January - Welcome 2012!

Happy 2012!  Hard to believe that January is here and that we are about to start on a new year already!  The past year has gone by so fast, with the excitement of watching Hugo grow, develop and surprise us each day.  I can honestly say he gets more fun and easier each day and we're definitely enjoying the ride.

January 2, 2012
After a wonderful two week vacation in the UP for the holidays, it was time to get back to reality here at home.  The next few months are going to be very busy while I finish up my dissertation, we wanted to get right back into our routine to get started on the right track. 

Before we left for our trip, Marisa (Hugo's day care provider) gave him a birthday/Christmas present - a new Elmo outfit complete with an awesome puffy vest!  It was so cute and we were so grateful for the gesture that we wanted to make sure he wore it to day care so that she could see him in it.  Look how cute my litle man looks in his complete "outfit"!

January 4th, 2010
Last night we took a field trip to Lisa & Charlie's aprtment to meet their new baby boy, Vincent.  He was absolutely adorable and a snuggly baby boy!  When we got there, I said "I don't ever remember Hugo being that small!"  That's when Lisa replied "That's because he never was this small!"  Vinnie was about 6 pounds, whereas when Hugo was born he was already tipping the scales near 9 pounds!

Tonight was a quiet night at home, playing with toys and eating blueberries for snack.  Hugo sure LOVES blueberries --- I give them to him straight out of the freezer, and he sucks on them to warm them up and then chomps them down.  Some of them must not get chewed fully, however, because I often find near-whole blueberries in his diaper (yuck!).

Hugo really loves his chair that we got him for Christmas.  He'll sit on it like a big boy and read his books, he'll lay his head down on the seat, or he climbs all over it like a crazy man.

Wrestling with daddy .... made Hugo LAUGH so hard!

January 5th, 2011
Wearing his Yooper outfit again and looking very cute!

I love his cheesy smile!

January 7th, 2011
Like almost every other kid I know, Hugo LOVES cell phones.  He's just recently started putting the "phone" (our phone, a play phone, the remote, really anything that might resemble a phone) up to his ear and saying "hello".  Its so cute!  Then he crooks his head so that he can rest the phone between his ear and shoulder.  Here, he's very happy about whomever was calling him.

January 8th, 2011
Today is Charlie's 40th birthday!  To celebrate, the gang headed out for a celebratory dinner at Logan's steakhouse.  Hugo was hungry before we headed out so I gave him a Gerber wagon wheel to snack on and he used it to make this face. 

Our birthday dinners aren't like they used to be!  In life before kids, we'd have the gang out for a celebratory dinner and it would linger for hours over many drinks.  Now, once you add all the little kiddos to the mix, things are a little more hectic.  For one, we take up WAY more space ---- even at Logan's tonight (where we had a reservation), it was a stretch to find the FOUR needed high chairs.  It also means that seating needs to be more strategic so that at least one parent is near their kid.  Most imporantly, it means that the kids rule the meal.  While we are all incredbly blessed with wonderful kids who are used to going out and know how to behave, they still have a tolerance which means that when they are done, we are done.  Anyways, we must have been quite the show at Logans ---- the Aukers, the Dunns, the Edwards/Atkins (including Jerry and Alexis) and us...9 adult, 1 pre-teen, and 4 babies.  Whew!

Gifts for the 40-year-old birthday boy?  Well, Fibercon and Depends, of course!

January 9th, 2012
So remember how I was saying above how Hugo LOVES phones?  While I knew that, I guess I underestimated his ability to use one.....So every morning is a bit of a challenging decision as to what to do for my morning routine.  When I get up, Hugo is usually still sleeping (in bed with me).  I try to carefully get out of bed and not wake him becuase its easier to shower and get ready while he's still sleeping, but then I also worry that he will roll out of bed, wake up and get scared, or wake up and roam around into dangerous places while I'm in the shower.  Well, this morning, he was still sleeping -- so I rolled out of bed, piled pillows all around him and closed the bedroom door hoping that he'd stay sleeping tight while I showered.  All seemed fine during my shower - I didn't hear any screaming or thuds of him falling off the bed.  However, when I got out of the shower, I heard his voice and panicked.  Where was he?  The bedroom door was still closed.  I peeked inside the door and found him like this:

Propped up on pillows (not how I had left him), with my phone (which he had to have grabbed off of the headboard) up to his ear and chatting away.  I ran as quickly and quietly as I could to get my camera to capture the moment.  After he finished his phone call, he then lounged for several minutes while surfing on my phone - he's even got the 1-finger "scroll" down!  Something tells me that he carefully observes my "post-waking" routine pretty carefully!

