Holidays: Month 3

I took a break for the holidays. I traveled back east and saw some of my grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins! What a lot of family for me to meet.






I would like to point out that it is really cold where my relatives live. Back home in California, right before we left for our trip I could walk around in regular clothes in my Baby Bjorn - when we got out East, it was too cold to go walking most of the time!


My biggest goal personally this year is mobility: first to start crawling and then eventually start walking. In terms of crawling, I can push with my legs, but my arms and back are still trying to build up the strength to help me move along. I will be sure to let everyone know once I figure out this crawling thing.


Over the holidays I got to spend lots of time with my 'rents and just hang out. I really like just resting on my dad's lap and relaxing.

Well, let me detail my adventures as best I can.

I started out the holidays with my parents scrambling around me trying to pack. I did not understand why they did not just want to sleep like I was. We put all of our suitcases into the car and we drove to the airport. Once we got to the airport we had to check-in. Even though I did not have my own seat, I still got a ticket - how cool.

When we went through security everyone thought that I was sooo cute. We got on the airplane and I slept pretty much the whole way (well I ate and then went right back to sleep). We changed planes in Chicago, and while we waited for our next flight we got some breakfast. While my parents were hoping for a quick and easy layover, I decided to give them a little present : a huge dirty diaper that overflowed onto my clothes!!! My poor daddy got stuck with that dirty diaper.

Well we got into Rochester, and I got to meet my mom's side of the family - some for the first time and some for the second. My grandparents are really great - I think that they will spoil me tons over the coming years!

Oh, did I mention that I got to meet my big (1 year old) cousin Eva? She is really great and likes to play - just like me. I hope that I can get big just like her!


I also got to meet my great aunt Mary and my great uncle Matt. They stopped by with my cousins Michael and Jim and their dog Nomsa. What a big boxer dog!

We got to hang out with our Abuelitos and great grandparents - luckily for them my parents took care of the dirty diapers so they got all the fun and none of the dirty work.




There was a Christmas tree in Rochester and I got lots of presents!


I like toys and clothes and so it was perfect. I was a bit tired in the beginning, but I got a second wind and really enjoyed opening the presents.


We left Rochester and went to Philadelphia next. There I got to see my other grandmother again, and I got to meet my aunts and cousins for the first time! My cousins Evan and Hunter are REALLY big! I wonder how long it will take before I get to be as big as they are!

I got to spend time with Bobbie - I think she will be another great source of spoiling in the coming years!



Did I mention Chunk? Yeah - he is the second dog that I got to meet. He is a cute little pug who likes to play.

My aunt Lois was great with holding me and walking me around.

My aunt Jacqueline is really skilled - she could get me to sleep!



We also went into the city one night - I was not well behaved because I was tired, but I made it through the evening (and my parents survived as well).

I got to meet Elizabeth, my mom's best friend as a child and then we met some old friends of the family Violet and Willie. We also saw my great aunt Elaine, great uncle Mike and my cousin Mary Alice. Unfortunately, I cannot find pictures of that.


On our way back to California, we got bumped off our flight. Ugh... 8 hours in the airport.



Then when I got on the airplane it was really hot and my daddy was not sitting next to me. I started crying and kept that up for a good 45 minutes. The woman sitting next to me did not want to trade seats with my dad - what a stupid lady. Eventually between my shrieks and the flight attendant taking pity on my mom, the flight attendant made the lady switch (mind you she only switched from a middle to an aisle.

We made it home and I started day care - I'll post my new adventures soon. Hopefully now that the holidays are over I can get back into the groove of my blog.

Gabe

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.