Happy New Year!

Christmas is a Circus!

Here's Tripp with one of his favorite gifts from Santa, a circus tent!  Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Meg

Merry, Merry 2012!

Merry Christmas!
Meg

18 Month Stats

We visited our favorite pediatrician last week and got some updated stats.  Looks as though genetics are beginning to catch up with ole' Tripp, given his two vertically challenged parents.  Still rockin' his big brain, though! 

Below is the break down:

• Height: 31.75 inches (25th percentile, down from 45th!)
• Weight:  23 lbs, 3.5 oz (40th percentile, down from 50th)
• Head Circumference: 19.25 inches (90th percentile)

According to the little generic 18th month visit handout that they provide to every parent of a child this age:

• At this age, you may notice your baby doing any of the following:
• Walks steadier and faster (check)
• Climbs stairs with help (check)
• Uses a spoon well (check)
• Knows body parts (check)
• Says "no," tests limits and may have tantrums. (Our son? ... never...)

And some advice from the aforementioned "helpful" handout:

• Avoid TV and Videos.   ... to which Elmo says, "No way!"
• Let your child watch others using the toilet, but do not force toilet training.  ... so, what do you suggest we do if we find him splashing around in the toilet water?
• Continue to set and maintain limits for your child. Be as consistent as possible.   Easy enough...
• This age can be hard, especially if your child is strong willed.  Remember that you are the boss.  It is normal to feel frustrated at times.  ... so you're saying that it is abnormal not to feel frustrated?  whew!

Please pass the vino. Ciao!
Meg

Rollin' the Dough

No, No...  not rolling IN the dough, as in multi-millions in lottery winnings... just rolling the dough, as in  Play Dough. Tripp's teachers have told me that this is one of his favorite activities, so I am glad it was finally captured on camera.  The class plays with Play Dough several times a day, or so say the teachers, and while they play, they sing "Roll Roll Roll the dough, gently down the stream..." to the tune of... you guessed it, "Row Row Row Your Boat."  Kinda weird, but keeps them entertained. 

Rollin' the green dough

If asked a question whose answer is not immediately obvious to him,
Tripp makes this gesture while saying
"I not know"

... 'Tis pretty cute.

Hope you had a happy hump day!
Meg

Ho Ho Holy Cow it's December...

I am having a really hard time with how fast time is flying this year.  It feels like yesterday we were celebrating Tripp's very first birthday, and now we're half way to his second.  December is here, and I guess we might as well embrace it.

So... we recently went for a visit to "the big guy" which was lots of fun.  We met up with Lily Brooks and Ryder Woolley, for a fun and festive evening of holiday flair.  Below are a few photos that I snapped.

Requisite Yuletide Tantrum

The Roughens
Matt, Tripp (18 mos) and Meg

The Woolleys
Charles, Lily Brooks (4 yrs), Ryder (2 yrs) and Tish

Tripp eats his hand, while the well-behaved Woolleys observe

These two will be the best of buds.

HoHoHo!
Meg

Garden Brook Neighbors Reunion

Since we moved into our new house, we have really missed our old neighbors from our condo in Peachtree Hills.  Around the time we moved, many of them were moving on as well, so Matt and I invited everyone over for some old neighborhood time.  We had a blast catching up and seeing everyone.  Below are some photos from the fun Sunday afternoon soiree.

All the kiddos
Molly & Sadie Hight
Tripp, leaning on Sadie's back as if posing for a GQ ad
and Allen & Elizabeth Morris

Molly, Tripp, Sadie

Our new den & The Dudes...
John, Bobby, Matt, Jordan, Chad

... and the ladies...
Tammy, Elizabeth, Meg, Kara, Bonnie, Neely
and Little Elizabeth

... and the Stud.
played by Allen Morris

Fun times!  We all vowed to stay in touch despite our lives taking us in different directions.  ... and who knows? ... We may all retire to Garden Brook one day when we are looking to downsize back into 1,000 square feet and a yard that "takes care of itself"...

Meg

Carrot Art

What will they think of next?  Happy Weekend!
Meg