This afternoon was Hugo's 1-year doctor's appointment.  While I wasn't looking forward to him having to get shots, I was excited to see how his growth was progressing.  Hugo's appointment went great --- Dr. Baker said Hugo is right on track with growth.  (Height 31.06 inches, 82%ile; Weight 24.69 pounds, 73%ile; Head Circumference 19.33 inches, 98%ile).  We talked about Hugo getting off formula and I mentioned how I was a little worried that Hugo doesn't seem to drink the suggested 32 oz of dairy each day (he really likes water!).  Dr. Baker said its probably fine, but wanted to make sure that Hugo was getting enough iron in his diet because it is important in brain development and cognition.  While I also wanted to make sure he was on track, I was sad because it meant a blood draw for my little man!  I initially thought it would only be a heel stick, but it was a real full-fleged (in the arm) blood draw!!

I had talked myself into believing that it was going to be OK because he always does so great with his vaccines.  So once we got to the phlebotomy clinic, we waited our turn.  However, once we got called back, my gut was telling me this wasn't going to be pretty.  First, the tech (even after looking at his chart including his name and seeing his blue shirt with football helmets all over it) commented on what a pretty girl he was.  When I corrected her, she then told him "sorry buddy, in a few minutes, you're not going to like me very much".  I mean, come on!  I know that Hugo may not understand what she was saying - but I do - and that's a really crappy attitude to have to both a kid and mom who are apprehnsive as it is about the whole thing!  So then we had to have him lay down on the table and one tech and I had to restain him.  For a moment he was great - he didn't fuss when they put the tourniquet on.  Then, she put the needle in his arm and there was no peep out of him and I thought great!  This is going to be OK!  But there was no flash of blood --- she didn't get a vein.  So then she started digging.  Anyone who has ever had blood drawn and had the tech re-adjust knows that this hurts.  A lot.  Just imagine watching this on your little baby boys arm - the size of his arm relative to the needle made me nauseaus and my heart was breaking listening to his screams.  Real, huge tears were pouring out of his eyes.  I was just about to tell her to stop, to take it out when I saw the blood come.  Thank God!  Once it was all over, they wrapped him up with some blue sticky gauze and he seemed to be OK and not mad at me. 

Afterwards, we went to Applebee's for lunch and Hugo showed off his "battle wounds".  What a brave boy!  I think this means that Mommy is going to have to get more brave!

And he was in such good spirits all night that it made me feel better!

Each day, I see Hugo learning something new or really understanding something.  He now knows that shoes go on your feet -- here, he's trying to get his puppy dog shoes on his feet.  Amazing and proud of himself!

January 10th, 2012
Hugo and Vernie have a love-hate relationship...they are both fascinated by one another but sometimes Hugo gets too much in Vern's space and vice versa.  They both, however, do lounging and cuddling in the big bed.

January 11th, 2012
The re-introduction of Game Night!  It has been a LONG time since our usual Wednesday night dates with our friends.  Life gets busy, and all of our adult schedules are totally screwed up by the control that our little guys take over.  But, they are all getting older (except for Vinnie who is still little enough to sleep wherever, whenever) so we thought it might be a good time to try Game Nights again.  The gang came over, we ordered Subway, caught up, and tried a new game while Connor, Hugo and Liam dug into Hugo's toy bins.  The little boys aren't really old enough to "play together" yet --- they really more "parallel play", but it was so nice to see them all together and to know that they didn't try to beat each other up.  We're hoping its teaching Hugo how to share his things.

January 14th-16th, 2012
This weekend is MLK day weekend, which doesn't mean much for Jaime and I, but Tim is a federal employee and so has Monday off.  The Dunn's have a tradition of going to the Cove in Lake Geneva over MLK weekend for a quick get-a-way, and this year they invited us to join us.  A weekend away to a place with a pool?  We're totally in!  Unlike the old days of when we could all pile in one car, with our expanding families, we each have to take our own vehicle, so we caravan-ed with them, stopping at an IHOP somewhere in Indiana for breakfast.

Getting all of our stuff unloaded was quite a feat!  You'd be amazed at all the extra crap you need to bring when traveling with little kids.  So, to help in the effort, we got some luggage carts from the lobby ---- Hugo and Connor thought that they seemed perfect for an amusement ride!  Check out Hugo holding on!  He did such a good job - I was nervous that he'd fall off, but he was a champ!

Hugo helping Daddy unload our car.

