A Little Under the Weather

We are super thankful for being healthy so far this winter...and after a really good stretch, we've all come down with a little cold. Thankfully, staying home when the temperatures are below 10 degrees isn't too hard to do.

Today was a pretty lazy Saturday...and although Hamilton fought his nap during naptime (he read the entire time, instead), he decided to doze off while chilling with his daddy.

Dinner at the Whitneys

We've moved Hamilton to the big boy table to eat right in between Freeman and me (he previously sat in his booster seat on top of a stainless steel bar chair since his eating and the feet on the seat really messed with our wooden chairs). He loves it and gets really excited to climb into his chair at dinner time.

Of course, as with many toddlers, his eating habits can be...inconsistent (but, Hamilton, you loved [insert food name here] the last 10 times we had it!). Plus, dinner tends to be his lightest meal, but tonight he surprised us both by really taking a liking to his daddy's hot wing sauce.

He had already taken a couple of bites before I got the camera going--and I obviously didn't stop to adjust the lighting (sorry).

Oh, and see that bowl of oranges. That's what he wanted for dessert.

Last Night's Performance

Usually right after dinner, it's "Shower Time" in the Whitney household. Last night, however, Hamilton wanted to provide a little post supper entertainment. Hope you enjoy...

...and the encore...

Driving My Tractor

We recently received an email from our friend Veronica from Turvey Abbey (you may recall we visited her in May for her Final Profession). Sr. Goedele, who had so kindly set up a play area for Hamilton during our visit, came across a video that she thought our little animal-lover would enjoy.

She was right on! Thank you, Sr. Goedele!

Here's little dude clucking like a chicken (actually, that was a first and you can tell he was pleased with himself). Then he finds the "moo" and exclaims "oh no" when all of the animals fall out of the tractor trailer. He can't really pretend to be sad like the farmer, though, because he knows all of the animals make it safely back to the farm.

If you'd like to watch the video without the Hamilton commentary (or our dishwasher in the background), check it out here:

Our Little Zebra

Hamilton was invited to his first birthday party on Saturday--a costume party for his friend Mira. Hamilton absolutely loves it when he gets to see Mira. They can chase each other and down our hallway for a VERY long time.

Our little dude got all decked out for the party as a...

...zebra with a mohawk.

Hamilton quickly found his friend from the savannah.

Here are a couple of Hamilton's other friends: Megan and Ella. They were decorating and enjoying cookies. Maybe it was because this activity left all of the toys free...Hamilton decided to forgo this activity.


Later that afternoon, we met up with John and Carolyn and went to (where else?) the Farm at the Zoo. Although a zebra doesn't quite fit in, Hamilton was excited to be back at his favorite place.



Did you know zebras hatch from eggs? I didn't, either.



Finally, we stopped by church to check out the Fall Festival. Our ever practical son went to a game station where the prize was candy, but decided to skip the "game" step.


We got home with a tired little boy who stopped next door for one piece of candy, then dinner, bath and bed. Whew!

Yup, He's a City Boy

Hamilton is completely fascinated by two things...farm animals and dogs. In fact, the first really discernible word he ever said was "dawgy" (which he now says no less than a dozen times a day, thanks to the canines of our building, in his books, and on his clothing).

He gets particularly excited when he sees a cow--which he calls "moo." His favorite spot to do this is the Farm at the Lincoln Park Zoo. We had a chance to go there with Ooompah today--and I finally remembered to bring the camera.

He spots them when they are near...

...and when they are far...

...and when they are animated (I missed getting him pointing, but you'll see the tiny cow at the top of the page--yup he spotted it and wanted to tell us all about it).




He also likes chicks, though he is convinced they are ducks.

All in all, he is definitely an animal person. It's a little ironic given where we live. Though as Freeman pointed out, it's one of the places where the squirrels and bunnies won't run away from him (but that's a different story for another time).

More Sleeping with Books

This is a shot of Hamilton after we went to the aquarium and library today. He found a book on farm animals and wouldn't let it go for the entire hour we were there (even through the storytelling class)--and was very concerned when I handed it to the woman at the Circulation Desk to check it out.