Jackson Robert Kappel and Erin Grace Kappel 03/14/2005 and 06/11/2007 11:27 AM and 10:08 PM 7lbs 10 oz and 7lbs 4oz
Stories
11/29/05 Wow! What a whirlwind Thanksgiving week! First, we drove up to Strasburg, OH to see all the Krantz and Becker relatives. BOY, was it cold! We actually got to play in the snow, which was obviously a first for me. We had a very nice time visiting all the relatives and I even got to go to the world famous restaurant, "El Ducko's!" (see the pictures...) I also got to meet my Great Grandma Rhodes. On Wednesday, we drove down to Cincinnati to see the Kappel and Price relatives. There I got to meet Great Grandma Price as well. I slept and travelled well and was generally a good boy! Next up: Christmas and New Year's in sunny, sunny Florida!
11/11/05 New trick!! I've now accomplished crawling! It began with trying to get Daddy's laptop - boy do I love trying to drool on that thing. I couldn't quite do it then - either the hands would go, or the feet, but not both. Two days later I had it all together - hands and knees! Mommy and Daddy were so excited! Daddy got it on the digital camera and emailed the huge file to both grandmas so they could see it right away. Then, Mommy and Daddy planned a trip to Babies R Us the very next day - thinking it's about time they start investing in some baby safety things since I'm going to be on the go so much!!
11/4/05 Halloween was so much fun - for about 15 minutes. I guess I need to start learning how to stay up later in order to take full advantage of the holiday. Maybe next year... My neighbors didn't go out until after 6, but I had to go out at 5:30. After about 5 houses I was tired and ready for bed. I was sound asleep before the first trick or treater ever rang our bell. Guess I'm not destined to be a party animal.
Today while Mommy was out chatting with a neighbor (shocker), I showed Daddy a new trick that I saved just for him. I pushed myself up into a sitting position from laying down. Then I got tired and lay back down before Mommy could witness it. I'm still not crawling, but able to get around quite well by turning and rolling. No new teeth or anything else to report. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. I've started some meats this past week in preparation and I like them fine. The only thing I really don't like so far are peas and bananas ( I'll eat the yucky creamed spinach, but not bananas - go figure). Today I figured out how to drink some water out of a sippy cup - with Mommy holding it. I'll get it together one of these days!!
10/20/05 Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame! What an awesome weekend I had - visiting Grandma and Grandpa, touring my future college (if Mommy wins out), and visiting lots of Mommy's friends. Mommy and Daddy said it was a perfect football weekend and an excellent game (although I slept through most of it at the motorhome with John and Julie). They were such great babysitters. I heard they've had lots of practice with their own grandbaby! I even got to see a little of College Gameday being filmed, but Kirk wouldn't come talk to me... No new milestones yet. I'm still REALLY close to crawling. Grandpa Krantz was practicing with me, but I just keep falling on my face when I try to move my hands. I'm becoming quite accomplished in the highchair - Sophie has discovered the joys of exploring my lap while I'm eating (she stole my Zwieback toast tonight). I've finished trying all the vegetables, and Mommy is going to let me play with a mushed up banana tomorrow - sounds like fun!
10/10/05 Wow, it's been a busy few weeks! I continue to amaze Mommy and Daddy with how big I'm getting! Now that I'm on solid foods for two meals a day..., well, let's just say my biological functions have changed (and not for the better, says Daddy!). My two front teeth are coming in nicely and I'm therefore no longer allowed to put people's fingers in my mouth. I had my first camping trip and really liked it! After an exciting day of sitting in my exersaucer by the tent, I went to sleep at 7:00 and (except for a 5 minute diaper change in the middle of the night), didn't get up until 6:30 the next morning! I'm also 17 pounds, 11oz now! I'm off to South Bend this weekend to see the Irish play, so look back for more pics next week!
9/17/05 What a day of firsts!! While reading the paper in bed with Mommy and Daddy this morning Daddy discovered my first tooth had come in. Finally! I've been drooling and working on it forever it seems like. It doesn't bother me too much, though. Then, while Mommy and Daddy were gathering things up for our morning of running errands, I decided to do some moving around on the bed and fell off! My first fall - (not to be my last I'm sure). I was upset, but not hurt (I think I have a bruise on my kneecap from it). As soon as Mommy picked me up and hugged me I was all better. I think it may have scared them more than me! Guess I taught them a lesson :o)
9/13/05 Had my 6 month checkup today. I am still right on track and perfectly normal (maybe not quite "normal", but average). I weighed 16 pounds 10 oz. The nurse took the weight twice because she thought I looked bigger than that! I am 27 inches long. Growing has slowed a little bit, so not as much change as last time. I wasn't able to get my vaccinations today because you have to be EXACTLY 6 months old or older. I was one day early. So, Mommy and I have to stop on our way home from work (yes, being at the sitter's IS work) to get stuck. Eating is going well. I didn't care for barley too much, but LOVE oatmeal. I guess next week I can start veggies. Just in time for Auntie Sara to watch me - she's excited to see what my diapers will look like (we've known for a while she's a little different:o) That's about all for now - hope everyone is doing well!!
