Baby Blog

I'm a Big Kid!

2006-10-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Ever since I learned to take off my pants (the final fence that kept my diaper on) I've spent a lot of time "free range" as Mummy calls it. Mummy tries to give me some time on the toilet when I'm naked, which is fun because we sing songs and she lets me flush the toilet when I'm done.

This morning I took off my diaper right after I pooed. She heard me undo the velcro from the other room and came over to help me put it right back on, but when she saw the load, she praised me for knowing what I did and what came next.

This evening with Daddy he caught me grunting and asked if I was pooing. I said "yes" (admitting it for the first time) and he put me on the toilet. I was able to finish my poo in the toilet! Yes, that's right. I pooed in the toilet!

When Daddy and I went to pick up Mummy from work we proudly told her of my accomplishment. She was very very pleased. She said that this weekend we'll go shopping for my very own toilet seat. Wow! I'm getting all grown up!

Southern at Heart

2006-09-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

Silly woman.

She's been trying -unsuccessfully- for a year to get me to eat meat, especially chicken. She's prepared it a variety of ways but I always turned up my nose at her attempts. I wouldn't have anything to do with it.

Last night, unrelenting, she filled my bowl with barbeque chicken and baked beans. Of course I wouldn't have the beans because those are worse than chicken, but I ate all my chicken and all of her chicken. She was surprised, and too happy to realize she was still hungry.

She must have forgotten. I may have been born in California, but I was made in Virginia!

Babble On, Baby

2006-09-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

This summer has been an explosion of talking for me. Talking's really a lot of fun. Now I'm surprising Mummy with a new word every day, and some real gems, too, like "bum," "elbow," "picture," "hello" (instead of hi,) and "work." Mummy gets super-excited about it. I don't know what the big deal is, she talks all day long.

Fall Into Cleaning

2006-09-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Mummy said something this morning about being tired of living in a hovel. I don't know what she was talking about, I like having all my toys within reach. She cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Some things she put away that I didn't want away, and I had to take them out again, but for the most part I let her do her thing.

After I un-stacked the blocks a few times I got the feeling she needed some alone time so I went upstairs. She knew where I was, it wasn't like I was being sneaky or anything.

I know she doesn't often have time to clean up the bedroom so I decided to make it SeaBreeze fresh. When the bottle was empty I closed it up and returned it to it's proper place in the bathroom (do you see how helpful I am?) When she came upstairs, following her nose, she saw me holding some hair products (do not ask what I had in mind for the root lifter) and promptly took me back downstairs, making sure that the door to her room was properly latched this time.

I'm not sure she realized how grateful she should be that I freshened up her bedroom in the spirit of her cleaning.

I've Got Him Right Where I Want Him

2006-09-04T07:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I woke up at 4:30. Bleary-eyed, Mummy came into my room and cuddled me for a few minutes, explaining that it was still the middle of the night and time to be sleeping. She returned me to my own bed, which I found unacceptable. So I called "Daddy" through my tears in my most pathetic voice.

It took him a few minutes to come, but he came. He chatted with me and took me downstairs for a drink. Finally he did what he knew I wanted all along, and he let me go to bed with him. I stretched and squirmed and kicked my way to comfort until Mummy finally relented and moved to her corner of the foot of the bed.

She didn't say anything to Daddy yesterday about how she felt about what had happened in the night, but he seemed a little sorry that she got shoved to the end of the bed.

This morning I woke up a little after 5. Again Mummy came in and sat with me, then put me back in bed. Again I cried for Daddy and again he came. Again we went downstairs. And finally we went to bed. He tried to keep me close to him so Mummy didn't get kicked out, but I think she's still displeased.

The point is, I know what I want, and I know how to get it.

Old Habit

2006-07-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

I think I've finally quit the stuff, I'm done with mother's milk. I haven't nursed since Monday and I don't think I need to anymore.

In honour of that here's a top five list of the coolest places Mummy fed me:

#5 - at Il Fornaio in Santa Monica
#4 - on the airplane
#3 - in a swimming pool
#2 - at the Dodgers games

and the number one coolest place Mummy nursed me:

#1 - in the car on the freeway

Is she clever or what?!? She did it all while still being modest! Thank you Mummy, for being so patient with me, and for starting me out with the best stuff. They say the next best thing to breastmilk is cupcakes, right?

