First tooth...

It seems like Miles' first tooth is starting to come through! His front bottom right tooth seems to be it, and it feels like the top has already made it's way through the gum. It's a long way from a full tooth grown in, but it is definitely on its way!!

Happy Halloween!!

When we went to dinner at the Baptist's two weeks ago, I talked Tim into showing up "en costume" just for our entrance. Really, there was no purpose, but for a laugh or two... we mostly got odd stares, but it was fun! I love that Tim supports me in doing cray things like that!!

In a very UN-PC way, we call this one, "Pumpkin Jihad".


And to end on a sweet note...

He sees me!

Miles has a new trick! (He's full of them these days.)

Previously, when you held him, Miles would look around the room - interested in anything but you. Holding him was always gratifying because you got to touch him and smell him, but if you wanted to see him, your best bet was to have someone else hold him so he would look at you.

Now, he leans a little back, and will just stare at you. It's like he is just now noticing who has been taking care of him all these months. It feels like he is making a connection with us. Now holding him is wonderful - you get everything from before, plus the sense that he knows who you are... and he appreciates it. (Maybe I am projecting the last bit, but it really is getting more and more wonderful.)

Can't seem to delete this photo... so enjoy!

Welp, I guess we asked for it...

Check out the video of Miles crawling (if you can call it that). He's finally and perhaps regretfully mobile. He has a range of about 6 feet and hour :)

We're so happy for our little man and can't wait to see how fast he progresses to a blazing holy terror.

The above is angled (sorry) so we could capture the vast distance Miles was able to cover in our little digi-cam frame. He's pretty quick compared to standing still.

All Fours?

Miles is starting to get the hang of the whole crawling thing. Though I (certainly!) wouldn't call him a crawler yet, he is getting up on all fours and starting to rock. He has also started to do the army crawl to get across the rug. He pulls more with his arms than he pushes with his legs, but he has come really far really quickly... and we expect our lives to change dramatically soon.

Fun in the tub!!

Last night our little man couldn't have been cuter in the tub. He has really taken to bathing, and as his muscle control is getting better, he is splashing and playing more and more - which is really fun to watch....except for the fact that our kitchen floor is SOAKED at the end of it. We know we'll need to start bathing in the tub soon, but I really enjoy hanging out with him on

Action shot of the splashing

TIRED!!

This whole full-time-mom and full-time-employee thing is really taking its toll on my body. Last night after I got Miles to bed and Tim cooked up some pasta, I fell asleep on the couch... at 8! Tim woke me up at 8:30 to go to bed. After I pumped and read for a minute to re-unwind, we were in bed by 9:26 and asleep almost immediately... at least I was.

Miles has been mostly sleeping well. He typically is down at 7 on the dot. He has been off and on about waking up around 5 for a feeding and then back to sleep. Last night, he woke up at 4 screaming. We waited a bit, and when he didn't settle down, Tim went in to comfort him. Miles then slept until 6:50. Though this isn't ideal, one waking in the early morning is certainly manageable, but towards the middle / end of the week, I am spent.

Cutie PANTS

I am not sure when these were taken, but Tim sent them along to me last night, and I think they are about the cutest photos to date.... I say that with every photo I have seen of Miles - but it just feels like his personality is oozing out of these.

Halloween Around the Corner!!

For the first time in 25years, I'm looking forward to Halloween. Was never much of a trick or treater as a kid and certainly did not do the whole Halloween dress-up parties as an adult; in my mind, the two never really went together. This year its different.

The Grand-Reeths sent Miles a costume to wear (or not) for Halloween. We gave it a test run this weekend at the annual Burlingame Mothers' Club Halloween Parade. It was Saturday and we with a few other families met first for coffee and pastries before heading to the parade. Miles was all dressed up as a small orange pumpkin, He looked great and was a hit on "the ave". It was great fun to dress him up and take him out...I must admit.

On Sunday, Lina, Miles and I joined Kevin, Jeannie, Cody and Kylie at Lemos Family Farm, where we went on train rides, walk-thru the Haunted House (with the lights on), sat in the pumpkin patch and watched Codey and Kylie of ape sh*t in those air filled bouncing houses.

