Hi!

I'm not sure why Blankey is always the lucky one to get a "Hi."  Sometimes people get it, but more often it's to inanimate objects.  

10 months

Loungin' . . . celebrating 10 months . . .

In reality he was flinging himself all over the chair so I don't even know how this pose happened.

Prior to Bo's little 10 month well visit, I started to suspect that this kid might actually have gained more than a handful of ounces.  

I don't know what gave me that impression.

I mean, there had been previous visits where I was absolutely positive he felt so much heavier in his carrier . . .  and really he hadn't gained a thing. 

And yet, I couldn't shake that feeling . . .

So yes, Bo had gained a couple pounds since his 8 month visit when our pediatrician pointed to his weight down in the second percentile.  He'd actually gained FIVE POUNDS, and is weighing almost 21 pounds these days!  He is square in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference.  

So average. :)

Apparently he wasn't the only one packing on some winter pounds . . . 

Besides beefing up, Bo has become increasingly mobile this past month, eating lots of finger foods, and working on his littler personality.  He's saying Mama, Dada or Da-ee, Baba, and lately - Hiiiiiee!  I will try to get that on video because it's hilarious.  Especially because he ALWAYS says 'hi' to blankey but the rest don't really need to be greeted.  He's clapping, waving, throwing, putting things away (like stashing his toys in our shoes), kicking, crawling, clacking, and cruising.  

a before (November?) and after (January).

 

44 weeks

a valentine story

This year, I expected a quiet Valentine's Day.  My expectations were pretty accurate.  What I did not expect was that four days later, I'd be standing on top of a mountain with boards strapped to my feet and my heart in my throat.

So. Back to Valentine's Day.  Or, the day before.  I was starting to suspect that ole' Matthew was up to something and I decided to worm it out of him.  After all, we had a little guy to think of.  A surprise for me meant separation from Mama & Dada for him. 

Mama? Da-ee? Where are you?

So, Matt reluctantly told me that he'd planned a weekend away for us.  Skiing.  In New Hampshire. With a couple of our friends from church.  And when I didn't approve of his plan to 'tow Bo around on one of those little sleds,' he told me that my MOM was coming out to watch Bo Buddy!  That is some pretty great planning!

And yes, my husband is pretty incredible.  The next morning he tucked gifts and cards from him and the boys around the house in spots he knew I'd check (Moose's water bowl, the freezer where I get baby food for Bo's breakfast, etc.).  In Bo's car seat was a phone case that I'd picked out and left open on his computer.  (umm, I'm not winning any points here.)  

Also I forgot to set my alarm and I didn't even get to make him lunch on Valentine's Day.  And then I gave him underwear.  Yes.  About as unglamorous as you can get.  Bo gave him an "I heart Dad" mug with his face on it . . . 

When I expressed my apologies for slacking off as a wife, he told me once again how he doesn't ever want me to buy him anything and he feels best when I don't spend any of our money . . . I'm not sure if he ever got over the time I gave him a kayak. 

Can you see the dollar signs above his head?

So for now, I'm very content to let him plan the surprises.  He does a pretty good job.  Friday afternoon we picked up my mom from the airport, handed her four pages of typed instructions, and kissed this little nugget goodbye!

I'll say it was pretty easy to do, knowing he was in good hands!  I missed him, but didn't worry once.  

 After a night in Lexington, MA, we got up early Saturday morning and hit the slopes of Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire as soon as we could.  This might be an appropriate time to mention that I hadn't been skiing in 15 years.  So . . . I was pretty nervous!  Especially since Meghan and Adam had their own snowboards and Matt grew up skiing and snowboarding.  And then there was me.

Despite not knowing how to put the skis on, or get on the lift, or OFF the lift, I found myself halfway up a mountain with only one way down.

I guess it somehow stayed tucked away in my memory, because even though I didn't know what I was doing, I ended up skiing all day.  It was kind of an out of body experience, because I honestly can't remember anything from skiing in 8th grade (like how to get skis on and off), but somehow my legs remembered what to do.  

The unfortunate truth is that I was alternately thrilled and terrified every 10 seconds . . . In my old age I don't like feeling out of control.  I also don't like being shown up by three year olds, but that's just how it is.  

It was a gorgeous view, uncrowded, beautiful weather, and we all stayed safe.  

