Playing with Ollie

I had to split the videos up in order to post them.  Ollie played with Cal for a good 10 minutes like this....it was hilarious!  What a sweet, smart dog we have!

Visit from Grandpa Walt and Grandma Sooz

Cal had a great visit from Gma and Gpa Walter this week.  It rained for most of their trip, so we got in a lot of carpet playtime! Check out the new sports toy from his Walter grandparents!

Slam dunk!!

He's preparing to hit a homer.....or one of his parents.

He had such a good time playing with Sooz and Walt.

Big Smiles!!

Getting up close and personal with Gpa

We went over to the park and Big Don decided to fight his leash a little.  He's really into strength training. 

 We got a quick swing in while at the park!

On Friday we went to the Kansas Museum of History.  Cal took a good nap during the tour, which helped recharge him for some pictures afterwards!  We couldn't get a single picture where everyone was looking at the camera at the same time!

We ended the trip with a photo shoot at Old Town.  The tulips were in full bloom and the grass was so green because of all the recent rain.  So pretty!  Cal had his 9 month pictures done before we walked around....and he cried the entire time!  He didn't give our photographer a big smile, but we caught a few grins. 

Grandma Sooz and Cal had fun playing Pat-a-Cake, among other games!

Cal went from crawling one week to pulling himself up to stand the next!  He's changing so rapidly and becoming a really quick crawler!  I'm trying to get him on video while pulling himself up, but haven't had any luck yet.  I'm not quick enough!  He's also starting mimicking us when we clap and make sounds with our mouths.  He learns something new every day!

Don't bite your friends

Cal has become a terrible biter lately.  Whenever we pick him up he tries to bite our shoulder, collar bone, chin, etc.  He even tricks us into being unprepared when he innocently crawls over to us and bites our legs!  Unfortunately, his biting isn't limited to just his parents.  He tries to bite his daycare teacher and the little girl in the room with him.  Ironically enough, as I sit here writing this post, he has crawled over to me and is biting my shirt (I'm assuming he's trying to hit skin!!). 

Anyway, Cal and I were watching Yo Gabba Gabba (don't judge....Mommy needs two hands and a breather now and then!) and a they sang a very appropriate song on this episode.  I wish they would've had this show when Uncle Tony was a youngster.  He was the ultimate biter!  Don't deny it, T-Bird.  I think that I and all the neighbor kids could testify about your inclination to "bite first, ask questions later" mentality.  I'm so glad you outgrew that phase.....and so is society.

9 month milestones

Check out this cool dude in his plaid shorts!  So stylish.

Cal had his 9 month appointment last week and weighed in at 26.5 lbs and measured at 31" in length!  He was in the 100th percentile for both stats.

He started crawling at 9 months on the dot!  Oddly enough, he is extremely motivated by dopey Donnie and when he sauntered out of the room, Cal crawled after him!  Our 9 month old sweetheart also crawls towards us and when he reaches his destination, he'll either put his head in our lap (and sometimes try to bite us) or put his arms up so we can pick him up.  Both are sweet, but the first scenario has caught us off guard and left the marks to prove it!  Speaking of biting....we need to work on teaching him NOT to exercise his chompers on our sensitive skin!  Here's a small clip of our mobile little man. 

It has been in the 80's all week, so we've been slathering Cal in sunscreen and venturing outdoors as often as possible.  He loves water.  LOVES.  I'm so excited to take him to the pool this summer, and I believe I've said it before, but I'm hoping that he's a waterbug like his Mama so he won't get tired of our frequent swimming sessions this summer!  Anyway, I'm off topic again.  I'm like a bird around shiny things.  I filled a large bowl with water and we sat in the shade so he could splash around.  Little did I know that Cal wouldn't be the only one enjoying the cool water.

He had so much fun splashing around.

