Hurry, Hurry, Hurry! A Oui From Toby

Hi Folks,

So, my Mama said something to me when I woke up this morning about it being "May." I have no idea what it means to be May, but Mama was really excited. She said something about May being the month that I was born and that my birthday is coming up. I guess I'm excited!

After my bath today she brought me up to my nursery and said she wanted to talk to me about my big party. I wasn't listening as well as I should have been because I was thinking about the bath I just had. I love baths. I have a scuba ducky that goes in the bath with me. He's awesome.

Anyway, she told me about my party and said that today was the day I could tell everyone the theme!

Are you ready? I'm having a CIRCUS PARTY!

 

 

I just love the circus. My Mama and Daddy brought me to the circus a few weeks ago and I saw an elephant and I saw a camel and there were people flying in the sky and there were these funny looking people with bright hair and make-up on their face. The circus was unbelievable!

After the show was all done my Mama and Daddy waited around for a while and then gave some paper to a man who let me have some special time with the elephant. Mama called it a greasy palm. I'm not really sure what that means but, I was happy to see an elephant. I got really excited when I was riding her and I tried to pet her. Mama said I couldn't touch! I just love animals so much. They are my most favoritest thing! Well, one of my most favoritest things. I also have this ducky that goes in the bath with me. He makes me laugh. He's awesome.

 

 

 

My Mama and Daddy spent a lot of time making my invitations. I don't know what that means, but she said it's how people know to come to my circus. She said she included something special as a gift for me on the invite because I just love animals. I don't know what it is yet, but I do know that after the circus she made Daddy bring her way outback to the very back of all the trailers because she was saying something about living conditions. I dunno? I kinda felt like we weren't supposed to be there. I just know I got to see the elephant and camel again. They were eating. Mama seemed a little happier about that.

                           

 

 

Anyway, Mama just wanted me to stop by to say hi and make a big announcement about my party... because it's May and I'm turning one this month. I have to go... I have bananas to eat, dogs and cats to harass and some studying to do.

 

 

 

Love XOXO,

Toby

 

Toby: 11 months

On April 23rd, Toby turned 11 months old.

It's so amazing to see how much he has changed. It's just nuts. He is really turning into an awesome little boy. I can't believe in ONE MONTH he's not going to be a baby anymore; he's going to be a toddler. I'm going to be the Mom of a toddler.

That's crazy.

But, while I still can, I'm going to give my wittle bitty baby lots of lovies (until I give my wittle bitty toddler lovies.)

Here are some facts about Toby's 11th month.

• He has had 2,446 diaper changes since he was born.
• He has increased his vocabulary and singed a couple of new words, "all done" and "milk."
• He now has 4 (F-O-U-R!!) teeth!
• We have really increased his menu options. He eats a lot of solids now and quite a few finger foods. We're still giving him formula, but have cut him back to about 24 ounces per day.
• He can stand with help.
• Although he has been crawling since he was about 8.5-9 months, he's really getting fast on his knees. He'll also pull up onto objects! It's really neat (and terrifying) to watch.
• He waves now. Hello and Bye-bye.
• He loves to feed people/animals. Whatever he's eating he insists on sharing.
• Toby went to the circus for the first time and rode on an elephant. Yep. That's pretty awesome.

 

Updates on Mama and Daddy:

• We are incredibly busy getting ready for the big 1st birthday bash. It's going to be over the top. Trust me.
• I'm back on the weight loss wagon and doing pretty good so far. It's tough to find time to exercise but with the weather improving, I'm trying to squeeze in a few more walks with all of my boys.
• Poor Aaron. That's all I can say. Poor Aaron. I bet he'll be glad when my demands for Toby's first birthday cease. He has been working around the clock.
• Aaron is currently on school break and we have a lot of fun things planned this week for Toby. Should be a good time.

I'm THAT Mom

THAT Mom. You know exactly who I'm talking about.

There are Helicopter Parents, Absentee Parents, Attachment Parents, Soccer Moms, and Stage Moms... to name a few.

 

I'm the Mom who arranges a play date with an Elephant. That Mom.

Toe to toe

Before Toby came along, there were two men in my life; and no, Aaron wasn't one of them. The two men were/are Bing and Manny.

Right after Toby was born, Manny was all about Toby. He loved, loved, loved him. Manny still received a good amount of attention too. He would snuggle right in with us.

Now that Toby is mobile, Manny see's him more as competition. While they still get along, Toby requires more from me than he used to and, I'd be lying if I said this didn't slight Manny a little bit.

These days I use a gate in my house. Not because I need to keep the dogs away from Toby, but because I need to keep Toby away from the dogs. He gets obsessed. He loves animals. While I do integrate them for several hours per day, I feel like they still need time to be free of a groping baby.

Sometimes, Manny just can't stand to be away from Toby... or Mama.

Lions and Tigers and Bears!

Oh my!

So, on this cold, snowy day, I organized for a bear to come to my house to do some pictures with Toby. Someone on a local mommy-site had rented a teddy bear costume and had it for a few extra days so she advertised that she was willing to take pictures with some kids if anyone wanted.

Being a total soccer mom, I jumped at the chance to expose Toby to another "character" hoping to help him curb his irrational fear of the Easter Bunny. I mean, how could someone be scared of a larger than life-sized mute rabbit who stares blankly at with you dead eyes, and holds you with ginormous hands!? Sounds totally legit, right?

I spoke to the person and organized a time for our photo-op. She was going to come to my house and I had some cute picture ideas.

Sadly, on this stormy, icy and blustery day, our bear got in a car accident. What?! No bear?! I had promised my son a bear! I would be lying if I said I wasn't devastated.

Hold the press. Before I come off as a "totally insensitive, overly-eager, my kid will have everything in this world type of mommy-monger," the bear is fine.

It is really important to me that my kid doesn't get disappointed when things don't go his way so while I was crushed and dying on the inside, we had our own little bear photo shoot and he was none the wiser (and a mighty cute bear if I do say so myself!)

 

Roar!