Dental Hygiene is Important

2006-07-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

I love to brush my teeth. I love to be just like Mummy and Daddy. I've been brushing my teeth since before I had teeth. But I'm not stupid, I know that when they brush their teeth they put something on the brush and when they brush my teeth I only get the toothbrush and water. I've tried, believe me, to get at the toothpaste by any means necessary, but my parents are pretty on the ball.

I've asked for toothpaste for a long time. Finally yesterday they bought me some toothpaste. YAY!

Now, if only they'd let me be the one to put it on my brush myself...

2006-06-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

I always suspected that my parents led a double life, living after I went to bed. Finally last night my strategically-placed minefield of pots and pans paid off and Daddy tripped on one. The clang was terrific, and I awoke.

Mummy sat with me in the chair, silently. She was calm while I squirmed around, willing myself awake. In the dark I could see that her eyes were often closed, but I knew she wasn't asleep. I tried to hold out, staying awake longer than her, but she was a fierce opponent in this game.

It's too bad Daddy didn't come in instead, I thought. After all, when he comes in he talks to me, engages me, helps me wake up. And he takes me into bed with them.

Finally I succombed and let Mummy put me back to bed.

Once I got my reserve energy I got up again -- and this time Daddy got me. Did you know that when I spread out in the bed I can reach almost the entire width of a queen size bed?

Los Angeles Arboretum

2006-05-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today with our playgroup we went to the Arboretum. There were a lot of peacocks! This guy came over to check us out almost as soon as we got onto the grounds, and he was not even the first peacock we saw!We also got to see and feed a flock of Canadian Geese. I asked them if they knew Mummy but they said nothing. For the record, I did not share my chocolate chip cookie with them. There were baby geese there, too!On our way out another peacock crossed our path.
Or, I guess, we were in his way.

Possible Vocations?

2006-05-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on our way home from the library Daddy saw that it was Fire Safety Day at the fire house so we stopped.

There was a lot to see and I had a lot of fun. I got to sit in a fire truck! I was having so much fun and the fireman helping out was having so much fun watching me that he kept telling the long line of kids waiting to get into the truck, "you can wait a few more minutes." I think he liked me.

I also got to ride in a helicopter.

They gave me my own firefighter hat and a bag of goodies. I put my hat on the right way the first time I tried it, which made Daddy very proud, and held it saying "hat" and "truck" all the way home. Daddy was so proud he told Mummy about it all afternoon. We went to an Elder's Quorum bbq at Verdugo Park (we had yummy Armenian barbeque!) and Daddy told all our friends about it, too.

Maybe I'll be a firefighter, or a helicopter pilot when I grow up. But then maybe I could just be a professional hummus eater. Yes, that sounds nice.

I'm A Big Kid Now!

2006-05-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the park to play with the Johnsons. I'll be going to nursery at the end of the month and Jack is going to be my nursery friend. I had a really good time playing at the park, and even though Annie and Jack are so much bigger than me, I had a fun time chasing them and swinging with them.

At the end I started to get tired and I was sitting on the bench with Mummy and Jen, having a snack. When I was done I scooted off the bench but the bench was really tall and I ate dirt.

I skinned my chin for the first time!

Place Marker

2006-04-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday (April 4th) I had my three boosters and my HebA shots. The boosters were the ones scheduled for my 12 month check-up but since Dr. Waldron is so nice and listened to Mummy's concerns she said we could split up how many shots I was supposed to receive that day and we'd come back later for the boosters.

She also checked my finger and saw that it was healing up well already. And I got a new book, "I Howl I Growl" ... Mummy really likes that Kaiser gives books at the well-baby checkups.

Today, two days after the shots my legs are red and puffy at the site of the shots, especially my upper left shot, but both of the "top" shots -one from each leg- are the reddest. Mummy read that it's fairly common and not a concern, but she's still a little worried. Shots make her nervous. I'm sure I'll be fine, but it's important to keep track of things like this.

Not Every New Adventure is Worth Taking

2006-04-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

We had a steady stream of visitor-friends all day long. It was fun, but boy was I tired; I only took a half hour nap.

