Ooooh... spooky

There is this holiday called Halloween which I am really torn about. On one hand I get to visit with tons of kids and give them candy. On the other hand people dress up in some seriously freaky costumes and they say things like “Boo!” and “Trick or Treat.” (Is that a question? Who would want a trick? Scary!)

Mommy and I went to Kansas City with GiGi and Rico to visit Whitney and Brett for Halloween. (Daddy had Big Ten Media Day in Chicago so he couldn’t come with us.)

I know what you’re thinking, how could you leave Madison and Freakfest? Live and learn I guess.

Back to these costumes. Whit – black cat, Rico and Mommy – Cowboy/girl, GiGi –scarecrow. Might as well have been called scarekid. There was a large hat, make up and lots of straw; I wanted nothing to do with her!

We all went to the Derrick Thomas Academy to give candy to the students.

Back in Madison, I dressed as a pumpkin and we handed out candy to lots of little girls and boys too. I began to wonder who was pocketing more of the candy though, the kids or Daddy.

Suspicious, that one.

Man, I can’t wait until I can go trick-or-treating one day. Apparently my costume was some sort of family tradition. I’ve seen pictures of Daddy dressed as one when he was a tot.

Mom and Dad teased me by giving me a Tootsie Roll and a Tootsie Pop to just play with. Apparently they have some silly rule… no teeth, no candy.

Grrrr… whatever.

Just call me 'Games'

With Daddy working for the University of Wisconsin Athletics Dept., Mommy and I get to go to all sorts of sporting events – football and basketball are my favorites to far.

Back when I was a little tyke the noise at Wisconsin football games used to bug me. Remember, I ended up napping under Daddy’s desk. Well, those days are done. I hated missing out on all the action. Solution: baby headphones. Super-stylish (the ladies love them) plus it blocks out all the crazy fan noise so I can focus on the game.

Sidenote… I know Drew Brees’ son made them famous, but I make them look good.

Mommy and I made it to 3 UW football games this season and so far 3 basketball events/games. I also snuck out to the Big Ten Championships for cross country at U-Ridge.

What a great year in Wisconsin athletics to be born. The football team is fighting for the right to play in the Rose Bowl, the Men’s XC team is Big Ten Champs (again!) and men’s basketball team is projected to do incredible things with Jon Leuer leading the way.

My favorite things to do at games: kick my feet in response to noise, squeal and cheer, giggle, watch all the bright lights on the video board, ooh and ahh for the cheerleaders and take an occasional snooze.

I have a feeling the Badgers are going to be a HUGE part of my life. I like it.

Gigi's Boot Camp

So Mom officially went back to work on Monday, Oct. 4. It was a great 5+ months having her around all the time. I know she was really happy to be able to spend so much time with me. Who wouldn’t?

But, I’m ready for the independence. I’m a man about town these days.

Well maybe not. Mom’s return to work signaled the start of Gigi’s Boot Camp.

Gigi is Grandma Stach, and she’ll been staying at our house for awhile. She’s going to take care of me during the next four weeks and then go home on the weekends. Sounds like a vacation, but it’s been a lot of work… for both of us.

Mom and Dad started the sleep training last week and Gigi is enforcing it. Here is basically the schedule we’re on.

I’m just about sleeping through the night now. I’m so tired by the time I go to sleep around 8 p.m. that I usually just crash right after my bath and feeding. Then I typically sleep until 2 or 3 a.m. I wake up for a few minutes, stretch my lungs a bit and then go back to sleep. I used to get really hungry in the middle of the night. I still wake up these days, but I quickly fall back asleep without any grub.

I get up for the day around 6:30 a.m. and nurse with Mommy before she goes to work. Daddy gets up around 7 a.m. and he and I hang out for an hour. He gets ready for work and then we play. Gigi punches the clock at 8 a.m.

We play for an hour or so and then I get tired. Long morning nap (like 2 hours or so), then a big lunch with all kinds of new foods. I’m eating peas, sweet potato, apples, carrots and bananas. Apparently I’m a vegetarian.

Then we usually take a long walk in the afternoon and practice things like sitting up, holding items (see: balls), etc. Another nap in the afternoon and by the time I wake up, Mommy’s home from work by 3:30 p.m. or so.

GiGi was a kindergarten teacher for many, many years… I have a feeling I’m going to learn a lot these next few weeks.

And then man discovered FIRE

Fall is here and we celebrated by heading to the North Palace in Minocqua for a weekend while Daddy went to Michigan State with the Badgers.

