December Fun!!!

12/2/09 Out little Bean is 9months old now. The latest stats: 16lbs 13oz and 27 1/8 inches long. She had her Flu and H1N1 shot!! Yeah! The doctor says that she is a little underweight. I dont see it. She has thigh roles!!! He says to feed her more. So after a little freak out and polling other moms I relaxed. I also decided that child obesity is unfortunatly becoming the norm, and she doesnt need to be a fat baby. She is healthy and happy and thats what counts. Nevertheless, we have tried to feed her more, and she eats what she wants. It seems to be alot. We are adding more table foods to the mix and this seems to be going well. She has greatly improved with feeding herself. She also had her first snow yesturday, 12/1, she did not seem to impressed.
12/5 Grandma Anne out to visit. Jon and I were again suposed to be at a Billy Joel/Elton John but it was postponed again. Anne came out to babysit so we could enjoy a night out. Chloe behaved for grandma!

12/9 She is suddenly moving everywhere!! She is low crawling across the floor and is so fast, and into everything she should be. It kills me, she would rather play with cords and remotes then stuffed animals and toys. Since she was little, she has always stayed on our bed while we are getting ready for work. She always just lays there and plays. On 12/10, I went to the bathroom to blow dry my hair, leaving her at the top middle of the bed playing. I wasnt in there 30 secs and heard a thuf and instantly knew!! She fell off the end of the bed!!! She was laying fac down crying. She had a nice big red spot but was ok, scared her more that anything, and upset me and Jon!!....

12/13 Off to get our first christmas tree, it was cold and raining. Chloe slept through the whole thing. She was not enthused. While Jon and I decorated, she sat on the living room floor laughing at us, like it was the funniest thing she had ever seen. She doesnt show to much interest in the lights, she is more interested in the fire place. Of course! She is starting to teeth again. Now its her top middle teeth coming in, poor thing. They have been threatening for weeks and are finally popping though. She has been pretty cheery. Thve been bothering her more at night, than the other teeth did.

My little wild child. She has and has always had the craziest hair. This is the morning after our baby shower for baby Zoey! She apparently partied way to hard, and looks like Aunty sarah in the morning! She was so well behaved with a house full of people. When to bed well, and slep like a champ while everyone was drinking, playing games and being loud. She is a trooper.

12/20 Her teeth are breaking through. The one is coming in faster than the other, so she is now a snaggle tooth. Its so funny. Apparently to, the top teeth coming in are accompanied by a copious amount of snot, with the occasional snot bubbles....which I wish I had a picture of.

So Christmas is upon us. Jon and I had to get some christmas cards out. We dressed Chloe up in a nice christmas outfit that Violet let us use. She has become a ham in front of the camera. She was more than happy to ham it up for us here. She is posing and opening some presents.

Catching up November!

This is the little Bean. She has become quite the crazy child. Getting very animated and chatty. She will definetly have something to day, not at all like her mother...ahem. She is full of giggles, and loves to have a blanket dropped ouver her head. She gets so excited to pull it off! She is moving around very well these days. Does the army low crawl. She pulls to her knees and then rocks, or pushes herself backwards. Chloe and mommy took a road trip out to see Aunt Kate, Uncle Mike, Violet and Baby Kolton!! this was our first time seeing baby Kolton. He was huge. Almost bigger than Chloe! He seems to doing well. Poops alot. Chloe did pretty well on the trip, it was difficult stopping ot change a diaper or feed her, but we managed.

11/26/09 First Thanksgiving! Fairly uneventful. We traveled to Rochester. Chloe had some turkey and mashed potatoes, she seemd to enjoy them. Auntie Julie made her a pilgrams hat, which she was all to happy to wear.

We have been working on finger foods, which she is getting better at. And holding her sippy cup. She can hold it, but refuses to, the same with her bottle. She can be so stubborn, again not at all like her mother.....she actually prefers to drink water with the top off her sippy cup and me giving her little sips. Odd. But always a work in progress with these children I suppose.