When Daddy finally came home I went upstairs with him to help him get out of his work clothes. I got a little bored and went into the bathroom to see what I could find. I'm too short to see over the counter by I think my fingers are getting longer because I was able to reach pretty far back.

Suddenly something bit me.

It really really hurt. It must have been bad, too, because I've never seen Daddy freak out like that. He called to Mummy, "He grabbed my razor!"

The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. Mummy was trying to clean me up and bandage me up and Daddy was trying to help but really freaking out. There was blood on Daddy and blood on the floor and I think some drops landed on my pants. Mummy held my finger tightly and keep it above my head; I hated that she wouldn't let me move my arm the way I wanted to, and I didn't like how tightly she was holding my finger.

It really hurt.

Daddy frantically called the first Kaiser number he found, but it was the wrong one. I think he was so anxious that he didn't hear Mummy tell him that the 24 hour nurse hotline was on the sticker on our cards. Finally he did find the right number, by which time they had given me some Tylenol and wrapped my finger in gauze instead of just toilet paper. While Daddy described the incident to the nurse Mummy distracted me with the buttons on the microwave, my vitamin bottle, and the angel magnet on the fridge. I forgot all about my finger and didn't mind anymore that Mummy was holding my hand up in the air.

Daddy and the nurse decided that we should go to the hospital to have it checked out. Mummy and Daddy re-wrapped my finger in gauze and put a finger condom on it to keep everything in place. We grabbed a bag of frozen peas to keep my finger cool and off we went.

The triage nurse seemed so nice, but she only wanted one parent in. By this time it was my bedtime and I cried to see Daddy walk out the door and into the waiting room. I cried when Mummy put me on the machine to be weighed (I weigh 24 lbs now.) I cried when she took my temperature (-you would too if you had a thermometer up there.) I cried when she took my blood pressure. But at Mummy's request I did give her a hug when I left triage to go be with Daddy.

The waiting room was full of interesting people. We sat near a young man who seemed fine, and he had a Clippers jacket so we thought he was cool from the beginning. He was also sitting beside a homeless man. The homeless man seemed desperate for conversation and was very happy that Mummy talked to him. He really tried to be nice and cohearant, and Mummy said later that while he did smell like a homeless man, he didn't smell like urine. She says that it shows that he still has self respect, and that while he seems to have fallen on hard times he's a decent guy.

Finally it was our turn to get a room. We had waited an entire hour, but on safari we saw an ambulance so I know that someone needed to be seen by the doctor more than I did, and anyway, Daddy took me on walks and Mummy sang me songs so the time passed quickly. When the Doctor came to look at my finger he was very nice and smiley, but he took off the bandages that Mummy had put on, and poked at it a little. It hurt. The Doctor seemed impressed with Mummy and Daddy and said that there wasn't much that they could do at the hospital that Mummy and Daddy hadn't already done.

After he left our friend with the Clippers jacket came in wearing a hospital robe over his regular clothes. He had heard me cry and knew it was me. He came to see if I was okay. Mummy asked what was going on with him and he explained that while he's young and healthy he's suddenly weak and tired. No one knew what was wrong with him so they had just taken some blood and were going to do some tests.

The nurse took us to the room that said "Minor Surgical Procedures" where she cleaned my finger (which made me cry) and wrapped it in gauze (which made me cry.) They also put a stretchy cast-like glove-like thing over to keep me from pulling the gauze apart. When everyone stopped touching my finger and Mummy did some squats with me I started to feel like myself again.

As we waited to be discharged we played hide and jump out. We even played hide and jump out with the guy with the Clippers jacket. We said hello to everyone we saw and I said thank you to the Doctor and the nurses.

Finally, two hours after my bedtime we left the hospital. Mummy and Daddy got some Fatburger and we went home.

I'm tired, but I'm glad my parents have a well-stocked first aid kit and a lot of common sense, because my owie could have been a lot worse. It had already started to heal by the time the doctor looked at it.

2006-02-20T07:03:00.000-08:00

Mummy said to Daddy in the middle of the night last night, "If either of you think I'm going to start feeding him every three hours through the night like a newborn you are both sorely mistaken. If either of you try to make me do that I will wean him by the end of the month and that requires many more tears than there were tonight."

