but I’m not so excited to sacrifice decoration for a changing table… but what’s the point of doing a room up if it’s not functional, right? Anyway, I figure time will hold the answers to this mystery.
4. Diaper Pail. You may remember my diaper-pail-gone-bad story from my first registry. In any case, we’ll use the Diaper Dekor Plus Pail for the new baby just as we did for Hooper. It kept the smell well contained for about the first year, at-which-point we transitioned to the Arm & Hammer Munchkin Pail which contains the smell a hell of a lot better.
5. Breast Pump Accessories. I currently have the Medela Soft Fit Breastshields and have no complaints other than the fact that after a lot of use they are a bit worn and in need of replacement. I also need some more milk storage bags. Goodness, even writing about breast pump accessories makes me dread the pumping days that are just around the corner.
6. Car Seat. I’m almost embarrassed to say that Hooper was still in his infant car seat until just a short while ago. He still meets the weight limit, but has outgrown the seat in length. So in order to hand the infant car seats down to the new baby, we needed the big boy car seat for Hooper. We bought the Graco MyRide 65 and are contemplating buying a second seat for the second car. We were fortunate enough to have one infant car seat handed down to us and the second we bought nearly new on craigslist. Since Hooper will be in this car seat for years to come, I’m more hesitant to buy used. But their pricey. So for now we have one. When it becomes a problem and when money starts growing on trees, we’ll think of purchasing a second.
7. Double Stroller. My dream is to own the Bugaboo Donkey because we’ve been so stoked on our Bugaboo Frog that we purchased for a fraction of the price used. Unfortunately, Bugaboo just put out their double stroller so there are no used ones available and the new ones are ridiculously expensive. I haven’t looked at other strollers yet and am putting this one on the back burner until it proves to be a necessity.
8. Baby Monitor. I refuse to take the monitor out of Hooper’s room. Until he is big enough to climb out of bed, open his door, and come into our room for help I just can’t wrap my head around removing it. I’ve talked to parents who say they still use the monitor in their 15 year old’s rooms… for different reasons, of course. But in any case, it made me feel more secure with myself for keeping a monitor in my toddler’s room. We currently have the Sony Baby Call Monitor and plan on purchasing the same for the second baby. We ditched the Angelcare monitor after it started making this awful ticking noise. That monitor can kiss my arse.
9. White Noise Maker. We currently have this white noise maker and have no complaints. It has different settings and is found in every room where there is a bed in our house. Thus, we will need one more. It’s Willy’s preference, really. I could do without the sound of a space shuttle launch each night but it is nice in the kid’s rooms to block out the sound of vacuuming, dish washing, or music playing during nap time.
Did I miss anything? Would love to hear from mom’s of two or more…
Hooper @ 17 Months
Growth: You seem like you’re getting taller everyday. I think you’ve definitely hit a few growth spurts. You can reach things that you couldn’t reach before and thus more child proofing needs to take place. You like to go up on your tip toes to reach those other things that are still just out of reach. 
Teeth: That fourth molar has finally pushed through. You had a few fussy moments with this one, but then it popped, and out went the fussiness. You also have your two upper canines, which just popped through the other day. It seems that your feeding habits change while you’re teething. I notice you drink more and eat less, which would make sense if your gums are hurting. 
Development: Your world suddenly got much larger as you’ve recently discovered the sky above. You love to point out helicopters, airplanes, and birds. You like to think of all of your loved ones as personal transportation devices and are keen on pulling at our clothes until you get us to follow you to wherever it is you want to go. Most of the time you forget where it was you wanted to go or what it was you wanted to do by the time you convince us to get off our butts. Though more times than not you direct me to the hallway so you can play with the thermostat. You like to flip it open and push all the buttons. I think you could do this all day long. I signed you up for a little gym class. You were shy on your first day. No tears, but you came across as a boring kid with zero personality. It was humerus for me to see you so stoic. I have no doubt that when we go back for the second class and beyond you will loosen up and show them the crazy little rascal that you are at home. Although I must say, when they brought out the push toys you darted for that lawnmower pretty fast. You love the people that love you and when given the time to warm up to new faces, you are very adaptable and sociable. You have a fantastic personality and a mean array of expressions. What’s the deal with your baths though? Why do you refuse to sit down? You spend the whole time standing in your bath and it’s the weirdest thing to me. I want nothing more than to sit in your bubble bath but am quickly deterred when I watch you pee. And I know when you pee because, of course, you’re standing. You follow directions well and are able to pick up your toys and put them in the bucket when asked. 
