Birthday Boy!

So many exciting new things.

Opening packages with the help of Cousin Owen.

Here comes the cake!

Who knew cake could be so much fun!

Wow! Ian is 1 year old today! (Not technically until 11:28 but we're not celebrating that late). I think if we made it one year we can make it a few more years. Ian had a great day just hanging out with Mom and Dad and then a low-key party with family and friends. Ian received many wonderful gifts and he should not be bored for a minute (ha ha!) There are new pictures in his gallery and we'll have video up in the next couple of days. Enjoy the pictures!

Walker Fun

Ian is having fun getting around with his walker. Here is a little bit of video with him and his walker. Thanks to Cousin Owen he has a wagon to walk with. We'll post video of that soon

1st Christmas

Ian had a GREAT first Christmas. He got the hang of ripping the paper off (with a little help from Mom and Dad) and he has been enjoying all of his new toys. He had fun with Grandma and Grandpa Verbeke Christmas Eve and in the morning on Christmas and enjoyed his time with Grandma and Grandpa Dobbins, Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Andrew, Aunt Caroline and Cousin Owen in the afternoon and evening. Ian and Owen chased each other around (with the help of Dad) and they laughed and laughed and laughed. Both guys were very tired by the end of the day. These are some of the pictures from the day but more are on our Gallery.

1st Holiday Festivities

Ian is getting all ready for his first Christmas! It's hard to believe it is his first Christmas (he just barely missed last Christmas). I'll have lots more pictures as the Christmas festivities really get going but for now I have CCI Christmas Party pictures. Ian met Santa for the first time. No issues whatsoever.

Besides getting ready for Christmas Ian has been busy shuffling around on any piece of solid furniture he can get his hands on. His favorite is the tub so he can knock the bottles off into the tub. Grandma sent the walker with Aunt Caroline when she came to visit and he laughs as he "walks" along. He started out really fast but he's getting more and more in control every day. We have video we'll upload soon. Ian has also been busy eating all kinds of new foods and he's working on scooping food up with a spoon on his own. He's successfully catapulted food off of his spoon but he has yet to complete loading and unloading food with a spoon (he unloads just fine if someone loads it for him).

I think that is it for now. More soon.....

Music and Dancing

Thanks for my new hat Grandma!

It tastes good too!

Ian loves music. He loves making music (mostly with his hands) and he loves dancing to music. I've uploaded some video of Ian making music and dancing as well has his first bites of banana with a spoon.

New Skills

Ian has learned quite a few new skills over the past couple of weeks. He's crawling on his hands and knees, no more army crawling. He's easily stacking his wood pieces on the peg. He continues to work on pulling up on everything and he's shuffling along on almost anything.

Here is video of some of new skills.

Also, since the last time I posted something on his blog Aunt Stephanie took lots of pictures of Ian. Enjoy them HERE.

Work has been really busy which has kept me from doing fun stuff like movies and pictures of Ian. I'm hoping thigns will start to calm down so I'll have time in the evening to do some things I enjoy.

1st Halloween

Ian's first halloween was a success! He lasted in his costume about an hour and then he was burning up but enough time to get some pictures. He played while Caroline and I took turns handing out candy. We counted about 135 kids. Now we're just relaxing before Caroline has to go back and teach swimming lessons. We really enjoyed having her. Wish she could come visit more often but she's "off at school" so we have to let her be. We miss her tons though.

Pumpkins now - cake in 2 months!

We celebrated Ian's 10 month birthday by carving his first pumpkin - well I carved and Ian watched. It seems as though Ian developed so much this month. He is easily pulling himself up on anything he can get his hands on to. Ian has started a new game - when he knows I'm out in the kitchen I'll hear him giggle and start quickly "crawling" towards the back bedroom and he wants me to chase him. He thinks it is so much fun. He has also started babbling "dada" and "mama". Currently he likes to say dada all during the day when he happy and has no worries. However he frequently says mama in the middle of the night when he's crying. It won't be long before he's walking and saying his first words. 2 months from now instead of having a pumpkin on his highchair he'll have birthday cake. WOW!

More 9 months pictures Halloween/10 months pictures

Time Together

Joe, Ian and I took time away from work and regular life for a weekend up north. We also wanted to enjoy the beautiful colors of an up north fall. Today we did a little shopping and then drove through the "Tunnel of Trees" and took in Michigan's true beauty while Ian slept (another beauty of Michigan - the car's ability to put kids to sleep). I am already dreading going home but this visit was exactly what I needed to refocus. We took lots of pictures - enjoy some of the best.

