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12.17.2007
AJ's stuffed animals
12.12.2007
AJ's 1st trip to see Santa
Today my mom and I took AJ to see Santa for his first time! We were not sure about the weather since the forecast was for freezing rain all day yesterday and that the conditions would stay slippery for today, but all the roads were dry this morning and the sidewalks were pretty clear as well. I should just stop going to the Weather Channel web site! Anyway, for whatever reason (cold? teething? grandma's too fun?) AJ did not want to take his morning nap, but we packed him up in the stroller anyway and headed out. 
We bundled him up pretty good, and on the walk to the El, he fell asleep and stayed that way for most of the trip to Macy's. Between the Blue Line and the store, we went through the Christkindlemarkt in Daley Plaza and took pictures by the tree, which is actually made up of 133 trees!
We thought the line would be relatively short since it was a weekday, and when we got there, the line was moving pretty quickly. After a bit though, things seemed to slow down and we started to wonder if Santa want to lunch! Several people waiting in front of and behind us turned around and left to avoid meltdowns, but AJ was hanging in there, so we stayed.
We took some pictures of him looking around in wonder at the little winter wonderland they created for the line. As our turn approached, Andy and his friend Tracy met us in the line and I was so happy that Daddy would get to see this special event! The line felt like it took forever to me, so I have to say AJ was a major trooper.
When we got to Santa, AJ was very interested in his beard!
I think Santa had to reclaim it more than twice, but he was very good-natured. The visit was actually free and we did not have to purchase a "photo package", so we just took a bunch of our own pictures and it was really fun. We tried to get AJ to smile, but he was in a more inquisitive mood. I think all he asked Santa for were his 2 front teeth (since he is still all gums)! Is it wrong to think your own baby is soooo cute?!!
After saying goodbye to Santa, AJ also said goodbye to his daddy, and then went to the food court for lunch and he did well there too. All this good behavior was surprising to me given the lack of normal napping today, and on the way to the train stop, he fell asleep again.
Here he is at the Washington stop, 
waiting patiently for the train...once on the train though, AJ woke up and let us know he was unhappy, but quieted down again before our stop and didn't make a peep for the rest of the ride home. There were no more naps today, but AJ stayed up long enough to hang with Daddy for a few minutes before he fell asleep tonight with no story, prayer, or lullabye! I guess Santa wore him out!
Oh, and one more thing...AJ is not crawling yet, but he does sneak backwards on his belly! Here he is again. The animals in the foreground were just inches outside his grasp when he started!
We bundled him up pretty good, and on the walk to the El, he fell asleep and stayed that way for most of the trip to Macy's. Between the Blue Line and the store, we went through the Christkindlemarkt in Daley Plaza and took pictures by the tree, which is actually made up of 133 trees!We thought the line would be relatively short since it was a weekday, and when we got there, the line was moving pretty quickly. After a bit though, things seemed to slow down and we started to wonder if Santa want to lunch! Several people waiting in front of and behind us turned around and left to avoid meltdowns, but AJ was hanging in there, so we stayed.
We took some pictures of him looking around in wonder at the little winter wonderland they created for the line. As our turn approached, Andy and his friend Tracy met us in the line and I was so happy that Daddy would get to see this special event! The line felt like it took forever to me, so I have to say AJ was a major trooper. When we got to Santa, AJ was very interested in his beard!
I think Santa had to reclaim it more than twice, but he was very good-natured. The visit was actually free and we did not have to purchase a "photo package", so we just took a bunch of our own pictures and it was really fun. We tried to get AJ to smile, but he was in a more inquisitive mood. I think all he asked Santa for were his 2 front teeth (since he is still all gums)! Is it wrong to think your own baby is soooo cute?!!After saying goodbye to Santa, AJ also said goodbye to his daddy, and then went to the food court for lunch and he did well there too. All this good behavior was surprising to me given the lack of normal napping today, and on the way to the train stop, he fell asleep again.
Here he is at the Washington stop, 
waiting patiently for the train...once on the train though, AJ woke up and let us know he was unhappy, but quieted down again before our stop and didn't make a peep for the rest of the ride home. There were no more naps today, but AJ stayed up long enough to hang with Daddy for a few minutes before he fell asleep tonight with no story, prayer, or lullabye! I guess Santa wore him out!Oh, and one more thing...AJ is not crawling yet, but he does sneak backwards on his belly! Here he is again. The animals in the foreground were just inches outside his grasp when he started!
