Cousins

Here is a pic of you and your cousins on Fathers Day at the pool! This picture show so much joy and it makes me so happy!

Jessy is looking down on us and I betcha he is so proud of you for being so brave in the water. Jessy loved the water.

xo

Peas and Fathers Day!

Hi Sweet Angel!

You have had a BIG week my little lambchop!

You are doing so well at going from your tummy onto your back. on June 14th you did your first roll over on your own. Right now you only roll to the right but that is ok. You LOVE doing it and are fast. Your little legs are very strong too. When Mommy and Daddy stand you up (and support you) you are steady and sturdy but I said you are not allowed to walk anytime soon. I just want you to stay at this age! you are such a cutie pie and so so happy and smiley all the time.

Right now you are up for 2 hrs and 15 mins between naps and we are working on getting you to 3 hours between naps and just 2 naps a day. mind you, sometimes right now you sleep so well during the day we only do 2 naps and get you into bed for 6:30.

Last night there was a woodpecker pecking at our house and you slept and slept away..Mom thought that silly bird would wake you. Nope.

On Saturday June 18th you had your very 1st meal of solids! Mom made you pureed sweet peas (mixed with some ground flax so you didn't get bunged up). You made some silly faces and started to gobble them up. You were ADORABLE! Mom and Dad were so proud of you. We got lots of pictures and videos.

Yesterday was Fathers Day and you gave Daddy lots of cuddles, smiles and love. We made him coffee and a nice protein shake. Later in the day we met up with the MacLeod family and Babcia and Dzia Dzia for a swim. This was your second swim and you were a STAR! Aunty Kerry gave you a floaty ducky thing and you loved being in it. you didn't cry or make a peep. Just lots of smiles and you were totally relaxed. We thought it was hilarious and so did your cousins Liam, Noah and Ryan. We had a BBQ dinner here afterwards and you loved getting snuggles from Aunty Kerry. She LOVES babies!

You are such a great little baby and I just cannot stop kissing you and smelling your delicious baby scent!!!

Love you!

Mom

Long time...lots on the go

Hi Chase,
It has been a few weeks since I last wrote. Sorry little man. We have been busy around here. Since the house sold, mom and dad have been busy figuring out where to live and mom has been packing, packing and packing!

Three weeks ago we found out your big brother had 4 tumours :-(. He was very sick and we could not make him better. We would have done ANYTHING to help him. Mom is going to keep this post short because she is super sad right now and can't stop crying her eyes out. Thank goodness you and Daddy are here. You make mom smile and keep my chin up even with all the tears.

Your big brother Jessy had to go to heaven 2 days ago. Here is the special poem Mommy read to him before we said goodbye.

Sir Sniffs, Mr. Waddlebutt, Big Bear

May heaven have peanut butter hills that are oh so yummy
Let the golden sun warm your soft pink tummy
Enjoy the endless amounts of fresh buttered popcorn
That smells like your paws since you were born
Let the clouds feel like fluffy powdery snow
Roll, roll, roll and get down low
Always remember your long belly rubs and your baths in the big warm tub
Run for the ball and your favourite ringette
Know that mom and dad will not ever forget
I hope asiago flavoured flowers grow wild around you
Let the sun shine bright and warm you if you are blue
May you swim in the cool clear lakes
Don't forget to roll in the sand before you do your wild shakes
Be kind to Dalton, Barley, Gina, Gabe, Black Dog and G
For those are your friends and family
When you dream of us down below,
Try not to howl and put on a show
We'll take care of your baby brother Chase
And will make sure he is surrounded by pictures of your handsome face
We will miss your big heart and pendulous ears that we love so much
The only thing missing will be our touch
You have been loyal, faithful, trusting and true
I am not sure how we will get over missing you
Be brave, be strong,
Be the Jessy Lewis we have loved for so long
Take this note with you to doggy heaven
Hold it tight to your heart on your fav radiant heat floors
Remember Mom, Dad and Chase before you drift off into your long deep snores
May your heart be forever filled with our love
We know you will look down on us from heaven above

Nightie night little angel....nightie night


Jessy really wanted to be around for you while you grew up. I know it....but he was sick honey and he is in a much happier and healthier place. Not a second has gone by where I haven't thought of him....I know I will always think of him and will forever cherish him and the wonderful memories he gave me. Yesterday I help you up to the big canvas we have of him hanging in the laundry room. You smiled and reached up and touched him. I know you will remember him. I just hope you don't remember all of moms tears. When you grow up we will have all sorts of wonderful stories to tell you about Jess and all of his adventures. He was anything but boring!