Gettin around

Things have been changing very quickly for little Chloe these last few weeks. She started waving out of the blue, and then just as quickly stopped. It was the cutest thing. Now she very often puts her hand to her head while she is playing, like she is thinking "this is hard work". She loves playing on the floor. She isnt crawling yet, she sort of scoots and drags herself around. She definetly gets to where she wants to go though....She had been getting better at sitting. We would give her just a little support. And then a few weeks ago out of the blue she was sitting solo!!! Bending over and grabbing toys like she was an old pro. She is babbling up a storm, very loudly at times. She actually sounds like she is talking. There are a few times where she sounds like she is saying Dada. Coincidence right? Except that last night jon was standing in the doorway to the living room, and she looked right up at him and said Dada!!! Hmmmm.......

Playoff baseball this time of year, and thankfully the Yankee's are back into it. These late night nail biting games have proven to be stressful, not only for me but Chloe as well....

So I had been on the hunt the last few weeks for a hat and glove, for winter, for the bean. Well can you believe that I couldnt find anything decent anywhere. I think they, meaning the fashon world, think that babies her age want to be confined into a one piece marshmellow puff nightmare! Not this kid, so to forgo the screaming nightmare it would become to put her in one of these things, hat and gloves with jacket was my great idea. Of course even though it was 40 degress in buffalo in the beginning of October, I cant find anything anywhere. So we settled for something adorably cute, but way to big...

Notice the mitten still attached!!

So what do you suppose you do with a 8 month old for Halloween. You really cant trick or treat anywhere, she is tiny. And since iur family isnt close by to pretend to trick or treat, we had some friends over for the Yankee's game and for baby play time. Chloe's little friend Ava came for a visit as well as baby to be Keil. Chloe was a pea in the pod, or a bean sprout, which ever. And little Ava was a giraffe. They were less than thrilled to be in these hot costumes for pictures but made the best of it.

Moving right along

THis picture does not mean that she is going to be a Cheerleader!

Well we have reached the 7month milestone. Moving right along with the baby food. I cant believe the choice that are out there: turkey dinner, mac and cheese, pasta primavera! Are the serious. Should 7month olds be eating this stuff? We stick to fruit and veggies. We are working on a sippy cup with water in it. She is so funny trying to coordinate holding it with two hands and lifting it up to suck..she is getting it. So talkative these days. It actuallty sounds like she is saying something, she just babbles on and on over and over again.

September 09

9/2 Had our doctor checup for 6 monthes old!! She is 15.6 pounds and is 25.5 inches long. Things are going good and we got the green light to start baby food. And of course we started her on green beans which she enjoyed. She didnt really seem to need much adjustment, she was ready for it. She had been watching our food intently for weeks. She is rolling over so much better now, back and forth with ease. We are still working on sitting up. She is getting there!

9/4 We went on a trip tp see Aunt Kate, Uncle Mike and Violet. Chloe traveled suprisingly well. We werent sure what to expect with a 5+hr trip. But there were no issues. She either slept most of the way or gazed out of the window. Aunt Manda, Uncle Matt and Noah came down from vermont for a visit. So nice to see everyone and spend time together. I thought it would be a little hairy with the kids, but it was actually quite managable with their ages. Aunt Kate very nicely had all kinds of great things out for Chloe to play with. We thought we might meet skip this weekend, but no luck.

Chloe's hair gets so crazy sometimes he needs to be resqued. The closest thing was a clothespin!

9/6 we stopped in Rochester on our way back from Glens Falls to party with Caitlin. It was her birthday!! One quick pit stop on our way home. Chloe was able to see some family she hadnt seen in a while. It was a nice but short visit. And then finally home to Buffalo, we were exhausted.

9/15 Cousin Baby Taylor is born! Although we havent seen him yet we are there in spirit and hope to see him soon!!