Several memorable things transpired in the northwoods, but perhaps the most influential was a new discovery. Something that could change my life. For the first time... I saw FIRE!

Rumor is I’m a third generation pyro. Grandpa Rico and Daddy have an unhealthy love for fire and I think I’ve already inherited it. I couldn’t take my eyes off the campfire and the fireplace. Simply mesmerizing.

The other huge milestone from the weekend… food! I tried bananas and loved them. Sweet potatoes on the other hand… not so good. I’d still rather stick with milk, but something tells me this food thing is here to stay.

My amazing case of bed head (pictured at right) was also noteworthy.

Other than that we took lots of walks outside and played in the leaves for the first time. The lake was too cold to swim, so it there was lots of indoor time and shopping. Where’s dad when I need him?

5-month Check-Up

Got two more shots. One prick in the thigh and one oral. Took them like a champ again.
Weight: 15.5 lbs (20th percentile)
Height: 26.5 inches (70th percentile)
Head size: 42 cm (20th percentile)

Sleep update

So Mom and Dad  decided to start this sleep training now because Mom is going back to work full time on Oct. 4. They really, really want me to get on a regular schedule that includes crib sleeping before she turns me over to a new caregiver.

Here is the sleep training update (I look tired don't I?):
Day 2: 2 naps in crib, fell asleep by myself after crying for while… progress
Day 3: good night of sleep. Slept from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. in my crib with one break to eat… more progress
Day 4: 2 naps in crib, on the second one, cried for 40 minutes then fell asleep and slept for 2 hours. Might be learning.

Sleeping Training 101

I thought we had a nice little thing going, but apparently Mom and Dad have had enough of my inconsistent sleeping at night. We were on a steady routine of me getting up in the middle of the night to nurse and then refusing to return to my crib. When all else failed, I would get to snuggle up in my swing set up in my parents’ bedroom and finish the night swaying back and forth.

According to M&D, there were two problems with this. 1, they were tired of interrupted sleep and 2, I’m getting close to outgrowing that swing. A close third problem was that I never napped in my crib. I mean that’s just a crazy idea, right?

Enter radical shock therapy.

Sleep training 101 began with two attempted naps in my crib. I cried for an hour or more both times without a wink of sleep. Good times.

We went to dinner that night with my buddies Roy and Winston and I was so tired I fell asleep at the table. So embarrassing.

However, when we got home I went to bed with a just tiny peep. My parents checked on me a few times in the night and found me spun in a different direction each time, finally resting with my stuffed hippo in the corner.

I got up in the middle of the night again, but they forced me back into the crib after a feeding. More howling, but eventually sleep. This could take awhile.

Food for the Lil Dude

Today was an interesting day. Mommy tried to give me my first food. Mommy pureed a few different vegetables and thought she’d see what I thought of them.

I have to admit that I’ve been showing a lot of interest in food and drinks lately. If somebody’s holding me and they put something in their mouth… I’m jealous and reaching for it.

Classic grass is greener scenario… I wasn’t fond of the jive Mommy was serving me. She started with sweet potatoes and I’m not a fan. Up next was carrots… reaction was lukewarm I’d say. I didn’t refuse the carrots, but I’m not sure I “liked” them either.

Give me a cheeseburger or pizza… enough of this veggie mush already.

Baptism into Christianity

“Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
MARK 10:14

As big as yesterday was in life’s rite of passages, today was much, much bigger. Let’s keep things in perspective here.

Today, I was baptized into the Christian faith at our church Good Shepherd Lutheran. Apparently Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist like a few weeks ago or something, so I figured… if it’s good enough for J.C., it’s good enough for me.

Lots of family in attendance Sunday, including Nana and Papa Herb, Gigi and Rico Stach, Pam Stach and of course Whitney and Brett. Whitney is one of my godparents along with Uncle Tim and Aunt Roxanne Dixon. Sadly, they couldn’t make it, but they were there in spirit. We missed them, but they were mentioned during the ceremony and I know they’ll help raise me spiritually.

Since I’m totally conditioned to water these days – thanks to my swim lessons – this little head sprinkling was no big deal. Whitney held me during the ceremony and Pastor Tim Nybroten (family friend) performed the ceremony. No crying out of me… just Mommy (what’s new, right?).

Mommy and Daddy hosted a little brunch/Packers watch party afterwards for the group. Green Bay 34, Buffalo 7.

All in all, a great day and it feels great not to be a heathen anymore. I kid.

