Week 12: First Thanksgiving

Today was my first Thanksgiving, and although I've only been hanging with my folks a few months, I think I'm what my parents are most thankful for, if I do say so myself.


Here's a video of my parents making the big feast:



OK, so it wasn't quite that bad, but they do owe a debt of gratitude to Greenberg Smoked Turkey and Whole Foods (where I supervised the procurement).

As the weather has gotten colder, my mom has taken advantage of my inability to dress myself by putting me in embarrassing outfits and then taking and posting pictures of me in these vulnerable states.


For now I'll have to resign myself to her silly whims.


But I'm getting bigger and stronger by the day (14.5 - 15 lbs according to the bathroom scale, so I am at least double my birth weight) and won't stand for this much longer.

Anyway, I need to get back to not letting my parents sleep and writing my Christmas wish list.




Till next week,
Gabe

Week 11: Going Places

This week I really got around town. I went up to San Francisco last weekend and went down to San Jose today. While in SF, I got to meet one of my parent's friends from college. In San Jose I visited my dad at work.

On the way to San Jose I was good: I slept and payed with my firefly toy. Once we got to my dad's office I got to meet all his colleagues. Everyone said I looked just like my dad. If everyone agrees, I guess it must be true!



We went out for Vietnamese food for lunch. It was really good and there were other babies eating there too. So, when I got a bit fussy I did not bother too many people. I saw the chopsticks on the table, and I think I will learn to use those as well as the fork and knife. Perhaps my cousin Eva can teach me over the holidays.


After lunch we went back to the office to see some colleagues of my dad's who had left for lunch before I arrived. One of them had a cute SunWize hat that I got to wear. I think I should be the new company spokesperson or mascot. I can clearly get attention for them since I am so cute!


I have also gone on a walk almost every day this week to Starbucks, although I have actually only gone in the cafe twice. All the other times we skipped the store because the line was too long or I was too fussy. I really enjoy the walks in my stroller, especially when I have my firefly toy to entertain me. The firefly toy has all different colors on one side and bold black-and-white patterns on the other. It has a ton of different textures - some pieces are crinkly, some are soft, some rattle, and some squeak.


I went with my mom to the baby store, and I got this great seat. It helps me sit-up. I really like to sit and read books with my mom. I feel like such a big boy when I sit in the chair.


Here is some more video - I have started lifting my head forward when lying down. I try to escape my car seat sometimes using this new found skill.



Till next week, Gabe

Week 10 - I'm a big boy!

Well, I had my 2 month check-up on Monday. I have grown a ton - I am now 13.5 lbs! Even better than that the doctor was super impressed with my head and neck control. I can hold my head-up and look around and there is no flopping around at all (even more impressive since I have a big head for my age - over the 70th percentile). I use this skill to go on walks in my Baby Bjorn carrier. I never want to face in like a little baby, I want to look out at the world like a big kid.



At my doctor's appointment I also got my immunizations. So many things to be vaccinated for: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Pneumococus, Hib, and Rotovirus. Luckily my doctor had combo shots where I only had to get 2 needles instead of 5 (rotovirus is oral, and supposedly tastes like grapes, but never having had grapes before I am not so sure about that). The nurse was really fast, and I only cried for about 15 seconds, since my mom picked me up right away and held me close right after I got the shots.

I have gotten really vocal and enjoy my mom reading to me: this books was all about colors and objects. I really like the book and would like to some day read it on my own. Until then I will just add commentary to it as my mom reads.



I also like to just coo on my own as well.




I am heading back up into the city tomorrow for the first time since I was born. That should be fun - I will add pictures from that adventure tomorrow.

Till then, Gabe.

My photographer did not get any pictures of me in the city, but did get me in one of my new college T-shirts. Guess my abuelo (grandfather) will be happy that the Haverford shirt looks so good on me.

