Christmas Trimmings and Celebrations

Well folks, Christmas is here! Papa Tigger and I got into the spirit and got a Christmas tree last week. Tigger came along and helped us pick one out. Actually, he mostly ran around the lot laughing, but we all had a good time.

We got home and started decorating. Tigger was a big help.

He even helped wrap presents....

With all our holiday decorations, we were ready for a party! Last night, we hosted a party for Papa Tigger's work crowd. At first, Tigger was a little intimidated by all the new people, but he warmed up and was running around with some of the other kids in attendance. He really had fun - so much that he wore himself out.

And don't worry grandparent police, this picture was taken around 6:45 pm - a good half hour before his bedtime. He was so tired that he fell asleep right away, as soon as we laid him down!

To end the post, I'll include a random picture I took a few nights ago. Papa Tigger put Tigger in a chair to let him finish his milk - you can really see how tall he's getting!

15 Month Checkup

Yesterday we took Tigger in for his 15 month checkup. He's still growing like a weed! His measurements were:

• Weight: 21 lb, 13 oz, which is the 10-25% percentile
• Height: 31 7/8 in., which is the 50-75% percentile
• Head circumference: 18 1/4 in., which is the 10-25% percentile

He continues to be tall and skinny like his daddy! He also got a couple of shots; he got a bit behind because we were spacing them out (we try to limit how many vaccinations he gets at one time - we limit it to two) and he was a little under the weather at his 12 month appointment and couldn't get any. He got two shots yesterday and will get two more at his 18 month checkup. He'll be pretty caught up then except for chicken pox, hepatitis and MMR.

I know that the medical field has made great advances, but we give our kids so many shots so early! I pulled out my immunization card (yup, still have it - thanks Mom!) and compared it to the AAP (American Association of Pediatrics) recommended scheduled and the difference is striking! The AAP wants kids now to get about 3-4 as many shots as Papa Tigger and I did. I'm all for advances in medical science, but that's so much! I also think some are unnecessary - Papa Tigger and I call the chicken pox vaccine a 'convenience' vaccine. And I'm not worried about hepatitis until we go to Southeast Asia. These vaccines are good - but why does a newborn infant need a hepatitis vaccine within hours of birth? Seriously!

Then there's the whole MMR debate. Papa Tigger is more comfortable with that one - we both got that as children. I'm a little on the fence. Measles is rarely fatal; the chances of fatality (1 in 1000) are actually the same as complications from the vaccine. Mumps is rarely serious unless contracted during adulthood and Rubella is never serious. Rubella is only serious to fetuses. Of course, we have one of those around. Since I got MMR as a child, I'm probably still immune to Rubella; we're going to confirm at next week's doctors appointment (I had blood work done recently).

So Papa Tigger and I have decided to skip the chicken pox vaccine, wait for international travel for hepatits and delay MMR (I'm thinking when he's two). He gets all the others, just a little more spaced out than the AAP schedule. For anyone really struggling with the vaccine issue, I highly recommend Dr. Sears' The Vaccine Book. It presents a reasonable, unbiased look at the vaccine issue; he explores each vaccine in detail and ends the book with a couple of alternative vaccine schedules (one of which we're basically following).

Sorry to get off on a vaccine tangent! One other notable update from the appointment - poor Tigger still has an ear infection! He had one a couple of weeks ago and we finished the antibiotics as directed, but I guess it didn't do the trick. Tigger hasn't been too fussy, but has had a few cranky days and nights lately. We attributed it to the day care room transition. Poor thing! We now have a much more powerful antibiotic and he seems to be doing better!

Big Boy

Tigger is growing up so fast! Now that he's finally walking, he's graduated to the next room at daycare. For the past year, he's been in the baby room. While the girls learned to walk and moved to the next room months ago, Tigger and a few other boys were content to hang out with the babies.

Well, now he's a walking pro so this week was his 'transition week' to the new room. It's a big change - not only is it a new room with new teachers, he sits at a table to eat (vs. high chair) and sleeps on a cot (vs. crib). Papa Tigger and I were a bit nervous for the transition, so today the daycare director sent us this picture of Tigger, happily sleeping on his new cot.


He handled the move like a champ (ok, there was some crying) and today he was happy, smiling and sleeping in his new room so he'll start there full time next week. He's growing up so fast!

And to end on an even cuter note, here is a quick video I got last night of Papa Tigger making Tigger laugh as we got him ready for bed. Tigger has the best laugh!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Papa Tigger, Tigger and I just got back from spending Thanksgiving at G-Ma and G-Pa T's. We had a great time and the food was fantastic! We had a great big turkey along with cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, mustard green beans, homemade gravy and stuffing (I'm sure I'm forgetting somthing!). Here's the beautiful bird before...

