Chatterbox

These days I'm talking up a storm. It started with a few words here and there...you know -ball, book, bottle, etc. Now, I try to imitate just about every word I hear. I'm not so good with the big words yet. Sometimes when I'm concentrating real hard I just move my mouth without making the sounds. Mommy and daddy seem to get a big kick out of this, but to me it's just practicing.

I also like to have lengthy conversations with my teddy's and my rubber ducky. I tell them about my day and all the fun things I've done -like going to the park and seeing my friends in music class. They don't get out much so I have to tell them about all the exciting things that happen in the outside world.

One of my all-time favorite words is "star." You wouldn't believe all the places I see stars...there's one in almost every book, and on some of my toys -I even have one hanging above my closet. And last week, a new rug for my room arrived from Papa Ed and Nana Vicki. It was full of stars! Needless to say, when daddy put me to bed that night he could heard me over the monitor talking all about the stars. What a fun way to end the day.

my song

Music has always been a big part of my life. Granted...I've only been around for a little over a year, but mom and dad were developing my music appreciation long before I was born. Guess that's why I love it so much. Every morning, daddy turns on the stereo and all day long I get to listen to songs. Everything from folk, to classical, to sesame street! I love to dance to the fast songs...shaking my little behind and bouncing up and down. Mom and dad seem to get a kick out of it, but what's even funnier is when they start dancing with me.

With dad's enormous CD collection I can pretty much listen to anything I want, but there's one song that's special. I heard it for the first time at my birthday party and what's even better is that I got to hear it live! You see, my pop is a musician and he wrote a song just for me. How luck am I?! It's quite a catchy tune and it always cheers me up. A couple of weeks ago when I was getting my molars I was pretty miserable, but mommy and daddy put on my song and right away I felt better.

So, whether I'm in the mood to groove or need a little pick me up, I'll always have my song to remind me of pop -and that's more than any kid could hope for.

More birthday fun

Boy, oh boy -where to begin? The past two weeks have been filled with more birthday fun than a little man can handle! Last weekend, was the big party at our house. There were so many people, and presents, and cake, and did I mention presents?

The day started with a huge surprise. Mommy was upstairs getting me into my birthday outfit and the doorbell rang. Daddy went to answer it and he found Uncle Scott, Auntie Christine and Olivia standing on the front porch. They drove all the way from Washington to see us! There were so many fun people at the party. Meme and Pop brought their best friends Mr. Clive and Mrs. Jill all the way from Vancouver and there were lots of mommy and daddy's friends and even some little people just like me. My new friend Alice is exactly one month younger than me and Sean is even littler. And then there's Ethan...someday I'll grow up to be a big boy just like him!

My party had a fire truck theme and there were all sorts of neat decorations. The best thing by far were the red and yellow and black balloons. I could hardly take my eyes off them! Mommy baked a cake and then decorated it to look like a firetruck. It was a little overwhelming when they lit the candles and everyone sang happy birthday, but after a few minutes of alone time I was back in the swing of things and discovering all my new toys.

There's so much more to tell...it's just too much to cover in one day. Check back soon for the rest of the story.

Happy Birthday to me!

One year ago today, I set eyes on this world for the first time. I don’t remember much about that day, but mom says it forever changed her so it must have been a pretty big event. We were living in a place called Florida at the time; mom and dad didn’t care for it much –too hot and too far away from everyone. But I know they were happy I was born there because the people at the hospital were so nice and they had lots of great friends around to help them get ready for me.

I guess at first I was a little reluctant to join the outside world. And really, do you blame me? Why would I give up the warmth and coziness of mommy’s tummy for the harsh elements of a hospital room? Anyway, after three long days of waiting, I decided it was time to meet my parents. And after ten months and one day, they sure were ready to meet me!

If only I’d know what was awaiting me! People were SO happy to meet me...it was a full out party. Not only did I get to meet mom and dad and all the nice nurses and doctors, I also got to see my meme and pop and papa Ed and nana Vicki. And the best part about it? They loved me from the moment I was born. How lucky am I?