Now about you....you said your first word (if we can call it that) on June 2. It was "boo boo". Since then you have been making all sort so funny shapes with your lips and tongue. You make sounds like "goooo" or "hhhhiiiiiii" and you yell out with crazy screams for attention and then you crack right up. You hold out your arms when you want to be picked up and you love your snuggles and playing peek-a-boo in the mirror. You get a real kick out of yourself. You weight 17.5 lbs now too! You have been referred to as "pork chop", "chunky monkey", "sausage" and "buddha". You have massive cheeks right now which are SO adorable and a little belly that mom can't get enough of.

And by the way...you are still a fabulous little sleeper. Sometimes after 13 hours of nightime sleep you wake for 2 hours and then sleep for another 3! Mom misses you! You must be growing and getting big and strong.

When you get up for your nap we are making our first trip to the pool! More details in the next post.

I love you!

Mommy

Squeals and Giggles!

Hi Baby Chase,

You are now 16.5 lbs and still the happiest little guy! Lately you are so vocal. You squeak and giggle and let out these high pitched funny noises that make mom and dad laugh so hard. Lately you love it when I take you on the bed, lay you on your side and I lay beside you and I grab you and tickle you and say "I'm gonna kiss, kiss, kiss you.....I am gonna tickle, tickle, tickle you...." and you look right in my eyes and laugh so hard you snort! That time is so special to me. You look right into my eyes and I fall even more madly in love with you! You JUST started laughing in the past 2 weeks. You crack right up when I sing your massage song to "I got a leg, leg, a little leg, I got some toes, some toes, ten little toes...I got a belly, a belly a big round belly...I got two arms two arms, two chubby arms...." YOU LOVE IT! Babcia watched the other day and she called your Dad and Dzia Dzia down to watch because she thought it was hilarious.

Yesterday you had your first MAJOR explosive "up-the-back" poop and it didn't bother mom one stinkin' (har har har) bit!

You are now big enough to face outwards in the Baby Bjorne carrier and you look at everything while you giggle and drool all over the place. We walk to the mailbox every afternoon with your big brother Jessy. It has been a really chilly spring and we are waiting for the nice warm Okanagan sunshine to arrive.

You are a super duper sleeper. We rarely even hear a peep out of you at night. Just lots of heavy breathing. It warms my heart when I know you are sleeping soundly and dreaming away. I hope you are dreaming about all the wonderful things you are going to experience in your future....cuddles with Jessy, family vacations, birthday cake, Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, visiting baby elephants, swimming in cool lakes, splashing in the tub, flinging food at mom and dad, snuggles from Babcia and Dzia Dzia and Grandma Gingerpa, Pops and Poppy, picnics in the park, carving Halloween pumpkins...the list goes on forever. We have big plans for you CJ! But right now I don't want you to grow up and I never want this year I am off with you to end.

You are the most special, most wonderful little angel.

Until my next post....

Love you always and forever,

Mom
xo

PS- the pic attached is you showing off your new shirt from Aunt Kelly! She spoils you. Look at you!!!!

Long Sleeps & First Shoes!

Hi Chase,

Mom has been excited to write this post. On April 19th it was your official FIRST FULL NIGHT of sleep. You slept for a whopping 10.5 hours! Mom and Dad were so proud. Since then you have continued to sleep anywhere from 10.5-12.5 hours a night. Your naps have been amazing too! You are an official pro baby sleeper and Mom and Dad are officially no longer sleep deprived. Thank you sweetie.

We have been busy at home doing what we do.....playing, sleeping and eating. While you sleep Mom usually organizes cupboards or works on the computer. Oh, and ofcourse I do a little online shopping here and there. In fact, on Sun I bought you some cute Old Navy clothes for this summer.You are getting so big! We have to weigh you but you MUST weigh in at about 15.5 lbs by now. I will get Daddy on the scale with you.

