Trick or Treating is HARDWORK!

Isaac's second Halloween costume was the cutie pumpkin baby you see, courtesy of his grandma C. The first costume was just too chilly for evening on the coast. He liked this one much better, but was not so happy when Mommy was painting his cheeks. I mean once I did one, I had to do the other... :)

He started off very well, taking his picture next to his kitty pumpkin and Dozer (who looks kinda like a demon dog in this picture...).

He was excited in the stroller, and didn't know exactly what to make of the costumes and lights and music and all the people out and about.

30 minutes after we started, he ended up like this:

Baby Tres.sel

Isaac had two Halloween costumes. By day, he was the OS.U foot.ball co.ach, Ji.m Tre.ssel. He looked adorable. :) He just hated the headset and glasses that we fashioned, so I had to hold his arms down for pictures. He kept trying to rip them off. And the cats kept playing with them.

My husband is determined to try this costume again next year, when Isaac may not be so fidgety....ha. :) I just don't see that happening.

Baby Face

I remember the first time I nursed Isaac.

The nurse brought my teeny, one hour old newborn to me. I was excited and terrified, wondering what my body was going to do, how he would respond. I remember the wierd feeling when he latched on that first time. The nurse was impressed with me and my newborn, able to nurse like that the first time right away.

What I really remember about that first time is how tiny Isaac's little head was. I just looked down at his teeny baby face in awe; awe that this was my baby, my beautiful little baby boy. I didn't mind any of the times that the nurses woke me up with my hungry baby. I knew that I was going to love this experience, just because it gave me time to stare at my baby. I knew that no matter what else was going on, I would have this time, just me and Isaac.

As the days, weeks, months rolled on, I still love the experience. I watched my baby face, so small next to my engorged breasts. I watched his tiny mouth root around, shaking his head from side to side, searching desperately for his food. I watched as he become more and more adept at nursing, to the point he is at now where he just leans back and uses his hands to direct his food right to his mouth. I watched him go from teeny baby face with squinty eyes that most often fell asleep while eating to staring me directly in the eyes. I watch as his baby face grew, and now it is larger than me. I watched his hair go from fuzzy dark hair to the beautiful silky light brown it is now.

Last night, he pulled off for a minute, stared me in the eyes and smiled his beautiful baby smile, then latched back on. I love this. I love staring at my beautiful baby face. I love the interaction that is just between me and him. I love locking eyes with my son and communicating in silence.

The Many Hats of Isaac Lahman

He wears many hats, mainly because I make him. Or at least make him try them on at Tar.get. :) He likes it. He hams it up most times. MOST times. Sometimes he is just plain mad or annoyed. I think I am into the hats because they are really the only accessory that you can get away with on a baby boy. Well, that and shoes. But baby shoes are expensive. And in my opinion a waste of money until they are walking.

Anyway, the point is I put lots of hats on my baby. :) He's a hat wearing boy. The hospital started it, when he was born and they put the little yellow knit hat on him. He just looked so darn cute. I simply continued it. And he has tons that are just coming up in size.

And we don't always buy all the hats. We just have lots of fun trying them on...the ones we do buy, I wash the heck out of them. :) I am sure other people do what I do.

And incidently, the first picture was taken the day he was born. The last one was taken yesterday night.

Slow Down, My Kids Are Playing in the Middle of the Street!

That is what a lovely lady yelled at me this morning as I was dropping Isaac off at daycare.

Do you see anything wrong with that? As in, why is your kid playing in the middle of the busy street?

Ok, so Isaac's daycare is off of a busy residential street, but you have to turn off of it, and then turn again, so it is pretty far back. However, this lady lived right of the main busy street. The speed limit is 35 mph, but I usually go no more than 25 because the turns are quick and I would have to floor it to get up to legal speed. And the street poles and trees are COVERED with NEON signs that say "Kids Everywhere, Drive Safe" and "Slow Down" that are VERY distracting. Like, if I read all the signs, I would not be looking at the road for a good portion of time. It looks like that street is having about 20 million garage sales, because that is what the signs look like.

So this lady seriously SCREAMED that at me. And yes, her kids were IN the freaking street. Her 10 year old (estimated age) kids were rough housing in the actual paved STREET.

Now, I have no problem driving a bit safer. I'll slow down. Hell, I will even drive in the other lane if there is no one coming and there are people close to the edge of the road.

BUT MAYBE YOU SHOULD TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THAT THEY SHOULD NOT PLAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!

Like, EVER!

It's a residential street, lady...not a playground.

Movin' On Up.

My baby has been crawling for two weeks now. After about a week, he discovered he could pull himself up on his knees if he grabbed a hold of the couch, the kitty condo, chair legs, etc. He also figured out that once on his knees, he could push things, like his activity chair. So guess what he likes to do ALL THE TIME now?

He has also started to stand still when we hold his hands and pull him into a standing position. He takes a few steps, then starts to cry.

Regardless, it inspired my husband to put this together this morning:

Yep, that's a walker!

Seriously, I can barely keep up with the crawling baby! He wants to walk already?! The past few nights I have been so pooped, I go to bed at 8:30! And I can't tell you how many times I have yelled "Isaac, what's in your mouth NOW?!"

Sigh.

And in case you couldn't tell, I am going to give the NaBloPoMo (is that right?) a whirl. 2 down....28 to go! :)

Next Year I Will Be the One Handing Out Parenting Tips for Halloween

My brother in law and I took Isaac trick or treating on Saturday night. I did not have high expectations, and honestly didn't expect to get candy or anything. We went to Flo.renc.e Ave, which was INSANE. All the homes were completely decked out.

Isaac had two costumes, both of which will be shown in photos once I download them from the camera. During the day, he was Ji.m Tre.ssel, the OS.U foo.tball coa.ch, and by night he went back to being my little pumpkin. :) The daytime costume was not warm enough.

Anyway, we put him in the stroller and walked up the street. We only went to houses that I could push him to. He got a few little treats that he can have, like little crackers. We got a few pieces of candy. And I got some much appreciated, unsolicited advice:

"Don't you know your baby can NOT have candy?"

Why no! Thank you kind lady! I was going to shove a whole Crun.ch bar into his mouth! Thank heavens you stopped me, just in the nick of time! And what a great idea, handing out advice for Halloween!

I mean seriously. I didn't take candy from anyone. People put the candy in Isaac's teeny pail. Most people said it was for me or BIL. Trick or Treat this year was more for the experience and to get him out. We only went to a few houses before Isaac passed out. And then we went home. And there were many other babies out.

Anyway, I will take the blame. I took my 9 month old baby out trick or treating. I dressed him up and I brought him to your house for a Halloween greeting. I will let you criticize me and think you are setting me straight.

But next year, I am totally stealing your idea and handing out advice.