Happy Birthday Grandpa and Uncle Buddy!

May is a big birthday month around here. Today we celebrated my grandpa's, (Great) Grandpa Van, and my uncle, Uncle Buddy's birthday. Grandpa turned 94!! 

We decided last minute, yesterday, to drive up to Santa Barbara to celebrate with the family. We went to lunch and then took cupcakes to Grandpa Van and hung out at his place (an assisted living facility).  Big Cousin Jimmy (recently relocated to LA from NYC) came up for the party. It was Jim's first time meeting Calvin, and Calvin took immediately to his older cousin. Grandpa Van was so happy to see Ellie and Cal, especially Cal's little feet which he thought were cute and hilarious.

It was a fun day for all and I'm glad we got to be with Grandpa Van and uncle Buddy on their birthday! Happy birthday!!

Happy Mothers Day!

I am so lucky to have an energetic and bright 5 year old who loves her little brother, a healthy and happy 2 month old, and a husband who thinks that having chocolate dipped strawberries for breakfast is acceptable (key to my heart!)!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!

Two Months Old!

Yesterday we had his 2-month well visit. He weighed in at 13lb 14oz and almost 24 inches long. The doctor was happy with his growth, even with all his spitting-up (our happy spitter). He did well at the appointment until it was time for his vaccinations. 

We are all getting to know each other. I know you aren't supposed to compare your children, but I can't help comparing Ellie's preferences to Cal's at this age. Cal is such a different baby. Ellie HATED her car seat; Cal LOVES his and prefers to nap in it. Ellie didn't like being swaddled after she was three days old; Cal loves it and needs it to sleep at night. Ellie was so calm and happy as a baby. A word for Calvin is intense. He will go from happy to fussy almost instantly. He definitely has his preferences and likes. One thing they have in common is they are both great eaters. Both are "one-siders". While it took Ellie 15-20 minutes to eat, Cal finishes his meal in 5-6 minutes (I did a before and after weight on a hospital scale the other day and Cal drank 4oz in 5 minutes). No wonder he spits up all the time. 

He is letting me sleep (and Nick too given his crazy work schedule). Lately Cal has been going to bed around 8pm and waking up to eat around 2am and then again around 6am. Can't complain (especially since feedings are so fast). 

He is generally a happy baby who is opinionated. He enjoys hearing his sister read to him. He doesn't mind being my sidekick to run errands. He smiles and laughs at his dad for no reason. Cal truly is a great baby and we are very fortunate.

 

Happy 34th Birthday Nick!

Today Nick turned 34. 

Hopefully he had a great birthday (he said he did!). He started the day off with cake at work and a shout-out on the morning show. Then when he got home he and I went out to the mall so he could have his favorite lunch, hot dogs from Der Weinerschnizel. Cal came along for lunch but Ellie was at school. Then we picked up Ellie earlier than usual and went to a make-up ballet class followed immediately by a swim lesson (she's learning breast stroke now!). After her swim lesson we went to Cameron's a seafood restaurant in Pasadena. Nick did share his fries clam strips with Ellie, or maybe it was the other way around. Then we returned home for cake a presents.

Nicks present this year (besides the Cubs season tickets and all the airfare back and forth to Chicago and all the new cubs gear) were entirely Ellie's idea. When I asked her what we should get for Nick she said (fresh off the plane from  Chicago where she had gone to Wrigley) that she wanted a bat and glove and ball so that she could play baseball with Daddy. I found a glove that fit her and got a baseball tee and a T-ball bat just her size. Nick was super happy and excited to play baseball and catch with Ellie. 

We decided that Cal was unhappy because he hadn't had any cake yet. However, after we all ate cake (well, Cal didn't have cake directly) everyone was in a great mood. Smiles all around!

Happy Birthday Nick!

Take Us Out to the Ballgame!...

...Take us out with the crowd (which was pretty sparce, but that's okay)!

Last weekend Ellie and I caught a Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley Field. It was her first trip to the Friendly Confines, and we had a great time. The fun began on the red line during our journey into the city from Evanston. We also happened to be at the game on Illini Day, which the Cubs (and Cards in St. Louis) hold every year, and that was a pretty cool bit of serendipity. Ellie wore her bright orange sweatshirt, which was needed, and I had my old Illini cap.

