Archive for the ‘Birthday’ Category

The Zoo

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

As a birthday gift from his mother-in-law this winter, Miles got a year-long family pass to the Great Plains Zoo. Miles loves animals. Ian got that from him. I’ve warmed up to the zoo in the past couple of trips, but I still didn’t like staying long at the tiger exhibit when she was so close to the fence this last weekend. I mean, if she was really hungry–what’s keeping her from tearing apart that chain link and taking my nummy child? NOTHING. She’s a TIGER.

But I digress. We’ve decided we like having the membership. Each time we visit, Ian is more and more interested in the animals and I assume that will continue for several years. It’s also nice that we can just decide one morning to go and only spend an hour there without feeling like we’ve wasted money. I don’t need to plan a whole afternoon of lunches, snacks and drinks. We don’t have to skip nap time. We don’t have to stay there with a cranky child just so that we’re getting our money’s worth. We can leave before the child gets cranky, even if that means only staying for 45 minutes. We can spend as long as we want at one exhibit (except when the tiger is close to the fence). We can go every weekend, if we want. As long as we are able to afford it, we’ll renew our membership there. I’m still afraid of the roaming peacocks though.

Bright sun

Dads and babies

Wanting out

Bears + camera face + terror? Best picture ever.

Tiger

Finding his inner tiger

My favorite exhibit

Ian’s birthday party

Sunday, June 5th, 2011

With purchasing a house and moving and unpacking (more on this later) I’ve finally found time to post about Ian’s first birthday party on April 30. We held it at the house we rented and invited his grandparents and aunts/uncles. I figured this would be about the last chance we’ll have a “small” kid birthday get-together so I decided to keep the guest list small. (Especially with moving and packing and everything, I needed a little simplicity in our lives!)

The party was dinosaur themed and we decorated in blues and greens. We served pizza (though the birthday boy didn’t want any) and a layered cake I made the night before–again, nothing too fancy. Ian did a great job of entertaining everyone — he showed off his favorite game…throw the football, chase the football, scream. He scored in the gift department too. Dump truck, mini-basketball (now his favorite ball), cars, sidewalk chalk, coloring book, craft table, clothes, golf set, bowling set, lawn chair, water table, and a wagon (which can fit one or two friends!) Miles and I got him the little dump truck with shapes he can sort — we went small and were glad we did because of the generosity of the rest of his family! After he got the bowling set, he entertained everyone by knocking over all the pins…over and over! He had fun, but was tuckered out and napped well that afternoon!

Blowing out candle

Eating cake Eating cake

Cut cake Playing with bowling set

Opening gifts Opening gifts

Playing with toys Playing with toys

Family

The rest of the set can be viewed here.

Looks like Ma

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Since the day that Ian was born, whenever a friend or family member first met him they’d say something to this effect: “I can’t decide who he looks like.” Neither could we. And of course we’d get the ‘mailman baby’ comments (which I resent, even though I know it’s a joke). He didn’t look like mom, and he didn’t look like dad. Even if you visually dissected his face, no one could be sure whose nose he had or whose mouth. I’m still not sure on these things. But my mom sent me the following scan from 1987—a picture of me with my grandpa Leaders when I was 16 months old.

Me and Grandpa Leaders

Compare to these, Ian at 7 months and 12 months.

Ian with Great Grandpa

(Let’s all take a moment and wonder in awe at my grandpa’s hairline remaining the same for 24 years. Is that the same WATCH?! –No, I don’t think so.)

Clapping

Certainly not identical, but finally there’s some resemblance!

With Mommy

Looking at us together, we don’t look alike, but comparing to the baby photos, we definitely do.

I can also now see the traits he has that aren’t mine — so I’m dying to find a picture of Miles that we can scan and compare.

365 days

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

So much can change in just 365 short days. We’ve had a son for one year. We’ve been parents for one year. We’ve had no idea what we’re doing for ONE YEAR.

Mind=blown.

Outdoors

We’ll be having a small birthday get-together today with Ian’s grandparents and some of his aunts. Hopefully we’ll party so hard that cake ends up on the floor.

Smash the Cake

Ian is “so big.” (Sometimes, he’s too lazy to use both arms. Being so big is hard work.)

Smash the Cake

Ian’s one-year photos, by Abby Bischoff of Renawgraphy.

Woah.

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Ian will be one year old tomorrow. Can you believe it? I can’t.

1 month old 2 months

3 months 4 months old

5 months 6 months

7 months old 8 months

9 months 10 months old

11 months

It looks like 4 months is about the time his “face” finished changing. After that, he just gets older and bigger.

My baby.