Blog On Hold

Well I had hoped to update the blog on a more regular basis, but as this past three month delay demonstrates that didn't happen. For various reasons updating the blog has been a bit of a chore. So instead of updating the blog I will concentrate on updating my new web album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/GrooveDirk/IanSPictures

This is where all the new pictures of Ian will be posted. Since most of you come for the pictures of him and NOT for the commentary from me, this will probably work out fine. I may still post here from time to time, but the main outlet for pictures will now be the web album. Spread the word!

Thanks for your interest and enjoy the new pictues.

Coming Soon: Ian Walks Video!

Well it finally happened. Ian walked. Not just a step or two like he has for the past couple of months. Not just "cruising", holding onto walls, chairs, etc as he manuevers around. No, this time he really walked. Across an entire room without holding onto anything. Repeatedly. He can't always make it across an entire room, and he oftentimes would just as soon crawl as walk. But walk he does. It's a slightly off balance, Frankenstein-like walk. I.e. it ain't pretty. But it's awesome to us. Our little boy can walk. And he's not even a year old.

As soon as I can figure out how to post it I'll put up a short video of him walking. It's not actually his "first steps" but it's close.

Lastly, I'll try much harder to update the blog at least once every other week from now on. I know it's been an awfully long time between updates. Sorry.

Ian swimming and Grammy Kevin comes to town

Here's Ian swimming (or floating with an eye towards swimming) at the local gym/pool where he is taking "water appreciation classes" (my definition not theirs). It's based out of the local hospital and is a very nice facility. Ian hasn't really mastered swimming just yet, but he has gotten used to be in the water and even under it!
Here's a pic of Ian and his mom which I find hilarious and which I'm sure Kara will demand I remove. Fat chance.
My mom, Kevin, came to visit in Feb so she could see her grandson and we could celebrate (somewhat belatedly) her birthday. Grammy Kevin had a wonderful time bonding with Ian and marvelling at the changes and growth since the last time she was here (almost a year ago). Ian even took a couple of steps though he wasn't able to master walking across the room yet. Mom had a great time with Ian and it was obviously hard for her to go home. But she'll be back later this year to see how he's growing. Mom also had nothing but great things to say about the basement. We now have a refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, and a big screen TV (not as big as upstairs mind you, but still 42") so it really is like a fancy small apartment or a swanky hotel suite. We look forward to my Uncle Dirk and Chi coming to visit and my Dad coming back (when he was here the bedroom and bathroom were done, but the living room area was under construction and a mess).

Some pics of Ian from Jan

This is Ian playing with half of an elaborate 4 part activity table that our friends Walter and Brenda have loaned up. Made for day cares and the like this awesome table has tons of developmental toys and activities built into it. Walter and Brenda offered to loan us all 4 parts (that make a large circle) but we thought it better given our space to just take 2. We also borrowed a sort of mini version that is in the shape of a cube with activities on all sides and the top. It's compact but very cool. We thought we might be able to use the tables as a sorta gate to keep Ian in the living room, but Ian thought better of that idea and quickly learned how to push them out of the way. He loves using them to help himself up to stand.
Here's a nice picture of Ian and Marie (in between one of her many business trips across country and around the world). We altered it to sepia as Kara had used the digital zoom and the focus was pretty soft. Looks kinda cool this way methinks.
Here's a sweet picture of Ian with his nanny Monica. Okay time to give him back now. :)

More Pics Of Jane, Kira Rose and Judy's visit

Here's Judy, Kira Rose, and Jane down at Millenium Park (Kara's taking the picture).

Just a few days after Judy was here visiting with Jane and Kira Rose she came back with grandpa Bert to look after Ian. Turns out both myself and Kara had to be away on business--her to a conference and me to a trade show--both at the same time. So while Monica watched Ian during the day as normal, Bert and Judy took care of him at night while we were gone. For five days! They did a great job and even helped Ian cut out one of his nightly wake ups. He was waking up once around 12-1am and then again another time before 6am. When we got back the 12-1am waking was gone. Excellent!

First Post Of 2007!

Here's Ian and his mom waiting outside Selmarie restaurant for brunch in early Jan. We met John and Joanne and their son Jack there and a good time was had by all. The boys were both very well behaved. The warm looking sweater Ian's sporting was a gift from Kara's mentor Sonia. The cute hat is a hand me down (one of many) from our friend Liz.

Kara's mom, Judy, her sister in law, Jane, and her niece, Kira Rose, stopped by for a visit in January. The grown ups came to see Wicked while Kira Rose had a lot of fun playing with Ian. They were one of our first guests to enjoy the newly remodelled, spa-like basement. And the reviews were all positive. Kira Rose was impressed and enamored with the high tech Toto toilet/washlet.