12.11.2007
AJ Laughing: Clap, Clap, Clap
Okay, so here is a movie that is actually relatively old, but I have been having trouble figuring out how to publish it here...still funny though! AJ had just started to clap, back when he was about 6 mo old. Andy was trying to get AJ to clap again, when AJ decided that the word clap was the funniest thing he'd ever heard! I grabbed the video camera and captured his cute belly-laughing. We're happy to finally be able to share it with you!
12.09.2007
The Christmas Tree Farm
We planned to go to a Christmas Tree farm today with our friends (and neighbors!), the Long's a while ago...but when we woke up this morning and checked the weather, it sounded bad. There were all sorts of "extreme weather alerts" calling for freezing rain, sleet and snow, none of which sounded like a fun day driving to or finding a tree at the farm. I really wanted to go though! So after checking the radar and determining that we would just dress warmly and drive slowly, we decided to go. If the Longs could do it with a 2yr old and a one month old, we could surely do it with AJ!
The farm is called Pine Apple Acres, and it was very easy to get to, just north of the Huntley Outlet Mall off of I-90. It was cold, but there was no freezing rain, sleet or even a snowflake, so we just bundled up and started to hunt for our tree.
Our goal was to get one that was tall and thin (since our ceilings are high, but we don't have a lot of extra floor space...). Hunting was fun and sounded like this: "...do you like this one? it has a bald spot, what about that one? hmmmm, this one is too fat, I think..." We took some fun pictures (this one has 5 people in it: Emily and I with Kaya, AJ and little Ashwin bundled in a sling inside Emily's coat!) 
and when we finally made a decision, AJ and I left Andy to saw it down while we waited in the heated purchasing area, complete with hot apple cider. 
I heard cutting the tree down was difficult though, so good job, Andy! Emily and the kids and I watched as the dads tied the trees to the roof of the Long's car. After a quick lunch, we headed home and the guys did a great job, those trees didn't move a needle!
So, remember how I said our goal was tall and thin? Well, we got the tall part down and our tree is about 8', but when it came to thin, I guess your house adds width just like how the camera adds 10lbs. This is the biggest tree we've ever had, and what were we thinking??!! The huge tree is almost 6' in diameter, and we had to move our furniture around several times before we found a place to comfortably put it! But now it is happily drinking water and awaiting its lights and ornaments...coming soon.
The farm is called Pine Apple Acres, and it was very easy to get to, just north of the Huntley Outlet Mall off of I-90. It was cold, but there was no freezing rain, sleet or even a snowflake, so we just bundled up and started to hunt for our tree.
Our goal was to get one that was tall and thin (since our ceilings are high, but we don't have a lot of extra floor space...). Hunting was fun and sounded like this: "...do you like this one? it has a bald spot, what about that one? hmmmm, this one is too fat, I think..." We took some fun pictures (this one has 5 people in it: Emily and I with Kaya, AJ and little Ashwin bundled in a sling inside Emily's coat!) 
and when we finally made a decision, AJ and I left Andy to saw it down while we waited in the heated purchasing area, complete with hot apple cider. 
I heard cutting the tree down was difficult though, so good job, Andy! Emily and the kids and I watched as the dads tied the trees to the roof of the Long's car. After a quick lunch, we headed home and the guys did a great job, those trees didn't move a needle!
So, remember how I said our goal was tall and thin? Well, we got the tall part down and our tree is about 8', but when it came to thin, I guess your house adds width just like how the camera adds 10lbs. This is the biggest tree we've ever had, and what were we thinking??!! The huge tree is almost 6' in diameter, and we had to move our furniture around several times before we found a place to comfortably put it! But now it is happily drinking water and awaiting its lights and ornaments...coming soon.
12.03.2007
Thanksgiving
For Thanksgiving this year, we went to Roscoe to visit with Grandma Cheri and family.
AJ's Aunt Melissa flew in from the East Coast and everyone loved her turkey and sides. We all agree that brining is the way to go!
AJ spent lots of time playing and cuddling with everybody, and watching him with all the friends and relatives was the highlight of the holiday for me.
AJ did a good job of sleeping in his crib at Grandma Cheri's house. Since we were there 2 nights, I thought we'd see him get acclimated by the second day, but he slept well and stayed pretty much on schedule the whole visit. Yay!
I have been working with AJ on self-feeding and drinking from a cup for about a month now. While we were at Grandma Cheri's, all those lessons seemed to really gel and he drank from the cup repeatedly all by himself!
