Another Week Flying By

Gasp! Wednesday already?!

Lincoln Park Zoo

We took advantage of the (last?) beautiful fall weekend with a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo where we met up with Ryan, who lives just a mile from there.

Shields Family leaving the zoo. . .we went through the zoo backwards!

Will donned his lion jacket today so he'd blend in with the lions at the zoo! He was afraid Ryan might draw attention to them with the red hat, but the lions continued their slumber.

Will showing off his pseudo-sitting skills.

We took his jogging stroller which is still set up with his car seat attachment so he could sleep in his seat if needed. But, he napped the entire ride to the city, so he saw the zoo while being carried by Ryan. He finally needed to nap at the very end, so I rocked him to sleep (see sleeping baby in picture one).

After our stroll through the zoo, we enjoyed lunch with Ryan's friend, Ryan B., who was nice enough to meet up with us. Uncle Ryan loves to show off his little buddy! And Will is always eager to show off! :-)

When Exersaucers Attack!

Will LOVES playing in his exersaucer. It's a source of great entertainment; he'll stand and play in it for at least 30 minutes. Apparently he decided it would also be a good teething toy. Not sure how or why he dropped his arms down into the seat, but he was gnawing on the fabric.

Will the Wildcat

We're going to go ahead and claim victory in the Wildcat's game against Texas A&M this evening, and we're going to go a step further and say the huge win was due to Will head to toe purple. He wore the sweatsuit all day and had his stocking cap on when we were out this afternoon (oh, and a KSU blanket covering him, too)! Yep, obviously Will gets credit for the win. :-)

Hike!

Starting quarterback 2028?

Growing Up So Fast

Will had several "big boy" events this weekend (besides sleeping in his new, big bed). First, he hung out at the sports bar on Saturday watching college football with his fraternity brothers (uh, just mom and dad actually, but his Baby GAP outfit is making him look like a little fraternity boy). The restaurant had a "no strollers tableside" policy, so he had to sit in their dirty high chair. Luckily we had an extra blanket to use for propping him up. He loved watching the TV and the people. . . and every french fry on its way to my mouth! His cheeks are a little red from the brisk walk from the car; it's already wintertime here!

Give me a break, ref! That call is ridiculous!

Oh. . .this is going to be close!

Then on Sunday, he showed us that he can hold his own bottle. Who knows how long he's been doing that? He only has bottles at daycare, but we brought one along when we were out for lunch and running errands with Uncle Ryan. Here's Ryan giving him his bottle at the Target Starbucks.

Lattes for everyone!

I have no idea why this second picture is rotated, but I just love his eyes in this one, so I left it even though it's 90 degrees off. . . .

The Nursery Is Done. . . Finally!

Our baby nursery is finally outfitted for our now 4 1/2 month old baby! This is what happens when you move when your newborn is 3 weeks old and can't get out of the house to place a furniture order until he is 6 weeks old. I wasn't planning on getting a bedding set, but I really wanted a dust ruffle and Will's rolling necessitated the bumpers, so we picked one up after one night without. This is NoJo Jungle Tales. I'm happy with how it turned out, and I think Will likes it, too!

Will's lamb collection watching over the crib and its contents

Will enjoys looking at and touching the animals on the bumper

On the opposite wall is the new dresser plus the oversized recliner that we were already using. Will's room looks a lot smaller with the giant furniture in it now!

Beary Special Boy

My mom was nice enough to buy Will several new outfits and sleepers so I didn't have to pack too much for our trip! Today Will is wearing these adorable brown bear overalls again, so I thought I would post pictures of him in them from Saturday.

Check out that drool on the bear's face!

Toes continue to be the snack of choice!

Will's crib and dresser were delivered on Monday (yeah!!) and he slept in the crib for the first time last night (we wanted it to "air out" a little first). I had resisted buying a matchy-matchy bedding set with bumpers, etc, but we're getting one now! Both times I went in to get him, he had rolled over onto his stomach and hit his head against the crib rails. Bumpers, please! :-)

A Trip to Grandma & Grandpa's

Will took his first airplane ride on Saturday morning when we flew from O'Hare to Wichita for a quick weekend visit to Grandma Joni and Grandpa Roger's house in Kansas. He was an excellent traveler, and I got more efficient with the stroller, Baby Bjorn, baby, diaper bag, backpack juggling. We left daddy at home for a guys golf weekend to celebrate Grandpa Ed's birthday. Everyone had a great weekend!

Waiting in his new stroller (the Keekaroo Karoo) for Grandma outside the terminal in Wichita: Yeah! I'm going to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Saturday afternoon nap with Grandma and her doggies: Whew, it's exhausting to be this adorable!

Talking to Grandpa: My Grandpa has glasses to grab and good stories to tell! I like hanging out with him.

Four generations: Great-grandma Judy, Grandma Joni, Mommy and Me!

Hugs and kisses good-bye from Grandma at the airport: Grandma thinks I'm super cute and cuddly! She's right!
Diaper change and then playtime in the airplane ride home: Mommy said I was supposed to be sleeping, but as long as I didn't cry, I don't think she cared if we played instead! It was only 7 o'clock!

4 Month Stats

Tonight was Will's 4 month well-child visit, and he is, in fact, a well-child! He impressed the nurses with his smiles and giggles. I felt like a bit of a poor parent, though! I hadn't prepared any questions or concerns to ask. And although I had the forethought to bring along my nursing cover for a pre-appointment dinner, I didn't have his diaper bag or a blanket to warm him while he waited around in his (luckily clean) diaper.

As usual, the shots were not well-received. . . his reaction is to wail hysterically as his head and face turn all over red. Luckily he got over it once we got home. He was smiling and giggling at me by the time I put him into bed.

• Weight: 14 pounds, 7 ounces (41%)
• Height: 25 1/2 inches (70%)
• Head: 17 1/2 inches (94%)

This picture is from the weekend, when we got out the garage sale exersaucer for the first time. He looks like a pro!