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.