Chase is 11 months!

Baby Chase! 11 months! How did that happen? You are supposed to stay my little baby but the time has just flown by.

Not too much has changed with you in the last month. You are still eating well, sleeping well, and exploring your surroundings.

I am guessing on your weight because you won't stay still long enough for the scale to measure you. I will say around 21.5 pounds and about 29 inches long.

You wear size 12 months in most clothes and 18 months in blue jeans and pajamas.





You wear a size 4 diaper.

You are eating mostly "big people" food but I keep baby food on hand just in case you aren't interested in what we are eating. You love to eat pancakes or waffles for breakfast and love to try anything sweet.





This past month, all 4 of your top teeth have started to come through. Your top tooth on your right came through first so you have this one big tooth and the others are trying to catch up.

You are a super fast crawler. You don't seem that interested in trying to walk. You stand in place holding onto things but still haven't tried walking while holding onto furniture.

You are still talking up a storm even though we can't understand what you are telling us. You love when we talk back to you though saying the same sounds you said to us. You clap your hands and give us a big grin.



Unfortunately, your newest form of communication has been an ear piercing shriek. You usually let those out when you want our attention. Especially when you are in your high chair and you either want down or more food, you let out the loudest screams we have ever heard. It definitely gets my attention, I just wish you would learn to say "Excuse me Mama. My tray is empty. Please give me some more food." Is that too much to ask? :)

I love you sweet boy! You are such a special addition to our family and we are so glad you are in our lives.

Why I Like to Keep a Camera Close By

It is easy to remember to document the "big events" like ball games, school programs, and holidays. But it is the day to day things that I love to capture because that is a better portrayal of what our lives are really like.

As a rule, the last thing I do before leaving the house with the boys, is to get them dressed. It gives them less time to mess their clothes up. For some reason, I dressed Chase this past Sunday before we were anywhere near ready to leave. Since I have the gates up, I can leave Chase free to roam the living room, kitchen, and hallways. I would go out and check on him every few minutes and he was always on the living room floor playing with Wyatt.

On my third trip out to peek in on him, he wasn't in the living room. I looked around knowing he couldn't have gotten too far. Then I heard "Clang, Clang, Clang." Oh no - please tell me I closed the laundry room door.

NOPE. I didn't.



He got Phoebe's food and water dishes. He dumped the entire bowl of water all over his clothes and on the floor. Fortunately, there wasn't any food left or I am sure that would have been tried out as well.

He loves to hit things together and hear the noises they make and he was loving these dog dishes.



As gross as that is, I still took the time to snap a couple pics because this is the stuff that makes life real. The imperfections. The having to undress, re-diaper, and re-dress a squirmy 10 month old. All while trying to get out the door on time.

The next few pics show a typical day of being home with Wy and Chase. Chase is all about Wyatt. And Wyatt is usually very good about playing with Chase. He will crawl around with him, try to move him away from "danger", and usually is OK with Chase playing with his toys - as long as it isn't a toy he is wanting to play with at that moment.

But again, life is not all lovey dovey all the time. They clash. In fact, Chase gets on Wyatt's nerves especially when Wy is trying to build something. Wyatt is constantly saying "CHASE! NO!" I keep telling Wyatt if he would just give Chase one matchbox car of the 20 he is playing with that he would be satisfied.

Exhibit A - Wyatt was desperately trying to shelter his Lincoln Logs and keep Chase away from them. So much for sharing.



I think Chase wanted Wyatt's attention more than the Lincoln Logs.



Look at that posture - MUST. SAVE. LINCOLN. LOGS.



Finally, Wyatt relented and gave Chase the attention he was begging for.



And all was well again - for about 5 minutes.

Spirited Owl Art

Well, I just couldn't wait.

I had to paint that Owl picture at Spirited Art.

I know many of you who read this had wanted to go in January and I will so go again. But I just had to do this Owl picture and thankfully my mom, my SIL Rochelle, and my niece Madi were able to take the class with me.





I am NOT an artistic person at all and usually would find a task like this frustrating. But, they walk you through it step by step and if you know your colors and shapes, then you can do the class. AND - they encourage you to bring drinks which was a must for me in order to relax enough to pick up a paint brush.


Apparently I wasn't the only one who loved the owl picture because it was a full class of 50. I still can't believe that my picture turned out as good as it did. I struggle with stick figures. I actually think this class is easier for people like me who don't know what they are doing but can follow directions. My mom, who has taught art, didn't flow with the process as easily. She could have just looked at the original and gone on her own. It was harder for her to follow instructions because it wasn't the way she would have gone about it on her own.





