Duncan turns 17 weeks old

 Duncan turned 17 weeks old today.  (I am caught up with the blogs!)

This week, Duncan learned that tummy time isn't so bad when your fingers find their way into your mouth!

Duncan has started grabbing onto the toys around him, like the giraffe.   

Hi Dad!

Duncan has also started enjoying peek-a-boo with Daddy, as shown in the video.  The video also shows how much Elsie loves her Daddy and wants to be held just like Duncan!

Duncan had another great week at school.  Oatmeal feet!

Reading a new book on the baby blanket.

Staycation 2011 - Chicago

On Tuesday, we headed into downtown Chicago. Elsie has a book, "Goodnight Chicago," which lists out many of the fun things to do in Chicago. As we toured downtown, we took out the book to compare what we were seeing. Elsie loved it! Out first stop was the Children's Museum at Navy Pier, where Elsie got to be a firefighter!

Then she was a builder. Elsie really enjoyed placing the bolts in the holes, adding the washer, and then screwing on the nuts. The area was definitely geared for older kids, but Elsie had a lot of fun. It helped that we were there early on a weekday, so we had a lot of space to ourselves.

Then we dug for dinosaur bones. Elsie was less of a fan of this exhibit - I realized on this trip that she likes to be able to run around or climb up onto the exhibits. No running, no climbing, no fun.

The museum has so much stimulation! Duncan found something on the ceiling to watch in this exhibit.

After the museum, we hit some of the Navy Pier attractions. First up was Thomas the train... strategically located right next to the food court!

Then we hit the carousel. Unfortunately, the Ferris wheel was broken, so we missed our chance to ride the big Ferris wheel.

Then we went to the Ohio St. beach just a couple blocks from Navy Pier. It was during nap time, so I didn't think we would be there for very long. But I was wrong! Elsie loved it, and never once complained that the Lake Michigan water was cold! She thought the mini waves were great. Someday, we'll make it to the ocean with real waves!

We brought our shovel and pail and made some sand humps. Before they made it to castle status, Elsie patted them down!

We even practiced our swimming!

Duncan took a nap for most of our beach adventure. When he woke up, Mommy and Duncan hung out in the tent for a while nursing and playing.

Then Duncan got his bathing suit on (mostly to protect him from the sun). We had a great conversation with a German woman who was visiting Chicago for a few days, and she took a great family photo for us. So crazy to be on a beach next to such tall buildings!

Before we headed back home, we stopped for a creamy sweet treat. Ben and Jerry's ice cream...so authentic for Chicago!

Staycation 2011 - Morton Arboretum

We kicked off our staycation over the weekend with a block party and a birthday party for one of Elsie's friends. On Monday, we hit the Morton Arboretum. Elsie and Daddy got a head start, and by the time Duncan and I caught up with them, they were throwing rocks in the stream as other mothers were saying "No throwing the rocks!" to their children.

We had a lot of fun over at the tree roots slide. For the first time, Elsie was able to climb up the ladder in the cave. After about 5 minutes, I asked Elsie why she was just sitting there playing with the wood chips. She said she was just waiting patiently for a boy to finish climbing up the ladder (in the background). What a patient monkey!

Pumping the water. Take a look at Elsie's left hand. Elsie does this with her hands subconsciously when she is trying something really physical. It is really obvious when she hops like a bunny.

Wading in the stream...starting to get very wet!

Elsie was a pro on the bridges this time, completely mastering the toddler bridge.

Time for a lunch break! Duncan was thrilled to see that spider bug had made the trip!

Stream number two...getting even more wet!

Mommy and Duncan hung out in the shade watching Elsie play in the stream and climb the big rocks.

Climbing all the way to the top!

Made it!

Elsie tried the ropes, but didn't make it very far. Maybe next year!

Elsie walked on the big kids bridges all by herself!

Up, up, up at the end of the bridge.

Hi Mom! One more time!

Mosquitoes, bubbles, and bikes

Elsie is a mosquito magnet! She got a bite on her eyelid, and it swelled shut the next day. A call to our pediatrician assured us that it hurt Mommy and Daddy more than it did Elsie. We spent a lot of time that day with an ice pack!

We brought out a new jumbo bubble toy. Jack and I couldn't make it work at all, but Elsie was great! She made a lot of huge bubbles...until she knocked it over!

We also found out last weekend that Elsie can pedal her bike! Before I went back to work, we were going outside everyday before and after dinner. We would practice on the bike, but Elsie could really only pedal when going downhill. I knew they were practicing at school, but we hadn't been practicing at home for a few weeks. Then, Elsie surprised us, going both up and down the small slopes of our driveway!

Duncan is 16 weeks old

Last Wednesday, Duncan turned 16 weeks old. I got better pictures by taking them in the morning! So prepared!

Its getting harder to catch Duncan's attention on the blanket. He was really engrossed in the ladybug on this day!

Duncan enjoys standing or sitting and then chomping on my finger. He just gnaws at my finger with his little baby gums, drooling everywhere.

Duncan is getting really good at rolling over when he is on his back. He rolls over to mouth the blanket...

or to reach for his favorite spider bug.

Sometimes he goes too far and ends up on his belly. He is OK with this for a couple minutes, especially if there is something fun to look at. But, he gets really mad when he ends up on his belly in his crib. Duncan wakes up 2-3 times each night, sometimes asking to be flipped over (which only requires us to help him back to sleep for 15 minutes), and sometimes wanting to eat and fuss (which requires about an hour of attention). We were so proud when our little guy slept through the night right before I went back to work. Now those nights seem so long ago!

Duncan still has beautiful blue eyes. Maybe he will end up with Phipps eyes in the long run!

Duncan has started holding rattles that we put in his hand. He doesn't really notice the rattle is there. It just goes along for the ride!

Duncan talking to me!

Duncan does a good job reaching for the frog on his seat these days, playing music for us all. Elsie gets so excited when he plays the music!

Duncan has also started razzing this week, adding to the already abundant drool! He likes to do it before bath time, and I am happy to razz him right back on his nakey belly!

Another couple pictures from school. On his boppy, sucking his fingers, looking at a sensory bag in front of the triangle mirror next to Riley. And I wonder when he is so exhausted when he comes home each day!

The teachers tell us that he is so smiley at school!