10/8/1999

We were released from the hospital today. We thought we would get out by noon, but my temp was a bit low for a while. We finally got home about 4:45pm. We had a few visitors come see me. Kim helped Mommy & Daddy out by bringing over some food & helping to do some much needed chores like dishes and some laundry.

I tried to keep Mommy and Daddy up from 1:30am until about 5:30am. I just wanted to eat and eat and eat. Then, Grandma Hildebrand came over to bring Mommy & Daddy some sloppy Joe's for lunch. She also helped with the house some more. Uncle Josh also came over to visit me. He helped Grandma clean out a cabinet so Mommy & Daddy can store all my baby bottles in the cupboard. Grandma took care of the flowers & helped with more dishes and laundry. Our Neighbor mowed the lawn while I slept most of the day. Grandma Hammett also came over to help take care of me. One of Daddy's friends, Mike Guerrero, came over to visit me and watch the UT football game. The Horns won! My first successful OU experience (although I slept through almost all of it :))

I tried to keep Mommy and Daddy up from 3:30am until about 6:30am. I just wanted to eat and eat and eat. It was a pretty quiet day today. Mommy, Daddy, & I just ate, slept and watched some taped TV. Matt & Stacy Lasater brought over some meat loaf for Mommy & Daddy in the evening.

I let Mommy and Daddy sleep more tonight.  I only woke up at 1am, 4am, and 7:30am.  Mommy's Doctor called at 7:50 to see how she was doing and to have her come in to get her staples removed sometime before my 11:30 appointment with my Doctor.  By 10am, we were at her Doctor.  The staples were removed by the time the nurse was done cooing over me.  We then stopped by Ben & Kavita's house to meet my future playmate Kalyani.  We took some pictures while we were there.  I'll have Daddy post them to the pictures section shortly.  We took off to meet my new Pediatrician, Dawn Brook.  She is a very nice lady, but she had a broken finger so she had another Doctor test the range of motion in my hip joints.  We drove through Arby's so Mommy and Daddy could eat on the way to Babies-R-us.  We picked up a few items and looked at Birth announcements before heading home.  Daddy ordered the birth announcements at iprint.com.  They will be here in a couple of weeks.  I spent the rest of the day sleeping and eating.  I had fun going out to see the world for the first time.

For two nights in a row, I let Mommy and Daddy sleep more.  Daddy actually gets more sleep than Mommy at night, but we let her take naps during the day.  Daddy woke up before both of us and went out to the world to run some errands.  He got his hair cut.  My hair is now longer than the sides and back of his head :)  He picked up some ink cartridges for the printer, light bulbs for the dining room light.  He also got the car cleaned up at Doc Holidays because I made a mess of it last Tuesday when I broke Mommy's water :)  Daddy also went to Maaco to get the molding replaced from when the car was painted before I was born.  He picked up some groceries on the way home.  Then, we pretty much slept and ate all afternoon.  Grandma Hildebrand came by to see me in the evening.  Steve & MeeHee brought Mommy & Daddy some Fajitas for supper.  I was awake for most of their visit so they could hold me and play with me.

I woke up at 1:00am, 4:30am, and 8:30am for feedings.  Mommy did most of the work again during the night time hours.  Daddy changed me twice.  Mommy changed me once, and I got her good.  Just because I dirtied the back, doesn't mean I can't shoot in the front :)  Anyway, I got Daddy later on in the day too.  It was a good day.  I tried to hit him again in the evening when they gave me my 2nd bath.  We went over to Matt & Stacy's house for "Game Night".  I just slept the whole time we were there.  We ran out of the "newborn" diapers today.  Somehow, I managed to go through 80 diapers in 5 days!

Slept pretty well again last night.  Daddy got me up about 8:00am and changed me.  He took me out to the living room to watch TV while Mommy slept till 10:15 or so.  We took a road trip to Daddy's work to sign up for Medical insurance for me.  Daddy added me to his plan.  There was a Health Fair there, so Daddy got a free flu shot.  Then, we stopped by a store so Mommy could buy some more shirts.  Daddy got a call from Stacy with a request to cancel friends night at their house.  So, we had everybody come to our house instead.  Lot's of people showed up.  Steve & MeeHee, Kevin, Ren, Brittney, McKenzie, Ren's parents, and Jim, Kim & Aaron.  They all took off before 10pm so we could get some sleep tonight as well.

