Sunday, November 4, 2007

What happened to October?

No posts the entire month of October? How did that happen? *scratch head*

Well, it might have a little to do with the visitors we had. Uncle Rick and his girlfriend Carrie came for a visit. They played with me lots - kind of tuckered me out some days. And one night they sent Mama and Dada on a date while they stayed home and played with me and that was fun. When it came time to go to bed, though, I wanted Mama and milkies and I made sure to let them know. They went away for a couple of days after that; I hope they weren't upset by my demands! I like their sense of fun, though. And they like me, too. See?


Dada does better at putting me to sleep, esp. when we watch football together...


Then again, maybe the lack of posts has something to do with this new hobby Mama started? I'd like it a lot better if she'd let me play with the sticks and string, too, but she mostly keeps them away from me. She has taken things off the sticks once in a while and given them to me. They are nubby and feel interesting when I put them in my mouth, but Mama says they belong on my head and around my neck. They are warm, but I'm not sure I like them there.


See how much I like thing in my mouth? It's because I'm getting these sharp things in my mouth. I only have one so far, and it's still really little, but I can feel more trying to poke through, and it hurts...sometimes it hurts bad enough that I try to shake the pain away, but that doesn't work. The little white tablets Mama gives me make me feel a little better. (Mama's note: These are Hyland's teething tablets, a homeopathic remedy.)
And just a few days ago, Mama put me in this weird suit. I tried to like it, really I did, but what was that thing on my head?? I did smile at first...

So, I guess that was October. Mama says we are getting on a plane soon to go visit some people called "cousins." I hope they are nice.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Friends and laughter

Chase is getting more "interactive" with his friends lately. A couple of weeks ago, when Grandpa T was visiting, our friend Rebekah stopped by with her daughter, Zel. Zel is a couple of weeks older than Chase, and has an older brother. She is mobile - crawling and pulling up on things, while Chase is still only going in circles and sometimes scooting backwards. He had enough momentum, though, to grab and "kiss" her, as seen in this video.




He gave Liam and Kiran (other baby-friends) much the same treatment when we saw them yesterday. It's so fun to see him interacting with other people; before he'd seemed pretty content to look at them and smile, but now he wants to touch.

Chase also finds weird things funny, like waving blankets and bouncing cloth blocks (again, see video). His favorite, though, are his dad's funny voices. James makes a stuffed giraffe "talk," uses different voices when he reads Chase stories, and sometimes just talks weird. This makes mama smile, too.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

New Talents

It is the nature of babies that every day they discover something new, a talent or ability they lacked only the day before - the ability to grasp a small object, or communicate a need, or assert their will.

Chase has lately been playing with his voice. He's done this for a while, actually, and usually it's cute and entertaining. But lately it's become, um, MORE. OK, he's been shrieking. Loudly. Loudly enough to echo off the ceiling! He can get into some high ranges now, and he seems to delight in seeing how loud and how high he can go. It's only truly annoying when Mama and Dada haven't had their coffee yet.

At least he takes his fingers out of his mouth to do it.

He's also started making the quintessential baby gesture - raising his arms to be picked up. It is very cute. I like how it makes it really clear when he's done with something like playing on the floor or sitting in the high chair. Luckily, he never seems to be done with mama's arms or mama kisses.

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Chase Plays Piano

Chase and Daddy had a lovely duet on the piano the other day. Mama captured it on camera.


Friday, August 31, 2007

Making friends

When I was pregnant, I managed to hook up with a great group of local mamas. They have kids of all ages, but there happened to be a baby boom around the time of Chase's birth, with 10 (or maybe more) babies born within a month either side of his birth. Because of that, he's going to (hopefully) have a lot of friends to play with when he gets to the point of wanting to play around and then with other kids. In the meantime, I take him to "playgroups" mostly for me to spend time with other mamas. It can be tough trying to entertain a baby all day, and this week was especially hard since James went back to work.

Monday, we went to Urban Grind and hung out with the adorable Zel and her übercool mama, Rebekah. The mamas talked about jobs and writing and family while the babies tried to steal each other's toys and showed off their new sitting abilities.