A Fun-Filled October 13th

Hi Everybody,

Joe this time. Tonight was another stellar night for Ian. We managed to get three totally different and interesting/funny/crazy moments on video. He is certainly a very special little guy. Enjoy.

Fun with Video

We've been having fun with the video camera. If you're not on facebook you might not have seen them all but you should be able to with this link.

Video

Apple Picking

We went to an orchard today to pick some apples for Ian to eat and Joe wanted apple cider. We saw a few animals, lots of pumpkins and TONS of apples. We had lots of fun. We love weekends that Dad doesn't have to work!

Other 9-month pictures

Wow! 3/4 of 1 year

I'm going to get you!

Whatcha doin' mom?

GOT YOU!!!

Ian is 9 months old. WOW! It seems like Ian has grown so much just in the last few days. He is occasionally waving so he might just be shaking his hand and not actually waving but I'm going with waving. He is exploring more of the house every day. He has figured out how to go down one stair on to the front door landing and be able to watch out the front glass door. He has not quite figured out how to get back up but I can always hear him working at it. He is also easily getting from the floor up to his knees and then yesterday on the stairs he made it from he knees to his feet! He's using his push-up skills to make it from his knees to his feet and now he is trying it everywhere!

Ian is still as happy as ever and he now is starting to laugh when others laugh and not just when you make funny faces or tickle him, although he may think that our laughing is funny enough to laugh at.

Overall, Ian is doing well. Joe is doing well and I'm doing well. Life is busy but we're hanging in there and Ian's smile always makes the day slow down just a little so we can enjoy the time we have together.

Just having fun

After a good nap and dinner Ian was making the rounds all around the living room. More of the night's pictures can be found HERE


I'm coming to get you!

Ian loves doing push-ups.

8-months (and a few extra days)

It has been a while since I've had time to write. We've been busy moving, getting settled, starting new jobs, and starting the new school year. The good news is that we're making it so far. We're also pretty well settled. Most boxes are unpacked and the things that aren't unpacked are work resources that we both have to figure out if there is a place in our offices for or not. Well enough about us, on to Ian.

Ian transitioned well to the new house and he loves making his way to the hardwood floor and hitting his hand on it. It of course makes a different sound than hitting the carpet. Ian continues to be his regular smiley easy-going self. He's really getting around now but he does not seem to see a need to get his belly off the floor. His sitting on his own without a problem. I can't think of anything else new that Ian has been doing. Here is a video of his most recent giggle spree.

1st Tigers Game

At the new house before the heading to Ian's 1st baseball game

Ian giving Dad "Thank You" kisses in front of the big Tiger

In front of the stadium

The Fam

Ian experienced his 1st Detroit Tigers Game last night. We also celebrated Joe's 30th birthday with 12 other close friends and family and Joe was completely surprised by everyone showing up. Ian "enjoyed" the game for the most part until it got well past his bedtime and everyone cheered - then he screamed his head off. I'm pretty sure that Joe enjoyed sharing the evening with Ian more than anything else.

Packing Up

We're moving! Joe and I close on a new house in Allen Park tomorrow (Friday). As soon as we close the moving begins. The official move won't be until the following Saturday. Ian has been helping us pack. He's read to move to his new house.

Up-North Mini Vaca

Ian listening to music in the park (we should be in the restaurant but it was super loud inside)


















People watching in Charlevoix - Yes I know he has a Petoskey sweatshirt on


















Tired after his very long day

Ian and I went up-north after visiting Dad on his birthday at band camp just north of Grand Rapids. Ian was a little under the weather but that did not keep him from having a good time. He was exhausted every day after all the people watching in northern Michigan.

On the Move (Sort of)

7-month update

Wow! 7-months! Before we know it, Christmas will be here and Ian will be turning one! Ian is still the greatest kiddo ever (I'm just a little biased). His best smiles are in the morning. He's so happy and ready to tackle the day. I wish I woke up with no worries and in a state of happiness. He starting to get himself across the floor. It won't be long before he gets his legs into it and really start moving. Right now I'm just enjoying the time he'll sit in my lap because I know it won't last long.

Best Little Trooper

Ian has been quite the trooper the last week or so because so many things have happened in the last week to two weeks. Where to start.