Still sleeping well.  Today's big outing was to the hospital so Mommy could test and buy a pump.  She got one called Purely Yours for $225.  Then, Eric Gross brought a full 5 course dinner with salad, chicken, noodles, bread, & cookies!  Mommy & Daddy thought this was YUMMY!  We watched a Dark Crystal DVD that Mike Guerrero lent Daddy.

Not much happened today.  The highlight of the day was when Ren, Marci, Brittney, & McKenzie brought Mommy & Daddy dinner.

We hung around the house again today.  Grandpa Hildebrand came to visit after I had a bath about 2pm.  Mommy & Daddy went to the grocery store while Grandpa baby-sat me.   Then, Justin & Katie stopped by for a visit on their way home from Fort Worth, TX.  They all left and Doug & Kiffin brought Mommy & Daddy some BBQ for dinner.  Daddy copied the 8mm video to sVHS tape.  Everybody that wanted to watch the tape today got a chance to.  Mommy was having some troubles with the pump not pumping today.  She didn't get to use it because it wasn't working.  Daddy hooked it up just before bed and it was working again.  I will wait to see what they do with it.

Daddy took off about 9 this morning to drop off the Honda at the shop and to help Matt Lasater with some computer problems at his work.  Mommy stayed home with me all day.  Daddy also played roller hockey in the evening. Grandma Hammett came to visit in the evening.

Today we went to see my doctor again.  She said I'm not gaining weight fast enough.  Mommy is going to make me eat more.  I have another appointment on Monday.  We stopped by Daddy's office and Mommy's office to visit people.  We also stopped to get MORE diapers for me!

Daddy has been at work all week.  Today is Friday.  Mommy took me out all afternoon.  We went to Daddy's work to help one of Daddy's old Bosses celebrate his 30th Birthday.  We put pictures of him in his Darth Maul outfit on my pictures page.  After the lunch party, Mommy took me shopping to Babies-R-US, and then walked me in my stroller all over the Arbor shopping center until the Tivoli Beer Bash started.  They had a costume contest during the Unity Beer Bash.  (All the other Tivoli buildings came to Daddy's building for the bash).  I got my picture taken with my First Young's Oatmeal Stout beer!  Of course, Darth Maul was there to scare me again :)  Daddy had to keep working after the bash, so Mommy took me home.  Daddy is trying to move 600Gigs of data to some new Auspexes.  He came home about 11:00pm.

We got to watch the Longhorns barely beat Iowa State in Football today.  The score was 44-41 with a last second field goal!  Half way through the game, we all went to Ryan & Christine Wood's baby shower.  They are having a baby that is due on January 6, 2000.  Daddy did a bunch of work from home after the shower until about 3:00am. :(

Today is Halloween.  Daddy had to go to work for a while.  He brought Justin home with him to help him work on his laptop computer.  I was up ALL afternoon.  Then, Grandma & Grandpa Hildebrand came over with Katie to cook some dinner.  I was so tired, I just wanted to sleep.  Why can' t they come over when I am awake?  Anyway, Mommy & Daddy said dinner was excellent!  Then, we got dressed up in our costumes and took some pictures before crashing Uncle Josh's party.  It took Uncle Josh a good 5 minutes before he figured out who we were.  He said to Daddy, "Ok, I give up... Who are you people?".  He finally figured it out when Grandma Hildebrand stared at him long enough!  He said, "It's my family!"

I haven't had time to update my page in while so I'll try to remember all I have done since Halloween.  I spend my days with Mommy eating, spitting up, sleeping and making diapers.  I make the diapers so that she will have something to do.  I can't imagine what she did before I came along.  Mommy likes to take me places after I fall asleep.  I never know where I will be when I wake up.