Everyone was excited and cheered him on, so I'm sure that helped! He is also getting pretty good at feeding himself the little star-shaped puffs, pasta and frozen fruit pieces. I'd say about 60% of what he eats and drinks himself makes it into his mouth...let's just say the floor under his chair is the most regularly-cleaned area of the house!
AJ is starting to learn to pull up on furniture and things, but seems to need lots of motivation. Here he is playing Peek-a-Boo with daddy over the back of the couch.
AJ is not really crawling yet, but does log rolls all over the floor to get where he wants to be! He also pulls his legs under himself and rocks back and forth often, so I'm hearing that the crawling is usually not far behind that maneuver...I'm sure the moment he crawls, I'll be posting an excited lament to go with the video!
AJ's Aunt Melissa flew in from the East Coast and everyone loved her turkey and sides. We all agree that brining is the way to go!
AJ spent lots of time playing and cuddling with everybody, and watching him with all the friends and relatives was the highlight of the holiday for me.
AJ did a good job of sleeping in his crib at Grandma Cheri's house. Since we were there 2 nights, I thought we'd see him get acclimated by the second day, but he slept well and stayed pretty much on schedule the whole visit. Yay!
I have been working with AJ on self-feeding and drinking from a cup for about a month now. While we were at Grandma Cheri's, all those lessons seemed to really gel and he drank from the cup repeatedly all by himself!
Everyone was excited and cheered him on, so I'm sure that helped! He is also getting pretty good at feeding himself the little star-shaped puffs, pasta and frozen fruit pieces. I'd say about 60% of what he eats and drinks himself makes it into his mouth...let's just say the floor under his chair is the most regularly-cleaned area of the house!
AJ is starting to learn to pull up on furniture and things, but seems to need lots of motivation. Here he is playing Peek-a-Boo with daddy over the back of the couch.
AJ is not really crawling yet, but does log rolls all over the floor to get where he wants to be! He also pulls his legs under himself and rocks back and forth often, so I'm hearing that the crawling is usually not far behind that maneuver...I'm sure the moment he crawls, I'll be posting an excited lament to go with the video!
11.12.2007
Life on a Schedule
So AJ is officially on a schedule now, and I'm loving it! A while ago I borrowed some books from a friend about how to "fix" AJ's EARLY (we're talking 5am!) waking and erratic naptimes (2x/day, 3x/day, sometimes 30min, sometimes 3 hrs!) It was getting really difficult to make any plans,
let alone just know if I had time to start an hour-long project, or if he would wake up right as I'd begin, so I was really in need of some guidance. As usual, the books each had their own (conflicting) stance, so I read all 3 and took from each one what made sense to me. The effect has been positively amazing!
Now every day is (basically) the same as far as blocks of time, so I can make playdates, figure when I will be able to go to the store and return without a meltdown (AJ or me!), and everyone comments on what a happy baby he is! Now AJ is napping 1 hr at 9:00, 2-3hrs at 1:00, bedtime is 7:00, and he wakes up again usually around 6 (though I wish it were 7...). Here is Andy reading one of AJ's favorite books with him before bed. Sooo cute!
We play together every day and AJ is definitely developing some favorite toys. Although it does not light up, play music or vibrate, AJ loves the "Pop up School Bus" which was pictured in a previous entry.
Here he is with it again! Thanks Kim! A little scrubbing with a toothbrush and this toy that has already been passed-down through a few families makes the grade! AJ also loves to just play on the floor. He likes to feel our carpet, roll around to get to his toys, and has great big belly laughs when I pretent to "eat" his sides and tummy.
He is practicing getting into a crawl position from sitting and can't quite do it yet, but today he was really close! I am excited for him but have to remind myself he will be mobile all too soon...
Last week we went to a friend's house for a lunchtime playdate. It is always so fun to get together with my other mommy friends and see how all our kids can play and roll around on the floor together.
These 4 were all born within 3 months or so, but it's amazing what a difference that short amount of time makes in a baby's development. It's cool to see what's right around the corner for AJ! These little "heads" are (from left) AJ, Emilio, Zofi, and Izzy. We can't wait for the next get-together!
let alone just know if I had time to start an hour-long project, or if he would wake up right as I'd begin, so I was really in need of some guidance. As usual, the books each had their own (conflicting) stance, so I read all 3 and took from each one what made sense to me. The effect has been positively amazing!Now every day is (basically) the same as far as blocks of time, so I can make playdates, figure when I will be able to go to the store and return without a meltdown (AJ or me!), and everyone comments on what a happy baby he is! Now AJ is napping 1 hr at 9:00, 2-3hrs at 1:00, bedtime is 7:00, and he wakes up again usually around 6 (though I wish it were 7...). Here is Andy reading one of AJ's favorite books with him before bed. Sooo cute!
