Posted on

Autumn in Vermont

“How do I exchange my dollars for Vermont Money?”–Joey Tribbiani

Way back last year sometime, Eric decided he needed to take a class for work.  A 3-day workshop kind of class, offered by a private vendor at a variety of locations around the country.  When he told me that Vermont was on the list–in OCTOBER!–I knew all 3 of us would be going.  I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the Northeast in the fall.  I wanted to experience the whole deal:  leaf-peeping, cider donuts, and maple syrup tapping.  Ok, I was bummed to learn that the syrup thing doesn’t happen in the fall…but I still wanted Tyler and I to tag along on this trip.  So, we went for four days of family vacation before Eric stayed to take his class.

In true Hollewood vacation style, we didn’t waste a minute.  From the moment we landed in Burlington, we were on the go.  Tyler was a superb traveler and slept all night long in our airbnb–the house had a nursery with a crib, a diaper genie, bath toys, and even a stroller for us to use.  Amazing.

We headed straight for the ferry to Essex, NY--Eric can now add it to his list! It was windy but beautiful out on Lake Champlain.
We headed straight for the ferry to Essex, NY–Eric can now add it to his list! It was windy but beautiful out on Lake Champlain.
It rained all day on Friday, but that didnt stop us from visiting Shelburne Farms.
It rained all day on Friday, but that didn’t stop us from visiting Shelburne Farms.
Tyler loved chasing still
Tyler loved chasing (still holding our hands) the chickens roaming around the property.
Tyler pet his first goat.
Tyler pet his first goat.
We all milked a cow!
We all milked a cow!
And I perfected my woodworking skills.
And I perfected my woodworking skills.
Obviously, we visited breweries. #57-63 for Tyler. He did his usual thing and conked out.
Obviously, we visited breweries. #57-63 for Tyler. He did his usual thing and conked out.
Did you know Burlington is home to the world's tallest tower made of filing cabinets?
Did you know Burlington is home to the world’s tallest tower made of filing cabinets?
Saturday was beautiful and we set out for a long day in the mountains. We planned to hike the Long Trail from the top of the toll road to the summit of Mt Mansfield.
Saturday was beautiful and we set out for a long day in the mountains. We planned to hike the Long Trail from the top of the toll road to the summit of Mt Mansfield.
But it was windy. Oh, so windy. And SO much colder than in town. This was the most upset we have ever seen Tyler.
But it was windy. Oh, so windy. And SO much colder than in town. This was the most upset we have ever seen Tyler.
So Tyler and I headed back to the car while Eric made the quick summit!
So Tyler and I headed back to the car while Eric made the quick summit!
It's always neat to see other ski areas. We'd love to ski Stowe in the winter!
It’s always neat to see other ski areas. We’d love to ski Stowe in the winter!
Leaf-peeping--check!
Leaf-peeping–check!
Covered bridges are very Vermont.
Covered bridges are very Vermont.
Gorgeous scenery!
Gorgeous scenery!
Tyler really was such a trooper with all the getting in-and-out of the car.
Tyler really was such a trooper with all the getting in-and-out of the car and picture-taking.
We enjoyed both Heady Topper and Focal Banger by The Alchemist. WOW.
We enjoyed both Heady Topper and Focal Banger by The Alchemist. WOW.
We visited Ben & Jerry's!
We visited Ben & Jerry’s!
Picture-perfect Vermont.
Picture-perfect Vermont.
Sunday we visited Shelburne Orchards. Tyler had his first hayride and picked his first apple!
Sunday we visited Shelburne Orchards. Tyler had his first hayride and picked his first apple!

2015-10-11_162757450_8D1B2_iOS

2015-10-11_162531648_D43BE_iOS

Cider donuts!
Oooh! Cider donuts!
Enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine on the shores of Lake Champlain.
Enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Many thanks to our friends who gave us recommendations and suggestions of all the things to see, do, eat, and drink in and around Burlington.  We ate at Penny Cluse, American Flatbread, and Vergennes Laundry.  We drank at Magic Hat, Fiddlehead, Switchback, Queen City, Zero Gravity, Crop, and Prohibition Pig.  We saw Stowe, Ben & Jerry’s, Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Orchards, and rode the ferry to Essex, NY.  We ate maple ice cream and bought Tyler a little dinosaur we call his Vermontasaurus.

It was so fun to have Tyler there and see him experience things for the first time.  Thinking back now, although it was only 4 months ago, I can hardly believe how much he has changed since then.  He was barely starting to walk–wobbly and holding our hands.  At 14 months old, he was swimming in size 12 months clothes.  And he was still nursing.  I miss that baby!

 

 

Posted on

The Evolution of Walking

Tyler crawled at 10 1/2 months, which depending on who you ask, is on the later side.  So it was no surprise that he wasn’t yet on two feet on his 1st birthday.  I didn’t realize what a long process it was until I looked back at videos of him learning to walk and noticed they spanned over three months.

Congratulations, Tyler!  I particularly love the “WOW” in the 3rd video.  He’s even more exhausted now at the end of the day than he was when he was a crawler.  And he’s obsessed with shoes.  He loves wearing them and pointing at them and saying “sh”…it’s adorable.  Playing at the park is so much more fun for him now, too.  He has no fear–running up slides and sliding down, crossing bridges, and scooting through tunnels.