Last Saturday we went to G & G Hildebrand's house and listened to the UT football game.  I got to see all the Hildebrands in Texas when my uncles Justin and Josh and Aunt Katie all came over for dinner.  Mommy and Daddy were happy that UT won again.

A week ago Sunday, I woke up at Kalyani's house where we celebrated Divali.  It is like an Indian Christmas.  There are cool candles lit and spicy food that I can't eat and Daddy seems to be afraid to eat.  We hung out in Kalyani's backyard while the 'dults talked and the older kids played.  Kalyani and I both had some lunch and a nap.

Last Thursday, I woke up at Grandma Hildebrand's work.  This is the place that Mommy first found out I was a boy.  I got to talk to Grandma's work mates before having a brief meal.  That night,  I woke up at Shane's house where the 'dults got to eat Gumbo and I had milk again.  Mommy says that someday when I have teeth I will get to eat all the yummy food too.  When I woke at home again, I found out that Mommy got a new Glider chair.  She must have really liked it because later that night she fell asleep while she was feeding me!  I had to grumble at her to wake her up and get her attention.  I don't know why she doesn't enjoy my 3 am feedings.  She's always so sleepy.

Just yesterday I woke up and I was riding in my own boat.  I thought it was really cool until I realized that the boat wasn't moving and instead of being in the water, it was connected to Daddy's Explorer.  I was pretty annoyed that they apparently weren't taking me for a real boat ride, so I let Mommy know that this wasn't an appropriate thing to wake me for!  What a tease!  The next time I woke up yesterday, I was outside the  Texas Longhorn Stadium  and there was my family again!  I met the nicest lady, Rhonda Troll, who talked and talked to me.  She listened to all my stories.  I was ready to go to the football game, but Mommy and Daddy seemed ready to go home so I let them take me home.  We watched the game with Daddy's friend, Stan, and after a little while Mommy's friends Shana and Zac came over to see me.  By this point in time, the longhorns were winning the game hands down and to tell you the truth I was a little annoyed that Mommy and Daddy didn't let me go to the game with Grandma and Grandpa.  So I decided to let them know how displeased I was.  I finally fell asleep exhausted from my big day.

Today, I woke up in Church.  Mommy and Daddy did a lot of sitting and standing and I just hung out.  I got to see Grandma Hammett at Church.  She promised to come visit me later after my folks took me shopping.

Here is what I am really looking forward to this week:

1)  I will be six weeks old!
2)  Daddy is going to take care of me Tuesday evening.  It will be our first "guys" night.  No girls.  Hooray!
3)  Wednesday,  Grandma Hildebrand is going to take care of me while Mommy and Daddy go on an afternoon date.  (Whatever that is.)
4)  Friday, Mommy is going to take me to her old work where she is going to have lunch.

We went to church this morning.  Mommy & Daddy are getting us registered so I can be baptized.  After church, we went to Westlake.  I got to meet my Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Hildebrand today.  They were so happy to see me, and I was so happy to meet them.  Mommy & Daddy even took some video of this.  In the afternoon, we went to Brittney's 2nd birthday party at Peter Piper Pizza in North West Austin.  Then, we went back to Westlake to visit with all the grandparents.  I wasn't all that happy while we were there.  I think I was a bit stopped up if you know what I mean...

Daddy took off work.  Mommy went grocery shopping while I tormented Daddy.  He tried to do some work from home, but I didn't let him get much done.  Later, Grandma Hammett came over to baby sit while Mommy & Daddy went to the gym to work out.  Then, we all went to Rudy's BBQ in Westlake to eat with Great Grandma & Grandpa Hildebrand and Grandma & Grandpa Hildebrand.  We then hung out in Westlake where Mommy learned all about Great Grandma & Grandpa Hildebrand.  She is going to write down all the details in my baby book.  I am 1/8th Czech & 1/8th German because Great Grandma Hildebrand is 100% Czech descent & Great Grandpa Hildebrand is 100% German descent.  Mommy is going to try to get some stories from them while Daddy tapes them over Thanksgiving.

