Apple Picking at Eckert's

Today Wade got to experience a great fall activity - apple picking!  The Woods joined us for an afternoon at Eckert's where we picked our own apples, saw pigs race, watched Maddie & Wes go on a ride, and even bumped into our friends, the Seneczyns. 

Wade didn't pick any apples this year and won't get to enjoy the apple pie that I have planned but it was still a fun outing.  It was such a gorgeous fall day - we couldn't have asked for better weather!  Thanks to the Woods for spending the day with us!

Wade Into the Waters

Yesterday was Wade's baptism and the theme of the sermon was "Wade Into the Waters" which was so cute and clever!  Ryan and I were also welcomed as new members into the church.

After the ceremony we had lunch back at our house for the 15 family members who had joined us for the ceremony.  Wade had fallen asleep towards the end of the ceremony but then was the life of the party back at the house, playing and "talking" in his exersaucer while everyone ate.  He did end up going down for a long nap while we enjoyed cake and opened presents.  Thanks to everyone for the generous gifts and for spending their Sunday morning with us.  Congratulations to Wade on his baptism!

Camping - a New Hobby for Wade

If you haven't heard, we bought a new toy this summer! We finally found time to take our 2009 Palomino pop-up camper out for its first camping trip (under our ownership, that is.) We spent the weekend of September 10-12 at Meramec State Park with my parents. We worried only about getting ourselves, the camper, Annie, and Wade to the campground - my parents took care of all the meals and even let Annie sleep in their camper. Ryan's parents, Bill and Terrie, also came down for dinner on Saturday night.

It only rained Friday night while we were sleeping and we were left with mild weather the rest of the weekend. We took several walks and Wade had his first real hike.

He "talked" a lot in the backpack until he fell asleep. We cushioned him with a couple sweatshirts. Wade did great camping this weekend which is good since he has a lot of camping in his future! He slept great in the camper the first night and during his naps. He had a bit of a rough night the second night. He still slept until 7 am but we think he has a bit of a cold and/or is teething - either way he tossed and turned super loudly. Actually we think that he may have gotten a decent night's rest but we sure didn't! It seemed like he was shaking the whole camper!

Laid back in the lawn chair!  (Who are we kidding, this was just for the photo op - he still loves that exersaucer more - and it did come on the camping trip!)

What Five Months Brings...

Happy five month birthday to Wade! He could have smiled for the photo, but he would rather practice his rolling. He still only likes to roll to the left, but now he has gotten quite good at going from back-to-stomach and stomach-to-back. Periodically you have to re-position him because he will run into a wall or some other barrier.

At five months we are experiencing our first cold! I just heard him coughing himself to sleep, poor little guy. Baby food is going well - he has tried rice cereal, zucchini, peas, sweet potatoes, and apples.  More exciting options to come soon! Wade has also been using his sippy cup with dinner which he is far from good at, but it's sort of a fun adventure.

This morning it was about 60 degrees for our walk to the babysitter's house. Burr! And this baby owns no cold weather clothing! So I took a lunchtime shopping trip to Once Upon a Child where I stocked up on all kinds of cute jeans, pants, hoodies, and long sleeved shirts. While we're not sure that we're ready to say good-bye to summer, at least Wade will be able to welcome the fall season in style! (I'm not so sure I can say the same about myself...)

P.S. Gotta love that exersaucer!

The School Year Has Started

My boys. They had to part ways after their summer together. We were so fortunate that Ryan got to have that time with the baby early on. I say “the baby” because I really do mean it generically. That’s something most dads don’t get to experience. There were many times this summer that I turned to Ryan when I had questions about Wade’s schedule. It was an odd position to be in, but one that I think was good for everyone.

And with that, our new normal is here. Ryan’s back in school and Wade’s going to the babysitter every day. Even though I have been back at work since June 1, things are different for me too. I have been working teacher’s hours for the last five years or so, and am now working more of an 8-4 schedule. (Yes, still relatively early, I realize, but an adjustment for me nonetheless.)  I walk Wade to the babysitter at 7:30 in the morning and Ryan walks him home around 3 or 3:30.  Yes, walk!  It’s a 3 minute walk to the babysitter’s house!

I am really valuing our time with Wade more than ever – perhaps because someone else gets to spend 8 hours a day with him. A coworker offered to watch him one evening so I could relax (after a stressful moment at work) and that was the last thing I wanted. I have 3 hours with Wade from the time I get home from work until the time he falls asleep (and there’s usually a short nap in the middle) and I want to be at home spending that time with Ryan and Wade. It makes me have sympathy for all the parents who are not able to leave work as early as Ryan and I are able to do.

So, how is the babysitter going? Well, I think. Of course, Wade can’t tell us. Pam gives us detailed reports every afternoon. Wade has become more experienced at both the jumper and exersaucer, as he “bounces” around from various activities all day long. This has motivated us to put our jumper together and try our exersaucer more often. Turns out, he loves the exersaucer and is really getting good at certain features on it! Oh, I did cry after the first drop off, but I think that was just sort of a rite of passage.

Happy 4 Month Birthday Wade!

Wade is four months old today.  He had his four-month check-up this week.  He's 27.5 inches long and weighs 20 pounds,15 3/4 ounces which keeps him in the greater than 97th percentile. 

 The doctor gave us the okay to start him on solid food.  I want to make homemade baby food, so today I whipped up a batch of rice cereal.  We have zucchini and peas in the freezer for later.  I thought things went really well but he threw up on my shoulder afterwards.  Better luck tomorrow!

Wade rolled over for the first time on Tuesday - just in time to give the doctor a good report.  Now he is rolling over often, except he's not sure what to do when he gets to his stomach.  He'll get a little more comfortable with going back and forth soon.

Megan & Jon's Wedding/Our Trip to Iowa

My good friend, Megan married Jon Ferchen on Saturday, July 31.  They had a short engagement but you never would have guessed it - there were still all the great personal details that take most of us a year to pull off.  It was an exhausting and fun day and I was thrilled to be part of it.

Wade attended the rehearsal dinner but stayed with a babysitter during the wedding and reception.  He may be ready for some real family vacations soon because once again, he did great in the car!  This was also his first hotel stay and that went pretty well too.  I don't think we'll be able to keep up with his current travel schedule though - 4 states (and 3 state capitals) in less than 4 months!

We drove through Kirksville (and memory lane?) on the way home.  We had lunch at Pagliai's, which still has good food but has a horrible bathroom for diaper changing.

And we drove by the ol' fraternity house.  There was a beaver on the front porch when we got there.  What in the world?  I think we can all agree that the decision to tear the house down is a good one.