Here is my finished product. Definitely not perfection but so much better than I was expecting.




We had a really good time and I highly recommend it. Here is our group picture. My mom and Madi decided they liked solid brown owls instead of multi-colored like the example. We all followed the same directions but you can see how each of them differ and are unique.




I really do want to go back in January so if anyone wants to go, please let me know!

Tis the Season to Be Smiley

Like everyone at this time of year, I have so many things on my "to-do" list and never enough time to get them all done. I had tried back in early November to have some family pictures taken but it just didn't work out. It was really warm outside and we were all bundled up in our winter clothes. I drug everyone out to Falls Mill for the scenery which added a 25 minute drive. Chase was fussy because by the time I got all 3 kids up, fed, dressed, and out to the boondocks, he was ready to take a nap - not have his picture taken. Plus I was trying to have Jeremy and me in the pictures which meant the MIL was trying to use my camera. All in all - not a good experience.

So I had put it off because I was avoiding the effort. I had already decided to take Jeremy and me out of the picture so I could take them. On Saturday morning, Chase was taking a nap and I realized he would be up around 10 and Wyatt didn't have to leave for basketball practice until 10:40. So I seized the moment and got Morgan and Wyatt ready. Then when Chase woke up, I changed his clothes and herded the kids into the backyard. It wasn't the scenic background I had wanted but we just went with it and I think they turned out great. It was cold outside which actually helped because they weren't uncomfortable in their sweaters. Chase was just happy to be out in the fresh air.

So here are some of my favorites and I will post the one I chose for the Christmas card on FB later on after they are all sent out.

It's Cold Outside...

Just wanted to share a glimpse of what Chase and I are spending our days doing. I have a feeling this will progress to him toddling away from me and eventually him running away from me. But for now, I love watching that little booty scoot away from me as fast as his little legs can carry him. And I could listen to those squeals of delight all day too! What can I say? Chase was the appropriate name for him.

10 Months Old and the Iron Bowl

UPDATE 11/28 - I just realized that I wrote October on the 10 months paper instead of November! DUH - guess I was thinking the 10th month? Oh well, I will know what I meant.


This month Baby Chase's special day fell on the day of the Iron Bowl. As Wyatt liked to say, we were "having guests" so we were extra busy that morning but still managed to get the customary pictures taken.



(Also, poor Sophie (the toy giraffe) was dropped in the store parking lot and was driven over several times so we had to let her go. I hope to replace her soon but haven't gotten a chance just yet.)

So Baby Chase, here is what is going on with you these days.

You weigh about 21 pounds and are about 28.5 inches in length. You are only in about the 35th percentile on weight and 50th percentile on length. Which is so hard for me to grasp because you seem like a chubby baby to me but apparently most babies your age have you beat!

You wear size 12 months in most clothes and 18 months in blue jeans and pajamas.

You wear a size 4 diaper.

You are still a champion sleeper...and still LOVE those two fingers on your right hand.




You are on a breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine. We usually try to give you what we are eating for dinner. You have had meatloaf, chicken, spaghetti, lots of veggies, cheese, grapes, bananas, and you LOVE some Cheerios.

You still have just 2 teeth but we can see where the top ones are very close to breaking through.

We have had to set up two gates to block off your access to the foyer. You managed to get up one stair and that is all it took for me to know it was time to make those off limits.




You have learned how to pull yourself up! You really don't "surf the furniture" yet but prefer just to stand in place.

You also love to clap your hands with a big grin on your face. You love playing with all of Wyatt's toys especially his race cars and Batman cave.




And you are jibber-jabbering all the time. You are so trying to tell us things and we just talk right back to you. You say da-da the most and it won't be long before you connect that word to only Jeremy.

Bath time is even easier these days as your big brother has taken to joining you instead of taking a shower. He is super modest though so when I got the camera out, he had to have a cloth to cover himself up!




Phoebe is a constant companion during our days at home. I should mention that she turned 13 years old this past week!




This year we had our friends Leslie and Mark over to watch the Iron Bowl again. We also invited my brother Aaron, my SIL Erica, and their kids Carter, Jack, and YouYou.

Here is Wyatt, Jack, Morgan, and YouYou posing in the baby jail.




Carter was the only Alabama fan to join us and everyone else was for Auburn. Needless to say we were happy during the first half and they were happy during the second half and at the end of the game. We are proud to show that Alabama and Auburn fans can watch the game together and still speak to each other when it is over.




