This was a busy Saturday night. Brian gave us tickets to the Microsoft's Chinese New Year show. There were lots of kids and babies so Andy felt right at home. He liked all the lights and colorful customs on stage. We ran into Li and her family at the show. Her 6 weeks old Amy weighted about the same as Andy now! Pictures here.
Then we went to Ashish's for a welcome-the bride party for his brother Apu, so we got to meet his bride Seema. We saw another baby there, 10 mo old Jasper. Watching Jasper walking wobbly with assistance, it's not too hard to see Andy will be doing that soon too. Pictures.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Walks
It's another beautifully sunny but chilly day. Ground is dusted with a layer of frost and you can see your breath. The mild Seattle winters have softened me. This would have been considered a warm day in WI.
On our morning walk around the block, I saw the "for sale" sign on the big corner lot around the block. It's such a huge lot that I had thought it was a park when first moved here. It has a archaic rusty tractor and some white geese on the lawn. The gray house also looks very ancient. We met the 80 year old lady of the house while walking one day. She asked how old Andy was and said she had 11 children and now they've all grown and left only her with the big house. I wonder how she is now.
We went to the park across the street for our lunch walk. Andy was staring at the only kid at the playground so we stopped by. The grandma picked up the kid so the two can "talk" to each other. I said this is Andy and the grandma said Marshe and talked to the kid in Russian more. So I translated the info to Andy in Chinese. I asked how old was Marshe. The grandma shook her head and said "... English ..." so I understood she didn't speak English. She spoke some more Russian to me and held up 3 fingers. I nodded and said yes he's 3 months and pointed to Marshe and asked. She held up 2 fingers, so his grandson is 2 years. Again we translated to our native languages to the kids. Marshe grinned at Andy. Andy stared at them more. And we said Goodbye. Grandma and I spoke different languages but understood each other perfectly, and the kids continue to babble on in their own languages. I thought it was cute.
On our morning walk around the block, I saw the "for sale" sign on the big corner lot around the block. It's such a huge lot that I had thought it was a park when first moved here. It has a archaic rusty tractor and some white geese on the lawn. The gray house also looks very ancient. We met the 80 year old lady of the house while walking one day. She asked how old Andy was and said she had 11 children and now they've all grown and left only her with the big house. I wonder how she is now.
We went to the park across the street for our lunch walk. Andy was staring at the only kid at the playground so we stopped by. The grandma picked up the kid so the two can "talk" to each other. I said this is Andy and the grandma said Marshe and talked to the kid in Russian more. So I translated the info to Andy in Chinese. I asked how old was Marshe. The grandma shook her head and said "... English ..." so I understood she didn't speak English. She spoke some more Russian to me and held up 3 fingers. I nodded and said yes he's 3 months and pointed to Marshe and asked. She held up 2 fingers, so his grandson is 2 years. Again we translated to our native languages to the kids. Marshe grinned at Andy. Andy stared at them more. And we said Goodbye. Grandma and I spoke different languages but understood each other perfectly, and the kids continue to babble on in their own languages. I thought it was cute.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
week 14
As soon as I complained about the eating spurt, Andy switched to the sleeping spurt, and soon he was back to normal.
Most notable development of the week:
- he slept through a whole night one time late last week, 11-6:30! I woke as usual around 3 and waited for him to wake up, but finally couldn't hold up and went pumping after an hour (he was still sound asleep). For the next few nights, we adapt to a new schedule of 11-4:30 or so with me pumping once around 1-2. So now I even build up a little pumped reserve that he gets an extra evening snack every day!
- We started the bedtime reading ritual. We always start with the "Snowman" book (it has fabric parts for touch), and then magazines. I'm amazed he always stays focused as I flip through the entire 150 pages of the "American Artist" magazine, even the ads pages. He's always eyes wide open, fascinated by the reading material. When my Parenting magazine comes, we read that too (and I point out cute girls).
- He developed a lot of hand movements. He is taking an interest in his hands, starting to differentiate the fingers or mimicking the hand gestures we show him maybe. He chews on an entire fist when he is hungry. Pictures here.
We had quite a bit of snow (by Seattle standard) Monday night. Tuesday was beautifully sunny and chilly. It feels like real winter. We went for a walk in the morning and he was fascinated by the white world. Pictures here.
Most notable development of the week:
- he slept through a whole night one time late last week, 11-6:30! I woke as usual around 3 and waited for him to wake up, but finally couldn't hold up and went pumping after an hour (he was still sound asleep). For the next few nights, we adapt to a new schedule of 11-4:30 or so with me pumping once around 1-2. So now I even build up a little pumped reserve that he gets an extra evening snack every day!
