Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Fun with food

I've recently started eating solid foods, and I think I've done pretty well. For some reason my mommy and daddy laugh a bit after I take a bite sometimes. Something about a "monkey face", but I have no idea what they are talking about.


Friday, July 24, 2009

Peek-a-boo!

Me and my blankie...



I am now six months old. I can roll over both ways, sit up (for a little while) and tonight I get my first taste of solid food (rice cereal). I'll be sure to update how that goes, but I'm sure I'll like it. Milk tastes fine, but imagine eating the same meal everyday for six months!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Whew!

I've been busy this last week. Here are the updates:
  • After going to my first baseball game last Friday, mommy & daddy moved me to my own room. I like my new bed- much more room to move around on. Mommy and daddy slept in the room next to mine for the first few nights but then moved back to their room. But I still see them a couple times a night, especially when I need my "paci" put back in my mouth.
  • Yesterday I went to the doctor for my four-month check-up. I measured in at 25" long, so I'm up 4-5" since being born. I now weigh 13 pounds 12 ounces, almost 6 pounds up from my birth weight. I was happy at the doctor office at first, and then I was stuck twice in both legs. I did not like that.
  • Also this week I rolled over from back to belly and then belly to back for mommy and daddy. The doctor said that most babies don't roll from back to belly until about 6 months old. But then again, I am not "most babies". ;)
It seems everyone likes the pictures of me, so here is another recent photo of me doing my excited dance:

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Take me out to the ballgame

Mommy and daddy took me to my first baseball game. I had a really good time during the parts of the game I was awake for. Sometimes when all the people would start cheering the noise would startle me, but I'm looking forward to going back someday. The Reds beat the Indians 3-1. Here are some pictures we took.

Here I am taking in the action:


And here I am with some strange looking guy. (Oh, and mommy and Mr. Redlegs.) :


And here we are in front of the Big Red Machine mural:

Friday, May 8, 2009

Cowboy Up

Here is another picture from my three month photo shoot. (I'm the one on the left.)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Hanging with my boys

Here is a picture from my three month photos. THis time mommy and daddy let me bring my friends to get their pictures too. I don't know how Buzz and Woody did it. They never blinked once!

Friday, May 1, 2009

I'm dedicated.

Last weekend, my mommy and daddy took me to church to be dedicated. I am confused by what that means, and I think mommy and daddy are too. They said they will introduce me to their friend Jesus, who will lead me to God. Maybe I can ask one of them what it means.

Meanwhile, here is video of the event:
http://vimeo.com/4378320

Monday, April 13, 2009

My Easter finest

The Easter bunny brought me a fancy new outfit to wear. I really like it, because when I wear it everyone keeps telling me how cute I am.


Look how happy new clothes make me! (I get that from mommy, I think.)



More from Opening Day

Here are a few more shots of me hanging out with my grandparents while mommy & daddy froze during Opening Day...







Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play!

Yesterday was Opening Day here in Cincinnati, and apparently it is a pretty big deal here. I was all dressed up and ready to go but mommy and daddy decided not to take me. (Something about being 38 degrees, windy and raining ice....excuses, excuses.)

So now I have to wait until later in the season for my first baseball game. I can't wait! I love to turn and watch the television when baseball is on.

Meanwhile, here is a picture of me in my snazzy baseball outfit. (Red is my color, no?)

Thursday, March 26, 2009

How to get anything you want in 3 easy steps

Step 1
First, you have to make eye contact to make sure you have your parents full attention. No sense in putting on a show if nobody is watching. Once you have locked eyes with an unsuspecting mommy or daddy, move on to Step 2.

Step 2
When your mommy or daddy starts to talk to you (they always do) start to slowly curl the sides of your mouth up. While you are doing this, it is important not to lose eye contact. At this point, the insides of your mommy/daddy will begin to melt and soften up, the perfect time to unleash Step 3.

Step 3
The icing on the cake. Give mommy or daddy a big smile, opening your mouth wide. If you really want to pour it on, give a little coo or happy shriek. They eat that stuff up. Now, you will get anything you desire. At least that has been my experience.


Hope you've enjoyed my advice. If you have a question, email me at caseymichaelking@gmail.com.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Sunday, March 8, 2009

A little "me time"

Today I decided to devote some time to myself. I've been working hard lately. Lots of lifting my head to exercise my neck, practicing my random noises, and sleep training (I'm up to 4 or 5 consecutive hours of sleep a night!).

