A magical Christmas Day...

This morning started around 7:30 for the Neill Family and even though we have been home all day we were certainly busy. I could not believe my eyes when I stepped into the family room, Santa Claus was so good to me! I was thinking I had been a good boy but there was no question with all my goodies under the tree. Luey & KoKo got goodies too, I am hoping they were all meant for eating/chewing because that is all they have done all day.
We are heading to TN tomorrow morning, I am so excited!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Christmas Eve in NYC

Yesterday was super cool! Mommy, Daddy and me spent the day in Manhattan and went to see the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. I sat through the entire show and was quiet as a mouse. Mommy and Daddy seemed surprised; when do I ever not cooperate?!?! :)

I love the snow!!!

So, we are running a bit behind but here are some pics from the snow we had in CT this past weekend. I was so not prepared(clothing wise) a couple weeks ago when we had a small snowfall but that is not the case now. Check me out, new boots, bib overalls, gloves and a really great jacket. I even rolled around in the snow and stayed dry. I must admit, after a bit it was cold but Mommy took me in and put me into the warm bath straight away. What fun we had, check out Daddy running around!

Christmas lights are great...

This weekend we had a great time driving around and checking out all the beautiful Christmas lights. A few places we went were over the top. Unfortunately the only pics of me are in the car because between all the snow and the chilling temperatures Mommy would not let me out. Enjoy the show, I certainly did.

VROOM, VROOM...

The grocery store just got alot " funner". :):):)

17 months old today

Mommy just wants to share a few new things going on, for the most part everything is the same as a month ago. I am so not into eating but if I am in the mood I will not eat ONE bite from anyone else assisting me. I must do it myself which usually involves 75% of every meal going into the chair, floor etc...
I have not thrown an all out "tantrum" as of yet but I have started to shuffle my feet and spin around in a bit of a circle when told NO or am told not to do something.
I have started to exercise my right to say "no", though I mostly shake my head no, sometimes I will say "na,na,na".
I climb and attempt to stand on anything and everything. Sometimes my choices are certainly not the best but I take it in stride when I fall.

For now that about wraps it up. We are very busy with the holidays and looking forward to our trip to Tennessee in a couple weeks.

Playgroup Holiday Party...

Tonight was such fun... Aidan, along with his Mommy & Daddy hosted a fabulous party for us. We had good food, lots of play and a Secret Santa gift exchange. It was so fun to mix and mingle with everyone and we are so thankful to have so many wonderful families in our lives. A big thank you to The Kavanaugh Family!!!

Rocking, rocking and a little tugging too...

A snow day...

I love my Christmas Tree

So, we have had this tree in our family room for about a week now and I love it. Mommy has a rule regarding touching the tree; I can touch any and every ornament, light or branch but only with ONE FINGER! As you can imagine, even Luey & KoKo are tired of hearing "one finger please". I did hear Mommy telling Daddy what a great job I am doing, afterall, only one ornament has been broken. :)

Sanitary??? Mommy thinks not!

Simply trying to help out around the house...

Hey Mommy, Luey is freezing outside!!!

Little help here...

A visit with Santa...

Today Mommy and me were shopping and she commented on what a silly mood I was in, which apparently got her thinking. I had an encounter with the man in the red suit last week and I simply was not in the mood but today was a different story. There was no line at the mall and I actually sat with Santa for about 10 minutes, we just chatted and shared some snacks.

There is more than one way to ride a rocket...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone.

My latest thing is to "request" Luey and KoKo get into my crib when I wake up in the morning and at naptime. I am pretty sure they are fine with it, KoKo even rolls around on her back sometimes making herself at home. Anyway, I hope everyone has a blessed day.

Got Milk???

Check it out, Mommy let me have the carton of milk to play with. It has been a little crazy around here for a couple days, Mommy and me both have a head cold and are stuck inside. Either way, I am constantly wanting the milk and can never talk Mommy into it (until today that is :)). She did mention drinking from the carton is not very polite. This game did not last long however, I quickly realized my milk is the yellow carton, not the purple and a new request, ie... demand was in the works.

Holiday Festivities

This morning we had alot of fun at the Enchanted Forests 2008 Children's Events. We enjoyed the gingerbread village, holiday boutiques, and a picture with Santa. Okay, so maybe I was not so enthusiastic about my moment in Santa's lap but I did give it a go for Mommy. After we left there, we enjoyed a fun lunch at Friendly's that ended with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, YUMMY!!!

a HAT fashion show

My Nana made me several hats and sent them just in time for the cold weather that has arrived. Mommy insisted I try each and every one on and of course she had the camera out. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!!!!!!!

