Downstate pt. 1

Once downstate, our few days were full of family get activities. After arriving at my mom's very late, we got around Saturday and went to meet up with the Truax clan at the mall for lunch. As you can see from the pics, Wyatt is the only boy amongst a gaggle of girl cousins. There are 5 in total: Brianna, Shyann, Sierra, Sapphirah and Angel (Joel's stepdaughter). The mall was peaceful and we had a fabulous time catching up with everybody. Wyatt and Sapphirah are close in age (9months apart), so he will have a buddy to play with each time we visit. Well, he'll have a buddy as soon as he is able to sit up, crawl and walk. Until then, he's a cute bump to stare at :-) A very adorable bump!

Truaxes at the mall

After enjoying lunch, the girls went to the park while the rest of us went over to JoAnn Fabrics. Fortunately, Grandma Lynne is a fabulous seamstress and looking forward to making Wyatt's first Halloween costume. Surprisingly, there are very few infant costume patterns, but I think we've found a winner. You'll have to wait for Halloween and the pictures to see for yourselves.

Very behind...

Back from Michigan and very behind on our blog updates. On the first Friday of our trip, we rented a car and made the drive from Houghton to Webberville. It's a trip James and I had done many many times together, sometimes with the dog, but this was the first time we attempted it with an infant. To help ensure Wyatt was asleep for as much of the trek as possible, we left at 4pm. Good idea for Wyatt, tiring idea for James and I. We're not early-20s anymore, so driving until the late late night isn't as easy as it used to be! We did stop once, along the shores of Lake Superior to let Wyatt experience the beautiful view. James even let him feel the refreshing chill of the lake by dipping his feet into the water. I think Wyatt enjoyed himself! Sadly, it was dark and he was asleep when we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge, so Lake Superior shore was all we had. The first few pics of this album are obviously not of Lake Superior. They are of some of our Houghton friends holding Wyatt. We got to know Heather and Liz over the years we were there and were excited to get back up there so they could meet Wyatt.

Lake Superior +

A few scenes from Houghton

The trip to Houghton was a whirlwind of visits. We also got all the latest updates on friends still there and those who have moved on. Sadly, we had another night in which the card out of the camera left us without some great pictures. Friends Molly and Erik had 2 girls when we left and had a little boy shortly after we left. Shortly after arriving in Houghton we found out that they had added to the family... twins!!! They now have 5 kids, 3 girls and 2 boys. The twins are 2 months old and so precious. The house is crazy. Fortunately, Molly and Erik are great peoople and wonderful parents. Their 20 month old was enamored with Wyatt and Wyatt was with him as well. Wyatt being hugged was beyond adorable and we are really sad to not have had the camera for a picture or 2. Still, it was a great visit

Here are a few pictures from our stroll along the Portage to the lift bridge.
By the Portage Lift Bridge


Firday at 4 we loaded up the rental car and started off for the long road tirp downstate to Lansing. To make it easier on Wyatt, we left later so he would be asleep (hopefully) most of the time. He did pretty good, sleeping nicely and only getting fussy around final bedtime. Outside of Marquette but before Munising, we stopped at a roadside park to let Wyatt dip his toes in Lake Superior. Other than the cold, I think he enjoyed the experience :-)
With friends and along Lake Superior

No pictures

A camera without a memory card is a paperweight on a string. And we were sadly reminded of this tonight.

Mom and Dad's ol stompin grounds

Arrived safely in Houghton on Sunday. Both flights went pretty smoothly. Thankfully. Wyatt only fussed a bit on the way to Minneapolis, but that was a result of nap time growing closer. The guy in the window seat in our row was definitely unhappy to see us, hehehe

The small plan from Minn. to Houghton was an experience as usual. The overcast skies meant we'd most likely have a rather bumpy landing. I really hate the feeling of plummeting from the sky when the plane hits an air pocket! And I thought for sure that the pilot has misspoke when he announced the local temp to be 54 degrees. I mean, come one. I know it gets cold in Houghton, I used to live here, but usually not this early in the year. James was dressed in a tee and shorts and I had on a lightweight long sleeve top. One of our first stops was Shopko so I could pick up a sweater to tide me over till the sun came out again. Oh and the heat wasn't turned on in the apartment. lol The company president (Keith) finally had to come over at 8:30 when the handyman (Orlando) still hadn't been heard from. Seems he completely removed the thermostat from the front apartment, which we were staying in, and James didn't have a key to the back apartment. Turns out Keith didn't either, so he hot-wired the boiler to kick on and stay on till James turned it off. When Orlando did call later that night, we found out that the storage room has space heaters. Now we are toasty warm!

Not much on Monday. Wyatt paid a visit to daddy's office to say hello and we went for dinner at the Ambassador for a loverly jubberly tostada pizza. Odd to be back in Houghton after 2yrs away. A lot is the same, but there are new and different things as well. For example, never sure I ever would have imagined Houghton would have a family fun center complete with bowling alley, arcade, mini-golf and gocarts.

Meeting friends Thursday night and also having dinner with James' manager and his wife at some point this week.

Oh, immensely glad I packed Wyatt's jumper. No idea what I would do without that fun toy to keep him busy and tire him out!!

Doing our best to update the blog while away (Loreen), but wireless isn't working in the apartment we're staying in. I'm at the town library now, but had to sit for 20mins when the server went down. *sigh* Hope to add pics, but those might have to wait till we are home.

Me and Tigger

Just a few pics of Wyatt with his buddy Tigger. Wyatt is up on the couch for this shot, sitting propped in the corner on his own. He's doing way better at supporting himself upright, altho we still have a ways to go.

Wyatt and Tigger

4 months (updated)

Wyatt is now 4 months old and it is really hard to believe. You have to get beyond the sad fact that 4 months meant another round of vaccinations (and several cranky days) and see all the fabulous changes we see every day. First off, he weighed in at a whopping 18lbs and measures 25inches--still in a very high percentile for both. No matter how much I insist that we're going to get him into soccer, my neighbor insists that being a linebacker is in his blood and his size (you should see his hands and feet) only reiterates that fact. I'm still hoping for soccer!

Wyatt's tongue is usually out of his mouth, desperately waiting or looking for some object to suck on, well when he isn't gnawing on his hands that is. The early signs of teething are starting to make themselves known.

Turtle-faced smiles and lots of drool fill each day. As do lots of tummy raspberries and leg tickles.

His hand-eye coordination is amazing. When he reached for objects before, he would rarely actually make contact with his hands. Now, however, he looks at an object, reaches for it and makes contact. Again, with the purpose of covering it in drool. His legs are getting stronger and stronger as he bounces in his door jumper or stands upright and spins around in his exersaucer.

He hasn't started playing baseball yet (throwing every item he gets in his hands), but I know those days will come soon.

Just to show how much Wyatt has developed, here's a new video of him in the bouncer.