Meow

Barrett is getting very interested in his three kitties. He gets so excited when he sees one of them come toward him, and he smiles and starts talking to them. It is really cute! The cats are still cautious around him but they are curious and do hang around where he is playing. Puddy will enter the room he is in, and that is about it. Stinker and Tyler will occasionally approach him and let him 'pet' them. Barrett's 'pet' is more grabbing their hair and pulling HARD. I'm trying to teach him gently. Stinker will tolerate, but we really have to supervise with Tyler. Surprisingly, we have yet to have an attack. I say yet, because I know it will happen eventually...

It's My Friend Caleb

It's Barrett and his friend Caleb!

Jeff and I met Holly and Mike at the John Muir birthing classes preparing for Baby B's arrival. Holly and Mike we a couple of weeks behind us, and if I remember correctly, we didn't know if they would be welcoming a little boy or a little girl. Obviously, it was a little boy...meet Caleb. Their family came to visit Saturday night so we could all catch up and the boys could play around. They are still too young though to really care about each other. I think there were a few awkward glances but for the most part both boys are more interested in their toys. Although, Barrett did have quite an eye for Holly, Caleb's mommy. I am telling you this kid has something for the blondes, loved flirting with Holly, and he is always loving him some Lorraine and Julia (both blondes). Mommy better dye her hair back soon.

Caleb is growing like a weed. He is a stretching out, of course it is to be expected since his mom is 6' tall. Caleb is yet another baby with a healthy appetite for solid foods. We watched, green with envy, as he devoured his dinner. I thought Barrett might see and decide it's the cool thing to do, eating solids...everyone is doing it. But no...he just shrugged it off and blew raspberries at me while I tried to cram the spoon in his mouth. Raspberries are his new thing, twice as fun when he can also shower you with sweet potatoes.

Barrett's Home Away From Home

Recap: Mommy and Daddy couldn't tough out daycare and pulled Baby B out after one month. As my friend Erin called it the 'human petri dish known as daycare' was not for us right now. Enter our savior, our friend Lorraine.

Lorraine offered to look after Barrett starting in February and he has spent the last three weeks in his new home away from home at the Lyalls house. Lorraine picks him up each morning from our house - which is so convenient for Jeff and me. He is already very attached to Lorraine. His face lights up and he smiles every morning when she comes to pick him up. I know I don't have to worry about Barrett during the day because he is well taken care of and loved by then entire family. Lorraine is an amazing mother to three wonderful children, we don't doubt her qualifications. We are so very thankful to Allistair, Julia, Cameron, and Ryan for helping out with Barrett and sharing Lorraine with us. I hope the kids enjoy having Barrett around as much as I am sure he likes to see them every day. He is such a sucker for blondes already and is always smiling and flirting with Julia. And as fast as he is growing I feel like he will be kicking the soccer ball around and playing video games with the boys too soon.

They all had the day off for President's Day and they snapped some pictures with Barrett so I could show them off. No shots of Julia yet, we will get those next time...but Lorraine, Cameron, and Ryan. I'm sure we will have plenty more pictures to share of their adventures together.

I can finally get some work done. I spent the better half of January watching the daycare webcam and sitting there with my stomach in knots. Having Lorraine help us is such a relief!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Lorraine!

Carson and Me

Barrett and I met up with Jen and Carson last Sunday for a little play date in the park. It had been awhile since we have seen them, so we had a lot of catching up to do. Barrett showed Carson how he can sit up now, and Carson showed Barrett how he can crawl now. I think they both were very impressed with each other.
Since Barrett had so enjoyed the swings a few days earlier with Tatum and Landon we did it again. This was Carson's first time on the swings and he was smiling and chatting it up with his mommy while she pushed him.
We finished the day off by cruising through the Lindsay Wildlife Museum which is right next to the park. The boys took a quick look at the hawks, eagle, and owls...and a few scurrying creatures before they both were pooped out in their strollers and fell asleep. A good day...and the sun was even out. I almost forgot what that felt like; I can't wait for spring and more days in the park!

Who's This Guy?

Daddy got me a new toy the other day when we were out at Target. I'm not sure how I feel about this guy. Here's how our first meeting went...
Who are you? And what are you looking at...






