Changes

So much has changed in a year!!!

Here is a photo of Joey from last year at this time:
July 2010


And....
July 2011

We have a blog?

It's been months since my last blog entry. Things sure do get crazy....

As much as I'd love to play catch up and tell you all about what has been going on since October 2010- for the sake of time, let's just start fresh with today!

Joey is getting so big! 17 months old!It's so funny to think about what we were doing last year at this time and how he was still a tiny baby. He is like a little burst of pure happiness running around the place. I'm not sure how tall he is, but he has his 18 month well baby visit next month so we will see then. Our scale at home says he is between 31-32 lbs most days, depending on whether or not he has decided to eat that day. Up until just a few days ago, he was also so easy to feed. He would eat anything...not anymore! Hopefully this is just a phase, because I don't know how long our little friend can live on just cheerios, milk, yogurt and pears. Everyone tells me it will pass...but it is frustrating for now.

We have been debating whether or not to cut his hair.....after looking at the pictures below- what do you all think?? LOL :)

Joey has been talking so much more lately...and it seems like every day he learns something new! It is truly amazing! Some words he knows he uses on a regular basis are: Ball, Bubba, Dada, Mommmmmmmm, Milk, Uh Oh, Yes, No. He also knows and uses the signs for: all done, eat, and more. Just yesterday morning he was playing with the blocks that go to his alphabet train...and he held up the block with a picture of a ball on it and said "ball". His favorite things to do right now are to play outside, play with cars/trucks, read, try to hug and kiss bubba, and use his toy vacuum while I am cleaning (hysterical to see) He is constantly finding different cars/blocks/anything really and lining them up or stacking them. It is just amazing to watch him grow and learn each day! He is such a joy :)

This month we have had two 1st communions...our niece, Kylie and our nephew, Ryan. We are very proud of them! I was very worried about bringing Joey to church, but he did great! He was even singing along with the choir ladies :) Such a relief! I know that he won't always be so well behaved in church, but it is nice to be able to think about bringing him in the future. :)

Everything else has been going good lately, and it has been nice to have some sunshine and warm weather this week finally!!! I'm hoping that the weather will stay nice for Friday so we can take Joey out and enjoy some time outside :) Joe has Fridays off, so that is our designated "Family Day" and I love it! It's something special to look forward to :)

That's all for now...but here are a few recent photos:













Love,
Tina

Where does the time go?

Can you believe that Joey is 10 1/2 months old already???? We can't!!! These past few months have just flown right by, and it seems like time is going faster and faster. I love the little boy that my baby is growing up to be, but I can't help but wish...even for just a few moments...that I could go back in time and hold him again as my tiny little baby. He still lets us snuggle and hold him before he falls asleep, and he loves to be rocked...so I am thankful for that! Don't grow up too fast sweet little Joey.

He has been very independent these last few weeks and loves to play on his own. His favorite toys are his blue truck blanket bear which he likes to have by his side, music table, walking toy, blocks and books. We have the books set up on a shelf, and every day he goes over and picks the same books to pull down. It is really cute! He also has a few trucks that he pushes around the house and makes truck noises! <3 He likes to give us kisses by smacking his lips! Just this week, he has started laughing and crawling away from us really fast, and wanting us to chase and tickle him!! He is such a happy little boy, we are so in love with him <3

At the end of September I noticed a bottom tooth popping through and that took a few weeks to come up. Just a few days ago, a top tooth broke through the skin and is already down! That one came in fast! The poor kid has been really fussy and generally unhappy for the past few days. A little ibuprofen seemed to help and we are back to normal today :) We have our own little jack o lantern just in time for Halloween! One tooth on the top and one on the bottom!! :) He also has been standing a lot! I think he is days away from walking and probably could at this point if he wanted.

At the beginning of the month we took a trip to visit Aunt Dawn and Uncle Dave in NJ for the weekend and had a lot of fun! The car ride over there wasn't so great with Joey screaming/gagging/throwing up all over himself and the carseat...but once we got there and got all cleaned up everything was great! On Saturday we took a trip to Princeton for the day and walked around. It was beautiful and such a nice day! We walked around town, through the university and had lunch. We went to a cupcake bakery and took home way too many cupcakes for dessert and also homemade bread for Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, Dawn, Joey and myself went on a walk for Autism. We met some of her co workers and Joey napped pretty much the whole time! It was nice to have time to be able to visit without rushing, and we are thankful to them for having us! :) Here a few photos of our trip...