We spent all day at home today.  Then, in the afternoon, Great Grandma & Grandpa Hildebrand came with Grandpa Hildebrand to visit us at our house in the afternoon after they visited Uncle Josh at his work.  They said the traffic was terrible most of the way here.  About 5:30, everybody else started showing up so we could go to dinner at Spring Hill in Pflugerville.  Justin, Katie, Josh, & Grandma Hammett all came over to go to dinner.  Grandma Hildebrand had to work late so she couldn't join us.  Before we went to dinner, we talked with Lindsay in South Dakota on the Instant Messenger Voice feature.  The restaurant wasn't the REAL Spring Hill because they don't have real silverware.  Daddy broke his plastic fork while eating.  I just slept the whole time.  I finally gave Mommy & Daddy a break so they could eat.

My FIRST Thanksgiving!  What a day!  Daddy finished up the CD of the Hildebrand Photo Album to give to everybody today.  Most of those pictures are already on the web, but he made a CD for safe-keeping!  We got to cook a turkey in a Deep Fat Fryer!  Uncle Justin is getting good at that now!  It only took 55 minutes to cook the entire turkey at 350 degrees.  Daddy took some video and some pictures that you can see here. They tell me dinner was really good!  After dinner, Daddy did an interview of Great Grandpa Hildebrand.  He even video taped it so I can watch it when I grow up!  Everybody watched the Cowboys beat Miami while I slept in Grandma Hildebrands arms.  Then, Daddy taped an interview with Great Grandma Hildebrand.  They have a LOT of stories!  I will post the questions Daddy asked them when I get a chance.  We took a picture of 4 Generations of Hildebrand 1st born men!  Tomorrow we get to watch the Longhorns beat the Aggies at 10am.  What a great Thanksgiving!

The Hildebrands came over and we celebrated Christmas.  I got lots of neat things.  One of my favorites is this picture frame that Grandma gave me that plays rain.  I like to fall asleep to the sound of running water, so the rainmaker really makes my sleep restful.

The Hammetts came over and we celebrated Christmas again.  More presents, I couldn't believe it.  I got a bear from Uncle James and an activity mat from Uncle Mark.  Grammy Hammett is going to give me an activity center.  We went to midnight mass and I cried a lot.  Mommy finally sang Silent Night to me and I fell asleep.

Santa brought me a colorful worm that rattles and squeaks and makes crumply noises.  I also got a baby Mozart tape.  Grandma and Grandpa Hildebrand, Uncle Josh and his friend came over and we had a fun afternoon playing.

On the last day of 1999, I went to Jack's house and celebrated the new year for London.  Then. we went to Kevin's house where I went to sleep at 9:30 pm and slept through the 'dults party until Mommy and Daddy left at 2:30 or so.

1/15/2000

Today is my Uncle Justin's birthday.  For his birthday, I am going to make him a god father.  I was baptized today at St. Elizatbeth's Church in Pflugerville.  After that, Mommy cooked dinner and we celebrated Justin's birthday.  Grandma (Janeen) made this jalapeno carrot cake.

I spent the day with Grammy (Hammett) today while my mom and dad hosted a shower for my cousin-to-be Vale.  He is inside my aunt Katie right now.  Mommy says he'll be out to meet me in March.

Superbowl!!!  Ok, so I didn't watch any of it.  I kept my Mommy busy while she talked to all the people who came over.  And guess what??!?  I won one of the betting squares!  I won $10.  Woo hoo.  I'm on the road to riches now.

I went to the gym with Kalyani today.  Later in the afternoon, we went to a going away party for Mommy's old boss, Victoria.  I decided to be good and I was awake at the party for almost an hour and didn't cry at all.

We went by Mommy's old work to return some maternity clothes that were lent to her when she was pregnant.  We saw Kerri R. and Terri S.  Grammy (Hammett) came watched me while Mommy went running.  Daddy went camping with Stan, Jim (Justin's friend) and my Godfather, Uncle Justin.

Daddy took me to Zilker park while Mommy ran with Kalyani's mom and Lia's mom.  Daddy "wore me" in a sling.  It was a beautiful day.  Afterward, we went by Grandma Hildebrand's house and left her a note since she was out.  Then we went furniture shopping.  Daddy is looking for the perfect corner entertainment center that will keep his electronics safe from my little fingers.

