Things That Happened This Week....

Tummy time turned nap time....

Awake for Stephine & Erin! Trying to get a smile shot...

Breakfast with Grandpa

Bath time - he loves it!

Swing time is finally getting to be a little more fun.

Bella wants to know why Chase won't play!

This is the overpriced contraption designed to help him sleep...let's hope so or I'll just have another item for my future baby garage sale!

Life in the world of Chase has definitely had a breakthrough this week....HIS FIRST SMILE!!!! I so wish I could get it on camera, but it is a little hard to catch. We now have official smiles in both the morning and evening - times when he is most awake. His first smile came about without true recognition. On Thursday when we were having our morning talk and kiss time (an every morning ritual for us, I like to discuss our very important day ahead with him and ask him how many kisses he would like on that particular morning, and then I make up a number that I think he would like and smother him)...on about kiss number 8, I got a smirk out of him...a real live smirk that felt like more than a gassy little smile. There was something else to it, and it was an amazing feeling. But, I still could not be 100% SURE that it was a smile and not just the usual gas....those gassy smiles can be tricky!!! Anyway, on Saturday, Mike was trying to recreate the moment and...like magic...that sweet little smirky smile came out. Mike had the best way of recognizing that it was indeed a smile and not just gas - he said that you can "see it in his eyes." SO true - Chase's eyes really do light up when he is smiling and it just melts my heart (and of course Mike's too :)). Grandpa and Granny got to see the smiles last night too - he was happy as a clam and let us know it! It is such an amazing thing to know that the little guy is finally recognizing that there is a world around him and he can show his emotions through smiling!!!!

Other things that came about this week:

1. Chase got his first nail clipping (without tears or bleeding!)

2. He can now fit into some of his 3-6 month clothes, a good thing since his tiny little body is already too long for most of his 0-3 month clothes

3. He has already developed a liking for music in the car (Coldplay is his FAV!)

4. Dr. Carrie diagnosed Chase with reflux, same thing that us adults take ant-acids for, but much more painful in little ones.

5. He is still having a hell of a time sleeping on his back...new contraption for sleeping is pictured above, my fingers are crossed that it works).

Thanksgiving & Such

Baby's 1st Thanksgiving....and mommy's first beer - hurray for pump and dump!

Grandma Iris

First time meeting Lauren's new b/f - Chase liked him!

Kisses for Chase

The frog's are coming!

Can you lay off the flash?!

Sweet Baby - LOVE this shot!

Who knew being stuffed in a box could be such fun!

Six months ago you could not have paid me to take a "posed" Christmas picture!

I LOVE DECEMBER!!!!! The temperature has finally dropped in Las Vegas, the Christmas tree is up, we have the best Christmas present ever (Chase, of course) and life is good! This week was a busy week with Thanksgiving and Chase's first photo shoot. It was a lot of fun as we were able to finally get Chase out of the house (and mommy too!). One quick note about the "holiday" photos - I walked into the photo shop with the intention of doing naked baby newborn pics ONLY. I was SO not into the Christmas pictures...but, as you can see above , I had a change of heart. Babies can do that to you - I sure did end up taking not only Christmas pics of Chase, but one of the whole family too! Oh, well, my too cool for Christmas photos plan has been changed! I STILL LOVE DECEMBER!

O

Four Weeks Tomorrow!

Moving on up...to my crib

Cooking made easy - I love my Bjorn! Snuggle time with Aunt Nicole!

Oh my gosh, how can Chase be four weeks old already? A WHOLE MONTH OLD!!! Unbelievable how fast time flies. We have seen such a change in him over the past week. it is clear that he is recognizing us now and is much more interested in the world around him. It is just a little glimpse for us of the fun that is in store....while I want him to stay little forever, I am so excited to see who he becomes and get a chance to take in his little personality. In order to celebrate his four week birthday, I went to Babies R Us for a new floor toy. Video above is his experience - he doesn't quite know what to do with it but he definitely knows it is there!