Chuck E Cheese's

2006-02-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to Jill Calica's third birthday party at Chuck E Cheese's. It was fun, but I do suspect Daddy and Mummy had an even more fun time than I did.

Trouble in Paradise

2006-01-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

Mummy told me this morning that if I didn't get back to our old sleep routine and stop waking up every couple of hours that I would find myself suddenly weaned.

She can't do that!

...can she?

Birthday!

2005-11-29T17:16:00.000-08:00

Today is my first birthday. It seems to be a pretty big deal to everyone.

Mummy was running around like crazy after we got back from Canada just trying to get everything read. She said it was just a low-key playgroup party; if she got that stressed out for something she considers small, I'll hate to see what she gets like for a real party!

Cleaning up and rearranging the house was a big job for her, she had to make room for all my friends.

She made chili and corn muffins, prepared a salad, and made cupcakes for dessert. She's a very clever Mummy and had the exact right amount of food for everyone that came. And Daddy came home for lunch in time to be part of the party, too.

Today was a very fun day. I ate food, played with my friends, and got a whole lot of new toys.

All this for being born??

ER

2005-11-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

Last night Daddy and Mummy took me to the Emergency Room. I only had a runny nose this weekend, but when the winds changed and the humidity dropped to 10% I got really sick. We were lucky that I didn't get really bad until around midnight, not only did it allow us all to get a little bit of sleep, but I think we missed the crazies, too. We were, after all, going down to Sunset Blvd on Halloween.

The nurse that was taking care of me was Vilma. She was very nice but she didn't seem to understand that I did not want a probe on my finger to monitor my heartrate. I fought it fiercely. But she saw me trying to pull it off so at least when she saw the machine go all over the place with my pulse she didn't worry. She tried to put me on oxygen but I spent way more oxygen taking off the mask and fighting everyone than I received from the mask. She tried to give me some medicine -- that was gross, but I swallowed most of it. She tried to put another mask on me that was attached to a humidifier, and I fought that, too.

The Doctor, Dr. Yoo, was also very nice. He explained that the dry air made my mucus from my cold even thicker which left less room for air in my tubes and that's why I was making such funny animal noises when I coughed. He called it bronchiolitis.

Daddy and Mummy really tried to get me that moist air to help me breathe better and feel better. I didn't like the mask and I didn't like cold, wet air being blown in my face. It was the middle of the night, I was in a strange place with strange noises and bright lights. The last thing I wanted was more annoyances. Finally Mummy held me and sang me songs while Daddy held the tube near my face (he had taken off that dreadful mask), and I dozed off.

I must have really been asleep because the next thing I knew the Doctor was waking me up to listen to my breathing and Mummy and I were on the bed. Poor Daddy was trying to get comfortable in the chair beside the bed. Dr. Yoo said I was sounding so much better and he told us we could go home. As we left the hospital I coughed and four different nurses within earshot all said, "croup." It was four in the morning. We didn't see any Halloween revellers, but we were too tired to notice; for all I know they may still have been out.

After Daddy dropped us off at home he went to Rite Aid to buy a humidifier for home, and finally he went to bed sometime after five.

We are pretty tired today, but we are doing better. I don't sound like a zoo and I'm catching up on my sleep. The humidifier is very nice and it even sounds like our own little water fountain and white noise machine in one. The doctor has me taking some steroids for the next couple of days; it helps to keep my tubes clear and not too tight. Daddy says he's going to go buy me some weights so we can make the most of my steroids.

Babble On

2005-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went down to San Diego to celebrate my cousin's second birthday. We went to the zoo and he and I talked to each other from our strollers.

Mummy and Daddy talk to me all the time, but it was really cool that Ian was talking to me. It made me want to talk a lot. Since we came back I've been talking non-stop. Sometimes Mummy thinks I'm talking about things completely different than I am; she doesn't understand me. But that's okay. She seems pretty happy that I'm talking.

I can't wait until I can talk to Ian again.

I wonder if my friends will understand me.

Mummy

2005-09-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

It's true what they say, that as soon as you think you've got a schedule, it changes. I think it's just that I'm learning and growing so much. I can't sit still or stay the same.

