Friday, December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve Wish from Chase


Chase would like to write a New Years wish to you all.  He has become quite computer savvy:

chasetyhhhhhhgyhhgyygtggvghhghfhhytuhggfttyttttggyyyttgggfggfcgggvgvvvvcvgnn bb b bvffgfgfg                       bbbbbbbbhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggmuhhgbhgjbnjhgvggfdcfgfvggrrfrrtffgftfftygtfrft5rftrftftyffyyyyryf
uhhhggfgfggffgffgdfdfgfgfdfgfgvghfgvvgfcgvgvcccvgvfgcvgxccgccgvvgfftfyggffvgffyghhgffgvhgggfhyg 
1234567890wweertyuujjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

chvhbnbbhbbbjhhbjhhbhbbhbbgggggvgvvghbhbbb  bbbvbbjhbhhbjbhjbnjhbjbnhbjbjuhhyhyyyyhuhyhhhhyhghuyhhyhyyyyyyyhyhgyhyuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhbbbbbn mn mn   nmnjknnmnjjnmjjkjijinjkjkbnhjuhujkjhjhjkjhjhjhhhjhjhjkhjhjhjjhjjhjhjhkhhhhjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj
vghvgvggghvghggggggvgvghgfhhvgghvggbhgbhvgbhbhbbnbbbnnbnbnbnbmbbbbnbbbnbnnbnbnbnnbbnb
vgvghvghgvghvghnbbbghbgghbjhbjbhjbjhhbnbhbhjbbhbhbbhhbhjbhbhhbhbhjbhhhbhhbhbhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

nknknjnjnkjjjknmjknjknjikijijijiujijuijiujijjiuuuuijkjjiujiukjjiuijjkjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj











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hjhbhjnhbhjbhjbjhbhjb  hhhjbhbhhhhhhhhhhhhhbbhnbhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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nnlknnjknnjjjhnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnnnmnnnnnnnnnnnn
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chase

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Merry Christmas!

We had a very nice Christmas morning. Here are a few highlights. Sorry the pictures aren't better. Because it was DARK outside (ha ha), I had no natural light to work with!

Chase got the very specific space ship he wanted from Santa (though he did ask where the wheels were and we had to explain Santa isn't perfect!):


He also got a bike from Daddy and me...


...which he had to ride around the house after we were done opening presents:


Chloe had a good Christmas, too:


Chase had to demonstrate for her how her toys worked. This gift is from Chase, which I think he picked because HE likes it so much:


We hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! Have a wonderful New Year!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Santa is Coming!

Chase wrote his first letter to Santa a couple weeks ago, with my help (I wrote exactly what he told me to write):


Now, let's be clear about the spaceship he wants. He wants a space ship "that's big, but not heavy, has wheels and a square button that lights up and makes noises and flies." He was very specific. I hope Santa got him exactly what he wanted!

He also requested that Santa get Chloe a teddy bear.  How sweet is that?

Have a very Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Cookies for Santa

Today Chase and I made cookies for Santa.  Mom, you will be so proud of me....  I did not use the pre-made Pillsbury cookie dough this time!

I got a mix.


OK, OK, I know it is not the same as your homemade cookies, but I did have to mix in an egg, butter and a tablespoon of flour, and then I had to stir it.  So it was closer to the "real deal" than last time!

And I even took frosting a step further this time.  I still used a can (like last time - part 2)...


...but I added food coloring to spice things up a bit!  That also required stirring.  Phew!  What a workout!

Anyway, here are our masterpieces:


He picked out two for Santa and I guess he and I will be picking at the rest of them over the next day or so. Great. And I just got back into my pre-pregnancy pants!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Oh, the DRAMA of Shots!

Chase had his 4-year checkup at the doctor's yesterday.  We talked to him about it before the appointment, to prep him for the four shots he was going to have.  Chase did great with the prep and he loved the doctor and was having a great time in the doctor's office.  They came in to give him the shots and he was very cool about it. 

"Is it time for my shots?  OK!" 

He laid down and I asked if I could hold his hand (translation: hold his hands down) and he said OK.  After the first shot his expression changed and he said in a very meek voice, "Mommy, I don't want to do that again."  From that point he went downhill pretty quickly, but it was over with fast and we made a big deal of it.

