Look ma I can stand!

From the look on Fisher's face he either learned how to pull himself up on his own or he won an Olympic gold medal. Tough to tell.

P.S yes we are lowering the crib

Sweet Home Chicago!

Where you grow up is always home, at least for me.  I haven't lived in the Chicagoland area for almost 12 years, yet there is something about rounding the skyline on Interstate 94 headed North that immediately makes me happy.   And on a perfect 72 degree and Sunny day, nothing is better than forgoing 94 for the picturesque Lake Shore Drive and Sheridan Road.  Driving past the Art Institute of Chicago where I used to take weekend classes in high school and Castaways on North Avenue Beach where I spent summer nights sipping margaritas, through Lakeview where Katie and I used to finish an evening with an early morning dip in Lake Michigan, and into Evanston where Nick and I chat about Fisher going to Northwestern and finally into the villages of the North Shore, Willmette . . . Kenilworth . . . Winnetka and Glencoe.  Home (and the #2 most fashionable town in America according to Businessweek - what a joke.  Although people do look pretty nice at Foodstuffs definitely the most delicious store in America.)

Can't beat this. . .in summer.  We won't talk about Winter.

This past weekend Nick and I enjoyed this drive in route to see my grandma Jane and aunt Martha in from Columbus for the weekend.  We had a great time catching up, showing off Fisher's new tricks (crawling!) and playing cards.  We really didn't do much, but often those are the best kind of visits.

Three generations of Fishers

Fisher enjoying Martha & Granny's company

Fisher with the original Jane Fisher

My aunt Martha wanted to make sure she was the one who bought Fisher his first "tux".  He models it with his signature hand in the air pose

Can you guess who picked out this outfit?

Alexis came to visit, we saw Katie too! Yes Fisher, I know she's pretty, but she's entirely too old for you.

Battle of the Puree

We were late to the solids game.  The AAP recommends babies start solid food at 6 months.   At least I told myself this while Fisher gazed longingly at other babies eating real food while he enjoyed a nice serving of mother's milk for the millionth time.   But let's be real . . . I'm super lazy.  I don't feed myself three meals a day.  Solid foods = more mess, more hassle.  I held out as long as possible. 


To add to the feeding pressure, before Fisher's birth I promised myself I would make ALL his food from scratch.  I'm really good at fulfilling promises to myself. . . see below table for reference.

PROMISE	END RESULT	NOTES
Medication free delivery	11th hour epidural	Praise Jesus for anesthesia
No use of pacifier- ever	Pacifier- always	Never underestimate the power of silence on sanity
Baby sleeps only in crib	Baby thought crib was jail	Baby and I enjoyed a 2 hour nap on the couch today
Buy only wood/metal toys	Baby prefers playing with plastic	Buy stock in Fisher-price
Keep all toys in nursery	Must be able to walk in nursery	My living room doubles as a Buy Buy Baby showroom
Nurse exclusively for 1 year	3-5 formula bottles/wk at 6 months	Baby STILL alive . . . Miracle
Make ALL baby food	I think I can, I think I can	I hate puree

Seriously making my own baby food should be easy.  After all, I have this nifty machine . . . I used it to make asparagus risotto Monday night.  It was delicious, but not Fisher friendly.  And so I woke up this morning determined to puree.  A package of organic baby carrots taunted me in the fridge all week- screaming at me for feeding Fisher glass jars of carrots from Meijer when it could be so, so much better (says the fresh, whole carrots and the super moms who do things like EC their infants).

Here's what Fisher thinks of my hard work in the kitchen.

Pretty sure he thinks I poisoned him.  However, I learned long ago to always have a back up plan when I'm cooking.

I can't wait to move on to "real" solids.  In the battle of the puree vs. Jane, the puree clearly has won.  They make me want to puke.  Thankfully I have my trusty canine assistant to help with clean up and offer moral support. I need it. 

Nick came home right as we were wrapping things up.  He always has excellent timing.  He thought Fisher's "situation" was a joke . . . like I want my baby to look like he just rolled face first through the mud . . . or worse.  

Seriously disgusting . . . I feel the need to mention this was the worst mess ever before your further judge my feeding skills

The lesson here is no more promises to myself.  This parenting thing is tough and clearly I have no idea what I'm in for. 

Mother's Day 2012

Dear Fisher,

Thanks for making me a mother and spending mother's day at the beach!  This "holiday" is a lot more fun with sweet snuggles from you.  Your personality develops more and more each day and I think you might just be a water junkie like me.  That makes me happy. 

I heart you big time.

Love,

Mom

You certainly are a smiley little man.  We might need to start stranger danger soon.  When you smile at randoms they talk to us and worse yet . . .touch us.  Cringe.

Your father thought your pants were too tight and insisted on an open button.  Take my advice- not a great look, especially when combined with one of your patented smile at anyone smiles. 

Enjoying some "independent play"- otherwise known as mom and dad want to do their own thing, entertain yourself.  You are very good at this.  (yes I know we were near water- I had my eye on you no worries)

Dads are pretty fun to, especially when they indulge your insistence on ALWAYS standing.

William Hobbes Thornton

I don't usually do birth announcements, but with a middle name like Hobbes how could I pass it up?!

Congrats to the Thorntons on their new little man, William Hobbes Thornton born today. Tonight I am dreaming of J. Fisher and W. Hobbes living together in a big yellow house just like their mothers.

