Wet but happy baby

Eoin was 'allowed' to discover the water table at our local park today. He had so much fun but then the sun went behind the trees and he started to get cold. When we took him away from the water he through his first real full on tantrum. He screamed and arched his back and let the whole park know he was not happy. He managed to keep telling us he was unhappy by shouting and moaning 'na na na' at us for a good five minutes. Think I might get him a wet suit for next time ;-)

Fun with Jello

We've had lots of jello (jelly back home) ini the house this week because Andy had three wisdom teeth out (all went well and Andy is doing great!). Andy just couldn't face eating much more jello so we decided to let Eoin play with it as another exercise in getting use to the feel of slimmy foods and well also because it's just fun to do these things every now and again.
I started off by showing him what to do and smearing it everywhere and pretty soon Eoin got the idea of. Our hands are still dyed red from the jello so glad Eoin didn't actually eat much of it!

Fuzzy hair

Eoin's hair is getting long and first thing in the morning it's a frizzy afro. Now we have started putting a conditioning oil on his hair in the morning and two conditioning treatments in the evening. Soon he might just have to start sleeping with a little hat on.

Such a big boy...

Where has our baby Eoin gone? Eoin has turned into a little boy!

I'll let you into a little secret...

So many of you have asked how I fined the time to blog everyday. Well I hate to burst your bubble but I'm no Martha Stewart! Google has this great option to write posts in advance and have them published at a time and date that you set plus you can back date posts. So really I only sit down once or twice a week and update the blog!

Into everything

Eoin is trying to get into everything! He has worked out that handles open doors (bit luckily not how to twist the handle!), he can open cupboards and drawers and also believe it or not turn the TV on and off using the main power switch! We're in soooo much trouble!!!!!!

Playdate pals

Her are Eoin and Max enjoying one of their daily get togethers. Honestly these two just love playing together so much! Every time they see each other there are squeals of delight, hugs and kisses.

Tired boy

We had to keep an appointment today but Eoin did not want to wake up. I changed his diaper and put his shoes on and he still managed to stay asleep. Poor little guy!

11 months old!

Another month has passed and we are quickly approaching the big first birthday (A big happy birthday to James who is one today!).

So not sure how heavy Eoin is now but I don't think he has gained much weight. He is much thinner and a little taller. He is now in 18-24 month pants and tops.

This last month has really seen the baby Eoin disappear and the little boy Eoin appear! He has likes and dislikes, favorite toys and books and of course favorite people. Our friends Liz and her little boy Max and very high up on his favorite people. His favorite toy is well anything he can push and walk behind. Every food seems to be a favorite (apart from bananas!).

Just this last week Eoin's use of words has exploded! He can clearly say (when he wants to that is) Daddy, Up and Ball. Otherwise he is generally just babbling away. When we are out Eoin loves to watch airplanes and always looks up and points and shouts at the plane going by.

Other little developments are drinking through a straw which of course also comes with blowing bubbles in his drink; rubbing his hands together when we wash them; throwing a ball and finally learning (a little) to be gentle with smaller kids.

Eoin continues to be super affectionate and kisses and hugs everyone including pictures of babies in his storybooks.

Eoin still only has his bottom two teeth but the top four look like they will be here any day now. He continues to stick his tongue out all the time (which is great because that means no surgery!) and he has worked out that blowing raspberries with yogurt in his mouth is great fun.

On the parenting front we are loving it but get caught out all the time when we are trying to be serious with Eoin but can't keep a straight face because he is being so funny or sweet. For example when Eoin squeals, which is ear piercing, we come down to his level hold his hands and say 'no squealing' however clever little boy worked out after about a week of this consistent no squealing that he only needed to lean forward and plant a big wet kiss on our face to make us smile and lose the serious face and voice. It's the same when he blows raspberries with yogurt in his mouth - it makes such a mess but is so funny!
What's left to tell you all about. Oh I guess sleep. Well we are down to two naps a day but he is still for the most part napping on us during the day. Not ideal but he is a happier baby as he sleeps longer (which also makes happier parents!) and I get to catch up on Project Runway and Grey's Anatomy. At night (well a good night) he now goes down between 6.30 and 7pm and wakes once during the night around 2am and then sleeps through till about 6.30am.