Eating: I still feed you puree, but not everyday and not without mixing it with cereal or greek yogurt. You’re back on your blueberry kick and scarf those done faster than a squirrel can eat a nut. You’re not one for sitting in your highchair and have discovered how to stand up in the thing despite the buckle across your lap. You then proceed to fall into what we call a “trust fall” and flail yourself at one of us. My back loves this game. In any case, you cannot be in your highchair unsupervised for even a second. Much of your eating is done “on the run” as you can only tolerate sitting in confinement for a small period of time. Then you run around like a mad man while we try to shovel food into the chute as you hurry past us. You’re still picky, but you eat a lot of what you like. This morning, for example, you drank 9 ounces of milk and ate half of a whole wheat bagel wtih cream cheese and a handful of raspberries. 
Talking: You love looking important and like to grab your “paypee” (pen and paper) and make pretend scribbles. You’ve started to declare things as yours by stating, “Me”. You love a picture book of animals your grandma Vickie and grandpa Niles got you and are able to point out the bear, “b”, deer “dee”, and squirrel, “quil”. You also know the skunk stinks and each time we pass that page you make a scrunched up nose and breath extra hard. Your papa taught you that one. You also say “yum yum” after eating something you like. When you are about to do something you know you shouldn’t, you mimic us and say “no no no”, but then proceed to do it anyway. 
Favorites: You still love watching YouTube videos, the wiggles being one of your favorite. You also still LOVE brooms, trash cans, and other janitorial supplies in general. You’re still obsessed with our iPhones. I’m confident you could learn how to unlock it, but I refuse to teach you. Right now, the phone is only cool because mama and papa use it. Just wait til you discover all the apps. Then it’s really all over. I’m determined to prolong this as long as possible. You still love riding your little giraffe around and pushing anything, including the recycling bin and the suitcase, all over the house. You love being outdoors. You also love organizing things. 
Sleeping: We put you down for the night between 9pm and 9:30pm. You sleep soundly until 8am or so and sometimes drift back to sleep until 9am. You rock. You’re still taking a morning and afternoon nap, each one lasting a solid 2 hours. So, you sleep a lot which explains why you’re a firecracker when you’re awake. 
Upcoming: We looked into swim lessons while we are in Hawaii, but are unsure if that will work out or not. Either way, I’d love for you to be pool safe by the summer. I’d also like to have your new room complete so we can transition you out of the crib well before your little brother arrives. Oh yes, get used to the idea of brothers and sisters too cuz your papa said the other day that if all kids are like you he wants nineteen. NINETEEN! Please start acting up…
Aloha
We leave today for Hawaii. The last time we were there, Hooper was 11 months old and the memory of our time there is synonymous with a personality explosion. It’s the beginning point of when I can say the real fun began. I look at these pictures of Hooper and I and can’t help but envision both of my boys in this photo. Baby #2 may not have a presence in these photos and the pregnancy test was definitely not even positive at this point in time, but I know for certain those cells were dividing and doing many miraculous things behind the scene. Oh life, you are such a beautiful thing.
I won’t be able to post any pics from Hawaii until we return, but you can follow me on Instagram by clicking here or on the link on the right hand side of the blog. I’ll be instagraming it up the whole time!
Mamas & Tykes
Feel like jumpin’ on a boat, lettin’ your hair get salty, or steppin’ into your favorite tattoo shop to have an anchor sketched on your arm? Well, you might after this post cuz it’s all about the beer guzzlin’ and sun soakin’ sailors. Let’s start with the little tykes, who of course will be guzzlin’ that sweet apple juice and makin’ friends with diseased seagulls in these adorable get-ups.
