Here is proof that Milo really is rolling over. Nevermind the fact that Proudie had to bribe him with her dog toy. And ignore Proudie’s attempts at trying to steal the spotlight.

And really, I think we have hit a turning point today with the rolling over. After his evening bath, Milo rolled over onto his stomach 4 times just during my attempts to put his diaper on! He really does it fast, now. I guess we are moving on from the cute, immobile baby days.

We had a busy, but great weekend with family and friends. On Saturday, we visited with cousin Charlie, Aunt Krista, and Uncle Eric at Great-Uncle Eric and Great-Aunt Dawn’s house in Edgewood, MD. Also there, Great-Aunt Barb and Great-Uncle Steve, whose goal was to roast Milo in the fire. However, Milo got him back later by barfing on his head. All in a day’s work.

My favorite picture of Milo and Charlie (who will be 2 in May):

Milo doing what he does best (grabbing):
What I assume will be a rarity; both boys sitting still and looking at the camera (and Milo showing a little sock):
Great-uncle Steve roasting Milo the Marshmallow by the toasty fire:
… and moments before payback:
So that was day 1.

On Sunday, we drove to DC to participate in the dangerous ritual of celebrating a toddler’s birthday at a place with padded walls and floors, scary clown dolls the size of small children, and a Goth children’s group leader who sang and danced her heart out delightfully despite looking a bit vampire-ish (really, she was great). For those of you who weren’t there, this place was the Gymboree in Chevy Chase, MD. After the kids were worn out, they were plugged on cupcakes and juice, and sent on their way. Elizabeth was ecstatic, and remained in a fantastic mood all day (this kid is amazing) despite all the stimulation and lack of nap. Milo and Ava didn’t do quite as well, but they had a great time, too.

Milo (not so sure of the angle of the wedge he was placed on) and the birthday girl:

Milo and Ava on separate rocking horses:
Andrew with Milo, who looks like he is about to run off and get into some mischief:A casualty of fun:

And Milo probably contracting some sort of communicable disease:
For those of you who have been begging for more pictures, this should satisfy you. Stay tuned for more videos….

This picture was not taken today.

If I had taken a picture, it probably would have been of either A) a sleeping baby, or B) a crying baby. Sometimes my days are like this- I don’t leave the house until 4:00 in the afternoon when it is time for me to go to the gym. I spend the entire day trying to make this little guy happy, while cleaning up, doing laundry, and somehow making food for myself. I literally cannot believe where the day has gone when 4:00 rolls around! I mean, when people say that being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job, they weren’t kidding! I absolutely thought I might be bored or not have enough to do, but there is a constant, steady stream of work, plus a “to-do” list that never seems to get any shorter!

Not that I am complaining. I feel so blessed to be able to stay at home and raise our little man. He is generally a pretty happy baby and I hope I have something to do with that. I still can’t make him laugh as hard as Andrew or Proudie can, but maybe someday?

We are looking forward to seeing my sister Krista, her husband Eric, and cousin Charlie this weekend, who are visiting from Ohio. We are also super excited to see my Aunt Barb and Uncle Steve (who are coming down from Boston and haven’t met Milo yet) on Saturday at my Uncle Eric & Dawn’s house. We have such a big weekend planned. Little Cousin Elizabeth is having her 3rd birthday party on Sunday in DC. So… there will be plenty of fun pictures coming up soon.

Hopefully I’ll have my act together by then (even though I washed my hands after changing Milo’s diaper today, I looked down while lifting weights at the gym to discover a small amount of poop on the back of my right hand… nice- I guess I didn’t wash them as thoroughly as I thought, but how did it get there to begin with?). And hopefully Milo’s sharpie (that’s what Andrew and I have been calling his first tooth- it feels like a shark tooth) will not give him too much trouble. He’s been biting me in the strangest places, like my shoulder when I’m carrying him around. He left a mark! And I have a hickey on my left arm where he latched on and started sucking on me in the middle of my birthday breakfast on Sunday. Ah, the battle wounds are just starting…

We had a wonderful day to commemorate my oldness. Andrew took me out to my favorite breakfast place, then we headed to Capitol Hill for a fun-filled house-hunting day. Old sharptooth enjoyed the backpack carrier for the first time (thanks Ryan & Kristin). We saw some houses that we loved and feel like it’s going to be a pretty easy bridge to cross when the time comes.

Milo was the perfect angel – smiling and just content to look around.

Even though I’m getting old, I have to say I love my family and how my life is turning out.

Ryan thoughtfully clipped these items from one of his favorite catalogs. He said he purchased these products and had found them exceedingly effective in protecting his girls from scrapes, bruises, and dangerous germs.

Thanks for the recommendations, Ryan, but I’m not sure that we’ll be needing these in the near future for Milo – his “bulk” should protect him from any harm. Maybe he’ll catch a flesh-eating virus that will go to work on his Goodyear midsection, flabby arms, and marshmallow thighs.

That little sharp thing I felt yesterday? Definitely a tooth. I’m so excited that Milo is entering this next stage of babyhood, but why does there always seem to be a catch?

Today, Milo was wonderful at our babies playgroup. He laughed, smiled, watched the 9 other babies (he is particularly interested in 8-month-old Victor, who doesn’t sit still for a second, crawling faster than Superbaby and on the verge of walking… his mother coos over Milo, saying that he reminds her of Victor when he was Milo’s age- already so mobile and active… great). Milo wasn’t all that fussy, but uncharacteristically clingy to me. While sitting on my lap watching the other babies, Milo passed out cold. He hasn’t done this since he was a newborn. I guess that should have been my first clue…

Fast forward an hour, when we are safe in the confines of home. Milo is miserable! Won’t nurse, can’t be consoled. Poor little guy is in real pain. He finds relief by biting my finger for a couple of seconds, then starts screaming again. We take the dog for a walk. I dance around the kitchen like an idiot for a few laughs, but happiness is so short-lived. Milo is fussing, crying, writhing, etc. I try to give him a cold teething ring, but he rejects. I’m starting to understand why people rub Bourbon on their babies gums when they are teething. I don’t have any Bourbon, but I guess I don’t really need any: a little more singing and dancing, and my little buddy passes out cold on my shoulder:
No rubbing his eyes, no yawning, nothing! He just conked out again. I know he will awaken with a fury, so quick! You seasoned mommies, bestow your knowledge unto me! How do you make it through these teething months? He is only working on #1 here, we have a whole mouthful to go!

On a more positive note, the rice cereal worked like a charm last night. I put Milo down for bed at 8:30, and he slept for 5 hours straight!!! For those of you who are blessed with babies who have been sleeping 10-12 hours at night, you may not understand. This baby has only slept 5 hours in a row ONCE in his entire life, and that was when he was in his carseat in the middle of the night headed to Ohio for Thanksgiving. So, if I start going to bed at 8:30, I’ll be set. And now you have the #2 reason my life is officially over. Ha, ha!