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!

Daddy's Home!

Another busy week for us little guy.... Dad came back from shooting the wedding in Mexico, your Grandma and Grandpa K arrived back from 3 months in Mexico, and your Pops and Poppy and Aunt Ella from Australia arrived as well! You have been a star my little angel. You love being passed around and haven't play "strange" at all. You smile, giggle and make all sorts of talking noises. You certainly have lots to say!

You have been so much more vocal with Mommy too. When I sing to you, you smile and make all sorts of loud noises back. When I walk away you talk until I return like you are saying "Mommy, get back here! I have so much to say to you!".

Your crib naps have gotten so much better but your nighttime sleep has not progressed as well. You did sleep for almost 5 hours last night which was fabulous. Can you do that every night for me? Mom is now on her next mission- to feed you every 3 1/2 - 4 hours rather than every 3 or less. I think I got some bad advice and it has turned you into a bit if a "snacker". When I have been feeding you, you only take a few ounces at a time when you need to take 6 ounces 5X a day. Because you are eating too frequently, I think you aren't hungry enough when the next feed is offered. So I am keeping you up a little longer between naps and feeding you less often and more during those feed. Mom sure had no idea there would be one challenge after another!

You Aunt Ella adores you and is so proud. When she refers to you, she says "our Baby Chase"...too cute. You like watching her and her long hair. She watched mom give you a bath the other night and you couldn't take your eyes off her. Your Pops is very loud and has scared you a couple times with is roaring laugh but you just jump a bit and then usually smile. And Poppy keeps calling you "the most gorgeous little baby"...I have to say that I agree!

The weather is getting warmer and pretty soon we will be able to venture out for longer stroller walks since you will be staying up a little longer than usual. Your big brother Jessy loves walking right beside the stroller. He loves you very much even though it has been a bit of adjustment with him no longer being the baby.

Gotta run...I hear you stirring..I hope you go back to sleep. You need you zzzzzzz's little man.

Love you always and forever,
Mommy

PS- Mom took this pic today when you were wearing your little rabbit onesie. You look so adorable in it next to your favourite floppy eared bunny friend!

ABCD...EFG....HIJK....

This past week has been a busy one. Daddy went to Mexico to shoot a wedding so it was just you, me and Jessy!

Jessy turned 9 years old on Saturday. We had him out for alot of frisbee time and gave him some BBQ chicken. He got a brand new bed which he thinks is very "Ralph Lauren" and Dad got him a new red collar.

Lately when you have fallen asleep in the car and mom doesn't want to wake you when we arrive home, mom turns off the car in the garage, reclines her seat and snoozes with you. It is lovely! I just don't like waking you up when you need your sleep. It is important for your development (or at least that is what all these books and websites keep telling me). I am officially obsessed with your sleep habits! Mommy has to remind herself to let it go sometimes and let it be what it will be....

You LOVE it when I sing the alphabet to you. You smile away and make all sorts of crazy cute noises. Mom is ALWAYS singing to you. half the time I don't know the words (but I DO know the alphabet), and I make songs up and you simply smile away. Love it!

Today you had your first 2 hour crib nap! I wrote earlier about your 45 minute ones that you have struggled with. Well, mom used the "wake to sleep" method and woke you up ever so slightly at 30 mins to break the cycle and VOILA- you slept on and Mom had some free time. I love researching on the internet and in my books. I told you- SLEEP OBSESSED! Your sleep..not mine.

Huggies or Pampers? Incase you are wondering, we are using both right now and testing which ones we like best. I have had leaks with both but am leaning more towards the nice fit of the Huggies on you. We will see. But I do LOVE the baby powder scent of the Pampers. Mom double diapers you at night to ensure NO leaks. It is worth the extra $0.30 as daddy says!

This week you will meet your Pops Reilly and Poppy (?what is the Grandma name that goes with Pops?!) Reilly and little Aunt Ella. They are coming all the way from Australia just to meet you! We are ALL very excited to have them here. You are just going to adore them. They bought you all sorts of wonderful gifts before you were born and you know that red stickered suitcase? That is from Ella and is very special.

Btw, you are still waking up 2-3 times per night.....you should not be waking after only 3 hours of sleep you little stinker. Sleep Chase, sleep.....

Do you know how much I love you baby Chase? Words possibly cannot tell you.....

Mom

PS- Mom took this picture with her iphone. You started holding onto toys just this past week! Look at how cute you are!!!