First...high chair!

Nico graduated to the high chair over the weekend.

I was tired of trying to wedge his chunky thighs into and out of the little seat (the Bumbo).  It was really funny how Nico would just be so wedged into the seat that when I picked him up, the seat stayed on his bum!  But it was time to put him in a real high chair. I am sad to give away the little seat. It is a sign of the end of babies in this household.   He has also outgrown his infant bouncy seat and really, the Tiny Gym, too.  I won't put the Tiny Gym away yet, because that will be a HUGE milestone for me. And I'm not ready for that (yes, it is all about ME). So for now, I still put him down on the Tiny Gym every morning and pretend that he is a tiny infant looking up at the animals. 

We bought this high chair when I was pregnant with Gianna.  Bode used the Chicco high chair until he outgrew it. Then Gianna outgrew her high chair.  She moved into Bode's old Chicco high chair.  Gianna's high chair converts to a toddler seat.  So Bode was using it as a toddler seat. Rather than ask Gianna to move out of the Chicco and into the toddler seat, I asked Bode to move into a big boy chair.  He was resistant at first, but now he's sitting on a chair at meal times.  (Thanks, Bode!)  

These changes! You'd think that I'd start getting used to them.  But this weekend, I was sort of  sad to see Nico sitting in the high chair, and I was sad to see my first baby, Bode, sitting in an actual chair.

xo

Nico: First rice cereal

Friday, Nico had his 6 month well check. Yes, a little late, but we were sick when  his 6 month appointment came up and I had to reschedule.  The 6 month appointment is always a milestone because (a) it marks a half year, and (b) green light on eating solids!

Nico weighs 18 pounds and is 27 inches long.  He is healthy and developing great. Hooray!

His pediatrician gave us the OK to start solids. Hooray!

Saturday night, while the rest of his family ate burgers and french fries for dinner, Nico got a taste of yummy rice cereal.

He ate like a champ.  There was no hesitation on his part! He had no questions about what this thing called a "spoon" is for, and that the white stuff in the bowl was for eating. I approached with spoon (and cereal) in hand, and he opened his mouth, and swallowed, just like he's been eating from day one.  

Nico is the only one in our little family that had his entire family watching him eat for the first time! I have to admit that I made a big deal about it. I made everyone put down their burgers and fries and watch attentively as Nico took his first bite!  (If there had been a drummer/drum in the house, we would have had a drum roll. If there had a been a willing videographer, we would have video. Alas, RWF does not take these milestones as seriously as I do. I took photos between bites.)

And now, I must close and feed my children breakfast.  Bode and Gianna are very curious about Nico's rice cereal.  Hmm....  Just kidding!
Happy Tax Day to you. (ugh!)
xo

Carousel

I have been trying to keep the babies (and myself) entertained and busy this week.  Today I thought about going to the zoo. But I decided that wouldn't be a good idea with Bob being away.  So my next idea was to take the babies to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose. 

We rode the carousel over and over.  Why?  Because that is what Bode wanted to do!  I thought, "Why not?"

I finally persuaded him to go see some animals.  First stop was the goats.  Bode didn't like them.   Inside, I was very, very happy. I didn't want him petting the goats or any other animal.  In fact, he was pretty much off visiting any animals after the goats. So we washed our hands and then went to lunch. 

In keeping with this week's  healthy eating campaign (see yesterday's post), Gianna and Bode both ate cheeseburgers and French fries for lunch.  I also gave Bode an "alligator drink" (Gatorade) because it was hot out.

After lunch, we went to a small park where Bode rode the see-saw and swing.  Then we went back to -- can you guess?  -- the carousel.  Why not?

Happy Friday! 
xo

Bode: 2.5 years



My happy little hat-wearing guy!



