31 cent Scoop Night

Tonight was 31 cent scoop night at Baskin-Robins. Firefighers run the counter and collect donations for the families of fallen firefighters. We had an early dinner (and Anthony had an late nap) so we took a walk for ice cream. The line was enormous, but Anthony seemed to enjoy himself looking around at everything. I think he looks pretty spiffy in his little firefighter hat. Maybe next year he can climb around inside the firetruck.

He was in a good mood for a long time even though we were up WAY past his bedtime. Unfortunately, he started getting fussy right as Mommy started eating her ice cream cone. (A small scoop each of chocolate brownie and chocolate chip cookie dough in a waffle cone.)

We had a nice walk home and he went straight to bed.

Library Program

Tonight was our first day of "Babies and Books" at the local library. There were twenty families there, including a buddy from our Mommy class in the fall. We bounced and sang songs and nursery rhymes. Bob declared the class something that Daddies don't normally do in groups but he was game for the next two weeks. Anthony enjoyed it, but it was after his bedtime. (Fortunately he took a long nap in the late afternoon.)

The Mountain View Public Library really is a great library. They remodeled it during the Tech Boom (and re-did the computer system a few months ago.) The children's area is really nice. The whole library is actually really nice.

Unfortunately, the other library programs really don't start until he's 3. I predict that we'll be regulars at the Saturday morning storytime then!

Big Boy Carseat

Anthony hasn't quite outgrown his baby bucket, but its pretty darn close. I was also ready to move on--the ergonomics are pretty lousy for hauling in and out of day care. Since he's within an inch and a pound we got Anthony's new carseat. We were pretty much talked into buying the Marathon. I got it on sale at Target, but I'm still not convinced it is worth the money.

We're getting the Graco Comfortsport for Bob's car. Anthony rides in my car well over 90% of the time (I drive him to daycare and we use my car on weekends as I get better gas mileage.) I couldn't stomach the idea of spending that much on two carseats.

Anthony didn't seem to be impressed at all. (He'd also just gotten up from a nap.)

Summer jammies

It is apparently summer here. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten Anthony any summer-weight pajamas yet. Today I put him to bed in the t-shirt he got from being a labrat in Stanford's Cognitive Development lab. I didn't think the shirt was particularly good looking, but it makes good jammies.

(Poor little dude is looking a little blotto as he's about ready to fall asleep.)

Rag Dolls

When we were young, my mom made all three of us our own Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. I think I had one of each. Mom made Andrea a few new ones, too. Then Erika came along and she LOVED her rag dolls. In addition to all of our old ones, Mom made her a huge collection in a variety of sizes and colors. She carried them around with her everywhere!

Fortunately, my mother hasn't gone out of the doll-making business completely as Anthony has his own Raggedy Andy, too. (Yes, it even has a little heart.)

76 Trombones Led the Big Parade

Well, that's a slight exaggeration. The Mountain View Community Parade was actually led by a police car. But everyone else was there. This is the type of parade where there are far more participants than spectators. Anthony seemed pretty intrigued by everything. There were bands, fire trucks, clowns and every single youth group was well represented. In a year or two, he'll probably be walking in the parade himself!

Almost There!

Anthony is SO close to rolling back to front. He'll easily roll all the way onto his side with both his shoulders and hips at right angles to the floor. He just won't come back down on his tummy, though.

On tummy time--teacher commented Friday that he was starting to like Tummy Time. I expressed surprise and she clarified--now he's good for a few minutes rather than a few seconds. That sounded more like it! He can easily push himself up and stay up. Just doesn't like it for very long.

Our Good Eater

Anthony has pretty much decided that food is a good thing. He's eating his solids faster than I can easily spoon them into his mouth! His current food schedule looks something like this:
7:00 Morning Bottle
10:30 Second Bottle
12:00 (or so) Lunch: 3 T (dry measure) cereal, mixed with approx. 1 jar of prunes or pears and water to taste
2:30 Afternoon Bottle
5:00 (or so) Dinner: About 1 jar of vegetables
6:30 Bedtime Bottle

(Then sleep through the night)

All quantities of food are approximations. I make most of Anthony's food. 1 cube is approximately 1/2 a jar, but a lot of his food I made too thick, so then I add water to the cubes.

