Our little star came shooting into the world at 6:11 pm on March 3rd, 2005. He weighed 8 lbs. 4.6 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long, Apgars were 9 and 9.

Chanler and his mom are healthy, doing well, and resting at home.

Lots and lots of pictures!

We celebrated Chanler's one week birthday today with cupcakes and a champagne toast. More pictures here.

Chanler gave us his first real (social) smile this week . . . he is SO cute!

Here he is a few days later smiling for the camera

No not really, but this picture was just too cute not to highlight

During our bible study group tonight, Scott was holding Chanler and randomly broke in to the children's Sunday school song - "the B. I. B. L. E." because Chanler was standing on Scott's bible. Too funny, especially if you know how quiet Scott usually is.

We had Chanler dedicated tonight at our church (MPPC) by the pastor that leads our couples group (and wants to be Chanler's adopted grandma) Joanie Tankersley. After we celebrated with family and friends at Buca di Beppo in Palo Alto.

Chanler's wonderful outfit was made by his Grandmama Hraban, because the one Jesse wanted to get was not available - Isn't it a cute suit!! and amazingly enough Chanler did not spit up on it until after the service was over =].

Pictures

Well it is Chanler's first Halloween (not my favorite "holiday") and we dressed him as a cowboy - I found a hat that was too cute to pass up and then Grandma found the piece de resistance - the real cowboy boots.

More Pictures

A month or so back we started feeding Chanler "solid" food, which currently means blended fruits and veggies. He is not too picky an eater so far, but he definitely likes some things more than others. He will eat oatmeal and blended apples and pears all day long, but he will not eat more than a few bites of yams, and peas take a lot of reminding that it is time to eat ;)

He does not quite yet seem to have any idea "why" he is eating - just about anything is more interesting than eating, and he is easily distracted. Except of course when he is eating the previously mentioned blended apples! The first bite is always amusing - he screws up his face as if you had just put the most awful thing in his mouth - still have yet to catch that on camera.

Chanler spent his first Christmas getting to know extended family in Minnesota. He met his Great-Grandma, Great Aunt and Uncle, and lots of cousins. He had a great time being the center of attention to all the people and especially cousin Darren's two dogs (Kisses and Blanca)

Pictures

Chanler has recently rediscovered his fire truck walking toy. For the last few days it has given him hours of enjoyment just to push it around (sometimes just in a circle - like our living room was a race track). The best part is the noise that goes with it. Chanler makes a Brrrr/Vrrrr "engine" noise while playing. It is so funny

Chanler was sitting on my lap today playing with the cap of a water bottle. He started hiding the cap under my shirt then putting his hands up to say "where is it?", then he would pull it back out and laugh when he had found it. He also tried this with his overalls, but the cap was harder to pull back out. Too cute.

Update 4/14/06: I finally got a picture of "where is it?" so here it is!

It took almost a year, but Dan and Mary finally got Great Grandma Blomqusit out to CA for a visit. She spent the whole weekend (Friday thru Tuesday) playing with Chanler and trying to get him to give her a hug. She also brought Chanler a popper toy - it is the same one that I remember playing with when I was a child and the toy that Chanler grabs any time with go to another house that has one - He was in heaven.

Here are a few more pictures

Well I was making lunch today and Chanler was playing in the living room or so I thought. The next thing I know I see him sitting (very nicely I might add) at the dining room table on a chair. I have NO idea how he got up there and can only imagine what he will manage to climb next

I should note that Scott thinks the beginning of the end was when Chanler started crawling. So I guess this is more like the middle of the beginning of the end . . .

Jesse's Mothers Together small group decided to have a easter egg hunt this year (I guess we could have last year except that none of your kids were moving yet . . .)

Thanks to the Kembel's for hosting a great time. The kids had a blast looking for "well hidden" eggs.

More Pictures

Mothers Together took a trip to the SF Zoo today and since it was Grandmama's Birthday we decided to make a SF day of it. Chanler LOVED the zoo, especially the kids zoo. They had a petting zoo (not his fav), mini farm equipment, and Prairie Dogs all down at his level. It was a blast!