You are smiling and giggling away like crazy. You love shouting out for Mommy if I am out of your sight for a minute or two. You love your tummy time and are determined each time....you kick, grunt, groan and then you smile away! Yesterday you did your biggest "scootches yet"...you were lifting your bum and then scooting your knees in. We were so proud! You also love playing on your exercise mat. There is a little lion that dangles down and you grab it's tale and it plays a tune. You are really getting the hang of it and Mom always smiles when she hears the tune play. The weather is still not warm and typical for May in the Okanagan so when when I go to play with Jessy out front , I put you in your Bjorne Babysitter bouncy chair, wrap you in a blanket and put you on the front porch to watch us. You just smile and make giggle noises.

Every afternoon we walk to the mailbox with Jessy. You love the fresh air but hate the sun in your eyes! Your hood covers your eyes and that makes you a happy little guy.

I have taught you a little thing for exercise time....I say "exercise, exercise, 1,2,3" and I move your legs up and down and I also do it with your arms and you think it is the BEST thing ever. Guaranteed to get HUGE toothless grins!

Yesterday you wore your very 1st pair of shoes! They were the little navy Converse Mom and Dad bought and used in our pregnancy announcement email. They are too big for you but you still wore them and they looked adorable. The picture above is what we had you sporting yesterday. I hope you get a kick out of it. We think it is the coolest outfit. Your Dad captioned the picture as "Bad Ass" on Facebook. You are the most handsome, most adorable baby EVER! Man, I am so in love with you.

Thanks for being so wonderful baby Chase. Mom is so lucky to have Dad, you and Jessy. You all light up my life every single day!

xo

Brian John Reilly- Your Daddy!

Hi Chase,
This blog post isn't to tell you how I met your Dad and how we fell in love....we will tell you that one in person as it is just the BEST story and has to be told in person! This post is to tell you a little bit about your Daddy, what he is like, how he feels about you and what he is up to the days leading up to your arriving and now.

First of all, by the time you are able to read this, you will know that your Daddy is kind, loving, patient, gentle and hilariously funny! He is always making funny faces at you and they make you smile! Dad was 43 years old when you were born (and turned 44 Jan 15th- don't forget your dad's birthday!). You have the same eyes as Daddy- big, bright blue, and they sparkle from a mile away! Mommy loves Daddy's eyes- they are "happy" eyes. Dad did anything and everything for you right from when Mom was pregnant. I came home to a stroller for you....a car seat was in my car one day when I got in after my work day, he went out and bought your fabulous glider chair which Mom adored and surprised me with it one night.... When you were first born our blanket swaddle wasn't working Dad right away said "I am going to Kelowna" to get the right one....he made a few trips into Kelowna to get you what you needed for your comfort and sleep. Dad never complains, he never yells (well, rarely.....), he is always prepared to give his heart and soul to you, me or Jessy. He truly is the most wonderful man in the world and you are lucky to have him as your Dad and I am so lucky he is my husband! We make a great family!

I read a book to you for nap time and one of the pages is called "My Food" and on it it lists various first words for you to learn. Mom always smiles when she gets to the picture of the sliced cucumber and she says "cucumber. Your Daddy LOVES cucumbers" - it makes me smile. I wish there was an image of wine gums! Dad LOVES wine gums too (especially the red and black ones).


Ok...your Dad is VERY talented too! He is a great businessman and was involved in restaurants for many years (again, I will let him tell you all about that) and since moving to the Okanagan, where we live now, Dad has been working at Tower Ranch Golf Club. He is the General Manager. This is his 4th year working there and he works SO SO hard and has not had it easy there. It is a new business and with the recent economical issues business is tight which means Dad has to run a very lean business. He works countless hours (gets up at 4:30 and sneaks off quietly...sometimes he goes in late to spend time with you when you get up! And sometimes does not get home until 7,8 pm....), carries on too much stress and treats the business like his own. They are so lucky to have him. He has paid staff out of his own pocket when money hasn't been there from the business, he has fought to not have people laid off because they have families....the list goes on and on and on. Dad does not like his job there but everyday he continues to work his butt off and build his photography business at the same time. This means any free time that Dad has after spending time you and me, he dedicates to shooting weddings, family portraits, learning via web tutorials, taking workshops, reading and practicing. The goal is for him to pursue his passion and be a full time photographer. Mom wants this so badly for him as well and when he goes full time- look out! He is AMAZING! Right now because I am off work taking care of you and since we are establishing a plan for our family, Dad is still working at the golf course until we have a clear direction of next steps. It will all be very exciting once changes start taking place.