And the last update is that we have started doing family dinners. We aim to all eat together at least twice during the weekdays and always at the weekends. Eoin eats more and it's just fun to sit down as a family and eat together.

Evening with friends

This evening we had a great time relaxing with our friends the Demers'. Jordan and Ryan played with Eoin which gave us adults a chance to catch up a little. After dinner everyone enjoyed the evening air and played outside for a little while. Eoin tried out the slide with Jordan and Ryan (5) and Jordan (8) even tried to pick Eoin up. Thanks for a great night guys!

Weekend mornings

Now that the football (soccer) season is in full swing back in the UK, I get to sleep in on weekend mornings while Andy and Eoin support Arsenal together. Luckily the games start around 6am so Andy looks after Eoin while I catch up on a couple of hours sleep.

Windows

Eoin loves to spend time in the morning standing on his chair in the sitting room waving at everyone on their way to work. He is getting quite a following of regulars who check to see if he is in the window every morning.

In and Out

Eoin spent nearly half an hour today just putting his stacking cups inside each other. It's the quitest and stillest he has been since he learned to crawl!

Day in the Park

Every afternoon Eoin and Max meet in the park to play together. They great each other with smiles, hugs and always kisses. Today we took our red wagon and they had loads of fun riding round the park together.

Eoin also discovered a new pass time at the park - chasing the squirrels! The squirrels at our local park are quite daring and come very close and so when Eoin puts a fast crawl on they have to scarper!

Fun with Yogurt

Here is Eoin showing that although yogurt is yummy in his tummy he also likes to smear it all over the table and then lick it off!

Hugs

I just love this picture of Andy and Eoin taken by our friend Stella at the party yesterday!

Party Time

Today we had a party to celebrate all the upcoming birthdays of our little ones from playgroup. We had a great time in the park playing and eating cake. We can't wait to celebrate Eoin's first birthday (not for another few weeks - he is the second youngest in the group but probably the biggest!) and are working on ideas on how to celebrate the fantastic day!

Strong little boy

Today we had a huge 'turning one' party for all the little ones from our play group. Jackson brought his car along and it was the hit of the party. Eoin spent the best part of the party taking the other kids for a ride. Here he is pushing Julia around the park.

Adoption Storybook

Click here to view this photo book.

When Eoin was born we wanted to write a storybook for him about how we all became a family. I created this book for him which he loves to look at. We keep it on our coffee table and lots of friends and family look at it regularly. It has turned into a great tool to start conversations about open adoption and how so utterly loved Eoin is by so many people!

(It took me a while to work out how I could link the book to the blog hence the very late posting!!!)

Funny sign

Just wanted to post this great picture of a sign we saw while we were hiking along the Mendocino headlands!

Snoopy

On our way home today we stopped in Santa Rosa and went to the Charles M. Schulz Museum
Eoin had a great time crawling along the huge foyer and climbing on all the kid friendly chairs however he soon realized that there was a great echo in the foyer and started to test the echo (and everyone's nerves) by screeching loudly. So out we went into the garden and had fun playing with all the big characters.


We had a lovely lunch at the ice rink which is part of the complex and of course we had to buy Eoin a Snoopy. I was hoping we could find him one just like the one I had when I was little but no luck. Now we just need to teach Eoin to say Snoopy or Noo Noo as I use to say!

Big Trees....

.... well huge really because we drove through it! We traveled north today to the redwoods and had a great day exploring these amazing trees. It really was such awe inspiring countryside. We drove up to about 1700 ft and had stunning views.
We trekked along an almost dry river bed and Eoin had lots of fun crawling around and exploring all the different leaves and sticks on the ground.
Today was the last day of our vacation and we really want to stay longer but we are ready to go home and get back into a good routine with Eoin. His sleeping at night has just been terrible while we've been away and so we are hoping that once we get back home he'll start sleeping well again.

