Down and Back

And the most exciting thing of it all, is that Miles has figured out the walker. He took to it about a week before we came up here, but he has practiced and has really gotten better. He can't walk by himself... yet.

Santas and Snow Globes

Miles got the full tour of grandma's santas and snow globes on Christmas eve. While he liked them at the time, they have since lost his favor. It's really interesting to watch him figure out what he does and does not like.




...complete with the fake laugh!!

Fake laugh

Of all the weirdest things, Miles has developed a fake laugh. He does it for the same reason he does his "O-Face" (see week 42 in the weekly photo).

He is turning into a really funny little guy. I think he has a quirkly sense of humor, and he loves to make people laugh. He has his grandparents in stitches on an hourly basis and we are just enjoying the heck out of our funny little guy!

Merry Christmas!

Yes, we are several days delayed on posting!!! We are all up in Reno visiting with Grandma and Grandpa Reeth! Our days are filled with playing and laughing (Miles and his Grandparents) and napping (me and sometimes Tim)! I think the arrangement is working out perfectly for everyone!

hristmas day was a big success. The cousins (Kevin, Jeannie, Cody & Kylie) came down from Incline in a blizzard to spend the afternoon and early evening with us. Miles did a pretty great job with all of the commotion, but needed to have a couple of lower sensory moments when I took him aside to read to him. Miles more than cleaned up on gifts and such with lots of toys and clothes. He has spent the last week on the floor playing with most of them. Such fun!


More postings to come! We have lots more photos and videos of our little man and our vacation!

Week 0 - 42 :: Visually

Time for an update - way past due actually.

9 Months!!!

Wow.

9 months old.

So wonderful!!!!! He has changed so much and so quickly lately. He is really engaged with us, he is learning all sorts of new tricks, and continues to be such a lovely and happy boy.

We had our 9 month well-baby visit this morning. Miles only had to have a flu shot and didn't even cry -- big boy!!!

Here are some of his stats:

• Height: 28.5 inches 55th percentile.
• Weight: 19 lbs 7 ozs. 25th percentile.
• Head: 47.2 cm. 90th percentile.... I think I'll call him "noggin".

He is doing really well. He is advanced on his leg strength and standing up. He is super interactive and chatty. The doctor thinks he looks great and we are thrilled. Just love our little guy so much!

Get up, Stand up....

This weekend was a big milestone for our little man. Miles started practicing standing unassisted. Without any provocation from Mom or Dad. While standing and holding on to his radio flyer cart, Miles let go of the bar, first with one hand, steadied himself, then let go with the other. He stood, much to our amazement perfectly straight for a good 3-4 seconds. I rushed over to get my arms close enough to slow his inevitable fall. Miles gently plopped down into a sitting position. We were amazed. Quickly we fired-up the video camera and caught several practice sessions. The first to get on video is our favorite as it has Miles giggling at his own success in balancing himself.

What a wonderful experience. Our Miles is teaching himself.

Video from the Holiday Train

As promised, here are 2 quick videos from the Holiday train last Saturday night... clearly going to be an annual tradition!!!

Scoot, scoot

Miles still isn't up on all fours, but he is getting faster and faster! The other day he startled us as he darted a couple feet to get something that he really wanted. I imagine this kid is going to TAKE OFF once he figures out how....

"I promise I've been nice!!!"

Miles met Santa for the first time on Tuesday at the Intuit Winter Wonderland party for kids. Tim brought Miles down for about an hour, and the 3 of us walked through the party. They had tons of crafts set up for the kids including stuffing your own teddy bear, making a teddy-bear-t-shirt, painting maracas or clay figurines, building gingerbread houses etc... The only thing Miles could get into (he was a little young for all the crafts) was the maracas --- and there was no painting, just chewing. Tim and I did do the bear (frog) and the t-shirt mostly to commemorate the event, but we really enjoyed the party and the week-day time as a family. It's wonderful to work for a company, that despite these economic times, can still put something small scale together for us "working parents" I really do enjoy working for Intuit.

I can stand!!!

Peekaboo

Baptism Video

It's taken me a while to get the video software loaded onto my new work computer - but I've done it!

Here is the video of Miles being Baptized.

Best Bowler

Seriously.

