It was pretty busy in March for us. A lot of visits/visitors, milestones for Nick, etc. A fairly scary thing happened somewhere in between all the madness. One night I was working swing shift and a fatality happened in our area that closely involved me, but that's a story for my blog. Once arriving home, almost 12 hours after I was supposed to be off, I find my wife in the fetal position on the floor of our bedroom, writhing in pain. Turns out she had a kidney stone. Katy will admit, that it was worse than labor. Part of that pain may have been due to the fact that she didn't know what was causing it at first. So, needless to say, it was a long day for all of us but she got it zapped a few weeks later after being on pain medication and formula feeding Nick for awhile, and is ok. No more Vitamin Water for Katy! Let's get into the rest of the month.
Then, Nick turned 6 months...and pooped an awful poop...
And got his first taste of real food...oatmeal...so not really, just some breast milk and mush.
And pooped again, but this time with more sustenance.
He was much more excited when he got peas. Really.
But this time there was green poop (you'll have to visualize a tiny toosh covered in green poo)
We then made a trip up to Roseville to visit the family, and by family, I mean fayhmahleigh, as in a lot.
My parents got a hang on the door bouncer, which Nick loved. This is probably my all time favorite picture.
We set him up in this really old toddler rocker that my Nana, my mom's mom, had when she was a baby and has pictures in. All of the grand kids at about the same age have been photographed in it, and Nick was no exception.
While distracted by family shenanigans, Nick actually fell out (with no injuries mind you!) when we all weren't watching. Good thing it was only about 6 inches! Obviously I still have a lot to learn about parenting since, as you can see, those are my hairy feet clothed in black sandals standing over Nick as he lies spread eagle on the grass!
My cousin Juliana is a photography student in New York and had this sweet old time camera she set up to take pictures of Nick. They're
here on her blog, and no, its not the camera she's holding here. Her blog is definitely an interesting read and I encourage you to do so.
What trip to Grandma's (or Noni in this case) would be complete without a sink bath!
My other grandparents stopped by my folks house for a visit and Nick loved his great-grandpa's silvery white mane...good thing because mine is headed that way and quick!
Before we left, we were fortunate enough for my childhood best friend Adam and his wife Michelle to stop by for a visit and announce their first pregnancy. Michelle took holding a baby up pretty easily and should be a natch!
As the month drew to a close, Lucy and Nick began tolerating each other a bit more, even posing for a pic before bed.
APRILEntering in to month 7 of Nick's life, we thought we were starting to figure out this whole parenting thing. Oh how wrong we were. With solid foods came more solid poop. With rolling over came tangling oneself into new objects. Which leads me to a fairly embarrassing moment as a new father. On the day in question, Nick was posing for a few cute photos before I had to leave for a swing shift. He had recently learned to crawl backwards, kicking his legs out behind him and going back onto all fours. This afternoon, he backcrawled all the way to our entertainment center and no further as he ran out of room. Me being the all careful father that I am, pulled him away from said media console by his left arm and his left arm only. Little did I know, his heels had gone under "the unit" and did not bend as I assisted him forward. They in fact hindered his ability to freely act as a sack of potatoes being drug along the floor. After a quick yelp, he carried on as if nothing had happened. Shortly after, I left for work while Katy and Nick stayed at the house. I received a call from Katy later in the day, informing me that Nick kept screaming whenever she touched his left arm. I, again being the nurturing parent that I am, told her to wait an hour and see if he was still being a baby. An hour later I received the same call and we decided to take Nick to the hospital, only to find out his left elbow had been dislocated. While awaiting the call from CPS to haul me off to "county" while still in full CHP road uniform, Katy related the doctor merely ran his hands along Nick's arm, found the sore spot, and just popped it right back into place in one quick half-second motion. Ever since, Nick has been unable to use his left arm and may have to have an amputation. Not really, but that's what I thought would happen while spending my days in the state pen. So here he is, moment's before the traumatic experience, showing off his baby blue eyes.
Shortly after becoming semi-mobile, Nick discovered shoes. First his own, as is evidenced here, then others which had been worn on the actual ground. No pictures of that yet because it's gross.
April is the month Nick learned to crawl. About two weeks before, he learned to pop up onto his toes.
Before crawling, we celebrated Easter, the day to remember our Lord Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Since I had to work that weekend, we were invited over to our friends the
Balidizon's parents, the Jones', for Easter lunch, along with a few other families we've come to know. It must be prefaced that we're a part of a Sunday School class that seems to provide most of the new membership through birthing. It enables us all to relate in a way necessary for sanity. Nick and his buddy Kade Baldizon, frequently chill, and as Nick went to his toes better than he could sit up without support, Kade felt the need to lend a hand.
Two other kiddos, Luke and Kaley, with Nick and Kade. Turned out to be a beautiful Easter Sunday.
