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.