As for what he likes, the real question is what doesn't he like? He certainly loves his pears and prunes. Orange vegetables are pretty darn yummy, too. It took him about 5 tries for green beans, but then he wolfed them, too. (The green beans were homemade and did have some "texture" to them.)

So far he stays remarkably clean. No spoon grabbing, no smearing food in his hair, etc. I assume it is because these activities would interfere with the chief business at hand!

Bathtime, So Much Fun!

It is so much fun watching Bob give Anthony his baths. He loves to wiggle and kick and splash in the water. He also thinks its fun when Daddy pours cups of water over his fat little belly.

(Anthony doesn't even mind it when Daddy pours water over his head. I don't even like that!)

Bob is working on learning all the words to the "Rubber Ducky" song. Maybe I should make him a laminated songsheet!

Mama's Little Moose

Anthony had his six month check-up. Weighed in at 19 pounds, 13 ounces and is 27 3/4 inches tall. (If you believe that number.) It puts him in at 85% for weight and 90% for height.

He got 4 shots plus the oral vaccination. Didn't like them very much. Fortunately he handled them much better than his previous immunications, didn't even really run a fever.

We went to our adoption group that night and he was in fine spirits. He "played" with his buddy Eoin. Eoin grabbed Anthony's hair while Anthony went straight for Eoin's cheeks. (Eoin's Mommy thinks Anthony was going for the eyes, but I'm sure he wanted to chew on chubby cheeks.)

Speaking of chewing... Anthony loves to suck on his lower lip. I think it makes him look a bit goofy, though.

Give Peas a Chance

Peas were not the immediate success that carrots were. The first day he may have eaten two bites. Second day he ate half a jar, though.

I don't know if it will be sweet potatoes or green beans next.

Six Months Old

Where has the time gone?
It just seems like yesterday that we were bringing home this teeny little baby (okay, well he wasn't so teeny) home from the hospital, praying that he was to be ours.

Anthony has all sorts of new tricks up his sleeve.
Let's see:
1. He can sit. He sits very well, can play with his toys and still sit.
2. He has just started grabbing his little toes.
3. Rolling, well, he's done it a few times.
4. Grabbing. Anthony has discovered that he can grab my glasses. (And today he screamed when I took them back. How dare I deprive him of his toy!) He also likes to grab at my mouth. Food isn't safe if its within his reach, either.
5. Eating. He's pretty darn good at carrots, most of it goes straight down, very little squishes back out. We try peas tomorrow.
6. He's noticed the cat and finds her fascinating. He's even gotten some fist-fulls of fur.
7. If a toy is out of reach he'll really work and stretch to get it. (But not roll!)
8. Sleeping through the night. He's been doing it pretty darn regularly, 6:30 bedtime, wakes between 6:30 and 7:30.

And, he finally enjoys his baths. Especially when Daddy gives them.

By the way, look how big he's getting. Anthony's six month appointment is Wednesday, I'll have updated stats then.

Celebrate Adoption

There's a great non-profit organization called Celebrate Adoption that encourages participating photographers to donate their services to newly adoptive families. There weren't any photographers convenient to our house, but Tanja from Contemporary Expressions has a studio near Bob's mom in Colorado. While we were visiting, Anthony had his first professional photos taken.

Tanja was great! I heartily recommend her if you are in the area looking for a wedding/special occasion/portrait photographer. She was fun to work with and Anthony seemed to enjoy having his picture taken.

We started off with naked baby, then graduated to "naked baby with hat", then to clothed baby with Mommy and Daddy. About that time Anthony decided he was done having his picture taken. So, we don't have any photos of Anthony (alone) with clothes on.

But, isn't he the sweetest little thing ever???