Straw-baby

I have been looking forward to summer all winter long. One of the perks of working from home is that we can go out and enjoy all sorts of fun and squeeze work in around it. Last week we got up early and headed to the strawberry fields. It was a perfectly warm day with lots of sunshine and the berries were ripe and juicy! Christopher was in such awe, he is definitely an observer and he was on overload in the fields.

Within a few minutes he had a strawberry in his hands and was giggling left and right. He was very diligent about eating every last inch of every strawberry he got his paws on and kept grabbing more out of the basket if I didn't keep it out of his reach. I am sure he got some straw and dirt in there along with the berries but he didn't seem to mind.

Give me more berries!

By the time we left the fields this boy was covered from head to toe in strawberries! He looked like a little strawberry vampire! I had to let the juice dry on him before I could even pick him up and he was SO sticky.

We've been enjoying fresh strawberries all week and whenever Christopher sees one his little arms and legs start pumping and he gets very impatient until he gets some in his tummy. I love taking this little buddy along with me and that he seems to have as much fun as I do. I can't wait to introduce him to the Public Gardens, the local pool, my favorite beaches, and definitely more fruit picking!

A Day with Topher III

At six months old Christopher is so much fun! I thought I'd do another Day with Topher to capture a little snapshot of our lives right now.

10 PM Sunday night - Last feed of the day. Topher falls asleep and somehow lets me snuggle him before putting him in his crib. This is such a rarity that I stay up an extra hour just holding him and rocking in the glider.

12:15 AM - Topher wakes up screaming. I mean, really screaming. I'm not sure if it was a night terror or a sour stomach but he has never shrieked like that before. He's been sleeping through the night again this past week so waking up like that is very unusual for him. After getting him to eat a little and calm down he went right back to bed.

6:00 AM - First Breakfast and back to sleep

8:00 AM - Second Breakfast, snuggles with mom in bed and seeing dad off to work

8:30 AM - Mom is working (on the couch in her PJ's) and Christopher gets to do some wiggling around on the carpet. He started out here:

And ended up on the wood floor slipping and sliding around until he wedged himself under the chair here:

9:30 AM - Third Breakfast of prunes and cereal. He loves eating and thinks every food in a bowl is for him.

10:00 AM - On a conference call with mom. I am really lucky that my boss thinks it's cool to hear Topher skwaking in the background! Christopher loves his little banana toothbrush/teether. That thing is a lifesaver!

10:45 AM - Light snack and off to take a nap. I scramble to tidy up the house and get a few work things done while I can actually concentrate.

Noon - Lunch for mom and Christopher

12:30 PM - Our friend Heather (my coworker) comes by for her weekly crochet lesson, lunch and chat. She just finished her first blanket and Christopher approves!

1:30 PM - Second Lunch. Christopher will eat anything but one of his favorites in butternut squash with coriander and coconut milk. He ate the very last of this variety today, I'll have to whip up some more soon!

2:15 PM - Christopher practices falling asleep on his own. I've been working to get him to fall asleep without nursing and he's doing a really good job of it.

4:00 PM - Baby's up from his nap! Mom still has a little work to do so we snuggle in on the couch and blast through it.

4:18 PM - Just kidding, Topher demands to be fed again. So I nurse and type with one hand while balancing my laptop precariously on my lap.

5:00 PM - Mom calls it a day with work and we head upstairs to read some books and hang out in the window nook. When we chose this room for the nursery I imagined afternoons spent here lying on the floor reading and playing. I love seeing that tiny dream of mine come true. We had a little snack of apples and cheese but mostly Christopher threw my apples on the carpet and tried to put his trains in the bowl.

 We also had a mega poop which required a change of clothes...

Is there something on my face?

6:30 PM - Dad is home from work! We hurry to eat dinner and rush to the park to play Ultimate Frisbee with some friends. The teams are half adults, half kids and the frisbee must be passed between an adult and a kid each time. If you're holding a baby you count as a kid. I love our friends and nights like this make me really fall hard for summers here! You just can't beat it!

 8:15 PM - Home from playing, dad changes the diaper, warms up some broccoli, pear and green beans with quinoa and gets the baby all fed and happy.

9:00 PM - Baby starts to get whiny and ready for bed. Dad has a special gift for keeping this guy from completely melting down. They listen to music - tonight was late 90's one hit wonders - and play This Little Piggy.

9:30 Pajama time! For some reason Christopher loves to have his face, hands and feet washed with a cloth at night. He giggles so hard every time!

10:00 PM - Last feed of the night and off to bed.

I can't believe how much different our days are now than just a few months ago. Christopher is so content to just sit and play for a lot longer than he used to. He's starting to move around and his personality is beginning to really shine. Overall, he is one of the happiest babies I've ever met. He is generous with his smiles and giggles, loves to talk and play with other kids and is so patient with his parents! I am so glad we have our Christopher Golden, what was life even like before him?