No it is not your imagination - he did not grow up over night - he just got his first "real" haircut. I have been trimming his neck and sometimes bangs, but I just didn't know what to do for an overall haircut. So I succumbed to paying $17 to get his hair cut at a kids specialty place. I must say it was worth it! Chanler didn't mind any of the tools or even notice that his hair was being cut. It is probably due to the race car seat he got and the GIANT screen TV that was playing cartoons the whole time.

Scott was stuck at work this afternoon so he decided (with some nudging) to take the afternoon off. To make it worth his while we decided to head to Santa Cruz and take Chanler to the beach for the first time.
We started out with lunch at togo's where Chanler "tickled" a complete stranger (we think he thought it was uncle David). The only problem - Chanler could only reach to the groin area! needless to say I was slightly embarssed!

Chanler took a short nap on the way over 17 and didn't wake up until we were at the beach. With a quick change he was ready to take on the ocean. Until we actually got to it - it was a bit scary. So we watched the waves for a few minutes and did eventually get just a bit wet.
Later we checked out the tide pools, but they were too dangerous to let Chanler run around on by himself so he stayed in the Ergo.
We hit down town Santa Cruz for dinner and had some really bad local pizza, then headed home.
Of course Chanler fell asleep in the car (at 7pm no less) and we didn't quite know what to do when we got home (keep him asleep or wake him up so he would got to bed on time) We decided on the first and amazingly it worked. Chanler slept the whole night (except for the scare at 11pm when he came toddling out of the bedroom happy as a clam)

Pictures

Today Chanler made his first "fashion choice." (picture to be posted)

Preface: Chanler loves socks! (and hates most other clothes).

This morning while trying to get him dressed he opened the sock drawer and started pointing (he can't actually reach into the sock drawer yet!) I picked out his usual white socks and he responded "NO" and continued to point. So I picked up the pair closest to where he was pointing (the blue, green and orange striped pair that the Silver's gave him for Christmas) and he laughed and sat down so I could put them on. Needless to say they wouldn't have been my choice to go with the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing, but he was the one wearing them =]

New Words:
Airplane/Plane
Fire truck
Apple
BYE (said in the loudest voice possible and with a wave)
Cheese
Cheers
More Please
Garbage truck
Tigger (the Disney character)

Chanler was a fireman for Halloween.

Now Scott and I are not big fans of this supposed "holiday", but because Chanler was invited to two costume parties, I figured he should dress up as something.

So I made a fireman outfit complete with spotted doggie (thank you Grandmama), fire axe, fire hat, etc. I have to say Chanler was one of only two children at the costume parties to have a homemade costume.
I don't know if that is a good or bad thing . . . ?

Pictures

We spent the Holiday with family this year at Michelle and Sergio's House No traveling (by plane at least) to see far flung relatives. It was a wonderful time. All of Chanlers Grandparents were there for a few days along with Uncle David who managed to make it back from Arizona.

Highlights:
Chanlers second experience with snow - much happier than the first
Opening Presents - Chanler really got into it this year
Uncle David's new nick name - "Crash . . . Bang" and Mohawk!
Making 4 kinds of Christmas cookies and eating them all before everyone left
Family Time - Playing cards, chatting at the table etc.

Overall I hope/wish all our family get togethers were this relaxed and fun.! Thanks Michelle for hosting!

Pictures

Much to my surprise! This afternoon Chanler went poop on the potty all by himself.

He has started telling us when he needs a dirty diaper changed (once or twice mind you not all the time).
Here is what happened this afternoon . . .
Chanler: poo poo
Jesse: Do you need a diaper change - did you poop?
C: Check
J: OK come here I'll check. Nope no poop.
C:(Walking to the bathroom) POO POO
J: Do you need to go poop? do you want to go poop on the potty?
C: Yes!

And there you have it we are suddenly on our way to potty training!

Note: Lucky for me Scott came home while we were still on the potty so we got some blackmail pictures for latter on!

I have started getting Chanler to help me with daily activities. So far he loves to help me "dump" ingredients when we are cooking. He is also very proficient at "setting the table". This picture was taken after Chanler had finsished setting up for dinner. Please note the only thing I did was put the orange juice on the table - everything else is exactly where Chanler placed it.

The best part is the running commentary while things get put on the table. . . "one a mommy, one a daddy, one a Chanler" for each item as he places it.