8/29/05 I LOVE SOLID FOOD! That's right - I had my first taste of solid food last night (in this case, baby rice) and I can't get enough of it! Mommy and Daddy were very proud of how quickly I took to it. Anything that finds its way into my hand goes straight into my mouth anyway, so it was a simple matter of Mommy putting some food on the spoon and handing it over! Sure, I missed my mouth a few times, but hey - I'm new at this!
8/18/05 I'm just discovering new things every day! I've finally managed to roll from my tummy to back. I'd mastered back to tummy for a while, but then would just fall asleep. I showed my new trick to Mommy and Daddy last weekend. I did it like a pro! Tonight I have been very talkative. Not just the ooh's and stuff - I'm babbling all kinds of things - it almost sounds like I'm really talking! Wait until the Grandma's and Grandpa's hear me - they'll even probably think it makes sense!! Not much else is new - I'm still refusing to sleep in my pack and play at the sitters. I'll only eat and sleep in my car seat there. Should be interesting when I outgrow it! Hope everyone is well - I haven't heard from anyone on the guestbook for a while - please say hi!!
8/5/05 Well, Mommy had her first week back at school for teacher's meetings and I started going to my sitter - Ms. Suzanne. I did very well overall. I'm big enough for my exer-saucer and the jumper now. Boy do I have fun in those! I got to meet my Kappel Aunts, Uncles and cousins at the beach house the last week of July. I love my cousin Katie! She took such good care of me. I got to spend some time at the beach (under an umbrella and in a tent) and played miniature golf with the family. It was soooo hot!! I didn't like sleeping in strange places so much, but did well overall. Mommy's Deceuster relatives came for a visit and Leah stayed a couple days and took good care of me. I can't wait until she graduates from school and comes to live with us (hopefully!!) That's about all for the updates now. No new skills really - I scoot a lot on my belly, but still don't roll from belly to back, only back to belly. I love grabbing for things and knocking stuff over (like Auntie Sara's margarita!). Talk to you all later!
7/20/05 What a busy month July has been! I had my 4 month check up and I'm still perfectly average - a little on the long side, but average overall. I'm 15 pounds 5 ounces and 26 1/4 inches. Grandma and Grandpa Krantz came down to Atlanta in their motorhome. We went and stayed a night with them at Red Top Mountain State Park. It's really nice. I fell asleep on the hike with Mommy, Grandpa and Sophie. Then, I went back to Indiana in style for a family friend's wedding. What fun! I got to go to the St. John church festival and play bingo. I did really well at the wedding and reception (although I got a little cranky at one point for Auntie Sara). I just love my Auntie Sara - she always makes me laugh and squeal (a new trick). I'm getting ready for my last trip before Mommy goes back to work and I start day care. We're going to Sunset Beach, NC with Daddy's family. I'll get to meet Aunt Kasee and Uncle Chris and see my cousins. It will also be my first time in the ocean (my first lake was Cedar Lake at Rusty and Rita's lake house). What a busy summer full of firsts!! I found my toes last week and they have now made it to my mouth. In additon to slimy hands I also have slimy feet! I finally took a bottle from Daddy tonight - he was so happy! Mommy and Daddy were very proud of me. That's all for now - look for new pictures after Sunset Beach!
7/5/05 What an awesome first 4th of July! We had a party at our house on the third in which all of my neighbors and friends came over. It was great because there were lots of babies for me to play with as well as young kids. I'm a little shy around the babies, but I love little girls! Then, Daddy's friend, Dan, came to visit and I went to my first professional baseball game with the Cubbies playing the Braves. Both teams are family favorites so I was a little torn who to cheer for. To solve that problem, I just went to sleep in the third inning. The fireworks at the end of the game startled me a little bit, but Mommy just covered my ears and I went right to sleep.