So I thought it may be nice to pamper myself and relax.

First, I headed to Carter's to pick up some season and size appropriate outfits. The drive there was so long, though, that I had to rest while mommy and daddy picked out the clothes.

After dinner (milk again) I vedged out in front of the telly. I watched some of the World Baseball Classic with dad (go USA!) before heading to bed.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Doctor NO!

It was time for my one-month check-up, so daddy took me to the doctor. (Mommy was recovering from her surgery.) First, I was weighed- 10 pounds 3 ounces. (Over two pounds gained in a month.) Then, I was measured- 22 inches long. Next, the doctor listened to my heart and lungs, and said I was very healthy.



After that things went downhill. The nurse took my temperature in a not-too-comfortable way. But that was nothing compared to what was coming.

The nurse grabbed my leg and then stuck me with a gigantic needle. It hurt so bad!

Luckily, daddy was there to make me feel better.

Whew! What a day! I'm so glad that my vaccination is over. I don't want to go through that again. Can you imagine if I had to go through that over and over for the first year of my life?!

Friday, February 20, 2009

What's in a name?

I wanted to take a moment to explain where Cathy & I came up with the name Casey for our first child. It has to do with, of all things, baseball. Or more specifically, a baseball player. (And, no, it is not the “Mighty Casey” that struck out that fateful day in Mudville.)

Casey is named after former major leaguer Sean Casey. Sean was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1995, but just before the start of the 1998 season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Dave Burba.

Opening Day in Cincinnati is an event unlike any other, as it practically shuts the city down. Not only was 1998 Sean’s first Opening Day, it was the first time Cathy & I had gone as well (a streak that will continue this year, our 12th straight Opening Day).

A few games later we were back, and Sean had a great night, driving in a couple runs. After the game not only did he sign autographs and talk with the fans, but he actually exited the gated area where the players parked so that he could sign and talk to fans face to face. There were just a few people around Sean that night, as most fans didn’t know who this newcomer was. That would soon change, although Sean’s habit of signing for fans did not.

Sean certainly made a name for himself on the field, especially during the 1999 season in which the Reds were in contention for a playoff spot. Sean hit .332 with 25 homeruns and 99 RBI. But off the field Sean was perhaps even better. “The Mayor”, as he came to be known, showed that he was a different type of ballplayer. Heck, he is a different type of person.

Sean is a gracious, humble, grounded guy, who often does volunteer work with organizations such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Make-A-Wish. He had a reputation among players as being friendly, and would often be seen talking (and talking) to opponents that reached first base.

During his 8 years in Cincinnati, I had a chance to meet with him a few times. I ran a website devoted to him for a while and he left tickets for me at the gate for a game once. The fact that he would often recognize me and even remembered my name blew me away. But that was Sean. I remember a newspaper article about Sean that described how even though he was on the road, he made a point to find and attend church service before a Sunday game. That really made an impression on me.

He was traded from the Reds to the Pirates of his hometown in Pittsburgh in what was a very sad day for many in Cincinnati. We made it a point to get tickets to the first game the Pirates visited Cincinnati and were among the crowd that braved a cold, rainy night to give Sean a standing ovation upon his return to Cincinnati.

After his stint with the Pirates, he went to the Detroit Tigers, where he got the chance to play in the World Series in 2006. He hit two homeruns and batted .529 in the Series, but the Tigers lost to the Cardinals. Then he went to my second favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, as a bench player in 2008.

He was a 3 time All-Star with a lifetime batting average of .302. He played for teams that reached the post-season twice and made over $40 million during his career. But knowing Sean, the professional accomplishment he may be most proud of was winning the Hutch Award in 1999, given to “the player who personifies the spirit, courage and integrity of former manager Fred Hutchinson”. Casey was voted in 2007 as "the friendliest player in baseball" by over 400 fellow players in a Sports Illustrated poll. (He garnered 46% of the vote with the second place player Jim Thome getting only 7%.)

So, when we found out that Cathy was pregnant with a boy, we wanted his name to mean something. I suggested Casey, fully expecting Cathy to resist naming our firstborn after a baseball player. But she knew Sean wasn’t just a ballplayer, but someone that exhibits the type of person we hope Casey grows up to become.

While I was hoping Casey would be born on January 20th and share my birthday, he waited until the following day. It was then that I realized that perhaps Casey knew what he was doing, and wanted to be born on the day that shared the uniform number Sean Casey wore for much of his career: 21.

