Just for fun!

Play has been an interesting concept for me and Ollie to grasp together.  I've read books and even have these fabulous things called Brain Boxes from my cousin Devon's work (if you haven't heard of the book 'Bright From the Start', I highly recommend it!).  And yet I find myself thinking "Isn't he bored of the same stuff???"  What I have come to realize is that it is more likely that I am the one bored.  Because every morning when we start our first round of play, he is just as content and fascinated with the same set of blocks that he played with yesterday.  

In addition to my adult (Gen Y) mind thinking that there isn't enough stimulation, it is also telling me I'm crazy.  I'm crazy because if anyone were to walk in during the day you would think that Elmo's big sister 'Mommy' was in our house and that she was talking to the voices in her head.  I have found that through out the day I have more conversations with myself and those conversations all start with me speaking in the third person.  I have even begun to do this when having real adult conversations.  (Yes, mommy would like a glass of wine.)

So does this mean I have done it, that I have officially entered the world of mommy hood?  Or do I just now have a better understanding as to why Elmo and his ridiculous dialogue is making him so much money?  

Now the question is, how can Mommy make some of that dough??  Mommy doesn't know.  (And yes I really enjoy making rhymes now as well...)

As I try to figure that out and start to look into some big girl activities for me to join.  Here are some pictures of our play!

This is how play started.
Piccadilly's involvement hasn't changed much.
But Ollie's has expanded quite a bit!

And I was worried about not having enough stimulation?!

The tangiball from one of Ollie's brain boxes!

Learning about reflections.

I like the lid!

Mommy puts the little things in the big thing.
I'm not there yet.

Sitting tall

Ollie has officially mastered sitting on his own!! It started earlier this week.  He would sit unsupported for about a minute and then do a face plant.  Now he is sitting and playing all on his own.  He is also doing more 'baby crunches' when he is laying on his back. So I'm sure he will be pulling/pushing himself up into a sit in no time.

Here are some pictures from his new favorite play position!

How does sitting look on me?

What happens after the face plant!
He's pretty good at brushing it off.

Don't be jealous of my posture!

I like to live life on the edge, with out the Boppy!

Mom keeps saying something about cleaning up, I don't get it.

I can sit in my home,
I can sit in a cabin,
I can even sit in a cone...

And just because I'm so cute!

Where's Jack Frost??

In West Virginia! We finally found a little bit of winter this weekend.

We had to travel to the mountains of West Virginia, but we found it!

Our friends Matt and Kiliaen invited the whole Crowley Clan out to a cabin for Saturday night and we found ourselves in a snow storm!  It was also our minivans inaugural road trip.  And it was a doozy.  Within the first 10 minutes of being on the road, Piccadilly got sick (I'm sure it had nothing to do with the marshmallows she had eaten off the counter right before we left).  And then, during our pit stop, Ollie decided he wanted to christen the car in his own way with a little tinkle during the diaper change. Luckily we had gotten the interior stain protected earlier this week (and of course Ryan had covered the floor of the van with towels in case of 'accidents')!

Once we got there it was nice to relax in a cabin with good friends, a warm fire and snow all around!

Piccadilly and I after our romp in the snow. (2012)

Flashback!
Last years romp in the snow at home with Piccadilly.(2011)
She's grown so much!

Ollie with The Andersons!

Reading by the fire with Dad.

Ollie in the snow.

'This stuff taste good!' 

'Are you really going to just lay me here?'

Snow butt!

5 months

Ollie turned 5 months old yesterday!! There haven't been any major baby milestones since his last monthly posting.

But one milestone for mom is that we are feeling a little more comfortable in our daily happenings.  I am no longer taking an hour to prepare to leave the house.  And the hour it use to take me was mostly mental preparation.  Here is how my internal thoughts went:

1. "We really need grocery's."
2. "Do we really need grocery's?"
3. "I'll have to take the dog out."
4. "When was the last time Ollie ate."
5. "I'll have to put a bra on."
6. "I should probably change out of my yoga pants, I think there is spit up on them."
7. "What will I do if he has a break down when we are out?"
8. "Are people going to ask me over and over if he is cold?"
9. "Where is the sun located, will it get in his eyes?" (Serious. No joke.)
10. "Will I be able to do what I need to do in under 2 hours."
11. "I should probably feed him one more time."
12. "Yes, we still need groceries."

And eventually I would make it out the door. And then say a little prayer that he wouldn't start crying as soon as I put him in the car.  Now, he is enjoying playing with his toys on his own and really loves his exersaucer! So I get to get ready without having a screaming baby before I even start to put him in his carseat.  And he is actually enjoying car rides now! 

His enjoyment of car rides may be helped by his new minivan.  Ryan and I took the plunge into the minivan world on Valentines (so romantic, I know).  We bought the Toyota Sienna and so far have enjoyed the extra space.  I'll post a full review and pictures later when we've broken it in a little more!

But without further ado...

We're doing this again??

This is more fun!

Does this Boppy make my thighs look big?

Please, don't take my Sophie away. 

Piccadilly is silly!

Love is in the air..

Happy Valentines Day from our little heart breaker!

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

Ryan and I decided to go on a weekend road trip to Philly this past weekend.  It's practically next door to us and neither Ryan nor I had really visited the city (I got to enjoy a weekend with my favorite ladies for a certain Philly's bachelorette, but the Liberty Bell wasn't on that agenda).

We packed our Escape with the baby and dog in tow.  Our first stop was my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jim's home in Wilmington.  They were gracious enough to dog sit for us!

Unfortunately the coldest day of winter as of yet was the day we decided to walk around outside with our 5 month old.  But we bundled up, used our new winter cover for the ergo and away we went!  Ollie loved looking around (when he wasn't sleeping!).

Here are some pics from our weekend!

With the City Hall in the background.

Rosy cheeks!

Independence Hall

Ollie is going to have to get use to helping Dad navigate.

First cheesesteak at the Bourse.

A walk by Betsy Ross's place.  Ollie is under his cozy cover.

Oldest street in America.  

Let freedom ring!

I like that if you look at the pic closely there is a person doing the Rocky stance on the steps.

We tried Geno's this time.  I have to say the one we had at the Bourse was better.