1. Joe got a job with South Lake High School and has jumped in with both feet already. The celebration of Joe's new job lasted about 15 minutes and that lead us into the second adventure.

2. We immediately started the house hunt since we realized we had about 45 days before we start school and thus needed a place to live. Joe accepted his job offer last Thursday, we met with a real estate agent on Friday (Ian stayed with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Caroline), explored neighborhoods on Saturday (Ian joined us), saw about 14 houses on Sunday (Ian stayed with Aunt Steph, Uncle Andrew, and Cousin Owen), revisited 2 houses and saw 1 new house on Monday (Ian went with us - after his doctor's appointment-complete with shots), made an offer on Tuesday, accepted the counter offer on Wednesday, and completed the house inspection today. WHEW!!! Just summarizing it makes me feel exhausted.

During the whole process Ian also started daycare and through it all he cut his first tooth and smiled almost the whole way through. He's just such a happy little guy. Joe and I could not ask for a better son. Love you Ian!

Here are more pictures of Ian and Owen playing.

Movin' and Shakin'

Ian turned 6 months old this week. He is movin' and shakin' every day - well definitely shakin' and only movin' in a circle - not in a forward motion yet. This weekend was Ian's first 4th of July! He had a great weekend up north with all the family. Ian spent the 4th in his new backpack - thank you Grandma! He didn't go and see the fireworks - we'll wait another year or so before we attempt fireworks viewing. I don't even want to imagine the meltdown after jerking away from his deep sleep.

Ian is laughing all the time and is becoming very ticklish. He squirms, giggles and smiles while you tickle him all over. There are not quite a few thing that consistently make him laugh like running forwards and backwards, galloping, pushing him in his highchair and lifting him up in to the air.

Every day as I watch him play I see new skills he's developing and it blows my mind! I haven't gotten out all my TPBA development charts but I'm getting close. Still no teeth but he nawing on everything he can get his hands and mouth on. He's also beginning to sit up on his own but we haven't set him out in the open to try on his own but I think sometime soon he'll have it down enough that he can try it without the mom/dad-leg-training-wheels.

Overall, he's doing great. He's happy and health and that makes his Mom and Dad happy.

More Pictures

Ian embraces the "Up North" way of life

This weekend we made our first trip Up North to "The Hill" with Ian. He had no problem adopting the Up North mentality. Ian enjoyed his first time sitting in the big green chair but then he had to give it up so mom could enjoy it too. Ian seemed so excited to wake Aunt Caroline up bright and early Saturday morning.  He seemed happily surprised that she was already there and his face said "She's here so early in the morning, she usually doesn't come until the afternoon!" 

 

On Saturday Ian hung out with Grandma while Mom rode 20 miles with Aunt Caroline and Dad rode 42 miles (no one could top Grandpa riding 60 miles). After the ride in the morning we got lunch at our favorite restaurant and then strolled around town. Of course Ian couldn't miss out on his opportunity to swim in the heated pools so we took a trip down to the pools Saturday evening. Unfortunately there was a large soccer tournament going on in the area so there were LOTS of rowdy kids in the pool.  Ian was a trooper but hung on really tight to Mom.  

Sunday was Father's day and Ian was happy to be able to spend the morning with Grandpa Dobbins and then spend a little bit of time with Grandpa Verbeke in Lansing.  Ian showered Dad with lots of slobbery kisses and a few little things (with help from Mom).  Overall it was a great weekend! Ian's already been asking about when we can go back.  

5 months

This weekend marked Ian's 5 month birthday. As you can see from the picture Ian is quite the mover and shaker already. Just in the last week Ian's fine motor skills have improved greatly. This improved ability to manipulate toys has also lead to frustration (aka crying/screaming) when he can't do with it what he wants. He also showed today that if he's playing with something and you take it away he'll let you know he's upset. You can tell it won't be too long before he's finding a way to move around because you can see it in his eyes how badly he wants to go explore things. Ian has also been eating cereal almost the whole month, quite successfully, so we'll move on to a few vegetables and fruits this month. I'm trying to think of what else has been going on with Ian.... Oh, Ian (and I think Joe) has really been enjoying his time with Daddy. Since Dad is done with school, Mom is working more hours so Ian and Dad spend a good chunk of the day together. They sing, play, read and watch the Tigers all day long. :-)