What's been going on?

Well in the last little while there hasn't been too much going on, really... Friday night was probably the most exciting. I was on my way to bed when I heard sirens. I looked out my bedroom window and saw probably 4 or 5 police cars going flying by my house and then shut off their sirens (this was @ 11:00pm) Then came another one, followed by another two or three!! Well, this is obviously something big!! Ian went down the stairs and outside to check and see what was going on...It was very close to the house, as all the lights were on, and you could see that! Anyhow, after Ian came back in he came up the stairs to tell me what he found out (here comes the fire truck) And that was... A kid stole a car, was on a high speed chase through the town (did he not realize this town is full of hills...) ratbagged the car so bad it almost started on fire, apparently that is when he jumped out and started jumping my neighbors fences...Really couldn't have known where he was going!! So that was my Friday night excitement! Saturday, I went and cut my hair all off...Today, nothing yet....Just awaiting Chase's nap to be over!

Hope this finds you all well!
~Coral

P.S. I forgot to mention...As most of you know, there is a crazy forest fire over here, and they have evacuated a few homes, near the Waneta Border...(where Ian worked last year) Anyhow here's a picture of what the sky has been looking like at night...(Well, the picture above is actually in the afternoon, but the two below are in the evening.) I think the sun looks so beautiful! Also it has been raining ash...I swept it up, and mind you some of this pile is leaves and needles from the trees, but about 70% of it is ash from the fires!!

He is Brilliant!!!

Smiles....

So today I was talking to Christine on the phone telling her how good Chase is at walking hanging on to only one hand or one finger. She told me that she had heard that if babies are doing that, if you give them something to hold in their hand, that they would normally hold on to you with, that it somehow balances them, and they feel confident enough to try on their own...Well I was SO excited to try...GUESS WHAT??!??!?!

Chase did it! He took three steps, and then fell in to me, then we tried again...and he went four steps, fell in to me, and them four steps again....then he fell on his bum and clapped for himself! I cheered!! He was soooo excited and proud of himself, and of course so was I!!

So today he is four days shy of being ten months old...and he's "toddeling" about!!! (Sort of...) I mean he'll walk hanging on to stuff, unless I set him up to walk a couple steps to me...Than he does that too. How very exciting!!!

~Coral

Also, I really need to thank all of you wonderful girls...I was feeling so, SO awful about Chase's falls. I felt extreme guilt...all of your stories, and comments made me feel so much better. I know that their will probably be much worse (here's to hoping not though) and certainly more to come...I guess it's just part of growing and becoming independent...However I would still rather he learn in a padded room!! ;)

What a wonderful long weekend!

This weekend started off quite nice.... After Ian was off work on Friday, we packed up and headed for the beach...(Like that is unusual these days)

We met up with Jess and Dana and headed out on the boat. It was really beautiful and we had a lot of fun. Chase loves the motion of the boat. He has little cat naps on the lake! After we got home from the beach, Chase took another tumble! Poor little guy....His nose is so banged up!! My heart aches whenever I look at his little face!

Saturday, we headed over to Castlegar and checked out stuff at Rona (as we are going to gut our upstairs bathroom, hopefully soon.) Saturday night, we all went to Christine, Ryan, & Mattaya's house for a delicious BBQ! Kristi & Luke were in town, so it was nice to have a little visit with them as well!! (In this picture it goes: Sadie~Coral~Chase~Kristi~Christine~Mattaya~Kime)

Sunday afternoon Ian, Chase, Kita, and myself headed back out to the beach. We were meeting up with Jess, Dana, Daryl, Shona, Riley, Dylan, & Hali...It was so nice in the sun. We picked up one of those "floating crabs" for Chase....He loves it!!! I'll post a picture of what I mean later...Then last night (Sunday night) we went out to Jess & Dana's for dinner (which was absolutely delicious!! YUM) but before we went out there I have to tell you what Chase did!! I took the gate down that is at the bottom of the stairs, and I blocked my hands around him (in case he were to stumble or fall) and he climbed both flights of stairs to Ian at the top!! Before this, he had only ever climbed one step!! I was so amazed once again with his obvious brilliance!! ;)

Today we finished off this fun-filled weekend out in Proctor. Ian and I took Chase & Kita to one of the beaches out there. I think this year might be one to be remembered in...that I actually might end up with a tan ....(One that everyone else notices as a tan that is!! ) Anyway, here is the picture of the crab! Chase seems to think this is pretty cool! ~Coral

Swimming....