We celebrated the Baptism by taking Whitney and Brett to their first Brewers game at Miller Park (against the Reds). Complete with tailgate, football in the parking lot and box seats behind the plate, we had a blast. Not sure when I’ll get to try my first brat… but I was drooling over the cheddarwursts today.

The game didn’t go as well (lost 5-2) for the home squad as my first Brewers game, but we still had fun. Nice to spend the extra time with Auntie Big Dub.

Baptism into Bucky

Huge weekend for ole T-Clay. Double baptism if you will. First, my baptism into the church of Bucky on Saturday and then baptism into the church of Christ on Sunday.

Equally important rites of passage my Dad jokes. I think.

We had a big group going to the game. I rode on Mommy in the Bjorn and was flanked by Whitney and Brett, Nana and Papa, Gigi and Rico and Pammie. Daddy said he couldn’t sit with us. Something about sidelines and work. Sorry excuse if you ask me.

Things started out quite positive. We took in some of the tailgating flavor and then marched into Camp Randall with high hopes – both for the Badgers (playing Arizona State) and my attention-span.

I made it approximately one quarter before I decided I had had enough of this action. I was taking everything in, taking a particular interest in the many Badger-shaped hats and the occasional cheesehead. It’s a good thing I like the color red, because man there was a lot of it.

I actually did just fine with the noise (thanks Mom for the hand earmuffs). In fact, I fell asleep. Wisconsin was down 7-3 after the first quarter and by the time it reached 10-3, I was done. I didn’t want the Badgers to lose because I was at my first game. That’s a huge burden for my seven-inch shoulders.

Not sure what woke me from my slumber – could have been the wave going around – but I was NOT happy to be awake. The good news was the Badgers were leading 13-10, but that just wasn’t enough. I was passed around like an offering plate at church, but nobody could settle me down.

Finally Mom and I had to go in and watch the second half on TV in Daddy’s office. I ate and took a nap under the conference table… probably the same thing Dad does all day at work.

It made me feel better, but Mom and I missed a great game. The Badgers held on for a 20-19 win when Jay Valai blocked a late extra point.

We met up with the clan afterwards for the fifth quarter and that was more my speed. I can get down with the Chicken Dance. Does this mean I’m more inclined to be a trombone player and I am a football player? Hmmm…

Not sure the next time we’ll be going to a Badgers game, but I’m already looking forward to it.

Swimming Lessons 1.0

I can’t remember if I mentioned this earlier, but Mom’s Father’s Day gift to my Dad was swimming lessons for me and him to take together. Well, I think the lessons are mostly for me… he knows how to swim.

You're supposed to be at least five months to enroll but I'm only 4 months and three weeks. Shhh... don't tell. Thanks Mom.

The lessons started tonight at Swim West only a few minutes from my crib (and our house). I’ve been in a swimming pool and lake before, but this was much more intensive water adaptation. The water felt a little chillier than the pool in Florida I went in. Sent a little tingle through me when the water reached my belly for the first time, but I adjusted.

All in all, I loved it. Not a single tear and hardly a fussy face. I took it like a man as Dad likes to say.

We started with a welcome song and then went through stations designed to get me used to the water in different positions. We practiced getting out of the pool and then jumping in, reaching into the water to grab rings and toys, floating and kicking on my stomach and back and the rain station.

I liked them all. Had a little trouble jumping into the pool seeing as though I can’t stand, jump or hold my breath, but I tried. Probably liked the floating on belly and kicking station the best. I didn’t go under water, the rain station on my head was as close as I got. We’ll work up to that.

More singing and water aerobics to end the 30 minute class. Can’t believe how quickly it went.

My buddy Winston is in the class with his Dad Brandon too which is fun. We’ll be racing in no time.

Mommy = Triathlon Stud

Daddy is off to Vegas with the boys! Mommy is off to Kenosha, WI with the girls! Hmm, which way do I go, which way do I go…

Sitting in sportsbooks and betting on my teams, doubling down in blackjack and basking by the beautiful people in the multiple Vegas pools sounds just perfect. However, food is my true passion so…Kenosha or BUST! Wisconsin is beautiful in the late summer anyway.

Ladies Weekend consists of shopping, eating, more shopping and most importantly, the Danskin Triathlon. Mommy worked hard these last four months since I came into the world to drop weight and get back in fightin’ shape. She was ready!

As for me, well, I found out that heat and humidity not only affects my hair but it affects my overall demeanor too. Anytime I hit the hot air I would let everyone know how unhappy I was. However, anytime there was air conditioning on, I slept like a rock. I definitely have GiGi and Mommy’s lack of love for heat (and ability to sweat)!