We also got a chance to take him out for his first real world experience on Sunday. He went to breakfast with the fam, and although his car seat was covered up the whole time so as to avoid any germs, I am quite sure he had a blast :)

Finally, I think that it is time for Chase to go into his big boy crib. He just does not want to sleep in his bassinet and I put him in his crib for a nap today and like magic, he slept like a baby (no pun intended :)). So, while I am sad to see him leave our room, I think it is best for him (and my sanity) that he goes to his room where he will get some much needed rest. We will try it tonight to see how it goes...

xoxo

3 Weeks And Counting!

Mommy's learning how to post video!

My fav spot...

By the time I can go outside, my wingman outfit won't fit...darn! :)

Rooting for the Rebs from home! Silly boy, calling his broker.... he still hasn't learned how easy ETrade is!

Aunt Sam giving Chase some love!

And so are Auntie's Lauren & Shane!

Today I woke up and thought to myself that Chase felt a little heavier than normal. Now, I know I have been complaining about his constipation, but by looking at his chubby little cheeks, I thought that his heaviness may actually be a result of him eating....A LOT. Seriously, the kid eats for almost an hour at a time, every three hours (except the one break I get at night when he holds out for 4 hours - sleep time for me)! Just feeding him is a job in and of itself! So, to the scale we went and wouldn't you know, he weighs almost 8 whole pounds! Yup, 7 lbs, 13 ounces. And to think that only three weeks ago he had dropped down to 5 lbs 11 ounces. Our little guy would still not be classified as a big baby, but I am so proud of him for how fast he is growing!

As for his constipation, today we seem to have a break through - I think he is finally figurings out how to...um....get it out. We have had quite a few big ones today - maybe I should go weigh him again!

OK, as for the last paragraph, who knew I would be so excited about Chase's poo, but I'm telling you, that as a mom, these things really do excite you. Oh god, may I be a warning to all of those without kids yet - you get excited about REALLY WEIRD STUFF after you have a child!

This week was fairly uneventful...we are still stuck inside the house for the most part. Dr. Carrie wants us to wait until he is a little over a month before he can go out. But, we are having fun taking Rigley on walks and hanging out with family. Rigley is still super with him, she is very cautious around him and although she still tries to sneak a lick in, she pretty much leaves him alone.

Well, until I have more to say, I'll stop blabbering!!

xoxo

A Week In The Life...

I'm not so sure I like this swing.... ...but it sure puts me to sleep :) 2nd Sunday football with dad...Chase has officially taken Krod's place

Just chillin'

I took this picture as a reminder of just how small he was - barely fills up the car seat!

You lookin at me?

Cuddle time with dad

I cannot believe...and I mean cannot believe how fast this past week has flown by. Chase will be two weeks old tomorrow and it feels like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant. For all of my complaining of sleepless nights (gas is not a fun thing in a little baby) I know that I will soon look back on this time and wish I could experience every moment again. I am truly trying to savor every sleep deprived (as in texting my friend Angie and not remembering it) moment that there is.

This week we have really just been hanging out at home since Chase is still too little to be out and about in public. We have still had a lot of visitors coming by to meet the little guy and we have gotten out for a few walks in the open air but primarily it has just been us getting to all know eachother.

We did, however, take Chase in for "The Operation" - yes, he is officially circumcised. I thought it might be a painful experience for us but on the doctor's recommendation (and it was great advise), we did not watch. Instead, we waited patiently in the office expecting to hear him wailing as Dr. Carrie perfected his peepee but he just slept through the whole thing! Yup, not even a wimper. Such a trooper he is...just a little bit of Tylenol that night and he was good to go!

While the circumcision didn't seem to phase him, gas sure has...Chase spends the better part of most evenings trying to get it out - sometimes he tries so hard I am afraid he is going to forget to breathe! While it is very difficult for Chase, and not much fun for mom and dad, I cannot complain about a little bit of gas in the evenings - I know it could be much worse!

It is baby mania with our friends - amazing what can change in a year. We just found out our friends Marcus and Colleen are pregnant (congrats!) and Matt and Sunnie are having a boy (yeah - Chase will not have to play with girls all the time!) and all of our other friend's children are just getting so big - so much fun to be a part of it all!

XOXO