Updates (before I forget them)

I have been AWFUL about blogging. Can I use Riley as an excuse for this? Most of the time it comes down to choosing between spending more time with him or updating the blog, and Riley always wins. No contest.

But, I also do not want to forget a lot of these firsts/important events that seem to be happening with more and more frequency...

First tooth: We welcomed in the new year (Jan. 1, 2010) with Riley's first tooth. On the bottom, in the middle. The second bottom middle tooth arrived four days later.

First trip to Maine: July 2009 (two weeks); this was also the first time he put his feet in the water of the Atlantic Ocean

First Halloween: spent at Amelia Island visiting Casey's parents

First Thanksgiving: spent at Captiva Island, Florida with Casey's family

First Christmas: spent in Chicago with Kelly's family (included his first ever stay at the Drake and his first walk around the big city)

First Easter: spent at Amelia Island visiting Casey's parents and the Stirlings

First Birthday: spent in Chicago with Kelly's parents and the Kastels

Graduation to big boy car seat: 4.5 months

First noticed the dogs: 5 months (began petting them -- really, more like began pulling on their ears, jowels, and fur)

First enjoyed the dogs: 7 months (started laughing at Wrigley when she chased the ball)

First rolled over: on examination table at 4-month doctor's check-up (in response to seeing himself in the mirror and wanting to get there)

First sat up by himself: 6 months (was a bit wobbly and tipped over frequently until 7 months)

First got on hands and knees: 7 months

First laugh: at the FCC pool on the last day of the pool season (weekend after Labor Day 2009) in response to me saying "hi" over and over (followed shortly thereafter by giggles any time anyone made "ooh ooh ooh" monkey noises at him)

First started getting baths in real bathtub (instead of kitchen sink): 6 months (and LOVES them -- much splashing)

First rice cereal: shortly after his 4-month check-up

First "baby food": shortly after his 6-month check-up (sweet potatoes was the first experiment; as of now, at 8 months, he seems to love all fruits but no veggies

First "real" food: 9 months (pancakes sans the syrup, followed shortly thereafter by scrambled eggs)

First meal at a restaurant: cheese quesadilla at La Caretta

First time on the baby swing at the park: 8 months

First time going for a run with mommy and daddy in his stroller: 6 months

Graduation to big boy stroller: 5 months

Favorite toys: As a baby, it was "Lady", his ladybug. He could play with Lady for hours without boring of her. Now (8 months) that he has graduated to "real" toys, he loves his blocks, his plastic measuring spoons, his exersaucer (the "Pond") and bouncing entertainment seat, paper, books and Daddy's Rolex.

First time to enjoy the pool (and understand the concept of it): 5 months

Began to crawl ("army" style): 8 months

Began to crawl (normal): 8.5 months

Began to nap with consistency: 11 months

Began to pull himself up: 10.5 months

Began to "cruise": 11 months

Favorite things to do at 11 months: clap his hands; "Where's Riley"; riding on his emergency vehicle

First Skype: 10 months (with Aunt Jen)

Began Walking (while holding onto the back of his emergency vehicle): 11 months

First Unassisted Steps: 13 months (on our back porch)

Began Walking (unassisted, but still wobbly and still would prefer to hold onto something): 13.5 months

"Perfected" Walking: 14 months

Began bending over to pick things up while standing and NOT falling over while doing so: 14 months

Words at 14 months: "Da da" (used for both Casey and me), "Uh oh" (apparently appropriate both when dropping something by accident and when chucking something as hard as he can at the floor), "Dah" (I think this might be roughly equivalent to "that" -- he uses it when pointing at just about anything -- although his favorite things to point at still remain ceiling fans and flags). Honorable Mentions (in other words, he has supposedly said these things at daycare, but I am skeptical): "Kate" (name of girl in his class), "Thank You", "No"

Favorite Toys at 14 months: "his" drawer in the kitchen (tupperware and other plastic containers), emergency vehicle/Cozy Coupe/lawnmower/shopping cart (in other words, anything he can push), our dogs (as jungle gyms), wooden blocks, dog bowl (particularly if filled with water), buttons on oven (time to child proof the house!!!), ramp at the pool and steps (anything he can go up and down and up and down and up and down...), ball to throw for Wrigley