Just a few days after Casey was born, Sean announced that he was retiring from baseball, citing the lack of a regular starting position. He joined the newly launched MLB Network where, no doubt, he will be the nicest guy on the air.


Friday, February 13, 2009

My parade

At Walt Disney World, they threw a parade in my honor with my parents!



Actually, my first trip isn't until this October. I can't wait!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Me at three weeks

Here is a look at me at three weeks old (today). Since that weird thing on my belly fell off yesterday, I can wear spiffy outfits like this one.


Thursday, February 5, 2009

Two weeks notice

I have been out in the world for two weeks. I get fed every 2 or 3 hours, my parents try to keep me clean and comfortable and I'm not expected to have a job yet. Yep, things are good.

Plus, I am rather handsome, if I say so myself.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Like father...like son?

On the left is January 20, 1978. On the right is January 21, 2009.















Thursday, January 22, 2009

Ready for my close-up





















What a long, strange trip it's been...

At 6:07pm on Wednesday January 21, 2009 I was born.

It was around 7:45am when some of my home leaked out from around me. Little did I know the events that would unfold after that. First, what was left of my home was prodded by a doctor, who told mommy that the rest of the sac was intact. Mommy was sent to the hospital. That's when things got really interesting.

My home keep squeezing together every 3 to 5 minutes. This caused mommy a lot of pain, and it was no picnic for me either. This went on for a few hours, but I didn't want to leave yet. Around 11:00 I saw a stick with a hook at the end of it near me, and then felt the whoosh of all the fluid around me leaving. Mommy was given pitocin that made the squeezing worse, but I wasn't going anywhere.

Around 4:00 mommy's pain was very bad so another doctor gave her an epidural. This made mommy verrrry relaxxxxed. Actually, a little too relaxed. Her blood pressure, and my heartrate, dropped a little while afterwards and this caused a bunch of people to rush into the room. They tossed mommy around and did all sorts of stuff to return it to normal.

The doctor told mommy that I wasn't dropping down enough, and that she could have a c-section if she and daddy wanted. They decided to do this rather than risk any other scares so mommy was taken to a very bright room. In this room the doctor snuck up on me from behind and pulled me out of mommy. It was very bright and very cold. I tried to tell them this but everyone ignored me, and began poking and prodding me.

Finally the moment arrived when I got to meet mommy and daddy in person for the first time. They seem like decent enough people, and seem like they are prepared to be a family. I will be sure to test this over the years. Especially daddy.

I weighed 7 pounds 15 ounces and was just over 21 inches long when I was born. My weight went up a little after mommy fed me. After that mommy, daddy and I were taken to our new room where I met my grandparents and some other family members. They seemed impressed, so whatever I did, I think I did a good job.

After a very long day, I slept most of the night, unlike mommy and daddy. Every little noise I made would bring daddy over to check on me. By morning, I don't know which of us was the more tired.

The last 9 months I've spent a lot of time by myself, growing as a person. I know I still have more growing up to do, but I'm glad I get to share the journey with my parents, family and friends. I will try to be a wonderful gift to my parents, as they gave me the gift of life.

Now, where's daddy? I have a gift in my diaper for him.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Baby it's cold outside

From what I understand the temperature outside of the womb is much, much lower than in here, so I think I'll stick around for awhile. Maybe I'll come out once the temperature hits double digits again.

It is nice and cozy in here. And after mommy's massage today, she is as relaxed as she has been in quite some time. The doctors say I'm due in 5 days, but what do they know? They wear thin green pants and tee shirts every day. (But it would be nice to see my daddy on his birthday. If I don't visit, I may never hear the end of it.)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The waiting game

Yesterday was “doctor day” to check on the status of the pregnancy. Cathy is about 2 cm dilated and 100% thinned out. Casey is already showing his stubborn side, and is sitting sideways (facing the left, I believe). Not a big deal, as the doctor gave Cathy some tips of how to have him do an about face.

Today is 38 weeks, so he could arrive any day now. The doctor says he looks healthy, weighing it at an estimated 8 to 8 ½ lb. Doctor appointments are scheduled on the next two Mondays. If Casey hasn’t arrived by week 40, it may be time to talk about scheduling a C-section, especially if he hasn’t turned around.

Over the weekend we had the car seat bases installed in each of our vehicles (thanks Springdale FD!) and now only need to bag the hospital bag. And then we wait. (And enjoy every minute of sleep we can get now!)