Weeks 8 and 9: Self-Awareness

I am back to writing my blog. Here goes my reminiscing about the past two weeks:


The past couple of weeks have been very busy. I have become much more self-aware. Yes, that means now I have become more demanding: I notice when I have to poop and that means I grunt and fuss because I am still figuring out how everything works (not constipated, just figuring out all these body functions). I also have a harder time staying asleep because when I have my light sleep periods, I get so interested in the world around me that I just can't stand to stay asleep.


One fun thing I got to do is wear a Halloween costume. I was a sock monkey and I really made the outfit shine - if I do say so myself. Halloween was very busy since lots of kids stopped by the house and my parents gave them candy. Unfortunately, mom and dad would not give me any candy:( Guess I will have to wait a year or two before I can partake of the sugar bounty of Halloween. I did not make a jack-o-lantern, but we did have a couple of pumpkins to decorate the front stoop. Next year I think I will make a jack-o-lantern to decorate our house.



I have really perfected the smile. I love to smile and be cute, but I try to hide it from the cameras. I coo and gurgle a lot as well. So when my parents are really lucky, I give them the triple whammy: smile, coo and gurgle all together. I smile and coo while bouncing on my dad's leg and looking out at the world.


I have also started making bubbles - in my sleep. Sometimes they can get really big, but every time my mom tries to take a picture of one, I pop it before she can get to the camera.


I have started enjoying bath time much more. I kick and splash and generally enjoy the water - except when I first get in. Then it just feels strange and I let my parents know that by crying, but within 20 seconds I stop crying and start splashing. Usually I smile and make more noises, but today I was a bit quieter in the bath - I was a bit camera shy. I am sure my parents will persist and get more video of my cooing and smiling (bath time or not).

Week 7: Growth Spurt! I'm a big boy now!

Well, I had another growth spurt this week. First I wanted to eat all the time and fussed quite a bit (especially when my milk did not flow as fast as I wanted). Today I finally settled down and have started to sleep more. Typical growth spurt - eat like a maniac and then sleep a lot. I need the food to fuel the growth and the sleep to actually grow.

The growth spurt has already had an effect - I have outgrown my newborn clothes - now I no longer fit the 0-3 month clothes, I need 3 month + sizes!! My parents estimate I am 12.5 to 13 lbs at this point. Hopefully I can finish off my size 1 pampers (up to 14 lbs) before I get too big for them. Given my preference to make lots of messes in my pants, this should be no problem.

Earlier in the week I went with my parents to the park. This is the park with the donkey who modeled for the animators of Shrek. There is a great donkey ride at the park and my dad even held me while I got to try it.


Yes, "Donkey" lives in my neighborhood. Luckily his lady friend "Dragon" keeps her home elsewhere, especially since California is in a drought and has a high fire hazard.

With all these growth spurts, it makes me want to look back to the beginning and how little I was. I had such a cute little pterodactyl noises while I slept on my dad's lap.



I could hardly fill out the head rest in my car seat when I first came home. Now it is almost too small. It is amazing how quickly and how much I have grown these past 7 weeks. I am such a big boy now!

Weeks 5 and 6: Exploring

I am back to writing my blog. I had so much fun with my visitors that I got behind on my weekly updates. But don't worry, I am back at the computer and cuter than ever!


These two weeks I have seen so much - and I keep growing - at my doctor visit the Tuesday before last I was already 10 lbs 13.5 oz! WOW! My mom estimates that by now I am about 11 lbs 8 oz -12 lbs (bathroom scale measurement - not as accurate as the doctor, but a nice guesstimate until my next visit).

I got my first shot - for Hep B immunization. I got to wait a month longer than most kids to get for that one, but I could put it off no longer. It really hurt and I cried really loudly and sounded like a wounded lamb when the nurse stuck me. At least she gave my a great little band-aid with cartoons to cover the injection site.

I got to go shopping for veggies and fruits with Bobbie at the farmers market. We had a great time looking though the stalls to find the best organic foods. There was so much to look through it was a bit overwhelming, but I was able to handle it.


