Big Sur Camping trip McCloud/Bauen style w/ a side of Carrozzino's

These pics are from our last camping trip a couple of weeks ago with our friends Jess, Morgan, and their kids, Gavin and Makenna. Jess and I met from our internet group, the Pumpkin Pies, when we were pregnant. We connected almost instantly over the world wide web, and than when we met in person at the West Coast Pie Conference in Oregon, we made a pact to meet in Big Sur for a camping trip. My favorite new girl friend, Yuki, came down for a day with her husband, Paulo, and their kids, Kai and Mya. It was a great trip, despite the tricky weather!

Chubacca, and some interesting farm folk

Halloween 2008 Bauen Style! Last Halloween we were bringing our little bundle of joy home from the hospitol in his tuxedo onsie and pumpkin beanie. I tried to squeeze the beanie back on this year with no luck. So this year we had a little fun with Halloween and Chase got to be Chubacca from Star Wars. And as for Ernie and I, well we got to go have a little grown up fun and got dressed up ourselves. Can you figure out who we are???

Birthday Cake Champ

Have you ever seen a child actually eat their birthday cake like this?

From a baby to a toddler

Happy 1st Birthday my sweet baby boy! I can't even begin to believe it has already been a year with Chase in our lives, almost two years if you consider the "belly buddy" period. It is incredible to see what kind of little boy he has already become. Looking over this blog, starting with my first entry when he was somewhere around 4 months, I was shocked to see what changes have occurred without really noticing. I mean the walking little human is obvious, but their are other changes I haven't really taken as much to heart. Sleep! Yes, we sleep now. How have I not taken more time to thank God for sleeping again? Well here it is- THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! What else has changed? I have figured out how to balance being a mom, a wife, and myself with all 3 equally important. Inevitably, my brain is still consumed with thoughts of my little boy, but I am feeling like Brianna again and not just mommy. I am taking night classes as well, working towards applying to the nursing program. Ernie is doing great- awesome dad, provider, husband, and best buddy. We are having the time of our lives with Chase, loving every minute. This past year has been indescribable and I can't even predict what the next one will bring!

Fresh start and 1 year down

Wow life caught up to me fast and 4 months later I have so much to catch up with. I figured since tomorrow is Chase's first birthday this was the best time of any to start over! So where did I leave off? Since June we visited my family back in Maine for the 4th of July, we have been to Oregon to visit friends, family, and Pumpkin Pies. We have also been camping, having fun, and watching the most amazing boy ever grow up every day. Maybe soon enough I will have to post some pics to give you guys an idea of what a great summer we had. So now to the present. My little boy is going to be a year old tomorrow!! This time last year I was sent home from the hospital in false labor and continued to experience contractions for 36 hours without getting closer. I hadn't slept in two days and would continue not to sleep until about two months ago! Wow, time has flown by too fast. Whoever told me that the days would be long but the years are short was too right. Chase is now a walking fool- bumping his head into everything and the oppitomy of a little boy. He can say mama and dada, give kisses, and loves a crowd. One of his favorite activities is going to the grocery store. It is like his stage. He will search for someone who isn't paying attention to him and begin yelping until they look over and that is when he lays on the cheese. He will smile ever so coyly, cluck his tongue, wave, and whatever else he can do to make you fall in love with him. God I love him. On that note- Happy Birthday my baby boy. I love you more than you will ever know. Your daddy and I are so thankful for you and life is so incredible with you in it.

Sex and the city Santa Cruz style

In honor of Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charolette a couple of my girl friends and I got all dolled up for the movie premiere. Courtney, Darcy, and I were dressed to the nines when we stood in the never ending line of the sold out movie. We had such a blast with our cosmos and girl-night-out spirit!

Because they are too cute not to show off...