Parting shot:

2015-11-16_040417000_85AD5_iOS

Posted on

Our Little Pumpkin

So it’s been awhile.  I’m welcoming myself back to Hollewood.  I have lots of excuses.  I could say I don’t have time but that’s not true–I don’t HAVE to go to bed at 8:30.  My old buddy, the 2007 MacBook, bit the dust.  But we got a new one.  Mostly, we never got our photo organization under control.  Photos on phones, the nice camera, and the GoPro. Photos on hard drives, the Cloud, Dropbox, Amazon Photo, and Shutterfly.  So. Many. Photos.  But I’m starting my New Year’s Resolution early and getting this situation buckled down.  Get ready for more blog posts.  Might as well start with this one…

Nana & Grandpa came in from Cleveland in late October.  They were amazing and watched Tyler for THREE whole days while we worked.  My parents make a great tag team in caring for and entertaining Tyler.  Grandpa likes to rock him to sleep singing Beatles songs, and Nana likes to see how much she can get him to eat.  He wasn’t walking yet during their visit, but he exhausted them nonetheless.  In fact, I think they’re still sleeping back in Ohio.

On a super sunny Sunday, we headed to a pumpkin patch after church.  I wanted some cute photos of Tyler in a festive outfit I found in a hand-me-down box.  Enjoy.

Posted on

I Got Worms

So get this.  Tyler and I were playing in the backyard at the water table when I noticed a worm in the grass.  I picked it up to show him, and of course he grabbed it and {almost} shoved it into his mouth.  I interceded, knocking the worm out of his hand…through the air…and onto the side of his head, where the poor thing stuck.  See below.

Funny kid!  Maybe he has a future in worm farms.

Posted on

This Kid…

We rode bikes into town last night to celebrate Tyler’s birthday.  On the way home, he fell asleep, arms up and all.  Because he didn’t look ridiculous enough with the helmet and the five-point harness.

IMG_5026

And this morning, I caught him playing with one of his books:

Posted on

Tyler: Twelve Months

Twelve photo shoots in a silly basket.

Twelve cute little outfits.

Twelve months of smiles, stares, and spitup.

He made it.  Happy 1st Birthday, Tyler.

Usually he gets a bit dressed up, but this time he’s wearing a simple onesie.  A size three month onesie.  From a package I lovingly washed and folded and put away in his dresser–before he was born.  They’re still there, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to take them out.

11794002_10205584843595326_1053069186_o (1)

11806397_10205584845195366_1686706786_o (1)

11801154_10205584849755480_1093477629_o (1)

11783941_10205584866315894_349008229_o (1)

Posted on

Dog Days of Summer

The days are still long, but they are numbered.  Tyler returns to daycare on August 3rd, and I return to work–at my new job!  A friend encouraged me to apply at Niwot High School, and as it turns out, I got the job.  I will still be teaching special ed to high school students with cognitive needs, but at a school much closer to my house.  As it’s still summer, I haven’t thought too much about the transition other than needing to get my phone to understand “Niwot.”  Right now when I voice text I’m given “night what,” “not hat,” “high hot,” and other nonsensical interpretations.  Pull it together, Siri.  N-i-w-o-t.

We have had an amazing summer which I will blog about more (I hope).

Here are a few things we’ve been up to:

Eating new foods and trying to break 18 lbs.
Eating new foods and trying to break 18 lbs.
Such as [free] Chick-fil-A.
Such as [free] Chick-fil-A…
...and Sweet Cow ice cream.
…and Sweet Cow ice cream.
Swinging at the many parks on our walks & runs.
Swinging at the many parks in Erie on our walks & runs.
Crawling on furniture...
Crawling through the island…
...and getting stuck in the hall tree.
…and getting stuck in the hall tree.
Exploring new trails with Mommy.
Exploring new trails with Mommy.
And sharing popsicles on the porch.
And sharing popsicles on the porch.
Splashing in the backyard.
Splashing in the backyard.
Learning how to drive.
Learning how to drive.
And catching [very few] zzzzs.
And catching [very few] zzzzs.
Posted on

Tyler: Eleven Months

Oh my goodness.  This kid takes fun to a new level.

Tyler took off crawling in June and hasn’t looked back.  He pulls himself up on furniture (or our legs) and loves to stand.  I think we’re a ways off from walking, but you never know.  He sleeps [stays in his crib because we don’t go in there] all night long and sometimes naps.  He is a big fan of food pouches and nibbles any table food he can get, but he’s still not eating much and he’s still a tiny dude.

The summer outfit he’s wearing is a hand-me-down and my current favorite of his wardrobe.  His “blue” eyes are remarkably olive green when he wears it.  Even though he has those Holle eyes we think he really looks like me these days.  Yes, he still fits in the basket…and at the rate he’s (not) growing we will probably take his senior pictures in it.

IMG_4727

IMG_4728

IMG_4731

IMG_4732

IMG_4738

Posted on

Tyler: Nine Months

Tyler is more fun now than ever!  He conquered his first real sickness recently, although we still have to go back to check on his double ear infection.  At his well-baby (not so well this time) checkup he measured 29 1/2 inches long (90th %ile) and 16 lbs 9 oz (5th %ile!) As such, we’ve been instructed to feed this kiddo whatever he wants, all day long.  He also was prescribed an Epi-Pen…let’s hope we don’t have to walk that road.  We know he’s allergic to coconut but that’s the only thing we are sure of for now.  Recent mystery hives could be the antibiotics…or raspberries…or Sweet Cow…or waffle fries.  Poor kid.

Yes, he still fits in the basket.

IMG_0011

Thanks, Nana, for the dapper shirt.

IMG_0017

Things Tyler likes to do:  point at everything with his middle finger, stick his fingers in holes (screw holes on toys, the spout of his food pouches, your mouth/nose/ear), sit unattended, clap toys together, stack rings, and laugh.

Things Tyler does not like to do:  nap, sleep through the night, and crawl.

More photos of those adventures to follow!

Posted on

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Here is a darling video of Tyler’s first real bathtub experience with his cousins Ethan & Emma.  He loved it!  He learned how to splash…which you can see he now practices nightly in his pink tub on the kitchen island.