I've been especially attached to Mummy lately. For a little while it stressed her out but we've got a groove now. I try not to hurt Daddy's feelings with it because I really like him, too. But Mummy's with me day and night... (I own her, after all.)

When I'm playing I like to see her and when we're in a big group of people I like to be held by her. It isn't that I'm really afraid of anything, or even afraid that someone else will take me; I don't think she'd let anyone.

It's just that I want to be sure of her.

Jack is Back (and all's right with the world)

2005-09-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

Mummy just didn't get it, she didn't understand why I was more grumpy than normal. She didn't make the connection that things went down hill at the beginning of the month. She blamed it on teething (okay, that was part of it) and separation anxiety (okay, that too.)

Yesterday we went mall walking with Jack (and his mother, Stacey) and today they came to Mommy & Me. They had been on vacation and we hadn't seen them in a month. Mommy & Me wasn't nearly so overwhelming today; I played with the kids and I even let some of the other mommies hold me. I had the best time in the pool that I have had in a long time. And when I was tired I just lounged in Mummy's lap and watched Jack and my other friends.

It's nice to see Jack again. I missed him.

attention

2005-08-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

I have a trick that works better than crying in getting Mummy's attention.

I head for the stairs and start climbing.

It's great, she drops everything she does to come after me. Every single time. I love the stairs, they're so much fun and I'm always very safe, but she comes anyway. It never gets old, I could do this all day long. As soon as she's not looking I head for the stairs. and again, and again and again...

fire!

2005-08-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

On our third walk today (yes, we took three walks, I'm so spoiled) we heard sirens. It wasn't long before the Battalion Chief's SUV came down our street and stopped not far from where we were. Four big fire trucks followed.

Mummy and I looked and looked but we couldn't see any smoke or any signs that anything was wrong coming from the building. We didn't stay long because she said "looky-loos" were a nuisance and very rude.

The trucks were really interesting, three of the big ones were yellow and the other ones were red. The men worked quickly.

Right before we got home one of the trucks left and drove past us. I was watching because I like to watch cars and trucks and this was the biggest I had ever seen on our quiet little street; one of the men saw me watching and waved at me. I need to learn how to wave.

carnivore

2005-07-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

There something hard poking up in my mouth. It's never been there before but just the other day it started to come through and every day it gets bigger and bigger. It doesn't give me a lot of trouble as long as I chew on everything in sight.

Mummy and Daddy are pretty excited. They say that soon it will be as big as the hard things in their mouths and that I will get more of them. Daddy says soon I can start eating foods like his; I like that idea, I've been trying to eat his food for a while now.

Bring on the steak, I'd like mine medium, please.

Big Month!

2005-07-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy.

When I first started to crawl I wasn't very good. It really looked more like rolling with some army crawling and lunging thrown into the mix. But I was moving; I was happy and my parents were happy. That week I also learned how to suck on a sippy cup and sit up without falling. It was very exciting.

Since then I've really perfected crawling. I can do the right steps at the right time and I can get anywhere I want. I'm learning how to kneel on my own and I've also learned to pull myself up on things, I'm trying to climb, and I can cruise. I've learned how to do all of things in the month since the first day I crawled.

I've also figured out how to help Mummy get me out of the car seat. She needs to loosen the straps and push the buttons, but I can do the rest! My car seat is nice, but I am always eager to get out and see where we are.

whew! Is every month this busy?

The Story of A Sippy Cup

2005-07-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

I first learned about sippy cups when Kathryn had left hers at our house. For days I played with it and one day I realized that there was something on the top that was perfect for sucking. Mummy then put water inside the cup and when I sucked on the top and tipped the cup back, water went into my mouth! This was really cool; I had never had water before and I had never sucked on a toy and had something go into my mouth!

Mummy and Daddy decided to get me my own sippy cup. They said I couldn't use Kathryn's forever. I really liked my sippy cup and I played with it every day.

Yesterday we went to the Brown's for a 4th of July barbeque. Of course we brought my sippy cup. Mummy had placed it on the counter when I wasn't using it.

Ethan's grandmother came by and saw the sippy cup and tried to give it to him. Ethan is a year older than me and he gave the cup a funny look; he knew that he was a big boy and that was a baby's sippy cup. But he is a good boy and did take it because his grandmother was trying so hard to give it to him.