Just another day at the beach....

Ch Ch Ch Chino....

Shane sent me these pics of Chino, I gotta say...he looks like a big 'ol suck to me! Can't wait to meet ya buddy!

~Coral

Crumby lesson to learn...

So tonight for Sadie's birthday we packed a picnic and headed down to Lakeside Park for dinner. It was a nice time...

~Happy Birthday Sadie!!!~

Then we come home, and I am getting Chase ready for a bath...I have him strapped down on his change table (and his changed table is screwed into the dresser which it sits on) Listen up all Mom & Dad's out there, this is where it gets nasty! I walked out of Chase's room for a second to put his towel in the bathroom, and all of the sudden I hear a loud "thud." My poor baby has hit the floor and he is screaming! He managed to get himself out of the strap.
I feel sick about it, and after trying desperately to calm him down (and failed) I had to pass him to Ian...I then left the room and cried hysterically (I scared my parents half to death when I phoned them to tell them what had happened.) Chase is ok now, and sleeping although I am not sure I will tonight....However tomorrow I am sure he will have quite a shiner as it was swelling even with the ice we had on it earlier!
As sad as I am that this has happened...I hope it helps anyone & everyone else to remember...Don't even leave them for a second....Even when they are belted in and secure, because the are magicians!
~Coral :(

Beachin' it....

We have been enjoying so many beautiful days at the beach so far this summer. Like most babies, Chase has no fear of anything...He'll crawl straight to the water, when holding Ian's hand walks right in to the water up to his chest! He's crazy...I prefer the water that has a temperture gauge!! Chase loves the water, from pools, to the lake, to baths & hot tubs!!

~Coral

Chase's 9 month appt. (eleven days after)

So yesterday (July.25th/07) when we went for Chase's apt. He again got a clean bill of health! He did lose weight this time which really shocked me...(As I am always carrying him!!) However, with all the moving this little guy does, and the heat...He doesn't always eat as much as he during the day time! He is fabulous!!!
Today (July.26th/07) Chase cut his second tooth! Yay! It has been rapid fire of all the new things he has been doing lately! Wow!!!
Hope this finds you all well!
~Much love,
Coral

Chase meets Uncle Shane...

Today Shane was driving through on his way to Kelowna, and stopped for a few hours to meet Chase and try and figure out the crazy roads here! Small town, but still confusing at first! Anyhow, Chase warmed up to Shane in seconds...Here's a couple pictures of their first meeting! It was so good to see you again Shane!

~Coral

9 Months and 10 days old....

My little man took his first step today...Totally on his own. At first we were sitting outside enjoying the weather...Chase crawled over to me and pushed off of my leg to stand himself up (he stood totally on his own for about 20-30 seconds) I was cheering like mad, and then it happened...He took a step towards me!!! He hasn't done it again since, but he has stood himself up a couple more times and then let go to stand by himself! He is simply amazing!

~Coral

Looking for huckleberries...

More from today...

Today we took a drive way up the mountain to see if the huckleberries were ready yet. They aren't, but here's a couple pictures of the beautiful area anyway!

~Coral

And some more funny faces...

