A Perfectly Imperfect Masterpiece

For Father's Day, I wanted to give David something exclusively from Tyler, something that he would never forget. Now that it is all said and done, I'm not sure either of us will ever forget it.

Projects with kids can always be a little challenging, but one would think that a project with an infant would be easier. I didn't have such luck. The package said that it would be easiest to attempt while the baby was sleeping. So, that's exactly what I did. The only drawback: when Tyler is awoken from sleep, he likes to rub his face. Well, when the hand is covered with quick-drying plaster, it presents a challenge. It's a good thing that my reaction time has improved, otherwise we would have had a crib-full of plaster.

While Tyler's first piece of artwork was not the easiest, it did make "quite an impression". Daddy loved it and Mommy will never forget it! It was Perfectly Imperfect! And so it goes...

Lots of Locks

Without further ado, I bring to you the new and improved Tyler Lane. A few less locks, a little more handsome!

Saturday morning we took Tyler for his first official hair cut. Heartbreaking, yes, but necessary none the less. Although his hair has been a big part of his personality and appearance since his arrival, my little trimmings here and there just weren't getting it any longer. With summer ever so present, we felt it was time to lighten him up and cool him down a little.

We took him to a place called Short Cuts for Kids, which I was referred to by a friend. Thanks Eve! It was such a great experience! Tyler sat in a little red fire engine and watched Dora, while the barber went to work. First the clippers, then the scissors and lastly, the electric razor, for those hard to reach places like around the ears. Tyler handled all of it pretty well, only getting slightly startled by the razor. There was also another little boy there getting his first hair cut and it just so happened that he was the same age as Tyler. Between his Mother and I, I'm not sure there was one minute that passed without the flash of a camera going off. And who could forget the keepsake locks, which were securely placed in an envelope and noted with the date.

With his new "do" we have conquered yet another stepping stone in this path we call life. And so it goes...

Two-fers

Yep, two more teeth! Poor thing! Tyler now has both of his upper lateral incisors (left & right) to accompany his lower central incisors. He actually did quite well cutting these two teeth, considering he has 4 others that are trying to come in as well. The only tell tale symptom that something was going on in there, was a constant runny nose. There are no pictures of these 2 new pearly whites! Tyler won't let me get near them. He's too much of a busy body these days. I guess I better stop procrastinating and purchase that crib rail guard!!! And so it goes...

Nine Month Milestones

Height: 30"
Weight: 21lbs 6oz

Places Traveled: This month we went to Bok Tower, in Winter Haven, for Mommy's Birthday. We also went to Lake Wales a few times (surprise, surprise). We also went to the beach on Tyler's actual birthday!

Accomplishments: This month, like last month, there were many. Firstly, we have a crawler on our hands, which you read about in a previous post. Along with crawling, comes pulling himself up on his knees and even standing on occasion. It's a very rare occasion though. For the most part, when it comes to standing, he falls into the lazy category. Tyler went in the ocean for the first time on his 9 month birthday, which you read about in a previous post. He also got another tooth on May 30. It was the upper left lateral incisor. Which leads me to the next item, FOOD! Aside from all of the stage 2 foods, he's had a bagel and a heel of French bread, both of which he gnawed on for a while, celery, mashed potatoes, pasta, soup and Gerber Banana Puffs. He is yet to meet a food he doesn't like.

New Babbles: I'm not sure I would call them babbles, but more like single-syllable outbursts. VERY LOUD, single-syllable outbursts! It's so funny, as if he is trying to get a point across, but he just can't get it all out!

New Discoveries (this is a new category): He has discovered pillows. In the morning, after I get him ready, I put him in bed with David while I get his diaper bag packed. I'll be darned if he doesn't crawl straight for my pillow and lay his head down on it. So, what did I do? I bought him his own little toddler pillow for his crib. It melts my heart to go in and see him asleep on his pillow at night. He's such a snuggle bug. And, who could forget about the dog bowls!!! He thinks the dog's water bowl is his own personal water table! Little stinker! Of course, I just let him play in it. After all, it is only water with a little dog slobber additive!

