waterboy

Thursday we took Tyler to the beach again. Same result: he didn't like the pounding waves and scratchy sand. But some sun-worshiping grandmas took a liking to Tyler and suggested we try out a pool of beach water that was stranded midshore as the tide went out. Tyler loved the still water and digging his toes in the more mud-like bottom sand. He splashed and splashed and then giggled nonstop!

We also spent some time in the pool in the afternoon and then went back to the beach for some sunset photos that evening.

boardwalk

Today we headed to the VA Beach boardwalk. We took some photos with the shore as our backdrop and then hit the shops. We ended up having to pick up some suntan lotion mid-day because Tyler and his friend Audrey Kate were getting direct sun. But we were thankful for yet another beautiful sunny day during our vacation!

fishy

Tyler visited his first aquarium - the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. He loved the fish! He'd get really excited, pant like a dog and pat the glass trying to get to the fish. We also saw turtles, birds, otters, and sharks! Oh my!

on the shore

Yesterday was Tyler's first time at the beach. Unfortunately, he didn't get a nap in before we walked across the street to the shore. He didn't want to have much to do with the water when we dipped his toes in. Tyler ended up napping under a beach umbrella enjoying the nice breezy weather. When we woke up he spent most of his time watching the beach babes and cuddling with mama. We did encourage him to play in the sand, but after the first sand-in-the-mouth experience, we decided to call it a day!

VA Beach

A bunch of us rented out a 9-bedroom house right off the beach and have been enjoying our Labor Day weekend here. Most of us are staying the entire week, which is a nice treat. On our first day here, Tyler tested out the water in our private pool. Boy did he have fun! He loved splashing and cruising around in his floatie. Did I mention that he also liked trying to drink the water? We'll have to break that habit. Chlorinated water is no Evian!

mama's boy

Tyler is hyper alert of where his parents are at all times, especially mommy. This new-found awareness caused him to bring on the tears as I left him at Meg's house on Wednesday morning. Ouch, it's tough to see that pathetically beautiful and sad face and those big blue eyes bubbling over with tear drops. Thankfully, the scene didn't last long since he had best bud Audrey Kate to distract him.

daddy you make me sick

This morning Tyler played in bed with Mommy while Daddy napped. Once Daddy was awake we all got up together to make breakfast. As Mommy held Tyler, Daddy leaned over to give him a kiss - just then Tyler spit up which shot out of his mouth onto Daddy's chin. So funny! Oh, I'm sorry, I mean, it was awful and very unfunny. Daddy was just thankful his mouth was closed!

singer

Tyler was so cute tonight. His favorite song has always been Old MacDonald. But tonight when he pressed the button on his exersaucer so that it played the music, Tyler sang a few of the notes along with the music. We thought it was just coincidence at first, but then he repeated it later in the song.

pre-walker

Tyler is thrilled with the idea of standing and walking. He's not ready to do the latter without some assistance, but he sure loves to pull himself up to a standing position. He's never really loved crawling but he still does it when he wants to get into something. As a little baby Tyler was really early to hold his head up on his own. He was always so curious and nosy. Things haven't changed much there and I figure the strong desire to stand up is just a natural extension of that curiosity and his personality.

Earlier this week he was seated next to his exersaucer. He moved up to his knees, then reached up, put his fingers around the lip edge of the exersaucer and pulled himself to his feet. He stood holding it with one hand and banging the attached toys with the other. Tyler was having such a good time that he started rocking the whole thing and it nearly tipped over on top of him except that Mommy was able to avert danger with some fast hands.

But by far Tyler's most favorite activity is to pull himself up onto his swings and then bounce up and down as it sways from side to side.

dancin' fool

Tyler has really shown a fondness for music and can cut a rug too. Right now his moves consist soley of the butt bop. It's similar to a squat but much faster. It's really only cute because of his small size, so we'll have to help him with some new moves before he sheds the baby fat. Daddy is the perfect mentor considering he did the worm at our wedding and won a dance battle at Joy's birthday party. (yes, I'm serious.)

first four

Tyler's top right tooth finally showed itself in the last week. It had been just under the surface for quite a while. Tyler does not like me peeking in his mouth so confirming the tooth's arrival was nearly impossible for many days. But I did manage to get my finger in there just long enough to feel the edge of it and just fast enough to remove my finger before he chomped down!

biter biscuits

We've been trying to offer Tyler solid foods like puffs, zweiback toast, and really small bread pieces. For the last month or so he didn't want to have much to do with any of them. His face would scrunch up as if I'd just handed him a lemon. Then all of a sudden today Tyler showed great interest in the rice crispy treat that I was eating. I offered it to him and he dug his teeth in and took a small kernal and ate it. So I offered him a biter biscuit and he loved it! I encouraged him by nibbling on it myself a tad and he was down with the program. And when I put it in his hand so he could control the pace, he got really excited and shook his arms up and down with delight.

model

You'll remember the adorable photos we had taken of Tyler in March (see pics). Well, this is round two. These are some of our favorites!