We play together every day and AJ is definitely developing some favorite toys. Although it does not light up, play music or vibrate, AJ loves the "Pop up School Bus" which was pictured in a previous entry.
Here he is with it again! Thanks Kim! A little scrubbing with a toothbrush and this toy that has already been passed-down through a few families makes the grade! AJ also loves to just play on the floor. He likes to feel our carpet, roll around to get to his toys, and has great big belly laughs when I pretent to "eat" his sides and tummy.
He is practicing getting into a crawl position from sitting and can't quite do it yet, but today he was really close! I am excited for him but have to remind myself he will be mobile all too soon...
Last week we went to a friend's house for a lunchtime playdate. It is always so fun to get together with my other mommy friends and see how all our kids can play and roll around on the floor together.
These 4 were all born within 3 months or so, but it's amazing what a difference that short amount of time makes in a baby's development. It's cool to see what's right around the corner for AJ! These little "heads" are (from left) AJ, Emilio, Zofi, and Izzy. We can't wait for the next get-together!
11.01.2007
AJ's First Halloween
On Tuesday, AJ and I went up to visit Grandma Cheri in Rockford and AJ had a practice run in his costume. There were a lot of friends and relatives there, as well as another baby almost his age, so he got a lot of practice meeting people and being social. I put his pumpkin "shirt" on him and he was unhappy about it going over his arms and head (as usual!) but was fine in it once it was on. The lunch was wonderful and it was so fun to see and meet everyone. This way, Grandma Cheri, Aunt Sheila, Aunt Shirley and Great Grandma Marcella all got to see him in his costume dress rehersal!
Yesterday was the actual holiday, so I dressed him up again, this time in his full costume - green tights, pumpkin shirt and hat, and then I stuffed him with batting to fill him out!It was so funny, but he looked really cute and seemed not to mind the outfit. We decided not to go Trick-or-Treating (even though I really wanted to!) since it was getting too close to he dinnertime, and he wouldn't be able to eat the candy anyway. So we went next door to our friends' place and AJ's friend Kaya put on her costume too to take a few pictures with him. She was a buzzy bee. It's so hard to take a good picture of them both at the same time, so this is the best I could do!!
AJ and I also visited our friends the LaSalle's today and AJ got to meet his new little buddy, JP. He was somewhat interested in the 6 week old, but I didn't let him get close enough to touch (aka: slobber on/chew/poke) him.
AJ has also really been enjoying the excersaucer I borrowed from a friend, and seems to find new and exciting things about it every time. I also borrowed one from his cousin Kyra, and that one is at my studio waiting for him to accompany me to work next week. We'll see how that goes!!
Yesterday was the actual holiday, so I dressed him up again, this time in his full costume - green tights, pumpkin shirt and hat, and then I stuffed him with batting to fill him out!It was so funny, but he looked really cute and seemed not to mind the outfit. We decided not to go Trick-or-Treating (even though I really wanted to!) since it was getting too close to he dinnertime, and he wouldn't be able to eat the candy anyway. So we went next door to our friends' place and AJ's friend Kaya put on her costume too to take a few pictures with him. She was a buzzy bee. It's so hard to take a good picture of them both at the same time, so this is the best I could do!!
AJ and I also visited our friends the LaSalle's today and AJ got to meet his new little buddy, JP. He was somewhat interested in the 6 week old, but I didn't let him get close enough to touch (aka: slobber on/chew/poke) him.
AJ has also really been enjoying the excersaucer I borrowed from a friend, and seems to find new and exciting things about it every time. I also borrowed one from his cousin Kyra, and that one is at my studio waiting for him to accompany me to work next week. We'll see how that goes!!
10.25.2007
A Fun Few Days
Today was another fun day in a good week. I have been taking a lot of pictures of AJ this week because he always seems to be up to something! 
On Sunday, we celebrated my Aunt Lois' birthday and though it was basically AJ's bedtime (and he was starting to freak out!) he did get to sit on her lap as we sang Happy Birthday. It was nice to get together with my side of the family and I always like to see the cousins interact.
On Monday our neighbors and friends, Emily and Kaya (mother and daughter), came over and both kids were being very funny.
AJ was in a great mood and shaking his homemade "rattle", while Kaya was pretending to be a baby and somehow fit herself into AJ's bouncy seat. There is about an 18 mo age difference between them, but AJ and Kaya play together often and have lots of fun! 