Joe and I have been wanting to take him to a pumpkin patch and let him pick out a pumpkin for the last few weekends...but it seems like something is always going on and we haven't had a chance. We finally got up early last Sunday and headed over to Indian Ladder Farms. We pulled into the U Pick just as it started to rain, but decided to go for it anyways. As we were walking through the patch...it was a pumpkin nightmare! In the years to come we will always remember that you can't wait until the end of October to go pumpkin picking!! All the pumpkins were rotten and soft and there wasn't a decent one in sight. We decided to walk across the street to the store and they had a bunch of them out on the lawn. Joey had a lot of fun, even though it was raining. He was standing up and laughing next to the pumpkins and finally we did find a couple that were good. An hour or so later.. with 2 pumpkins, apple cider and donuts in tow...we headed home for Joey to have lunch and take a nap. Crazy morning, but lots of fun! :)

Here are a few photos of the pumpkin patch and one of Joey in the backyard playing with Bubba:

9 months old

Sorry the picture is a little blurry...I just wanted to make sure I put up a picture from today. I will upload more later for the next post!

Today we had Joey's 9 month check up. Our big boy weighed in at 25lbs, 14ozs and has grown to 30 1/2 inches long! He is completely off the percentile charts for both height and weight, but his Dr said that he is nice and healthy. I had to laugh this morning when I was undressing him for the nurse to weigh him...she took one look at him and said, "Oh, wow...he is big!" LOL, that's my boy!! It was an easy appt since he was all up to date on his shots, so we were in and out.

Joey has started playing with Bubba a lot lately, and it is really cute. He throws his ball to him, takes his bones away and gets into the water and food bowls pretty much everyday (not so cute). He has been waking up really happy in the morning, and immediately starts jumping in his crib...and peering out the door for Joe and I to get up :)

It seems like everyday he learns something new, and he really is so much fun! He likes to mimic every sound we make, and has recently learned that he can scrunch up his face and make a little pig sound! He crawls like crazy all over the place up on his hands and knees...waves "Hi" and sometimes will blow a kiss to you. He has been doing this thing that I think is a kiss, but Joe isn't so sure. He comes at us with a huge open mouth and puts his lips up against our faces. I think it is a kiss, but Joe thinks he is trying to eat us! Either way, it is adorable. Haha! :)

He eats like a champ, and we haven't really found anything that he doesn't like. We are introducing him to more real solid foods, and so far he seems to really like: blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, goulash, chicken, and little pieces of fruit/veggies.

I have been trying to get into a better bedtime routine for him that includes reading, but he doesn't want to sit still long enough to look at the book/or hear a short story. So, I have been reading to him while he plays during the day and just lately I have been catching him looking at the book while I read! It is exciting :) Maybe I will try a book again tonight before bed...who knows!

Anyways, that is all for now. Just wanted to update on Joey! :)

Girls night and big boys!

Last night my mom, Jillian, Marion, JoAnne and Marion's mom all went out for girls night! It was so much fun!! We had dinner at the Olive Garden (one of my favorite restaurants! Who doesn't love the salad and breadsticks, LOL) It was Mar's idea after hearing about my trip to Lake George and lunch with my parents there a few weeks ago. I guess it is one of her favorite restaurants too! I missed Joe and Joey a lot, but it was nice to have a night out to relax.

Here is a picture of all of us!




For the past few days, I have been trying to get Joey on a schedule of 3 meals and 1 snack throughout the day. It has been going well! :) I usually give him cereal and fruit for breakfast, yogurt and fruit for lunch, yogurt/cheese/grapes/juice for a snack and it really varies for dinner. Last night he had his first "real" meal. I made Joe dinner before I left to meet the girls, and I just put it in the food processor for Joey. Joe said that Joey loved it! It was chicken, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms baked in the oven. I am so glad he enjoyed it :)

Here is a picture of our big boy sitting in his highchair...feeding himself a "big boy" snack of grapes, cheese, puffs and a sippy cup of juice. I can't believe how grown up he is!! :(





I have to share these next 3 pictures...

Trying out his new hat

Busy weekend

I started this blog thinking I update every day or two...Wow, what was I thinking?! There just isn't enough time in a day anymore! After chasing after Joey crawling everywhere and making sure the house is safe for him, cleaning and everything else...I just don't have as much extra time as I thought I would. So, I suppose I will update on here as much as I can.

The past week or so has been great, but really busy! Last Thursday Joey and I took a trip up to Saratoga to walk around with my good friend Megan and her son Vinny. Joey and Vinny were born only 2 days apart, so it is nice to be able to spend time with another baby who is his age. They held hands in the car, and then Joey proceeded to steal his bear bear (security blanket bear) out of Vinny's hands and carseat. I gave it back to him and Joey was not too happy! We ended up having to pull over on the side of the highway so I could hop in the backseat with him... because he was screaming so hard that he gagged himself. Twice that day...he stuck his hands so far into his mouth that he gagged himself. I REALLY hope this isn't a new thing for him!!!



