So It's Been A Little While...

It's been forever since I've been able to get to a computer to blog. To all my die-hard fans, I apologize. Lots has happened in the last couple of weeks... for instance, I'm now able to pull myself up to a standing position in my crib (and I feel pretty proud of myself when I do it, too). And I can pretty much sit by myself now, with the exception of a tumble here and there. I've expanded my food intake to both veggies and fruit, and I loooove it all! I quench my thirst with some refreshing water, from my big-boy rubbermaid drink box (complete with a straw and everything, I might add!). I'm going through a shrieking phase, which my parents are growing tired of. I'm getting some not-so-good reactions lately from my outbursts, especially when I'm tired cause that's when I get really loud and shrill. I'm napping really well in the morning and afternoon, but I'm trying to make my evening nap obsolete (it's not working out too well - I think my parents suspect I still need one).

I've tried to keep up my social life in the midst of all this developing. I watched my cousin Coop at his very first soccer game. I went to Kelowna for the weekend to visit my friends Sean & Wix. And I spent an entire church service in the nursery for the first time ever, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I've also caught up with my buddies Parker and Annah at Annah's new house (I like going there because she has so many toys, and a bright red chair she lets me sit in that's just my size), and I've spent some time with my grandparents, both Baerg and Horban. I love my grandparents! I got to cuddle with both my auntie Les and my auntie Megan - cuddling is one of my favourite things to do, especially when it's with my aunties. And probably the most major recent event in my life was my trip to the pool with my daddy... twice! I took my very first swim at the YMCA with my dad and Sean in Kelowna. I really didn't like it at first, but by the end, I was in my element! I can't wait to go again and again and again!

(My mom wanted you to know those are my dad's legs... not hers!)

Just Another Update

I've cut another tooth! I'm just exhausted. And I've been introduced to real food. I can't believe what I've been missing! I just love it. Sweet potatoes, squash and green beans. It's the best! I can't wait to spend time in my highchair, and I absolutely love to try to feed myself by helping my mom handle the spoon. Another big change in my life is my ability to roll over from my back to my front. Who knew being on your tummy could be so exhilirating? While on my front I can rotate myself in a complete circle (when motivated by toys) and I can slowly move myself backwards. I am so close to crawling, I can almost taste the freedom! I also went to my very first hockey game last weekend - the Chilliwack Bruins were playing themselves, so my dad and I went with my cousin Mackenzie and my uncle Pat. I enjoyed myself immensely until the crazy-loud air horn startled me to tears.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Happy Birthday, Dad! I'm so excited about your birthday, I can hardly contain myself. I'm so glad to have a dad like you. Some of my favourite memories of the two of us so far are having naps together on the couch when I was really little, laughing my head off at all the crazy things you do (nobody can make me laugh as hard as you do), all the walks we've taken together, our snuggle times, your crazy voices and funny faces, and watching sports together when mommy's not around! I can't wait for all the fun we can have as I grow up; you're such a cool dad. I hope that at 28 I'll be as great a man as you are. I love you so much. I wish you a very happy day and a super crazy awesome year.

My First Tooth!

Some very exciting news... I cut my first tooth about a week ago! I love to bite down on everything within my reach and drool like crazy, even more than before. And I've discovered how wonderful it is to suck on the bottom of a slurpee cup - so cold on the gums! It makes my mouth all numb and red, though. I've also spent some time in my new highchair eating cereal. I wasn't so fond of the cereal at first (eating with a spoon is hard!) but I'm growing to like it. And I've graduated from my infant car seat to a big-boy seat! Lots has happened in the last couple of weeks, as you can tell.

I also got to meet my great grandparents on my mom's side. Pretty cool, especially since they traveled all the way from Ontario. My Auntie Megan left for over a month on a trip to practically everywhere but here. I miss her, especially her hair. Nobody has long hair like hers to pull on. What else? Being the dare devil that I am, I went on the swings and rode down the slide with my dad. Even the swirly slide, to my mom's dismay. Us boys aren't afraid of anything! My cousins Mackenzie and Cooper come over for a sleep over one night. I got to watch them play basketball, and play with my dad's new Wii video game system. I can't wait to play with them. And I went garage-saling with my mom, Grandma Horban and Auntie Megan and we bought some great stuff for me. I was such a good kid riding in the car from place to place. My Grandpa Horban had surgery, to remove his gall bladder. He was so brave. I'm so glad he can get better now, and soon we can play together again.

Now we're house-sitting for my Auntie Marni which I'm LOVING! Their house has the most ceiling fans I've ever seen, and I love love love ceiling fans. My neck is getting a little sore from looking up so much. Oh, and their cat drools more than I do just for the record. As always, here are some pics:

Sooo Grown Up

I'm approaching 6 months, in just a couple weeks... a whole half a year old! I feel so wise and experienced. At half a year old, I love grabbing everything within my reach, and putting whatever's in my grasp into my mouth. Drool is always in excess, and it feels so good to bite down on my fingers. I'm exploring my vocal chords, I'm making strange with almost everyone but my parents, and I cry the minute I can't see my mommy. I love going for walks because I get to people-watch; even strangers smile at me and tell me I'm a cutie! I study people eating and drinking, and I'm pretty sure I'm ready to take that on. I'm captivated by the TV, and although I'm not allowed to watch it, I can be quite sneaky and find ways to watch it. When I'm strapped into my carseat or stroller I try so hard to sit forward by stretching my arms and legs in front of me and pulling my head forward. It never works. And even though I'm still bothered by heartburn at night, I'm sleeping about 10 hours. I'm getting better at napping, and I no longer have to be rocked to sleep. I still love to give kisses, and since I'm getting much more coordinated and stronger with my grip, my mommy and daddy are at my slobbery mercy! The past 6 months have been soooo great; I can't wait for the next 6!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Mommy, I wish you a very happy birthday! I think this must be your best birthday ever, cause it's your first one with me here. I know you're not really into birthdays, and you're not thrilled about turning 27, but I just have to say I'm so glad to celebrate your birthday because if you weren't born, then I wouldn't be born either! It's funny how that works. So I hope you have a great day today, and a wonderful year! I love you. (And happy birthday to my Auntie Marni, also born on July 23rd, 8 years exactly before my mom).

I thought it would be fun to include a photo of my mom when she was little, and then one of the two of us together enjoying a bedtime story. I've also included a few photos of my mom and my auntie enjoying a little birthday pie.

My First Road Trip

I visited Banff this past weekend for a family reunion; my very first road trip. I actually quite enjoyed myself, until the way home when I decided I had had enough of the car. Everyone got an earful of my wonderful cry. But in my defense, 12 hours in a car is more than any baby can take! Some of the highlights of the trip was my first visit to the Old Spaghetti Factory, meeting a bunch of my relatives for the first time, going for a morning walk with my daddy (just the two of us - it was great 'guy time'), and drooling so much on my Auntie Megan's bed that she thought someone had spilled something on it! (Sorry, Auntie Megan!) And I loved being able to spend so much time with my immediate family.