Thursday, July 31, 2008

Playtime



We got this great new toy from Haba - Eoin will sit there for ages trying to catch the balls as they roll down the different ledges.

Strange kid!



We use a little squirty bottle of water sometimes to help clean Eoin's hands and face after eating. Today he was especially sticky and covered in blueberries. However when I used the bottle Eoin decided that this time he wanted to drink the water - so funny!


Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Boys will be boys

















Here are a couple of pictures from a recent play date at the park where all the boys just climb over each other and rough and tumble while the girls sit on the blanket and watch all very ladylike.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Hanging out

Eoin and I hanging out together. Eoin is really into giving big open mouth slobbery kisses at the moment. It's the best thing ever! So after one of these kisses I grabbed the camera and tried to take a photo of us but I think Eoin just wanted to get down and play some more.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Toys

Well it's been a quite few days. It's hot again so we've been going to the park later in the afternoons and sitting under the trees. We did invest in a couple more toys for Eoin as he (or maybe it was me) seemed to be getting bored with any toy that wasn't a drum! So what did we get a bongo - go figure! But we also got him the fisher price fish bowl which he has had tons of fun taking the fish in and out.

In the background of these photos you can see his other new toy - the Haba ball track. We all love playing with that one but Eoin's favorite trick is to try and catch the ball before it runs down all the way down the track.

Other fun stuff this week is that Eoin is truly pulling up on stuff now and cruising around the house. The other day we found him trying to climb into the cat house to get the cat's toy which has to be said is some feat as it is behind the sofa and under a table!
But he did it and then he had tons of fun playing with the fuzzy ball on a spring.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Standing up




Cat food...

Here is Eoin trying to get to the cat food today....




Nine months old today

So Eoin is now nine months old. He weighed in today at 24 lbs 12 oz and is still 30.5 inches long.
He passed his nine month check up with flying colors. He could do everything on the list apart from find a hidden object but we're working on that one.

So what has changed in the last month - well Eoin is now crawling big time. Still mainly commando crawling but he does do all fours sometimes. He has started to pull up on the furniture and loves to stand up holding onto his crib. One of his favorite games is to be chased round the house. If we chase him he crawls quickly to get somewhere and 'hide' normally in his tunnel or under the dining table. Eoin loves to crawl under things; at the doctors office today he thought he was in heaven as there were long rows of chairs he could crawl under.

Eoin can now get himself into a seated position from lying down or just about any position now and he knows that this is the best position to play with most of his toys. His favorite toys are anything that he can bang or make noise with like his drum, piano, xylophone and metal bowls.

Food wise I think we've gone a little backwards. After Eoin had that horrible bout of tummy flu he really lost most of his interest in solid food so we are having to work at that again however he does love finger food and will gladly munch on cheerios, bread sticks, garlic bread, French fries, waffles, pasta in fact just about that isn't slimy and he can pick up
(though it has to be added, he will always eat guacamole and Mommy's bolognese sauce).

Eoin's speech and sounds are developing really quickly. We now have ma, da, ra, ga, ha, ba and he is getting there with s. He still loves to blow raspberries and click his tongue. He understands some words now like up, clap, bounce, milk, kiss and walk.

Eoin has really started to show affection. He will crawl over to you and plant a big open mouth kiss on your face or leg. He will also seek you out if he wants a hug and a kiss. It's so great to know that he gets who we are and that he is happy to have us as his Mommy and Daddy.

The other side of learning about emotions is that Eoin gets frustrated easily. When this happens he justs sits down and squeals and puts his arms out in front of him and 'revs his motorbike' well that's what it looks like, hands in fists and rotating them inwards.

Although we were doing well on the sleep that has stopped and Eoin is waking up once or twice a night probably because his top front teeth are coming in. His bottom two are in already and he is having fun using them! But on the plus side he is taking his naps in his crib now.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Chase



Eoin loves to be chased around the house and then he either crawls and 'hides' or waits to be caught and tickled. He is the most ticklish baby ever! Under his arms, his tummy, thighs, feet, shoulders and behind his knees are all really good places to tickle and get the best noise in the world - his laugh.

Teeth on metal



Eoin has started to realize he has teeth in his mouth and he can use them to make funny noises and explore textures. If you listen carefully you can hear him scratching his teeth on the metal.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Zebra's


We had aplaydate this afternoon with Max and Liz. Max has this ride on Zebra that Eoin loves. He made a bee line for it today and spent a while riding on it. He worked out that pressing the zebra's ear made it make galloping noises.
Max and Eoin love playing chase too. They chase each other round the house and get up to all sorts of mischief!

Percussion Boy


Here is Eoin showing his possible future as a drummer.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Great news!

We have just found out that Andy and I have been given green cards! Yeah!!! It has been a long time coming but we are very happy to know that we can stay in the States as long as we want now. This also means that I can work again -kind of ironic though as we really want me to stay home with Eoin (and baby number 2 when the time is right) for a few years.

Eoin also got his American passport, though they spelt his name wrong - Edin - so we are waiting for the corrected one!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Books

Eoin is really into his books at the moment especially all the Usborne touch and feel books like 'That's not my Monster' and 'That's not my Puppy'.