From Etsy seller Sparvintheieletree
From Etsy seller Lazer Baby Vintage
From Etsy seller Fuzzy Mama
From Etsy seller 1 Sweet Dream Vintage
From Etsy seller Vintage Tea
From Etsy seller Udaskids Oh how cute this would look on baby number #2…
From Etsy seller Schatzi Vintage
From Etsy seller Vintage Aga I’ve had this in my cart for ages and am so bummed it’s sold… Oh the fun this onesize and I would have had…
From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest
From Etsy seller Miskabelle Vintage
From Etsy seller Pinkleberries
From Etsy seller 3RingCircus
From Etsy seller Dahlia Daffodil
From Etsy seller Fuzzy Mama
From Etsy seller Bird Avenue Avenue
From Etsy seller Twitch Tots
Now, onto us woman. Here are some sailor styles I’m absolutely swooning over. Several of them would be in my closet if it weren’t for my lovely husband who so lovingly reminds me that I am not working right now. Seriously, he’s even made the Goodwill off limits. The Goodwill people! Oh how I long to own a few of these numbers…
From the Betina Lou Spring Collection
From Etsy seller Viral Threads
From Etsy seller Dirty Birdies Vintage
From Etsy seller Aiseirigh
From Etsy seller Rack Sabbath
From Maries Vintage
27 Weeks
Remember when I told you about my post pregnancy prize pack and I talked about the neglected half of my closet versus the gonna try and make it work with pregnancy half? Well the two sides have started to converge into one big neglected closet. My choices are getting slimmer and slimmer. The dress you see above, for example, had been stuffed in a corner of my closet and did not belong to either of the designated sides. Instead, it was a dress I had thrifted a while back and planned on making work. I had my mom add a liner to it because before it was entirely see-through. The straps still need to be taken in a couple of inches and for this reason, it remains stuffed in a corner of my tiny little closet. But with my choices getting slimmer, I was desperate today. I pulled it down, through it on and did a little twirl for Willy. I broke the only full length mirror the other day when vacuuming (damn you vacuuming!) and have no way to even assess these pregnancy ensembles I’m throwing on. I know, dangerous. Let the seven years of bad luck begin with some shitty put together pregnancy ensembles. Anyway, I macgyvered some bobby pins for a quick fix with the straps and voila. Pregnancy week 27 complete. Hip hip hooray. No promises from here on out. I may just photograph myself in Willy’s t-shirts and sweats.
Concerns this week revolve around me being home more. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great. It’s what my back, more than anything, really needs. And spending all my time with Hooper is priceless. It’s time you don’t get back, you know? But I worry that spending so much time with him right before my time with him will be so drastically diminished, is dangerous. I’ve enrolled him in a class, that of course I participate in, to increase his sociability. I also try to leave him with my parents here and there because they love spending time with him. They watched him the other day and I was able to go to a local frame store, Best Buy, the Post Office, the Salvation Army, Costco, and the grocery store. Then I came home and cleaned out the fridge. Sure, my back paid the price, but the price would have been a lot steeper if I were to tote a wee little toddler around on all those errands. In any case, I’m hoping Hooper won’t take out any of his resentment toward the baby. My sister and I always laugh over stories we hear of her throwing bananas at me and referring to me as “the Beast”, but I’m sure at the time it wasn’t funny. I’m sure at the time it was a major concern. Not sure how to make the transition a smooth one, but I’m all ears for any advice for those of you who have been in the same situation.
In other pregnancy related news, the baby has had hiccups this week. It’s only happened once, but I recognized that rhythmic thumping instantly. Time also seems to be picking back up. With the next few weeks jammed back with in-laws having just left and then a vacation (what’d you say!?) planned for this week, the third trimester will be here before I know it. Oh dear time, keep up the pace.
Style de Hooper
I’m telling you, these style shoots are next to impossible. See the raisins in the photo above? Yup, bribery. Here’s what the shoot looked like before the raisins made their appearance:
Okay, he’s happy. Thank you raisins.