Our first agenda item once getting all settled in was - the pool!  It has been awhile since we swam, so Hugo was a little hesitant (more on swimming later).

Swimming wore us out and made us all hungry so after drying off, we all headed out for dinner at Popeye's, a Lake Geneva original.  The food was great, and Hugo and Connor especially liked the woman making Balloon Animals ---- Hugo got a hippo and Connor got an alligator (her specialty).

On Saturday, Tim and Jaime made us an awesome breakfast in the room and then we all bundled up to go and do some window shopping.  Lake Geneva has an adorable little downtown filled with unique shops and cafes.  It was a cold and windy day, so it seemed like a great way to spend the afternoon.  The little boys were so good - content in their strollers and Hugo slept for a good part of the time.  They were better behaved than the big boys, I think, who were pretty bored by our shopping fun.

After spending all day shopping, it was time for some dinner, so we headed next door to Gino's East (a Chicago-area original) for some good ol' deep dish pizza.  Hugo was totally content playing with all of the utensils and eating every black olive available on my pizza (plus the extra side dish I ordered just for him).  Connor stayed entertained watching Dinosaur Train on Tim's phone.  

After dinner we got back to the room and headed straight to the pool for more swim time (I know, you're not supposed to swim on a full stomach!).  Nevertheless, we were anxious for more pool time.  As I mentioned, Hugo was a little apprehensive about the swimming thing yesterday and so I wanted to make sure we got more pool time in so that he grows more used to the idea of swimming.  I grew up on the water and spent nearly every day during the summer swimming, and so I can't imaging having a kid that doesn't like it!  So, we headed back to the pool and tried it again.  At first, Hugo was a little nervous again - clutching on to us tight and whimpering.

But once we put him in his floaty he calmed right down (maybe because he felt more secure or maybe because he wasn't so cold....the pool was a little on the chilly side).  Either way, we ended up having a great time and I think Hugo got more comfortable in the water - by the end of it, he was splashing and letting us spin him around in his floaty.

Monday we decided to go sledding with the boys for a bit - the weather had warmed up considerably since we first arrived and so we thought it would be a great day for some winter fun.  So, we bundled the boys all up, hiked over to the sledding trail and got the boys in their sleds.  Then we tried to pull them and it was hard!  Turns out, it warmed up more than we had realized which melted the snow into a watery, sticky mess that made "sledding" very difficult.  This picture below isn't an act on Jaime's part - it literally took two hands or the both of us to pull Hugo along.  He didn't seem to mind, though, he just laid back and enjoyed the ride.

Given that sledding going 0 MPH didn't seem like much fun, we tried to pull Hugo down the hill to make it more adventurous.  Here we are, perched atop the big "hill".  Turns out that the snow was just too sticky....even with us running down the hill, Hugo's sled didn't get much momentum.  So, not a good day for sledding - so we ended up packing up and headed home. 

We stopped in Jackson for dinner at the Ground Round (its a restaurant).  I know it sounds disgusting but the food is delicious.  It's a chain but we don't have one near us in AA, and it was a favorite of mine from when I was in college in Iowa.  They have the best soups, and, according to Jaime, they have really good burgers.  We make it a point to stop anytime we are in Jackson.  I ordered french onion soup for dinner and got it on a huge platter/bowl...so big that I couldn't possibly finish it.  I ordered Hugo a kids meal of chicken strips.  Even though he ate a lot, I was still able to split it with him.  He spent the majority of his meal playing with the kids cup that came with his meal.  Doesn't take much to entertain him....

January 18th, 2012

Hugo was happy to be home and wasn't in the mood to go to bed so he spent some time crawling around his room, playing with his Weeble school bus, and being cute!

Check out this face - it says "No, no!  I'm not going to bed just yet!"

January 19th, 2012

Hugo is quickly becoming more and more independent in every aspect of things, but especially with eating.  He is no longer patient enough for me to feed him and wants to do it all himself.  Tonight he mastered the art of using a fork.  Check out the video!

January 20th, 2012
Mornings with Hugo are tough --- not because he's crabby or upset, but because he's so darn cute and cuddly I can't bring myself to get out of bed when I need to!  Today I dragged myself out of bed so that I could get ready in time but couldn't resist taking a picture of my sleeping little angel.

These past couple of weeks I have been working really hard on my Early Independnece grant, which, unfortunately, means that I haven't been as focused on Hugo as I usually am.  I've been working late, going to bed late, and waking up early so I could work on it.  I've felt like Hugo has been neglected, so after officially turning it in today (yeah!), I left work early to make it up to him and hang out.  I headed home, packed up my boys, and we spent the afternoon playing at the Chelsea Treehouse, an indoor play structure and cafe.  Hugo was very happy - either for quality time with mom or because it was his first time trying grilled cheese (YUM)!