2/6/2000

Today, I went to church with Mommy while Daddy worked.  We got lucky and got to sit in the rocker in the Rose Room.  Deacon Mark, who baptized me last month did the homily.  Later, after Daddy came home we went furniture shopping again and then went to Grandma Hildebrand's house.  I was a little grumpy because my gums are bothering me.

We went to Jack's house today and watched the older kids play.  It was a FEMALE event with lots of Mommies and kiddos.  The girls out numbered the boys.  Jack, Daniel (who was born 3 days before me) and I were the only boys.  Afterward, Mommy and I went by the Bureau of Vital Statistics and got a copy of my birth certificate.  Mommy says we need that for our trip to Alaska in May.

Today, when my Mommy put me on my tummy and went to go get cereal, I decided it would be a good time to try that rolling over thing she keeps asking me about.  When she came back and found me on my back, she was so excited.  She put my on my belly again and I did it one more time for Mommy and Daddy, but when they pulled out the video camera, I decided I had had enough.

I saw Dr. Brooke today.  She said I am doing well.  I weigh 13 pounds and 12 ounces and I am 26 inches long.  She said I could start on rice cereal now.  So later that day, Mommy Daddy and Grandma Hi gave me my first bites.  It took a little while to understand this whole spoon thing but I figured it out by the end.

Today I went with my Mommy and Grammy to Brehnam, Texas.  It was about a 2 hour drive.  We sat in Beatrix Potter's garden while Mommy fed me.  Mommy picked out two rose bushes and had lunch across the street from the Rose Emporium.  I got a little tired of being in the car on the way home.

I figured out who Scout is.

I met Mommy's good friend, Timi.  She was briefly in Austin and came by to meet me on her way to the airport.  She held me and talked to me and we had a good time.  Mommy says we may go visit her.  She lives in New York.  I also spent some time playing my piano this afternoon.

I went to my first UT baseball game with Shelly and Ryan and Evan.  I thought the game was mildly interesting.  Watching the crowd from Mommy's lap was fascinating as well.  I don't think I have ever seen so many people at once.

Today Grammy watched me while Mommy got her hair cut and ran 2 miles and Daddy golfed.  Later we went to dinner with Ryan, Christine and Baby Avery.

Leap day!  When is my cousin, Vale, going to be born?  Tomorrow we leave for the "Big Easy", New Orleans, Louisiana.  My mommy is so excited to be in a car with me for hours.

After a big lunch (rice cereal), we started our trip to New Orleans.  I did a little napping, chatted with Mom and then at about 3 pm, I decided it was time to eat again.  So we stopped just outside of Houston and Mommy and Daddy ate a bit and then I had a little snack.  I made through to Lake Charles before I had to let my folks know it was time for cereal again.  Daddy kept saying, can't you do that while we are moving?  So Mommy let Daddy feed me a bit so that he would know how much I like to be messy when I eat.  We drove on to New Orleans and arrived by 9:30 pm that night and stayed at a LaQuinta near the airport in Kenner.  Tomorrow's accommodations will be at the Hyatt right beside the Superdome.

We got up this morning and Mommy and I had breakfast while Daddy put all our bags back in the car and filled gas in the car.  I tried to make eye contact with everyone I saw.  I fell asleep in the car and when I woke up we were at the Superdome.  Daddy and lots of other guys were loading beads onto their float.  I thought the floats were really neat until my Mommy left me inside with Grandma and I had to let everyone know that she really shouldn't be without me right now.  So Mommy and I walked over to the hotel because it was kinda hot outside.  I got really mad that she wasn't carrying me and made her carry me while pushing the stroller.  Once we got to the Hyatt, she fed me and I felt much better.  I really liked checking out the Mardi Gras decorations in the lobby.  They had MG masks that were 5 feet tall with white and pink and gold faces.  I thought they were really neat.

