Chase's Journey

Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year's Rockin' Eve!

:)



After The Party...

What really goes on after the party ends ;)

The parents get to play! I know I mentioned overwhelming amounts of toys- but... let's face it- he's a baby and who wants to get "practical" gifts? Although we did get some awesome outfits, books, diapers (yay!), utensils/bowls, etc... we also got an overwhelming amount of toys! But... I think Dave and I let Chase stay up late last night just to play with them all...

Too fun!


(Last night- the definition of a "Hot Mess")



Sunday, December 30, 2012

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Boy!!!

Oh wow. I know I've been talking about this for days/weeks/months... but- it's really here! What a day we had to share with family the birthday of our special man. Spoiled rotten, of course, but all in good fun. Fortunately almost everyone was able to make it out today, and had plenty of good laughs ;)

Happy Birthday Sleepyhead!!!




Sis :) 
Baby Braelynn is soooooo much more interesting than all the other toys around :) 
Aunt Heather & Kae

Kae & Baby Braelynn

Aunt Julz!

Aunt Angie & Cookie Monster ;) 

Nana Joy
Uncle Brandon...
Mimi
Grumpy & Mimi




Hahaha... everyone watching Chase eat his first Birthday cake :) Aunt Julz, Aunt Raeshel, Aunt Angie, and Grammy Terri

Uncle Mike



Papa Pat 


The gift of Chewbacca

The gifts themselves aren't as fun as the packaging... complete with a Tigger tail :) 

Nat'n!!!

Heirloom from G-Gma Emma, Papa & G-Uncle Rob

Uncle Greg


Happy Birthday Chase!








Saturday, December 29, 2012

Reflections: A Year Ago...

Wow. Really- a year ago I was sitting at the house by myself terrified, waiting on Dave to drive back home from Miami- arriving after midnight. Trying to get some rest before the scheduled C-section the next morning- well, that was impossible. I had so many fears and unanswered questions, not knowing what the next morning would bring.

As the alarm went off at 3:30 am to get to the hospital by 4:30 am, I couldn't stop shaking. It was cold, sure, but the nerves were off the charts... then, through all the uncertainty and fears- we got to hold Chase for those first brief moments- hear his cry- and see him in all his perfection. The next 25 days were nerve-wracking and emotional, and each day felt like an eternity. The staff tried to reassure us that the day or two of set-backs would be nothing in the grand-scheme of a year or more, but in that moment, it was hard to believe. Now I can see how true it is. This year has flown, and the accomplishments our little boy has achieved continue to amaze.

I never allowed myself to think this far ahead this time last year. I wasn't sure what the next days would bring. But as I am attempting to make lollipops and his birthday cake for tomorrow, I have to smile. Even with his cranky, high-maintenance attitude, he just cracks me up and fills me with joy. Watching him and Nathan play last night, climbing over each other, toys, laughing, competing, and really enjoying themselves- I have started to let it sink in that we really have survived this year. How blessed we really are.

So... while the memories from last year are still very fresh, fragile, and real- I don't worry about Chase like I did- he really is strong, healthy, and by all means- a very strong headed individual :) Happy Birthday Eve!


Friday, December 28, 2012

Chase's Favorite Things

So, the other day I won a thing from our local radio station- a CMA Festival Christmas Stocking with Jennifer Nettles (from Sugarland) Favorite Things. It contained a Christmas cd, along with Savannah's Candy Kitchen chocolate covered peanuts, divinity, EO hand sanitizer spray (which I actually really love now), Palmer's Swivel stick (lotion stuff), etc... it's the little trinkets that I love like this.

With Chase's birthday a couple days away, it made me think about his favorite things. Especially with everyone asking (including us- mom & dad) what on earth do we get him? He already got a ton of toys and clothes for Christmas, there isn't much room for more. So, it appears that his favorite things are:


  • Speed! - see video from Christmas day, but he loves speed. Hence, the wish for the child seat for the bicycle. Already got the helmet, just gotta load on the seat. Working on garage sales, but most people aren't out this time of year.
  • Food- Seriously. Food. All kinds of food- but 90% of the time food will make him happy. Like his Halloween gift of a box of baby food- awesome! His favorites in this category:
    • Craisins - honestly, this is like baby candy. I know it's got a lot of sugar, but... he loves them
    • Oatmeal- Maple & Brown sugar- again, sugar content not so good- I have plain oatmeal too, but it makes such a mess to clean up the pots and bowls afterwards (lame, sorry).
    • Cheerios- we love Multigrain Cheerios best, but these among other types are a lifesaver in lines like for Santa, theme parks, grocery store.
    • All baby snacks- like Puffs, biscuits, cookies, etc. - I just stopped buying them because cereal and real fruit are so much cheaper in the long run. Same with baby food- he loves "big people food" most, so I just stopped bothering to buy baby food. He still loves it though.
    • Bananas, carrots, etc.- anything soft enough he can eat on his own- we roast tons of carrots now, and he gobbles them up.
    • This list could go on... but, seriously- food is our friend
  • Books- Yeah, so he often tries to eat them too, but he does sit there playing with books, staring at them, going through them- especially when Kaely reads to him. Minus the gnawing on the covers, I love it!
  • Self-help items- For the growing "Big Boy"- I just thought the other day about things like those "snack catchers"- containers so he can help himself (such as in the car) without having snacks flying everywhere. Switching gears to bigger sippy cups (the one we have is more like a bottle nipple- works for now, but trying to get out of that habit), baby utensils (like forks), etc. We have a bunch from Kaely, but he's starting to insist on feeding himself when he can, and as we transition into a toddler phase, we just have to let him do it!
There is so much that I am not prepared for- me, the infamous OCD planner- but he keeps us on our toes! Looking forward to introducing milk (okay, more looking forward to cutting him off in the near future), not having to buy diapers anymore (hahaha- this may be a year long project), and him running around. We have a lot of milestones ahead, but what a crazy, healthy baby boy! I have been learning to plan on ignoring the plans :)


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Just enough chaos to complete the Christmas season :)

Like father, like son... fortunately it seems everyone was a kid at heart today... love it!