Hopefully with better behavior.

Dressing the Part (4 Rules of Fashion)

(some of) JANE'S FASHION RULES TO LIVE BY:

Rule #3
NEVER repeat a heavily photographed outfit at another heavily photographed event.

Sorry Fisher you're an outfit repeater, breaking my own rule.  Please forgive me for recycling your Easter get-up at the Derby party.  See below photos for evidence.


This being said . . .

Rule #2
An accessory can make an outfit and totally morph it into something new.  Even if you're an outfit repeater.

You pass Fisher.  I knew there was a reason I purchased that fedora when you were three weeks old.

Rule #4
If you see something you love, and it's a really good deal (like the baby fedora).  BUY IT.  An opportunity to wear it will magically present itself in the future.  I promise.  If you don't buy it, you will spend the day before the above mentioned magical event searching for the thing you should have bought months ago when it was on sale. You will then find something not as cute and more expensive and be forced to buy it.  The event will not be as fun.  I promise.  There is a direct correlation.

Note your husband, my mom and any financial planner will whole heartedly disagree with the above advice in rule #4.  Follow at your own risk.

Fisher and his new friend Jameson.  Jameson is 4 weeks older than Fisher.  He is also a stylish little man.

Nick purchased this fedora back in 2006 from J. Press in Cambridge.  Light blue leisure coat also circa 2006 J. Press when Nick cared about wearing things other than mesh shorts and grey t-shirts, his uniform from 2010-present. 

Fisher thanking me for purchasing him a fedora just like his dads.

Yes I have a dress with horses all over it hanging in my closet (or folded in a bin in the basement). Who doesn't?  Sun hat from Meijer, pretty much my only West Michigan shopping option.  This is a good thing.  It encourages me to shop at home and open giant tubs of clothes that haven't seen the light of day since 2010.  Thankfully I didn't have the blog then or I would definitely be violating rule #3 ALL THE TIME.

Our family in "costume", otherwise known as our normal clothes

Rule #1
Fit is everything.  Looking at the above photo, maybe it's not a good idea to go shopping in my 2010 wardrobe.  I was at least 15 pounds lighter.

Oh well. 

P. S hair rubber bands on the wrist are also a major fashion fail

Celebrating Jann

Some people hate their mother-in-laws.  Thankfully I'm not one of them.  I am blessed every day by Jann's Godly spirit (you may recognize her as commentator "God's child" on the blog) and joyful demeanor.  Mostly I am thankful she doesn't offer much in the way of parenting "advice" and generally lets me do my thing even if it annoys her.

This special lady celebrated a birthday this past week and Fisher and I could think of no where else we wanted to be but celebrating with her on Long Lake.

All smiles for Fisher's first boat ride

Jann even lets me bring this bad dog to her house

Exploring the water.  Don't worry this boat goes 8 MPH, life jacket was close at hand

Horacio gives Fisher a bar tending lesson while mixing up birthday cocktails

Blowing out her candles in the new birthday top Nick and I gave her- I thought it looked nautical

Happy Birthday Jann!  I can't wait for Fisher to taste your world famous enchiladas and hear you sing in the Kirk choir.  May we celebrate many future birthdays at Long Lake.

Lil' Man Moving

Fishy is trying really, really hard to get his move on.

After completing a load of laundry in the basement I returned to Fisher's room expecting to find him playing nicely on the floor.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the door to an empty rug . . . no baby.  I had a quick moment of panic as I thought of the unlocked front door, but then I heard it.  A slight giggle.  Fisher had successfully rolled across the room and underneath his crib.

These days the little man much prefers to be on the ground shimming about than held in my arms.  It's a little thing, but I feel the weeks and milestones whirling by.  If life doesn't slow down I won't get around to baby proofing my house before he's off to college.

Here Comes the Bride: Katie & Brent

Katie and Brent's southern style Charleston wedding was equally gorgeous and fun.  Nick and I had a great time exploring the city and enjoying a weekend to ourselves (thanks Mom and Dad for watching Fisher).  Katie has been working on this wedding for over a year and it showed.  She thought of every single detail.


Here is a "trailer" of her wedding video, I think it gives a great overall feel of the weekend.  A full length video is also in the works that she promised to share with me.  I should probably warn her that I have only watched my own wedding video once.  This is another reason we are friends, she more than makes up for whatever I lack in sentimentality.

And a few additional pictures just for fun.

The bridesmaids and bride (Me, Emily- sister of the groom, Katie, Donielle- high school friend, Kristen- friend of bride)  Loved our dresses, they are JCREW.  They were discontinuing the lavender color and my dress cost all of $39.99- quite possibly the cheapest dress I own which makes me love it even more.

The bride in Anne Barge, custom veil and earrings that took 3,000 texts and 10,000 emails to select (approximately).  I must say they do look good.

Bride and Maid of Honor, ME!

A strong representation of New Trier High School ladies made the journey to Charleston.  The ceremony and reception was under a tent at Lowndes Grove an Old Plantation house within the city limits.  We took trolleys to and from the venue.  Everyone loves a trolley. 

Husband and me

The bride and groom . . . love them.  As I said in my speech Brent's only flaw is his love of THE Ohio State Buckeyes, emphasis and sarcasm on THE

Thanks for letting me be a part of your weekend Katie and Brent!  The fun is just beginning . . . I promise.