Go Baby, Go!

You are now a crawler! On Sunday, February 13, you put it all together and crawled to get to Daddy's keys! Friday you jerkily moved your knees and arms, but it didn't result in moving forward. On Saturday you were able to move hands and knees together but not fluidly. Sunday, though, you got it and you were off, exploring all over the place! It is going to be tougher to prevent bumps and bruises on your noggin now!

What else can you do now... you can pull yourself to standing in your crib and on the couch. When we go to get you in the morning you are usually sitting or standing up now. We are trying to discourage you from biting on the crib rails but getting those top teeth turning you into the Hungry Hippo- chomp chomp!

You got your third tooth on Friday, your top left eye tooth! I thought it would be one of your front teeth, but they do look close to erupting.

Over the last couple weeks you have started pulling on your ear while you are nursing or drinking a bottle; sometimes even when you are getting tired. I'm hoping that it is a way to keep yourself occupied or soothed and not that there is an ear infection brewing.

We have been getting comments at restaurants on your good behavior. People remark on your eyes, how cute you are, your penguin seat and your good behavior! Last night at the Longhorn you tried a baked sweet potato fry. You thought you were big stuff and knawed on it. You really wanted my plate and more fries! You also like to drink water from a straw but want your own straw to hold so Grandma has started to tie one in a knot for you. I wondered why we had tied up straws all over the place. Mama ordered a high chair for you because you have outgrown your bouncy seat. It is a tough job to keep you distracted and leaning back so we can feed you. I'm hoping that the tray on the highchair will keep you amused and save our backs!

This morning Daddy taught you how to put the ball into your race car ramp. It only took you a few tries and then you picked up the ball and dropped it into the ramp! Wow, you are catching on quickly!

Oh, my big boy, I can't believe how quickly you have grown and all of the new things that you are learning! We look forward to your giant grin every day. We love you, you happy baby!

Happy (Chinese) New Year!

It is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese calendar. We are marking off the "first" holidays quickly now. It is looking like an early end to winter this year because Punxsatawny Phil did NOT see his shadow on Groundhog's Day, February 2nd. You even had your own Phil sweatshirt that Kristy Garvin bought for you to celebrate the day!

You are learning to do so many things so quickly now! You are mobile, not quite crawling but you quickly lurch forward now to grab things, go down onto your belly,rock on your hands and knees, roll over onto your back and then sit up...Repeat. We can't leave you alone (not really alone, we can see you at all times!) too long now while you are playing because you won't be in the same place when we come back. You have a talent for getting into things that are off limits. You love cords, electronics, paper, wood and mama's necklaces! You are still having trouble sleeping. Some nights, Mama and Daddy take turns holding you and rocking you through the night. Daddy has a trick for naptime, he swings you in your carseat, you love the G forces! After swinging for 2 minutes, he rocks you in your seat on the rocking chair for 3 minutes (exact times he tells me!) and then...you're OUT! Mama has a more difficult time when I'm home. We are soaking you in because we know that soon you won't want us to cuddle you! You already push up and away when you don't want to go to sleep when I'm rocking you. Rarely do you snuggle in on my shoulder now, but I love it when you do.

You are eating all kinds of food now! I made you minestrone soup and then blended it and you gobble that up. I also roasted eggplant and mixed in some parmesean cheese, we'll have to wait to see if you like that. You are becoming a pro at eating puffs. You gagged on them at Christmas time, 2 weeks ago you could pick them up but wouldn't let go of them once you got them to your mouth so we had to put them in for you. Know you pick up a puff with your pincer grip and straight in it goes, you can gobble them up like a Hoover now! You really like Mum-Mums too! We started yogurt, it was the first cold thing you've eaten. You LOVE it! You only have two little teeth at the bottom for now, but you are practicing how to "chew" things. At dinner we give you little pieces of cheese and bread. Your palate is very sensitive to texture so we try not to make you gag. It is so fun to watch you experience new foods! It is time to get you a highchair and let you experiment with finger foods!