It’s not the best or most entertaining video, but it does show how much Sawyer liked playing in COSI Kidspace. I know I have mentioned it before, but I really do need to buy a mount for the little video camera so that I can strap it to his head. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to see everything from his perspective?
Fortunately COSI had raincoats to protect little ones from the waterworks, and Abby wisely put one on him. I think I had to tear him away from water in order to leave that exhibit, but he really does love splashing around almost as much as he loves finding things with wheels:
I think he was a little overwhelmed with the size of the place and the sheer number of new things to see. I know it will quickly become one of his favorite places to visit, and I hope we can make it a tradition each time we return. Thanks again, Mom, for taking us to COSI, and thanks to Kevin for helping us keep an eye on him. Next time, we need to go with Sarah too!
It wasn’t that long ago that Sawyer met the real Brutus for the first time, and with our trip home coming so fast on the heels of that wonderful day I was very excited to show him my Dad’s miniature dancing Brutus. You can see he’s not quite sure what to think:
In fact, I think he much prefers the Old MacDonald song on the “Fisher Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm” (remember he’s been practicing his “E I E I Os” for a while now):
This was Sawyer’s first time seeing the tractor (the previous set of pictures were from later in the week). Notice that he dropped everything else he was playing with to run to it:
I want to thank my Dad again for cleaning it up and bringing it out, you definitely made his day. Just wait until his next visit when he’ll be able to reach the pedals!
I only know the broad outlines of this story, and I’m not entirely sure of the order of the pictures, so I’m just going to make something up.
Sawyer finds an opening:
Makes his move:
Almost there:
Jackpot!
Okay, this is cool:
Oooh, lights!
Just about 14 hours until I get to see him and Abby again, I can hardly wait.
Hard to believe it was just last Sunday that my family and I took Sawyer to the Columbus Zoo (I think there’s some video of him there, but I won’t know until Abby comes home next week). He really had a good time, especially in the aquarium then in the Manatee exhibit, but he was tired by the time we reached the gorillas. Actually I think we all were.
Here’s a few pictures of Abby and Sawyer before we left. Fortunately he loves his new safari hat:
I miss them both. Just five more days until I can see them again!
Later, Sawyer and Sarah spend some quality time at the pond in the middle of the zoo:
I love these last four pictures, Abby. Thank you taking such good care of him, Sarah! Way to be so unbelievably cute and photogenic, Sawyer!
Sawyer was fascinated with the tractor from the moment my Dad first showed it to him. In fact, he didn’t want to ride anything else around the court if he could see it.
Bear in mind this tractor is close to 30 years old. It doesn’t steer all that well, then again he can’t even reach the pedals, so it’s definitely a Sawyer +1 experience. Abby said he even took his shoes over to my Dad and then went to the door to go back outside! He just couldn’t get enough.
Here he is before we went to zoo on Sunday:
Not even moving yet already so excited:
He looks perfectly at peace, doesn’t he?
He even ignored the big Penske moving truck at the end of the court:
Hard to tell who is having more fun:
Of course Kevin had to give it a spin too:
It makes sense that Sawyer would have such an affinity for the tractor. He is not only a freak for anything with wheeeeeelllzzz, there is also a strong line of farming in Abby’s family. I can’t count how many times I saw my Mom or Dad outside pushing him around, but I know that he loved every second of it.
Thanks to both of you for taking such good care of Sawyer!
Sawyer had an amazing time visiting family and friends in Ohio. While we were at my parent’s home, Scott introduced Sawyer to the warm, soft green grass of Ohio. One would think that grass would be grass anywhere you go, but it is the earth beneath that is different. In Ohio, the earth is especially warm and seems to be much more inviting. I love these pictures of Scott and Sawyer, and I think they are perfect for this Father’s Day post.
Sawyer wasn’t too sure of his surroundings
Sawyer also spent many long sleepy hours comfortable relaxing with his Grandpa Doernberg. It doesn’t get much better than this.
This is Scott now: Of the many pictures taken on our trip home, this next one of my Dad holding Sawyer for the first time in a few months is my favorite. I love how Sawyer’s shirt almost perfectly matches his grandpa’s tie, but most of all I love the expression on each one’s face:
I’m sure if he could, he would happily wish his grandpas a very Happy Father’s Day. And right now we could use their help, Sawyer’s new tooth is making him all kinds of cranky. He’s not sleeping or resting well at all. Help!
Our day began in Ohio at 3am PST this morning, and is only beginning to wind down in California at 10pm. Sawyer did well on the flight, and although he had fewer interested or interesting passengers around him, he managed to keep himself fairly well-entertained.
About half-way though our flight back to San Francisco this afternoon, I had the bright idea of putting both of our tray tables down and letting Sawyer spread out on top. I had no idea he would fall asleep so quickly, but a combination of his monkey and a make-shift eye-pillow had him lights-out for well over an hour. Needless to say, the flight attendants were very impressed.
Sawyer loves his monkey more than anything (note, not anyone) else in the world. I think it’s because he sees it as his twin! Don’t you agree?
As usual, even in tight spaces, Sawyer channels Cornholio:
Look at that tender embrace!
Sawyer has had two good naps since we came home, followed by a very large poopie-diaper, and is now sleeping soundly in his bed. Let’s hope it lasts.
Abby and I have so many pictures and stories to share, and I am excited to do so in the days weeks to come (yes, there are that many). I’m also saddened that we didn’t get to see everyone on our list, but it’s always so difficult to do everything we’d like in such a short amount of time.
Thanks to our families for a wonderful week back home in Ohio. My only complaint is that it flew by so fast. I can’t wait to do it all over again soon!
We begin this episode of Sawyer’s life at SFO waiting for our flight to depart. As usual, we try to spread him out so he can expend some energy before the lengthy flight home:
Abby also bought him a new toy Giraffe (still needs a name — any ideas?) to surprise him with, and he seemed to take to it right away:
Once in the air, Sawyer was a little restless, but generally did well. He didn’t sleep much, but he kept himself entertained by staring at and making his patented ridiculously cute faces for the other people sitting next to us, and when that failed I lifted him above my head so he could do it for the rest of the plane full of people. He definitely loved that, though I have no idea if they did as well.
Here’s a very sleepy Sawyer on the plane:
And a couple of quick pictures of Sawyer checking out the view of the clouds above Lake Erie:
The early flight was rough on him and us, but he seems to have finally made the adjustment to Ohio time thanks to plenty of naps, countless night-time feedings, and tons of love from the Doernberg family.