I can do this. Can you do this?







You don't talk much, do you?







Get out of here...I'm done with you.

Alas, I Have Given In...Formula

Alas I have given in and introduced formula. I really thought I could make it a year without having the chalky mix touch his precious lips but I have caved. I just can't keep up with the daily intake anymore now that I am back at work. Barrett had his first bottle of formula on Friday and he is now enjoying a formula nightcap each evening. He made 'the face' at first with the scrunched up nose but kept working at it and finished 2 oz. Sat. we upped it to 4oz and watered it down a bit which he seems to like better. And Sunday - Tuesday it has been smooth sailing. I am sad, but feel a bit of the pressure taken off of myself knowing he likes it and we can supplement as needed.

As you can see in the picture we have also moved to the 12 month big boy pjs. It is rare to find the snap one piece pjs in larger than 9 months so we thought we would try the two piece pjs. Hmmmm...the belly is causing an issue. As you can see Barrett is bringing midriff back...

Laugh Baby, Laugh

After a rough few weeks with Barrett being sick and his top four teeth coming in, it's good to hear him laugh...

Swingin'

An afternoon at the park with Tatum and Landon. Someone likes the swing.

We were saying it will be so funny when Tatum and Barrett get married, we will put this photo in the slideshow they put together for their wedding.

Hanging with Henry

Now that I am back at work, the playdates with my friends and their kids are becoming far and few. So sad! I am really trying to make time where I can. Yesterday we met up with CC and Henry, and the Sanchez clan. We started the day at CC's where we let Barrett and Henry reacquaint themselves. We got this video of a little dual tummy time. Henry doing most of the hard work as you will see. It was really cute, Henry was on his tummy looking at Barrett doing a little shout at him trying to get his attention, saying look at me. He did it 5 or 6 times.... "Eh ... eh ... eh.' I grabbed the camera to get it on video but missed it. This is still pretty cute!

My New Favorite Toy

My Auntie Lissa and Uncle Carlos got me the best present for Christmas. It is my Leap Frog Learn & Groove Music Table. It is my new favorite toy! It lights up, and sings to me, and has tons of pieces I like to slide, push, and pull. The other day he actually would push a button to make a song play and then sit and listen and wait for it to end, when the song was done he would push it again. Such a smart little baby! Loads of entertainment for him. Thank you Sanchez family. We can't wait until he gets stronger and we can put the legs on it and have him stand and play. It won't be long...

Picky Eater On Our Hands?

Do we have a picky eater on our hands? The first few days of solids seemed to go well. That was starting with the rice cereal and the oatmeal. We were getting the big open mouth and the grunting for more. Then we introduced peas, which went ok...followed by sweet potatoes and carrots which went so/so. He has always struggled a little with the purée but it was getting better.

Then he got sick...

And now reversion!

We thought it was just the vegetables and couldn't wait to start the fruits. We were thinking he would like the sweet flavor. Boy were we wrong...the fruits are worse than the veggies. Funky faces, sometimes he gets the shivers, and now occasionally there is the slight gag. I might try mashing up fresh bananas and other soft food and see how that goes. If that doesn't work I'm thinking he might not be ready for solids right now. It feels a bit like torture and I am throwing a lot away. We will just stick with the milk and the cereal/oatmeal and pull back on the rest for a month. It isn't like the guy is starving :)

Peek A Boo Baby

Peek -a- Boo, I get it now!

You throw the blanket over my face and then you aren't there Daddy, then I pull it off and 'PEEK' there you are again! Very fun!!!

Wow, this game makes me tired...

Grandma Sharon's Birthday!

Happy Birthday Grandma Sharon!

It was my Grandma Sharon's 65th birthday last weekend. My Daddy planned a little get together for her and her friends up in Roseville at Fat's Asia Bistro so we drove up there on Saturday for the party. I got my Grandma a special card. I think she had a happy birthday...she got lots of gifts and even better she had a BIG birthday cheesecake for dessert.

