July Happenings

Just wanted to post an update before we leave on our Great Canadian Tour. We leave on Thursday for a wedding in Halifax, then on to Ottawa and Brampton to visit our families. We're really looking forward to it, and I'm sure I'll have lots of stories and photos to post when we get back!

July has been a fun month so far. We had a great visit with Grandma Carole and Granddad Bill. Billy and I got some extra sleep and Teddy really enjoyed spending time with them. As he sees them more he gets much less shy and he loved the extra attention!

Sitting with Grandma Carole!

Teddy has been developing really quickly over the last few weeks. He finally learned how to roll from his back to his belly - previously he'd get to his side and then give up when his arm was in the way! He also started holding a toy in each hand and banging them together to produce new and exciting noises (see the end of the post for a video of this!) He can also place small toys into a modified yogurt container with a hole in the lid.

One of the most fun developments had to do with animals. We go often to the Happy Hollow Zoo in San Jose. Last week when we went, Teddy was suddenly very interested in all the animals! He laughed and laughed at them all (even when it was just a lemur taking a bath), and had a wonderful time. It was great to see his excitement, and now leaves us another, easy outing - going to the pet store and giggling at the birds and hamsters, like we did yesterday. :)

He's also becoming much more social. I have a membership at the Y and leave him with the Childwatch while I go work out. He used to either sleep or need to be held the whole time. He still cries when I leave and cries to be picked up when I come back, but the last two visits he has sat and played with toys, the other children, or staff members! I'd been hoping that he would get positive benefits from the Y, and it seems like it is starting to happen.

Our happy boy!

He's still teething, working on one on each side up top, and it's definitely not going so well for him - poor guy. We suffered through almost two weeks of tummy upset that was possibly related. But he's cheerful most of the day and generally a very happy baby. We hope this continues during our travels!

As always, here's a video and photos! Next update will be after we come home!

10 Months Old!

Happy 10 months, Teddy! Time sure is flying!

We've been very busy since I last updated. We had a visit from Teddy's Auntie Diana who lives in London, a short visit from our friends Steve and Krista who are driving around the US in a van!, we puppy-sat for my cousin's dog, and had a visit from our good friend Nigel and his boyfriend Stephane. And now Grandma Carole and Granddad Bill are here! We've gone to the zoo, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and more.

Auntie Diana and TJ!

Teddy has really enjoyed all the visits. He is a very happy baby who loves going places and seeing people. He has several new teeth in up top, and has learned how to clap! He's not crawling but loves to stand as much as he can - so maybe he'll just skip that milestone. He moves all over the place at night in his crib, but just in circles!

Best of all is the news that his iron levels have come up to normal and he is no longer considered anemic. We will continue to supplement him with iron drops, just once a day, but we're thrilled that his levels came up so quickly.

We head to Canada on the 29th, visiting Halifax, Ottawa, and Toronto. Should be a great trip! Hopefully I will update again before we go, but if not, have a great July and August! And here are the obligatory photos and video:

At his first concert! Listening to the Bangles:


Photos!

Nine Months!

Well, nine months and one week old as of today! Theodore is growing up fast.

He had his nine month checkup last week, and weighs 16lbs 10.5 oz. This still has him in the 3rd percentile, but he's gaining steadily and proportional in height and weight, so everyone's happy with that. We did find out he is somewhat anemic, so we have been giving iron supplements. This was something we'd been aware was possible due to the fact he was early and low birthweight, so not a huge surprise and we are working with the doctor to monitor it. Otherwise he is very well, with new teeth pushing all the time and endless enthusiasm and interest in the world around him. No crawling yet, but he'll get there soon!

We've had a fun few weeks since I last updated. Billy and I celebrated our eight year wedding anniversary, and I had my 32nd birthday (I'll be celebrating that with Billy later this month). On birthdays, Teddy has a second cousin, Carson, who lives in California and he turned one at the end of May. We went to his birthday party, which was great fun!

Mom and Teddy at the party

We've also had lots of day visitors, like my friend Lindsay from undergrad and her family. Teddy enjoyed playing with her two lovely girls!

Teddy and Tasha

Other than that, we have been enjoying the warm weather (and our new patio furniture!) and just doing our daily routines. We have lots of guests coming to visit shortly: Auntie Diana comes from the 24th to 30th, Nigel will be here July 1st to 5th, and Grandma Carole and Granddad Bill will be here the 6th to 11th! So we will be happy and busy around here.

As always, a video and pictures!

At lunch in Mountain View on the 30th:


Photos:

May updates

Hard to believe it's almost the end of May - time goes fast! Things are well here in California. We had a great visit with Auntie Debbie at the end of April/beginning of May, going touristing in San Francisco, to the zoo, and lots of other little trips in between.

In San Francisco with Auntie Debbie

Teddy has been to four swimming lessons since the beginning of May (unfortunately we had to miss two while I was sick for week). He's really enjoyed himself. The lessons are in an outdoor pool that's heated and only 3 feet deep, so it's a nice calm environment and he likes being in the water. He kicks instinctively when put on his stomach, which is great! We have two more lessons next week before the session wraps up.