Tuesday, we had a Mamilates class (pilates for new moms & their babes) at Zenana Spa, where we saw Liam and his mama, Savannah. Liam is SO strong! He can "fly" on his tummy for a really long time. And Chase covets his cool wooden rattle. After class, I put Chase in the Ergo carrier and we walked up to Mother Nature's so I could buy some new bumGenius diapers. Chase has outgrown his small FuzziBunz and we needed to replace them with something that fit. He fell asleep on the way back to the car, so I had time to buy some groceries, have a sandwich at the coffeeshop and even do part of the crossword before he woke up and we went home.

Wednesday, it was HOT. And not just for Portland. It got up to 94(f). Chase and I met up with a large group of mamas at Grant Park and sat in the shade. Some of the kids and even some of the mamas cooled off in the fountain. It was a nice respite. We sat next to Gracie and her mama, Summer. It was while we were measuring Chase against Gracie that the girl made her move. She hung onto Chase and didn't want to let go! He did try to slobber on her as well, but she really had the upper hand. Luckily another mama was there with her cell phone to make sure the moment was forever captured.

I wonder how many more pictures I'll have in years to come of Chase hugging a pretty girl?

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

...and then Mama kissed me!


Today, I woke up snug and warm between Mama and Daddy. They were still sleeping, so I sucked on my fingers and played with and talked to my toes. I rolled over and patted Daddy on the cheek, just so he'd know I was awake. He smiled. I rolled the other way to do the same as Mama, but she was already smiling at me. I patted her cheek anyway, and she snuggled up to me, patted my back, tickled my cheek with her nose and then Mama kissed me.

Today, she gathered me up and took me into my room. She changed my diaper, said the Snap Rap* and kissed me.

Today, we had milkies in the glider chair. When we had finished, Daddy was there, fresh and clean from the shower. He gathered me up and hugged me. Mama stretched, told Daddy he smelled nice while she hugged us both, and then Mama kissed me.

Today, Daddy played with me before going to work. We cuddled on the floor and he held up Giraffe for me to chew on. He changed my diaper, and tickled my tummy, and then Daddy kissed me. Soon he had to leave, and I was alone with Mama and the doggy.

Today, Mama and I went to exercise class. I got to play with Liam while his mama and mine stretched all their muscles and waggled their toes above us. Sometimes Mama held me while she moved around, and for a while she was above me on her hands. She dipped down over and over again, and each time she did, Mama kissed me.

Today, we went shopping at the grocery store. I like shopping; Mama carries me in a pouch and I can see all the neat packages and different colors and even all the people who are also shopping.

Today, the clerk smiled at me and at Mama and told Mama how cute I am. I smiled and ducked my head when the clerk smiled back and then Mama kissed me.

Today, Mama and I took a nap together. And then we played on the floor. Mama put me on my tummy and I showed her what I've been working on. First, I worked my way around to my left until I was facing a bit away from Mama. Then, I pushed and pushed with my arms until I moved backwards all the way off the mat. This scared me a little; I'd never gone that far before. I cried, but only until Mama picked me up and cuddled me. I pulled her hair and put my nose in her neck, and then Mama kissed me.

Today, Daddy brought a drum home from work. He sat on the floor with me and showed me how to bang my hand on the top. I could do this already on the table, but it makes a better noise when I do it on the drum. Then he let me lie on my back, stretch my shoulders off the mat and make loud noises with my mouth. I think this is my favorite thing, aside from sucking my fingers.

Today, Mama gave me my own spoon while she and Daddy ate dinner. I played with it, banged in on the table, and even got it in my mouth a couple of times. I think I got it wrong at first, though, because Mama took it from me and then gave it back the other way 'round. She laughed when I got my cheek instead of my mouth. Daddy laughed, too, and then Mama kissed me.

Today, Mama rubbed me with oil and gave me a clean diaper and changed me into my pajamas. She read me a book, then I cuddled in Mama's arms while I had milkies and she rocked me, back and forth, and I fell into a deep sleep. She carried me gently into the other room and put me to bed. I rolled to my side, and she covered me with a cozy blanket.

And then Mama kissed me.


*The Snap Rap is a little patter Daddy made up to calm me down at the end of diaper changes, while he does up my Onsie. It goes like this: "Are you ready for snaps? (high voice)Snap One! (low voice)Snap! Snap Two! Snap! Snap Three! Snap! (high voice) Snaps all done!"