Toledo Zoo

Thanks to Autumn and my recent trip to the Toledo Zoo I have now been to 27 US states and Autumn has been to 15.  Evan was so jealous because he hasn't been to Ohio, but it is ok since he is still ahead by 2 states (for now).  Yes, we are a little competitive.  Autumn enjoyed the animals, but really liked hanging out with the "big kids" we went with.  From the fancy parking lot to the gift shops spread out sporadically throughout the park to the oh so friendly large staff, the zoo felt a little Disneyland-ish.  My med school wife friend Kristin (who lives near me) and I met up with another med school wife friend Nicole (who has passes to the zoo) and we had ourselves a fun day.

At the entrance

I think these tiger statues were Autumn's favorite thing to see at the park.

My AZ buddies, Kristin and Nicole

This is what it looks like to carry an 8 month old in a Baby Bjorn (Ok not really.  I move the camera down to Autumn's eye level.)

No I do not have bangs.  My post pregnancy fuzzies are just taking over!

After we had a picnic lunch the kids played in a play area (see what I mean by Disneyland-ish) where the kids could pan for rocks and built a dam like a beaver.

Don't worry Heather this is after the second application of sunscreen.  I think her hand will be ok.

Evan told me I could go splurge and spend the $14 to take Autumn to the Zoo if I would "take a bunch of pictures,"  Hence the dorky pictures of me/Autumn 2 headed monster.  

8 months

Autumn is 8 months old.  She FINALLY has a tooth poking through and another one in the works.  Autumn is very active.  She now crawls all over the place but, she prefers to stand (and even stand a couple seconds unassisted).  She can pull herself up to things like the ottoman, couch, bathtub, and computer.  I put her toys on the ottoman and she is a happy little clam.  Autumn can also sit herself up when she wants a break from crawling.  She has taught me to be more observant.  We pay attention to things like the above door hinges, mirrors at back corners of stores to prevent shop lifting and Mylar balloons at drug stores.  Evan went to pick her up from a nap a couple days ago and she was standing in her crib.  She makes more noises, lots of times it sounds like she is saying "mom" or "dad," which gets me all excited even though I know she is not referring to her parents.  Autumn is a very happy little girl and likes to smile at strangers and makes friends wherever we go.  She doesn't even mind the car anymore.  In fact she will just fall asleep if she gets bored!  She has a new fascination with dogs (gross).  I still squeeze her into 3-6 month onesies, but she really should be wearing 9 month stuff (she has some really cute 3-6 month things ok?)  She is in the 75% for height (27.5 in) and weights 17 pounds.  She got 2 shots at the doctors this week.  She cried for a few seconds and then calmed right down.  Oh how I love her!!

At the Farmington Hills Library on Evan's day off

 

At the Plymouth Library after we went to "music in the park"

Just hanging out playing with blocks

Work

Evan is working in the ICU this month.  He has worked 12+ hours 6 days a week, which means I work that much, plus the night shifts last week when Autumn was sick.  BUT it hasn't been that bad.  Evan likes the nurses he works with (I asked, they are married-expect for the x-ray tech who asked if Evan was married.  That is another story.)  He gets along with the attendings. This week since he is working nights he gets to drive my car to work, which can go over 45 miles per hour, unlike our other car. (Is that a run-on sentence Grammar Police?  I couldn't figure out where to put a period.)  This month would have been a lot worse if Evan complained, but he didn't.  He still helps put Autumn to bed and watches a show and eats frozen yogurt with me before bed (what a great guy huh!).  I'm glad he only has this schedule for 4 weeks.  I do not envy people that work this much all the time.  But we have almost survived!  Less than 4 shifts left!  I visited Evan last week for a bit while he ate dinner.  It happened to be employee appreciation day so we both got snow-cones and Evan gave me his free shirt.  I've really like the hospital and program thus far.  I think they treat him really well.

I took this picture (one of the times) I drove over to the hospital to give Evan his pager when he had forgotten it. 

This is one the St. Mary's website.  Pretty cool huh?  The guy next to him was a professional soccer player. (not for the US somewhere I can't remember)

I was going to make this post all about Evan but....

Autumn rocking her Vans. Below Autumn and Evan at the slash pad last month sometime.  She liked it.

Autumn doesn't like to sit IN her stroller she likes to ride on top like the Pope or Pharaoh.  We call her princess Nadalia.

This is why they are recalling the Bumbo seats.  Whatever I still use it.  I like it because it DOESN'T have straps SO THERE!

Just pictures

Our life right now through photos.

Autumn likes shiny things

She puts everything in her mouth.

Evan works in the ICU this month and has to work Sundays.  I try to find an activity for us to do together on Saturdays when he is off.  We went to the Farmington farmers market this week. 

Autumn now pulls her self up on things to stand up.  Look at our gifted 2004 MAC.  

One handed.  She is trying to reach the key board and mouse.  She likes the light/laser thing from the mouse.

I try to foster her love of adventure and exploration.  She is now only entertained with her "toys" for about 15 minutes before she ventures to something expensive/shiny.

She loves to eat.  She loves to steal dad's glass at dinner time and listen to the sound her voice makes in the glass cup.

We play in the bathroom a lot.  She likes to play with water, the shiny faucet, my toothbrush (even when the electric one is on). and look at mom's reflection when she makes funny faces.

