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.