Lance is a super travelin' man

Hello again, This past weekend we went to Dallas to visit Addison for her FIRST birthday. It's about a four hour drive door to door. On Friday, Lance was asleep as we pulled out of the driveway and slept all the way there until we pulled off the highway onto the Ruediger's street. We were so impressed. He was pretty good baby all weekend - just loved watching Addison and her cousin Henry running around. Today on the drive home he was asleep before we pulled away and slept all the way home, let us unpack car and then he woke up. We thought he'd be up late, but he was so tired from travelin' he was in bed by 6:15 PM!!!! He missed "Lance's Room" and "Lance's Bed" just couldn't wait to crash tonight. Hope everyone had a great weekend! Judith

Time to catch up!

Hello everyone,

Wow, I am so sorry it has been so long since we have posted an update on Lance! So much to tell you! I will try to give all the highlights from the past two months.

In November, Lance celebrated his first Thanksgiving with Great-grandma "Mimi" and Grandma Stefani. We had a great weekend visiting with them. See the family "Four Generations" (Mimi, Grandma, Daddy and Lance).

The first weekend of December was first time I had to "leave" Lance overnight to go to the ASHP meeting to recruit for a new fellow for the translational research fellowship in my lab. WOW - I knew it would be hard, but how no idea how hard. Leaving - I was crying, Heath was teary, and Lance was smiling and laughing - not knowing what was wrong with us. Heath did awesome on Daddy duty for the weekend. I felt the need to keep calling but Heath and Lance did just great. Then Landra watched him the rest of the week while I went back to work.

The second week of December, Lance started his first week (well actual partial week- four days) at Primrose. His teachers are very sweet and just love him- I know I am bias but I think he's one of their favorites. At the end of the week, we took our first family road trip to Dallas. Lance did great on the road - he is such a good traveler! In Dallas we visited Jeff, Laura and Addison. Lance was very impressed with all the cool things Addison can do like walking, eating and singing!

The third week of December (second week in daycare) Lance got his first "cold" which we already had appointment for 4 month check-up at pediatrican so it worked out to get him in ASAP. We delayed his round of vaccines for a week to let him get better. Then the following week, both Heath and I were able to go to his 4 month checkup together. Watching baby get shots was sooooo hard. Poor thing, he did so well.

Lance's first Christmas was great! He just loved all the Christmas lights. Every night he would be "amazed" when the lights automatically turned on all around the house. Mufasa and Nala also just loved the Christmas Tree - practically took it down when climbing up in it non-stop! Christmas morning Lance checked out the presents (see picture) - Heath helped open a few, then Lance needed a little nap, then we opened the rest. He really enjoyed all the new toys especially the new monkey toy from Aunt MaryBeth and Uncle Paul and the triplets (see pictures) He had a great day - especially with all of us home for the long weekend.

Lance kicked of the New Year 2009 with his first taste of rice cereal. He wasn't a big fan but couple weeks later when we added in bananas - now he loves the fruit and cereal. Slowly we are adding in new foods each week. Last week, Lance got his highchair. He looks so cute sitting in his highchair (see picture). So now he has cereal and fruit twice a day and a jar of fruit at lunchtime. This weekend we add in a veggie! He is backing off on bottles, but still a fan of the bottles too.

Last weekend, Lance met Arie, Kim & Craig's son, who is just about one month older than him. It was really cute watching them check each other out. (see picture) We hope they will be good playmates in the years to come! Well, I think that catches you up on little Lance.

Lance will be baptized on February 8th at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. Aunt MaryBeth and Uncle Paul will be his Godparents. Since we had to plan his baptism with such short notice (had to be prior to Lent or we would have to wait until after Easter), Ginger Langley will be standing in as a catholic proxy and Jeff Ruediger with be "Christian Witness" proxy for Paul. Oh, which reminds me when we took the baptism classes last week, Heath and I learned WOW is part of church too. Unfortuantely Heath quickly found out it was not the same WOW he loves to play. Yes he is already trying to recruit Lance to play. (see picture)

Happy new year to all of you. We hope 2009 is off to a good start. I promise to do better about keeping blog updated.

Cheers,

Judith