Christmas Fun

We bought Truman only three gifts, but combined with the generous presents from all of our relatives, he was overwhelmed and needed a 70-minute nap between opening sessions! Here he's investigating the very cool Hess truck from Grand Judy and Pop George. It even has its own digger that goes backwards and forwards and has blinking lights. We didn't realize it moved until it started rolling under the couch. I think I was more excited about this than Truman. (Oh, and please excuse his coughing. He's getting over a cold...)

We hope everyone had a great holiday!

Merry, merry

We decided to buy a Christmas tree even though Truman has become a crawling, pulling-up maniac. Once we decorated it, put out the stockings, and brought out the manger set, things really felt festive. Thanks, Grand Judy and Pop George, for Truman's stocking and holder!



The tree in detail. We realized that we haven't had a tree in three years, so we discovered bags of post-Christmas sale ornaments that hadn't been used before. It's a Christmas miracle!



Our daycare dollars at work: our first homemade Christmas ornament. (That's a photo of Truman painting the ornament, which explains why he's shirtless. Sort of. As far as we know, he's usually fully dressed at daycare.)

Truman in Action

We purchased a walker recently, but Truman's still partial to this homemade toy. Go figure. (A neck brace isn't far behind...)




Waiting for Luther to come back from his morning walk....

Thank-full

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We are very thankful for all of our family and friends who have been so generous and kind to Truman and us this year.

Truman came home from daycare yesterday with a CD of photos documenting his days. It should be called "What happens at daycare, stays at daycare." Except for these photos, which we couldn't keep to ourselves.



Truman on Halloween in his "napping" swing (he's since graduated to the crib—yeah!).



After a hard morning working on "untitled art project."

So It Begins

Truman is now officially mobile! But there appears to be a downside. Note what he goes for in the video. It explains the $200 of mysterious charges at softychewythings.com

Tulsa By Way of Dallas

Truman enjoyed some alone time with Grandmommy and Granddad in Dallas while Paul and I attended a friend's wedding party in Tulsa. It was our first trip alone, and we both kept thinking we had forgotten something (or someone) as we made our way through the airport and onto the plane.



Truman had a fine time, receiving lots of attention and even a few visitors in our absence. Here he's enjoying a bit of sweet potatoes and chicken dinner, a fave solid food. (That's right, Aunt Elizabeth. We still call them "solids.")



Here I am with Brian, my old ND partner in crime, at his and Jason's post-wedding fiesta. Brian's parents hosted a fantastic party for them, and we all met up for a delicious breakfast the next morning before Paul and I flew back to Dallas to pick up T and celebrate Joyce's birthday.


This guy's called the Golden Driller, and apparently he's pretty popular in Tulsa. (I misheard and thought he was called the Golden Gorilla. Don't ask.) We heard about one clever mother who uses him as a bargaining chip with her young son: if he finishes all his chores or behaves himself in a particular situation, he gets to sit on the base of the Golden Driller.

Hmmm, I wonder if the Golden Driller has an Austin cousin?

Random Photos

Taking care of business in his office on Halloween. What a worker bee.



One of his new favorite "rides" (it really picks up speed on carpets!).



Mugging for the camera.

More ND Indoctrination

My friend Marcie brought back this super-cute book for Truman after visiting the Notre Dame campus recently for a football game (one of the few wins this season!).


Each page features a notable Notre Dame landmark or image with simple one- or two-word descriptions. Here's an illustration of the Grotto, which was just down the hill from my dorm.



Truman examines his gift after breakfast....



.... and pronounces it one of the best gifts ever. (He's especially excited to have another board book to gnaw on.) Thanks, Marcie!

Use It or Lose It

Truman says, "Go vote!"

Boo!

We couldn't convince Truman to get back into the lobster costume, but luckily we had some great backup outfits, like this spooky onesie from Great Aunt Ellen and Uncle Bill and the festive Halloween socks from cousin Phoebe.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Truman Takes New Jersey (and Manhattan)

We had beautiful fall weather while in NJ. Here Truman's enjoying it outside on my parents' front lawn.


Truman and Grand Judy really hit it off!


Pop George and Truman (distracted by Grand Judy coming into the kitchen). Maybe Truman was good luck, because Notre Dame beat Washington two days later!