The past year has been a big one for me. I guess when I was born I couldn’t do all the things I can today, like walk and talk and play with my toys. I still let mom and dad help me with things (it makes them feel like they’re contributing :-), but I’m becoming more independent with each passing day. Just wait until I start walking…the possibilities will be endless!

Tomorrow, we’re going to celebrate my birthday. What’s even better is that it’s also meme’s birthday so we get to have two parties in one! Mom is baking me a fire truck cake and we’re going to have lots of people at the house. I can’t wait! Last weekend, I had a practice party with my cousin Tyler and it was so much fun. I got a cupcake with a candle and I even knew how to blow it out. Mom thought I was a little genius, but turns out that Teresa (my nanny) has been practicing with me for weeks. Isn’t she clever?! Anyway, I’ll be sure to post lots of pictures so you can share in the fun!

London Bridge

What a whirlwind my life has been lately! It's hard to keep track of all the comings and goings. And from what mom and dad say, there's still more excitement to come. Last weekend, meme and pop came to visit, but this time it was without mommy and daddy. They were in a far away city called London visiting my aunt Amy and uncle Paul...oh, and I think mom was working too. As usual, I was a good boy and hardly put up a fuss when they left. Now, this is not to be mistaken for me not missing them, 'cause I do, but meme and pop are SO much fun! We played all day long, and they took me for walks, and pop played his guitar...it was the best!

Of course, I was a great host as well...keeping them entertained with lots of new tricks. I'm getting very good at walking and can do it holding onto only one hand. I also like to use my car as a push-toy, although mommy thinks it's too dangerous because of the hard wood floors. I'm not so good at putting on the brakes so sometimes it gets a bit ahead of me and I end up on my knees. But I'm a trouper. I barely ever cry when I fall, which happens more than mom would like these days! But I'm learning my boundaries and I'm very good at obeying. It only takes one "no" for me to know mom and dad mean business. Okay, sometimes more than one, but I'm a curious boy!

I can't wait for my next adventure. This weekend, we're going to Greenfield to visit nana Vicki and papa Ed and my great-grandparents and the weekend after that is my birthday! I've never had a birthday before but it sounds like a blast. A whole day to celebrate me! We're going to have lots of people and food and cake and something called presents...I can't wait!

Mushy Man

Earlier this week my mom had to go on a business trip. I know she hates leaving me because she gets all sappy before she goes. I don't really mind since I love hugs and kisses, but truth be told, I look forward to my alone time with daddy. We always do fun things together, like going into the big city and eating lunch at fancy restaurants. This time, mom was gone during the week though, so we only had the nighttime to play.

Mommy came home on Tuesday night but it was really late and I was already sleeping. The next morning she went to work later than usual so she could wake me up. That was a nice treat, but I think she was a little disappointed by my reaction. You see, I was kind of surprised to see her, plus I had just woken up, so it took me a few minutes to get my wits about me. Since mommy seemed a little sad thatI wasn't more excited I made sure to give her plenty of love when she got home from work that night. I give real good hugs and kisses. Sure, they're a little sloppy, mostly 'cause I keep my mouth wide open, but watching people's reaction is half the fun!

Clap hands

Just got back from visiting meme and pop in the country and I had a blast! I just love entertaining the adults and boy did I keep them on their toes this weekend. Not only was I cruising around and even standing on my own (okay, only for a couple of seconds, but it still counts!), but I also learned to clap my hands. What a fun trick!

For months mom and dad (mostly mom) have been trying to "help" me clap my hands together, but I'm not a huge fan of people grabbing my arms -never have been. I usually pull them back and get kind of annoyed...if only I had known what I was missing! Clapping is so much fun. I'm still not sure exactly what activity warrants clapping, but it doesn't really matter. I'm happy clapping to music, or with mom and dad, or just to amuse myself. I've come to realize that clapping makes any occasion more fun!

