Like Mother Like Son

Here is a shot of the lil monkey as we waited for his pediatrician last week.
As you can see he is already examining the "tools of the trade" - I
think he really wanted to examine his own ears but couldn't figure out
how to get the darned scope off of the wall.

I continue to be more and more amazed by him every day - it is indescribably fun to watch him as he discovers the world around him and responds by making some type of dolphin inspired sound. This past weekend he got to meet Jaime & Kathryn (finally) and then we are off to another visit to SF --- he is beginning to show more "attachment" to us - crying when Em or I leave him - even if its just leaving the room... The SF trip should be interesting - hopefully he'll still be up for spreading the love.

Happy Valentines Day

9 Month Check Up & Valentines Note

The plan was for my mommies to dress me up and take an adorable photo of me that would then be printed out and sent to you all so you could put me up on your fridge and think of me every morning when you put cream chese on your bagel... but then I got the conjunctivities in my eye (thanks emily) and a runny nose (thanks rachael) and a bump on my face (thanks to both of you who just commented as a I fell onto the office rug - good going moms!!!) - So instead of the fancy professional looking photo card you're getting this online update instead. But feel free to print it out and stick it on your fridge...

I am happy to announce that I am 9 Months (& 6 days old) and besides a couple of drops as I am trying to learn how to walk and some chocking on Cherios as I was learning how to eat my moms haven't managed to break me YET!

I continue to enjoy all types of music - from the electronica Motzart that plays on my swinging chair & orchestra cube to the rockin' tunes on Cousin Olivia's B'day CD and all the music that the moms play whenever we get into the car and drive to the Berkeshires - I am working on Dancing as I practice my standing and it just makes the music all the better. I also have developed a taste for a good sing - a - long thanks to the 2 months of swim classes that I took with cousin Farah at our local Y. Every monday for about 8 weeks we met up and got into the pool with our moms and sang ABC's, Old McDonald, Wheels on the bus & my personal favorite "The Grand Old Duke of York"

In other news - I still dont want to crawl. It's all about the walking which I am sure to do in the next few months - practice continues to go well (except that face plant on the office rug that I alluded to earlier.). Eating is also going well - except I don't like that spoon shoved in my mouth anymore & I am only going to eat what I can pick up and feed myself. Moms are a little frustrated by this and Rachael is especially sad since she's got 3 ice cube trays full of smashed foods that I won't eat now. Cest La Vie & bring on the chese & crackers!!!


I have been doing a lot of travelling. I've flown cross country 3 times now visiting SF and Seattle/Portland (including a nice train trip on the Coast Starlight Train) as well as a flight down to Florida to Visit Great Grandma Anne and then take a trip to Key West. I also spend A Lot of time in the car seat - taking many trips up to the Berkeshires to escape from the city & spend time with the Moms as well as with the grandparents Newfield - I've also made a couple trips to Nanuet for the Jewish New Year and for Cousin Olivia's Birthday party. I am heading out to SF again at the end of Feb for another whirlwind week and Rachael is threatening to bring me out in June as well.

As most of you know I am making some good friends here in Cambridge - I've met a group of boys close to my age and we meet up with our moms on Mondays at a local coffee shop - I especially like playing with Nick (11 Months), Xander & Seth (10 Months), Gabe (8 months), & Harriet (she's a girl - oh & she's got 2 moms too!!!) (7 months). I also spend a lot of time with cousin Farah & her folks and with her neighbors Cristopher & Conner & their mom Lori





It really feels like these 9 months have just flown by - all this growing and learning and feeling really keeps a kid busy



--- so for anyone keeping track the latest stats are

---- Weight 17 lb 14 oz (buck naked) (8 kg)

---- Height 28 inches (72 cm)

---- Head 45 cm

I Hope you all have the sweetest of Valentines Days

Snacking

Boy tried some bread at Grandma & Grandpa's

Newfie Blues

Despite the impossibility Blasto does seem to have the Newfield Blue Eyes....



(Newf (aka Dan), Olivia, Mr. Monito, & Em)

People are saying more and more that he looks like me... I don't really see it & neither does Em. He does look like my dad as a baby to me - and I would post the picture to prove it but my dad said he would write me out of the will if I put his baby picture on the internet. When I visit Em's folks and look at baby pictures of cousin Mathew I think he & our little monkey look alike too - but I think that may just be a way that very pretty little boys look at this age.

He is just so bright & alert and happy that it kills me. We got really, really lucky on the baby temperment with this guy (something that surprises both me & em every day). Even this week while we deal with conjunctivities and a cold at the same time he is still being sweet & cute when he is awake.

I can't believe its been 9 months already ... and he is standing & sitting & eating & hugging & laughing & maybe getting some teeth - like the t-shirt says He is a Rock Star.

