Sing it Will

Over the past few weeks Will has really found his little voice. I hear alot of "ba ba ba ba" and squeaks! Here is a little video from the other afternoon while we were playing on the blanket. He also is into patting his belly. Not sure where that came from.

Go Cubbies!!!

On Saturday we went to Will's First Cubs Game! Jason got tickets from a friend at work and when it turned out we spent most of the day at home getting our AC fixed we decided we would go quick with Will to the game in the 8th inning - did I mention quick! 7 min walk to the park, 10 mins in the park, 7 min walk home! HAHA Quick. :) None the less Will went into the park - we sat in our seats long enough for someone to take a picture and we headed home. It was fun and fulfilled Jason's dream of taking his son to a baseball game at only 5.5 months old!!!

Jason and buddy all ready to go see the ball park

Will taking it all in

Great family memory - Will 5.5 months

Playdate with all his buds...

Stuff buds that is. The other day Will was just playing in his crib and I started giving him some of his stuffed buddies. As I named each buddy and threw it into his crib next thing I knew he was pretty much covered by furry friends. He did keep picking up the Blue Teddy that he got from my cousin - but I am still forcing comfort on him each night to be his favorite lovey :)

Got Rice Cereal?

This week Will had his first taste of "real food." We tired out rice cereal and I think his face says it all.

"Are you kidding me with this stuff - what is it?"

"I am much more interested in that camera or even that green bowl in your hand"

"Unless thats ice cream in that bowl keep it away from me"

Sunday Cuddle Day

Last night Jason and I went to the wedding of our good friends Kristi and Jon Tanner. It was the most beautiful wedding and Kristi and Jon were glowing. We had a great time and got home just after midnight - needless to say I was a little tired this morning. Will was a great boy and took some long naps so we could do the same. When he woke up he was such a snuggle boy!

View during cocktail hour - amazing night

Beautiful couple - Mr. and Mrs. Tanner

The early bird gets the worm - or Gatorade or Iced Coffee

On Saturday morning Jason and our friend Jon Egan went golfing - so Will and I met Jon's wife Kim and her son Matty for a early walk around the hood. Kim has been a great friend to me over the past year and is such a great mom to Matty. She is so patience when I ask her a million and one questions and is the perfect ear when I need to vent about some of the challenges of motherhood (like when your husbands leave for 7 hours to play golf :)!!) haha -- needless to say when Jason got home I handed Will over to get a mani and pedi.

Matty and Will chillin' in their matching Bob Strollers! Love Matty's silly little smile :)

Will checking out my Starbucks cup - highlight of our morning walks for Will

There were also a few boys on our block having a lemonade stand so I couldn't say no - Will of course was dying to hold the cup so I threw out the lemonade and let him go to town crushing the cup

Swimming in the tub

Its been very hot in Chicago this weekend so after a sweaty walk to the swings this evening we thought it would be fun to let Will cool off in our big bath tub! He wasn't to sure at first but by the end he loved kicking his legs! By the time we have Aquababy class Will will be doing the butterfly stroke in the lap lane.

Will's hosted his first playgroup!

Will asked me last week if he could have all his friends over and I said as long as you keep sleeping through the night you can have the whole gang over! On Tuesday we had the whole crew over - Justus, Rhett, Juliana, Emmy, Griffin and Joe!! It was such a fun time. Will was having so much fun that about 20 minutes into the party he wanted to rest his eyes - which turned into an hour and half nap and when he woke up all his friends had to go home! Its ok we will have everyone back soon!

Will testing out the play areas before his friends came

Moms watching this babes wiggle about

All the babes in a row

Will and beautiful Juliana

Good night Will - Mommy will see you in the morning

Bedtime is such a funny thing. When I was little I can remember hating when the final credits ran of Full House because I knew that it was time to go to bed. Em and I would read books in her bed and when my parents would come to turn off the lights I would quickly pretend I was sleeping - because if I was sleeping then they wouldn't dare wake me to move to my own bed :). As an adult bedtime is a wonderful thing! Laying down in cozy sheets, letting your body relax from the stress and activity of the day knowing ahhhh I can sleep in tomorrow because its Saturday.

