Is it english?

It's like an ultrasound

Cito is officially pulling himself up & standing on his own.  He has been attempting this for the past few weeks and has been pretty successful.  The first time that he pulled himself up I had him sitting in a laundry basket in the basement while I was folding clothes.  I looked over & there he was teetering.  


Do you see him standing in his crib? (upper left corner)  

Baby Gatorade

P&P.

That's been the story today.

Pampers & Pedialyte.

Calan is on a 24 hour Pedialyte only diet.

He has consumed over 1 liter of the nasty "fruit flavor" syrup today.

Mmmmm.

I hope this ends soon.

His Eyes

So far I've just had to get the basics right.  I feed him, change him, bathe him, hold him when he needs me.  That's it.  My life has continued at a pleasant pace without much change.  But I'm starting to understand, as he grows, that I am being watched.  My actions are becoming accountable.  Each choice that I make from here on out will have a consequence on his life.  He learns from me and is now able to detect even the slightest change in tone of voice.  The realization that he will soon mimic what Cody and I do is a pretty sobering thought.  He already notices our actions but soon will understand them.  He will understand the way we treat others and even our sly comments that we sometimes -inappropriately- let slip. He will be aware of the way we interact with our family and how we treat our pets.  He will understand how we treat our possessions and if we decide to fix things or toss them out and buy more.  He will understand the music that we listen to and the television shows that we watch.  He will be aware of how we handle our money and what we choose to spend it on.  He will see how we choose to treat the earth and the decisions that we make sometimes out of pure laziness.  He will see and understand if we choose to open our bible or just use it as a paperweight.  He will eat what we allow and play with what we provide.  He will know the love that Cody and I share.  These memories are forming his childhood and we are in charge.  These moments -from here on out- are our responsibility.  And I am grateful for this responsibility.  

ZzZzzZZZzzzz

Look what I came home to this morning.

Sunday

We ditched all plans yesterday evening and dusted off our bikes for the first time in a year.  We filled tires, cleaned breaks, wiped down all of the dusty metal until it shined.  Cody installed Cito's first bike seat and we were off.  The bike path next to our house has been extended with new bridges and all, so we were able to do one large loop around the park and over the river twice.

As you may have guessed...

the inevitable has happened.  Exactly a week ago today we got pedicures from Hilary & Z.  I chose more of an easter egg look while Calan went with a bold color choice with lime green & yellow.  I mean really, can I be trusted alone with him all day every day & not have him participate in my likes too?  We watch Your Baby Can Read, play with rattles, swing in the johnny-jump-up... believe me the list goes on...  


Monday we took Cito to the pediatrician for a runny nose & of course we had to strip him down to his diaper. I thought that it was funny but I could feel the tension as Cody looked on.  He kept saying, "I knew this would happen!"  Well ~duh~ Dr. Davis can't look at our baby when he's fully dressed.  She laughed & said that she has seen a lot crazier than some polish. :)

Tuesdays with Ali

Still Celebrating

Papa Bob took us all out to lunch on Saturday.  We ate steak while Calan chewed on a biter biscuit.  

Papa helped Calan drink from a straw.

& Cody had to "ride" a saddled sawhorse while the wait staff tried to embarrass him with some cheesy birthday song.

Like Father...

...Like Son.

28 Today!

Cody's Birthday is TODAY!


He took Monday off of work so that we could go to Chicago & spend the day.  We went to IKEA & Cito had a blast.  He was told by so many that he was "beautiful," "happy," & could be a "movie star!"  (we totally agree)


I almost came home with only memories but right before we left I saw some picture shelves that I had to have.  It's so not my fault that I can't stop taking pictures of Calan & there would be no better place than new pictures shelves to display them -at least that's what I told Cody.


Calan would have come home with a light fixture that was larger than he was but since he only contributes love to our family he had no way to afford it.

Calan, Owen & Ella

7 months old TODAY!

This little piggy...

