Wolf Rock

We got a present in the mail the other day!

It is a Kelty Kids backpack from our good friends Jessi, Amber & Tom. They know how much we love backpacking and wanted to make sure we could share our passion with our son.

Today we decided to go for a test drive and do a short, 3 mile, hike up to one of our favorite spots, Wolf Rock.

Tripp's new ride.

It lets him ride up high and has pleanty of storage for supplies and has a

removable daypack diaper bag

Where there's water, there's Cedar!

Wolf Rock is part of the CT Nipmuck Trail, or Blue Blaze Trail.

The pack works great! We plan on taking Tripp on his first overnight backpacking trip in July. Until then we will continue doing day hikes and getting in shape!

Cedar loves the backpack too!

She didn't get to go hiking last summer so she is excited to see that Tripp is backpack portable!

We stopped and ate lunch at the top.

Bob & I got a glimpse of the future while we relaxed and enjoyed cool breeze from the top of Wolf Rock. This ledge is a common practice cliff for local Rock Climbers. Today, there was a Boy Scouts Troop there, learning how to repel and earn their badges. We hope Tripp will show an interest in the outdoors when he gets older!

Walking

Tripp has really gotten the hang of this walking thing and is now a huge fan !

Crawling is still very much a major part of Tripp's transportation modes ( he is as fast as a bullet when he crawls! ), but he is walking more and more everyday!!

More Presents!

Last weekend we got together with our friends , and expecting parents, Sean & Aubrey Orenstien.

Aubrey had planned to join us for Tripp's birthday party, unfortunately she was not feeling well that day and we took a rain check. Our solution: a private party O Lounge Style!

Sean & Aubrey gave Tripp a penguin bowling set.

He's got the hang of throwing, now we need to teach him how to roll

We'll have to practice....allot!

My mom made little girl O a teddy bear blanket with tie-dye yarn squares!

They love it!

We gave the future baby girl O some cutie sundresses, perfect for our annual trip to the Vibes Festival!

So, when can Penelope come out and play?

Aubrey's bump makes a great seat!

Home Remedies

Some people have asked: "Home Remedies? Like what?"

Nothing special, just some mixtures to sooth the throat, fever. cough and stuffy nose.

2X a day - Fresh Basil Juice, Ginger Juice, Honey, Garlic and Warm Water.

Sounds gross, but it is quite the immune system boaster! Basil is good for reducing fever and relieving cold symptoms and garlic is good for breaking up mucus.

I give him the mixture in a infant Motrin syringe. He is such a good baby. He never gives me any problems and always takes his medicine, no matter how gross.

Eucalyptus Oil in his bath water

This really clears the sinuses!

Not even a cold can ruin bath time!

Tripp's favorite home remedy is warm milk & honey.

This is a before bed treat. It helps sooth his throat and allows him to sleep through the night virtually cough free.

He is all better now. No more fever and his congestion is almost gone. I must admit, I enjoyed his first sickness. I felt bad because my baby was unhappy and uncomfortable...... but, he was such a lover!

Now we are cleaning up the tail and of the illness - literally. Tripp was sent home from daycare yesterday due to diarrhea. We will stay on our home remedy path minus the milk & honey for a few more days. Add the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, apples and toast - and throw in some tea = all better!

Spring Hike

Tripp is feeling better, his fever is gone and he is now battling the boogie monster! Since the fever is gone, we decided to chase away the left over sickies with some outdoor entertainment and a short hike on this beautiful day! Tripp was glad to get out into the fresh air and explore his surroundings.

This was Tripp's first time in this backpack / stroller carrier, that we got from our friends Bill & Sue - Thanks! He loved it! He loved being up high and looked ahead over Bob's shoulder the entire time. He enjoyed being up there so much that he started demanding that Bob move faster by kicking his heels into him.....like a horse! He would also rock back and forth as he squealed with excitement as if to say

"Go Daddy! Go!! Faster!"

We went to the Mansfield Hallow and let Cedar enjoy her first swim of the season.

Watching Cedar swim

Here is a video of our first baby, Cedar, enjoying her favorite activity - swimming!

Playing fetch with Cedar

Tripp really likes rocks...and dirt.

Future Geologist?

A major discovery!

Exploring

Time to pack up and go home for a nice, long nap!

Tripp has been indulging in super long naps, today's is currently on 2 hours! With all of this sleeping, fresh air, love and home remedies...he is sure to be fit as a fiddle again in no time!

Sick-O Tripp-O

My Poor Baby!

Yesterday when we returned home from a fun day of playing, Tripp went down for a nap.
2 1/2 hours later I decided to wake him up. My baby only takes 30min - 1 hour naps! Something must be wrong! At first I thought he was just tuckered out from a long day, but when I woke him up......he was on fire! Fever of 102.3!!! So we started the routine: Luke warm bath, loose clothing, plenty O liquids, baby Tylenol and lots of snuggling.

Today we went to the doctor and no worries, this is just Tripp's first cold. 2 days shy of 13 months and this is his first serious, gotta stay home cold - Not bad.

Tripp loves to steal my cell phone, so I gave him my old one. This kept him happy for about an hour,.... opening it, closing it, pressing buttons (with beeps and all!) and of course walking back and forth...then he remembered he was sick and my little cuddlier resurfaced.

#1 Medicine = Sleeping out the sick