Santa & Billy December 2008

Happy Holiday Season, everyone! Billy had his photo taken at the Mall with Santa today. Going to see Santa on a Wednesday afternoon was an outstanding idea -- there was absolutely no line at all! Billy wasn't exactly sure about seeing Santa. He sat on his lap without a fuss, but we couldn't coax a smile out of him and he was more than ready to get down.

We'll post more photos for Christmas, when Granny Lyn travels to the Bend to celebrate with us. Until then, Happy Holidays!

Halloween 2008

Here's Billy getting ready for Halloween, 2008!

This year, we paid homage to Daddy's love of Smallville & all things Superman. Billy was styling in his very own Superman costume. He wasn't too sure about the licorice candy that he tried, and he was "Meh" to the trick or treating.

What he really loved? Standing on our front porch and being the candy ambassador! He was completely thrilled to give out the Halloween candy to all the other trick-or-treaters. We snapped a few photos of him in his official candy-greeter duties.

Long Time No Update

Billy's a boy on the move!

Holy Hand Grenades, Batman, has it really been 5 whole months since I updated Billy's Blog? I guess it has. (So to make up for it, I'm back-posting a few things. Please check out the archives for September and August...)

Life and toddler-hood got in the way of my blogging duties, but with the holiday season ramping up, expect us to update the blog with lots of new Billy goodness.

Billy just turned 17 months old. Lots has happened since he turned a year old. We found out that he has dairy, egg and peanut allergies. Which makes meal times and shopping a challenge.















Billy finally decided he could walk at 16 months, and he's working on cutting 4 molars all at once. Like his parents, he does everything the hard way!

Now that Billy's a pro walker, we bought him a little monkey harness, and go out and explore. He is extremely opinionated about where he wants to go, and several tantrums ensue, but for the most part, he's been digging his newfound freedom. Here he is on one of his recent excursions. He looks like a little Hobbit! And he thought walking with sticks was really cool!
















Billy is learning to scribble, and here he is with his first chalk-on-the-sidewalk experience:





















Lastly, we went to the library yesterday, and Billy really enjoyed reading all the board books.

He also kept walking around pointing to the big "A" and other letters on the book carousel. His favorite thing in the world right now is learning his numbers and letters, and he's even able to recognize and say a few of them, including "A", "buh" for "B". He can identify and say "T, " "E" and "F".

























By the way, Billy was super stylin' at the library in his little Fighting Irish Notre Dame jersey. Thanks to "Uncle" John, Billy fits in perfectly in South Bend during college football mania.

Billy's Mad Numberz Skillz

Many of you have seen this already, but I'm posting it in the blog for posterity...

Billy loves learning about numbers and letters. At the time we made this video, Billy was almost 17 months old, and he could already remember numbers 1-10!



If you can't see the video, watch it on YouTube here...

Outer Banks Vacation

In August, we went to the Avon, in the Outer Banks, N.C. to visit Billy's Grandpa, Grandma, Great Aunt and cousins. Billy had been to the Indiana Dunes beach before, but never to the ocean. He really liked walking in the surf! And we had a great time. Here are a few photos from the trip:


























We also have a photobook on Shutterfly that you can still check out. It's got lots more pictures:

Billy's FIRST Birthday!

Our little baby is all grows up...

Billy turned one year old on Saturday. We were supposed to go to the zoo to celebrate, but all three of us had colds, so we hung around the house and did the cake thing, and opened presents. Billy loved smashing his cake and was all hopped up on sugar all day long!

Here's a video of Billy with his cake.

















Billy holds his hands to his head when we say, "Oh my gosh!" (Remember to click on the photos to see them enlarged!)

As you can see, Billy really enjoyed mushing up his cake. He didn't do too much eating. Mostly mushing. And here's more close-ups of the cake madness.















Billy got lots of toys for his birthday, and several cute outfits! Thanks to everyone who sent him gifts. Billy loves you! Here's some photos of Billy playing with his 'haul'.















Lastly, a few more of Billy opening his presents:














Billy is expecting visitors next week -- he gets to see his Grandpa Bill and Grandma Dar! -- so look for another blog update soon!

Love,

Karyn, Jeremy & Billy

Almost a Year Old!

Can you believe it's almost been a year since Billy was born? We sure can't! That old cliche that it goes by so fast is SO true. Billy will turn one year old on the 26th. He's not walking yet, but he's cruising on all the furniture and says "da-da-da-da" and "ba-ba-ba-ba." Sometimes he says "maaaa" but usually only when he's upset. He's just added "naaaa-naa" to his verbal repertoire. He can wave "hi," raise his arms up over his head to say "yay" and can clap his hands.

Sorry it's been so long between updates. The winter has been long and it seems that Billy and Mommy have been sick a lot in the last 2 months. In fact, we have colds now! Daddy so far, has dodged the latest virus-bullet. So below I've dumped a smattering of photos taken from our San Fransisco trip at the end of February, to a couple snapshots from St. Paddy's. We'll hopefully have lots of pictures from Billy's birthday - we plan to go to the local zoo to celebrate!

San Fransisco:
First is the view from our hotel window facing Coit Tower in the distance. Then two pictures of Billy and Daddy in the San Fransisco Airport. The last is the weary travelers on the plane home (remember, you can click any of the photos to see them larger!)...










Here's Billy eating like a big boy in a high chair at the local Applebees restaurant. He really enjoys going out to eat with Mommy and Daddy!














Billy's first bath in the "Big Boy" bathtub! He totally loved it. He especially loved crawling around after the water toys that Grandma Dar and Grandpa Bill bought him for Christmas...










On March 2, Billy was Baptized and his Daddy was received into the Episcopalian Church in the same Ceremony. How cute Billy and Daddy were in their matching church outfits! We didn't catch a photo of the actual moment (since we were busy in the ceremony), but here are some before and after shots. Billy fell asleep for the first part of the ceremony, and woke up right as Mother Susan was dripping water on his head! He was only slightly grumpy, though.













Lastly, here's a couple of snapshots from St. Patrick's Day of Billy in his Shamrock onesie that Mommy designed. He didn't want to sit still for the camera.
















Hope everyone is well! Next update, Billy will be a year old!

Love,

Karyn, Jeremy & Billy