I was a such a good boy all night. I met a lot of new people and wasn't shy at all. I was passed around the table like an appetizer! I was especially happy to meet Aunt Dolores. Dolores was Sharon's neighbor while Jeff was growing up and Jeff spent a lot of time with Dolores and her daughter Gloria who were both at the party. She is a fire ball, who informed us she was a proud 80 years old (which seems unbelievable, she looks amazing for 80!) You can tell she has the touch because Barrett was so comfortable in her arms. Dolores got Baby B a gift and wrote the sweetest card that read...

'Sweet little boy... I held your Daddy in my arms when he was a newborn - and have loved him ever since - I'm happy to finally get to meet you. Lots of love, Aunt Dolores"

Sick, Sick, and More Sick

I mean the title says it all. Jeff was sick over Christmas, I was sick over New Years. Somehow Barrett miraculously made it out alive only to fall victim to the sickness in daycare. I am surprised he made it three full weeks before picking something up. He got the worst cold, followed by an ear infection. Poor guy! Let me tell you... there is nothing worse than seeing your little man sick with a barking cough, snoring with a plugged up nose, and tugging on his ears. You feel so helpless and all you want to do is make his little world better again. He is officially on antibiotics, and not a fan of the pink bubble gum flavor. He barely gets the stuff down...I can't believe we have five more days of this. He is feeling more like himself though, so it is all worth it. Me on the other hand, I have picked up his cold now so I am sick AGAIN. Boo! Let's hope Jeff can dodge this one.

We did officially ditch daycare this week. I know that we theoretically knew that if we put Barrett in daycare he would get sick a lot this first year. We didn't know the magnitude of how sick he could get. He ran a fever for 5 days and he can't go back to daycare with a fever...and I (unlike other parents) refuse to take my kid there to expose all the rest. Since we don't have family or friends in the area that can help us during the week during these times one of us has to stay home and we both have work to do. The nanny route just works better for us. We have Nanny Lorraine starting Monday! I will dedicate a special post to our savior Lorraine soon...

Daycare Days

Barrett officially started daycare on January 4th of this year. We just wrapped up his third week there and we are all trying to adjust to the new schedule.

The first week was so hard for Mommy and Daddy. We took him to his new room and stayed for 45 min. to get him settled in. He seemed content and he didn't cry when we left, which was nice. I don't know if I would have left if he had been crying. I cried when we got in the car, of course, but no Barrett tears. Luckily, Jeff and I can watch him all day on a webcam and that is just what I did nonstop for the first two weeks. I'm starting to log off for small chunks of time during the day starting last week.

I think he is at a good age to go...he isn't so attached to us that we can't leave him, and he is still very open to new people. He is making all sorts of new friends from his class, and he loves to watch the other kids.
I just wish he was sitting independently or crawling. Since he isn't mobile he is totally dependent on the teachers to move him around and the first few days he did spend more time than Daddy and I would have liked laying on his back. It's getting better though. Jeff and I just have to be very clear to Miss Alicia and Miss Desiree what we want to see him do during the day. They have been helping him sit up, do tummy time, and he gets to participate in all sorts of fun activities. He has had Spanish class, music class, water play, art class, and his personal favorite...strolling with all his new friends in the 'buggy.'

It will only be a short time longer before this guy is mobile...then watch out new friend Riley who I've seen bop Barrett on the head on the webcam. He's bigger than you and when he can get to you he will bop you right back!!!

One Fish, Two Fish...

Monday was MLK Jr. Day and Daddy and Mommy had the day off from work. What did we do? We went to play with Auntie Lissa, Tates, and Landon at the CA Academy of Sciences. Barrett has been there once when he was two months old. It is amazing the difference between that trip and this one. He obviously is much more alert and can see and process a lot more now. He was so excited! Kicking his feet, smiling, laughing, and just following all of the fish and sealife. Daddy and I were so happy to see our little guy having such a good time.

We saw penguins, starfish, jellyfish, stingrays, sharks, the 'bino gator, and hundreds of different kinds of fish. Barrett loves watching fishies! Jeff stood in front of the large aquarium tanks and he was fascinated. There's only one thing more fascinating than fishies...his girlfriend Miss Tates! He is now very interested in grabbing her face, her clothes, pretty much anything he can get his hands on. Lucky for us Tatum is pretty mellow and tolerates it.