What is your opinion on my hand or better yet, "finger" in helping out in the kitchen?

I have the baster and from what I understand Thanksgiving Dinner is alot easier to prepare with some help!

A busy week so far

Monday Mommy and me had great fun at Mia's house. Her Mommy, Charlotte and her Mommy were all there too, we all had lunch and lots of playtime. Tuesday Mommy and me joined Charlotte, Hayley and their Mommies for some music at The Chef's Table in Fairfield. I loved the music and even got to play with the guitar at the end.

16 months old (yesterday)

We have been busy but Mommy wanted to post an update, better late than never.
I have become pretty picky with eating but I do love lightly toasted plain bagels, broccoli cheddar soup, maple & brown sugar cream of wheat, couscous, sweet potatoes and Yo Baby yogurt. I continue to work on feeding myself and doing a pretty good job.
I know many signs, including: milk, cookie, eat, more, all done, book, please, help, rain, book, night-night, stop, play, bath and up.
I am very into kicking a ball, climbing, running and riding my toys. I do a great job going forward and backwards on my riding toys. I also love to walk down small steps (by stepping down) unassisted. I am very entertained with spinning around in circles until I am too dizzy to stand up. :)
I love to play the "body part" game. I can show you my nose, teeth, tongue, arms, legs, feet, toes, fingers, hair, ears and eyes.
I am very into coloring and working with my shape sorter. I can always successfully get the oval, circle and star.
I know the motions to the itsy-bitsy spider song and will do it as many times as someone will sing it.
As for talking, I can say thank-you, down, out, moo, cheese, shoe, home, No-No-No, uh-oh, yeah, Dada and "Mum" for Mommy and "otter" for water. I do have some words only Mommy & Daddy understand: truck, squirrel, Luey, KoKo and coffee.
I nap once a day from around noon to 2 or 3 o' clock without any protest at all. Actually, at naptime and bedtime (which is 8PM) when Mommy and Daddy say it is time for night-night, I do the sign and head straight upstairs to brush my teeth and read books. Mommy and Daddy are very proud of me. I sleep straight through the night until between 6:30 and 7am. YAY, for everybody.
I continue to enjoy gym class on Wednesday, music on Friday and swimming on Saturday, as well as my playgroups every other Tuesday and most Thursdays.

I guess that is about it for now, we hope everyone had a great weekend!

Early Christmas shopping...

HaHaHa, how lucky am I to wear the hat. I attempted to flirt with the check out girl in hopes she would not wring up the hat but oh no, in the bag it went.

Possibly a Southpaw????

Mommy and Daddy have noticed for some time I tend to use my left hand more than my right. I have been working on feeding myself for a while now and always do a better job when using my left hand. I know, I know there is certainly a bit of a mess with the couscous but you should see the aftermath when yogurt is on the menu. :)

Saturday afternoon fun...

Yesterday was alot of fun at Playtime Village! Not only did Daddy get to check the place out but Steve from the New Haven Symphony Orchestra was there with instruments. As you will see in video # 2, I was ready to sneak out with the borrowed maraca. :)

A great place to play (check me out in action too...)

Mommy had promised a day at the park today but rain put a damper on that, however, Mommy saved the day. We had the greatest time at a place called Playtime Village. I can't wait to take Daddy!

Free estimates for Fall cleanup....

I've got my rake if you've got the leaves. Mommy is not convinced anything other than sillyness was accomplished but we had a good time.

A great visit with DiDi & Grandaddy

Wow, what a great visit I had this past week with my DiDi and Grandaddy. We certainly had an action packed week but as you will see, they enjoyed every minute. I am so glad they were able to join in on all my weekly activities. We went to music, gym, the aquarium, a Halloween party and trick or treating. Check out Grandaddy in music class and DiDi in gym class... Mommy had the video going. :):):)

A Halloween Party

What a fun filled week it has been! This week Charlotte and Hayley's mommies turned our playgroup fun into a spooky Halloween gathering. Check out just how great all the costumes are. DiDi & Grandaddy were so excited to join the festivities.

Trick or treat!

Lions, zebras and giraffes OH MY!!!! We just returned from a spin around the neighborhood and my bag is full of treats. On a side note, Mommy has desperately been trying to get me to wear the spooky glasses but Luey & KoKo were more cooperative than me.