We went out to dinner with Bobbie to Chef Chu's the night before she left. I was really great - I got to sleep and everyone else got to eat. I was not as good with my other grandparents - I was up the whole time and my mom had to feed the whole time. I wanted to join in the eating and I could not stand to sleep through another great meal. With Bobbie I only got a fortune cookie - my fortune was " You will continue to be the cutest baby in the world" ;)


I got to spend lots of time with Bobbie, but she had to go home. How sad! On the way to the airport to drop Bobbie off, we stopped at In-N-Out Burger - how yummy. I really enjoyed the milkshake - what a great California fast-food option (obviously I look forward to be able to drinking it for real some day as a special treat).


My parents have told me of a place back east that gives In-N-Out a run for its money - Five Guys -, but I cannot eat there until I am much older because they use peanut oil and have peanuts everywhere (while peanuts are yummy I am sure, to help prevent allergies I have to wait until I am 3 years old at least to start eating them).

After Bobbie left last week, my other grandparents came to visit me. They made sure to bring lots of college wear to help set the seeds early for those schools they really prefer I would attend (Haverford, Oberlin). They really enjoyed holding me and spoiling me lots.


I have also expanded my wardrobe selection. I have gone beyond my traditional onsies to sleepers and sweat suits. Thanks grandparents for these cute outfits! I really like dinosaurs and trucks on my clothes in addition to rainforest animals. My mom also got me a "reindeer jumper" for the holidays, but it is not quite cold enough for me to wear the outfit yet. Keep reading to see the outfit once winter arrives.


I keep working out as well. Tummy time is lots of work, but I am determined to make my neck and arms as strong as possible. I also want to get to crawling as soon as possible. I can scoot myself forward a short distance right now. My legs are really powerful and I need to balance that strength in my arms so I need to keep exercising. I have a really cool frog tummy time set and I have been practicing on that.

Week 4: Milk Drunk

This week I have turbo-charged my eating. I eat pretty frequently, but I can go almost 4 hours sometimes (although I generally choose not to make that stretch at night). I enjoy food so much, that I tend to keep a little memento of my meals on my face to remind me of the great meal I just had. Sometimes it is just a milk goatee, other times I go for the full milk mustache and beard.


My one issue is that I spit-up if I lie down right after eating. To help with this my parents have been putting me in my car seat to sleep - to keep me vertical and avoid excess spit-up. I have figured out my parents' intention with the car seat and so now I give them trouble if I am not fully asleep before they try to buckle me into it.


My parents are going to talk to my doctor and see if a "Tucker Sling" might be useful. This "sling" is a wedge that has a pouch for me to sleep in (sleeping on my back of course), but it would keep me at an angle to reduce spit-up incidents.


Also, I have been spending lots of time with my grandmother Bobbie. She is really great at holding me and giving me baths. Somehow when she gives me a bath I do not fuss as much as when my parents give me one.



I got a new toy last week from my parents' friend Linda - a rain forest bouncy seat. Let me tell you it is quite the baby entertainment center. It bounces, has toys, and has music all for my amusement. I enjoyed my first spin in the seat this afternoon. I think that it just might become my second favorite place to sit (my favorite being my parents' laps).


I have started to hone my sense of fashion - especially since my mom has watched "Project Runway", "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" and "What Not to Wear" with me. I have to say that sunglasses are a definite must out here in California and help me to hide from the prying paparazzi (my parents).

Week 3 - Finding my Stride

I'm starting to get a hang of this 'being alive' thing. From what I can gather, I'm supposed to sleep, eat, make funny noises in my pants, and let everyone hold me. I also like to play the game Chicken with my parents: they try to wait until after I've stopped making funny noises in my pants before changing me, and I try to test the stated capacity of my diapers. Sometimes I'll hold a little back until right after I get a clean diaper and then show my parents they can't beat me at this game. My parents raised the stakes this week by making me take a real bath, but I got dirty right after to let them know that I'm still in charge. I don't like to lose at games, which is something my dad says I get from my mom.

I've been getting a lot of attention when I go out in public. Some woman had the nerve to comment about how small I am. Hah!!! Can't they tell that I'm packing on the ounces and have the big 1-0 in my sights? I've been experimenting with growing a milk mustache or milk beard so people will stop thinking I'm so young, but my parents are always on my case about it and wipe if off.