9/21 My birthday. Normally Jon and I would have a nice romatic dinner out for our birthdays...Not so much. We did trekk her to Carabbas with us for dinner. Though we would take our chances. They actually had this handy sling apparatus that we could sit her carseat right in. We barely knew she was there, she was so good. She sat and talked and played with her toys. There was another baby in the resturant, a little older than Chloe, he was not behaving so well. Still waiting on baby skippy, thought he might be born on my birthday but nope...





9/23 Goodness gracious!! Finally, Baby Kolton is born! We have waited along time. Weighing in at a wopping 10.11 and 23.75 inches long. Better Aunt Kate than me! Cant wait to see Kolton in November when we head out for a visit!







9/26 Off to the Keils for October Fest. We found out that Alex and Mehgan are expecting a baby girl!! Yeah, another girl to add to the mix. chloe got to play with baby Ava. And biff of course.

9/28 Chloe has a cold!! She felt a little warm before daycare but not to bad. So we send her and of course they call me because she is as 102!! So off to the doc again, I am hoping not the flu. Turns out it was a sinus infection. Had to stay out of daycare a few days, and a few days of ABT and she was back to her old self...Jon and I were a little ragged though. Sick babies....not so good.

8/09 Continues

8/22 Uncle Jason, Aunt Julie, Eva and Declan came out for a trip to the zoo. It was very hot this day and Chloe spent most of the time snoozing in the stroller. I spent most of the time obsessively trying to keep her out of the sun! Her first trip inside the zoo to see all the animals. I was definetly more excited than she was. And then sad.....Chloe is very appropriately chewing on an elephant in this picture!

8/29 Aunt Laura was kind enough to babysit for us while we went to a wedding in Batavia. My friend Dana was getting married. It was actually the first time we had been out together, alone for any length of time other than a quick dinner or something. We had a blast at the wedding. Chloe was suposedly a good girl, I am not sure Laura would tell us otherwise. Definetly missed her but she was in very capable hands. And I only called once!! Thanks again Laura!

8/09

Chloe is 5 months old now. Moving right along. Here eyes which started and deep blue are not starting to look more green. Which is fine with us since Jon and I both have green eyes. Still sleeping through the night. Things are going well. This was a busy month for us. Lots to do.

8/1 Went to Alfred for my cousin Billys wedding. Chloe's first time in a church and of course she talked and babbled. I was trying to keep her quiet by feeding her but that didnt last long. Nice to see some family we hadnt see in a while.

8/3 I am on the phone with Vicki and Chloe is playing on her floor gym. Now she had been flirting with rolling over for quite some time and was unable to get her one arm out of her way. I look down and she is teetering, I run to get jon, come back and she was over!! We both missed it. Oh but there will be many more.

8/5 Got a call from daycare today saying Chloe was running a temp they think she is teething. I thought she cant be, I just inspected her mouth and it seemed to early. Low and behold and get her home and there are two little white lines on her bottom gums!! Yeah...She did pretty well with the whole experience. Although it seemed she would hold her grumpyness in for when she made it home. Stocked up on orajel and tylenol and in the end she emerged with two shiny white bottom teeth! And the important thing here is that Jon and I survived.

8/14 We are taking a trip to meet the family at Fantasy Island!! She be a good year, last year I couldnt ride any rides becuase I was pregnant so this year hopefully. Chloe spent some nice time with the Bryans. Jordan was having his annual Tourretts Picnic and it was a nice day. Hot. Tuckered the poor gal out.

Chloe has been working out it the Johnny Jumper when I am in the kitchen. Its hysterical to watch her. Of course she already approaches everything so seriously, its her job. So she very intently studies everything and then goes to town. She usually has one leg all the way down and the other just slightly up so as she is jumping the leg is kicking in the air, he crazy hair is flopping in the wind and her tongue is out!!! Couldnt be anymore funny! We thank Aunt Kate for letting us borrow this while we are waiting for skip to arrive.

8/15 Jon and I decide we are going to brave the drive-in, the only way people with babies can see new movines without getting a babysitter. Its genius! Chloe of course faired very well. We went equiped with pj's already on and her ready for bed. Backup food just in case and plenty of blankets. She slept in the back while Jon and I sat in chairs and watched two movies. GI Joe and Transformers. We were eaten alive by misquitos and she of course slept just fine!