Truman and cousin Phoebe playing at Grand Judy and Pop George's. Truman was INFATUATED with Phoebe, watching her every move.



Aunt Ellen with her niece and nephew. They're a handful!


Truman and Aunt Elizabeth. (This was taken seconds before he spit up all over Grand Judy's newly washed floor. Which explains the look on his face.)



Family portrait in the leaves.



Truman's not much of a hat person, but for some reason he really took to this wacky daisy hat that Phoebe no longer plays with. She generously offered it to us, but we forgot to take it home. (We were not so generous with Truman's mechanical duck, which Phoebe liked but is one of T's favorites. Sorry, Phoebe.)


Phoebe glamming it up for the camera with her mom. Phoebe definitely has a kooky side, which makes her a lot of fun.



Truman posing with his special cake at the Reillys, who hosted lots of friends and family to welcome Truman to NJ.


Truman with his other NJ cousins (l to r): Tommy, Kiera, and Gia. Thanks for playing with Truman, guys!



Our Aunt Ellen and Uncle Bill, who came in from Georgia to see their grandson, Dean, and to meet Truman. (Unfortunately we have no photos of Dean, but Truman was super interested in his hair for some reason.)


Truman thanking Great Aunt Ellen for the Halloween outfits (photos to come!).


Grand Judy and Pop George's clan (l to r): Phoebe, Tommy, Gia, Kiera, and Truman.



On Sunday we went into New York to see my good friend Sue and her son, Munro. Here we are on the train into the city—Truman's first train ride!



Sue and Truman at her amazing apartment in Greenwich Village.



Munro taking a breather from sharing all of his toys. He was an excellent host.



Truman's first cab ride.



Phoebe on the train going home after a long day in the city.

A long post but a quick trip. Thanks again to everyone, especially the Groupps, who put up with us for four nights. Can't wait to go back!

We're Back!

But it's taking longer than usual to get it together. Photos from NJ soon, I promise! In the meantime, a BIG thanks to Truman's NJ relatives for making our trip so wonderful. Isn't this cake fantastic? Courtesy of Aunt Ellen and the rest of the Reilly clan!

Early Halloween

The yoga moms got together for an early Halloween party. Truman was supposed to wear a baby lobster costume (thanks, Fletcher!), but we didn't make it out of the house. Here he is moments after I zipped it up...


And showing his displeasure (he's rolling away from me and screaming) about being stuffed into a too-tight outfit...


We brought the costume but it stayed on the hanger. Instead, he wore a festive onesie on loan from cousin Phoebe. And can you tell he's teething?

Truman at the Beach

Lots of photos from our trip. I'll try to make sense of the sequence....


Truman's not one to show a lot of emotion one way or another, but here he obviously liked being in the ocean with his dad.



Okay, this one's just creepy. The sunglasses make him look both like an old man and a frat boy. Truman wasn't a big fan of the sunglasses, but they're cute and they did their job. (I think they were a gift from Heather, Wayne, Jack and Bridget. The design is very smart—a flexible band with velcro tabs holds them in place.)



Are we overprotective or what? The condo has tiled floors, so this was how we babyproofed. Luckily the beds had a lot of pillows and bolsters.


Sitting out by the pool in his super-cute alligator sunsuit, a gift from Grand Judy and Pop George (I think). He made a lot of friends with the other condo guests. Here he's chatting it up with a nice couple from Michigan (off camera).




Truman and Mom watching Dad swim in the ocean.


Truman was fascinated by the seagulls.



I had to work while we were there, so I regularly went down to the local gelato shop to check and send e-mails while Paul and Truman amused themselves in the condo. (This one could also be called "What happens at daddy daycare, stays at daddy daycare.")



We had to buy this tacky t-shirt in order to get this....



FABULOUS infant visor! It was so worth it. I saw this last year and always regretted not buying it. Luckily, the surf shop still had them. Doesn't he look like he deals blackjack in Vegas?



Mmmm, carrots!



Family portrait courtesy of a nice couple from Hawaii.



Sunrise from our balcony....



.... and sunset over the bay viewed from our kitchen.



Truman at the beginning of the seven-hour car ride home....



.... and at the end.