T-shirt reads "Party, my crib, 3 am"

Hi,

Well, it has been another month! I am such a big boy now... looking forward to cracking the big 22 lbs (10 kgs) and wearing big boy clothes. My mom and dad decided that now I am big enough just to wear separates: no more onsies (at least during the day; I think I will keep wearing them at night for a while longer). I fit 18-month old clothes; well the pants are a bit long, but the waist and the arms fit just right!

I also have 4 teeth and 2 on the way!!! I can't believe it.

I got a new tub: it is an inflatable duck that quacks if you squeeze the beak. I have to say, I bet I have the coolest tub of all the kids in my class!


My Abuelo and Grandma came out to visit. It was great to see them and take them to the park near my house. I think that they really enjoyed these outings all around my neighborhood. As you can see below, I am a big boy now and can even sit in the swing all on my own!



My parents took me to the California Academy of Sciences in SF. I got to go to the roof this time and saw a green roof in action. I'll have to ask my cousin Rob more about green roofs when I get older.





My mom is trying to teach me to say "mama". So, if I want her to pick me up, I need to say "mama". Hmm... maybe it is working...



As you can see, I really love to stand. My activity table is great and can speak both English and Spanish. There is nothing my parents love more than to listen to the tinny chimes of my toys twice in different languages each time.

My mom is also teaching me about Starbucks; I think we may start making a trip there on the weekends when I wake-up early to let Daddy sleep. I really like their paper products (I am too young for their beverages, but the cups make a great toy). On the way home I learned about not littering: I can't just drop the cup once I am done with it.


Until next time,

Gabe
(the big boy with the 4, and soon to be 6, teeth)

Months 7 and 8: reaching for the stars (or whichever shiny object I can see)

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since I had time to write my blog. My parents have been keeping me very busy with new toys and trips. Below you can see the play mat that my parents got me - I think that my mom must be trying to make everything educational as even my mat has the alphabet and numbers on it!


One skill of note - I learned to use a straw. Yes, I can now use a sippy cup with a straw. Again, my mom read somewhere that the straws were better for oral motor development and speech and so no sippy spouts for me - I have to learn while I drink!


In addition to my new drinking skills, I graduated from my old stroller / car seat. Yep, I am too big for it. So now I have a great new stroller ride. Below I am channeling my mom's Philly side while chillin' on the way to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.


I got to see an albino alligator and lots of other cool animals up close.




I have also gotten really good at bath time. Now I try to help my daddy clean me up by trying to stand while in the tub. Since standing in the tub is not safe, my parents got me a couple of rubber duckies to distract me while my dad keeps me from becoming the stinky kid in class.


We went to Lake Tahoe for the long holiday weekend. I really enjoyed my time at the lake.


There are such pretty views, especially from the lookout off Mt. Rose highway.


At Emrald Bay in the south you can see a castle on an island. It is actually a tea house, but it still looks really cool!


When I was done with all my sightseeing, it was time to rest on the beach with my daddy. He can be a great wind shield from the cool breezes coming off the lake.





Right after my trip to Tahoe I went to Orlando with my mom. I got to see my abuelitos (great-grandparent) there. I had a great time with them for a day.


I also just got to meet my grandaddy on my dad's side. I impressed him with my singing and dancing routine, though to see it, you'll have the buy the authorized DVD of the theatrical production.

Even though I am pretty shy about them, you may notice that I now have some teeth. Here is a picture of my two front bottom teeth when they were just nubs.



I will write more later.

Take care,
Gabe

Month 6: If I can grab it, I should taste it

It has taken me a a while to write my blog, but I pulled an all-nighter and did it!


The past month has been very busy. I turn 7 months tomorrow: in these last 7 months I have gained over 12 lbs, grown over 8 inches in height, learned to coo and babble, and figured out how to sit while I play.

I have also had non-stop colds - mostly because if I can grab something, I must taste it! After all, what is exploring the world without a taste test along the way?

Oh, and I like making little fart like noises - whether they come from my mouth or my bottom!

Of course, when there is nothing else to put in my mouth, my toes hit the spot!

Last weekend I went to Yosemite with my parents. I got to see the falls and go on lots of little hikes with my parents.




I even got a book at the general store: "Who Pooped in the Park" - now I know how to tell which animals have been nearby recently.

Oh, and I really, really want to learn how to stand and to walk.

And when my parents get tired, I play in my jumperoo!


Oh, and I am still eating like a champ - one solid meal a day! Once I develop my pincer grasp I can eat more - because then I can feed myself!!


Till next time,
Gabe

Month 5 week 3: Starting Real Solids - Mmm, mmm sweet potatoes

I have hit several developmental milestones: I can roll-over, I can sit-up for brief periods (very brief), and I can get my toes into my mouth!

Me sitting (my mom likes to spot me while I sit):

Me trying to get my toes in my mouth:

Well, my parents went wild and decided to start me on solids a couple weeks early. My mom has a trip the second week of March, and so she wants me eating well while I hang out with dad in the evening.

My parents got me a nice highchair so that I have a place to sit and eat. Now I am king of all that I see from this new throne!

I really enjoyed the sweet potatoes - mostly I liked trying to feed myself. My parents are going to get me a smaller spoon that I can use to feed myself (although, I may prefer my hands).

At first I was not sure what to make of the sweet potatoes:

But then I figured it out and decided that I liked to feed myself.

Well, until next time - Gabe.

Months 4 - 5.5: Starting school and learning lots

After returning home from our holiday trips out East, I got to start school. At first it was difficult - I missed my parents! But after a while I got to figure out that even though I miss my mom and dad, there are nice teachers and lots of new friends to make at school.

I am getting really big now and have done tons of fun things. On getting big - at 5 months old I weigh over 17 lbs!!!

I really enjoy the buggy rides at school - the buggies have seats for 6-8 of us little guys!! Sometimes I fall asleep, but mostly I stay awake and enjoy the ride around the play yard.

I have also become quite the artist - I colored my first picture a couple of weeks ago. The teachers were sooo brave - they let me use a marker - and I have the photos to prove it! At first I tried to eat the marker, but then once I realized I could draw, I did that instead.


My dad is brave too. He lets me ride leopards and polar bears (Christmas presents from my grandad in Illinois). I wonder if he did that when he was a little guy like me?

Oh, I got my first try at "solids" too.


No, not a leather chair - although I did try to taste it... My mom and dad made me a mommy's milk slushy. They went the make-it-at-home route instead of heading out to Quicky Mart and buying one from Apu - something about it being healthier, plus trying to help me avoid allergies . I really liked it. I think I like the feed myself option - especially when there is a spoon that I can chew on!




I love to play with my toys as well. At school they have lots of neat toys that I can play with:


And at home I have a huge selection of toys as well. I really like to grab things - be it toys, my parents hands or long hair!

Oh, and I am getting ready to crawl - just give me a couple of weeks more and I will figure it out. I see all the big kids in school doing it, so I am sure that I can figure it out too! Until next time,

Gabe