Cousins

Blasto enjoys hangin with his cousins.
We all travelled down to Ct. to enjoy Olivia's 3rd Birthday Party and to have a pre-party for Farah's 2nd. A good time was had by all - how could we not with 3 birthday cakes in 2 days????

First Bagel

This weekend Blasto got his "teeth" into some NY Bagel courtesy of Grandpa Oh-No

and I think he likes it....

For Jenny

Some shots of Monito in his crib that he doesn't actually sleep in, but we did lower the mattress so that he can't actually fling himself over the edges (thanks Dan) - Jenny wanted to see how the fancy Nancy Koltes salmon bumper looks - it looks pretty good.



Here is what his fake smile looks like...
Lil Monito enjoys the songbird that Aunt Suzan sent to him.

From our Dec Pac Nwest trip - Coast Starlight views

Shots of the Puget Sound Scenery that passed by as we road south from Seattle toward Portland. Although it was overcast it wasn't too cold or rainy - good for December in the Pacific Northwest. The boy was lulled to sleep by the clickety clack of the rails and the whistle blowing. He woke up in time for our lunch in the dining car where we joined a sweet baby boy from Canada who was travelling to California to see his Grandparents. The four hour morning ride was perfect and relaxing -- I think I could do it again and again. ... See my Tabblo>

I'll consider this option.....

Yesterday the baby took a header out of his kicky-bouncy chair... the one that works great for infants who cant sit up yet and fling themselves around. The kind that has a crotch-snap 3 point harness that parents like me don't use... you know what I mean. The funny thing was (if these things are funny) was that I was literally in the middle of the sentence telling Em that I thought we needed to think of a new type of baby restraint system for the two chairs we have (bouncy and swingy) because I thought he looked ready to throw hims..... (bonk went the boy at that moment) ... himself out of them... just like that honey (scream goes the boy) - anyway he's fine. He has a nice little dime sized bruise to match his buddies who are all starting to stand, pull up and try to climb and thus are all falling on their heads & getting little cuts & bruises.

Today I was this on Daddy Types ----

I think it might be a good option.

Florida smiles

Here are some palm shots of Monito in Florida

Andala Coffee House - Mamas in the hood

There was a mama takeover at the neighborhoods newest cafe yesterday. Emily aka Blah-di-blog who administers the Online Cambridge Moms Group - Cambridge Mama organized the under one take-over. I was happy that Kristen & Lyla from upstairs as well as a mama from across the street where there along with some of Rileys buds from playgroup - Harriet, Xander, Nick and Gabe. I feel pretty lucky that there is a cool group of mama's & babies all right in the hood - especially now that it started to get REALLY cold & snow.

Pix from our Florida Vacation

Florida Vacation Photos

its all about the Grandma love

With only a little arm twisting Emily convinced Grandma Anne into sitting down and giving Riley a bottle. Before this she hadn't held the lil Monito cause she was worried that he might squirm around & she might drop him.

But we countered with the all babies are made to bounce argument & propped up on the comfy couch everyone was FINE.

As you can see from the photos below the lil monkey was pretty happy in Grandma- Grandma's grabbers.



Although he did have to interrupt his eating to mug for the camera a bit....



It makes me very happy to see him with so much good East Coast Family time it makes the move feel so much more worth it.

Happy Birthday Unka Debbie - uhmm I mean Dan

To celebrate his upcoming B'Day we took Dan out to Full Moon Kid friendly (read really loud & crazy) restaurant for dinner before we headed off to Florida. We got this photo in one of the rare moments when Farah was sitting down with us. It was a lot of fun to get to hang out with them & have a nice dinner that Dan didn't have to cook. I like the restaurant a lot, but it is pretty loud with 2 or more kids at every table. Still its worth it to know that there is a place you can go & no diner is going to give you that upset look when you roll the stroller in.

Dan - thanks so much for all the support in Boston so far & wishing you a great (!!) year of joys, surprise and accomplishment.

A January Day in Cambridge

Hard to believe that this is the horrible land of winters that everyone warned us about. Today its between 65 & 70 degrees - too hot to wear a coat!!! Emily & I think its ironic that we are on our way to Florida for a vacation that was meant as a way to escape the horrible winter weather.

Anyway check out Monitos new ride - its a light Mclaren that we hope will travel well - thanks to Nelly (Em's parents housekeeper) for the Babies R Us gift card!!!

Now all I have to do is find a place to recycle two "almost good as new" strollers that are currently sitting in the basement.

And maybe I'll pop for a haircut when we are in Gay-Man-Landia of Key West cause as I look at this picture I think I am looking a little shaggy.

I for is Icicles

 

First Snow for Mabel

 

Love Triangle

 

What do you do all day?