New Photo Site

I've got another post in the works, but I thought I would post the link for our new photo site on Phanfare. I just got notification today that Phanfare has been acquired by Carbonite, so we'll see how that affects the site moving forward, but hopefully it won't be a problem.

Here are a couple samples of what you will find on the site:

Enjoy!

Going two for tooth

A couple Sundays ago, Jonah's first tooth broke through his bottom gums. A second one has started to make an appearance in the past couple days. Sometimes he seems to have a really tough time with it. Other times he is obviously very curious about what is going on in his mouth. Early last week he started putting his tongue down on his gums more frequently with very obvious curiosity. Toward the end of last week, he started wagging his tongue around. Maybe he likes the way the teeth feel under his tongue?

It was so funny, we decided we had to capture it on film, but Jonah's sixth sense kicked in whenever the camera was running and he would stop doing it. Finally, we were able to capture the "little windshield wiper" in action here, along with some good long growls (another new activity... as though he were testing his lungs). There are a couple false starts early on. It even gets going at one point, but he grabs his tongue as if it were doing something he didn't expect it to do. The good tongue wag starts about 57 seconds in (maybe I will trim the video down a bit).

Enjoy!

Just a Swingin'

Sunday's beautiful weather (80+ degrees) provided us with the perfect opportunity to take Jonah for his first ride on the swings at Enderis Park, just around the corner from our house.  We weren't entirely certain how he would do with them as we didn't use a baby swing, but we did swing him a bit in the Johnny Jump-Up and he hadn't seemed to mind that.

I don't think we needed to worry.  Does it look like he had a bad time?

Let me tell you how to do it.

Higher, higher, Daddy!

I also shot the video below while helping to push him, so the quality isn't the best. 



The park was pretty popular Sunday and there was a line for the two infant swings, so we couldn't stay on for long.  Ben took Jonah back to the swings last night while I went to a children's consignment sale and it sounds like they had a great time.  Too bad the weather has turned cold again! I'm not sure when we'll make it back, but I'm sure many more visits are in our not-to-distant future.  Before then, I need to stock up on sunscreen and wash the bucket hats I bought last night. I wasn't quite prepared for the change in weather and the fact that he's grown leaps and bounds since last summer!

Maiden voyage of the bike/jog stroller

Today was a beautiful day, and we couldn't resist getting out for a walk after work. Despite the fact that it was warmer and sunny, it was still a bit breezy outside so we decided to use the new bike/jog stroller that we got for Christmas for our walk. This allowed us to keep Jonah better protected from the elements because the stroller has a completely enclosed compartment. It had the added benefit of not allowing Jonah to kick his blanket off as he could in the other strollers.

Here are some quick snaps from our little journey.

Jonah checks out his new ride.

There's nothing quite like a good rattle to prep you for a walk.

Blanketed and cozy.

Protected from the elements.

Side view with the rattle still in his mouth.

On the walk. Jonah really seemed to enjoy the ride!

The stroller rode really smoothly. We're looking forward to trying it for runs and bike rides!

Jonah videos

Last weekend we went for a whirlwind trip to Ohio to visit Grandma and Grandpa Gregg, aunts, uncles, cousins, and great grandparents. It was the first time we flew to Ohio from Milwaukee just for a family visit, but Michelle had some airline miles she needed to use up before they expired so we did a little trip.

Of course, we took lots of pictures!

"Awwww, Dad! More pictures??"

You can see more in my Picasa album from the trip.

We also got some video, too. At the airport, we started playing "peek-a-boo" with Jonah, and for the first time, he started covering himself back up to play more!



Who says the airport can't be fun? Jonah also had some fun looking at his reflection in the mirrored ceiling, but the video I got of that was pretty bouncy, and I don't want to get anyone sick.

Grandpa certainly had some fun playing with Jonah. Jonah is certainly too small for go carts, but that doesn't mean he can't go for a ride!



It was a great way to clean the table top, too!

I'll finish off this post with one last picture that really cracked me up when I was going through the photos from the weekend.

"What the heck are you talking about, Grandpa???"

What would you use as a caption?

Puff Baby

Even though he still doesn't have any teeth, we've recently started giving Jonah baby puffs. They are kind of like star-shaped Cheerios with different flavors, but they melt in the mouth a little better. We still aren't sure what he really thinks about them, because he seems excited for them when we put them out for him. He likes to pick them up, and, as babies do, put the one he picks up in his mouth by putting his fingers as far in as they can go.

Here he is trying them for the first time.

Over the weekend, I gave him some, and he managed to get one down his shirt. Later, when I was changing his diaper, I felt something strange on his belly. I didn't know if his clothes were lumped funny or something was weird with his diaper. It turns out that one of the puffs had gotten down his shirt and lodged itself in his belly button. When I got his onesie open, he had a star impression around his belly button. No, I didn't take the opportunity to get a picture of that.

If you would like to see the star shapes a little better, though, he is pretty good about putting them on display.

Baby Flash goes to Comic Con

With Michelle out of town for a quilt retreat, Jonah had the opportunity to spend a day with me at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) today. Our friend Ryan joined us for a day at the show. In honor of the event, I picked up a special Flash onesie for Jonah to wear for the day. Putting aside his mild mannered secret identity, he became Baby Flash!

Baby Flash hanging out with Baby Green Lantern in line at C2E2

I expected the overall day to be a bit more of an adventure. Happily, Jonah is so good natured that he made it a breeze. I kept him well fed, changed, and entertained, and he made everyone who saw him smile with his big toothless grin.

He got to meet one of my favorite actresses, Eliza Dushku, and she was just great with him. Jonah, of course, was more interested in her shiny jewelry.

Jonah meets Eliza Dushku

She was just great with him. She even took a little time to play with him a bit at the table and was ok (at least she didn't say anything, so I hope she was ok in retrospect) with him playing with her ring and watch. Unfortunately, the picture policy for the show made it tough for Ryan to get a good shot. It was a really nice experience, though.

Later, Baby Flash met The Flash

After meeting Eliza Dushku and The Flash, Jonah was entertained by a performance artist who also seemed to be having a good time with the faces Jonah made back at her.

The reciprocity of entertainment

Then Jonah had the distinct opportunity to play "peek-a-boo" with Mark Sheppard, an excellent actor from many shows I enjoy. He is a great guy, even if he did berate me a bit for not seeing him in the X-Files.

Peek-a-boo!

Tee-hee!

Later, Baby Flash met The Flash

After so much excitement, it was time to get some lunch.

Even Baby Flash needs to refuel

Lunch led to nap time.

Even Baby Flash needs to rest

Which led to Happy Jonah.

We couldn't stop anywhere without the little guy catching someone's eye

Though, when meeting 9 foot tall Wookiees, he did get a bit flustered...

The day went extremely well. I was a little nervous being so far from the safety of home, with its backup food and supplies, but we were well prepared and everything went smoothly. Jonah got to spend a really good mix of time in and out of the stroller. There were even some opportunities for him to crawl for a bit. I think he had a good day.