When Mummy and Daddy saw it missing, they found it and got it back from Ethan (who gave it away easily as he knew it wasn't his.) We all had a good laugh.

But the cup went missing again, and again someone was trying to give it to Ethan.

Finally at the end of the night we had to look for it again, but this time it was in the dishwasher. Poor sippy cup, I think it's tired after all of it's travels.

the jig is up

2005-06-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

I've hid it for as long as I can.
I've pretended that I couldn't, that I was too tired, that it was too hard.
I've pretended it was too far away.
I've used all of my trademarked pathetic faces and even my helpless and sad faces.

But my parents know that I can crawl. Instead of carrying me to my toy they move themselves to the toy and call me. They clap for me and cheer me on. I would rather be carried, truth be told, but crawling is better than nothing at all. And when Mummy's not looking, I head straight for Daddy's Italian shoes.

big day

2005-05-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big day and the good things were better than the bad thing. I had to stay at home from church because I had a very very runny nose. I was sad in the morning, but by the time Daddy came home I perked up and had a great rest of the day.

To begin with it was my six-month birthday yesterday. Mummy and Daddy talked to me about my birth and how much it meant to them. Daddy spent a lot of time playing with me on the floor and encouraging me to more around. I have really mastered the art of moving around by rolling and pivoting. I'm working on an army crawl but I think it's still a hit and miss thing.

Our friend had left her sippy cup at our house last week and I was playing with that. It felt good in my mouth and soon Daddy called Mummy into the room to tell me that I had learned how to "work" it even though it was empty. I don't know what it meant, but I was sucking on the top. Soon it was out of reach but I really wanted it. I got up on my knees and moved my arms and legs a couple of times and I got it back.

I was happy to get the cup back, but Mummy and Daddy were excited about how I got there. I think they'll expect me to do that more often. I hope I can remember what I did.

new world

2005-05-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

The neat thing about this new world is that there's always something new to discover and learn. Now that I've got the hang of rolling over and I can even pivot to get to things. I realize that when I get up on my knees I think I can do more but I don't really have that under control yet.

When I was really good at rolling from my back to my front I would use it to get attention. I would roll onto my front and cry for someone to come get me. I secretly learned how to roll the other way, but I wouldn't do it when Mummy or Daddy was around -- why should I do the work when they can? But I've grown up now and I do it myself.

What's next?

2005-05-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Boy am I tired.
I realized last night as I woke up to eat that I had no idea what I was missing at three o'clock in the morning. So I forced myself awake for some playtime.
It only took a couple of minutes for Mummy to figure out what I was doing. She took me downstairs so that I would not wake up Daddy.

I'm very tired this morning. Maybe I should stay home from Mommy and Me today so I can take a big nap, after all, my best friend Jack will not be there. But then again, Adrian probably will, and she's cute when she doesn't scream in my face.

I'll sleep in the afternoon.

This is NOT what I bargained for

2005-05-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

This new world sure has a lot to offer. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not. I do enjoy learning and discovering new things but my mouth hurts and it's so frustrating to want something but it won't come to me. My parents mean well but I don't know how to tell them what I want. Will it always be like this?

tipping point

2005-04-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

I've been rolling from my back to my front for about two weeks now. I'm getting pretty good at it if I do say so myself. The problem is that I don't really like being on my tummy. Yesterday when I was on my tummy I was looking up at Mummy's friend Kristen and I tipped over onto my back.

If I could just remember what I did then all my problems would be solved.

Jack in the Box

2005-03-25T18:17:00.000-08:00

Daddy plays the same game with me every night when he comes home from work.

When we are sitting facing each other, he holds each of my hands in his hands, moves them back and forth, and sings a certain song.

(At this point I now have 10 extra fingers from which to choose for finger foods. How delicious!)

Never waiting the same interval of time, I shove one fist or the other, with Daddy's fingers held hostage, into my mouth. I gnaw for a moment and release. Daddy resumes the song, and I wait another undetermined amount of time before I strike again.