Boo at the Zoo

This entry is a little late but Mommy did not want to skip it. We have had a very busy week with many Halloween events and this one was a really fun one. Me and Mia had a great time checking out all the costumes, dancing and just running around. I think Mia really looks sharp as a cowgirl. :)

A visit with DiDi & Grandaddy

I am having such a great week! DiDi & Grandaddy are here from Tennessee giving me all kinds of love and attention. I think they are really enjoying all my toys, truth be known.

My first circus

I had a big day today!!! Mommy and Daddy took me to the circus, it was a fantastic time. As you can see, I met up with my friend Charlotte. Her mommy and daddy brought her to the circus too.

An artist at work! Check me out in action in the video at the end

I am getting into this coloring thing more and more. I do enjoy the taste of the crayons, or maybe I like hearing Mommy say "NO MOUTH" over and over. :)

Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins!

This weekend was so much fun, we attended the PUMPKIN FESTIVAL at Boothe Park. Mommy and Daddy were pretty impressed with the talent of some of the pumkin carvers. I was impressed with running around like a wild man. It was such a beautiful day, we even got to see several wedding parties taking advantage of the beautiful fall foliage. I am still trying to decide who had more fun at the playground, me or Mommy. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!!!

You may be wondering why I am grinning ear to ear in these pics... Actually I am singing Happy Birthday to Daddy. I may not know the words but I am certainly making an attempt (along with Mommy).

Enjoying the Fall season

Mommy and me played outside almost all day today....

Mommy & Me hosted playgroup today

How lucky am I... Today Aidan K., Aidan C., Charlotte, Ella, Emma, Hayley & Mia all came to my house to play. All the Mommies were here too of course, but I think the kiddies enjoyed the toys more. :)

15 months old today

Good morning, we are up early and getting ready for gym class. Actually I am a bit sad this morning b/c Daddy is taking Nana back to the airport. We have had such a great time together and done so many fun things. I am really going to miss you Nana.

A side note: I weighed 23 pounds/8 ounces and I am 32" tall. I went to the pediatrician on Monday for the 15 month appointment. All was good and I made a quick recovery from the flu vaccine and MMR.
Mommy is extremely busy so this is about it for today.

"Who let the dogs out"?!?!

What a great weekend I am having! My Nana is here from TN and we are doing lots of fun things. These pics are from our annual dog walk held in Stratford. Luey & KoKo were very well behaved and the beautiful fall weather made the day extra great. I am pretty sure I got to pet almost every dog in attendance.

BIG "helper"

Be careful what you wish for... Mommy has been talking about how she could use a little help around the house, but Apparently Daddy does not always put things away in the proper place when he unloads the dishwasher. Stand back, I got this!

Fall is in the air...

...and at our home.

Little Pumpkin

Happy Birthday Mommy (a day late)

Daddy and me wanted to raise a cupcake to Mommy. We love you and hope the next year is full of good times!

Apple picking...

Today was alot of fun, we all went apple picking at Silverman's Farm. Everyone enjoyed wagon rides(well okay so perhaps one of us was not so into the wagon but I will not name names) picking apples and an early birthday celebration for Mommy. How nice was that, all the kiddies and Mommy's brought cupcakes for the group in honor of MY Mommy's birthday tomorrow. Thanks to everyone!!

Happy Birthday KoKo

Today is KoKo's 5th birthday and as you can see we celebrated. KoKo got a special bone and simply would not share with me. Luckily Luey got one too and was willing to give me a taste until Mommy put an end to that. I am a bit confused b/c earlier today at a playdate all Mommy talked about was "share Chandler share". Anyway, Happy birthday little KoKo, we love you!

Fairwell to Yves (until Thanksgiving)

Yesterday we spent the day in Manhattan saying good-bye to a good Buddy. Yves is moving to Texas and he will definitely be missed. We are happy that he will most likely be back for Thanksgiving. :)

Rain, rain go away.....

We are a little tired of the wet weather but the new additions to my wardrobe are finally getting put to good use. GiGi and Poppy bought me these Peter Beaton wellies while in Nantucket and between tropical depression Kyle and the nor'easter that is upon us they are coming in handy. In all honesty, I am certainly finding it a challenge to walk in them. Mommy keeps saying they are a bit heavy and is finding amusement in my struggles.

A little red wagon...

Mommy sort of combined some pics but what I really wanted to show off is my new wagon. Notice in the pictures I helped Daddy with the tools used to put it together. Once together Mommy & Daddy strongly encouraged me to PULL the wagon but I had other ideas.

Can you think of a better way to spend the last day of Summer?

Check it out, me and my peeps all attended our 1st baseball game yesterday. We enjoyed watching the Bridgeport Bluefish finish off the Long Island Ducks. Charlotte, Aidan and I all surprised our Mommy's and Daddy's by lasting til the end. I am certainly up for more baseball games in the future, between the action, music, snacks and friends, what's not to love about a day at the ballpark.