We then went to the hotel restaurant for lunch and I stayed in the stroller for as long as I could stand it.  When Mommy got dessert, I knew it was time to get out of the stroller again.  We went up to our room with Grandma and Grandpa and found out that the hotel gave us this really cool suite.  (OK, actually, my grandparents got the suite and we got the bedroom next door which was just like every other hotel room.)  There was a bar area which Mom used to lay out all of my bottles, bowls and feeding stuff and a refrigerator below.  The bar area had a huge mirror that I could see the other Chance in.  I've noticed that every mirror has him in it - no matter where I am.  That's OK because I like looking at him.

Later that night, I got to stay with Grandma while Mommy, Daddy and Grandpa went to the balcony party (whatever).  Grandma and I had a grand time once I forgot about Mommy.

Today we went to lunch at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.  The colors at this place were so incredible.  I thought it was really neat.  Kevin, Randy, Sybil, Frank and others joined my parents and grandparents and me.  Here's a picture of my Mom, Dad and me and Frank at the restaurant.  Then, I went for a walk with Kevin and Mommy while the other adults went to Harrah's, which doesn't let anyone under 21 in.  After a while, Grandma was ready for some Chance time and she and I walked back to the hotel and spent a little time in the afternoon together.  I helped Grandpa on the computer a little while also.  Apparently, there was a party that night also, although Mommy and I didn't go.  Wait a second . . . here's a picture of her at the party - she must have sneaked out after I fell asleep!!

Mommy and Grandma took me to mass today at the Superdome.  I've never seen a mass like this!  A lot of the attendees were dressed up in these brightly colored costumes!  Mommy said that Daddy probably had a neat costume also so we went to find him and discovered that while some people got some cool costumes, Daddy was dressed like furniture from the late 60s or early 70s.  So you can tell by the look on my face that I would have rather been photographed with someone else, right?  Any of these guys would have been better, or maybe with Randy.  Sheesh, who designs these outfits anyway?

After the mass, we went home played a little and then took a nap.  When I woke up later, I found out I was a cousin!! Mommy and I stayed home while Grandma went to the party.  Mommy and I went to dinner at the hotel restaurant.  We rode in a crowded elevator with lots of people dressed in formals.  I could almost hear my mommy praying that I wouldn't spit up on all the pretty gowns.
 

Today , we tried to get rolling out of NOLA as fast as we could so that we could go meet my cousin, Vale.  Unfortunately everyone else wanted to get out also.  Mommy and I waited at the elevators for 30 minutes while 7 elevators opened filled to capacity.  She finally gave up on the elevator idea and walked down the 17 flights of stairs.  By the time we got downstairs, Daddy was really wondering about us.  Mommy had to talk to a manager about the whole elevator situation, I think I overheard her offer to let the manager carry me somewhere.  Anyway, we got a free night for our troubles and then we were off.

While on the road, I exerted my strength of personality by refusing to take milk in a bottle while the car was moving.  Frankly, I was insulted by the offer.  So I made my parents stop the car so I could eat.  I did this a couple of times.  Daddy was so tired that I decided to take a long nap while he slept and Mommy drove.   We got almost to Houston before I thought it was time to stop again.  We were almost to Austin when I couldn't stand the seat anymore and decided I needed to eat.  I won again.

We went straight to St. David's Hospital to see my new cousin and my very tired aunt and uncle. Mommy and Daddy were so excited to meet Vale and I was so excited to be out of my carseat.  Vale and I have the same feet.  (Big toe is separated from the others a little more than usual - although this picture doesn't show it very well.)

Back to the regular grind today.  My sleeping schedule is a bit off, but what can you expect after being in a car for 10 hours yesterday?  Vale went home from the hospital yesterday with his parents.  Mommy cooked lasagna and we went over to Vale's for dinner.

Mommy, Grandma and I went over to Vale's house to hang out with Aunt Katie and Vale while Daddy, Uncle Justin and their friends all celebrate Mardi Gras in Austin.

I went to my first Ash Wednesday church service today at St. Louis Church in Austin.

Grammy Hammett came over and watched me while my folks went to see a movie and had dinner without me.  I had a good time without them.

Uncle Josh came over with Anouk and his new puppy, Packet.