Now, I like to start my day around daybreak. Race day began at 4:30 a.m. Yikes. Mom threw my clothes on me and into the BOB jogger and we were (literally) off and running before I even opened my eyes.

At that time of day the mosquitos were AWFUL! My arms don’t want to quite reach my face when I went them to so unfortunately I ended up with 5 gigantic bites on my face before 6 a.m.

Very unsightly.

Nap time came early that day and before I knew it GiGi and Lindsey Snow were pushing me over to cheer on Mommy and the other ladies as they got out of the water! GiGi had to rush off to hop on the bike so Lindsey and Uncle Billy took me to a prime spot for watching the girls on their last leg – the run.

I was so excited when I saw Mommy coming running toward me (she told me later that I motivated her to run faster so she could get back to me sooner!) that I almost leapt off the fence I was sitting on!

It was so cool to see over 2,000 women run by! What a neat thing to experience. It was like a huge healthy party! Mommy and GiGi and all the ladies crossed that finish line and every one of them beat their times from last year. I like to think it was me that moved them along!

Just four months after giving birth to little ole me, Mommy completed the 750-meter swim, 20K bike, 5K run in 01:29:15. That’s 260th out of 2,000! Impressive Mom.

With medals in hand and money sufficiently spent, it was time to pack it up and go home to Daddy. I wouldn’t mind hitting up the bright lights of Vegas with the boys sometime, but it was a fantastic weekend cheering on the women!

4-month Check Up

Does anyone else feel like I am at the doctor much more often than other babies my age? Geez. I like Doc Mallory and Nurse Pricilla and everything but come on. I overheard Mom and Dad talking about some alternative shot schedule they have me on so I don’t get all sorts of vaccinations at once. However, that means monthly trips to the doctor and…gulp…shots at EVERY visit.

I can handle the extra visits because thankfully I never have to go for illness!

So this trip included one oral vaccine and one shot in my increasingly pudgy leg. No matter how often I go for shots, they still sting. Daddy told me to “take it like a man” though so I tried. I held back most of my tears and just let out one loud yelp.

Other than that, my check out grade was ‘A’. I now weigh in at 13 lbs. and 4 oz. and am exactly 2 ft. tall! A little on the small side – but seriously, have you seen my parents? I am continuing to grow around the 30th percentile and steadily along the curve.

Milk, does a body good.

One other noteworthy topic of discussion with Doc Mallory is my need to chomp and drool. She thinks I’m starting to teethe. Not really sure what that means, but if that is what is making my gums sore, I don’t like it.

I have taken a liking to those freezer ice things as well as fingers. Really anyone’s fingers. No preference.

First Photo-shoot

Celebrated Mom’s birthday by getting a tattoo. Yeah, that’s right… I’m a bad-mamma-jamma.

Okay, okay, no it’s not real. Dad put it on me before Mom woke up and surprised her with it. I think she liked it and was probably relieved it wasn’t real.

Dad, Aunt Pam and I took Mom out to dinner to celebrate her big day.

She turned 30 (shhh). She’s taking it well though. I’m told age is a state of mind and she probably feels like she’s 25. Although… Aunt Roxanne says you age 10 years in your child’s first year. So where does leave Mom then? 35? Nevermind, don’t tell her I said that.

I also had my first photo-shoot recently. Let me re-phrase that, my first photo-shoot with a real photographer. My parents shoot a gadzillion photos every day, but this one was legit.

We were in Appleton for a weekend and stopped by Lindy and John’s house. We walked to Erb Park with them and John took some pics of yours truly.

Click here for all the pics…

First Brewers Game

You know the scene in the movie “Rudy,” where Rudy’s dad sees Notre Dame’s football stadium for the first time and says, “This is the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen”?

That was me Friday night during my first trip to Miller Park for a Brewers game.

Mom, Dad, Joe, Sarah and I went to watch the Brewers play the Diamondbacks and it was a life-changing experience. I loved 99 percent of it. The only time I cried was when Rickie Weeks hit a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning. It wasn’t that I hated the double, I was just a little spooked by the loud cheering going on in the stadium. Once I realized what was happening, I was into it like a dog on the t-bone.

We had great seats behind the plate and more importantly, behind the screen so foul balls weren’t a danger. I loved the sounds, lights and the trip up to the TV broadcast booth.

As if the experience wasn’t enough, the Brewers scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to come back and win 6-5 on a Prince Fielder walk-off hit.

I’m a spoiled kid, but a Brewers fan for life.

That Brewers game was just the start of our weekend at the Robinson’s cabin. Fun times. Grilling out, boating, hanging with friends and more sleepless nights.