Playing in the toddler area.

The slide in the toddler area was clearly the highlight of Hugo's trip.  First, he was so focused on crawling UP the slide...

Then he worked very hard to get into a sitting position at top of the slide....

Then - WHEE!!!  The slide was so much fun!  The first few times you could tell he was very nerous and held my hand all the way down, but after a few trials, he was an old pro and would scoot his butt to the edge and then go for it!  It was so awesome to see the glee on his face!

After playing for a couple of hours, Hugo was tuckered out.  Once he started laying down in the play area we decided it was time to head home.

January 23rd, 2012

After discovering Hugo's hesitancy with water while we were in Lake Geneva, we decided to sign him up for swimming lessons through AA Rec and Ed so that he could get more exposure to swimming and get more comfortable.  Tonight was our first class!  To get ready, Hugo decided to put his swim trunks on his head!

The class was great - a combination of structured activity and free play.  There are about 10 kids + parents and the structured format includes group songs designed to get the kids more comfortable in the water through splashing, kicking, scooping the arms and blowing bubbles.  I could tell that Hugo was quickly warming up to things just in the course of one class.  Here, we are enjoying our free play time. 

January 24th, 2012

When we were first designing the nursery and trying to deicde where to put the furniture, my mom suggested putting the crib on the wall opposite the mirrored closet doors because she said she had visions of a curly haired little boy jumping in his crib, watching himself in the mirror.  Well, here he is --- doing just that.  Even more enjoyable when he's mimicking his daddy doing the same.

January 25th, 2012

The gang got together at Damon's for dinner to celebrate Lisa and Jaime's birthdays. 

Hugo dressed up for the occassion, and Jaime wore a "matching" shirt.  They are such dorks!

Jaime and his "Tower Power" t-shirt from the Aukers.

January 26th, 2012

We met Craig and Nicole in Howell for Mexican food (also to celebrate Jaime's upcoming birthday).  The finale of our meal was when they came out with ice cream for Jaime and made him wear a sombrero while they sang Feliz Cumpuelos (sp?).  He wasn't too happy when they finished their song with a spot of whipped cream on his face!

January 28th, 2012

Happy birthday Jaime!  What a great day of surpises for him!  First, one of his co-workers made him a chocolate cake in honor of his birthday.

Then, he got a huge package from Texas in the mail, full of birthday presents for him and Hugo and Christmas presents for all of us!

Then, my parents made it into town that evening while on their way to Gulf Shores.  We all headed to Famous Daves for Jaime's birthday dinner, and then came back to the house for some chocolate cake.  Look at Hugo's messy face --- he definitely is a fan of chocolate cake like his daddy (and Grandma!)

After cake, Hugo spent some good quality time in his truck, showing Grandma and Grandpa how much he loves it.

January 29th, 2012

Low-key night at home, spent watching Hugo play in his truck.  He's getting so brave, climbing in and out (and ON) it...makes me nervous!

The sweetest face I have ever seen....................

January 27-30th, 2012

Due to a death in the family of Hugo's daycare provider, we split up childcare responsiblities with the Dunns.  Tim had the boys on Friday, I had them on Monday and Shannon had them on Tuesday.  This meant a lot of quality time for Connor and Hugo, and they couldn't have been happier!  Best buds.

First, on Friday (1/27/12) Hugo was greeted by Connor with a kiss.  Then, they played hard and relaxed with some milk time on the sofa.

More play time on Monday (1/30/12)...and the beginning of Hugo's obsession with goldfish crackers.  It's not something he usually has with us because it's not something we usually have in the house, but Connnor came over with a snack cup full of them and Hugo was HOOKED.  No way did he want his snack cup with Cheerios back...looks like we have to go buy some Goldfish!

Discovering all of the new toys at Connor's house on Tuesday (1/31/12), including being a little perplexed with the Let's Rock Elmo.

More cuddle time on the couch.

January ended up with being pretty nice (based on Michigan winter standards), so once Jaime picked Hugo up from the Dunn's, they went for an inagural ride outside in his truck.  He had a great time!

Is it just me or does Hugo look like a full-fledged little boy in the 2nd picture above and not at all like a baby?  How can it be that I already have a little boy and the year has just started!  I guess we have a whole bunch of new things in store for us this year!