A week in the life of Ernie

This last Tuesday my first love was honored during ETS week. E stands for emergency and I think the T is training and the S is services. But I could be wrong. Their was a ceremony type thing where Ernie was given an accommodation for helping to save a ten year old's life during a call last year and both Chase and I couldn't have been more proud. He is so modest when it comes to this stuff, but he doesn't realize what impact he has on those people he has helped. He was sent on a strike team on Thursday to help fight a fire that spread 3,400 acres in the Santa Cruz mountains. He is back now- safe and sound. It was the first time he has gone out to a fire like that so it was very new for the both of us. We missed the heck out of him and are so happy he is back.

Just standing up and hanging out...

It's not just a rumour! Chase has pulled himself up to standing three times now and I have been lucky enough to capture it on camera! He is in such a hurry to grow up and is already such a little energizer bunny- I don't even want to imagine how he is going to be once he starts moving! When he isn't too busy standing up and growing up, he likes to hang out with his grammy and gramp. They are helping him with his teething!

My 1st Mother's Day

Short and sweet- We went to the fire station for the annual pancake breakfast and than spent the day with Ernie's family at the boardwalk. Ernie got me a coffee mug and t shirt with Chase's picture on both. So cute but it made me feel so old! Just a few pics for your enjoyment...

THE ZOO (Long Overdue)

So we took Chase to the zoo for his first time weeks ago and I am just now getting to post some pics. Who knew a little baby could take up so much of your time that the smallest tasks seem like the most time consuming ones!

Momnesia, lack of sleep, or the blonde thing...

I think I have lost my mind to my son. My mind belongs to someone else- someone who dreams about being killed for using the wrong kind of bottles, or sitting in the pediatricians office being yelled for not using enough sunscreen on the baby! Pre-Chase all I ever thought about was stuff like Ernie, school, work, family, friends, and the latest celebrity gossip. Now if you see me sitting at a red light and I appear to be in heavy concentration, possibly coming up with the best exit plan for Iraq, I am not. Don't be fooled. In fact, I am desperately trying to figure out what Elmo was singing. He says, "leaves, ____, and Oscar is green! HeHeh!" And I am trying so hard to figure out what that second word is. replaying it over and over in my head and swearing I am going to get home and replay it until I figure out what the hell he is saying. I told you I am going crazy. Post-Chase all I can think about is him, Ernie, family, and anything that could put a baby in danger, possibly sick, or just plain unhappy. I am constantly trying to think of more ways to be the perfect mom so that my son has all he deserves. I am now a organic baby food maker, an aspiring sewing machine master, making bread at-home-type, praying for a minute to clean, kind of mom. Instead of singing the most recent overplayed song on the radio I am singing the ABC's in the voices of Elmo, Zoe, Cookie monster, and Ernie, (not my Ernie). Chase has consumed not just my brain and my heart, but almost every single morsel of me as well. Their are times where I utterly crave being able to turn my brain off and pretend to not have a care in the world. But I can't turn it off. I simply have the most important cares in the world and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Ok I'd definitely trade the scary dreams, but everything else can stay for good. I can go on and on with how my brain is slowly turning to mush but I think I have given you a pretty clear picture already. Life is different, and sometimes it may seem foreign, but it's mine. And I love it.

I am alive and Chase is 6 months today!

Sorry it has been so long- I have been out of commission. My Crohn's flared up and sent me into the hospital for a quick stay. Besides the occasional few hours in the wonderful ER this was the shortest hospital stay I have had. Thankfully this was the first time I have even felt an inkling that I was having a flare up in over a year. It was really difficult to be away from Chase for the first time and so unexpectectanly. To be honest the drugs helped to numb everything other than the urgency to camp out in the bathroom. But Ernie did such a great job having to play Mr. Mom for Chase, thankfully with the help of my mom and my aunt Mal, who had been visiting when we needed her the most. I am doing much better now and on the right track to stay healthy. I have to admit... I was having a real hard time losing the last ten lbs I wanted to since getting pregnant, and this did the trick! Bad, I know... But their is a rose at the end of the thorns!

