Role Reversal :)

I love getting down to Micro's level and playing. Its a fun vantage point from which to see the world. He so enjoys it too! Sometimes we even reverse roles and we pretend like he is much taller then me and I am  the micro. We laugh, we smile, we toss the ball back and forth, then we get tired of this game and move onto the next one...

"word" for the day!

Micro has been learning a new sign almost everyday. His current obsession is Horse. We have a book with a horse in it, and then yesterday we hung a new art show at the shop and one of the paintings was of a horse. So sweet!

communication

Orland has been signing with us for some time now, but mostly just dog and something that resembled snapping that we think meant everything from potty to hungry. In the past three weeks his vocabulary has expanded to over 15 signs. He is enjoying telling us about every dog he sees, if he wants water  & food, and his ball.
To date his signs are:
Ball, Duck, Dog, Cat, Elephant, moose, Snow, Book, Eat, Water, More & Brush Teeth
His first word was officially: Boom (with a little bop on the nose) and since he has added Ball and book!
Love this little guy!

an update

As you might remember we have been doing the whole EC (Elimination Communication) training thing since Micro was about 3 weeks old and I am happy to report it has been going swimmingly! We are not overly obsessive about the whole thing, but we have been diligent.

I will spare you the daily details but lets just say he knows what the potty is for... Yippie.

I think this says a lot of what Micro thinks of me taking his pic while on the potty... Don't you? Sort of like a "don't push it mama or i'll pee on you (again).

Lately micro has become a wee bit more MOM dependent. I do find it sweet, however sometimes I just need to make myself some tea or something to eat. The other day I had the genius idea of giving him the whole lot of silverware from our drawer.

I have since taken object such as this our of the mix :) live and learn

a new look

Let me start with saying I don't usually post this many photos all in a row of the same shoot, however, this was needed to illustrate something.

In the past two weeks there have been huge, even monumental changes in Orlands life. Life is no longer at his fingertips, but in his hands. Things that he saw but could not reach are suddenly at his disposal. Crawling has been an amazing break through for him. You can see in his eyes a feeling of success when he crawls over to an object and is able to grab it on his own. Better yet is his new found ability to pull himself up on things and "walk" around tables and ledges chasing after the illusive "parent item (ie: cell phone, keys etc)."

When in life do we as adults get to experience such success? How must that feel to accomplish the before thought impossible. Sure we can learn new sports, languages, build things etc. I have a good feeling all of these accomplishments pale in comparison to the ability to finally have control of your body enough to be able to get where and what you want. I now really understand why you have to let your child explore and learn this by themselves. It is so clearly seen in his little eyes.

There is a whole new look about him.

focus

After having a sweet little baby I have had a really hard time remembering anything. I have little to no focus and zero train of thought. I think I know who stole it :)

tooth number four! three in a week!

When it rains teeth, it pours. Or something like that. Micro now has four teeth to his name and three of them came THIS WEEK. A wee bit trying but he is a trouper and I hope we are on the other side now.

* also wanted to note he is still able to wear the adorable wool soakers his auntie Jenny knit. He has been wearing these pretty much from day one.

hello mister tooth

Micro has been battling the tooth imp for weeks now with no real break. Last week he got his second tooth and three and four are quickly arriving. No sleep, hurty gums and wee fevers...

speaking of that resolution...

I just came across this photo from a month and a half ago when we went on an adventure with friends. The adventure had been planned for weeks, yet the day came and I still was unprepared. "Orland had warm clothes, I had my camera, what else did we need?"

My goodness this is a classic case of my unpreparedness, documented and now posted for all to see. Part of me wanted to just delete this photo and pretend that it didn't happen, but admitting you have a problem is the first step right?

Ok, my name is Heather, and I am a chronically unprepared person. I am giving myself 12 months, a new year to change this habit. I Hope I can do it.

teething

Micro has been teething up a storm lately. We have tried the frozen toy, the cold wash cloth, the hard wood, the soft bpa free plastic, but the teething toy most effective and most popular is the Carrot! Who-da-thought?

happy chomper

In a desperate attempt to get the micro man to sleep we have up'd the amount of solid food he is eating. And I am happy to announce that he is kinda eating it.

playing games

Micro has been having a really hard time sleeping lately, and yesterday we found out why! He got his first tooth!! Its amazing how much it effected his ability to sleep, yet has zero effect on his attitude and mood. What a happy little insomniac we have.

I can't say I have kept it together as well as he has, or at all for that matter.

He just loves his new hat! and loves playing peek-a-boo with all the ladies. Thanks Sondrea!

Sweet Potato anyone?

We took about a million pictures today of O eating his first mushy meal. I wanted to share the whole experience so I put together a little play by play. Good thing I made about a years worth of sweet potato baby food!

I guess Lulu will get sweet potato-kibble!

where is my brain?

So I know this happens to all moms, but I can't remember a thing! I mean I start a sentence that has a train of thought attached at first and then... poof... the thought process is completely gone. This often turns quickly and I put my foot in my mouth as I try to dig out where I was going... Oh please come back to me sweet memory! I know I don't look as cute as O with my foot in my mouth!

these are your parents

You know those pictures you find of your parents before you were born? The ones of them in crazy clothes, doing strange things, in fun places. Well here they are!... sorry O

and there are many more!

Nature or Nurture. Take it or leave it. You got us for life little O.

Music men

Papa doesn't "really" play the gee-tar. However, lately he has been playing up a storm. These are pics from the storm in yosemite (notice the wet ground) that I thought were too sweet not to share. He has also been playing Orland to bed. Its quite amazing seeing his sweet little eyes fixed on his papa, and then, close into a deep sleep. One of the sweetest things ever!

big day

Today was a huge day for "big" O.

He turned 6months

He voted (well at least he was there)

&

He tasted his first food!!!!

Dear Orland,

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love you. These last 6 months have been the best of my whole 32 years. I love watching you make what seems to be huge changes everyday. You love rolling over, smiling, laughing, putting things in your mouth and having Papa tickle your feet with his beard. If you bite into life with half the passion you did that apple, we will all be so lucky to share our lives with you. You are so patient, passionate, sweet, and perfect.

thank you,

Mama

When it comes right down to it... I wish I could fit in a sink.

While I am at it I wish I could put my toes in my mouth and be amused by a rubber giraffe. But lets get real, I am supposed to be a grown up and deal with my life like an adult.

But sometimes, just sometimes I really want to curl up on a sheepskin and fall asleep.

Its been one of those weeks.

busy week!

This is a little like what I feel the week did to me... Ran me over. Orland survived... I am sure I will too.

***disclaimer: Zander is one of Orlands best friends he only did this for me so I could photo document my week :)