One of Kaya's favorite words when they play is "together". Very cute! AJ is sure to miss Kaya (and I will miss the whole family!!) when they move to Singapore next Spring...a story for another blog.
Today AJ had a playdate with one of his other girlfriends, Cate.
Since Cate is about 6 weeks younger, they have many toys in common and AJ tries to impress her with his latest accomplishments. (Today it was, "Look! I can sit all by myself and say dadadadada!") It is always fun to get together with Cate because she is one of our only younger friends. AJ liked her bouncy seat and play gym toys, and I'm sure he would have tried to eat more of her things if we had let him. He chews on anything and everything these days, so we have to be careful about what we leave in his path! 
He also enjoyed playing with a handed down toy from his Aunt Kim. He liked exploring the moving parts and figuring out how to make the characters pop up out of the toy bus. You can almost see his brain working.
Later today, AJ was practicing his moves getting ready to crawl. This was the first day that he consistantly tried over and over to pull his knees up under him and rested his upper body on his elbows. I kept teling him to push up onto his hands, but I guess he will master one end at a time! Hahaha!
Though I am excited about his reaching the next milestone and starting to crawl, that also means that my life will change drastically! I won't be able to put him in one spot and know he'll stay there, and we will need to really childproof our place. Maybe we will even have to get a gate!
But let's not get ahead of ourselves...
On Sunday, we celebrated my Aunt Lois' birthday and though it was basically AJ's bedtime (and he was starting to freak out!) he did get to sit on her lap as we sang Happy Birthday. It was nice to get together with my side of the family and I always like to see the cousins interact. On Monday our neighbors and friends, Emily and Kaya (mother and daughter), came over and both kids were being very funny.
AJ was in a great mood and shaking his homemade "rattle", while Kaya was pretending to be a baby and somehow fit herself into AJ's bouncy seat. There is about an 18 mo age difference between them, but AJ and Kaya play together often and have lots of fun! 
One of Kaya's favorite words when they play is "together". Very cute! AJ is sure to miss Kaya (and I will miss the whole family!!) when they move to Singapore next Spring...a story for another blog.Today AJ had a playdate with one of his other girlfriends, Cate.
Since Cate is about 6 weeks younger, they have many toys in common and AJ tries to impress her with his latest accomplishments. (Today it was, "Look! I can sit all by myself and say dadadadada!") It is always fun to get together with Cate because she is one of our only younger friends. AJ liked her bouncy seat and play gym toys, and I'm sure he would have tried to eat more of her things if we had let him. He chews on anything and everything these days, so we have to be careful about what we leave in his path! 
He also enjoyed playing with a handed down toy from his Aunt Kim. He liked exploring the moving parts and figuring out how to make the characters pop up out of the toy bus. You can almost see his brain working.Later today, AJ was practicing his moves getting ready to crawl. This was the first day that he consistantly tried over and over to pull his knees up under him and rested his upper body on his elbows. I kept teling him to push up onto his hands, but I guess he will master one end at a time! Hahaha!
Though I am excited about his reaching the next milestone and starting to crawl, that also means that my life will change drastically! I won't be able to put him in one spot and know he'll stay there, and we will need to really childproof our place. Maybe we will even have to get a gate!
But let's not get ahead of ourselves...
10.22.2007
My First Blog Entry!!
So, here is another thing that I want to do, but probably don't have time for...wasn't technology supposed to create more free time for us all?! hahaha
well anyway, Andy, AJ and I went to a pumpkin patch this weekend and it was really fun. It was just under an hour away so AJ got to nap on the way there and back and was happy while he searched for the perfect little pumpkin. He liked touching all those orange things and got to practice how to be one since that is his costme for Halloween. I put his hat on so he could get into the mood of "how to be a pumpkin".
AJ is doing really well and is so fun to be with. He is still an early riser (5:45 - 6:00) every morning, but other than that, he is a very happy baby and is learning and growing so fast. He likes eating food at the table now and so far has these foods under his belt: rice cereal, oat cereal, carrots, sweet peas, butternut squash, bananas, prunes, sweet potato and corn, and I think apples will be next. It's fun to introduce him to new foods, and sometimes the faces he makes are hilarious! I'm enjoying how mealtimes add some structure to our days, and I think AJ likes that too. He knows that a little while after eating, a nap/bedtime is sure to follow!
I hope I'll be able to post often, so I'll close now.
Love,
Kristen
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