- We started the bedtime reading ritual. We always start with the "Snowman" book (it has fabric parts for touch), and then magazines. I'm amazed he always stays focused as I flip through the entire 150 pages of the "American Artist" magazine, even the ads pages. He's always eyes wide open, fascinated by the reading material. When my Parenting magazine comes, we read that too (and I point out cute girls).
- He developed a lot of hand movements. He is taking an interest in his hands, starting to differentiate the fingers or mimicking the hand gestures we show him maybe. He chews on an entire fist when he is hungry. Pictures here.
We had quite a bit of snow (by Seattle standard) Monday night. Tuesday was beautifully sunny and chilly. It feels like real winter. We went for a walk in the morning and he was fascinated by the white world. Pictures here.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
3 mo growth spurt
I was googling for "baby growth spurt" at 3am this morning after a frustrating feed. I hardly get any longer than 1hour stretch of sleep between midnight to 6am these days. Andy wants to eat almost every hour. I wondered if I was making less milk due to all the quarterly goal setting at work or that he's having extra appetite (probably from all the kicking workout). So I had to confirm my suspicion. Yes, he's on target for the 3 month spurt (and the next one is at 6 month) as he turns 3 months today. But after all the whining, I still couldn't get slightest angry looking at his hungry little mouth.
My officemates were training him in German and French today as he started to fuss. Aaron told of an interesting fact that babies spend 45% of energy in brain growth where as adults much less.
My officemates were training him in German and French today as he started to fuss. Aaron told of an interesting fact that babies spend 45% of energy in brain growth where as adults much less.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
13 weeks and last Snugglers class
Andy is 13 weeks today.
Most notable observation is that he kicks a lot; this has become his new workout routine. He contently sits in the bouncy chair and kicks in the air non stop for a good 20 minutes after a feed. And he does it several times a day -- sure getting ready for the next step. Pictures here.
We went to our last Snugglers class today. Andy is graduating since he's turning 3-months. We'll miss all the other babies in the class. We brought cookies for everyone. We went to say goodbye to the piano man afterwards at the hospital. We listened to Mozart's sonata intently. We did our little dance by bouncing and swinging to the music. I thanked the old man and got the K.V. number of the piece. I'll miss the good old Tuesday Snugglers time. Pictures here.
We found an Amazon package bigger than Andy waiting for him when we got home. He sure is a lucky bum, still getting birth gifts from my friends when he's 3 months! He liked the bright colors, smiled and did his kick routine to it. Pictures here.
Other misc:
- We had Brian and Qiaolan over for lunch on Sat, and their 9 month old Lily has grown a lot! She understands a lot and likes dipping her hand into mom and dad's bowls. Picture here.
- Andy discovered a new person he likes at the drawing session on Sunday: he and Don get along really well and Don likes to hold him. Picture here. And he had his first bus ride going to the drawing session. He was wide eyed looking out the window the whole time!
- I started working from home more since the new year, so I watch Andy in the mornings and Joe the afternoons. This seems to work out pretty well so far.
- A new language I started practicing this year: ASL.
Most notable observation is that he kicks a lot; this has become his new workout routine. He contently sits in the bouncy chair and kicks in the air non stop for a good 20 minutes after a feed. And he does it several times a day -- sure getting ready for the next step. Pictures here.
We went to our last Snugglers class today. Andy is graduating since he's turning 3-months. We'll miss all the other babies in the class. We brought cookies for everyone. We went to say goodbye to the piano man afterwards at the hospital. We listened to Mozart's sonata intently. We did our little dance by bouncing and swinging to the music. I thanked the old man and got the K.V. number of the piece. I'll miss the good old Tuesday Snugglers time. Pictures here.
We found an Amazon package bigger than Andy waiting for him when we got home. He sure is a lucky bum, still getting birth gifts from my friends when he's 3 months! He liked the bright colors, smiled and did his kick routine to it. Pictures here.
Other misc:
- We had Brian and Qiaolan over for lunch on Sat, and their 9 month old Lily has grown a lot! She understands a lot and likes dipping her hand into mom and dad's bowls. Picture here.
- Andy discovered a new person he likes at the drawing session on Sunday: he and Don get along really well and Don likes to hold him. Picture here. And he had his first bus ride going to the drawing session. He was wide eyed looking out the window the whole time!