We even had Cody, Kylie and (look close) Miles take pictures in the wooden character cut-outs (ANYONE with the actual or better name please help).

It was a great weekend and we're looking forward to the actual day to go out and do some trick or treating.

Dear Miles:

We watch you sleep - arm in arm and in total awe. We stand over your crib at least twice a night to see you breath and surround ourselves with your scent.

I can't help myself, but I sometimes have to lean over and touch you, I need to feel your warm little body and soft hair. Sometimes I'll put my finger in your hand and wait for a little sleep-sodden twitch to touch me back, albeit briefly. I can't go to bed without saying goodnight to you again.

You are amazing, and we can't believe how perfect you are and how blessed you have made us.

Bags of clothes

I just love our local Mother's Club!

Someone in the club posted that they were selling 2 garbage bags of clothes for boys 12 - 18 months for $50. I bought them.

It was like going through a grab bag last night as I pulled out more and more clothes from baby gap, gymboree, children's place, and other such stores. I feel like I won the lotto! Some of the sweatshirts from there would probably cost $15 - $20 brand new! Maybe I am cheap (which I am), but I am definitely practical, and purchasing a wardrobe for Miles for $50 that he'll wear for 6 months, feels just about right!

Epicurean?

Miles seems to be a pretty easy going little guy when it comes to food... other than potatoes. He is a champ at fruit - at least apples and pears. And he has been taking to his veggies to: sweet potatoes, carrots and peas. He like peas!!!

The other night at dinner, I was feeding him rice cereal with apples in it. And then a side order or sweet potatoes. He seemed more interested in eating his hand (which he does when he gets tired) than his food, so I mixed it all together. He still wasn't too interested in eating it until I started calling it his "fall harvest risotto" at which point the hand came out of his mouth and I shoveled it all in. Apparently, he likes his risotto.... my little foodie!!!

New 'Tone?

Yesterday, Jennifer reported that Miles sat up in Augie's crib... by himself.

Apparently he wasn't sleeping well in the pack 'n play, so she tried the crib. She put him down and walked away, but within about 10 seconds he was across the crib and sitting up on his own. Crazy!!!

I tried my hardest to get him to do it once we got home, but no luck. We're certainly keeping our eyes peeled for it!!

Yesterday's photo from Jennifer's phone

Happy 7mo. Birthday!

Today we celebrate Miles' 7mo. Birthday!! Its been a wonderful 7 months watching our little man grow. He has brought Lina and I so much joy. Its hard to believe that he has been here for 7mos and at the same time, that its only been 7mos. Can't hardly recall a time without him.

Miles is 73% crawlable. This means he throws his arms, legs and head around violently while resting on his torso; all the while huffing and puffing as if he was closing on the last 5 yards of a 7K crawlathon. Mom and Dad sit at the imaginary finish line applauding his effort; with open arms we smile and await his crossing the tape...come on Miles, come on...

Miles now sleeps thru the night - regularly. In the past few weeks, he has slept 12 hr. nights, all uninterrupted and we have had to wake him in the AM a few times for feeding, changing and dressing as we start the day. Its great to sleep thru the night, but the best is standing over his crib with Mom to wake him and watching his tired eyes open for the first time, his struggle to wake fully and his first recognition of his parents smiling back at him.

Happy Birthday Dude! You are loved immensely.

Nanny Sharing!!!

This past week marked the first time we actually started the "share" part of the nanny share.

Rob, Allison, and Augie Barrett are officially in our lives (which is great because they are wonderful people). As a group we hired Jennifer and she will watch our 2 little boys during the day while we work. Allison goes back to work on Wednesday of next week so Miles and I met Jennifer over at their house both Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

On Wednesday, there was certainly a "transition" which I knew there would be. Miles was totally excited by the new house, new rooms, new people, new sounds, and new toys! Needless to say, he wasn't a dream napper. Apparently at one point, the 2 boys totally lost it. But Jennifer figured out how to get through it and by the time Allison got back from errands, the boys were calmly playing in Augie's crib.