In fact if we read him a regular book he starts to feel the pages and looses interest if there isn't a fun sensation or texture on the page.

We love the Usborne books too - there is always something hidden on each page like a mouse to find. I grew up with these books in Ireland and am so happy to see them becoming a hit here in America.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Hiking

We went for a short hike today along the coast and Eoin and Daddy tried out the new baby backpack. Eoin loved it and gave Daddy a quick slap on the back if he stopped or wasn't going fast enough! After our walk we had an amazing brunch where Eoin tried blueberry pancakes for the first time. However he was far more interested in the French fries at the table next to us!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Chatty Baby

Another tooth

As promised here is the first photo of Eoin with his teeth visible. The second one just broke the surface yesterday without too much hassle.

Other little developments for Eoin: he can now get to a seated position from flat on his own. He is sleeping through the night!!!! From about 6.30pm through to about 5.30 am then he has a quick feed and sleeps again until 7am. Naps are coming along nicely. He still falls asleep in my arms but then gets put in his crib where he will sleep for around an hour three times a day.

So now we have to work on food again - Eoin is on a spoon strike. He will only eat finger food or food that we are eating. He can give himself a bottle now but it's so much fun cuddling together when he feeds I only tend to let him feed himself if we are rushing out somewhere.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Music

Eoin loves music -we always have music playing or are playing music to him. He finds all my recorders fascinating however he always tries to play the biggest one! The other day he actually managed to blow down his own recorder and dropped it in shock.

His favorite music are the Putumayo Kids cd's especially the African Playground. We just got a huge book of nursery rhymes to refresh our memories plus it has the music so we can play it for him on the piano or recorder.

Of all his toys he always plays the most with anything that makes a noise - his drum, bells, maracas and his little piano.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Especially for Benjamin

Hi Benjamin - Eoin made these little videos especially for you to watch. Hope you enjoy them! We like checking out your blog too - you look so great in all your soccer gear. Big hugs from Eoin.




Baby exercise



Eoin is getting so strong and ridiculously active! It's no surprise that he is taking three naps a day still; at this rate Mommy will be needing one too.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

We are feeling the heat again here in the Bay Area. It has gone over 100 two days in a row now and is forecast to last another few days. On top of the heat we are suffering from really poor air due to the hundreds of wildfires that are raging through California.

Eoin is keeping cool with us by taking cool showers which he just loves. He tries to catch the water as well as drink it. I've also been making him Popsicles using jars of baby food. My little trick is to only fill the Popsicle maker about half to two thirds full and then there is more stick for him to hold. Eoin especially likes the pear and mango Popsicles though often they are just more fun to play with then eat!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Future footballer (soccer)



Daddy is so proud of his future soccer player!

Fun with food



Eoin is really into finger food at the moment. He loves peas, cheerios, french fries, bread sticks and grated cheese. He has also shown a lot of interest in drinking from a proper cup but he gets so excited when we let him that often the water goes everywhere.


Sunday, July 6, 2008

Playdate with the boys

We had a BBQ this afternoon and two of Eoin's little friends came to play. Andrew loved hanging out with Eoin in the ball pit but Max is still a little unsure of the whole thing and just watched from the sidelines.

The three boys are so funny together. They all begin to smile and laugh when they see each other and sometimes there are even hugs and kisses (especially from Max) but eventually they are all taking toys from each other and just being little boys together.

Andy cooked amazing ribs for us all and we just had fun relaxing before the big heat hits us this week.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Mr Mischief


Eoin is such a boy and so mischievous! He is getting into everything at the moment. He totally freaked us out the other day as he had gone quiet and we couldn't find him. He had crawled right up into the furthest corner under his crib and was just lying there reading a book. This seems to have turned into a little habit - hey everyone needs a little space and downtime right!?

Although not crawling on all fours yet (so close though) Eoin is getting round the house at some speed and loves to crawl under the dining room table and find forgotten cheerios. We also found him chasing a spider the other day. It went under the rug and Eoin cleverly lifted up the carpet to get at it.

We've also learned that Eoin is a very strong boy! He is using his full 25lbs to kick things. He almost knocked over his nightstand the other day and he loves to lie under his rocking chair and push it upwards with is feet. So needless to say we have done some more baby proofing.

Eoin is fascinated by springs. He spends ages just playing with the little spring door stoppers and also the spring on his rocking chair (don't worry all have been inspected and are safe!). His other favorite trick at the moment is to try and stand up in the bath. He doesn't pull himself up anywhere else but the bath - poor Daddy has his hands full ever bath time.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Teeth


Eoin cut his first tooth today - the bottom left one. It's not visible enough yet to get a photo but we will when we get a chance. The right bottom isn't far behind.

Eoin has also almost perfected his pincher grip. We have been practicing lots with Cheerios and he can do it perfectly with his right hand but the left is a little slower. Eoin can also almost push himself up into a sitting position from lying down.

Other signs of Eoin growing up are we have finally turned the stroller seat to face outwards and not towards us. Eoin loves this and he talks and smiles at everyone going by but I miss the face to face interaction we had while out walking.

Today we also got another milestone done - we applied for Eoin's first passport. The gentlemen at the post office was great and made it all very easy for us!