Once at the park we realized it was going to be colder than even we, who wore many layers, predicted. That necessitated me lending Ellie my Cubs winter cap, and purchasing a blanket for our seats / laps. It's a nice one, though, with the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field logo on it.


Ellie enjoyed plenty of snacks, including a hot dog and "Nuts on Clark" kettle corn. We also took home some Red Grange bobbleheads (it was Illini Day, after all) celebrating "The Galloping Ghost's" (my fraternity brother) 3-touchdown game there in 1923 -- prior to his being drafted by the Bears and eventually playing football at Wrigley many more times.


We made it through the 7th inning -- as Ellie wanted to make sure we stayed to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" -- then took off. We lasted three hours in sub-40 degree weather. Not too bad for a 5-year-old! Ellie only complained a little as the game went on. Mostly because it was boring.. not because it was cold (though it was).  Had we stayed, we would have seen a Cubbies win! (They also got a "W" the next day.. which is where the below picture was taken.)


Ellie enjoyed a Saturday with Grandma and Grandpa Harrer while I was at that second game with a buddy. It was a great weekend.. and an exhausting one. I don't think I've ever seen Ellie sleep on a plane before.. beyond 6 months old, anyway!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cal's first baseball game

Last Sunday we went to a Dodger's game. It was a fun day out with the family in great weather and an attempt to get Ellie to enjoy baseball before Nick took her to Wrigley for a game. We all had a great time with Cal being a great baby being chill and sleeping the whole time. We had seats in the upper deck behind home plate which were in the shade the whole time. The Dodgers were playing the Rockies, and unfortunately they lost. The Dodgers usually do family fun events/giveaways on Sundays and the kids get to run the bases after the game. Ellie got a Dodger jersey as a giveaway and we did stay the whole game so that she could run the bases.

Ellie's favorite things about the game were her new dress (the jersey),  eating at the ballpark (hotdogs, frozen lemonade, ice cream...such a treat!), and running the bases. At first she was a little afraid to run the bases, something about it being too crowded or something, but once she got there she was excited and had a blast.

Can you see Ellie at home base? She had just run around the bases and was so excited she made it to home she threw her arms up!

Cal's favorite part of the game was being held the whole time and sleeping. He did really well sleeping, eating, sleeping, and enjoying all the sounds, smells, and sights of a baseball stadium as much as a 6 week old baby can enjoy them.

 It was a great family fun day at Dodger Stadium. Although Ellie enjoyed the food more than the game she was a trooper and hung out for all 9 innings. She also sang during the 7th inning stretch. Ellie got to practice before her big trip to Chicago and Wrigley with Nick. This is only the beginning of attending baseball games with the family for Calvin!

New Faces, New Places

Over the past week Calvin has seen numerous new places and several new faces. Mostly really just traveling to places to meet new family. Well, actually traveling up to Santa Barbara and staying at the Grandparentals Van house for a few days. Aunt Susu came out to California for her spring break and so we all headed up to Santa Barbara to hang out with her (before she came down to Pasadena to hang out with us for a while).

But before we headed up to Santa Barbara, Ellie, Cal and I stopped by KTLA to meet Nick's coworkers and friends. Everyone was so kind and we ended up hanging out for over an hour meeting everyone.

After our travel up to Santa Barbara, Ellie, Cal and I went over to visit Great-Grandma Van. Calvin's first new face and new place!

The next day Aunt Susu was set to arrive that night (and despite delayed flights for which Nick was able to help and get Susie up to Santa Barbara). We spent the day hanging out in SB, seeing the sights, and doing what we normally do and what is normal (and soon to be normal) for Ellie. Ellie was so excited to see her beloved aunt. And Susie was so excited to meet her nephew. Cal's next new face was Aunt Susie!

As a family we headed over to visit Great-Grandpa Van. He was in a great mood and we had a terrific visit. He actually thought Calvin was hilarious, especially when he cried.

Calvin is going to meet loads more people and family in the next few weeks and months and for the rest of his first year and it will be super exciting for him, although he may not remember it. It was definitely be exciting for Nick, Ellie and I though!