Then Will came into our lives :) HAHA. Our little alarm clock - a very very cute one at that! When we first took Will home I remember thinking there really is never a bedtime - its just a 3 hour block that happens over 24 hours - just from 9pm to 5am its really dark in the house. I must admit I sometimes dreaded the night but each week it got a little easier. Will has always been a great sleeper. So good in the beginning my biggest stress was how to I keep the little guy awake long enough to feed him. About 3 minutes into a feeding he would be fast asleep laying all over me - and I must be honest I didn't care one bit that it might take over an hour to nurse him. Now Will is 5.5 months old and if you were to tell me back on 3 months ago I could put Will in a crib and he would fall asleep on his own I would have laughed you out of Chicago. No rocking for hours, holding the binki in his mouth by his crib, rubbing his head, his back, his arms, his cheek, singing "sweet baby will" over and over and over until I couldn't remember where the song started or stopped. 5.5 months later I kiss him on the cheek (about 50 times) and tell him "I will see him in the morning" (even though sometimes its more like 4am for a quick snack.) What a smart boy he is. Amazing that little by little he learned that sleep sack = bed time and that laying in his crib alone can be fun when you roll from one end to the other over and over. What an amazing thing it is to watch a baby learn. When you think it would be impossible for a little baby to accomplish the "impossible" - they do it right before your eyes. Although I would never EVER trade the hours of rocking, and singing and and snuggling for a million trillion dollars - it is nice to have my little boy asleep at 7pm to enjoy dinner and movie at night. I love you Will and I will always be there to see you in the morning!

Who wouldn't want to wake up for the smile!

The king of the 30 minute nap. I thought maybe if I tucked him in real tight he would stay asleep. No luck - but comfort slept for hours!

Funny pictures from his video monitor

Jammed up to the side in his cribby

Side Sleeping - how we really know he is calling it a night!

Tummy sleeping

Just everyday life

Church with Grandmommy in Texas - I loved the lights and music

Off to Starbucks Saturday morning with Mom and Dad and my gift card!

Playing at the park with Dad

Reading my new book about Lobsters from Auntie Sam

Eating my feet

Reading books at the park with mommy

On the swings like a big boy

J + W + two crazy moms + camera = pretty funny pictures

Jenny and Justus came over to the house the other day to play and we thought it would be pretty funny to sit them on the leather chair. It is so fun having Jenny and Justus to play with all the time and I can't wait to watch the boys grow up together.

"Hey Justus what are our moms doing?"

"No idea Will but thats pretty cool you can grab your feet"

"Opps sorry Will just got a little excited and lost some of my milk"

"No problem J, you can always lean on me - We will be best friends forever"

5 Months Old - July 5th 2011

4th of July in the Lone Star State!

Jason, Will and I took a trip down to Dallas for a long weekend. It was such a great trip. We got to see so much family and they all loved on Will which was such a special thing for us to see! Although the weather was HOT HOT HOT we did lots of fun things - went swimming, trip to LuLuLemon, lots of rolling around on the furry carpet and a trip to Aunt Donna's and Uncle James's new house!! Grandmommy/Barb was so nice to let us take over her house - which always amazes me how such a little person comes with so many things. Grandmommy and Will hung out one night while Jason and I got to go out with friends and play Top Golf - we had realized that was the first time we had gone out in a LONG LONG while :). Thanks Barb for everything and can't wait to come back over Thanksgiving.

Nanni and Will reading books early in the morning - so sweet

Early morning swing before it got to hot

Will meeting his sweet cousins Colt and Mackenzie

Grandmommy and Will looking very snuggly

A bonus visit from Kate and Roman - what a treat it is to see them when we go to Dallas. Will LOVED Kate - almost as much as I love her

Ashley giving Will some milky - Cali wanted to get in on the action

Go Tech!!

4 Generations of Popes - It was so special having Nanni and Papa meet Will