Yesterday went better. Miles napped well and I think Jennifer is getting her feet underneath her figuring out how to balance 2 infants. Augie is 3 months younger than Miles so he isn't quite as predictable with naps, but Jennifer is getting them under control. The great part is that the boys are FASCINATED with each other - though I was told yesterday that Miles was acting a little jealous that he didn't get all of Jennifer's attention. I think it is wonderful that Miles gets to grow up with Augie as most of the other babies we know are all girls!!

Yesterday afternoon, Jennifer took the boys out for a walk. It was before we got the double stroller (which is now in our possession) and apparently Miles fell asleep in the stroller while Augie was in the baby bjorn. This was apparently fine until Augie decided (decidedly!!) that he did NOT want to be in the bjorn anymore. At which point, Jennifer was trying to carry Augie in her arms while pushing Miles up a very long and steady (sometimes steep!) hill. Needless to say, she didn't need to go to the gym last night.

All in all, Miles seems to be enjoying the experience. Jennifer sent this from her phone to me yesterday while he was in Augie's jumper. I am thrilled with how the week went, how well Jennifer can handle the two boys, and generally excited about the solution to Miles' care while I am at work.

Lobster: 1. Lina: 2

Since I was a little girl, I've had lobster on my birthday. This year was no exception.

However, this year, one of the little buggers was trying to make up for years of my murderous tendencies, and threw boiling water on me as we put him in the pot. It splashed up on my eyelid and my bicep enough to burn me a little - but no blisters like the noodle. (Not my week for burns!)

He may have won a battle; but I ate the bastard so I think I won the war.

Family Photo

Joely took this early Saturday morning before she scooted. It only reminds me of how few family photos we have.

Thanks Joely!!!

Weekend Roundup

What a good weekend.

Friday night, Joely (who moved to Texas last year) spent the night with us. She had a good visit with the little man before he went to bed, and then we talked long into the night. Ok, it was until 10:30, but that is the latest I have been up for a while!

On Saturday morning, we had another visit before she left for the airport. Tim scooted out to the grocery store for me and I frantically cleaned the house to prep for my mommies group coming over. We didn't have all of Miles' girlfriends, but he did spend some quality time with 2 of them. They left around 12:30 and I cleaned up again. At 3:00, Frances (who rang the bell at our wedding) came over and we had a lovely visit with her. After Miles woke up from his last nap, we headed down to Burlingame Ave for the early-bird special at one of our favorite restaurants. We had a bottle of wine, some tapas and appetizers and were home by 6:15.... and in bed by 9!

Today was far less social, but we had some good family time, while getting things done around the house. I have a new sadness for Sunday night as tomorrow I have to leave my little love for the week. This week is going to be a frantic one for me at work. We will also have 2 days at the Barrett's house (for the nanny share), so I am sure that will be a bit disruptive to Miles and our schedules. Oh well, we have to figure it out soon anyway!!!

Cockadoodledoo!!!!

Jennifer got Miles giggling yesterday...




It makes me super happy to see him super happy when I am not around. He is in love with Jennifer and flirts mercilessly with her when I get home... all good things!!!

Noodle: 1. Lina:0

Tim and I were making a pasta dish this week with little shells. I went to test the shells doneness and completely burned my lower lip from the liquid that was caught in the shell. I have been walking around all week with a red stripe right down the middle of my lower lip - almost like I tried to paint a "rosebud" lip over my natural lips.

Nice.

Sweet Little Love

I came home from work yesterday and Jennifer said it was time for a bottle and Miles was "ready" for a nap. I fed Miles and put him up on my shoulder to burp him. He settled quickly into the nook of my neck, and immediately fell asleep. It was the first time that Miles has slept on me in months -- and I cherished it!!!! We started sleep training when he was 16 weeks old, and he has been sleeping in his crib since then. I loved him snuggled into me. As he gets older, I imagine these moments will be harder and harder to come by, so I will appreciate them as I get them. What a way to wash the day off -- it's amazing how all the noise of work can disappear into the sounds of a sleeping six month old.

In sad news, he's lost his infant smell. I am not sure if that went away when he started solid foods or if he just grew out of it, but he doesn't smell that sweet baby smell. :(