Well I can't believe it - Chanler turned 2 today! He had a great day!
All week he has been asking about riding the train and I have told him over and over again
"on Saturday." Well this morning I finally got to say today and his eyes lit up!
There were of course tons of last minute things to do for the party. For his 2nd birthday we decided on a train theme (hence the asking about riding the train) and Scott came up with the brilliant idea of riding Cal train to a park. This worked out great, we got on in San Jose and rode to Palo Alto (thus all our San Jose friends didn't have to drive far and all our Menlo Park/Palo Alto friends didn't have to drive far either)

Chanler LOVED the train ride although he was more or less oblivious to the fact that his friends and family were riding with him. We got to the park (via a tunnel - another big deal for Chanler) and set up. Michelle and I had earlier that morning dropped off a car full of party supplies so that we wouldn't have to bring everything on the train.
Chanler got to play with all his friends, eat some snacks, and then have cup cakes! He actually blew out the candle all by himself and dug in, at least long enough for pictures. Soon after he started the cup cake Chanler noticed someone else's Strawberry and decided that was much nicer than some cup cake thing. (not that I really mind)
Everyone said they had a great time (the weather cooperated for me and was a lovely 65ish and sunny) and were sent home with personalized foam trains (which I had been gluing together ALL week) filled with goodies.
After we had pizza for dinner with family and close friends before we rode the train home and opened presents.
I think Chanler had quite a day. Hopefully he won't expect this kind of day tomorrow or for a long time.

Chanler's favorite things about England:
1) You get to ride a bus, subway train or intercity train EVERY day
2) Pigeons
3) The airplane seat had a TV with it's own "mote" (aka remote)
4) Pizza
5) Horses (i.e. The Royal horse guards and mounted police)

Chanler's least favorite things about England:
1) The fasten seat belt sign
2) Boring museums and ceremonies
3) Seeing out the airplane window
4) The stairs at the Rokeby Guest House

We were playing in the yard yesterday evening and Chanler was trying to pedal his trike, when he looked at us and said "I want a helmet." So as safety conscious parents (and since we were going out for coffees anyway) we decided to go get Chanler said helmet. I mean when your child tells you they WANT safety equipment - are you reallying going to discourage them? I think not. So now Chanler has a bike helmet (it came with the knee and elbow pads - I am not THAT freaky) and he LOVES it. He even picked it out (after we had eliminated ones that didn't fit)

Chanler is obsessed with Chris and Emily's baby - Joseph. He is obsessed in a somewhat good way - he wants to see the baby all the time, he wants to hold the baby when ever we actually see him, he talks about baby Joseph all time and even sings songs to him when we are driving in the car.

This is the first baby that Chanler has had close contact with and it is also the first time I have seen what a great big brother Chanler could become. It is very neat to see him with a small baby, he is very gentle and wants to give hugs, kisses and pats and make sure the baby is happy.

One thing that has been very interesting is talking with Chanler about nursing. Chanler knows that babies have "nursies", that "nursies" is all little babies can eat, and that they each "nursie" from their own mommy. It is neat to see him make the connection that that is how things are supposed to be. He has even articulated it when we are out, Chanler will hear a child crying and tell me - "baby sad . . . nursie mommy??" I think he is becoming empathic.

More to come later . . .but here is a sneak peak at what Chanler got for Christmas

It's at Skuut bike and lets just say he LOVES it.

Just had to note the cuteness of taking the same picture in different years!

Nutcracker in 2007

Nutcracker in 2005

Chanler is being a great big brother :)

Shortly after Jessaleigh was born, we woke him up so he could meet his new little sister - he was clearly in awe of her! After he woke up a little and stared at her for a while, he decided that she needed some clothes - he knows right where her clothes are, so he ran over and got out a sleeper and some socks, and then decided that she needed some pants - so he got her some of his - I think they are just about as long as she is!

He loves to bring her toys and stuffed animals, and he is being very good at bringing her baby toys - but of course he really thinks that we should be letting her eat food.

He loves to hold Jessaleigh, and if she is fussy, he tells her softly that she is OK - so cute. Last night while he was holding her, he kissed her on the head and said, "I love Jessaleigh, I love my little sister." Sure made my eyes misty, and I don't think that was from lack of sleep!

Of course being a big brother brings on more responsibility - now instead of, "I can do it, I'm a big boy" when he wants to do something that we think is a little beyond his reach, it is "I'm a big brother!"