Each city/township has there own library.  Autumn and I have been to 6 libraries here.  The Farmington Hills one is my favorite. Lots to do and see.  Autumn likes the puppets.

In the play area with the puzzles.

Autumn sporting a clip since her bangs are getting long.

In non picture news.  I gave a talk in church this week on sacrifice.  I showed up to church late.  Right before I was to speech Autumn banged her mouth on the pew.  She started crying really hard.  Evan was gone so a young woman played with her while I spoke.  I ended up with 25 minutes to speak.  That same day Evan helped say a guys life.  They did ACLS (like CPR) on a man for 13 minutes.  The nurses/other doctors told Evan he had good rhythm.

Five Months Until Christmas

Autumn is so stinkin' cute.  Sometimes it creates problems for me.  When we go to the grocery (anywhere really)  people stop us to admire how adorable Autumn is.  The conversations usually go something like this...

"OH MY what cute little baby"-stranger

"Why thank you, I think so too."-me

"How old is she?"-stranger

"She is seven months"-I say with confidence and with a hint of pride that I have such an advanced 7 month old (at least I think so)

"What's your name little one?"-stranger

(Since Autumn can't talk yet usually I answer for her) "Her name is Autumn."  

This is where things get awkward...They just stare at us and then other people walking by stare at the stranger staring at us.  I don't want to be rude and say, "hey can you move your head so I can get that summer squash behind you that is on sale this week."  So I usually tell them about Autumns' birthday by saying something like.  "yup she's 7 months old, which means only 5 more months until Christmas.  She was born on Christmas Eve."  Or I'll say "Her middle name is Nadalia.  Nadalia is Portugese for born on Christmas.  One of those comments usually helps in the awkward stare down in the middle of Kroger.   Then I just back away slowly.  What do you moms do to aid in this type of situation.  Or am I the only one with an adorable child that has strangers flocking to us where ever we go?

Any how like I said Autumn is now SEVEN MONTHS.  I felt like the first five or so months went by really slow and are kind of a blur now.  Time seems to have sped up and I can't believe she is this old already.  I took her to her "6 month" check up a couple days before her 7 month mark.  She now weighs 15 lbs 4 oz and is 27 in long.  She is very active.  At church there is no chance she'll just sit in her car seat.  She likes to be out and about.  In fact she likes to sit backwards on the metal folding chairs and look at the people sitting behind us (and lick the metal).  She likes to put everything in her mouth.  July 27th would be the day I think she officially started to army crawl across the carpet.  She loves baths until she gets water in her eyes or up her nose when she tries to eat the water.  She LOVE bananas and most foods we have given her (except the corn and green bell pepper baby food  we gave her.  Funniest thing ever).  She picks up Cheeri-Os from my hand with such dexterity.  She uses both her right and left hand.  She also likes looking down the storm drains when she goes on walks with her dad.  She loves little kids and likes to watch them play when we go to the library or music time in the park.

  

It was really hard to take her picture, because she was so interested in her "7 months" sticker

and interested in the camera.

One of her favorite things to chew on is the car keys.  I try to discourage this, but sometimes I just want to make her happy:)

I love the Boys and Girls Club.  I've worked at three ya know?  I miss my buddies at the club.  Kayla is a junior staff.  I only got to work with her on Fridays for field day, but lets just say if I was a high school boy I'd date her or if I was a high school girl I'd want to be her-well frankly I still want to be her.  She is rather rad. I miss her and am jealous of when I see her dress up day pics on Facebook. So I messaged her and asked her to fill me in on the next dress up day, which happened to be Alien day.  Since we are afraid of Aliens we decided to dress up to protect ourselves from Aliens.  Get it like from the movie "Signs"?  Autumn even has a baby monitor so she can hear if they are coming.

Evan's luck has rubbed off on me since we've been married.  I won a drawing at out apartment complex  summer party.  It was a gift card to Mejier.  It is like super Walmart, but a little classier.  I bought Autumn a Johnny Jumper, she was more interested in eating the straps than jumping.

Lately....

Evan is on cardiology service this month.  He likes it.  He got paged over the intercom last week "Dr. Norby please call..."  He works about 10-11 hours a day and half day on Sundays.  He gets home just in time to put Autumn to sleep.  Autumn and I have now visited four of the local libraries.  Each of them have a children's section with play things like puppets and puzzles.  It is tough to make it to the reading times since Autumn takes 2 naps a day and sleeps until 7 or 8 (no complains-just the facts).  Nevertheless we are becoming familiar with our city and the other dozen or so around us (for some reason the cities/townships here are really small geographically).

Autumn's current favorite toy, the barn.  She tries to put the roster off the front and put it in her mouth.  So far unsuccessful.  It took me several weeks to realize there was a switch that turned on some music and animal noises! 

Autumn also likes to play with the Desitin and toothpaste containers.

I saw this on Pinterest and since we have so much wall space in our new place I thought I would try it out.  It is really BIG.  I mounted it on a black foam poster board.  I had a gift card  for Office Max so the entire project cost $6.99 with tax.

Family Photos

While in Washington visiting my parents in May my cousin took some family photos for us.  This is the first half of my favorite photos...the second half took too long to load.