Sblog (Straffin Weblog)

New Look for a New Year!

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 20:25:57 -0500

It’s been a long time coming, but Wesley had his first haircut on New Year’s Day! Just when you thought he could not get any cuter... Wesley puts the “able” in “adorable!” Hard to believe he’ll be one year old in just a few short days. Keep checking back for birthday photos!
In the time since my last post, Wesley has mastered crawling, standing up, and devouring Ritz crackers!
Also he had his first Thanksgiving, with both families at the house, and his first Christmas. He also experienced his first Election Day apathy! We try to be good voters, but we were really tired that day. We’ll try to set a better example so he’ll be excited about voting for Chelsea Clinton in 2028!
Anyway, check the picture pages for holiday photos, and future birthday photos. Meanwhile, here’s a little bit of Wes getting his haircut! (He was such a good boy!)

We’re back!!!

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:00:35 -0400

Well, we didn’t actually go anywhere. Um, although, we’ve been lots of places since the last post, I just haven’t been telling you about it. Shame on me. I’ll try to do better, I promise.
In the last few months, Wesley has taken to eating cereal and baby food, he’s been sick (TWICE!), and he’s just now starting to crawl!!! Right now he crawls on his belly like an Army man, so it won’t be long until he’s on all fours, tearing around the house!
Check it out:

Oh yeah, I’ve also started putting my YouTube account to good use. And who knows, maybe our baby will become the next internet phenomenon some day.
Just bear with me while I get the hang of the formatting. The site will get better as iWeb gets better.
Also, check out the new and improved picture pages page. I’m still getting the hang of that too, but it’s much easier for me to upload photos and organize albums now, so expect more frequent updates there too.
Wish me luck, and thanks for coming back!

Sblog summer: the abridged version.

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:57:29 -0400

OK, we’ve established many times what a terrible blogger I am. Don’t let that be a reflection of how I feel about my family and friends. I love my family and friends. You could even say that we have been having so much fun with our family and friends that I haven’t had any spare time to update the Sblog. Yeah, let’s say that.
Let’s start back in May... our great friends Jason and Heather Logue (of Blogue fame) came for a visit along with their then 11 month old son, Graham. We had a great time, had some great beers, as well as the best burgers that have ever come off the Straffin grill! And then Graham puked on himself. Party’s over.
 Graham, Jason, and Matt
In June... a bunch of other stuff happened. Such as, our neighbors, The Phillips, moving to Germany. They had a real kick butt going away party. Wesley slept through most of it, and I drank several beers and let the moon bounce get the best of me! Of course there are no pics of this event, only the ones locked in my memory banks. But here is a photo of Claudia Phillips and kids, Avi and Jasha, with Wesley.

Also in June, we took Wesley on his first big road trip to Durham, NC to visit his Uncle John and Aunt Shannon and cousins Emily and Amanda. The whole Straffin clan was there including Grandma and Grandpa, and Aunt Jill and Uncle Don. Emily had a big ballet recital which was great, but Wes was not fond of the music - as soon as the first song blared, he turned red and started bawling. Guess he’s not a big fan of the arts. We were also there to celebrate Amanda’s 7th birthday. Presents were given, cake was eaten and everybody there got turned into a character on the Nintendo Wii - even Wesley!
 Aunt Jilly feeding Wes in Durham
Wesley continues to amaze and astound (and amuse). We introduced him to his “Jolly Jumper” recently and it’s a HIT! Even though he can’t walk yet, Wes can jump like a champ! Check out this recent footage:

Toward the end of June, Wesley went to see the Washington Nationals, his first baseball game! He liked it so much, we took him to see the Orioles one week later! He fussed a few times during the game, but all in all, I think he enjoyed it! And everyone at the O’s game thought Wes was so cute! To quote one drunken twenty-something young man, “That kid is cute as S***!” Um.. thanks?
 Wesley and our friend Natalie at the Nat’s game
Finally, to cap June off with a BANG, we attended the annual Logue 4th of July party in Bedford, PA, which was a blast, as always. Wes tried swimming in the Logue’s pool with his daddy. Not quite as warm as the bathtub, the water in the pool was a bit too cold for Wes, who proceeded to scream in daddy’s ear.

Now were up to July. We drove to Pittsburgh to party with our friends Grant and Julie Matthews on their daughter Sophia’s first birthday. Nothing better than watching a one year old devour a cake with her bare hands. Good stuff.
After that we headed up to DuBois for a long weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Straffin. Wes got to spend some quality time with his Great Grandma Wilson and he finally got to meet his great grandparents Jack and Evelyn Wallish. Boy, did they have a great time with him!
Wes also took his very first boat ride! Grandpa even let him steer!

