Baby Smiles

Chase is smiling more and more and there is no other way to describe it but awesome. His smiles are one of the best things about being a parent. No matter what else is going on, his smile makes us smile, even if he has just peed on us. There is nothing better than him looking up and smiling. He even giggles and laughs and then laughs at himself laughing. Unfortunately, it's not easy to catch him smiling on camera, but here are a few good ones.

One of his favorite things to smile and laugh at, and even talk to, is a light-up musical toy on his Under the Sea Gym from Uncle Joey & Aunt Meg. He can be content under there for a half hour or more just looking around and smiling and talking to the animals on his gym. Needless to say, it's the best place to try and catch a smile...

He smirks

And looks at me with big inquisitive eyes

But we haven't caught a picture of him smiling on his gym yet.

I caught him laughing another time after a bath




And again after a diaper-changing (hence the unbuttoned sleeper)


You can sorta see it here- He does Stephen's side smile.




I caught a belly laugh on my cell phone


And finally a great smile picture, although not the greatest quality. Hopefully there will be many more of these to come...and documented with the good camera!

Chase goes swimming

Since legend says that Stephen was at a pool 4 days after he was born, and then continued to spend every summer at a pool until the age of 25, it was a shock that Chase reached his six week birthday without having been in a pool. However, the doctor had informed Stephen and Helen that Chase should not be in chlorine until he was six weeks of age, so although Chase visited Heritage, he did not go in, thus there are no pictures. Fortunately, Chase's uncle Joey has a pool, and was not worried about Chase's propensity for pooping!

Chase had a swim shirt, but his daddy forgot to pack his swim suit, so Chase decided to wear his sweatpants.



As you can tell, Chase was a little unsure of this whole idea, but was quickly convinvced that it would be okay. Stephen took Chase in at first, just dipping his toes in the water to see how he would react.






Chase seemed to enjoy the experience and was soon joined by his mommy who put him in up to his chest.




Uncle Joey has an infant/toddler float for his friends with children and Chase decided that it would be fun to float around with his daddy!



Chase has been talking non-stop about the fun he had swimming and how he can't wait to swim again, maybe next time with a bathing suit and a swimmee diaper!

Our Big Trip

We packed Chase and the dogs up for a trip up north to visit our families and friends. Chase was a champ traveling- sleeping in the car for 3 hour stretches, taking a bottle in the car, loving being held by family and friends, getting dressed up, and overall being a great baby. Mueller and Madison have also dealt well with the traveling, handling the trauma of new places and faces and some doggie- and kitty-loving kids.

We visited Godmother Kim and Matt:


Kim looks like a pro!


We spent time with big cousins, Amelia:



...and Owen "Crash" Lamont



Went to the pool with Amelia and Owen


Stephen "swam" with Amelia:


Father-son dressing by the Andrews and Lamonts (which we hope to continue for another generation!)


Ray and Amelia with Chase. Chase looks so small next to Ray!


Stephen and the baby boys. It's hard to believe that Chase will be Owen's size by this time next year.


Owen and Chase sharing the blue and blue style with Uncle Geoff:

Chase met Uncle Bilello


Chase enjoyed checking out the baby in the mirror


He got wrapped up in his ducky towel after his bath


And dressed up in a polo shirt like the ones his Daddy wears


And he even got a little crabby...



More pictures to come!