Week 2 - Growing and meeting family

Well, this week has definitely been one where I have grown - I went from my lowest weight, 6 lbs. 9.5 oz, to 8 lbs 3 oz! I gained almost a pound and a half this week!!! I guess all that eating has really paid off as the rest of my body is catching up with my big feet.



This week my abuelito and abuelita (great grandparents) came to visit. They are really great at holding me and help my mom with watching me during the day. I like to sleep in their arms and I have been really good about not making much of a mess on them (unlike for my parents).


Well, I have been giving my parents just a little bit of trouble. I don't cry too much unless I am hungry - and my mom is good at picking-up my hunger cues before I get to crying. However, for my parents, since I have been a big eater I have been a big dirty diaper maker. One of my funniest dirty diaper moments was last night when my dad went to change me. He had my diaper off and I sneezed. Unfortunately for him, when I sneezed I released more input for my diaper with quite a lot of force. Well, my poor dad had to clean up and get me yet another diaper.

Also, I am not liking sleeping on my own in my own bed, I really like to have my mom close. While my dad is now an expert swaddler, I am much more a fan of sleeping in bed with them than alone next to their bed. My mom is working on getting me to sleep in my co-sleeper. Hopefully tonight I will start - two nights ago I slept there, but last night I was not interested in the co-sleeper at all.

My parents are still unpacking, but my great-grandparents are helping them to finish-up. Hopefully they can get a lot done this weekend with my dad being home. I will let you know next week if my parents can get the house in order with me around.

Until next week, Gabe.

My first week

Hi, my name is Gabriel, but everyone calls me Gabe. I am writing this blog to help my family back East (a place my grandparents want me to visit this winter) keep up-to-date with all my new adventures.

To start, I decided to arrive early. Apparently this impatience comes from my mom, at least that is what my dad says. My parents were watching "Iron Chef America" Bobby Flay vs. Chef Bouche in the battle of Arctic Char. Right before the chefs presented their dishes to the judges, I decided to start my journey by popping the bag of water that surrounded me for all these months. Most babies (90%) like to wait until active labor has started to break the bag, but again, being impatient I decided to stat the process rather than waiting.

My parents were not ready (no bags packed!!! At least they had bought a car seat that evening). Since we had just moved to Palo Alto, my parents had decided to stay with the doctors in San Francisco where we used to live, but it is an hour away. So as my mom tried to figure out how to manage an hour car ride with a leaking bag of water, my dad tried to pack bags. They finally got their act together and headed off to the hospital.

Once my parents arrived at the hospital, they found out that almost every baby in San Francisco decided to arrive at the same time. We had to wait quite a while, first because the doctors had a hard time confirming that I had indeed broken the bag of water and because nearly every room was full.

We finally got into our room and I arrived just after 1 pm on September 5th, just 15 hours after I started the whole process. I was 7 lbs 3 oz., not bad for a baby who decided to arrive 2 weeks early.We left the hospital just 48 hours after I arrived. My mom was busy packing the morning we left when the docs stopped by to do our discharge. The docs thought it was funny that my mom was running around packing so soon after delivery. Apparently the drug free delivery left her buzzed with lots of endorphins so she had more energy than dad! Dad was holding me and on diaper duty while mom packed.

We got home, and I saw for the first time how much unpacking my parents had left to do. I heard about it, but did not believe it. My aunt had come out and helped unpack, so at least there was some stuff not in boxes.

I had my first doctors appointment Monday. My doctor is super nice - she likes to keep the number of shots to a minimum while making sure I get all the vaccinations that I need. I can live with that! The doctor said I was a little jaundiced, but by the end of the week it was pretty much all gone.

I am a really big eater. That means I also make a lot of dirty diapers. My parents are still figuring out how to change me as quickly as possible, which is important because I am very fussy and I have a tendency to spray if my diaper change takes too long.

Overall, I have been pretty low on the crying (lets see if that keeps up), but that is probably because I am eating most of the time I am awake. Well, over and out until next week.