A note from mom...

You probably won't read many mommy postings on this blog, but I have, for as long as I can remember, used writing as an emotional outlet...a way of rationalizing my thoughts. And today is one of those days.

Every once in awhile the stars align and I am actually home late enough in the morning to wake Ryan and get him ready for the day. This "responsibility" (otherwise known as the absolute best job in the world) typically falls to Craig since I leave for work so early. This makes me wonder if Ryan thinks I only exist during the evening hours, but such is the plight of the working mom.

I have, however, noticed that there's one downside to being the last one out the door in the morning. It means that you actually have to go through the heartache of saying goodbye to the little man. Definitely not fun. I am comforted knowing that he's in good hands during the day, but that doesn't make leaving any easier...especially now that he's more aware of his surroundings.

We're lucky that he's a pretty easy going guy. Other than looking a little forelorn he really takes our leaving in stride. We've never experienced a tantrum or even a tear, a bittersweet actualization in itself.

There is, of course, a silver lining to this story. Each night, when I return home, I'm greeted with a smile that immediately melts away the tensions of the day reminds me that I am loved in a way that only a mommy can be.

Picky Eater

When I first started eating solids I was so excited. Of course mom waited the obligatory six months before introducing me to anything that didn't come from a bottle. Needless to say, I was more than ready to dive into that bowl of oatmeal when it finally came my way. Sure, I made a couple of choice faces...especially when mom would sneak in a new food, but eventually I came to like just about anything. Well, except the pasta dinner from Earth's Best, but can you blame me? Who eats purred pasta from jar?!

Over the past few months I've continued to expand my palate to the point of almost being done with baby food. Most evenings I get to eat the same things as mom and dad, which is pretty cool. There's only one problem...somewhere along the way old standards, like sweet potatoes and carrots, have been replaced by foods that are downright offensive (think broccoli and mushrooms). I went from eating veggies that tasted like dessert to ones that taste as bad as they smell...and don't get me started on the texture!

Since I can't talk yet, I've devised a way to express my disapproval for these new foods that's hard to ignore. First, I manage to stomach a few bites to show that I'm really trying. Then, with a quick flick of the wrist, I send everything to the floor. That usually signals the end of the meal, but that's okay because another one is almost always right around the corner.

Lions and tigers and bears...oh my!

Okay, maybe not lions, but definitely tigers and bears. Last weekend, mom and dad took me to the zoo in Bridgeport They were feeling kind of bad since they left me with a sitter on Saturday night so they decided to make Sunday a day just for me! Little did they know that I actually had a good time with Miss Jackie. She took me for a walk and we played with my toys, then I had dinner and went to bed...all-in-all, not a bad night. Of course, it was nice having mom and dad all to myself the next day.

One thing you have to understand about this zoo is that it doesn't have some of the big animals that you find in other zoos. Mostly, I got to see things like lamas and monkeys, but I didn't care, they were still really neat. At first, I didn't really know what I was looking at because the animals were kind of far away and I was stuck in my stroller. But then mom took me for a close up look at the prairie dogs. They let you climb up this tube thing that puts you right in the middle of the action!

Later, we saw some bison in a field. They were moving pretty slow but that was ok 'cause it made them easier to see. I even pointed them out to mommy. I'm really good at pointing these days...at everything from animals, to fans, to cars. It's a good thing mommy and daddy have me around, otherwise they might miss seeing some pretty cool things.

Vitals

Monday was my 9-month check up. Apparently I'm not suppose to be a fan of the doctor but I don't know what all the fuss is about. I get to spend time with mom on a work day (and this time with dad too!), plus the waiting room has an aquarium! I love to watch the little fishes swimming around, although I don't think they appreciate me banging on the glass.

