Phew.

Today was much better than yesterday. However, I'm starting to see why age 12-18 months is considered to be such a demanding time for parents. This becoming an "independent" person business is exhausting!

No one said there'd be days like this!

Today was one heck of a day for Mr. Philip. I'm not sure what was going on but today was definitely a battle of toddler vs. parents. Philip was on a nap strike during the first half of the day and wasn't all that interested in eating throughout the rest of the day either.

Napping was a battle. Meals were a battle. And bedtime was an experience, to say the least. The day consisted of a lot of crying, foot pounding, flailing, and throwing himself on the floor in a fit of frustration. So there were some laughs today, but mostly a lot of tears. For both of us.

Things got ugly after the second failed attempt at a nap.

Philip was not at all amused that I was taking pictures of him during his rampage.

Headed out on an evening stroll. The only peaceful and happy moment of the day (other than when he finally gave in to a nap).

A smile even! I had forgotten what happy Philip looked like!

First Haircut

Philip had his first hair cut today from his Grandma Nettie. Well, really his first trim. We kept his sweet little baby curls in the back but just tamed his "wings" on the sides, so not as traumatic for mom as his first "real" cut will be when we bridge that gap between baby and big boy.

He did really well today! He didn't exactly sit still but Phil did a good job of keeping him reasonably distracted throughout the haircut so that everything came out even. Hopefully, with the absence of the curls off of the side, he won't get mistaken for a little girl so often!

Checking out the adorable baby in the mirror

How cute is that kiddie cape?

Not cute enough for Philip, apparently!

Telling Grandma Nettie not to take too much off the back

There it goes!

Completely forgetting what's going on

All done! So sophisticated.

Your turn, Mama!

Finally, some landscaping!

After months of putting if off, we finally bit the bullet and picked out some plants to put in front of house. Phil and his brother tore all of the neglected, overgrown mess that was passing for landscaping out of yard earlier this spring and we'd been living with nothing in front of the house for months, much to our neighbors' dismay, I'm sure. So here are our first attempts as homeowners at landscaping. We're pretty pleased with the results and look forward to finding more plants to add to the mix.




And, for good measure, here's a picture of Philip. Last night he realized the basket of toys was much more fun and practical if he emptied it and climbed into it. Good times!

For the Love of Fall

Have I mentioned that fall is my absolute favorite season? I am ecstatic that it's finally here--my long-awaited award for putting up with the heat and humidity and all out ickiness of August. So to celebrate the arrival of cooler weather, changing leaves, and all other things autumn, we made our annual trip to the apple orchard. Phil and I have been making this trip since we started dating, in 2003. We even took Philip last year, when he was a mere three weeks old. This year, we made the scenic trip with Phil's parents, Philip's Grammy and Grandpa.











On Saturday, we continued our fall festivities with a trip to a local pumpkin patch. We took a hayride to the patch, picked out our pumpkins, and later visited with some of the farm animals. ;Philip was especially fascinated by the hayride; he really liked the wheels on the tractor that pulled the wagon!












And of course, no weekend in fall is complete without NFL Football Sunday. Phil and Philip were treated to an extra special afternoon of Redskins football when, wouldn't you know, they actually won!

Doctor's Visit

Philip had his 12 month well baby visit with Dr. Hayes this morning. Phil was working the day shift today so Philip and I had to brave the trip alone. The day got off to an eventful start, to say the least, when we left the house in preparation for an 8:30 appointment only to remember once we got on the road that our appointment was in fact at 8:00. I tried calling the office during the entire 30 minute ride to let them know we'd be late only to repeatedly get a busy signal, which never happens as they have an answering service that gets all of the calls. Then we show up 20 minutes after eight o'clock and there are patients waiting outside who can't get in because the doors are locked. A few minutes and much confusion later, we're inside checking in and learn that the phone line had gone out. Thankfully, we didn't have to reschedule our appointment despite being almost half an hour late because of the mishap with the downed phone lines, locked doors, and oblivious receptionist staff at the front desk.

Unluckily for Philip, this meant his appointment would take place as scheduled!

Philip did a great job at the visit and is developing and growing beautifully. He weighs 20 pounds, 14 ounces, and is 30.25 inches tall. Today he received two shots: MMR and another round of pneumococcal. I hate his vaccination visits and normally have Phil stay with him during the shots because I can't stand to see him in pain, let alone have him think that I am content to idly standing by while a stranger inflicts it upon him. He got the first shot in the left thigh and his cheerful, sunny face went from sweet and pleasant to beet red immediately. Then, before he had a chance to exhale the large breath he was inhaling, he got the second shot in the other thigh. Finally the cry broke loose and the tears began to flow. After several minutes of crying, he settled down and resumed his happy munching on Cheerios. We scheduled his 15 month appointment for December 4 when he'll receive the chicken pox vaccine and another round of HIB. This means he has two and half months before his next encounter with the needle, which, hopefully, is just enough to time to forget to be suspicious of nurse Becky and her silver tray.

First Tricycle

Philip got a Little Tikes 3-in-1 tricycle from mommy and daddy for his birthday. He now enjoys going on rides around the neighborhood on his big boy tricycle instead of in his stroller which, coincidentally, he is enjoying less and less lately now that he has mastered walking!

Here's a picture of our handsome little guy on one of his recent rides.