After Xmas, Before New Years

We're back from our Christmas trip to Minnesota. It was Ian's first long roadtrip and he did pretty well. The drive to St. Paul is about 7 hours and for the first 5 or so Ian was fine. The last 2....well, not so much.

While in St. Paul we stayed with Kara's parents Bert and Judy. They did a great job decorating the house for Christmas and putting together a real feast for Christmas dinner. On Christmas Kara's brother Eric and his family came over and Ian was able to spend some time with his cousins: Alec, Jonah and Kira Rose. Ian's aunt Jane made some great alcohol-laced sweet potatoes and Judy cooked almost too many things to mention (including 4-5 different cookies, a pumpkin, and a trifle for desert). Eric's oldest friend Juan came by for a quick visit and Sam (one of Jane's oldest friends) stayed for dinner. A very nice time was had by all and Ian got lots of great presents.

We had a great visit but I was glad to be home. In our own bed. Ian did about as well coming back as he did going. Good for about 5 out of the 7 hours before he started to meltdown.

I don't remember exactly when I snapped this picture and strictly speaking the composition is off (he's too far to the right of the frame), but there's just something about it I love. Maybe it's the way he's looking away and the darkness behind him. Or the clarity of his brown eyes (just like his dad!). But for whatever reason I like it.

Here's a picture of Ian in the super stylish, musical themed track suit from my cousin Vicki and her husband Curt. It even came in a little plastic container shaped like a record. He looks great in it. It's a little big for him (the pants are a bit long), which is actually good since it means he can wear it longer.

Ian at Christmas

Here's Ian with his maternal grandparents Bert and Judy along with all his cousins: Alec, Jonah, and Kira Rose. The black blob that looks like it could be a rug is actually their dog Appa.

Professional Portraits Photos and new web album

Here are three of the professional portrait photos we had taken a few weeks ago. We got a lot of pictures taken (all in the course of 15 minutes) and ordered several prints, but these are the three pictures where we purchased the digital files allowing us to print our photos, post them here on the blog, etc. We know two of the pictures are very similar, but we just couldn't pick one over the other. The third picture is now our "official" family portrait.

We were very happy with the whole experience and the pictures taken and would definitely recommend the photographer, Tricia Koning, to anyone in Chicago looking for professional photos. It wasn't exactly cheap, but it's not like we are going to do this all the time (though it seemed some of the people there were doing EXACTLY that). Her email is tkoning@sbcglobal.net.

I use Google's Picasa for all my photo organizing and highly recommend it. They just added a new feature called "Web Albums" which allows you to post a large number of photos on a special webpage. I know it's nothing special or unique, but it's so convenient they way they have it tied into the program--much like this blogging feature (I probably would have never started this blog if it wasn't integrated into Picasa). Anyway if you'd like to see a bunch of photos of Ian without my notes, comments and musings...Ian ala carte if you will, goto the appropriately named...(wait for it)...Ian's Pictures at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/GrooveDirk/IanSPictures

And enjoy!

Random Acts of Cuteness

New pics of Ian

Here are some candids of Ian taken over the last few weeks. The pic with Kara was taken just this morning. Also speaking of pictures this past weekend we went and had some professional family portraits taken. Once they are ready we'll let you know where to take a look at them. We're planning on using one of them for Xmas cards. That's probably kinda corny, but we don't care.

Other important (and not so important) news: 1). Kara goes away on business this week leaving me and the boy alone for 3 nights. 2). Ian's got a bunch of teeth now. Four on the bottom and three on the top. 3). He's been eating some foods on his own and can drink out of his sippy cup on his own (though he does tend to drop it alot). 4). He can pull himself up to standing position if he has something to hold onto and can sit up on his own. That's it for now.

 

Ian with Nancy

Here's Ian playing with our (and his) friend Nancy Kramer. 

More new pictures of Ian

Here's Ian on his bed (which he probably won't actually be sleeping in for years) playing with his stuffed Totoro toy.


Here's Ian at his first Thanksgiving dinner. We kept things modest this year and just had a small relaxing dinner with the three of us. Ian even had a little bit of turkey.
 

Basement Remodel-Basement Bathroom pics

Here's some pics of the basement spa bathroom. It's got a fancy sink along with a Toto washlet equipped toilet, but the highlight is the large steam shower. It's got a massive 2-3 person bench and multiple shower heads. It came out great. Check the towel warmer by the shower door. So not only do our guests have their own bathroom downstairs, but it's much nicer than our's upstairs!