album 06/20/09 (9 photos), by Allison Brinkley

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www1.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=458211245592744048/l=1590856017/g=5706862/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=784147017/a=5706862_5706862/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=9%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Allison doing the Straddle Whip!



Dawson doing the Knee Hang!

Forgot to put a 5 month pic of Cal on here. I have been a little distracted since he got sick with 2 ear infections and RSV over the last few weeks. All seems to be getting better now and he is almost done with his second round of antibiotics. Cal is growing so fast. He has already had apples and bananas. He doesn't really seem to like the baby food too much. He will get used to it soon. He has also discovered his feet. He tries to pull them up to his mouth so he could get a taste. I think soon, he will no longer be swaddled at night. He seems to be breaking out of it. This is much sooner than Chase did. I just hope he will continue to sleep well through the night once the miracle blanket no longer fits.



Chase will be 3 soon. He is getting so big. Today, at the YMCA I watched him go with his class to Cardio Kids. Yes, he participated in his very own fitness class. It was so sweet seeing him walk past our spin class in a single file line. I was afraid he would come running toward me when he saw me on my bike, but he didn't. He got a huge grin on his face and waved to me. He is getting to be such a big boy now.

Chase asked if we could paint today. He had been doing it at the Y and I thought it would be a good day to try it at home (with washable paint of course). Chase takes after me. He loves doing artwork and sat there for about an hour coloring and making a mess. It was a blast. When he was done, he brought his art over to Calhan to show him. This was done without me provoking it. I am so glad I caught that special moment on film. He is such a wonderful big brother. Cal loves him so much. He gets the biggest smile on his face when he sees him!

These past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I have made a huge change in my life. My last day at Nemours was today! Today, I am officially unemployed. Granted it is just til Monday, but it is the first time in my life since college that I have been unemployed. I made the hard decision a few weeks ago to go back to Arnold Palmer Medical Center to work as an outpatient dietitian for their Pulmonary group. I will be working with two physicians and a nurse practitioner that I adore. It was a difficult decision, but I am doing what will be best for my family. It is crazy that I have to think about "my family", but I am so thankful that I have to. I am really looking forward to this new opportunity and I know it is the best decision. Basically, I will be doing the same work (part time) with better benefits. In this insecure economic situation, I have to look out what is best for those beautiful blue eyes that look up to me. I know I am making the right decision, but it still is a difficult time. After all, these people have been there since I first started 10 years ago and have seen me grow into the person I am today. Fortunately, it is an amicable split and I know that I will still be in touch with my friends from Nemours.

Today is also a very special day. Not only is it my nephew Liam's 3rd birthday, but Tracy and Stephan welcomed their second into this world. Callie Anne Balderach was born today at 6:59pm weighing 6#6oz. I briefly talked with Tracy just after the delivery and their family is doing well. How beautiful does Tracy look in this picture, not to mention the little future daughter in law! Unfortunately, her Papa (grandfather) was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Her Papa is such a wonderful man with so much spunk. You always feel so good being around him. I am praying for his peace and comfort at this time. Kirk, Chad, Sandy and Coleman are in my prayers as well during his last few days.

I wish so much that I could be there with Tracy and Stefan as they transition into this world of a 4 person family, just like they did for me. It was so awesome to have Tracy there with me when Cal was just 3 weeks old. Those memories will forever be cherished. Please know that I am there for you in spirit and just a phone call away. Here is a beautiful pic of my very best friend with her new beautiful Callie (who will marry Cal and we will call them Cal squared)... I will summarize some advice you gave me: "These first few weeks/months are rough, but soon you will be back to your normal self and getting more sleep. This period of time will not last forever. Enjoy it!" I love you guys!

Enjoy the next post of Chase singing "Happy Birthday" to Liam. You can tell his independence is really starting to shine through! Just for the record, this film was made 2 minutes before Callie was born. That is why I miss your phone call Stefan! :) Can't wait to come down for Liam's big birthday bash and to see the boys playing together!

It has been a busy week at the Brinkley home. Last week, Cal developed a cough and was not acting himself. I thought he may have caught my cold, but he had a high fever of 101.5 on Wednesday. We went to the pediatrician's office and it turned out he had a terrible ear infection and RSV! He was started on antibiotics for the ear infection. I had to just watch him and make sure his breathing was normal and not labored. He did sound a little wheezy for about two days, but was was soon starting to act like his normal happy self. He has not had a fever since Wednesday when we went to the doctors office.

Saturday night, Cal and Chase got to sleep over at Nina and Mammaw's house. They had a blast! Dawson and I were invited to Catherine and Jimmy Ellspermann's house for a Valentines dinner. We had great food, great wine and great company. It was such a fun night.

Today, Dawson had the day off today for President's Day. He had a wonderful idea to take the boys to Sea World. It was so much fun. Chase really enjoyed the Shamu show. When he woke up from his nap today, he demonstrated how Shamu splashed all the kids with his new stuffed Shamu toy. The weather was beautiful today. Chase even got to enjoy the splash pad in the kids playground. Click on the image below to see it larger.