Daddy's boy

During this vacation Eoin has become quite a little Daddy's boy. He can now say Daddy but more often says Daddo. It's great to see Eoin spending so much time with Andy! Andy is getting covered in big slobbery kisses from Eoin and they love rough and tumbling together on the floor.

Crayons

Eoin discovered crayons (great first crayons from Crayola that are super chunky for little hands) for the first time today. Once I showed him what to do he got the hang of it pretty quickly but soon discovered he could color the floor as well as the paper!

Feed the birds

Every morning as we go for breakfast (which are always amazing!) the inn keepers put seeds out for the local birds and chipmunks. Eoin has been fascinated by it all and eagerly waits to see all the wildlife come out of the forest for breakfast.

Backpack Adventures

We have had many backpack adventures over the last couple of days. Eoin loves riding high and watching all around him. He bounces up and down in excitement and fun and bangs us on the head if we stop for too long. So far we have explored hidden coves, a lighthouse and many headlands along with the gorgeous town of Mendocino. Eoin smiles at everyone and has perfected waving thanks to a little girl who played last night with him at the local pizza house 'Frankie's' (best pizza in such a long time!)

Lemons....

Eoin has astonished us in the last few days with the new flavors he had tried and he has yet to dislike any of them. Lemons were todays new flavor but were preceded in the last few days by horseradish, mustard, onion soup, as many olives as he can get, pesto, lamb and spicy Thai soup!
We're beginning to wonder if Eoin has any taste buds or whether he is just very adventurous with his food.

Dahlias

Today we went to the Mendocino Botanical Gardens and they had the most stunning garden full of Dahlias. I went crazy taking photos and having fun exploring all the different colors and textures. Here are just a few shots of the flowers (I made this grid using Picasa).

Fun at the Beach

Tongue sticking out

This might not seem anything big to most but Eoin started sticking his tongue out in the last few days for the first time ever!
He can get it out a little further than in this photo but it is so hard to catch in a photo. He does it the most when he is thinking or trying hard to achieve something.
We are so excited! Eoin is tongue tied (very tight tongue) and so we have been working hard on exercises to loosen and lengthen the frenulum under his tongue.
It looks like it has been a success - Eoin's ENT doctor is going to be so proud of him.

Wedding Anniversary

Five years today! It's been an amazing five years - moving countries, starting our lives together and the amazing journey that brought us to Eoin and being a family. If possible we are more in love and appreciate each other and our love even more!

Pomo Cottage

Well we have arrived safely to the most heavenly little spot on the northern Californian coast. We are in a little village called Little River just south of Mendocino. We have a great little cottage which has donkeys right opposite it. Eoin is fascinated by the donkeys and keeps trying to go and look at them.

We had the most amazing dinner tonight at Ledford House. We had an early dinner and were the only ones there for the longest time. The staff played with Eoin while we ate a dinner full of local flavors. We want to go back every night and try everything - it was so good!

The weather is stunning and the scenery is even better! Can't wait to spend a week exploring.

Sea, Surf and Sandcastles

Well it's Bon Voyage for a week while we travel north for a weeks vacation in Mendocino.
We can't wait to relax by the sea and build sandcastles with Eoin.
We'll miss our cats Sappho and Seamus but Linda will be popping by to see them everyday.

So see you all in a week!

Sesame Street

Eoin got to watch Sesame Street today for a little while, as Mommy had to deal with some ants that had made it into our sitting room and dining room over night.
As the photo shows Eoin was mesmerized by the show and could have sat there for hours watching the tv.

Cars

Eoin is so fascinated by cars at the moment. He spends ages pushing his cars around the house. This fascination with cars has also brought a huge interest in wheels of any size. Eoin loves to make them spin around and the bigger they are the better.

Change to blog

Well as you can see I've spent a little time changing the look of our blog. It took me a while to work out the workings of HTML and stuff but I got there. I found, through a great blog that I follow and love (Life with One Busy Boy) a link to a site called 'The Cutest Kid on the Block'. They have wonderful backgrounds that are free and super easy to install (once I learned my way round blogspot that is!). Hope you like the new layout and the new features on the right.

Peek-a-boo