This Christmas

I'm wishing I could see her smile at me just one more time. Christmas just won't be the same without you, Grandma.

Brice at 7 months!

Our little Bricey isn't so little any more-- he's becoming a bigger boy every day. He's crawling  like a pro and starting to pull up (oy). The type and number of foods he's eating have expanded and he's even eating real solids! We also started him on a cup. And he's starting to babble.

At 7 months, Brice is:

-Crawling! - He is all over the place and can't be out of sight for a second or he'll find his way into something

-Going from crawling to sitting up-- he just learned that today!

-Pulling up to his knees, even in his crib.  We had to lower the mattress to make sure he wasn't going to climb out.

-Sitting up in the bathtub

-Getting into trouble.  He especially likes Chase's toys so let the fighting begin...

-Eating so many foods-- fruits, vegetables, some (pureed) meats. He loves puffs, mum mums, and chopped up chicken-- anything he can put in his mouth.

-Sort of drinking with a cup...

-Sleeping from about 8pm-5:45am (or waking up at 2:30) and then going back to sleep until 7 or 7:30. Not sure how he's going to sleep while we're traveling for the holidays, though...

-Babbling and repeating syllables. He was doing really well with this (and was especially good at "ba ba ba ba") before he started crawling, then it stopped for a while. Now that he's got crawling down, he's babbling again. And boy is he loud!

-Starting to have separation anxiety. Brice cries when I leave the room, especially if he is not distracted.

- Being adorable, although that is not new.  He is happiest, at least smiling the most, when we pick him up and/or change his clothes.  We get the biggest smiles from out sweet boy!

- Belly laughs - this too has been happening for awhile, but it is still hysterical.  It's especially pronounced when he is tickled and it is so sweet.

-This month Brice had his first haircut (even though he already needs another one!)

Time is passing too quickly! I can't believe how fast he is growing up. Brice is hitting many of these milestones earlier than Chase, so it makes it seem like the time is going even faster. Regardless, we are so proud of all of his developments and can't wait to see what he's got planning for month 8...but no walking yet, please!

"Chase"

Today I'm writing about Chase, but not our sweet, blond-haired, blue-eyed 2 1/2 year old. Another sweet, blond-haired, blue-eyed child...7 year old Chase Kowalski. He loved baseball and running. He had recently completed a triathlon. His dad's name is Stephen.

Chase Kowalski will be buried today.

He was a victim of the attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday.

As a mom, this terrible event affects me in so many ways. It feels like not an hour goes by when I don't think of the victims, or read a story about the tragedy, or wonder "why?" My heart aches and I have cried countless times. Friday afternoon I rushed home to my boys to just hug them and be with them. I don't need to describe much of what I feel here-- most of the blog readers are parents (or soon-to-be parents) and you have felt the same wretching emotions as I have.

But one of the little victims shares my son's name, and his coloring, and his love of baseball...and it makes this horrific tragedy hit even closer to home. Not only could this have been my child, he was like an older version of my child.

Today I will cry for Chase Kowalski. I will shed tears for his parents and his family and his friends. I will think about this precious boy and pray for everyone affected by the shooting. I will once again hug our Chase a little tighter and remind him that I love him. And in the coming weeks I will engage in any way I can to prevent this from happening again.


At our Chase's school, they say a blessing before snack time. It ends like this:

Peace on Earth,
peace in our classroom,
And peace in our hearts.

Amen.

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we didn't travel for Thanksgiving-- Thanksgiving came to us. Grammy and Grampy drove down and Uncle Geoff, Aunt Carrie, Amelia and Owen flew down for the first ever Lamont Thanksgiving in Maryland. The nice thing about traveling is that the holiday doesn't just last one day-- we got some much-needed time with them!

(I'm still waiting for iPhone pictures from Stephen, so this post will be updated as soon as I get them.)

Amelia loved on her baby cousin and helped take care of him.

Owen and Chase (and their Daddies) hung out and played together.

We attempted a picture of all 4 kids...and were moderately successful.

When things deteriorated, we pulled out some mustaches....in honor of Movember.

On Saturday, Kevin, Norma, and (Mr.) Ben came over.

It was such a fun couple of days and Chase and Brice were totally spoiled by all the attention from their cousins.

Brice crawls!

Watch out world, he is on the move!

Brice's 6 month doctor's appointment

Last Thursday I took Brice in for his 6 month appointment. It was happily uneventful.

Brice weighed in at 17lbs 9oz (~53th percentile) and 27 3/4 inches long (85th percentile).

He got his 6 months shots, plus his flu shot. There were real tears, but they let up before the nurse even left the room.

But mostly we played, he smiled at the mirror, and he tore up the paper on the table.

The doctor said he is happy and growing well. What else could a mama want?