Friday, September 30, 2011

09.30.11 - Here's lookin' at you, kids!


This scene started when Nate climbed up on the back of the couch to watch me do some work on our front door. By the time I got the camera to take his photo, Tommy and Maddie had found there way up there, too. By the time I started taking photos, they'd noticed the other neighborhood kids out playing. So, we took a few photos and then went outside to play.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

09.29.11 - Play ball!


Tommy loved playing ball with Maddie tonight. I missed the best photos because I was busy putting Nate to bed.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

09.27.11 - Grandma kisses


Tommy enjoys spending Tuesdays with Grandma Shepherd.

Monday, September 26, 2011

09.26.11 - Daycare inspection


Tommy had a late afternoon appointment with the pediatric opthamologist today so he went with us to pick up Maddie and Nate from Lisa's house. She didn't hesitate at the chance to hold him and he didn't mind one bit. I think he's going to like it when he gets to go. In other news, Dr. Whitfill was satisfied with Tommy's progress since his last appointment, going so far as to say Tommy is right on track with where he should be for his age. We've noticed the progress at home but we were glad to hear it from him. We'll go back in three months, which by then we'll know the results of the genetic testing we initiated last week.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

09.25.11 - Slippery fish


Tommy's too big for the infant bathtub but not quite ready for the big bathtub. So, we've gone back to the kitchen sink. It's much easier to hang on to this slippery fish when we're not hunched over the side of a bathtub and he seems to like it better without his brother and sister splashing him.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

09.24.11 - Museum Day


Today was the Smithsonian's Free Museum Day so we loaded up the crew and headed down to Botanica. We'd never been there and were quite surprised by and impressed with the Children's Garden. This time next year, Tommy will be able to enjoy it, too.

Friday, September 23, 2011

09.23.11 - Couch potatoes


Harley likes to snuggle with just about anyone who sits on the couch.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

09.22.11 - Smile pretty


Tommy smiles for Shobana, Wichita's genetic counselor, during an appointment today to discuss a genetic test that, we hope, will confirm Tommy's ocular albinism diagnosis. The photo will be part of his electronic medical record at her clinic.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

09.21.11 - Happy Half-birthday, Tommy!


Tommy! You're six months old today! What do you think about that?!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

09.20.11 - Manners


Tommy uses his bib to wipe his mouth after his first bite of green beans. Don't think he stayed this clean through the entire meal!

Monday, September 19, 2011

09.19.11 - Tasty toes


Between green beans and formula, Tommy's favorite thing to eat is his toes!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

09.18.11 - Get outta my face!


Tommy clearly didn't like this puppy kiss, which may or may not have been instigated by a bit of peanut butter strategically placed on his nose!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

09.17.11 - Rice cereal


Tommy tried his first bowl of rice cereal tonight and he ate. every. bite. Maddie and Nate both spit a lot out and managed to get a lot on their bibs. Tommy gobbled it all down and then squawked quite a bit when we took him out of the high chair.

"He's your son," Angie noted. "He likes to eat."

Friday, September 16, 2011

09.16.11 - Hands full


The reaction from most people upon hearing that we have three under three is, "Oh, my! You've got your hands full."

Indeed. And this is only 2/3 of the brood.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

09.15.11 - Good students


Angie pays close attention to Karen, Tommy's vision teacher from Rainbows, during a home visit this morning. I don't know that we've ever officially announced on this blog that Tommy has been diagnosed with ocular albinism, mostly because it's a fairly new diagnosis and we don't know much about it and how it will affect him. Some cases are so severe that eyesight is only correctable to 20/200, some require surgeries and some yet need no correction at all. We've noticed Tommy to be tracking more in the last few weeks and Karen today didn't hesitate in telling us that she thought he'd have just a mild case with his biggest issue being light sensitivity (thus the shades you've seem him sport in a few photos). Nevertheless, we won't know exactly how well he can see until he's old enough to tell us. That doesn't mean we're going to set back and not be proactive.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

09.14.11 - Swingin!


We finally put up the third Little Tikes swing on the swing set this week. Tommy loves it! Interesting note: There's a copyright stamp on the bottom of it. The year? 1983. I wonder how many babies have swung in that swing?!!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

09.13.11 - In the Zone


All three kids watched a little TV while we made dinner tonight.

Monday, September 12, 2011

09.12.11 - Photo by Maddie


When I commented out loud that I needed to get a photo of Tommy for his blog, Maddie ran over and grabbed her camera and made a few clicks. Sadly, that's all this particular camera makes. Just clicks, no pictures.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

09.11.11 - Someone's not sleepy yet


Of course, it might help if we turned the light out and stopped taking pictures!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

09.10.11 - Just chillin' ...


... while dad's grillin'!

Friday, September 9, 2011

09.09.11 - A doting grandfather


Tommy and Maddie and Nate all like it when Grandpa Shepherd accompanies Grandma Shepherd when she comes to babysit. I think he likes it, too. :)

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

09.07.11 - Need for a bigger tub


Tommy has outgrown the baby bathtub so we've been dunking him quickly while the others bathe. It's a bit tricky with all five of us gathered around the bathtub. We need a bigger bathtub ... and a bigger bathroom!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

09.06.11 - New blankets


We were surprised with gifts at work today. Susan, Angie's colleague in the library, made Tommy a couple of new blankets. And Annette, a colleague from the dean's office, gave us a book of Bible stories for Maddie.

Monday, September 5, 2011

09.05.11 - "We're talkin' 'bout practice."


We got to spend some time with our friend Brandi at the park this morning. She's gonna be a new mommy in January and wanted to get in some practice holding a baby. Granted, Tommy's probably not your typical six-month-old considering he's nearly 20 pounds and already wearing some nine-month and one-year clothes. But, he did leave her a little spit-up on her shoulder. Our advice, Brandi? Buy a big bottle of Shout.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

09.04.11 - Feels nice to be outside


We'll be able to tell Tommy someday that his first summer was the hottest on record in Wichita, breaking a 1936 record with 51 days above 100 degrees. And it wasn't just hot, it was stupid hot. Three days peaked at 111 degrees and several days saw temps anywhere from 103-107. But this weekend the nice weather finally returned, with highs barely reaching 80! Not only were we able to go outside, but we were able to walk around the lake in Nan and Pop's neighborhood without even breaking a sweat! As I type this, the windows are open! We forgot that it could feel so nice to be outside.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

09.03.11 - I'm too sexy for this shirt


I'm a model, you know what I mean ... ?

Friday, September 2, 2011

09.02.11 - Indians Fan?


Roy and Susan Clark are big Indians fans and gave us this onesie when Nate was born. I think Tommy still loves the Giants even though they aren't doing so hot this year.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

09.01.11 - Raspberries


Tommy has learned to do raspberries (probably from Nate) and he thinks it is quite funny!