9 months

Well, he's been in the world as long as he was in my belly. Hard to believe the changes in Tyler and our lives in just nine months. We look back at videos from his first months and it's hard to remember Tyler before we knew that he loves dogs, trees, music, books, water bottles, baths, technological gadgets and other kids to name a few. And he was just so small! We're looking forward to learning more and more about what Tyler will like and who he'll be.

play ball

Tyler experienced his first baseball game Friday night at the Orioles v. Red Sox game at Camden Yards. He was a little uneasy during the sudden erruptions of cheering but really enjoyed watching all of the faces behind us. He especially loved the music which he would dance to with a very cute (only when you're at this age) butt bop. He finally got cozy in mommy's arms and napped until the end of the game, which the O's won 6-5 in bottom of the ninth inning.

rainfall

Some of our most favorite family time is spent walking our dog together as a family each night. This night we were caught in a sudden summer shower. We got a little wet, but Tyler sure did enjoy himself. He cheered as the rain plopped on his head and arms.

checkup

Alex and I took Tyler to his 9-month checkup yesterday evening. He weighs 19 lbs. even and measures 28 inches long exactly. In keeping with the trend, Tyler is still hovering around the 50th percentile when compared to others his age. The doctor deemed Tyler healthy and meeting all of his physical and social milestones. We thought we were going to breeze through the exam since he didn't need any shots, but now they routinely draw blood at this stage to check for anemia. Tyler took the shot like a man (ok, there were a few tears) despite them having to try twice!

new heights

We've now had to raise Tyler's exersaucer yet again. He's now using it at the top height already. Considering the height of his parents, Tyler may be a tall guy!

biter

Tyler is very curious about most everything and likes to put things in his mouth. And now that he has teeth on the top and bottom, his bite hurts. Poor Audrey Kate learned this the hard way when Tyler nibbled on her hand. Ouch!

But he's also a biter in the other sense of the word. He copied Audrey Kate's raspberry noises and now practices them frequently.

top tooth

Another tooth has arrived! I just noticed Tyler's top left tooth is here. I'm not sure how long it's been there. He was just sucking on a water bottle and I spotted a white spot showing through!

bed issues

Tyler, Tyler, Tyler. Just prior to him fully crawling, the bed issues began. Each morning I'd come in to a new problem. First, he began to wiggle out of his incline sleeper. Out of the crib it went. Second, I found Tyler with the crib bumper up over his head. With the crib at the tallest height the top of the bumper couldn't be tied and our clever boy figured out how to take advantage of the weakness. Out of the crib it went. Third, I found Tyler with the blanket wrapped around his head. No worries, he was comfy (despite his legs going up the side of the crib) and sucking his thumb. Fourth, I heard Tyler fussing slightly through our monitor system. No crying so I gave it some time. Then the fussing took a more pathetic whimpering tone. I entered his room to find him on his belly with his legs stuck through the slats of the crib. He was still able to suck his thumb, but obviously he wasn't so comfy this time. Intervention time. We lowered his crib to the second setting and returned his bumper to the crib, but with all of the ties affixed. So far so good. And just in time for the mobile man.

bless the exersaucer

Tyler is so active now and grabbing at EVERYTHING. Especially what he knows is not his! This activity center is a godsend. I hope it can withstand Tyler's rough play, but even if not at least I can have my hands free for a few minutes.

happy 1st birthday ayla

We took at trip to York, PA to celebrate with Ayla on her first birthday. Tyler loved checking out all of her new toys!

good luck charm

Tyler ventured a trip to Mercy with mom and grammy on the evening of July 23. The last time he'd been there he was still in my womb! He might be dragged back each time we go since Grammy now thinks he's her good luck charm. When we met with the doctor, she was told that currently there is no evidence of cancer in her body!! The tumors have been resolved with chemotherapy, so now she can take a break from it for at least the next three months. Yeah!