7/09

7/2 Chloe is 4 months old!! Who can believe we have come this far. Certainly not us. Time is flying already. The little champ is still sleeping through the night. We moved her into her crib this week. Bigg transition! She didnt skip a beat. Jon and I did not fair so well. It was nice to have our space back but sad to not have her smell in our room, and the ound of her breathing. One transition in a lifetime of many. She is still loving her floor gym, but has added a new weapon to her arsenal! The exersaucer!! Once she checked it out very thoroughly, and analyzed every inch it was game on. She has grown more and more. Now a heavty 13.9 lbs and 23 3/4 inches long!! She is still working on holding the bottle. The small bottles we use with the breast pump are easier for her.

7/4 Fourth of July!!! Independence day. We have trekked out to Rochester for a Claeys family picnic. Chloe will be meeting Aunts and Uncles from out of state for the first time! Stayed the weekend in Rochester and it went well. Despite all the gear we have to bring, its not to terrible going overnight.

Poor little thing is just like her momma. Does like the heat and sweats up a storm in the summer. We needed a pool. sprinkler was fun, I wasnt sure how she would like it, all she did was try to lick the water!

7/10 Off to the doctor for our first ear infection! Chole is so easy going for the most part. And she took this in stride like everything else. She took her medicine like a champ and was back to her old self in no time.

7/24 Grandma Claeys, aunt laura and caitlin came out to visit to watch Chloe for the night. Jon and I had tickets to see Billy Joel and Elton John, we waited months. And of course 3 hrs before the show....cancelled. Billy Joel with the flu? Come on for as much as we paid, suck it up Billy!!! Everyone stayed and gave Jon and I a much needed night out. Went to dinner, walked along the river and met some friends for drinks....like old times. Chloe of course gave Grandma a little bit of a hard time. I guess she wanted to show her who was boss in her house!! LOL!

Chloe and Daddy playing "Super Baby" Trying for some giggles!

6/09

5/2 Chloe is three months old! growing at a rapid rate. She is 23 inches long now. Busting out of her clothes and moving into 6months for length. She is becoming much more active. Bringing her legs to her chest and rolling from side to side. She is tryin to sit up. Still sleeping through the night. She loves to play on her floor gym. She grabs the toys that are hanging and trys to pull herself up with them. Putting everything in her mouth. Today is Jons birthday and my friend Vicki had her baby. Baby Ava!!! Into the world exactly three monthes after Chloe. They will be life long friends....

5/6 Off to see Baby Ava and welcome her into the world of babies, and friends with babies! Chloe looks gigantic next to little Ava who was born a little peanut. Jon and Chloe watching baseball while visiting Baby Ava and the proud new parents.

5/21 Chloe and Jons first fathers day! Of course Jon took advantage.

Chloe is starting to giggle, must be the cutest most pure and innocent sound I have ever heard in my life. Of course at this time she only giggles when she is good and read too. Jon and I make as many funny sounds and faces as we can to hear that precious sound and she looks at us like we are from mars!!! Work in progess, like most things. She is recognizing her bottle now, and realizes sweet victory is about to happen when she spots it. In her eagerness she tries to grasp it for dear life. As if I have never fed her before!

5/09

5/2 Chloe is two months old today!! She is now 11.2lbs and 21.5 inches....Growing well. Still breastfeeding. That is going well. She is really smiling alot now. Not to many giggles out of her just yet. She is sleeping though the night like a champ. going to bed about 7:30 or 8 and sleeping until 5 or 6. Cant complain about that. chloe loves to be outside going for walks. She walks with me in the Bjorn carrier, she loves to look around and then eventually falls alseep. She is always checking things out around her.

5/10 First Mothers Day!! Jon was great, made me dinner full of my favorites. It was a nice day home with the family. Jon bought me some really nice earrings with Chloes birthstone in them.