The key to this game is keeping everything random. I love this game, it's yummy!

my alphabet at three months

2005-03-05T09:17:00.000-08:00

A is for amazing; I don't know what it is but my parents say it a lot.
B is for bassinet
C if for carseat
D is for Daddy and Duckie; my two favorite things
E is for exercises like "head, shoulders, knees and toes"
F is for fingers; I love all fingers --to go in my mouth
G is for gurgle
H is for happy
I is for I, me, the center of the universe
J is for Jack, my friend
K is for kisses
L is for laugh
M is for Mummy
N is for nap
O is for onesie
P is for playtime
Q is for quilts
R is for rattle
S is for sheepskin
T is for toys
U is for umilicus -gone!
V is for vibrating chair
W is for walks and wipes
X is for crossing my arms
Y is for yawn
Z is for zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

exploration

2005-03-03T16:13:00.000-08:00

I keep getting the feeling that there's always something I'm missing when I look around. So I look everywhere I can. This morning I was on the bed with Daddy and trying to look everywhere. I turned around so much I ended up on my tummy.

Who wants to be on their tummy? That's no fun.

But Daddy thought it was a great trick, and interrupted Mummy's shower to tell her.

friends

2005-02-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

Double the excitement of a normal day, yesterday was not an ordinary Sunday. At church some of Mummy and Daddy's friends from Virginia showed up and surprised us. The last time either family had seen each other, Mummy was too sick to eat anything except the snacks of their toddler, and the other mummy was as big as a tent, pregnant with two. Now the twins are six months old and I am three months old and we all got to see each other. It was so much fun to roll around with the other babies. And the bigger boy really loved giving me hugs and kisses.

Then we went out to Ventura to visit my uncle, auntie and my only cousin. My cousin had a sad day, he had fallen and hurt himself, but he was very kind to me. By the end of the afternoon I was tired of being with strangers; I missed my house and my toys. My Mum was comforting me and rocking me in my cousin's room and he came in quietly and got out one of his favorite books. He didn't stay to read it with us, but he gave it to Mummy to read to me, then silently left the room. My cousin is a little over a year old but I thought that was like what a big boy would do. I sure like my cousin and I can't wait until I'm older and we can play together.

I slept well last night because I was so worn out, but it's fun to make new friends.

songs

2005-02-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

My Daddy makes up songs for me all the time. He's funny and creative. Some of my favourite quotes from his songs are:

...
"Mommy is making food different from yours,
because she's making this food outdoors:
...
"are you exploring your tongue with your fingers,
or exploring your fingers with your mouth?"

faker

2005-02-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

I am a big faker. I am the best trickster that I know. I can get away with it because I am the baby and everyone loves me. It is the most fun game I've discovered so far in life.

I've made it very clear to my parents that I'm not interested in pacifiers. I haven't decided yet if it's the texture, the shape, or what, but my parents have bought just about every different pacifier they could find, and they try every day to get me to take one, but I won't. I like to gnaw on my fist and suck on my knuckles, but just for fun. What do I suck to soothe myself? Mummy's baby finger or Daddy's middle finger.

(I'm well aware that Mummy's baby finger is much smaller than Daddy's middle finger and that Mummy call that "incongruous" but that's part of the fun.)

So here's the trick: when Mummy or Daddy is holding me and letting me suck her/his finger, I relax and look like I'm sleeping. I do this for so long that my parents think I really am sleeping, but as soon as they try to pull the finger out they discover my death-grip on it, and I usually can't resist giving them a little smirk. I sure fool them, it is so much fun!

this is the good life

2005-02-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

I am almost three months old, so I know that my experience is limited, but I know that I'm a very lucky boy. My Mummy stays home with me all day. We play and sing, we go for walks, and we take naps. My Daddy works all day. His office is close to home and sometimes I go and visit him. He works very very hard so that we can afford for Mummy to stay home. They say that that's not very easy because LA is expensive, but Mummy and Daddy are both happy and as long as I've still got food I guess everything is fine.

When Daddy comes home he plays with me. He plays, "whose toes are these?" with me and calls me Mr. Doodles because I'm his little Dude. Is that because I'm a California baby? Anyway, in return for all that he does for me, I give him a gurgling pep talk every morning before he goes to work. He says it really helps, and that this month he has done especially well. I'm glad that I can help him out because he's the greatest.

I've met a lot of babies, and they all seem pretty happy, but I know that my life is wonderful and that I'm probably luckier than all those babies.