On Saturday...Joe, Joey and I headed up to Saratoga state park to celebrate our nephew Ryan's birthday party! It was a beautiful day, and a nice break from the humid weather we have been having! It was great to visit with family, and all the kids had a lot of fun playing in the stream right by the birthday area. Somehow I only managed to take 2 photos:

Justin Playing in the stream with his dinos


Marion and Makenna




Last night my mom invited us over for homemade pasta!! MMMM, it was so good! Joey had a lot of fun playing with Grammy, Grampy, Aunt Jillian and Uncle Mark...he had so much fun that he passed out before dessert! Haha, I am just kidding! Although, I am sure that he will love dessert once he is old enough. Here he is reading a book with Grampy:





Joey started waving "Hi!" the other day and it is so sweet! I love when he does it :) I will try to upload a video soon! On another note...I have been telling my best friend, Sarah, all about how I can not go ANYWHERE without a stranger coming up to Joey and reaching in to touch him. Especially at the grocery store! It grosses me out and a lot of times I think they are just going to talk to him and all of sudden the hand goes in to touch him! I think it is nuts, and you can never be too careful with strangers and germs! Well, the other day I went out to get the mail and I had a package from her...I cracked up when I saw what was in it! A little sign to hang on his car seat handle that says, "You can look, but please DO NOT touch the baby" I thought it was hysterical and I am definitely using it on the my next trip to the grocery store. Thank you so much Sarah!! :)



Well, I have been writing this while he plays in his highchair after finishing breakfast and now he is ready to get down and play! So, enough for now...but here are a couple photos from the past week! :)

8 Months Old!!!

I can't believe my little baby is 8 months old today!! It is crazy to think that it was only 8 months ago that we were just snuggling in the hospital...and Joey was only a few hours old. He has gotten so big, and really is turning into a little man. He has quite the personality...and isn't afraid to show it! Starting just a couple of weeks ago, he has decided that if he doesn't get what he wants...he throws his arms up and down while pounding on the floor/table/wherever he is and kicks his legs like crazy! Of course, we don't give in to whatever the fit is over...but sometimes it is hard not to laugh!

He recently discovered that he can pull himself up on things, and especially likes the ottoman and couch...although he pulled himself up in the bathroom trying to get into the tub tonight before his bath!!! Naps are getting more difficult, and my sweet little boy who used to snuggle and lay right down for a nap has found out that standing/playing in his crib is much more fun! Haha!!

Joey LOVES the camera and is usually willing to give us huge smiles and laughs! He especially loves looking at himself in the mirror, and cracks up as soon as he sees himself! He also has become interested in feeding himself, and likes to pick up puffs and grapes (peeled and cut up, of course!)I think we may start giving him a few new foods that he can pick up on his own. He does a great job using a sippy cup for water and seems to like holding onto the ones that have the handles. He really enjoys eating, and has been trying to grab the spoon to feed himself so I think it may be time for a "mommy" fork and a "joey" fork. We will see! He eats A LOT! He is drinking about 24 ozs of milk, 1/4 cup of cereal, 1-2 jars of veggies (or about 1/2 cup if I make the veggie), 1-2 jars of fruit (or again, about 1/2 cup if I make it), and usually a few puffs or little pieces of fruit. Little piggy, he must take after his mom. Haha!

He doesn't have another check up with Dr. Duff (Latham Peds...we are really happy with them!) until next month. We had to bring him in a few weeks ago for a rash around his eyes (turned out to be eczema and was all cleared up in a few days thanks to cortizone cream) and I asked the nurse to weigh him as I feared he was getting close to 25 lbs. Big boy weighed in at 23 lbs 8 ozs! Thankfully his infant car seat goes up to 30 lbs, but his beloved doorway jumper has a cut off of 25 lbs. Now that he is mobile and crawling all over the place...he hates his exersaucer. He has however, taken a liking to playing in his pack and play (must have been those 2 months he spent sleeping in it while we waited for JCP to replace his crib...but that is a whole other blog!)This is a lifesaver when I need to get a few things done/shower.

Joey and I had a lot of fun today with my parents...we went shopping at the outlets in Lake George and then had lunch at the Olive Garden. I put him in one of those wooden restaurant high chairs for the 1st time...and he loved it! Thank you to my mom and dad for a great day!! We love you guys so much!!




Enough for tonight...Happy 8 months sweet Joey, we love you <3