At least that is how the song goes in my head (dating myself or something) and yes I know you (Chanler) are not really a baby anymore, you are a "preschooler", but you will always be my baby.

Love you and Happy Birthday!

We went up to visit my sister Michelle, her husband Sergio, and their son Joshua this last weekend, and we decided that it would be fun to go to the Zoo together. Chanler had a blast seeing all the animals.

Lately when I am putting him to bed he has been requesting that we talk about animals. He never knows what animals he wants to talk about, that is up to me to figure out, but the one constant is that he wants to talk about "not muddy fat ones." My cousin Cari gave him one of his favorite books which has a bunch of animals making lots of noise while the mommy runs around trying to keep them all quiet so her baby can sleep, but of course he is not sleeping. One of the animals is a "muddy fat pig" - so we usually end up talking about all the other animals in the book.

So now we have a much wider variety of animals to talk about - all the animals from "Aunty Michelle's Zoo." He saw penguins, although the penguins were in a "special" temporary tent, and they were in this small little enclosure that could not have been more than 4 by 4 on the front side. But Chanler enjoyed it, so we will have to take him to see a better penguin exhibit sometime where they are not so cramped for space.

He thought that the lemurs were hillarious - the lemurs were wrestling with each other and knocking each other and having a great time. I was having a bout of allergies, and sneezed pretty loudly, causing one of them to stand up and look over at us. The other one promptly grabbed the other's tail and pulled him over backwards - great fun :)

The snow leopard was a great hit as well - he came right up to the front of his enclosure and just stared and stared. He was ignoring all the people and appeared to be willing the snack cart across the street to come closer. We are still talking about that snow leopard every single night!

Chanler definitely likes to be a big brother and takes that role very seriously. He was a little scared of the "big cats" - the lions and tigers (but not the snow leopard) - and has asked me a couple of times if I will save him from the big cats. And since he sees himself as Jessaleigh's guardian, he has also said that he is will (or already has) save Jessaleigh from the big cats. Such a chivalrous young man already!

Right after a break to play on the play structures, we went through the reptile house (he keeps asking me the name of the house at the zoo). He was excited to see a small crocodile in person, as well as frogs and snakes and lizards. We even saw a green snake, which was very exciting since we have a book about a young yellow snake that turns into a green snake as he gets older.

They had a animals from around the world show, and at one point they asked for a volunteer to go up front to help out. He got very excited and wanted to know if the lady zoo keeper would call his name and ask him to go up to the front and help. He kept raising his hand any time that he thought that she was asking for volunteers, he really wanted to have her call him. We were talking about it later, and I explained that they needed a bigger kid to help, since they needed her to hold up the snake, which was a pretty big boa constrictor. He of course was pretty confident that he was strong enough, although after we talked about how big and heavy the snake was, he told me that he might want me to go up with him to help him hold the snake a little bit. After the show, he got to go up to the front and pet some of the animals that were in the show. He got to touch the big boa constrictor, a lizard with a blue tongue, and a hedgehog. He was pretty excited about the hedgehog, I think because it looks a little spiky, but it was not, it was "comfortable" to touch.

So now we have lots of fodder for talking about animals at bedtime - makes it a little easier on me :)

Chanler really likes to take pictures with our cameras, and Jesse caught him in the act being quite cute - he even knows how to chimp (looking at the shot on the LCD)!

For Christmas Chanler got a pedal bike. The first words out of his mouth upon seeing it were "what...is...thaaat???" He was stunned! A few minuted later he wanted to ride it, so we went out to the street in front of the house to try it out.

Last year we got him a balance bike after I read about them and how they can help kids learn to ride a bike faster by teaching them to balance without having to think about pedaling at the same time. It sounded reasonable and was a good alternative, since we had a tricycle and Chanler seemed too little for a "real" bike.

So the test was here - would the year of practice on the balance bike do what it claimed? We assumed the best and went out on the new bike without training wheels.

It worked!!! within 5 minutes Chanler was riding down the street on his own (with daddy or mommy running close behind). It was amazing.

Today (his second riding day) Chanler is riding like a pro. He still needs help with starting and doesn't have the most graceful dismount, but he is riding his bike (just like the pro balance bike articles said he would.)