Back to school outfit.

School started back up this past week, so I thought the blog would get into it with a new outfit for the first Monday back at school.

Last week the weather changed to a gorgeous mid-70s with zippo in the way of humidity and even - believe it - a slight chill in the air in the mornings. I had to wear slippers around the house! That tease of fall weather was perfectly timed with the beginning of school.

We live down the street from a super-dooper elementary school (one of the Top 10 in the state, if we may be so bold as to point out), and the electricity in the air last week was downright palpable. Kids and parents and dogs were out in full force: dropping off, picking up, catching up, waving, hugging, clutching bundles of papers outlining directions and guidelines, laughing (I'm sure a little crying, too!), and just general *living*. It's great.

Christopher and I walked by on our way to the park in the afternoon just after 4pm and the number of kids and strollers and bikes and parents milling around made it look as though the final bell had rung moments before, not a full hour prior. C couldn't take his eyes off of all the big kids. I know he's taking notes and admiring them. They must seem huge and so very mature to him at this point.

So, we're all spruced up here at the blog as a welcome to a new year. I know, I know, it's the academic year, but in case it hasn't become totally clear - Mike and I will be "in school" until we're dead and gone, so September is the month that marks OUR new year. It's going to be a good one... our second in our new city, our second as parents, and our first full one in our new abode.

7 and 7

Last Monday, Mike and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary with a little bike ride up to the Wilmette town center for dinner. It was a cool summer evening and I was reminded of our evenings out in Copenhagen and how it felt to be out at night riding home from fun with friends or fun simply with each other.

We have a loose no-gifts rule for occasions such as anniversaries and holidays like Mother's/Father's Day, Easter, etc... but we usually give each other cards. And Mike does bring me flowers on these days more often than not. Those gorgeous roses are still going strong over a week later! Decadent.

Anyhoo. While writing a little note to him this year, I realized that this year marks not only our 7th wedding anniversary, but also the 14th year that we have known (and been enamored with, dare I say) each other.

Seven and seven.
xxxxxxx
ooooooo

one

I keep waiting for the right words to come to me so that I can properly commemorate Christopher's first birthday here on ye olde blogge. However, the longer I wait for those wise words to careen over and smack me in the forehead... the more unlikely it seems this will happen.

So, our baby is ONE. There was cake, there were playgroup friends and their parents, there were more than a few presents sent from many different places, and then... he was one!

For those measuring by metrics, he's 31.5 inches tall now (90th percentile) and 22.4 pounds (50th percentile), which means he may very well end up with a physique like that of his tall, svelte dad. He has tired of pulling up and now frequently just STANDS UP from wherever he is on the floor, though he has only once tried to put a foot out in an effort to go anywhere. He claps, he points to his belly when asked where it is (with a sly smile as if to say, "did you think I'd lost it or something?"), converses in a near-constant babble, gives high-fives, and waves bye-bye to anything and everything... even the occasional inanimate object (eg. bye-bye trees!).

For those interested in the qualitative analysis, he's still smooshable and ticklish. And his giggle turns into a cackle if things get funny enough. His baby hair has grown into little curls at the nape of his neck which perfectly match the twinkle in his eye when he realizes that he's engaged you in a Game. His favorite games: peek-a-boo from behind the couch, hide-and-seek (very closely resembling peek-a-boo, also behind the couch), crawling after/dribbling wooden balls throughout the house, slalom tag in the sunroom playhuts and doing laps around the backyard with the Radio Flyer.

He loves peaches and Heart to Heart cereal (mmmm, Kashi), squash from the garden, mom's chocolate cake, toast with strawberry jam (still!), spinach spinach spinach, blueberry pancakes, cheese and mangoes. Much to my relief, he mastered the skill of the sippy cup just as our ridiculous record-breaking heatwave continued into August (45+ days of 85+ degrees with humidity) and now chugs water like mama and dad. He no longer needs the baby tub (he was too long for it!) and now gets into the big bath to splash around.

He plays incredibly well by himself and retreats to his room when he's getting close to naptime to flip through his books and listen to his tunes. He snuggles up for stories and nursing before going to sleep and greets us with a huge grin when he wakes up feeling refreshed and recharged. The book of the month is Hug by Jez Alborough. He's spoiled with 6:30am runs with dad to the swings and around the neighborhood at least 3-4 days a week, rides on the back of mom's bike at least twice a week to the swings or the store and plays with other little ones regularly.

He's inquisitive and cautious, loving and joyful. It's cliche, but we really can't imagine our lives without him. Yay for Christopher! We love you, Bug.

Happy WBW!

It's World Breastfeeding Week, so we are observing in the best way we know how... enthusiastic participation! :)