Torticollis Update

As you know Chase was diagnosed with torticollis (tilting of the neck due to a weak muscle) around 2 1/2 months and started receiving physical therapy. Even with insurance our copays were $108 a session, which Chase went once a week. Of course there was never a question about paying it, but it's still a lot of money. In February we got approved for early intervention, which is free physical therapy provided by the county. The best part is the therapist comes to us! For the past few months Chase and I have been working hard on strengthening his neck and teaching him how to roll. I wouldn't call it a delay but due to his weaker neck, rolling has been a bit of a struggle for him. Well, it is all paying off, as at this weeks session the PT told us she wants to reduce Chase's sessions to every other week as she hasn't seen any tilt for the past 3 weeks! Chase doesn't get discharged completely as when he starts to crawl, it can pop back up temporarily. We are so relieved by this news as it really has been a focus each and every day while we play. Even though torticollis isn't life threatening it was still a little nervewracking as you want your child to be perfect and having to stretch a teeny baby neck is a little scary in itself, so we are very happy with this news. On top of this Chase has mastered rolling in both directions! I'm sure it wont be long until he is crawling all of the house now :)

Summer Summer Time!

The pools are open and lifeguards are on duty, it is officially the beginning of summer season! We decided to take advantage of James having a long weekend by heading to the beach. We all know I'm a beach bum at heart, so I was already pumped to be heading there, then combine that with taking Chase for the first time...I was in excitement overload :)

We decided to stay just outside of Ocean City NJ as we figured it's a nice family beach, plus our good friends and their daughter live in that area also. We arrived Sunday evening and headed right to the Ocean City boardwalk. We walked from end to end, grabbed dinner, spotted many Pauly D wannabes and had a blast listening to Chase babble the whole time.

Monday was a beautiful day, we couldn't have asked for better weather, 70 and clear blue skies. After a lazy morning at the hotel we headed to Sea Isle beach. I have never been there before and it is easily my favorite NJ beach. We bought Chase, aka James, a bucket, shovel and sand toy set before heading onto the beach. From the second Chase was taken out of the stroller he fell in love with the beach, a kid after my own heart. He laughed at the waves breaking, loved eating the sand and rubbing it in every crevasse on himself he could find. I thought tops he would last 20 mins, we were on the beach for an hour and a half and he was not at all happy when he was put back in his stroller to take a break from being in the sun. After enjoying a nice lunch on the boardwalk we headed to see the Smith family and take Maddie her birthday present. We had so much fun hanging with them on their little beach front and it was so cute watching Chase and Maddie interact. Maddie loved handing Chase toys and Chase thanked her by grabbing her butt lol. Both kids were fast asleep by 8pm which left us adults enjoying a few drinks and catching up. The day sure wore Chase out as he slept until 9:15am! I was one happy Mamma about that as we are usually up at 6:30am.

Here a few pics of our first trip to the beach as a family of 3

Dinner on the boardwalk

Relaxing and taking it all in

Loving playing in the sand with Daddy

Watching the waves

Playing with Maddie

Buddies for life

Eight Months Sees a Lot of Changes

I feel this has been the biggest month of changes for Chase so far. Everyday it seems he is learning something new, from spinning on his belly to get to toys, to putting his play saucepan on his head (which I showed him a week prior) to doing really well with finger foods. I am so proud of him for learning these new things but I can't help but think, where is my little baby going?

I love that he is becoming more interactive with us, he gives hugs and kisses and goes crazy when Cisco gets near him. Poor Cisco better watch his back and Chase is constantly trying to pet his big brother. His new thing is doing a fake cough, which gets Daddy in a panic as Chase likes to do this doing food time. Of course Chase burts into fits of laughter afterwards. He is going to keep us on our toes I can feel it.

This was my first Mother's Day, well with Chase being outside the womb at least, and for me it isn't about the gifts but spending time with Chase and doing what I love, which is being a Mum to him. James, Chase and I went to a little local zoo and we had a lot of fun. We ened the day by going out to dinner, anyone that lives in the area, check out Winberries in Devon, it was great food.

With the nicer weather we have been spending more time outside at the park and reading books on the blanket under the tree.

I'll leave you with Chase's eight month stats

7 months old

Another month of cuddles and kisses with the little man has passed by. I know people told us this would fly by, but geez this is insane. We have been blessed with such a happy baby boy and his smile lights up the room, and it's very rare to see him upset. I feel so lucky to get to spend all day with him.

This past month we took our first road trip with a baby. We were only gone one night, but wow the car was packed to the brim with all we needed for Chase. We went to NC to support James as he took his CCIE. Chase did phenomenal the whole trip. So good in fact that we really owe him a new toy for how well he behaved. While we were down there Chase and I got to meet up with the whole Feliciano gang, it was so good seeing them.

This month was also the first time Chase got sick :( He came down with the awful stomach bug that is going aroun. I came down with it a few hours later and James the next day. Let me tell you taking care of a sick baby, while you are sick and your husband is at work is no easy task. Thankfully after a whole bunch of peidialyte and lots of sleep and cuddles with Mummy he was baby to our beaming baby in no time.

Chase's 1st Easter

What a great 1st Easter Chase had! We got to see half of the family, tried watermelon and frosting for the first time, and celebrated Pop Berry's birthday.
We enjoyed a yummy brunch buffet at McKenzies with the Berrys. Pop Berry gave Chase his first piece of watermelon, which was a hit. Pop Berry's birthday was this past week but unfortunately we couldn't see Pop Berry on his birthday so today we celebrated with cake and ice cream. Chase also helped Pop Berry read his cards :)
We ended the day by having dinner with Grandma and Grandad Smith, Davey, Annika, Naomi and Great Grandma Janet and Great Grandad Ken who are in from England. Needless to say we had one very tired little boy on our hands this evening and was asleep as soon as his head hit the mattress.

6 month stats

Chase had his 6 month check up today, and with moving it was the first time visiting the new doctor. She was wonderful and Chase hammed it up with her the whole visit. He is a healthy little boy with a wonderfully round head, that was the doctors words lol. It always great to hear you are doing this parenting thing correctly though! Over the next few weeks we will be adding meats to his diet! I have been making all of his food and I get so excited over the ever expanding options of what I can feed him :) Anyways, here are the 6 month stats, and of course a photo...enjoy!

Happy Half Birthday

It's hard to believe that our lil guy is half way to his first birthday already! Only a couple more months and I'll be in full party planning mode :) Chase has grown and changed so much this past month. He is so proud of himself when he masters something new, and of course I am one proud Mummy! To celebrate his half birthday we went to get his 6 month pictures taken and he was quite the ham, though with me putting a camera in front of his face everyday should we really expect anything less? We stopped by Grandma and Grandad Smith's house in the afternoon where he got to enjoy a type of rice cake snack which he seemed to love so much, he tried to steal Grandma's out of her hand :) I could go on and on about Chase as he is our pride and joy, but instead I'll leave you with a couple of photos from today.