Easter night I had to leave for a two week training in Riverside to become what's called a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), enabling me to more properly identify and determine the influence of certain drugs on individuals and thus testify in court as an expert witness. In between the two weeks I came home for a whirlwind visit with our friends
Andrew, Jessica, and Sammy Davidson.
Right after coming home, Nick was actually wearing a hat. Normally he takes whatever is on his head off, and commences to gum it to death. But, he tolerated it at least long enough to snap a few pics.
Nick and Sammy got a long really well, but I'll admit, Nick was a bit of a bully, pushing Sammy a few times and stealing his pacifier right out of Sammy's mouth and placing it in his own. Here's a picture of them playing (or laying, whatever) nicely.
Here we all are right before taking off for church. Nick already started his worship!
Again, Sunday I had to go back to Riverside, but this time, Katy and Nick came with me and we made a pit stop in Simi Valley to see our old college friends the Moore's, Beuving's, Susan, and Alison. Nick loved Alison, especially her hair, and I hear they have similar eye color? I don't know, you be the judge.
Katy, Nick, Sarah Moore, Seth Moore, Alison, and (not pictured) Silas Moore.
While staying in...uh...beautiful Riverside, we were able to take advantage of the hotel pool and give Nick his first swim.
Nick and I post dip, tolerating a hat, and showing his dire need for a tan.
While staying in the Riverside Hilton, Nick learned to crawl!!! Way to go son!!!
Yeah, no pictures or video. I guess we were too excited to take any and our video camera crapped out on us. Next topic!
My roomate from the academy, Jason, and his wife Tina, had their second son, Christian, during the first week I was there. Katy, Nick and I went for a visit and hung out with them and their first son Nathan. Good times, as you can tell from Nathan's expression.
Katy and Nick at the Grahams.
And finally, after what seemed like a never ending month of travel and visiting, I had to perform a bunch of certifications for the DRE program, travelling to good ol' armpit of the Golden State Bakersfield. Fortuantely, my sergeant let me drive to and from Bako in a patrol vehicle, which led to a cool photo shoot with Katy and Nick.
Hagning out with Officer Dad
Learning how to conquer EVOC
MAY
For some reason, I received a lot of training in a two month time span. In May, that included a week in San Mateo which seemed like a vacation if I'm being honest. We were able to check out a lot of San Francisco, spend time with my cousin and his girlfriend, and even catch an A's game.
Nick showing where his true heart lies.
Not too sure what all these people are doing watching guys on grass.
Glad it's almost over
Nick definitely picked up the whole enamored with oneself in a mirror thing from me...yes I can be a bit vain, so I've been told. Here he is in the hotel mirror, privates covered. Sorry pedophiles.
The family attempting to look fascinated by the majesty of God's creation...Nick didn't really cooperate.
Both of us, ok all three of us but Nick didn't look, he slept, had never seen the backside or butt of the Golden Gate. Very pretty even in this amateur picture.
After cruising around Presidio, we were able to meet my cousin Chris and his girlfriend Jen for dinner. Chris really took to Nick which was cool to see, and was adamant about holding him upside down for a picture. Jen, however, got the short end of the stick as it put her womanly parts right in reach of Nick's ever-reaching hand. Glad she had a good sense of humor about it. Nick obviously saw nothing wrong with the social awkwardness.
After our week in San Mateo, we stopped by my folks' house for a day and night and got some pool time in. Nick must be getting better with his hats and loved to be thrown, or maybe I loved to throw him, either way it was fun.
Katy was ecstatic that her son was loving the water, I'm not so sure he was. Only time will tell.
Once back home, laundry needed to be done, so of course what better way to watch a crawling baby than to place him right in one's work!
And relaxing on a lazy Sunday, just watching some tv, or maybe just eating the remote.
What weekend would be complete without a little tormenting of the family pet?! Lucy hasn't really come to grips with the fact that Nick is mobile yet. Fortunately his hands and/or face hasn't paid the penalty for it.
Nick also got his first teeth finally, just shy of 9 months. In this pic you can see the bottom right one already through, and the bottom left one breaking the gum surface. Katy had to rub her head into his tummy like 10 times in order to get him to open his mouth wide enough for the shot.
Hanging out in the backyard
And we bought a house! Or townhome! Or condo! Whatever, it's a home! So here's our piece of dirt. I'm sure there'll be more thoughts and pictures about this to come, but the jist is that it is off the 246 in Buellton, about a mile from where we live now. Super excited and it should be done sometime in October!
And finally, learning to walk and not too happy about it. This thing holding him up may seem like we're being lazy parents and all you veterans are thinking, "Part of the joy in seeing them walk is knowing your back pain will subside," well whatever. This thing is awesome and everyone should spend the $10 to get it!
So that's us. Now we're up to date. Sorry for the length, and we'll try to be better now that we don't have an excuse!