Dear Bode, 

Suddenly, you are no longer obsessed with your cars.  I am hesitant to mention this, because I really think that this is a short-term break. It has been about 2 weeks, and it is strange that you're not racing cars on the back of the couch, talking about your cars non-stop,and asking me or Daddy to race a car with you. I really want to ask you why you are no longer playing with your cars, and why you no longer carry a car in each hand, and other car-related questions. But I don't want to draw attention to it. I am enjoying the break. Maybe you are, too.

A rare moment of interest in one of your cars yesterday.

So what are you doing these days?  Well, you have always been great about entertaining yourself. You can play for hours by yourself as long as I am nearby. But, instead of playing with cars for hours, you are getting into imaginative play. You will take two stuffed toys, or two pieces of food, or two of something and have them talk. You also like to tell us who we are, by announcing: "You Bert," "Daddy, you Count." "Gianna Snuffy." You love music, and ask me to sing songs ("Old MacDonald," "Oh, Susanna!" "Elmo's Song" "Rubber Duckie" and any other song you want me to make up on the spot). You spend a lot of time playing with your baby toys lately, because I pulled them out for Gianna.  If I give something to Gianna, it has your complete attention. You like to play with Play-Doh and stickers.  I think, in the future, you are going to be into dinosaurs and robots. You have already taken an interest in those two things, even though you've had little exposure to them. You love to read. And thanks to Aunt Melinda, you have a huge book collection. I love how you request books by the exact title, and how you surprise me by knowing a book by its cover and announcing its title like you are reading the words.

Reading with Daddy last night.



At 2 1/2, you are already reading and spelling! (just kidding) But you are learning your letters.



Daddy wants you to love the outdoors; and you do love being outside.  You like going outside for walks and just hanging around in our 'hood. It rained hard for about two weeks this past month. You really enjoyed splashing in the puddles!  You love going to the park, and still love to swing.

You still love to swing!

Sometimes, getting you to eat is a little tricky. You have definite opinions about what you will and won't eat. Sometimes you just don't want to eat and we have to stop ourselves from 'forcing'you to eat. You and Daddy have a green drink every morning. It is your little ritual. Daddy will put everything in the blender and announce, "Blending." And you and I both respond, "Blending." At first, when you were a baby, Daddy announced he was "blending" so as not to startle you when the blender roared to life in the kitchen. Now, we do it more as a joke/ritual.  Daddy blends up spinach, bananas, and another frozen berry and you boys drink it right up, clinking blender and juice cup together in a "cheers." At dinner, Daddy does a little reverse psychology on you, by picking up a piece of food from your plate, pretending to almost eat it while asking you, "Can I have this?"  Normally, you respond, "No, I want it," and then eat it yourself.  You crack me and Daddy up when you walk out of the pantry with a bag of food, announcing, "Oh, how 'bout this?" If you are interested in what Daddy and I are eating (usually when we are sneaking a snack), you'll ask, "Whaddya got there?" 

You can always eat a bagel. I don't think you've ever refused a bagel. I like to take you to the bagel shop downtown for a treat. It is a nice outing for all of us, where we can just sit together.  I can watch you take in the surroundings while you eat your cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese.

Big bagel boy

You still love to wear hats, or other things. The other day, I found an old yellow headband of mine. You wore it all afternoon.  I like your hair on the longer side, and am happy that you still have curls. But the headband pulled the hair off of your face and you looked absolutely gorgeous!

The next Rafael Nadal?

Last  night, after kissing and hugging you goodnight, I told you that you will be 2 1/2 years old (today). I said, "So when people ask you how old you are, you have to say, "I am two and a half years old." You just looked at me for a minute with those big blue eyes, and then said, "Hug, Mama." So I hugged you. And then you said, "Again!" and I hugged you again and again. Your age means nothing to you.  But it means a lot to me, because I worry about the day you are old enough to walk out the door on your own.  But you are right:  instead of counting the days, I should be counting the hugs.

Happy 2 1/2 years, Bode! May the rest of your second year be just as fun as the first half.

love,
Mommy