G and G Hildebrand and Aunt Katie, Uncle Justin and Baby Vale came over for dinner.  Grandma really enjoyed having both of her grandsons together for a visit.  I really wanted to pull that furry thing off Grandpa's lip but it was stuck on pretty good.

Kalyani came over.  We had so much fun.  Her mommy says that she screeches like me, but whenever I screech at her, she is a little stunned.  We both got SOOO excited to be with each other.  I just wanted to touch her face and hands and we laughed a lot together.  Kalyani is about to crawl - in fact she got up on all fours to show me.  I sat all by myself today without my Mommy balancing me.

 
Today was a busy day.  First, Mommy and I went to Shana's baby shower while Daddy worked.  Then we went over to Zen's house where a lot of friends came over.  I hung out on the blanket with Kalyani and Zen.  You can tell from the picture of the three of us that we are all about the same size.  I should tell you that Zen weighs more than me and he was born 2 and 1/2 months after me!!  Daddy and I shared a beer while we were there.

I took my first plane ride today.  Mommy says I did pretty well.  Grandma sat beside me and helped Mommy entertain me.  When we got to Colorado Springs, it was snowing.  White stuff everywhere.  We stopped at a McDonald's and I ate some cereal before we headed up into the mountains.  I rode in my new car seat that we brought with us.  We had a great view of the mountains from our condo.

We went into town.  Daddy packed me around in a snugli.  Near the ski mountain, there is a place where an open fire sits under a gazebo.  I thought that open fire was the coolest thing to see!

In the morning, Mommy and I hung out, did our usual things: eat, play and wet and change diapers while Daddy and G and G went skiing.  When my Grandparents came home in the afternoon, Mommy went skiing with Daddy.  My grandparents helped me work on my sitting skills while we played together.

I really enjoyed our time in the mountains.  I got to spend a lot of time with my Daddy and my grandparents.  My grandma really loved my kisses.  Here's a picture of Daddy and I having a conversation.  Check out my Mommy's piggytails!  She started putting her hair like that when I starting tugging on it well.  The piggy tails are easier to grab, but they don't make her yelp quite the same way as pulling just a few special hairs does.

I am six months old!  Check it out - I can put my feet in my mouth.

We flew home today.  Since our flight was delayed, Mommy took me for a walk in the airport.  She tried to tell me about the plans, but I was really more interested in looking at people.  For a while, she walked on this moving walkway back and forth past our gate.  When no one else was on it, she would walk the wrong direction or backwards so that we stayed in the same place even though it felt like walking to me.  It was a cheap and entertaining trick.  It was a long and tiring day for me.  I tried not to annoy the other passengers too much while we were on the plane.  When we got to Dallas-Fort Worth, our connecting flight was minutes away from departing so Mommy, Grandma, Grandpa, and I all got on one of those carts in the airport that cruise around honking at the slow people and the people standing in the middle of the walkway.  THere wasn't enough room for Daddy so he ran behind the cart. . . from the "A" terminal to the "C" terminal.  We missed that flight, but WHOA . . .just two gates down there was another one about to take off.  Can you imagine how thrilled all of those people were to see me and my mommy get on the plane?  Y'know, you're sitting on a plane, saying to yourself, "Hey, what's the hold up?"  And the passengers you are waiting turn out to have an infant?  Yup, and a moderately cranky one at that.  But, like I said, it was a long day.

We went over to Vale's house for dinner.  G and G were there and we all had a nice time.  Mommy let me drink from her glass.  I thought this was SO fun.  Appareently, Uncle Justin didn't know that the thermometer he was using to fry a turkey was broken and so the bird was a little over done.  That didn't bother me too much since my mommy feeds me mush.

This morning, I went for a walk with Mommy and Ryan and Evan and Shelly.  It was a nice breezy morning.  Later, Vale and I went to the mall to get our pictures taken with the Easter bunny.  He really liked us.  I tried to squirm in his right arm while Vale spit up on his left arm and hand.  Aunt Katie dried the spit up and said, "Sorry Easter Bunny."  The bunny just kinda looked at his hand and then went back to looking straight ahead.  Next year, Vale and I are really going to enjoy our visit to the Bunny!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Hildebrand came to visit for Easter!  We went to G and G's house and hung out and I played with all my family.