Tyler was on his best behavior despite not getting his normal naps and charmed everyone he passed in his new umbrella stroller. Everyone couldn't help but stop to talk with him.

my G

Tyler loves his giraffe from Grammy. We had the mini version of the giraffe hanging from his infant carseat bar when he was an itty bitty baby. He loved that one so much that it was only natural that he graduate to the large version as he gets bigger himself.

lea & rob

Last weekend Tyler had a few visitors: mommy's cousin Lea and her boyfriend Rob. Tyler was so tired that he didn't smile as much as usual, but he did manage to skip the fussiness that usually comes with such fatigue. Oops, he did sneak a smile in!

crawlin'

Tyler has finally ventured forward on flat terrain. It's not pretty but he's crawling from one end of his crib to the other to get a toy. But our "off-roader" still prefers to climb the rough terrain (otherwise known as mom and dad).

escape artist

Jail break! Well, more accurately a bumbo break. Tyler's bumbo is a hard foam seat (see bumbo seat). Our little MacGyver can now make his way out all on his own. Aww, they grow up so fast don't they?

paws applause

Tyler has a new game that he loves to play with Mommy and Daddy. He claps his hands together until we say "Yay!" He giggles with delight each time he gets us to talk on command.

fidget midget

Tyler is still a little guy but he has a giant reach! His hands are always on the go and zap up anything close like he's a Tazmanian devil. He wants to move, touch, grab, squeeze, pinch, push and pull on anything his little hands can get. And of course he's still banging things with his hands (Tyler "Bam Bam" Campbell).

all terrain

Tyler wants to be mobile! In fact he's started to crawl but only when there is a challenge. Put him on the open floor and he gets annoyed and starts to whimper. Put him on the bed where he needs to climb up over Alex to get to his toy, no problem! He has ambition!

new carseat

Tyler is growing like a weed and has finally outgrown his infant carseat. After a brief visit to Babies 'R Us on Friday night and LOTS of online research, we decided on a Britax Decathlon convertible carseat. It's rear-facing and then can be moved around to forward-facing once he turns one. Unfortunately, BRU didn't have a color that we liked. So on Saturday we travelled to Buy Buy Baby in Rockville and picked up two Onyx versions: one for each car. Ugh, that is pricey but the manager offered us a discount that usually applies to parents of twins (who'd need to buy two of each big ticket item). We installed one in Alex's SUV while in the parking lot and Tyler slept soundly the entire ride home. Couldn't be that uncomfortable!

first fever

Tyler was really warm when he woke up on Thursday. No fever, so he went to daycare and Debbie kept a watchful eye over him. He just wasn't his normally bubbly self. He whimpered most of the day and stayed in Debbie's arms most of the day. That evening he had a temperature of 100.6, not awful but enough to keep our little guy in discomfort. We kept him home from daycare on Friday. I went into the office really early, took care of a few things and gathered my files to bring home. Then I came home and relieved Alex so he could go into the office. Thankfully with regular doses of infant Tylenol and some TLC, Tyler was feeling better in the early afternoon. By this weekend he was back to normal. Yay!

8 months

If time seems to go by faster as you get older, it goes warp speed once you have a little one of your own! I'm so impressed with the accomplishments that Tyler has made in eight short months and am looking forward to sooo many more. He is still happy and cute as a button. And getting stronger and more inquisitive each passing day.

playboy

It's a little early isn't it?

party animal

Well, we couldn't resist celebrating the nearby holiday on such a fun date - 07/07/07. With upwards of 50 people, including nearly a dozen kids, it was a packed house! But Tyler loved meeting so many new friends and seeing many familiar faces as well.

Tyler and Simon

My high school pals and kin (Kristen, Ayla, Gwen, Parker, Me, Tyler, Lindsey and Lucas)

Jacob and Wesley

Allison and Grace

Becca and Tyler

tongue roller, hisser, clapper

New quirky moves from Tyler Bean... He can roll his tongue (like Mom and Dad), but sometimes sideways. He likes to grate his tongue across those new teeth of his. Tyler is also experimenting with sounds. The lastest one is a breathy hiss that is close to a TH sound. And just tonight he started to clap. He was doing it on command each time Alex said "YAY!"

fireworks

Well, it was Tyler's first 4th of July, but he didn't get to see the fireworks. Besides the storms passing through the area, it was also well past our little guy's bedtime and he's not a fan of loud noises. He did manage to stay up a little late and play with some pals at a holiday party.

Tyler, Allison and Simon

wormer

Tyler really wants to crawl. He's close, but right now he squirms and worms his way forward. He walks his legs up underneath himself, but then they slide back down.

playtime

Tyler rarely enjoys playing on his back anymore. He's got to be sitting up and have several toys within reach. Albeit toys can range from a two-foot-long inchworm to a tag attached to a blanket or an empty water bottle. Nonetheless he sits like a champ and is contemplating crawling. He's close, even has the mechanics down. Now he just has to learn to lift up his torso rather than dragging himself by sheer force.

highchair fun

Tyler loves his highchair best when the tray is off and he can reach his feet. Woohoo!

good eater

What a good eater Tyler is?! He's tried and loved squash, bananas, green beans, pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, rice cereal and oatmeal. I'd say bananas are probably his favorite. I really didn't enjoy feeding him the solids at first because it was just a big messy process. But Tyler has come a long way and now I can actually feed him without a bib most times.