It was a fun day but a long one which went even longer when the adults ventured out to experience a little of Elora's culture at the Boar's Nest. My friend Leslie took pictures so hopefully I can share some of them soon. My favorite is the one of me outside the front door pointing at the sign that says "No Handguns Allowed." Really? You have to tell people that? Only in Elora.

Disney - Day 4 - Final Recap

For the final day, we decided to go back to the Magic Kingdom and see the rest of the park that we weren't able to see the first day.

On the Jungle Cruise




Jeremy and Wy on the Snow White ride. See the cell phone in Wy's hand? That was his "safety light" that he used in every dark ride after the Dinosaur trauma. The Snow White ride is about as tame as you can get but the first thing he asked when we got in the dark was "Is something going to jump out at us?" TRAUMATIZED.




Carter and Wy in line at the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad






Wy and YouMei on the train that goes around the park




Papa and Wy on the Carousel




We had reservations at Crystal Palace for a late lunch. The Winnie the Pooh characters visited each table while you ate which meant not having to wait in line for a picture.










Our last picture before leaving the park. They had great Halloween decorations all over the park.




There was a caricature booth set up in our hotel lobby. Morgan got hers done one of the first nights we were there. I really wanted Wyatt to have his done as well. The kids were swimming so I put him on the waiting list and kept going back and forth to check. It was finally his turn and he was SO TIRED or as I like to say "give out." But he sat there like a good little boy while the artist drew. It turned out so cute don't you think?




I have such wonderful memories of our family trip to Disney. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for taking us and for being so generous. We definitely want to go back in a few years and take Chase. So start saving your coins if you want to go with us!

Disney - Day 3 - Epcot

OK, I am determined to finish up this Disney saga ASAP. Stay with me - only a day and half to go!

Epcot was somewhat rushed but fun. Lots of cool rides and simulations.

We were able to get front row seats for the Chinese Acrobats. These girls are as flexible as a spaghetti noodle. Look closely at the picture - amazing, huh? This is when YouYou told her Mama that she wanted to be a Chinese girl when she grew up. :)




We had a Grand Gathering dinner reservation that Minnie and Goofy crashed.




After dinner was over, we went to a reserved area out by the lake for dessert and to watch the fireworks. The dessert tables were ridiculous!




It really was truly magical and definitely a night to remember.




And like every other day at Disney, it was magical yet exhausting! :)

Disney - Day 3 - Animal Kingdom

Day 3 was a LONG but fun day. We ended up visiting 2 parks in one day so I am going to cover just the highlights from each park.

The four of us got to Animal Kingdom right when it opened and we headed straight for the Dinosaur area. The first ride we wanted to go on was the infamous Dinosaur Ride. Infamous because my nephews had ridden it when they were younger and were traumatized by it. Aaron and Erica have a picture on their refrigerator of them on the ride and they are both covering their boys eyes who were obviously scared to death.




So I tried to tell Wyatt it was scary but he was determined to ride it. And I thought because he knew it was scary going into it, that he would be fine.

NOT. SO. MUCH.

It was really dark, loud, the ride jerks you around, and these life like dinosaurs are coming at you every where you look. I tried to talk him through the first few little encounters but then I saw he was crying and TERRIFIED.

So I put my hands over his eyes, held him tight, and screamed the rest of the way through it myself. It was a fun scary to me but not to him.

You could not even see Wyatt in our picture because I was basically covering him so we didn't get it.

Then the rest of the family arrived at the park and we decided to ride it again. Jeremy volunteered to sit out with the boys and YouYou who really wanted to ride it but she wasn't tall enough. :(

So front row is Aaron, David Aaron (6), my Mom, and my Dad aka the BRAVE ONES.

Second row is Erica, Emma (8), Morgan (11), and myself aka the SISSYS.

Check out our group picture.
(Click to enlarge)




The funniest thing to me is to look at Emma and Morgan and then look at David Aaron. It is like he isn't even on the same ride as we are.

Next on the agenda for the brave "kids" was a new roller coaster called Mt. Everest. The rest of us took the kids to a play area that was like a huge fort. They were able to dig for dinosaur bones and I think these boys would have been happy to stay there all day.




Then of course we had to stop for our healthy morning snacks.




We continued on to the Animal Safari where you ride in an open safari bus through what basically looks like Africa. I won't bore you with all the animal pictures but it was fun to see so many different types of animals and all so close up.




We met a few characters in the park and then had to rush over to Epcot because we had our Grand Gathering event to attend that night.







Wyatt's favorite Disney character is Donald Duck. I could tell he was so surprised that he was actually getting to meet the "real Donald Duck!"