(oops...time warp...we'll fill this in later)

Da . . . da . . . da . . .da

I discovered that rolling is actually much quicker than scootching.

For Mommy's birthday, Grandma Hi came over to my house and picked me up with her new car seat.  It took a while for Daddy and Grandma to figure out the car seat but then, we were off!  I spent the afternoon with my Grandma while my Mommy did Mommy things like getting a massage.  I road around a lot today. . . I may have even picked up Grandpa at the airport.  Grandma played a special Barney tape for me that I REALLY liked.  Daddy is gonna love this!  And then I went with G and G to dinner and wow!  my Mommy and Daddy showed up and lots of my friends, too.  Even Grammy was there.  After dinner, we went to the cows over at the Arboretum and the bigger kids played in the fountain and on the cows while some of the parents had ice cream and hung out.

Early this morning Daddy and I watched Mommy practice for her triathlon by doing a minitriathlon.  She swam 1/4 of a mile and then biked 6 miles.  Daddy and I hung out and ate breakfast and watched all the people.  Then we went to G and G's house where I decided it was time to start trying to stand on my own.  Later, we went with Vale and his folks and Grandma Hildebrand to a Round Rock Express game.  My first baseball game!  I had a great time until a storm blew in and we had to rush to the car to beat the rain.

We went to G and G's house for a brief visit while Daddy talked to some guys about selling the boat.  After coming home, Grammy came over and we played.  After I showed off for my Grammy by pulling myself up in my crib, my Mommy lowered the crib bed to the floor.  :(

This morning, I told my mommy that I wanted to go for a ride in my stroller by walking her to it (twice - she's a little slow) and banging on it.  After she put me in it, I was excited that she caught my clue!  We went for a walk around the neighborhood.  I tried to make her go faster by rocking in the stroller but it didn't work.

Mommy and I went to a pool in Round Rock that opens early for little kids (under 5) three days a week.  There, we played with Shelly and Evan and Ryan and lots of other kids and babies whose Mommies are in Mommy's Mom Group, Moms and More.  At first, I wasn't too sure about the whole pool scene.  There were SO many kids to watch I just sat in the water for a while, but then I got used to all the noise and activity and started splashing around and enjoying myself.  I borrowed an arm floatie from a girl named Amy and played with that for a long time.

Mommy and Grammy went to the Danksin expo and waited in lots of lines.  I was very patient and hung out with my Grammy checking out the athletes while Mommy picked up her registration for the Danskin.  When we got home, Mommy went to a wedding shower for her friend, Karen, while I played with Grammy.

Mommy and Daddy snuck out early this morning (5:30 am!) to go to the Danskin Traithlon.  Daddy watched Mommy swim, bike and run while I showed my Grammy what my usual routine is.  When Mommy and Daddy got home, they were both worn out but I wasn't!

I went to my Grandma Hi's house this afternoon and played with my Grandma while Mommy and Daddy saw a movie, American Beauty.

Today a bunch of friends came over and we went to the park and the pool.  I skipped my morning nap and got so tired at the park that I almost feel asleep in the swing.  Then Mommy played with me in the pool.  We have a special float that I can sit in and Mommy pushes me around.  I thought it was pretty neat.  Kalyani and Zen have sailboat-like floats that they really liked also.  After the pool I took a nap while the friends hung out.  Zen really liked my Johnny Jump-up and Kalyani really liked my exersaucer.

Mommy and I hung out all day doing the usual.  Eating, sleeping, practicing walking.  Then, Grammy came over and I decided to practice taking a step by myself between Mommy and Grammy.  I would only do one step before falling but this was my first real try.  I even took two or three (depending who was counting) between them once.
 

I decided to try climbing the stairs and once  I got started I didn't stop until I reached the top!  Scout and I bonded over some shared cheerios.  Later she thought it would be fun to try out my pacifier.  Luckily, Mommy stopped her before she enjoyed it too much!