Cal has also started eating Nilla Wafers faster than imaginable.  Not surprisingly, as Cal's interest in these delicious little cookies has peaked, so has Ollie's.  She bird dogs him while he munches on anything, but especially Nilla Wafers.  He really enjoys feeding us when he has a cookie and he has transfered that skill over and now feeds the dogs. Atleast they're really gentle when they snatch the cookie out of his hand! 

"Here, Ollie....just don't tell Mom."

"Come back here, Nilla Wafers!"

"I'd better inspect every single cookie before selecting my snack."

In like a Lamb....

March has offered some soft rain, temperatures in the 70's, oh and one random snowstorm that melted upon impact.  Nothing like a little variety.  Kansas has to keep us on our toes, huh?!  It's been so nice that we've been frequenting the park down the street.  Cal loves the swing!


He's just chillin'. 

Yippee!!! 

We traveled over for another K-State basketball game and Cal enjoyed his car seat tent.....until he was really tired of sitting in it, which took 20 minutes or less.  Mommy may or may not have been trying to trick him into taking a nap.   I caught him during a happier moment of the drive.

 The key to a happy traveler is to never be bored.....NEVER. Even if it means that Mommy and Daddy have to sing songs, make funny mouth noises, or play with his toys for the quick jaunt to Dillons or the 3 hour drive to Larned.

Great Grandma came up for the KSU vs. Iowa State game.  Cal was so content with sitting on her lap that he just chewed on his Sophie and watched the game for well over an hour.

After the game, we went out to eat and Cal was sure thirsty and wanted to guzzle water out of our glasses.  He also wanted to show us how technologically savvy he is, but Grandma was so mean and wouldn't give him her expensive chew toy. 

Look at that ham!  Cal....not mom.

"Grandma, quit being so mean!  Just give me this bright, attractive, expensive chew toy!"  

Sometimes when I get the camera out, Cal immediately stops doing whatever I'm wanting to capture on film, and looks at me to ham it up.  For this reason, I have to approach the chance to snap a candid photo much like an animal trying to stealthily sneak up on his prey....nonchalantly, quietly, and quickly.  When he was playing with his frog, it was as though he was mad at it.  I think he's saying, "Frog, I'm tired of your lip.  Don't make me bap you!"  He means business. 

 

We've been introducing a lot of new foods to Cal.  He loves graham crackers, Nilla wafers, Cheerios, homemade mac n' cheese, and softened flakes out of Mommy's morning cereal just to name a few.  However, Daddy let him try the ultimate last weekend.....PIZZA!!!  It was love at first bite.

We helped the Cats wrap up their regular season by attending the last home game of the year on March 3rd.  Our friends from OSU came up for the game, which was especially exciting since all three of our boys were born between the months of February and June and hadn't all hung out together. 

(on the right) Maddox Machado, born in February 2011, is a mobile little bull of a boy.  He toppled into the cabinet and head first into the chair a few times, but he shed no tears.  He just got right back up and toddled away to begin his next adventure!  He's a tough guy.  I smell a future football player, just like his Daddy!

(on the left) Luke Beebe, born in early June 2011, has the sweetest smile.  His two bottom teeth punctuate his adorable grin and he was very interested in all the sights and sounds of the game.  He was very content to be held by his Mama for most of the game, but was open to a few snuggles from strangers (me).

Oh Lilah.....do you and Cal have a love/hate relationship? She doesn't look too upset that Cal is pulling her hair out in this picture (while the mothers smile and pose for the camera, mind you), which I think is a testament to her temperament. She's a very independent baby and doesn't get too riled up about many things, which is fitting because neither does her Mama! I think she's going to have Johnna's personality....and perhaps immaculate fashion sense!?! 

I'll wrap up this post with a sweet picture of our cuddly little Cal, who was soothed to sleep after Kiley held him for 2.5 seconds.  It was amazing.  She must move in with us.  Come on, Ki....Andrew can come, too!  We've got a comfy air mattress in the basement that has the Hamors' name all over it!