Overall it’s been a good summer for the Straffins. Check out our picture pages for more summer fun and lot’s of “cute as s***” photos!

Help Me! My parents are CRAZY!

Wed, 16 May 2007 22:16:51 -0400

So, by now you know these blog entries are few and far between... so enjoy this one as much as possible, as the next one may have photos of Wesley’s high school graduation! It’s been so long since the last entry, he’s already started drinking! (see above) But seriously, that was a special onesie that I made especially for the Maryland Brewer’s Springfest in Frederick, MD last week. Now everybody’s suspicions have been confirmed... we’re bad parents. Don’t worry, Wes only drank four ounces... of formula. You don’t really think we’d let him drink BEER, do you? Please. Not until he turns ten!
Another milestone came last month, when daddy had an impulsive moment at the mall, and bought Wes his first pair of VANS! (See video below - requires Quicktime.)

Pretty sweet, huh. I’m coming to the sad realization that I’m not the coolest guy in the house anymore. It’s also becoming apparent, as Wes gets older and bigger, that he gets all of his good looks from mommy!

Like two peas in a pod, those two are. That’s OK... I think the dog looks more like me! (photo to come.)
Wesley has also been getting used to his Bumbo baby seat. However, he tends to lean to one side, like a straight up gangsta!

Word. Wes had his four month checkup last week, and he’s in the 90th percentile for length! (Or height, depending on how you’re holding him.) Here’s the latest stats on our little all star: Age, 4 mo. 10 days; Length, 23 inches; Weight, 15 lbs. 12 oz.; Belly - BIG; Head - HUGE! This kid is not wasting any time catching up. Just wait until I post the SIXTH MONTH PHOTO TIMELINE! Sorry, you’ll have to wait.
There’s been no shortage of excitement this month... aside from the beer festival, Wes has been to the park a few times, he’s taken lots of walks with mommy, daddy, and his brother, Radley, and he’s seen lots of friends and family. One big event this month: Wesley finally met his Great Grandma Wilson! (That’s his dad’s dad’s mom.) He sure had a great time too - check out this pic!

And finally, on mother’s day, he got to spend some more quality time with Grandma and Grandpa Wilsker, Aunt Debbie, and Uncle Sam. They love to love our little guy!

Until the next blog entry there are a ton of new photos on the picture pages page, and keep an eye out for a video page coming soon. Let me know if you have any ideas for a clever name for that one... all I can think of is “Video Page”. Pretty clever, huh?

Long time, no blog. (Wes at 3 months!)

Sat, 7 Apr 2007 23:22:48 -0400

Well, much has happened in the last month since the last blog entry...
First, Wes became allergic to his formula, so we had to try a couple other options. He’s now on the soy based stuff, so he can consider himself a “vegan.” All the cool babies are doing it! However, it gives him a mean case of baby acne, so none of the little girl babies will give him the time of day. Not to mention it makes him poop infrequently. But don’t mention it to him, he gets embarrassed.
Somewhere in there was St. Patrick’s Day. We went to see the parade in downtown Baltimore. That was fun. Then, on the 17th, mommy and daddy took Wes to his favorite bar, DuClaw Brewing Co. in Fell’s Point. Daddy gets preferential treatment there for some reason. Mommy and daddy had some “Celtic Fury” Irish Stout, and Wes had the usual - Similac.
Barb’s parents came for a visit or two (along with Uncle Sam). Aunt Jilly came for a long awaited visit. And Aunt Debbie has been baby-sitting a few times. Not because we had special plans necessarily, but just because she loves hanging out with her nephew. Although, she did cover for us so we could go see Spamalot. It was much better than Cats. We’re going to see it again and again. But seriously, Spamalot is very funny.
And as of this past Friday, Wesley is three months and 12 1/4 pounds! Hard to believe that such a short time ago, he was a little nugget, not even five pounds heavy! (See before photos.) Here’s to the next three months... three years... three decades... but let’s not get too far ahead.
Oh, tonight, Wes is going to try to sleep in his crib... in his very own room! We’ll see how that goes. I’ll keep you posted. For real.
Check out the THREE new picture pages on the picture pages page!
Oh... and Wesley is developing quite the hairdo! We don’t give him any “product” - we swear! He looks like a baby Morrissey! Could he be the real father? Hmmm... somehow I doubt it.