He has two bottom teeth fully in now, and one in the front up top is very close to pushing through. He is still sitting well, and is showing an interest in learning to crawl. He likes going on outings, and even went to his first baseball game last week - the minor league team in San Jose.

As always, here's a video and some photos! We got a nice new lens for our DSLR camera, so there's quite a few close-up baby faces this month!

Swing Time:

April Events

April has been a very busy month so far! First we had a visit with our friends Anton and Catherine, who live in Seattle, and then we had a visit from Grammy Eileen and Auntie Catherine. Theodore really enjoyed the company and new faces! Next up is a visit from Auntie Debbie later this week.

Since the last update, Theodore has gotten his second tooth, and started sitting fully unassisted! He loves to sit and play with his toys and look at the world from this new angle. We sit with him or put a pillow by him, but he's very strong and can sit for a long period of time. It's an exciting development!

Sitting pretty!

We've also joined the Y, and I have left Theodore with their child care a few times while I go to the gym. So far he has done great with the ladies there, and they all love him. He's had few caretakers besides us, so it's good for him to get this experience and also play with other babies. Starting in May we will also be taking parent-tot swim classes for a month at the Y. I'm really looking forward to that!

As always, here are some videos and photos!

Sitting:


Jumperoo:


Photos!

Vacations and Updates!

Happy April!  The end of March went by so fast.  Theodore really enjoyed his visit with his Grandma Carole and Granddad Bill.  And he especially liked the trip to Maui we all took!  We were there for five nights and did a big activity every day, along with some relaxing and swimming.  Theodore's highlights were the aquarium (he was fascinated by the fish) and the scenery at some beautiful sights.

Family photo at Iao Valley State Park

The ocean was too rough to take him in (and a bit cold), but he did get splashed once, and we took him in the pool twice, which he (moderately) enjoyed! 

First time in the pool!

He was wonderful on both flights, including taking a long nap after takeoff each time, and adjusted to the three hour time change fairly well.  Since returning he's been sleeping much more fitfully, with multiple wakings and being hard to get down in bed.  However, there's probably a cause - he has a tooth!  One has poked through on the bottom - and boy, if you put your finger in there, it's sharp!  It feels like he's working on another one, so it's possible that's causing some of his current issues (he also seems to be hungry all the time, so may be growth spurting). Thankfully the teeth didn't bother him too much in Maui, even though it had already started!

Other new things are that he continues to eat his way through a variety of solids; he's now also had sweet potato (which he loved), peas, and butternut squash.  He also really likes drinking water from his sippy cup.  I've been enjoying making his food and so far he seems to enjoy eating it!  Today I gave him squash and avocado, and when I put him in his chair the second time he opened his mouth up wide right away.

Also, while Grandma and Granddad were visiting, we took Teddy on his first amusement park ride!  We went to a lovely zoo and park in San Jose where we rode the carousel twice, sitting on one of the bench seats.  Next up, Disneyland!  ;)

First carousel ride!

April is shaping up to be a busy month - we're having visits from our friends Anton and Catherine who live in Seattle, from Grandma Eileen, and from Auntie Debbie!  So if there are no updates until May, you'll know why, but I will try to update in a few weeks if I can.  As always, let's close with some photos and videos!

Laughing, March 20th (sorry for the sideways video):


Captivated by the fish at the aquarium:


Hanging out on the beach in Maui:


And photos, of course!

Mid-March Happenings

Just thought I'd update quickly tonight.  Things are going great here!  Theodore turned six months old on the 7th.  Since then he's started sleeping in his own room, and had his first tastes of solid food (rice cereal was a bust, he liked avocado okay, and then turned his nose up at homemade pears.  Tomorrow we try homemade sweet potato...) Big changes!

Yucky!

He had his six month checkup at the doctor's and weighs 14lbs, 7oz.  He's still in the 5th percentile for weight and 7th for height, but is growing beautifully along his curve and the doctor is very pleased with his progress.  We will be getting a referral to another pediatric plastic surgeon or orthopedist about his foot, but we don't anticipate any action being needed - it's just a consult so we have contact made in this area, vs. in Ottawa.

He's been sleeping quite well - he has his off nights, but more often than not, he has a great night, like the other day when he slept from 8:45 until 7:30!  And we've been going out and having lots of fun, as Grandma Carole and Granddad Bill are in town.  We went to San Francisco, to Palo Alto, and out on errands and for yummy lunches.  Grandma and Granddad are off to Mendocino for a few days, but they come back this weekend and then we are all going to Maui on Sunday!  We stay for five days, and are really looking forward to it.  I'm hoping Teddy likes the ocean - he loves taking a bath.

Having him in his nursery is going well, and we love the new furniture and decorations.  We aren't allowed to paint, so we got wall decals, and think it came out looking quite fun.

Super Mario nursery!

As always, here are photos - no video right now! - and I'll try to update after our vacation with photos from that.