Camel Romper: From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s
Shoes: Checkered Vans
The Baby Name Game
We had a girl name agreed upon. Truth be told, we even referred to my belly by this time from time to time as a sort of trial. You know, to see how it sounds when you actually use it in a sentence or refer to it as an actual being. And we loved it. We had a nickname ready as well that we equally loved, and that’s rare. There are a billion names I like, but when I look at the second name that goes with them… well, they take themselves off my “maybe” list. I love Charlie, for example, but could never live with Chuck. We’re so stuck on a boy’s name.
Hooper’s name was decided long before he was conceived. Before we were even got married, I had made the suggestion. It’s a family name and one I did not want to lose. Even if Hooper were a girl, we toyed with keeping the name anyway.
And I just can’t come up with something comparable. It seems unfair to give a name with such meaning and character to our first and not be able to give the same to our second. I can practically hear the clock ticking on this pregnancy and with each passing week I grow a little more fearful of the fact we have yet to settle on a name. 
I was destined to be a mom. I have a list of potential baby names stored away in an old journal to prove my commitment to one day mothering a child. I look at those names now and think, what the heck was I thinking? On the girls’ list, juxtaposed next to the boys’ list, there are double the amount of options and several that I’m still fond of. So… we’ve become hard core players in the baby name game. Stay tuned… this little bee will have to be named at some point and I promise it will not be Bob, Jim, or Ted…
A Trinket, A Tasket
I hit up some of the local thrift stores the other day and came home with some amazing finds. I even found an atomic style desk for a bargain deal of $14.99, which isn’t pictured and instead is nestled in the garage with several other finds waiting to be placed. I’m telling you, we need a bigger home. I also ran into a patient I cared for in the hospital who recognized me instantly. It warmed my heart to see him doing so well. So yes, it was a very successful outing. Here are my finds: 
Long Lost Friends
There were summers in high school where it felt like I lived at the beach. I’d drive down nearly everyday in my 1982 Turbo Diesel Mercedes with the moon roof open and Tom Petty blaring through the speakers. We’d bask in the sun, with no care in the world, checkin’ out the boys, eating french fries, and gossiping about this and that. Then there was a lull in my beach combing days when I lived in San Francisco for 5 years and traded the sun for the fog. When I moved back I was in school and my relationship with the sand and sea continued to suffer.
Now I’m a mom and it’s important to me that Hooper get out and about. I’ll do everything in my power to steer him away from the video-playing-couch-potato phenomena that seems to have sucked up much of the youth today. So, I turn back to the sand and sea and it’s like our relationship always was: sweet, peaceful, and warm. I could watch him run those little fingers through the sand all day long.
Friend Kim and baby Emerson joined us. Isn’t this little girl just as sweet as can be? Beautiful mom, beautiful daughter.
26 Weeks
I’m officially on leave from work, which came more abruptly than planned. I’ve been having so much low back pain that the back-up OB and myself decided taking off now would be safest. I planned on feeling that rush of excitement similar to the feeling when you walk out of school on the last day before summer break, but I don’t feel that way at all. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.
In other 26 week news, I’ve been having some braxton hicks. They actually started a while ago and if I remember correctly I think I suspected the first one as early as 13 weeks. There is no denying them now and it’s comforting to know my uterine muscles are getting their workout on before the big day. I’m trying to keep hydrated in an effort to keep em’ spread out and so far it’s worked, as they come only every now and again. I can also palpate little parts. I feel what seems to be miniature elbows or knees and can clearly feel when his back is pushed up against my abdominal wall. The kicks are getting stronger so I know all that protein I’ve been consuming is doing it’s job. I’m sleeping somewhat better. If it weren’t for the back pain, I’d sleep like a baby. Luckily, Hooper is such a good sleeper that he gives me a good 11 hours to get whatever kind of shut eye I can in and with the exception of a rare day here and there I feel quite well rested.
As a complete side note, how does the house get dirty so fast? I swear it’s been my goal to keep this place clean now that I’m not working, but I’m learning it’s an everyday job and things pile up faster than they can be put away. I’m sure ya’ll feel me on that one. In any case, I have some spring cleaning to catch up on.
