Fun at the Mall

My mom and I took Tommy to the mall on Saturday, September 4th to get some portraits done for his upcoming FIRST birthday. While I'd love to post them, I don't have them all scanned in yet, as our new printer/scanner is giving us issues, and I'd like to post them all together. I'll do a separate post with the photos, I promise. They really came out amazing, and I cried when they brought the one out framed because it was too cute. Of course I bought it. Can you say sucker?

My mom somehow managed to get Tommy to take almost a 2.5 hour nap that worked out so well that it set the tone for the rest of the day - we fed him lunch at home, gave him a bath so he'd be nice and clean, and headed out. Tommy was so talkative on the 20 minute car ride, and very excited and happy once we arrived. We brought a few props with us - the BIG bear (see last post), the orange guy (who is still nameless), a monkey, and a puppy that he has become quite attached to recently. Should have gotten a picture of Mom pushing the stroller with the BIG bear laying across the top of it...we had a total of 3 outfits for the birthday boy to wear as well, and he was a trooper each time we had to get him changed.

It was so hard to choose which pictures to get, because they were all so cute. Tommy was on the move the entire session, so I am very impressed with the shots the photographer got. it took forever to choose, but I am very pleased even though I need to get a second job to pay for the photos I bought! My mom chased Tommy in and out of the picture place and he charmed all the staff and passers-by with his funny laugh, running around, and happy personality.

Next up was a stop at Burger King because Grandma and I were starving, as I only had a small lunch and Grandma none. Tommy was pointing at the french fries, but threw the first one or two that Grandma gave him on the floor. But he ate at least 2 after that!

Tommy's first french fry!

Exhausted after the photo shoot and french fries

Part of our plan included a trip to the shoe store to get Tommy some new shoes. Since he is walking almost all the time, we decided it was time to look at shoes. He only had a pair of Gap sandals size 6-12 months and a pair of Nikes from Oma Cathy. Go figure, the sneakers are already too small in barely 2+ months! We ended up getting a cute pair of Converse sneakers at Macy's for him, size 4. I actually measured his foot for the first time, and it was a 4 1/2, but apparently a lot, if not all, of these shoes don't come in half sizes. We tried the 5 first, but they were like clown shoes and Tommy could barely walk. The size 4 still has room in them, so we went with those. As always, he was quite entertaining to all the staff and customers. Some people thought he was closer to 18 months because of how well he was walking.

After Macy's, Tommy did not want to go back in his stroller, so I carried him. His big thing now is to point at almost everything he sees and make a sound that I interpret to mean, "what's that?" So we tell him what it is that he is pointing at. We came upon a few of those little rides that you stick a few quarters in and they move up and down, and Tommy got very excited. I don't think he'd ever seen one before, but we brought him over to them, and sat him in them. I fiddled for quarters, but then realized he didn't know they moved, plus I didn't know if he'd last and might try to get out.

Tommy driving the fire truck



These new kicks really help me out with driving!

Does this tractor have a horn?

Heading out to the fields!

You can definitely see so much more of Tommy's first tooth, but so far I can't see any others looking like they are coming in. He does seem to be more open to eating different foods now that the first tooth is in. He had some pasta stars with peas, carrots and chicken and also ate an entire French Toast stick on Saturday morning - didn't care for it on Sunday, but he didn't want anything we tried on Sunday morning for breakfast - even oatmeal or a cereal bar. He is now completely done with formula (woohoo!), and is making a lot of progress with the sippy cup as well, and enjoys drinking water. I have not given him any juice yet even though I know I can.

Tommy's birthday week is officially here, and we're getting ready to celebrate with some family and friends next weekend! Oma, Opa, and Aunt Maria will be arriving on Thursday from Chicago. I just looked at some pictures from our trip out there in June, and Tommy has changed so much, I can't believe it myself.

P.S. - I ordered Tommy's cake today - yes, I said I ORDERED it. Curious George to go along with the monkey theme. I am hoping to still make cupcakes, but I know my own limitations, and while I was proud that I attempted the cake - and it tasted great, I'm still not sure it really looked like a monkey with my decorating talents!