Strawberry Picking 2012

Chloe here. While I was up north, Nana and Grandpa took me strawberry picking.

Here was the bucket I used.  The same one as last year.

Then I got down to pickin'.  Because everything was early this year, we caught the berries at the end of their season and they were very ripe.

Here's a good berry!  (Notice we have yet to get a picture with my eyes open :)

I did a good job picking.

Hmm... how many are there?

Check out the "berry fingers."

Here's our bounty!

Thumbs up dude.

Nana and Grandpa even let me eat a berry on the way home...

... in their new car!

It got a little messy, but I contained it.

Yum!

I had lots of fun... thanks Nana and Grandpa!

Who Does He Look Like?

 Daddy?

or Mommy?

Chloe and "Nana's Grandpa"

Just sittin' in the back of a pickup... watching the rain come down.  I LOVE these pictures.  She sure does love him.

They're SO Freakin' Cute!

Even the outtakes are cute!

Summer in Merrill

Chloe here. A couple of weeks ago we went to Merrill to see Nana and Grandpa. It was an extended visit, 10 days I think, and the reason I haven't been blogging as regularly. But we're home now so I can catch up!  Here's some bits and pieces of what we did in Merrill.  There will be other blogs with other activities, as well, so keep checking in!

It was warm up there so we played in the water outside.  This picture is Mommy's favorite summer one of me so far.

Nana went to visit her sisters for a couple of days.  Daddy and I made sure that her flowers were adequately watered while she was gone.

I crawled in Daddy's hiking backpack to chill out.

Here's what me and Bud Bud were doing one morning.  Random.

Gotta have your milk when you're stuck in a backpack, right?

Nana set up the "magical trail" for me.

This time there were little bugs hidden all over... plastic ones :)

 Daddy makes Casey laugh... a lot.

 Here's how Daddy caught me one day during nap.

I made a "nest."

 Just like the baby robins that were in their nest!

I also slept on the floor one night.

Ok, maybe more than one night :)

I also slept one night outside in the tent with Daddy.  We camped out until about 1:30 am and then I wanted to go back in the house :)

 I had a bit of trouble with my britches.

But it didn't slow me down!

Casey spent some time in his jammies outside.  Notice that spot under his eye?  He got burned by an ember during from a campfire.  Ouch!

Just doing some raspberries with Nana and Grandpa.

This is a cute shot, isn't it?

Happy brother.

Sad brother.

Here's our traditional shot in Nana's garden.

And me and my buddy walking to the car to go home.

I had lots of fun up north... thanks Nana and Grandpa!

Happy 4th of July

From these two little sparklers.  Hope you all stay cool and safe!

9 Month Stats Update

Weight: 24 lbs 4 oz (99.9 percentile)
Height: 30 2/4 in (99.9 percentile)
Head: 47.6 cm (99 percentile)

He's the size of an average 15 month old... and about the size of a 22-23 month Chloe Jo.

Translation = offensive lineman... go bud bud!

Summer Cuteness

I know, it's been awhile.  We were "Up North" for about 10 days and are still recovering.  Here are a couple of pictures to satisfy you in the mean time.

9 months

 Practicing for when he turns 1!

Casey James is 9 months old. Holy moly, that 1st birthday is right around the corner!

Pictures are getting harder and harder to take.  He's totally mobile now and not interested in being still any longer than he has to.

He is full out army crawling EVERYWHERE (as Chloe would say) now.  A few times a day, he will get up on his hands and knees and move a little bit, but then he goes right back down to crawling with his elbows and tummy on the ground.  He's very efficient... a quick little bugger.  We've had to evoke all kinds of crazy things to keep him quarantined, which he hates.

He is working on waving, but doesn't quite get it very often.

He likes to dance, when I sing, "Dance, dance, dance.  Casey likes to dance."  Super cute... one shoulder bop-type dancing.


He's sitting great, but prefers to be crawling around.

He loves splashing in wading pools or at the water table.

He communicates with us with "raspberries" and "ah-type screaming."  He'll go back and forth mimicking with you.

He's pretty much still sleeping the same as last month.  About 8:30 pm-6:30 am with a morning nap and afternoon nap.  (The last 3 nights, he's gone down fine and then woke up about an hour after falling asleep crying.  Any ideas?)  He takes 4 bottles and alternates them with his meals, which he has 3 times a day.  He really, really, really likes almost any food, especially banana yogurt.  He also really likes his "dinner-type" meals... Chicken and Stars, Vegetable Beef Pilaf, Spaghetti and Cheese... those meals in a jar. He's tried more finger foods like Cheerios, cheese, green beans, apples, and sweet potato fries.  He pretty much tries something new every day.  He REALLY likes his puffs and his big sister does a great job feeding them to him (and sneaking some)!

He's got 6 teeth and has been pretty fussy so we're wondering if there are more coming.

Still loves his Jumperoo... he's gotta be getting to big soon.  Someday it might flip on us.  I hope he walks before he outgrows it or we're going to have to figure out another way for this child to get his "exercise" for the day.  Otherwise he'll be crabby!

He weighs about 24 lbs  and is wearing 18 month and some 24 month clothes.  I think his growing has slowed a teeny bit.  We will give you official updates after the doctor's appointment on Tuesday.

Happy 9 months, bud bud.  We're having such a fun summer with you, little guy!

Happy Father's Day

We love you Daddy... and we love making our Silly Summer Simek Totem Pole!

Happy Father's Day to Papa and Grandpa and all the other fathers we know too!