This morning I achieved another first - when Daddy came to kiss me goodbye this morning I was laying on my tummy in the crib (even though they always put me on my back to sleep). Daddy was a little concerned at seeing me this way and checked to make sure I was still breathing - which I was. Just like to keep them guessing! Now I'm getting ready to go with Mommy and Dan to the Carter Presidential Library for my history lesson!
6/29/05 A milestone reached today! I was laying on my back, playing with my music toy, while Mommy took Sophie outside. Well, while she was gone I rolled from my back onto my belly! Boy was she surprised when she came back in! However, I refuse to do it for the video camera yet, despite lots of tries...
6/23/05 I'm starting to assert some more of my personality. Here Mommy and Daddy thought they had it all figured out. They bragged me up about how good I went to bed, how I was eating so well... well, I've fixed them! After refusing to take a bottle for almost two weeks, I woke up this morning (after being made to cry myself to sleep last night for the first time) and refused to nurse from Mommy. So far today I have only taken the bottle and want nothing to do with her. Maybe it means I'm teething? Maybe it just means that I'm a stinker - who knows... Other than that, not much else going on!
6/17/05 I've returned home from my travels and am enjoying many restful days of eating, sleeping, and making lots of dirty diapers. Mommy has joined a gym to work on losing the rest of my baby weight (he-he). So, I get to go to the little day care there. It's lots of fun because the other kids love to look at me. Most of the time the workers there just hold me and I sleep - they like cuddly sleepy babies. I went to the pool with my neighbors on Monday and go for walks with Mommy and Sophie (which I normally sleep through) in the cool mornings. It's a rough life so far. When I'm awake Mommy puts me on my tummy and I practice pushing up and holding my head up. I'm getting pretty good at that! I also love watching my hands and grabbing things - mostly by accident, but I'm getting better!
6/5/05 What a busy couple of weeks! I thought with Mommy home I could just sit back and relax! Not so much... Memorial Day weekend I had my first road trip to Grandma and Grandpa Kappels. Got to go swimming in the hot tub - it was very nice. I'm such a good floater! Thought maybe diapers would take me straight to the bottom, but they didn't - must be all that baby fat! Got to go to the clubhouse and meet Grandma and Grandpa's friends and Uncle Ray and Aunt Norma. Came home from there and hopped on a plane to visit Grandma and Grandpa Krantz while Mommy went partying with her college friends at her 10 year reunion. Don't remember much of the flight since I was asleep before takeoff and didn't wake up until we were at the gate (much to Mommy's relief!). I had a very nice time getting shown off around town. Tomorrow I head home to see Daddy - he's been very lonely without me to liven things up. He's had way too much sleep! Hopefully I'll be as good a flyer tomorrow!
5/22/05 Mommy's finally on summer vacation, so hopefully we'll get more updates. I got baptized last weekend and it wasn't so bad (the pictures aren't exactly accurate - Deacon Bill got water in my eyes!!) I was so happy that cousin Terry and Aunt Sara agreed to be my godparents and were both able to be there. Poor Terry didn't know what time zone he was in, but was a perfect godfather.
I had a new first - Mommy's first night of summer vacation (Friday night) I slept through the entire night! I didn't get up until 6:30 in the morning - Mommy said I'm a little stinker. Not much else is new - still working on picking up my head and chest and making all kinds of noise. Aunt Sara came up to visit me on Saturday - I didn't spit up on her this time. I figure I need to stay on her good side in case I need somewhere to run away to when I get older.
5/13/05 - What a day! Had my 2 month old checkup and vaccines today. The doctor wasn't so bad at first - I even slept through it! I'm growing well - 12 pounds and 24 inches, which makes me perfectly average in the 60-75%. Everything was going well until the shots came - ouch! I handled the first one like a man and didn't even whimper, but the second and third ones made me scream!! Once Mommy picked me up I was all better and will be just fine (or so they say). I get baptized this Sunday - cousin Terry has agreed to be my godfather and Aunt Sara is my godmother. Based on my behavior at a wedding last weekend (spent out back) I should do really well in church! I'm glad everyone has enjoyed the site so far and hope you check back soon!
Geez, it's about time Daddy got this site going! I've been talking and cooing and babbling and belching, and nobody's been documenting all of it! Mommy's been trying to get the ball rolling with incessant nagging of Daddy (which she's really good at!), but he usually just says something like "It's on my to-do list", or "Can't you see the game is on?"... or even "Shouldn't you be cooking dinner or something??" (that one didn't go over too well). Anyway, there should be lots of... well, frequent perhaps... OK, maybe Mommy and Daddy will put in some new stories for me going forward someday.
Contact This Site's Owner
