Laundry assistant

Peter is a great help when it comes to sorting laundry ;o)

Bring it on Big Sky!

Two weeks ago I went back to Missoula to lab assist a class my dad was teaching at the university.  It felt very "full circle" as I got to help teach the 3rd year PT students (in my old lab!) orthopedic manipulative theory and techniques.  We spent 1.5 days with students, then 1.5 days with clinicians who wanted to hone their manual therapy skills.  It was really amazing getting to lab assist for my dad - I love the way he teaches and it was fun to be back in the "saddle" of going to class.  I could have done without a few embarrassing "father/daughter" comments - but figured that was part of the bargain.  Since I wasn't ready to leave Peter at home, I brought him with me and my mom watched him while I was in class.  His first flight went well and he fell asleep after take off.  I wish I had a photo of his face/eyes when we took off.  Those blue eyes were humongous!  We had so much "stuff" - car seat, stroller, baby bag, my bag.  Holy smokes.  I don't know how people travel with babies solo.  I hope to go back again next year and then have Jake meet me so we can travel up to Glacier and Flathead lake.  Here are some pictures from our adventure.

Peter hugging Jake when he dropped us off at the airport

I got over my germaphobia when we were at airport.  Peter kept crawling over to the "shiny" tiles and licking the ground.  Ok!

When we first got on the plane - Peter is ready in his PJ's!

I am walking Peter around the airport in the stroller trying to get him to fall asleep again

Peter with my buddy (and old PT school professor) James Laskin

Peter on the Cara's Park Carousel in Missoula

Lab assisting at the class for clinicians

More lab assisting - my dad demonstrating a technique

Grandpa hugs ("ear hugs")

Asleep on the first flight home - the "hooter hider" cover came in handy and provided a "dark place" for him to fall asleep

Out for the count

He was WIDE awake for the second flight home on Sun AM.  Glad there were three of us to entertain him

Peter is doing some "cranial sacral" PT on grandpa Willy Chuck - what can I say, he's a natural

13 months

13 months

Peter will be 13 months old on Tuesday September 3rd.  How time flies!  He is pulling up to stand and starting to test out the 2 legged balancing.  Not walking yet, but still crawling like a speedster.  He is making all sorts of funny sounds and still likes to say "oh", but not much else.  He is eating a LOT and likes to feed himself.  He still loves avocados, inconsistently loves bananas, digs anything green and nectarines.  The strange food that he loves are tomatoes and blue cheese. Not what I expected. He loves playing with his blocks and often is crawling around with one in each hand. His hair is getting kind of long and wavy and I love it.  I don't want to jinx us, but he is sleeping much better.  He tends to go to sleep around 7-7:30pm and wakes up about 5:30-6am.  I finally had to recruit the D-team for the middle of the night wakings.  Every time I went in there to try and soothe him without nursing it was a disaster.  Jake was incredible and soothed Peter to sleep by rubbing his back.  It is much better and we have had several nights where he isn't waking up at 2-3am!  Crossing my fingers.  Either way - whatever happens in the next "phase" - it's nice to know that it's possible, you know?

6 months

3 months

Honeyman Beach - camping take 2

We went camping with our parenting club "birth to three" over labor day weekend.  Five babies, two tiny campsites, lot's of sand in countless crevices - but we survived and had fun. This was a much bigger campground and quite a bit louder than our last camping adventure, but it was a great time and fun to bond with the other families in our parenting club.  I thought it was impressive when 5 of my college buddies and our babies and husbands got together in Hood River and all stayed in the same house.......but this time we went camping with 5 babies and 5 couples and all slept in the same 50 square feet.  Wow - very different and quite a bit dirtier.  The pictures do it more justice.

The whole clan

Playing with the "castle" toy that someone brought - it kept the babes happy for hours

Mmmm eggs.  

Dough boys - biscuits roasted on a stick

Happy playing

Then Peter stole Tommy's shovel AND rake (I love the look on their faces - it says it all)

Happily playing with Elena

This is Peter getting upset b/c Henry took his shovel.  Looks like we need to start doing some more socialization to learn about this "sharing" thing

Playing with Daniel in the lake near the dunes (Cleawox Lake)

One of a kind gift

This year was really great, but really tough in many ways.  One of the hardest things was having Peter's aunt Lindsay away in Afghanistan from January through July.  We are so proud of her and know that she was helping protect our troops, but we are SO thankful that she is back.  She brought Peter a flag back that she flew with and dedicated to him.  Pretty cool Peter - definitely not your average gift.  I have a feeling he may not fully understand this one for a while.

Putting the PT in PTC

I couldn't resist.....

Gardening Toddler

Peter has had lots of adventures in the garden with grandma and grandpa this summer.  And he is still a tomato eating maniac!

Checking out the wheel on the wheelbarrow with Grandpa Jay.  He has been enamored with wheels for the last few months.

Pulling weeds with grandma Pam

Eating tomatoes with mama.  Every time he devours one I am amazed!