Update on the no-crib situation

After a couple of nights of long bed-times, Andy is doing great in his new bed: a mattress on the floor! We gave him the option of sleeping in the double bed that has always been in his room, which he loves to play on, and the crib mattress which Shawn set on the floor. After some back and forth the first night, he chose the mattress and he is very happy there. He now goes down for bed easily, after a bath, brushing teeth, pjs, and two stories. When we go up to bed a couple hours later, he often seems to have migrated to the floor in the middle of the room, but he's still sleeping happily (don't worry, we move him back to his bed!). Last night he slept all the way through to 6am without waking up. In the mornings, he gets up and comes in to our room to wake us up. It's amazing! It was rough the first few days but it's crazy how quickly kids adjust.

P.S. - thanks for the photos Risa!! We miss and love you!

Oh no, it's finally happened

We are so screwed! This morning, Andy climbed into his crib for the first time (after months and months of attempts). After only seconds of joyous celebration, he realized the likely extent of his abilities, gave my mom and me a quick look, and then climbed right out. Sh*&%#$! No more crib. No more restful nights -- at least for a while.

Tonight we have the side down half way so that he feels secure in his crib but can easily climb (but, importantly, not fall) out. We'll see how the morning goes. I realize it's wonderful that our little boy is growing up, but why is it that every wonderful new stage goes hand in hand with sleep deprivation????

Renovating!

Andy has been watching Shawn renovate the kitchen for several months and now he's helping out!

Andy and Bryn

Check out Melissa and Tod's blog (link at right - see the October 13 and October 20 posts) for some wonderful photos of Andy and Bryn!

Science Center

Last weekend was rain rain rain, so on Sunday we brought Andy to the Science Center, which is mostly geared for older kids but has a tots area and some science booths that appeal to those young and old!

Watching the giant robot/mechanical arm thingy.

This is a bubble sheet maker -- lift the rod out of the soap and you have one huge bubble. Andy loved being the first one to touch it and make it pop, much to the chagrin of the other (slightly older) kids who were trying to make it last a while!

At the international fountain, we made use of the windy day and watched leaves floating in the air!

Andy's first haircut

Andy got his very first haircut today at Kid's Club at University Village. He did SO well (so did the stlyist). I love this place - we'll definitely be going back!

It wasn't all fun and games...


The finished look - what a handsome boy!

U. Village

Before Andy's first haircut, we brought nonna to U. Village for lunch and play time with Monica and Elisa. We topped it off with a romp in the fountain of turtles and frogs!

Remlinger Farm

Last Saturday, after working like crazy all week, I called my mom and the two of us took Andy out to Remlinger Farm for a great morning and afternoon. What a fun place! The lawyer in me kept thinking "attractive nuisance" (you'll see Andy climbing on rusty farm equipment below!) but there was something so refreshing about the home-made fair feeling, with real structures and gadgets to play on. And of course, Andy got to live the dream -- he "drove" a fire truck, school bus, tractor, and a car all in one day!

Driving the fire truck

Driving the school bus

Riding the train around the farm property (we did this three times over the course of our visit).

Driving the tractor.

More from Remlinger Farm: The Hay Jump!

Remlinger has a large covered area filled with a hay jump (pictures below!!) and hay maze (I couldn't see Andy in it, but I had fun watching my mom sprinting through the maze trying to make sure she didn't lose him!). The hay jump was SO much fun -- I highly recommend it -- Andy (and Nonna and I) loved jumping off the hay bales into the hay, which felt like a giant spongy bed.

Boy time

On any given night in the Oram household, this is the kind of horsing around you'll find. And though you can't tell from the photo, it's all quite loud -- Herbie barking, Andy yelling, music blaring and Shawn just trying to referee!