Fall

The latest at the Lord household: Grandma and Grandpa Conklin came up for a visit a few weeks ago, Fisher has been sick, and the weather is too cold!

Finally warm enough to go play in the leaves.
A bit wobbly.

Not too fond of wearing a hat!

Picking out our pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

We selected these two, and Fisher loves to point them out.

So he tore our lamp in half and likes to throw our stack of magazines off the end table (they had to find a new home).

Crazy hair day.

Grandpa Greg and Grammy Brenda charmed by Fisher, and standing by our new back door that Greg helped Derek install!

Saying goodbye.

With the colder weather and Fisher's illness, poor Neko has had fewer and fewer walks. I guess we were feeling guilty so we started to let him up on the sofa. (notice Fisher's stick! The boy won't quit)

Poor little bug getting his nebulizer treatment (started out as a cold, then discovered he had Reactive Airway Disease. He has to hit an inhaler now and was on Prednisone for a few days, which was awful!)

Hey!

He's really getting into everything these days. He is especially fond of pulling all of my cookbooks off the shelf in the kitchen. He's also still always going after Neko's water dish, the plants, the toilet...everything we don't want him to go near.

Snuggling with daddy by the fire.

Reading the paper with daddy.

Don't know why he looks stunned here, but I wanted to include it as it captured his gorgeous blue eyes and his ever growing hair, which Derek claims we will not cut until he asks for it! He also has a book in hand here, and his latest deal is bringing us books to read to him...over and over again. I love that he wants me to read books to him, but I sure wish he'd pick more than the same three every time!

Farm, Family, and Fun

Check it out--he's getting so good at walking that he's started to carry things with him (here a fork, real safe I know, and George). He's walking more than he's crawling now.
Always the explorer: pointing to new territories and sporting his Greek sailing hat.

Nana and Papa came up for a visit last weekend to celebrate Fisher's 1st. Fisher's scooping the loop with Nana here (he does laps around the main floor of the house).

He often still prefers to have help with walking.

Fisher sporting his new extra warm hat that he received from Nana and Papa.

So as soon as Papa left, Fisher started doing this. Coincidence?

Playing in his new tunnel that they gave him!

They also brought him this tractor, and he takes his tractor business very seriously. In fact, his 6th word is tractor (after Mama, Dada, Dog, Duck, and Seagull)! They're reconstructing the road by our house, so he's had quite the exposure to them lately.

Here he's checking out a tractor with Neko at his side. He'll stand there and watch them forever!

We went to a dairy farm appreciation party the other day. We didn't know anyone, but Derek received an invite as the farmer rents land from the city. We thought Fisher would enjoy seeing a farm so we went and we were all glad we did. They had bunnies that were born that week,

a huge pile of sand for the kiddos,

and calfs born just that morning!

Plus they had hayrack rides through the country side.

And we got to check out the dairy cow operations. I was sad that all the cows backed away when you tried to go near them.

Being goofy with a snack (and eating it off the floor just like the dog!)

He walks!

Look out! Fisher started walking unprovoked on Sunday night. For the last few weeks he'd only take a few steps between me and Derek, and then all of a sudden he pulled himself up to standing and just mosied across the room. He still relies on crawling mostly, but he's definitely testing the waters.

Fisher's 1st Birthday!

We celebrated Fisher's birthday last weekend in Chicago--spent the day strolling through the city and checked out the Shedd Aquarium. On the day of his birthday, some good friends came over to celebrate. He didn't seem all that fazed to have a dozen people singing to him and watching his every move. As of his 1 year check up, he's 32.25 inches (98th percentile) and weighs 23.4 lbs (58th percentile). He's long and lean and one year old! Thanks to everyone who sent a card or a gift.

The morning of his birthday!

Playing with Cole and Burke's toys.

He's so nice to share his cupcake.

Wondering why everyone was watching him eat!

The end of the cupcake.

Thought he'd try to open his gifts with a stick.

He sort of got the hang of it.

Burke showing Fisher how to play with his new toy.

All tuckered out from his big day.

Outside the Shedd Aquarium.

Hans met us for lunch in the city.

This belluga whale seemed to like Fisher.

Checking out the touchable water area.

Splashing! (every kid within a three foot radius stayed clear)

Checking out some fish.

Enjoying the skyline.

Worn out from the day--the first time he ever fell asleep in the stroller.

We had the famous three little pigs sandwich at the Silver Palm with Kristina and Ryan. Delicious, but slow service--not good for a kid who just wants to walk.

We stayed in the beautiful suburb of Oak Park, where Kristina and Ryan just got a new place. It's a block away from Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio, so we went for a stroll to check out his work. Kristina looks like a natural pushing the stroller!

Chilling on their porch.

Playing in the backyard.

Fisher found the one dirt pile in the backyard and has turned it into his personal sandbox. Here's a dirt clod!

Turning up the stereo so he can get his groove on.

Going for a walk with daddy.