Our Thrilling African Safari

Saturday we set out with a group of friends for Tyler's first trip to the zoo, only this was a glorified zoo, it was Busch Gardens!
I was super excited to see Tyler's reaction to all of the animals. Wait, who am I kidding? I was super excited to go and ride the roller coasters!!! Daddy doesn't do roller coasters, so, with Katrina, who is pregnant, and Chris, who doesn't do roller coasters either, Tyler had plenty of babysitters (and Daddy had plenty of company). Anyway, Tyler got to see Gorillas, Crocodiles, Rhinos, Elephants, Snakes, Monkeys, Frogs, Flamingos, Giraffes, Turtles, Alligators, and some animals that I don't even recall their names. The list could go on forever. The only thing I wish we could have seen less of was the sun. Nothing could prepare us for the heat that we endured, but it was nothing that a couple of mobile misters couldn't handle. We made sure to keep Tyler's hair wet, sunscreen lathered and stroller in the shade as much as possible (not to mention the half-cup of shaved ice that Daddy shared with him).
The only ride that Tyler could actually go on was the train, which for most of us, was the most enjoyable ride of the day. We waited until the end of the day to ride it so that we could rest our feet and enjoy dusk. Most of the animals were out feeding as we rode by, so it was perfect timing.
Only being about an hour from our place in Lake Wales, something tells me that we will be frequent visitors to Busch Gardens. Only next time, we may wait until summer is over. And so it goes...

A Taste of the Atlantic

Although Tyler has been to the beach many times, he has never actually been in the ocean, mainly due to the fact that the water has just been too cold until now. Saturday, we spent Tyler's 9 month birthday [yes, that is correct, 9 months already] at the beach and this time, Daddy took Tyler in the ocean for his first "saline splash".
Initially, Tyler seemed a little frightened by the waves, but with the crash of each wave, the uncertainty turned into laughter. Eventually, Tyler thought each wave was hysterical and belly laughed every time he sailed over one. Daddy had such a great time with his little guy. Sweet success! I'm so glad that the liked the water!
To add to the excitement of the day, since Tyler is now crawling, this was the first time that he had free roam of the beach blanket. Much to my surprise (and my liking) Tyler did not seem to be too fond of the sand. He would crawl over to the edge of the blanket, grad a handful of sand, and then hold his hand straight up in the air, as if he were asking for someone to clean it off. Hallelujah! I thought for sure that he would be face first in the sand the first opportunity that he got. And so it goes...

Highchair: Making Mealtime A Whole Lot Easier

Previously, we fed Tyler from his Bumbo seat. The Bumbo seat, aside from being the best thing ever invented for babies who can't quite sit on their own yet, alleviated the need for us to purchase (& store, which is my biggest thing) a highchair until now. The only thing that has changed is that Tyler has now figured out that if he pushes himself backwards in the Bumbo, his legs come loose and he can almost twist right out of the darn thing, practically giving me & David a heart attack every time he did it. So I broke down and went and bought him a highchair.

Thankfully, highchairs are not near what they used to be. At the time of my baby shower, I didn't register for one, mainly because I didn't want to have to store it for all of this time. Well, well, well...much to my surprise, highchairs now fold and store flat, just like a step-ladder. Not to mention, they are much more fashionable than I can remember them being when I was a youngin. I let Tyler sit in the one that I liked, while we were at the store, as to "try it for size". I know, I know, a highchair is a highchair, but I just wanted to make sure it was perfect! I ended up picking the one that matches the rest of his set, and what do you know, it actually matches my Dining Room decor quite well!

I couldn't wait to get home, set it up and feed him dinner, which is exactly what I did. At first, he acted a tad bit confused, but as soon as he saw his dinner bowl and spoon, it didn't matter what he was sitting in. All in all, mealtime is much less stressful for all of us now. And to think, I thought this day would take forever to get here. And so it goes...

Growing Up, Moving Down

As if our whole world didn't just change completely with the added activity of crawling, a few days ago we were greeted by a Baby Boy clinging the rail of his crib. Let's keep it G-rated and say HOLY MOLY! My heart skipped [quite] a few beats. No, he didn't fall out, but it was something that I hadn't witnessed before, so the inital shock is what got me.

Needless to say, the crib mattress is now a few slots lower than what it was a few days ago. Our little busy body has figured out how to crawl over to the side of his crib and pull himself up, as well as, chew on the top of the rail, for that matter. Next purchase from Babies-R-Us: Crib Rail Guard, essential if I intend on using this crib for our next little one. Those little chompers have left marks in this one already!

Now, I can't imagine a better way to start the day, than two hands and a little face peeping up over the rail of the crib, with a binky-smile from ear to ear! And so it goes...