Discovering Baldness

You don't often think about all of the small things your child has yet to experience but sometimes it just captures a moment. Just last week Jason came down to pick up his family, he was laying on the floor playing with Chase. Then I see Chase reach his hand out to touch Jason's bald head but pull it back not knowing whether they are close enough for such an intimate moment. This is when I realize Chase has never seen a bald head. Everyone he knows has hair, and hair he likes to comb or pull, so he very aware that hair belongs on your head. After some coaching my sister and I were able to convince Chase that it was OK to touch Uncle Jason's head but he still wasn't sure what the deal was. He mostly wanted to slap it. So many firsts!

Well, summer has arrived. The park has started their sprinklers so we have been taking advantage of the opportunity to cool down. Chase loves the water and he loves trying to steal and dump other kids' buckets of water. He has his own bucket but I think he likes getting the other kid's attention and he knows this works pretty well.

We are still struggling with the upper molars. I need these molars to come in so I can get a few hours of rest. Poor thing has been a bit out of sorts this week.

Photo Shoot

We just went to have some pictures done, thought I would share the photos. I decided to do some Mommy ones for Father's Day, too. It worked out because Chase was a little intimidated by the guy taking the photos and wanted me near by. He would smile until I crossed the invisible danger line and then would immediately drop into the "I'm about to cry" face.

Traveling Buddies

My Dad wasn't comfortable letting Chase and I drive home alone so he insisted on my sister (and the kids) riding back with us. So Chase has spent the week playing with his cousins. Although they are teens, Kalli and Luke love playing with Chase and are a huge help. We went to the Central Park Zoo and had a wonderful day. The zoo was perfect for entertaining all of us.

I spent the week taking notes on teenagers :( Wow- what a handful. At least I have the benefit of following my sister so I can learn from her.

Chase has really gotten into kissing. It is so cute- he opens his mouth and makes a whaa sound. He gives Kalli and Luke the most kisses by far, although Mommy comes in 3rd. Sometimes if you have told him "No" he will start kissing you like a mad man, or biting it depends on his strategy- love or hurt- in order to get his way.

Fun with Gram and Pop

Well after a much needed week of rest and relaxation, we have returned home. Thankfully my family was free enough to take over Chase's entertainment and supervision needs while I took a break from the demands of a super active one year old. We had a great time! Chase especially loved the wide open space of my parent's house. He would just run laps around the downstairs (it is quite different than our house). He really loves playing hide and seek right now. My mom was sending him into laughing fits hiding around the kitchen island.

Chase is becoming quite a little boy. He is into absolutely everything. He is so curious about his surroundings and now that he has found his legs he is tall enough to reach most everything. It has become a challenge to play keep away. He is doing so good with walking. He rarely falls and mostly now it is on his bum (although he still sometimes cries like it really hurt- Ryan thinks it is because I baby him too much). He even slept through the night for 3 nights in a row while we were upstate. I thought it would be great but I was up checking on him off and on all night and once I realized he might actually sleep through the night I was so exited I couldn't sleep myself, so much for that. He is getting in his molars. The two bottom ones have pushed through already and the top ones are starting to come through, it looks like it really hurts. I think that is why the sleep only lasted a few nights.

Checks in the Mail

I don't want to brag but I think my son is a genius! I read that babies that wake every few hours are able to trigger brain cell development so that explains why my son is extra smart, since he has yet to "sleep through the night". Anyway, I had been sitting at the desk writing out a few bills while Chase walked around playing with a pen. I didn't even think he noticed me and what I was doing was certainly less than exciting. No sooner had I slid the checkbook into its cubby under the desk when Chase scooted behind me and grabbed the checkbook. He headed straight over to the coffee table to make out some bills of his own. I couldn't resist taking some pictures of him writing his first checks. Who knew he was watching so intently?

Anyway, we are doing fine. I had gotten a bit sick so my mother made an emergency trip to care for Chase and help me recover from a nasty cold. Chase and I travelled back upstate with her to spend a few days in the country. My dad even hung Kalli and Luke's old tree swing for Chase to use this summer. We have been trying to do some "grass therapy" with Chase- he is a bit scared of being outdoors so little by little we are working it out.

Ouchy!

You knew it was coming...the first big booboo. Don't get me wrong, we have had a few tumbles but this injury takes the cake. The day started off so sweet, we were all snuggling in bed. It is our routine to wake up and giggle together before we wiggle out of bed. I had swung around on one side to put my pajama pants on and Ryan was on the other playing with Chase. Apparently, Chase reached to get his binkie off the night table and slipped catching his eye on the edge of the table. Poor Chase :( and poor Ryan! He takes it pretty hard when things happen under his watch. Chase recovered much faster than Daddy did! I was teasing that I would write on the blog about how mean the kids at the playground can be...and if you think Chase's injury is bad you should see the other kid! The truth is much more ordinary- kid fell, bumped head.

Other than that we are doing great. Chase had his one year check up and all is well. To our surprise he is a bit underweight (he was pretty pudgy for a while). Since he has started walking not only is he super active but also has had a hard time slowing down long enough to eat. I have resorted to sitting on the kitchen floor and feeding him while he runs laps around me.

Figgy Fun

Wow, my life has changed so much! Many mothers have told me, "enjoy the time before they start walking because once they are fully mobile you spend all day chasing them around." This maybe true for them but it has not been the case with us. When Chase was crawling he often wanted me to carry him from room to room and hold him so he could be involved in what I was doing. Toward the end I has holding him sooo much!

Now that he is walking it is like a whole new world. Chase follows me all around the house and since he is tall enough to explore things on his own he is perfectly happy just checking out his surrounds. Finally, my arms and shoulders have stopped aching!

The downside is that his hands go everywhere. The other day he had squished a Fig Newton piece into his hand and then began walking around wiping it on the kitchen cabinets and chairs. Chase also loves carrying things around, so of course I find sippy cup lids under the dishwasher, shoes in the fridge, spices in the baby cupboard, and the list goes on. After I put him to bed I go around trying to sort the house and get everything back to its proper place. We have been having so much fun, I absolutely love this stage!