5/16 Down to Andover to see family. Full house meeting aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and cousins. Busy weekend for chloe. She travels pretty well. Usually sleeps unless she is hungry and we need to stop and feed her on the way.

5/25 Memorial Day! Went to our friends Vicki and Travis for a BBQ. Still waiting little Ava's arrival. Little fussy this day in a new place.

Chloe has the craziest hair. Its getting longer and is often all over the place!!! When its washed its curly and as she moves and it dries, it ends up crazy. very unmanagable!! She is not happy about her hair either.....Seems to change colors, looking more red lately. I dont think she is happy about this either.

4/09

Lot of things going on this month. Chloe turned one month old!! We are getting our heads above water and getting into a good schedule. She had her one month check up 10.38lbs and 21 inches!! Had her first shots today, and first tears for mom and dad. We handled it well.

Took her for her Tullys debut on 4/3. She was perfect until Jon said " I cant believe how good she is doing" and it was all downhill from there. I have never seen him eat wings so fast.

4/11 took our first roadtrip to Grandma and Grandpa Claeys for Easter. nice to see family. Things went well. She slept well. And it was her first overnight stay. Not to bad. Some pics with family and cousins....

4/16 slept all the way through the night. I of course was panicing when I realized. thought this was fluke but a few days late it happened again. Oh happy day for me.

4/25/09 At our first hotdog day!! And boy was it a hot one. 85 degrees in april. food was good, pulled pork and fried dough. It was a little harry navigating all the kids. We apprently will need a bus to go anywhere together in the future! Chloe has such a cute outfit on to start the day and then peed herself out of it before we even left grandma marys house....thank Aunt Kate for this nice pic.

4/27/09 I am back to work full time. Actually looking forward to it. I have been out of work for three monthes. Chloe started daycare. things were going well and then on 4/30 we ended up up at Women and Childrens Hospital. Things went down hill fast. She came home from daycare, seemed a little off. Suddenly she had a high temp, wasnt eating and vomiting. So doc said take to the ER. That led to two days in the hospital while they were running tests. Nothing like seeing your baby with tubes coming out of everywhere. Poor honey they took blood, urine, spinal tap and catheterized her. I will never forget the sound of her poor screams while Jon and I sat helpless..... but all is well that ends well. After two horrible days and nights of me sleeping on a pull out chair. tests came back fine, and she just had a really bad cold. After some fluids and suctions, she was back to her old self, and we finally went home!!! She was such a trooper.

Family visits 3/09

Here are a few pics of Chloe meeting her new family for the first time. Some from hospital and some from first few days home.

Aunt Kates first visit.....middle of march....

Aunt Kate came out for a visit. We have had many visitors....she brough chloe a beautiful one of a kind blanket with her name on it. She had loads of wonderful advice for new mom and baby, nice to have her around most of all. She was lucky enough to catch the infamous "0" face that Chloe made all the time when she was a newborn...love it! She sadly eventually grew out of it.

First St. Patricks Day 3/17/09

Our good friends Meg and Alex came over for a visit. They were nice enough to make us corn beef and cabage. We have it every year and did not want to venture out with little chloe and needed our yearly fix. Here is Chloe hanging in her st pats day outfit. Underneath she has an I love Buffalo Irish onesie!!

She was a beautiful baby from the start! very good, didnt give me much trouble in the hospital. She was a hard worker with breastfeeding. Stubborn like her mother and father. Here we are heading home after an exhausting few days. Little did we know the real exhaustion was yet to come.

The Begining 3/2/09

I am being induced today. We will finally meet Chloe. I have been waiting very impatiently. Had to be at the hospital at 7am to get ready for her! Jon is not a morning person. We delivered at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. It was less than 4hrs from water break to birth.....Chloe was ready. She tried to come early and we stopped her, this time she wasnt taking any chances. She was born at 2:21pm at 8#13oz and 19.5 inches long! Full head of black curly hair. I wasnt sure she was my baby!