Happy Birthday Scott!! (Plus random stuff :)

Scott turned 25 on Monday, but we've actually spent the last week celebrating. I, unfortunately, have a hard time keeping secrets as well as keeping presents hidden. I generally end up giving Scott his presents early and this year was no different. I gave him an expansion pack to our favorite game as well as his favorite movie (don't let him tell you differently :)...High School Musical 3. Then on Saturday we went out to the Olive Garden and had a great time. The wait was 45 minutes, but with Topher we quickly made friends and had a lot of fun. It was interesting to have our waiter ask if we wanted a free sample of wine. I don't think he hears "no" to that question very often.

On Monday Scott had a class from 2-7, so we didn't really plan to do anything. Or so he thought. Scott's schoolmates planned a birthday surprise for him and Topher and I also surprised Scott by showing up:

We all look retarded in this picture, but it was the best we got. I blame Topher (it's nice to have someone to blame :).

We ate dinner with Scott's friends and professor. It was so much fun spending time with them and seeing how pleased Scott was that they remembered his birthday. Thanks a bunch girls!!

My Boys :)

Scott and Topher with the ladies (Sorry I got you with your eyes closed Erin :)

Scott enjoyed blowing out imaginary candles. Took the pressure off.

Scott is only 25, but I think the stress of school, church activities, and helping with Topher are getting to him. A few days ago we found this:

And so begins the end. At least it's still curly!

I'm very grateful to Scott's mom for bringing him into the world. I can't imagine my life without him.

On to the random news. Sunday morning we received an interesting call. A gentleman from Japan was at UCONN on business and needed a ride to church. We, of course, agreed to take him. It was a really cool experience to see the differences in our two different cultures. He opened every door for me, would wait until I sat before he sat, and was always deferential towards me. He was so nice! I think it's great that the church is the same everywhere so that someone could come from Japan and still attend the same meetings. When we dropped him off at his hotel after church he gave us a gift:

Decorative sugar cubes that are used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. How cool is that?

On top of all of this, Topher has begun solid foods! We took him for his four month check up last week and he is doing great! He was 17 lbs. 8 oz. (90th percentile :) and 25 1/4 inches long. The pediatrician was extremely impressed with him and said that we could start giving him some cereal over the next couple of months. We've started him on rice cereal and I wonder if he likes it?

I can't believe how fast Topher is growing! Or that Scott is getting more white hair for that matter. Rock it. :)

Party Time!!

I am so thrilled to be posting at 4:30 in the afternoon! Why would I be thrilled about this? Because it means that Scott is home to watch Topher while I sit at the computer. Normally, Scott has class/therapy until 8:30 on Wednesdays, but today he had a snow day! According to the news, we're going to get a "wintry mix" and so UCONN canceled evening classes. It's a little silly because it doesn't look bad out there at all. Gotta love New England :). So...

Last week Topher went to his first boy/girl party. They grow up so fast don't they?? Anyway, he partied really hard and had a lot of fun handing out Kung Fu Panda valentines. And, he was quite the ladies man. Here are a few shots I got of him with the babes:

Toph likes to play hard to get...it hasn't been effective so far.

They look a little bored. All part of Toph's act. Notice his little hand and the pinky that's creeping toward hers. Sneaky.

Tired after partying all morning.

I told him this was the only girl he could hang out with for a long time. Obviously, it was a boring talk.

In the end, it was Mickey who won Toph's attention, although he loved all of his valentines!!

On Valentine's Day, Scott and I discovered that things will be different from here on out. We decided not to go out due to crowds, but staying home meant most of our time was spent entertaining Topher instead of cuddling and staring googly-eyed at each other. We were able to watch a movie, although it took us three hours and we didn't even finish it. Having two valentines completely made up for it and Scott went to great lengths to surprise me.

Hanging out. This wasn't from Valentine's Day, but you get the idea of what it was like: Scott with his homework and Toph with his.

This is what Scott gave me. He even got me a Twix! My favorite!!

I just threw this in because I have the most beautiful baby. Period.

It was a little hard not to have Scott all to myself on Valentine's Day, but we are so happy to have Topher in our lives. We hope everyone else had a great weekend too!

Cuteness Overdrive

The updates seem to be coming faster these days. I can only imagine it is because Topher is getting cuter everyday.

We recently received an Exersaucer for Topher as a gift. He's been hard at work ever since.

"Step into my office"

Apparently the Superman position is pretty comfortable.

Workin' Hard

Hardly Workin'

I wouldn't be surprised if Topher's first words are, "Quick! To the Command Center!" But don't get to thinking that Topher is some kind of a workaholic. When that whistle's blows, he sure knows how to party.

Feelin' Groovy

And he loves practical jokes.

Got your nose!

And here is some more cuteness, for good measure.

What you talkin' about?

And if this hasn't been enough, I recommend you revisit the movie from my last post and watch Topher's hands. It looks like his right hand is trying to make sure he doesn't suck on his left hand. It's actually now my favorite part of the video.

Dedicated to Grandma

You try to do everything for your child. You try to give them a good upbringing, with good role models*. But I guess every parents must experience the day your child rejects all you believe in, and you feel embarrassed on his behalf:



Don't expect my mom to stop smiling for the next week. I do want to note that simply because I apparently know a significant portion of the third verse of Copacabana**, it should not be inferred that I know the rest of the song or have it on my iPod or kind of like it. You shouldn't assume any of that.

*Like Ringo Starr, Davy Jones, and Neil Diamond.
**Though Megan had to correct me on the number of "years ago" it was.

Young Child With Dreams...

Dream every dream, on your own...
When Children Play...
Seems like you end up alone...

Papa said he'd love to be with you...
If he had the time...
So you turn to the only friend you can find...



Jokes (and Neil Diamond) aside, the shower, which used to be the best place to calm Topher down, has become a laugh a minute as he tries to make friends with the baby through the looking glass.

This update came quicker than normal, so don't miss Megan's post below if you didn't see it yesterday.

The Many Faces of Topher

This has so be some kind of record! Me, posting twice in a row? Unheard of! Don't worry, Scott will be back posting soon, he's just had some things to do lately. We're all doing great, although Topher now has an extreme fascination with anything I'm holding and proceeds to try and grab it. Gone are the days of eating and drinking (and even talking on the phone!) in front of him. I let him have a sip of water from my cup a couple of days ago and now every I try to drink something he thinks it's for him. Not only is he gaining more control over his limbs, he's also growing out of all his clothes. I just barely ordered him some new pants from Old Navy and they're too small around the waist! They're a 6-12 month size too. What if this growth spurt keeps going on and on and we end up with a child who wears a 4T when he's 6 months? Crazy.

Anyway, since Toph is growing so fast, we wanted to show everyone what he's been up to:

Some days he just lies around looking like a bum. I try to tell him to put a bigger shirt on but kids will be kids. We'll have to work on that before he starts dating :). Scott thinks these pictures are kind of nasty because Topher looks like a fat bum, but I think his little tummy is so cute!!


Toph has also taken up boxing. Very important for fending off stuffed animals. It's the eye of the tiger...

Last but not least, Topher has taken to hanging out with flappers. We weren't concerned until he came home looking like one and spouting off about prohabition and Al Capone. As you can tell, Scott was pretty concerned...


...until I told him that Topher was just joking around :). I actually think the hat and outfit is so cute (thanks again Rachel)! Well, that's just a sample of what my day is like trying to keep up with Toph. It's a full-time job, but at least he can protect me with his mad boxing skills!