- I started working from home more since the new year, so I watch Andy in the mornings and Joe the afternoons. This seems to work out pretty well so far.
- A new language I started practicing this year: ASL.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New year's day picture
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The holidays
12/27 Thursday
We had lunch with Qi's middle school friend Rebeka at G. She brought her adorable 17 month old Sierra. Andy was really intrigued by the bubble blowing. Rebeka demoed putting Sierra into the Ergo carrier on her back all by herself, that was pretty impressive. The two went on backpacking trip when she was 7 month old.
Picture here.
12/30 Sunday
We went to my friend Rebecca and Tom's for hot pot tonight. There was a smaller baby tonight: a baby girl of 1 month. Oh wait, there is an even younger one, in Rebecca's tummy (due in March).
Picture here
12/31 Monday
Andy's first new year's eve was simple. I cooked up a few dishes for lunch, and we made dumplings for dinner (turned out really good). He was intrigued watching us making dumplings and eating. I let him tasted the soup a little and he was just ok with it. We went to bed before 10 when it felt like 12. Qi bought me a nice new bed, so we had a really good night of sleep.
1/1 Tuesday
We sent uncle Qi back to California. Andy will miss him. Qi is especially good at soothing and putting him to sleep by carrying and bouncing him. Qi says Andy is his 10 pound dumbbell so he hadn't needed to go to gym here. He admits to getting sore from this weight training.
Andy turns 12 weeks on Christmas and 13 weeks on New year's day.
Bi-Weekly observations:
- He stays awake for most part of walks now. He loves looking at the clouds and the sky. He is interested in all kinds of scenery as if he's trying to take it all in. It becomes more fun taking him on walks; I would tell him what's what and he'd just listen instead of falling asleep on me now. I started using the Baby Bjorn carrier Brian got me -- it is so handy!
- More hand gestures. I've been teaching him the baby sign language for milk that I learned from Rebekah, and Andy started doing that gesture now even though he doesn't understand it yet. I thought it was cute.
- He lifts his head periodically when doing his "worm crawl" now.
- More sounds and a lot of expressions. He somehow learned the one side nose wink expression that I do sometimes (to keep my glasses on the nose). After a feeding, he often sits in the bouncy chair, and we converse for a good 15 minutes each in our own language, but with the mutual understanding of smiles and face making. He continues to drool a lot and having a foaming mouth when he talks too much.
Some pictures here.
We had lunch with Qi's middle school friend Rebeka at G. She brought her adorable 17 month old Sierra. Andy was really intrigued by the bubble blowing. Rebeka demoed putting Sierra into the Ergo carrier on her back all by herself, that was pretty impressive. The two went on backpacking trip when she was 7 month old.
Picture here.
12/30 Sunday
We went to my friend Rebecca and Tom's for hot pot tonight. There was a smaller baby tonight: a baby girl of 1 month. Oh wait, there is an even younger one, in Rebecca's tummy (due in March).
Picture here
12/31 Monday
Andy's first new year's eve was simple. I cooked up a few dishes for lunch, and we made dumplings for dinner (turned out really good). He was intrigued watching us making dumplings and eating. I let him tasted the soup a little and he was just ok with it. We went to bed before 10 when it felt like 12. Qi bought me a nice new bed, so we had a really good night of sleep.
1/1 Tuesday
We sent uncle Qi back to California. Andy will miss him. Qi is especially good at soothing and putting him to sleep by carrying and bouncing him. Qi says Andy is his 10 pound dumbbell so he hadn't needed to go to gym here. He admits to getting sore from this weight training.
Andy turns 12 weeks on Christmas and 13 weeks on New year's day.
Bi-Weekly observations:
- He stays awake for most part of walks now. He loves looking at the clouds and the sky. He is interested in all kinds of scenery as if he's trying to take it all in. It becomes more fun taking him on walks; I would tell him what's what and he'd just listen instead of falling asleep on me now. I started using the Baby Bjorn carrier Brian got me -- it is so handy!
- More hand gestures. I've been teaching him the baby sign language for milk that I learned from Rebekah, and Andy started doing that gesture now even though he doesn't understand it yet. I thought it was cute.
- He lifts his head periodically when doing his "worm crawl" now.
- More sounds and a lot of expressions. He somehow learned the one side nose wink expression that I do sometimes (to keep my glasses on the nose). After a feeding, he often sits in the bouncy chair, and we converse for a good 15 minutes each in our own language, but with the mutual understanding of smiles and face making. He continues to drool a lot and having a foaming mouth when he talks too much.
Some pictures here.
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