Today is the birthday of a very special lady, Mammaw! She is 94 years young today. We had a big family get together to celebrate her birthday today. We also celebrated Taylor and Dino's birthdays that are in February as well. It was a great day visiting with family.

Thank you Norma and gang for hosting. We loved your yummy spaghetti and alfredo sauce.

Chase and I had fun making pizza the other day. Unfortunately, he didn't eat much! He is my picky, light eater (like his mamma). He was very proud of his creation though!

Funny things Chase has said or done recently:

• Chase recently has become scared of dark rooms. Instead of saying it is scary, he calls it "scare me".
  
• When Dawson leaves for work in the mornings, I tell Chase to say bye to him and to tell daddy to bring home the bacon! This morning, Chase yelled to Dad as he was walking out the door, "Bye Daddy, bring home the pepperoni's!"
• He calls parmesean cheese "shakey shakey".
• All bugs are called "lady bugs".
• Chopsticks are called "Hi Yah".
• He uses drummy sticks to play his drums.
• Last night. Daddy was attempting to cut his pizza and Chase told "Don't snap the pizza!"
  

Last night, we decided to start giving Cal rice cereal with a spoon. He made the funniest faces. I am not sure if he liked it or not. Most of it got all over his face. That is ok because he is just learning to use a spoon.







Calhan went to his 4 month check up on Monday. He is perfect in every way! He is so much bigger than Chase was at this age. I don't need to worry about his weight!
Here are his anthropometrics:
Ht: 25" (50%ile ht/age)
Wt: 16#14oz (80%ile wt/age)
WOW!!! His legs are so thick and juicy. I love it!


I was nervous about going to the doctors office alone with both boys. I worried that Chase would get tired of waiting or freak out because the last time he was there he got the flu shot. So I started preparing him days earlier that I was going to need his help when we have to take Cal to the doctor. I told him that it was Cal's turn to get shots and he would need to comfort his brother. Right when we got in the car, Chase looked over at him and said in a sweet little voice, "Cal, it will be ok". Chase was in his best behavior and sat so still while we waited and while Cal was getting his check up. At the end, I told Chase that he could hold Cal's hand while Cal got his shots. I should have thought that through a little better because the look on Chase's face when shots went in was complete shock!!! The look was priceless though. Chase's 3 year appt will be interesting. I hope he won't need any shots. Last time he got the flu shot, he cried and then as we were leaving he stopped in the middle of the waiting room and told all the other kids "I got hurt in there!"

Happy Belated Birthday Gramps!

Cute story:

Calhan was sitting on Chase's beloved blanket. Instead of yanking it away from him, he said "I'll go get Calhan his blanket!" He ran out of the room and quickly returned with 2 blankets for Calhan to choose from and gently gave it to him. So adorable!!!

Calhan is 4 months old!!!

Wow it is so hard to believe that he is 4 months old already. Time is going by so quickly. This past month had so much going one. Here are just a few of his milestones:

• He celebrated his First Christmas.
• He is sleeping 10 hours at night on most nights.
• He started daycare at Dalton's when I returned to work. The first day, Chase walked in and announced, "Here is my baby brother, Calhan!"
  
• Chase and Cal slept over at Nina and Mammaw's house for two nights while Mommy and Daddy got to go to the Gator's National Championship! Thank you Nina and Mammaw!
  
• He continues to go to the YMCA with his big brother. They always tell me that Cal is their happy baby. All you have to do is give him a smile and he gives a big one right back.
• He got to meet one of my best friends, Stephanie.
• He slept over at the McLaughlin's house (with Mom, Dad and Chase).
• We went to the circus. Cal slept through most of it, but Chase sure liked it.
• He went to Sunday School at Church. It sure is much easier to put the kids in the child watch the second time around.
• Mommy completely weaned from breastfeeding.
  

My little Hazelnut!

I wanna play Tebow!

Written on 12/3/08:

Dear Calhan,

Here I am, my first day without having to pump for you. I tried my best to provide you with momma’s milk, but I kept getting sick with mastitis. I had it four times during your first 3.5 months of life. I have been on antibiotics for 40 of the last 100 days. The doctors say that I cannot continue because I will soon become resistant to the antibiotics. If the antibiotics no longer work, mastitis could turn into an abcess. Then, I would need surgery.

So as much as I planned on pumping for you as long as I could, I just cannot continue. On one hand, I feel so guilty and it breaks my heart. On the other hand, I look forward to the extra time I will have to snuggle you. Fortunately, I have almost a deep freeze full of momma’s milk to get you through several more months. I am so sorry I cannot provide fresh momma’s milk throughout your first year. You have done fine with formula and I am thankful for that. I was so nervous and sad when I gave you your first bottle of formula. I feel lucky that you take it willingly.

I know this is how it has to be and it will be fine. I preach to families all the time at work that they need to what is best for them and that formula is a great alternative to breast milk. It just seems so different when it comes to me (and you). Regardless, you will grow up to be the wonderful, intelligent, and sweet little boy that you are. I love you so much and I am so blessed to have you in my life! I love you sweet boy!