Grandparents

Peter was feeling very lucky to spend so much time with his grandparents this week.  He got to see each of them and spend a little quality time with them all.  Today he hung out with his grandpa Bill and then we visited Grandpa Jay at work!

Here's a cute one that my mom caught on camera

Birth to Three

We joined a parenting group when Peter was about 8wks old, called Birth to Three (ok, ok - they changed the name to Parenting Now, but it doesn't have the same ring, so Jake and I still call it Birth to Three).  We met some great parents and kiddos.  I think we had a really good group and I hope we keep in touch now that the official thing is over.  My parents STILL get together with my sister's Birth to Three group, and my friend Aleta and I are friends because we were big sisters in that group.  Overall - great organization.  Here are some pics from the beginning and the end.

"10 little babies lying in a circle....." (sounds like the beginning of a song!)  Can you spot our super star?

Peter and his buddies Henry and Jackson

Peter and Jackson

And here they are!  10wks later.  "10 little babies, sitting in a row......"

Peter and Henry

Peter blowing raspberries - he did this for about 30min at the end of the of last session.  It was so funny.  He soaked his bib!

TGIF

Orange hat buddies

Reading the paper with Daddy - Peter is intently focused on this article

I can just hear his laugh when I look at this picture.

Smiles

On a walk this AM - it was so hard to go to work after hanging out with this cutie!

 

I think he will be a great baker/cook someday.  Pam says he loves it when she reads him cookbooks

3.5mo

6.5mo!

Be Mine Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day!  I gave mommy and daddy the best gift ever and only woke up 1x in the middle of the night!

Love my card from great grandma!

Mmmm - mom and dad made fondue for Valentine's day

Yum - first time eating avocado.  It looks cool, but I'm not really sure about the taste just yet

It sure is fun to finger paint with though

Arts and crafts with mommy and daddy

Playing in the mirror

Mesmerized by the world while mom takes me for a jog

Playing in my toy box

Walking with mom

I love facing out!

I'm diggin this new caterpillar

Went to Saturday AM running group with mom and dad.  I didn't particularly like having the rain cover on.  What can I say, I like the wind in my hair!

Daddy - my legs are almost long enough to touch the pedals.....

Mama love

Spa Day

We had a fun day at the pool this Saturday - take 2!  

Kicking his legs like crazy!

This pool was a little colder than the last, but Peter still seemed to have fun

Post getting dunked under water.  I felt like a horrible mom doing it - but felt like it would be good for him.  He looked at me like "What the heck did you just do that for mom?!"

Chillin with the 'rents

I loved that they had this up in the "junior girls" locker room

 

It was so nice to have a weekend at home.  No plans, just hanging out.  Here's a picture of Peter sucking his L thumb.  It's become a favorite.  

What are you looking at? 

On a walk with our friend Hillary

Missing Aunt Karin - can you find her picture?

Missing Aunt Linds a TON - come home soon!!! 

Missing our sisters this week.  Karin is running the ICU at Columbia's Medical Hospital (I'm sure I called that the wrong thing, oh well) and Lindsay is running around Afghanistan.  Ugh.  She's such a rock star and I'm so proud of her.  Just missing her like crazy.   One day at a time, one week at a time - July will be here before we know it and she'll be back in the US.  You're not going to believe how big Peter is Linds - seriously! 

We went to the MD today and he is 18lbs 0.5oz.  I was guessing 20lbs this weekend, so I was a little off.  He is in the 57% percentile for weight.  He is 27.5in long (81%, like father like son).  He supposedly has a small head at 17in (18%) but I think it looks big!   

Go Peter go!

February 7th (Note from a Thankful Dad)

Feeling EXTRA thankful today.  On February 7th 2002 there was a large windstorm that blew through Eugene.  The storm caused a lot of damage and I was involved in an accident on the corner of 13th and Pearl.  For those of you who have not heard the story, I was a passenger in a truck that was hit by a falling tree that was blown down in the storm.  Whether you think I am very lucky for surviving or incredibly unlucky for having been hit by a falling tree, I am extremely thankful that I survived.  Two of my buddies were in the truck with me and they are OK as well.

This morning as I was getting ready to leave for work I went into Peter's room to say good morning and to tell him to have a great day.  He was just laying in his crib with a big smile on his face - he is such a happy kid.  I gave him a kiss on the forehead, told him to have a great day and headed off to work.  As I commuted to work the thought crossed my mind that if  things had gone differently on that stormy February night Peter would not even exist. Needless to say, thinking about the possibility that Peter might have never existed sent shivers down my spine.  Ever since 2002, February 7th has always been a emotional day for me, but having a child took it to a higher level.

Over the years, lots of people have told me how lucky I was that day - I couldn't agree more.  It's easy to feel lucky, but I want to give a shout out to all the Firefighters and Paramedics who helped rescue me. There's John Ticer, one of paramedics on the scene (I wish I could remember the names of the other guys, I'm forever grateful) and Darrel, the City of Eugene employee with the backhoe who arrived to do the heavy lifting. It was a long night, and they put in long hours and hard work in difficult and dangerous conditions.  They deserve a lot of credit for my survival and in turn for Peter being here today.   After the accident, my buddies (that were in the truck) and I went to both Fire Stations that were involved in the rescue and the City of Eugene Public Works to thank Darrel. 

I imagine some day I will explain this all to Peter and hopefully he will understand just how thankful I am that a bunch of people came together on a stormy night to save his dad.  I think Peter will be forever thankful too. For now, since he doesn't have the ability to understand any of this, I am going to help him with his Thank You.

Happy to report that February 7th 2013 is a calm beautiful day in Eugene  :)

Jake

"Finally!" (says Peter). A story of radical rice (cereal)

I love this picture. It totally captures the moment. Peter was SO amped to try some food.  Rice cereal - he was enthralled.

Mmmm - mmmm.  Daddy had the magic hands when it came to feeding Peter

Not so sure about it when Mommy tried. 

 

Bring it on.  What's next?  Carrots?  Squash?  Peas?

Let's do it again Daddy!

6 months - 1/2 birthday!

Peter is 6mo. old today!  I can't believe it has been half of a year already.  Every month literally gets better and better.  It's hard to understand when people say that - but it's true.  Granted I may feel different when he is in the terrible 2 phase.  Here are some pictures from the weekend!  This week's mission?  Try rice cereal and start some solids.

6 months and sitting all by myself!

39degrees!  Felt like spring at Crescent Lake.

Crystal clear

Our friends the Sages came up to visit Sat afternoon.  Samantha built three little snowmen - she said that one was Peter, one was her little brother Theo, and one was Samantha - adorable!

Sitting at the big kid table and reading

Gorgeous sunset

Waking up from my nap

I'm digging this new toy mom (thank you Essins for handing this down!)

big boy stroller!  I don't have to ride in my carseat anymore!

Loves to read