That’s right, I’m still getting up numerous times per night. Sigh.

In better news, I'm starting to show signs of wanting to crawl. When I lay on my stomach I push my self up with my hands and arms now and pick my head up. Sometimes I have thrash my legs around like I'm trying to crawl but can't get traction. 

Trip to the Zoo

Had my second trip to the zoo this weekend, but first trip to the Milwaukee Zoo. Neato.

Saw all kinds of animals with Nana, Papa, Mom and Dad. It was a part of Papa’s work annual convention. I only slept through part of it, honest.

In other news, I’ve decided that I don’t want to sleep for more than an hour at a time at night. For the last month or two I’ve had a pretty steady rhythm of getting up about once a night to nurse and then go back to sleep. Now, I’m up every hour or so… wailing.

Mom and Dad have tried this new torture devise of letting me, “cry it out,” they call it. They vastly underestimated my endurance. I proved I can cry longer than they can tolerate listening to me cry. I win.

Everybody’s hoping this anti-sleep thing is just a brief phase or growth spurt. We’ll see about that.

Reached my 14th week too by the way, but who's counting.

These are a few of my favorite things

Speaking of things I like, here are a few of my favorite things as I reach the three-month pole…

- I like to suck on the knuckle on my index finger, not the thumb, just the index knuckle… I’m working on the whole fist
- Also sucking on blankets and pacifiers too… sooooo basically I just like to put things in my mouth
- Ceiling fans. No explanation needed right? They’re just awesome
- Talking to people, especially ladies (va-va-voom)
- Diaper changes… all eyes on me
- My new Bumbo seat
- My Brewers mobile… could stare at that for like minutes (my attention span is short, what do you want from me?)
- Being swaddled at night – haven’t quite mastered the arm control yet, so the flailing wakes me
- Being outside
- A magazine ad for Honda cars – can’t really explain why, but boy do I love looking at that page
- The white noise maker in my crib… huuussshhhhhhhhh

Home again, home again

Whew… time to catch our breath and get back into a rhythm. After traveling all over the place and seemingly living more days out of a suitcase than at home… we’re home.

I loved seeing all of the new places and spending time with family, but it’s good to be back in Madison for a little quiet time with Mom and Dad.

In other news today… guess who rolled over again? You got it… this guy.

After rolling over four times in one day about a month and a half ago and then roll-hibernating, I have finally broken the drought. I was laying on my activity mat playing with my dangling animal friends and wanted to look at something to my left.

I turned over onto my side and even swung my legs over, but I pretty much stalled there for quite sometime. Then after much struggle, my arm kind of tucked under me and, boom, there I was on my stomach.

I gotta tell you, it wasn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. I actually didn’t want to be there and couldn’t flip back over.

Papa Rico said it was like a microcosm for life. Sometimes you work so hard to get someplace only to find it’s not as sweet as you had imagined. I have no idea what that means, but he’s a smart guy so it probably makes me sound smart to have it in my blog.

Another big event today, Mom and Dad got me a Bumbo seat.

Whoa. That thing opened a whole new world. I can sit up. No really, with the help of that spongy, cheesehead-like seat I can almost pass for a big kid.

I sat my butt off, too. We even did webcam with Nana and Papa Herb just so they could see me sit. That was hard work because I’m still a little wobbly. I gave it a solid 10 minutes or so, but I was spent after that.

First trip to the North Palace

Quick update about my week at the Stach cottage, aka “the North Palace.” Fun week doing all sorts of new things. Went on a pontoon boat, swam in a lake, watched the adults play fan ball (they’re odd) and horseshoes, did some puzzling, went on walks with Mom, Aunt Pam and Gigi and lots of cuddle time with Papa Rico, Whitney, Brett and the whole gang.

Beautiful country up there. Can’t wait until I’m older and can start fishing with Rico.

I suffered from some pretty serious stuffiness at night and in the morning though. Not sure if it’s early allergies developing, or if I have a cold or what, but it wasn’t fun. Made for a few tough nights for me and my parents.

Plus, Mom and Dad only brought some cheesy little travel-sized “booger hunter” that didn’t work at all. They left the nice one at home… silly folks.

When we got back to Madison on Friday I got to meet my favorite musician (other than the white noise maker in my crib) Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons. They were playing at the Terrace and Mom and Dad let me hang out with the band before the concert for a bit. Then I had to go home to bed with Gigi and Rico.

Gotta work on getting one of those Wandering Sons onesies. I hear chicks dig 'em.