Chase is pretty classic for making faces...I'm not sure why...but it really has been this way since day one! Here's a few more for you all to have a chuckle! Cute lil guy!~Coral

I can't believe I forgot to mention how on July.12/07 Chase had his first haircut. His hair is still so fine right now, I really was hoping to thicken it up...or at very least give the appearance (it's too late for his dad though..hee hee) Today (July.19th) Chase also crawled his way to the stairs and managed to pull himself up the first step...Yep, we went and got the baby gates now!! It just seems that everything happened so fast. He went from only being able to roll around, to crawling, to pulling himself up on EVERYTHING, and now walks only holding on to one hand!! I suppose the grey hairs are going to really start coming in now!! I wonder...Do you think people who have children earlier on in life have more grey hairs?? Hmmm....

~Coral

Finally a picture of "the tooth"

It isn't easy trying to get a picture of this tooth....unless your going for the "I screamed my face off, and finally have given in" look...However this one, I just kept taking pictures, alas I got it! ~Coral

Too Funny!!

Everytime I look at this picture now, I can't help but laugh! Chase has been pulling himself up on everything in the last few days, and gets so excited that he starrts jumping. I laughed so hard that this was the face he came up with. "What the hell is so funny Mom." ~Coral

He's got it figured out!

As of yesterday(July.8)...Chase got it figured out. He can now sit himself up from laying down. He doesn't go from laying on his back and sit straight up, but instead goes from a laying down position (on his back say) and flips over as though he'll crawl, and then swings his hips to the side and gets himself to sitting!! He's so proud of himself yet again...When I went in to get him this morning, he was sitting up in his crib babbling away...Pretty cute after he had such a tough night! I wonder if more teeth might be on their way...After re-establishing his 11 hour sleeps, Chase then woke up 5 times last night! He has NEVER woke up this many times in a night (not even when he was a little guy!!) So, if the teeth are on their way...here's to hoping they come through quickly!

~Coral

I am so amazed!!

Really, I can't tell you how amazed I am with Chase! I swear he's the smartest around...(obviously a mom thing) But yesterday (July.5th) I stood Chase up in his crib and sorta dangled a stuffed animal that he wanted not far away...And holding on to the railing (and not me) he took two steps! I nearly died! Then today, I stood him up against the couch and put a remote control (sans the batteries) further back on the cushion...he took 3-4 steps. Now he has been walking back & forth constantly...He is so proud of himself for not hanging on to me to do it, and so am I!! Of course he has been walking around the place while hanging on to us for months, but his eyes are sparkling today with his new found independence! Little munchkin! ~Coral

Our Wonderful Country's Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Canada!!!

Not only is it our beautiful country's birthday (and Chase's first one) but today is also the day we bought our house two years ago!
It looks as though we are in for some hot weather today, so I think we are going to take Chase down to Lakeside Park, and check out the sand castle competitions and whatever else is going on! Last night we went for a BBQ at Pete & Erin's. Chase was hamming it up, and flirtin' with all the ladies...It was a bit interesting though, when we first got out there...Ian had him, and Chase played shy a bit....He would smile at everyone, and then lean into Ian's chest...of course then he'd look out and give a big smile!! So it wasn't like he'd freak out or anything...The little jokester!

So, I am still yet to unload my camera, but this is how our Canada Day celebration played out... We first headed down to Lakeside park to check out the sandcastles. They were pretty cool, but nothing too spectacular...so I didn't take pictures. We walked around the park for a bit, and then left and headed out to Taghum to meet up with Jess, Dana, Taralyn, & Eric (Taralyn & her roommate Eric were here for Saturday & Sunday.) We hopped in the boat excited for Chase to make use of his new life jacket! He did pretty well....right up until Jess was wake boarding and Ian was driving ...Jess wiped out and Ian was circling back to get him, and goes through a big 'ol wake and soaks Chase (did I mention he had been sleeping??!!) He recovered quickly though, and all in all I think he really took to the boat!

Later that night after Chase had his bath, and was all cozy in his jammies, we took him in his stroller down to Lakeside again for the fireworks...He loved them! The noise sorta startled him at first, but once he saw the sky lit up he was stoked! He keep looking over at me or Ian and then back up at the sky going "oooo" and "oooh" He loved it!! It was way too cute to see him react that way!!

~Coral

~Chase watching the fireworks~