When we went to Target today to get a couple of things we needed Desmond found a pair of sunglasses he wanted so we went ahead and got them for him. He is modeling them in the car, he quite likes his yoda sunglasses, though not enough to keep them on more then 10 minutes or so.

Let me just fix them so they are in the right spot

What are you looking at Mommy?

I am just so cool!

So we’ve spent the past two weeks getting ready for India. We are now 98% packed, which is just odd since normally we hit this point about 10 minutes before we head out the door, and then have to come back to the house 2 or 3 more times for things we’ve forgotten. One of our checked bags is finished and at my in-laws and the other one has about 6 more things going in it and it is packed as well. All our carry ons are packed, though there are a couple more things going in each of them, and the living room is cleaned and vacuumed. It is really strange being done ahead of time.

I’m not quite sure I like it, that last minute rush gives a nice adrenaline rush. Then again knowing we have everything we need and are all ready is kind of nice too.

Okay I created a new log in for when we’re in India so I can post to the blog without worry.  Let’s see if this works out and make sure I can post with it.

If it does then I’ll be able to update from India, though probably no pictures, when we get to an internet cafe.

Desmond had his 18 month appointment today. It went well, he is 50% for weight and around 75% for height and somewhere between 50 and 75% for head circumference. He has grown quite a bit since his last appointment. He was 26 pounds clothed without shoes today and 33 inches. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt so he is probably right around 25 pound 4 ounces to 25 pounds 8 ounces without clothes on. He gained around 2 inches and right around 2 pounds since his last appointment 3 months ago, we knew he had had a growth spurt and his new weight and height just confirm it.

His appointment went well and we were in and out quickly. His doctor has no concerns about him.

Anyways here are his stats from birth to now.
At birth he was 7 pounds 14 ounces and 20 3/4 inches
At one months he was 11 pounds and 23 inches
At two months he was 14 pounds and 24 1/2 inches
At four months he was 17 pounds 13 ounces and 26 1/2 inches
At 6 months he was 19 pounds 13 ounces and 27 inches
At 9 months he was 22 pounds 3 ounces and 29 inches
At 1 year (12 months) he was 23 pounds 8 ounces and 30 inches
At 15 months was 23 pounds 10 ounces and 31 inches
At 18 months he is 26 pounds and 33 inches

So Tuesday morning is normally Gymboree day with Desmond, but my natural parenting group was having a play date today at the park across the street from us, so we decided to go to the playground instead of Gymboree, since we can make up Gymboree tomorrow or Thursday.

So we walked over to the playground and met some other mamas and their kids, and Desmond enjoyed playing and running around with the other kids. All and all it was a good play date. We didn’t stay the full 2 hours though, because Desmond started getting grumpy around 11:15 even with a snack so we headed home for lunch and nap. It was a lot of fun though so we’ll probably try to make the next one as well, especially if it is at the playground.

Happy quarter of a century Nancy and Noah! Hope you both have a great day.

So we’ve been planning to take Desmond to the Zoo for the past month/month and a half, it just kept never working out due to other plans or bad weather, etc. Yesterday we ended up with the perfect day so we packed up Desmond and headed to the metro to go visit the zoo. He had fun there and it definitely wore him out.

We started our journey with a ride on the metro. Desmond rode on Dan’s back for this part.

Once we arrived at our stop, we got out and went to California Tortilla for lunch before walking to the zoo. Once we got to the zoo we headed down the Asian trail and saw a bear!

We then headed on and saw a spotted leopard, and the giant pandas, I didn’t get any pictures because there were too many people there to get good ones. We continued on our way and stopped to see the Elephants.

Desmond liked to look around, but he tended to look more at me, or away from the animals, then at the animals.

We continued on and saw the hippo in his pond. He’s all the way in the back. We’ll miss the hippo, the zoo is getting rid of their hippos because of the new elephant trails, we have always enjoyed seeing the hippos though.

Desmond then wanted down to run around, so we took him off Dan’s back and he took Dan’s hand and started walking with him.

We then found a water fountain and so Desmond decided he needed a drink.

He also decided it had been over an hour since lunch so he was hungry. We stopped at an area with picnic tables and he had an apple and some water.

We then continued on our way and walked to the lions and tigers! Desmond decided it was time for another rest, so he sat down.

We then headed into the area with the lions and tigers and Desmond got to see the big cats. First we saw the tiger.

Then we saw the lion.

After seeing the cats Desmond was basically done. I remembered there was a play area right where we were so we went over to the prairie dog play area and Desmond climb around a bit.

We then headed towards the front of the zoo and the metro. We did stop and see a monkey, we couldn’t find the golden tamarin trail though, we think the elephant trail construction may have closed the area down. We also saw the zebras and had ice cream on our way out. By the time we got to the metro, Desmond was all worn out. He had a nice nap on the metro back to our car.

We had a nice day at the zoo and it was fun watching Desmond watch the animals, he was much more into the animals now then he was when we went in April and definitely a lot more into them then when we went last year.

And here is the last set of apple pictures, of Desmond walking back with his apple as we follow with our bounty of apples.

You carry the bags of apples Daddy, I'll eat mine

And when I finish this apple, I'll eat all the ones in the left bag, then the right bag

I wanted to get more apples, but Mommy and Daddy said 20 pounds was enough

Okay Daddy take my hand, let's go buy our apples

Here are some more pictures of our apple picking adventure.

Yes I know the apple is almost as big as I am, but it is still good!

This apple is yummy!

My precious apple, yes it is, my precious...

Okay Mommy you can take my picture if you want, I have an apple!

An apple in hand is worth two on the tree, an apple in the tummy is even better though!

Let's do the apple march!

So after our adventures in getting Desmond’s picture taken, we headed to lunch at Panera, and then to the car, we were planning to head home, but Desmond fell asleep about 10 seconds later, so Dan and I talked and decided to go apple picking. We have been talking about going apple picking for weeks, but we hadn’t gotten to it yet, and if we didn’t go this weekend we won’t be going before India, and the season is over when we get back. So we headed over after a couple of stop to get cash and our camera, since I hadn’t brought it with us to get Desmond’s picture taken.

Once we got to the farm we noticed it was very crowded, the apparently have hayride and other things on the weekends in October. We got to the apple area and parked. Desmond woke after we stopped so we got him up and headed out to the fields. They had Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ida Red, Mutsu, and Empire apples. Did you know how easy it is to pick 20 pounds of apples? Erm neither did we, but we succeeded with almost exactly 20 pounds of apples, 10 pounds of Mutsu and 10 pounds of Empire.

Anyways here are the pictures of Desmond having fun picking and eating his apple (he only picked one, but it kept him entertained for the whole time, since it was huge and yummy).

I spy an Apple!

Okay this apple won't come off!

Okay fine I'll try to get it off again

Fine, if it won't come off, I'll just eat it while it is on the branch!

Mommy took it off for me, yum apple!

My apple, you can get your own!