Lunch at the beach with friends

Charlotte, Aidan and I enjoyed running from the waves, having a bite of lunch and playing in the sand on Friday after music class.

AVAST!! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

"It's Football time in Tennessee"

Okay, so the title is a famous quote but it is apparently just something you say. I may be all the way in Connecticut but my Poppy keeps me in the know as far as SEC football is concerned. My outfit is in full support of the VOLS!

Fun at home...

14 Months Old today

So, as you can see Mommy could not narrow down which photos to share from my photo shoot. Simply flip through quickly and forgive me, Mommy is my biggest fan. :)



I also thought I would share a 14 month update for those interested.

I now have 16 teeth! Bring on the FILET MIGNON (whatever that is).

My menu has definitely increased, I love cream of wheat, oatmeal, refried beans, cheese quesadilla, salmon, bagels, green beans and couscous. I certainly still love watermelon, bananas and asparagus too.

I am down to 2 bottles of whole milk a day, the rest is in a cup. Mommy is proud of this accomplishment.

I know (and use) a few signs; "more" is my favorite but I also do eat, milk, drink and bath.

Mommy sings "yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy in my tummy" and I pat my tummy (to amuse her). You probably viewed the video a few posts back.

When asked, "Who's Chandler?" I pat my chest and say, "ME"

I will be glad to show you my nose, toes, ears, teeth, fingers and hair if you ask.

I will certainly "Hi or Bye" you to death both by waving and saying the words, strangers and familiar people alike.

Perhaps you also viewed the video of me walking last Sunday, I am mastering it more each day. Daddy calls me a funny word when I walk, I think it is Frankenstein or something. Anybody know what that means?

I love to play with my blocks and I can stack up to 3 tall. I find knocking them down more fun.

I get a big kick out of handing something to someone or receiving something and saying "thank you". The words are not completely clear but Mommy knows what I am saying and says it is very polite.

I continue to have a busy schedule: gym class on Wednesday, music on Fridays, swimming lessons on Saturday and playgroup at least one day a week.



I think that about wraps it up!

Music class has resumed

I am so glad to be back in music class! I was reunited with some old pals(like Ruby who is giving me kisses in one pic), met some new friends and am so happy to be with my best pals: Aidan, Ella, Charlotte and Mia.

A really fun playdate

Today we had a fantastic time at Ella's house. Her Mommy had stations set up for art projects, a really nice lunch and lots of cool toys. As you can see we all had a blast. Unfortunately Mommy dropped the ball when it came to getting pics of us kiddies fingerpainting, maybe it was due to the amount of green paint I smeared all over her. :):):)

A trip to the Fair

This past Sunday we enjoyed a day at the fair in North Haven, CT. I must say my favorite part was the petting zoo, but I am certainly looking forward to riding the rides next year (36" was the rule).

Happy Grandparent's Day!!!!

I am sending big hugs and kisses to Mamaw, GiGi & Poppy, DiDi & Grandaddy and Nana. All 3 of us miss and love you all very much. PS-Mommy and Daddy do too.

Speaking of practicing...

I am on the move this morning. For the past 2 weeks I have been willing to take a few steps but I have my "A Game" on today!!

Practice makes perfect (or so I hear)

1st day of the Fall semester

I am so glad gym class has resumed. I met new people and tried some new skills today. I clearly need to work on hanging from the bar, I am pretty sure if Miss Kassy had not been there things would not have ended well. Another highlight from yesterday was that I took 6 steps! Maybe gym class inspired me. :)

Showing off

Do I really have enough hair(finally) to have "bedhead"?

Happy 1st Birthday Mia!!

Yesterday we all joined together in a 1st birthday celebration for my very special friend Mia. We played outside with Lue (the entertainer), he brought a parachute which is one of my most favorite things. It is official, all my friends are now 1.

A day at the zoo

Mommy, me, Charlotte and her mommy all had a fun time at The Beardsley Zoo today. I was most excited about the special bird show. We got to see birds of prey, birds that talk and sing and birds with many colors. We stopped in for a bite to eat at the Peacock Cafe, check out the great picture of a real peacock. I had such a great time, Charlotte and I enjoyed the tigers, lynx, bears and bison alike. Another fun moment was the ride on the carousel!

Innocent mischief

No real need for explanation here, but Mommy would love to explain the last picture. She found it very funny that I simply closed the door to my mess and made an attempt to sneak away.