I should also mention Dad works out everyday! He loves a good cardio workout and pumps some iron to stay strong. Mom loves that Dad stays in such good shape! There is so, so, so much to tell you about Dad...I could go on and on.

By now there will have been hundreds of thousands of photos taken of you and prepare for more. Dad loves you so much and it makes Mom so happy and proud to see the two of you together cuddling. Dad is so helpful and so good with you. He treats you like a little King and is so gentle, so tender and careful with you. So precious.....Mom will forever cherish these memories.


The picture above is from April 23 when you were having some time with Dad while the hockey game was on.

I love my boys.

xo

PS- Fact: Dad has a tattoo on his wrist that is in Japanese and means "Protect Chase". How amazing is that! I always call Dad "our protector".

Rudy The Rabbit

Your floppy eared rabbit friend now has a name "Rudy". He is on his way to becoming your little cuddly soothing stuffy to help you feel safe and loved at all times when mom and dad are in the other room.

Since you were born Mom and Dad have worked very hard on creating a routine for you and setting up good sleep habits. A local sleep consultant Pam Nease www.sleepsense.net/kelowna has worked with us since you were 3 weeks old. Basically the whole philosophy is to help you be a good independent sleeper and to not have to rely on anything (i.e. soother, back rubs, rocking, swing, walking) for you to be able to sleep. This means you being able to fall asleep on your own and put yourself back to sleep when you still need to catch more zzzzzzz's. Last night was the first night of official "sleep training" since you are now 15 weeks old and weigh 14 lbs! You were ready to break some habits and to start letting mom get some sleep. In short, when you woke in the night Dad would go in, sit next to you, and talk gently to reassure he was there for you and make lots of eye contact with you while you cried. Firstly you slept for your most recent 6 hours right off the bat (which was fabulous since you were in your sleep sac and no swaddle) then at 1:30 you started to talk a bit..then you started to cry looking for Mom and your bottle. Dad waited out your crying which was on and off for 45 minutes..This happened twice and you woke up at 5:35 cooed and played by yourself then mom got you up at 6 with a nice rewarding 7 oz bottle. You were as happy as ever and gave Mom massive toothless smiles when you saw her. This warmed my heart. Mom was very nervous and very sad to have you do this big boy sleep training. I checked on you a couple times but I also got some sleep thanks to Ativan and earplugs. AS Pam likes to say- we need to "honor our sleep and our babies sleep". This makes perfect sense. Sleep helps us grow mentally and physically. It prepares our bodies for challenges and helps us recover. Your dad and I didn't want to go through months and/or years of sleeping in separate rooms...mom being a zombie and miserable. Since we had set the foundation for good sleep from the start, this is going to be a smooth transition...it already has been. Mom and Dad felt that we knew too many parents who don't get any sleep, whose children don't sleep well and both are often grumpy. We didn't want to be like that and our lives are much to active to be sleepy and in bad moods.

You sat in your Bumbo chair from Aunt Kerry last night for the first time and you weren't sure at first but quickly started talking away and smiling. You look so adorable in it! Dad said you look grown up! I said NO NO NO!

It is chilly out Chase. We have had a long cold winter. Mom set up an outdoor workout area on our lower patio. The plan is for mom to get her workouts in while you nap. You are too old and getting too big to be lugged to the gym everyday. Mama needs to get back in shape to her pre-pregnancy bod!

I cannot wait for the nice warm weather and to take you around the resort in the stroller and to the pool!

I love you Baby Chase.

mom
xo

PS- Daddy took these shots yesterday. Your expressions crack us right up! Also, this was the last day of wearing your skull and crossbone sleeper. You are too long for it!