...and after. We picked it clean!

Tigger had fun eating with us at the gorgeous table G-Ma T set. It was a fun meal with G-Ma T, G-Pa T, Aunt Meghan, Meghan's boyfriend Todd and family friends Clint and Katherine. Here's Tigger at the table (G-Pa T was asking who wanted dessert, hence Papa Tigger's raised hand in the picture).

There was lots of play time for Tigger.

In this picture he's waving to his Auntie Meghan:

Tigger has really taken to walking; here he is in the kitchen on Thankgiving.

He also had fun playing 'eyebrows' with G-Pa T. G-Pa T was trying to teach him to raise his eyebrows. Tigger tried, but it ended up being a long blink. He tried!

One morning, Tigger hung out on the deck with Papa Tigger. I got some cute pictures as Tigger was saying hi through the sliding glass door.

Later that day, we went out on the dock. First, a milk break.

Getting buttoned up because it got cold; it's hard to tell, but Tigger is leaning against Papa Tigger. He's all about standing now!

Hanging out on the boat:

(had to put the hat on...)

Finally, it was time to head home. Aunt Meghan and I started packing up leftovers to take home (they were so yummy!). Tigger had fun playing with the Glad packaging - it doesn't take much sometimes!



On the car ride home, we used a recently discovered trick to keep Tigger occupied - give him a magazine. Here is what he did to Fortune:

All in all, it was a great weekend!

He's so darn cute!

So this post is pretty much about the random cute things Tigger does.


First, he loves our computers. We bought him his own toy computer, which he likes, but it doesn't compare to the real thing. When we're really desperate (and he's really fussy), we open Word and let him pound on the keyboard. He's pretty good - he even managed to create a footer one day!

He's also starting to crusie a lot more. He pulls himself up on practically every piece of furniture we have. The other day he decided to explore our bookshelf (he has his own, but I guess he figured he's graduated to Mommy and Daddy books).

And finally, here he is enjoying his first cookie. It was not my idea.

Cruising in Ikea

A pic of Tigger enjoying Ikea. (Testing a new iPhone app too.)

Tigger's 1st Steps!

Tigger took his first unassisted steps yesterday! We were out and about at Ikea - I think the chaos of the store distracted him...

Hint: Read the Shirt

Notice anything?

How about right-side up?

Yup, Tigger is gonna be a big brother! For those of you out there that have not yet received an excited phone call from G-Ma T, we are pregnant again!

Introducing Tilly (as in, "damn, we are fertile - y)!

(Click the sono pic to download audio of the heartbeat!)

Tilly is due May 2nd. Mama TT (TT = "Tigger and Tilly") and baby-to-be are doing well. More to come...

Quick Post

Papa Tigger and I haven't posted in over a week (well, Papa Tigger hasn't posted in a REALLY long time), so I wanted to throw up a couple of cute pictures to tide you over until our next post.

Tigger is starting to love crawling in, over and under things. Here he his under our desk, saying hi to Papa Tigger:

And enjoying some play time under the kitchen counter:

A Week of Halloween Fun

This week, Tigger's day care had a full week of festivities planned for Halloween! Each day, Tigger was supposed to dress up based on a different theme:


Monday was pajama day. We didn't think to take the picture until we'd already put his coat on, but trust us, he had his full PJ set on!


Tuesday was funny hat day. The hat really only lasted about 2 seconds - long enough for me to take a picture.

Wednesday was mismatch day (i.e. stripes and polka dots). I'm sorry, but I don't have any obnoxious clothes for my kid!! He doesn't own any polka dots. I tried - I really tried, but all of his pants are neutral - nothing clashes with them!

Thursday was orange and black day:

And Friday was costume day! We got Tigger in his costume (yes, Tigger was Tigger this year), then headed to daycare where they were planning a 'costume parade' around the block.

He played for a few minutes when we got there.

Then was strapped in and ready to go!

Yes, I was on the phone for the beginning of the parade. It was Friday morning and I had a conference call!


He looked a little bored (or tired) at one point!



Papa Tigger had to get on a conference call too!





On Halloween, we put Tigger in his costume again and headed to the neighbor's for some trick-or-treating.



Here we go!
Our neighbor Chris really got into the Halloween spirit!


Tigger loved the glasses!

Tigger was a little too shy to help himself to the candy, so Papa Tigger helped him.

After a few stops, we headed back home and put Tigger to bed. All in all, it was a fun and festive week!