On Monday, we had a Quicken Health Group team offsite at a bowling alley. Of all the crazy things (ever), I bowled a 185 - which meant that in all but 1 frame and my bonus frame, I scored a strike or a spare.

People kept asking me how often I bowl.... which is never... but they didn't believe me. The next highest bowler challenged me to a bowl-off, but I decided to "retire" at the top of my game.

Photos from the Holiday Train

I am still looking to get some of the videos downloaded, but here are some stills.

Miles Catch Up

I took some photos off the computer and am (finally) posting them up to Flickr.

Featuring Miles' 2 Teeth!!!

Crawling into (and out of) the bottom of the exersaucer

Showing Dad how well he can stand up!

Too many updates!

Ok, so work is still crazy. I have never been this busy in my entire life! Days are crazy hectic at the office, I just picked up 2 more projects with nothing removed. Evenings are crazy: Tim hosts engineers for dinner and work on a regular basis, I am jamming to needlepoint a stocking for Miles (won't have it done in time), I make Miles' food in the evenings, not to mention other household basics! It seems like blogging and keeping up to date on all that stuff has been de-prioritized for the time being!

Thanksgiving: (Yes, I know, 10 days ago!!!)
My folks came out this year for thanksgiving which was wonderful. I think we all agreed at the end of it, that it didn't really "feel" like thanksgiving normally does, but then, I am not sure what hosting thanksgiving with an infant actually feels like - so maybe it did!

I didn't make a whole turkey for the 5 of us, considering 1 of us (Miles) isn't quite there yet on his eating journey. I made a wonderful stuffed cornish game hen with a cream corn thing that was great - loved it!! I also made the requisite mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and herb rolls. Yeah, I think there was enough food for the four of us!!


On Friday and Saturday (11/28 & 29), we prepped the house for Miles' Baptism. Aside from completely redoing our landscaping (seriously), we gave the house a full wash-down. When Sunday arrived, we were off to the church for the event. Miles was in the baptism gown I wore, along with his 2 cousins Mary and Owen. He was great! We have a video of the event which we will try and post. It was past his nap time, but when the minister told him that he looked very serious, he let loose one of his world class smiles much to the delight of the congregation. After he was baptized, Tim took (our slightly fussy guy) out of the sanctuary and Miles fell asleep in his arms. So wonderful.

We got home and had around 32 for brunch. After and hour or so, Miles excused himself for a nap, but he was really a joy and a well behaved little man.


On top of everything else in our lives, last week we started with a new nanny. It was a hard decision for us and the Barretts, but we ultimately believe it was the right one.

This past weekend, we really got into the holiday spirit. On Friday, Tim avoided the crowds and picked us up a tree. Much to my surprise, it was gigantic and had to be trimmed a couple of times before it would fit! It is a beautiful tree and has been smelling up our house wonderfully all weekend.

On Saturday, Tim accompanied a friend of ours to pick out his engagement ring for his girlfriend. They actually spent a 1/2 day on Friday as well, but as of 3:00 Saturday, a beautiful ring was in hand, and by 8:00 pm, they were engaged. (Congrats Brandon & Jen!!!!!)

Saturday night, the Reeths came over and we went to see the Caltrain Holiday train. They basically put 40k lights on a train and drive it down the peninsula. They have a flat car, and in certain stations, they stop, and a band and choir appears on the flat car to preform. Santa, Mrs Clause and the reindeer were there as well! It was a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. Certainly Miles didn't get it, but it was a wonderful new tradition and a great way for us to get into the holiday spirit.

On Sunday, we spent the better part of the morning stringing lights onto our Noble Fir. I think we probably put up more than 2500 into the tree, but it looks wonderful! After Miles woke up from his nap, we went back down to Burlingame Ave where they had the whole street blocked off for an "open house" and parade. It really is wonderful to be in such a great community. After the Reeths took off, Tim and I put on more christmas music and finished the tree and the garland over the mantel. Before we put Miles to bed, we took a stroll through the neighborhood to look at all the holiday lights. We found a really wonderful house in-progress and met the man behind it. We will be sure to visit it again soon, and take photos.

Besides from busy, we are really blessed in our lives and find ourselves glowing in our love of one another - sometimes its just hard to keep it in.