"You're all done!  Good job!  What a big boy!  Let's get some ice cream!  Woo hoo!"

He would not stop crying.  The aftermath was so much worse than the actual shots.  You would have thought the boy was scarred for life.  We finally got him to calm down and start walking out.  Omigod....

The boy walked like a penguin, creeping forward a whopping two inches with each step.  He would not move his legs.  He whimpered the whole time and then occasionally he would stop and cry again, saying "I don't want any more shots!" to which we replied (over and over again), "Chase, you're done!  There are no more shots!"  We would creep another foot and he would burst into tears again.  "The band aids are hurting me!"  It was drama, drama, drama.

So we checked out and started the very slow, treacherous walk to the car.  When we got there and opened the door for him he just stood there and stared.  He was trying to find a way to climb into the car without bending his knees, and he burst into tears again, "I can't get in the car!"  I helped him and he cried harder, "Mommy!  Don't touch me!" 

We got to the ice cream shop and the poor kid couldn't figure out how to get out.  He finally did, then penguin waddled to the curb and studied it, once again trying to figure out how to step up without bending his knees.  He attempted it.  He failed.  Tears followed.  Brian tried to hold him up in the ice cream store so he could see all the toppings.  Wailing followed.  "Daddy, don't touch me!"  He then had to climb into the chair all by himself (because every time we touched him, we hurt him, apparently)... once again without bending his knees.  *sigh*

I managed to convince him as he penguin waddled through Wal-Mart afterwards that the awesome thing about ice cream is that it's magic, and as it goes through your body it finds the shot spots and fixes them so you can go super fast again (That's kind of his thing... "I can go super fast!  Watch!") and lo and behold... the ice cream found the spots and the kid was soon running through Wal-Mart like a madman.

I always knew ice cream was magic.

Chase had many dramatic lines throughout the day that were worthy of Academy Awards, but my favorite one was this: We were playing on the floor later that night and he had to get up to get something.  He looked at me before he moved, very concerned and serious, heaved a great sigh and said, "Mommy, I hope I can stand up."

Brian almost fell over.  I said back, very seriously of course, "Me too, Chase.  Good luck."

Yes, he gets his dramatics from me.

Superhero Birthday "Party"


For Chase's birthday this year we had a small family party (just us), and then debated whether or not to throw a big "friends" party.  Chase has one good friend outside of his daycare friends, and they were going to celebrate his birthday at daycare already.  So the thought was, "Do we pay a ton of money to entertain daycare kids and parents we don't even know?"  The answer we came up with: No.  We invited that one other friend (Nathan) over to play and they had a mini birthday play date, which Chase loved.

Nathan got Chase a super cool superhero dress-up set.  It came with three superhero costumes: Spiderman, Iron Man and Wolverine.  They had tons of fun playing superheros together! Here is Chase as Wolverine:


And here he is as "Iron Wolf," the newest superhero, bred from an interesting relationship between Iron Man and Wolverine, I guess:


They found some swords and had a ball battling each other:


And then they joined forces and attacked "Daddy Man:"


In the end I'm glad we handled his party the way we did. He had a lot of fun, and it was a lot less stress for us (always a bonus)!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Conversations with a 4-Year-Old: My Little Comedian

I have taught Chase a couple of knock-knock jokes recently, which I find hilarious.  Check out the video on the previous post to hear one, if you haven't already.

So last night when I put Chase to bed he said to me, "Hey, Mommy!  What did the taco say to the burrito?"

I got so excited.  He was telling a joke!  One I didn't teach him!  Is this going to be his new thing?  Do I have a future comedian on my hands?  I couldn't wait to hear the punchline.

"I don't know, Chase.  What did the taco say to the burrito?" I asked, excitedly.

His eyes lit up and he said, "a light!"  And then he burst into hysterical laughter.

*crickets*

Yeah....  I don't get it.

Today he tried the same joke but the punchline was "a door."  Still not working for him.  But at least he's trying, right?  Ha ha!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Chloe: 5 Months

This post is almost a week late.... Sorry! Here is Chloe's 5 month photo with her "growth chart bear!"


Click here to compare it to her 4 month photo!

I seriously cannot get over how good she is.  She is always happy and content.  It blows my mind!