According to the doctor, I'm right on track. He even told mom to ignore the "big boy" comments since I'm not exactly off the charts. I weighed in at 20 lbs 12 ozs, which is the 75th percentile for my age. I think my parents were expecting me to weigh more since they were all worried about my old car seat being too small. But my height is a different story. The nurse measured me at 29.5 inches, but the doctor said I'd look like a piece of spaghetti if that were the case. We never did get the right number. I guess we'll have to wait until next time.

The end of the visit is always the worst because that's when the lady with the shots comes in. The past couple of times have been pretty bad since I've had to get anywhere between 2-4 shots per visit, but this one was much better 'cause I only had one. It was so quick I didn't even have a chance to cry. I gave a good show by crumpling up my face and sticking out my lip in protest, but I figured I'd spare mom the heartache of shedding actual tears. Besides, I'm a tough guy these days!

Rub-a-dub

From the look of this picture you'd think I wasn't a fan of the bath, but the truth is I've always loved the water. When I was really little, my mom and dad would give me a bath at night to help me sleep.

I've come a long way since then. Now, it's less about relaxing and more about play time! I have all sorts of fun toys, like my sesame street island and elmo submarine. There's nothing I liked more than soaking in a bubbly tub and then being wrapped up in a big cozy towel. And my daddy gives the best baby massage with yummy smelling lotion. It's perfect way to end the day.

p.s. - I've since graduated from the infant tub. Mom and dad thought my bum was too precious to put in the big people's tub, but they realized it was time when the old tub got so cramped that I couldn't straighten my legs anymore.

Little Big Man

For as long as I can remember people have called me little man. My meme and pop even bought me a sweatshirt with that nickname on the front. I'm not sure how the whole thing got started because I was pretty big when I was born. Apparently I skipped right over the newborn stage. What's even funnier is that every time mom and I run into new people in the grocery store or on the street they use words like "solid" and "bruiser" to describe me. That's okay though, because no matter how big I get, I know there will always be a little man inside.

My new favorite snack

A couple of weeks ago, while on vacation in Canada, my Auntie Christine introduced me to a new kind of snack...Goldfish! Before, I was only allowed to have these puff things that were pretty bland and tasteless because Mommy was afraid that I would choke on anything that didn't dissolve on contact with my mouth. She's getting better, but now she's worried that she's feeding me too much junk. Lucky for me, Goldfish come in whole grain! All the cheesy goodness of the regular kind with the added bonus of making mom feel like she's giving me something nutritious. Boy, those Goldfish people are smart.

Anyway, when I first tried Goldfish I didn't really know how to chew, but last night I finally figured out how to mash up the little fishies using my four new teeth. It felt really weird so I was making all sorts of faces, which mom and dad apparently found hilarious because they were laughing the whole time. I'm glad they find me so amusing. Oh well, I'm happy to provide the entertainment as long as they keep the Goldfish coming!

Welcome to my world

Hi! Thanks for visiting. My mom and dad created this blog so I can tell you about all the fun things I've been doing. I'm changing so fast they can barely keep up with me. In the past two weeks alone, I've learned to crawl and wave bye bye. I've kind of been doing both for awhile but it takes adults awhile to catch on. And boy was daddy surprised when he came into my room this morning to find me standing in my crib! I just love keeping them on their toes.

Yesterday was my Baptism at St. Luke's Parish. I was such a good boy. Mommy and daddy were worried because lately I've been practicing my bird calls (I do a mean Pterodactyl!) but I barely made a peep. Except when we went to the front but that's only 'cause there was a little boy in the first pew who was talking to me. I love getting attention from the big kids so I couldn't help but talk back. Reverend Anderson performed my baptism. That was special because he also married my mom and dad.

After the service we had a big party. Daddy cooked all sorts of yummy food and I LOVE to eat. I tried tortellini and asparagus and some cucumber and then I had peaches for dessert. Boy was I stuffed. In the afternoon I opened presents! I got so many nice things...clothes and toys and a really cool airplane piggy bank. I'm lucky to have so many friends and family who love me.