My Best Friend’s Shower
When I first arrived at college eons ago, I was a wild lost soul. A wild lost soul in all the best kinda ways. A wild lost soul hungry for answers to all life’s hard questions, hungry for adventure and exploration and pushing of boundaries, hungry to learn about myself and this crazy world I lived in. My heart was an open book and my soul had that “let’s go!” kinda energy. Janet was there for it all and she had the same kind of energy. 
I nearly drowned in my tears last summer at her wedding rehearsal dinner as I gave a speech detailing my love for and admiration of her. It was last October that she called me with “exciting news” and I shared the same “exciting news” with her too. In fact, it was news that resulted in the birth of this blog. You can reminisce with me by checking out our first ever post here. 
Today is her baby shower and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The two of us have rode camels in Egypt and elephants in Thailand, we’ve camped in Mexico, took a 24 hour bus ride together in India, drove all the way to Louisiana and back again, been sky diving together, gone on double dates together, shared bunk beds in college, and it almost seems in line with fate that our due dates would be within days of each other. She is bound to be the most beautiful mom around.
Here’s a few things I collected for part of her gift, though they’ll be many more along the way.
A Vintage Easter
Here are some vintage Easter/Spring outfits for the kiddos that I’m swooning over. 
From Etsy seller Lishyloo
From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest
From Etsy seller Oliver’s Forest
From Etsy seller Fibbie
From Etsy seller Twitch Tots
From Etsy seller Twitch Tots
From Etsy seller 1 Sweet Dream Vintage
From Etsy seller Alma Vintage
From Etsy seller Miskabelle Vintage
From Etsy seller Nap Time Makings
From Etsy seller Hart & Sew
From Etsy seller Toadstool Vintage
From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s
From Etsy seller Blue Bird Lucy’s
Mr. Personality
Can I be candid for a moment without being judged? Here comes honesty: I’m not looking forward to having a newborn. Wow, that sounds harsh, right? Let me expand on that. Newborns are miraculous creatures, they really are. They are fun to stare at while marveling over their creation and existence and ability to survive. But beyond that, they don’t really do much. I mean puppies are born with the ability to walk. Isn’t that crazy? I mean you think about all the stages a newborn goes through and it’s like a freaking celebration when they roll over for the first time weeks after their born. Willy and I have said time and time again that we wish we could birth a one year old and start out at the fun stage immediately. Instant gratification.
And that’s based solely on our experience with Hooper. Because 11 months after he was born, a personality started to flourish. Who knew he would ever be anything more than a blob? And since that time, his personality has grown exponentially. And it is so. freakin’. fun.
I embrace the newborn stage wholeheartedly because I know now what it leads to. Dear 16 month old little humans, you guys are so rad.
Underwood Family Farm
A co-worker of mine told me about Underwood Family Farm a while back and I’ve been waiting for Hooper to be old enough to enjoy it. After our last successful trip to the zoo, I thought it was time for some more goat petting. This place is awesome and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area.
In case you’re wondering, there were numerous goats and sheep waiting to be brushed but of course Hooper was more interested in the “broom” instead. I’m telling you, there is a special relationship between this boy and brooms. He’s destined to be a janitor. A very successful janitor.
He was also interested in the goat’s water. But come on now, who wouldn’t want to slap their hands around in some goat water. I know I was dying to put my hands in there.
Hey der babee goatz. Want to pway wif me?
Oh no! Babee goat go b-bye.
Dis goat tis my fwend. I touch his nose.
I also give my fwend keeshes. Don’t worry, I didn’t use tongue.
Mommy wheels me around in my little wred wagons…
But I like to pull the wagon too.
Dis twas my forst pony wride. I arch my back when I ride da pony. 
In case you’re wondering, yup, I even got to drive the wood train…
AND pway in da sand box.
We stopped at the produce section on the way out and picked up some fresh fruits and vegetables. Man o’ man are those strawberries good. We have a return visit already planned.
25 Weeks