It was so amazing to get away and do something different and just spend time together!  Matt has been/will be working Saturdays and Sundays so we just aren't getting the time together that I'm used to.  

Meghan's parents live in Lexington, MA, as in the Lexington of Lexington and Concord.  Sunday afternoon we walked from her parents' house to downtown Lexington, passing John Hancock's house and the green where the 'shot heard round the world' was fired.  Right in the middle of town, and not very big.  Hard to imagine what it was like to wake up at 5am to the villainous Redcoats starting a war outside your window.  

above, the green

below, the old belfrey

It was a wonderful weekend, and so sweet to come home to my favorite little man.  He was so happy all weekend and my mom loved every minute of chasing this wild man around.  She described him as 'precocious' and 'so funny.' I agree that he's hilarious.  And wild.  

Thank you, Coco!  Come again soon!

McSmarty

Whoops, I can't believe I forgot to put this up last week, because I was one proud Mama Bird!  I guess 'surprised' is more accurate.  It's so fun to see everything Bo can do right now.  He's such a funny little person.

I suppose we will write "baba" as Bo's first word, even though it's not a word. :)  He also says Mama and Dada with some regularity but Baba comes the easiest.  We have video of him saying all the words (repeating after us, not labeling) but he's naked in it . . . so . . .

His voice is so cute and gravelly, unless he's talking to Moose or a stuffed animal, and then it's all high-pitched and so stinkin CUTE.  I absolutely love seeing him talk to his animals, but when he gets going with Moose . . . oh man, I could cry.  

week 43

outtakes:

the tufted wonder

We got a little ambitious this weekend.  You know we like a little DIY and it had been quite a while since we'd tried anything.  A few weeks ago I got the supplies for Matt to refinish his old weight bench. (Which is at least 50 years old . . . his grandpa's . . . the thing was just a BOARD . . . much better now!)  That little reupholstering project inspired Matt and he suggested doing something similar to our coffee table.  I had started to see 'coffee table to ottoman' projects on Pinterest, so I showed him the pictures but of course he did not want to read and see what anybody else did . . . he prefers forging his own way.  But that didn't stop me from reading a bunch of other people's experiences!  

The table:

It was pretty scratched up because we use that thing all the time.  I wanted something softer for Bo to protect his little noggin.  

So.  What we did.  

Matt took the top off the table:

And suggested we cover it with this fine fabric.

no.

He measured and drilled holes for what would eventually be the tufting. 

After Bo woke up from his morning nap, we took a family trip to JoAnnes to pick up the necessary supplies.  While there we grabbed foam, batting, button kits, heavy waxed thread, giant needles, and of course- the fabric.  We discussed some of the patterns but couldn't agree on one, and our house is so eclectic (since it's primarily 'found objects') . . . so we decided on a solid blue.  

I made grilled cheese and Matt cut and arranged the foam:

He put foam on the top and three of the four sides, since we wanted the drawer to be accessible.  Then he covered the foam with batting to smooth it out.  He then cut the fabric and upholstered the table.  

So, yes, it would appear that Matt has done the brunt of the work up until this point.  That is because it's true - he did it all, while I kept the baby happy and out of trouble.  When Bo went down for his second nap, I got started on the buttons.  I first covered the buttons with the same fabric . . .

Giant needles for sewing through inches of foam and batting.

Then I started the arduous process of sewing the buttons into place.  It's harder than it looks, and this guy was no help whatsoever:

I got most of the buttons in place but it took both of us to pull the string taunt and tie it to a washer underneath the table to keep the tufting in place.

And . . . voila!  

Except, not quite.  The once-perfect height of the coffee table now had an extra three inches added to it, so Matt had to cut the legs down a bit.  

And so!  Now, finally, finished! 

A close up of those sweet tufts and the reason we did all this in the first place - that precious noggin.  Stealin' somebody's phone and trying to make a run for it. 

And with a tray (a Vday gift from my mom, how timely) to hold our stuff:

How do you like that styling?  Dog toy on the floor, rumpled pillows, baby bottle on the side table . . . that's life!

So, we are pleased.  My feetkins are propped up in comfort and Bo's little head is a bit safer.  Matt said he was chasing Moose around the table when Moose tried to pull his usual move of diving under it, but our doggy got a little stuck and had to army crawl to the other side.  Ha!  What a hilarious animal.