On a much brighter note... My little man is half a year old! And he completely grew up in just the last 24 hours. Beginning with a sense of more awareness when he was playing with Ernie and followed by no tears when he got his shot today! My little boy is all grown up! He now weighs 18.6 lbs and is 27 inches long! I will have to get my butt together and post some more recent pics soon.

The Joys of Motherhood and Milestones

Milestones... Every mother out there knows that in the beginning months and even years of life, milestones seem to consume our thoughts. And how can we help it? With all the baby books out there telling you what to expect and when to expect it, I find myself obsessing over things such as Chase being able to roll from front to back, but not back to front.

Sometimes I feel I read too much about how my baby boy should be sleeping, eating, rolling, smiling, staring, crying, socializing, napping, sitting, playing, drinking, smelling... Ok maybe not smelling, but you get my point? So far I have had a healthy obsession with watching Chase accomplish such small tasks that only a parent can see worth mentioning. Such things as finding his feet for the first time, or passing a toy from one hand to the other. And as for the tasks that he took his time on, I never began to worry because I have learned that my little boy has a big personality and he does everything in his own time and in his own way. Whether it is eating big boy food for the first time or looking down after he dropped his toy, every milestone is amazing.

The most recent milestone Chase has accomplished is protesting when a toy is taken away. Oh boy does he protest. Protesting is actually an understatement. Chase has a lovely habit of only tolerating a toy for 5-10 minutes max before he becomes frustrated and angry at it. Whether it is his jumpy seat, exersaucer, or a simple rattle. Eventually he begins to scream and we have to remove him or take it until he calms down. This wonderful habit is something I am certain he has gotten from his dad. In the past we take the toy and he calms down soon forgetting why he was so pissed. But here comes the new milestone of memory and the lovely tantrums that accompany it. I had to take a bottle of water away from Chase the other day when he began yelling at it for not being able to fully submerge it down his throat. This is when I got my first dose of Chase and his cute protesting milestone. First he did the silent windup and next he let out a God awful scream with the full on tongue quiver and shriek that makes your hair stand on end. Let me tell you, this is a milestone I could do with out. My sweet precious little baby boy is quickly becoming a little man with a personality that will knock you on the floor.

So as I clapped and cheered while taping him rolling over, eating his first foods, and everything in between, this will not be one you hear me bragging about. This post is more of a warning to everyone that I may in fact be one of those moms you see in the grocery store as my son drops limp to the floor screaming and crying while everyone around me looks in disgust. Optimistic, huh? I guess I should give him more credit than that. I could look at it like my son knows what he wants and goes after it. Here's to high hopes...

Daddy and Chase

Chase loves his daddy so much that he insisted I made a post for all to see. I have learned that just because I am the one who gave birth to this little man, doesn't automatically make me his favorite. I have hard competition. Ernie has a special bond with Chase that only a great dad and son can have. I am so awed when I watch them together. The times when I hand Chase over to him to take over a task like feeding, or even just to play, I can't help but staying to watch. Ernie can get Chase to giggle in the bath even though bath time isn't one of Chase's favorite past times. The smile Chase gives to him when he sees him for the first time after he has been gone at work is priceless. From ear to ear he grins so big as his eyes light up the room. Ernie is also the only one who can get this fussy little boy to sleep in minutes by bouncing and rocking him the same way every time. Chase knows I am the best at coming up with new activities or things for him to enjoy, but when it comes to spending down time on the couch these two are best buddies. I thought I would always love Ernie for how great he is to me but I never knew I could love him even more for how great he is to our son.

The First Supper

before, during, and after:

Chase is now officially part of the big boy's club. He has successfuly eaten a few tablespoons of rice cereal three times. The first time was a 50/50 experience. Most of it ended up on him and the high chair. He gagged once, made 10 icky faces, but in the end mastered chewing and the new prospect of not sucking for food. Here is a Before During and After pic plus a couple cute ones.