...went to market.
This little piggy went into my mouth with the rest of  the pigs.

Can You Trust this FACE?

Apparently I don't learn lessons well. 
I leave Calan alone for a few minutes with a magazine I'm reading & come back to find him tearing out articles.  Not ones that I have even read yet.  

Tongue Twisters

Last night at about 1am Calan sat on our bed with his tongue out for many minutes.


We have no idea what he was doing or why he was doing it.


Babies. 

update your style

 This morning I had an appointment for an eye exam.
Cody & Calan did some man-shopping then joined me afterwards.
It's funny how drastic a change that a pair of spectacles can have.
So, what do you think - 
are they him?

Nutcracker

The tryouts will soon be coming to town, with Christmas right around the corner, & practice here is in full swing.


I'm turning into a "stage mom."
Demanding he practice a few times a day.
Encouraging extravagant arm movements and foot work.
Making him start over every time he is a little off rhythm. 
He must be the best if he wants to contribute to this family.

Euchre & Pugs

We spent Saturday evening -until Sunday morning- at the McFarland's.


Calan watched us play euchre, eat brownies & win (they have yet to beat us).


He played with pugs, Cody dropped him on his face *seriously* & he slept in the arms of a stranger.


I have to say, he is a go with the flow kind of kid.

Sweet & Sour

Snack time consisted of oranges & cantaloupe. We probably should have started with the oranges because the shock of sour after sweet crinkled his entire face.

Out & About

We got to go out to lunch this week.

Natalie gave us a $10 off coupon while we were on vacation with her & it was about to expire.

Thanks Nat!

sweet cit

*SURPRISE*

Last night was Karen's 40th surprise birthday party.

We played games.

We ate cake.

We met a brand new baby.

We just spent time with people we love.

My Baby Can't Read

but...

Cody brought home the complete DVD series of Your Baby Can READ that he got from a guy at work.  Sounds like guy talk at work isn't as crude as I had once thought it to be.
On the intro DVD it says to watch each DVD twice a day for 4-6 weeks or until your baby is understanding what the words are saying.  As of Monday we started showing it to Calan even though he is unable to even make sounds that sounds like words yet.  He's advanced for his age- like I've always said.  With any luck he'll be reading by 8 months or so. He is really into watching them.  I have been playing the 1st DVD on my laptop & he just sits on my lap & we watch it together.  Some of the pictures make him excited & when they said "toes" he grabbed his feet (a total coincidence I know, but I was super excited!).  So our days are already filling up with educational activities & at this rate he'll be able to skip kindergarden. :)

Plaid for '10-'11

This past weekend we went to Goshen to get Cito some summer clothes (craigslist).


I have never in my life seen so many miniature plaid shorts! Not even Old Navy or the Gap has as many plaid shorts as these people used to. :) We literally have enough for Calan to wear a pair a day for a month this summer & next (some are 18 months +).


So when you see him scooting around this summer in the same pair of shorts every day & think that I should do some laundry - just know that the chances are likely that he will grow out of his plaid shorts before he even gets the chance to wear them all even once!

Love is in the air

We spent Valentine's Day loving each other!
We watched a MOVIE.
We ate CHINESE take-out.
We ate CHOCOLATE.
And we LOVED every minute that we got
to spend together.

just because...

...he's so beautiful.

It's Chili out

Today is actually a beautiful day.  The sun is out & we went out for lunch at Chili's.  Calan kept making dust out of the chips & Ali joined us. She thought Cody should teach Calan to drink from a straw.  Of course, he should start drinking from a straw ~ he is 6 1/2 months now.

We missed the MEMO

More often than not people tell us to enjoy this age because once he starts walking he is into everything & once he starts talking he never stops.


Isn't that the point of having children?
Did we miss this memo?


It's like people that get a dog & then are irritated that it barks & digs.



We will continue to encourage Cito to be mobile and babble in hopes that one day we will get to chase him around & finally get to communicate with him in english.