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).