Today she had her first "hair cut."  I put that in quotes because I did it myself.  She had the craziest, out of control mullet going on in the back and I just had to cut it off.  I didn't touch anything except her hairline along her neck, and this is what I got:


Told you it was long!  I am so happy to have all that off her neck!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

School Pictures

We're usually not big into school pictures, but this time both kids' photos turned out great!  Enjoy!






Saturday, November 27, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Brian's sister, Jen and our nephew, Ryan came to visit for the holiday. It was so nice to see them again. Chase was completely infatuated with Ryan, to the point we didn't even recognize our son, he was so wound up and hyper!  They had fun playing the Wii together:


We went to the Army museum on Fort Hood to see tanks, helicopters and planes.  Ryan was totally into it, and Chase had fun running around:


While we were there we also got some "flying lessons!"  Check it out:




Ryan and Chase also played some one-on-one basketball in their PJ's, which was totally fun.  At first Chase did not like the fact that Ryan kept "taking his ball," but once I explained the basic principles of the game (image me, explaining basketball... ha!), he got into it:


While they were here we also got some obligitory family photos:



More photos are in our Photo Album if you're interested!  Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!  Only 28 days til Christmas!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Chloe Development Update

Chloe has grown so much.  She rolled over once a couple weeks ago from her back to her stomach, and then all of a sudden today she's constantly flipping from her stomach to her back.  She's a pro, apparently!  I put her on her tummy this morning and she rolled over about 5 times.

She is also working to move toward toys, scooting herself on her belly to try to reach them.  It's adorable to watch that back leg try to push her towards the things she wants!

I cannot believe how strong her legs are.  Maybe I just don't remember Chase's strength at this age, but she LOVES to stand up, and there are times I feel like I might just be able to let go (of course I never would)!  Today she was standing up watching Chase play with a car ramp that's about as high as her armpits, and she put her hands on it and was just standing there, leaning on it for support.  I barely touched her, framed behind her for balance.

Chloe is such a happy, easygoing baby.  She LOVES Chase.  She watches him and smiles at him constantly.  He has been getting into it a little, too.  He has been going through a jealous phase, but he really seems to enjoy entertaining her, when you bring his attention to the fact she's staring at him.

I'm at home with both of them today because we are off for Veteran's Day.  It is so nice just to hang out in our PJ's and play on the floor together.  They are amazing!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Chloe's 4 Month Stats


Chloe had her 4 month doctor's appointment today and here are her stats!

Height: 24" (26th percentile)
Weight: 15lb 2oz (68th percentile)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Trick-or-Treat!


Happy Halloween! We learned the hard way our first year down in Texas that if you carve pumpkins too early you will have to throw them away before Halloween. They just rot in the heat within a couple of days.  So now our tradition down here is to carve them the day before Halloween! That's what we did Saturday.


Chloe watched:


And now for the finished products! Here are mine and Chloe's (Chase decorated hers with stickers; She's on the bottom):


And here are Daddy's and Chase's:


Bet you can't tell whose is whose!  Ha ha!  Chase told me what he wanted and I drew and carved it for him.

When I was outside taking pictures of the pumpkins Chase decided he wanted to take pictures of them, too.  Mom and Dad, this is for you!


Chase wanted to be a pumpkin for Halloween this year. I have decided as a mom I should make the kids' Halloween costumes every year. I don't know why I feel like it's my duty as a mom to be domestic only at certain times of the year, but I do. Last year I made his ghost costume, which I was so proud of. This year I made his costume again. Now, unlike last year when I found easy instructions for his costume online, this year I had to make it up on my own. I must say I am pretty pleased with myself. My son won best costume in his class at daycare! GO, MOM!  All I used was a sweatshirt, some felt, scissors, elastic and sewing glue:


Chloe was the most beautiful spider you ever did see!


Here's the rest of her:


And here are the kids with Daddy:


We have had a lot of Halloween fun this weekend. Last night we were on our way to a Halloween party when we noticed a bunch of kids in costume running around our neighborhood. We had just assumed trick-or-treating was on Halloween but I guess we were wrong! We ended up doing a little impromptu trick-or-treating before the party last night, and then tonight we met up with Chase's friend Nathan (and my friend, his mom!) in a neighboring town to trick-or-treat again. They were ADORABLE running from house to house shouting, "Happy Halloween!"


I hope everyone had a fun, safe Halloween!  We sure did!  More photos are in our Photo Album if you're interested!

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