Along for the Ride

For the last two months (I turned 2 months a few days ago), I've gone along for the ride. I nicely slept through my big sister's birthday party, I go to story time every week -- sometimes twice! -- and behave myself, and I've even started enjoying going to the mall, shopping, and playgroup. But I CANNOT believe what you put me through when it snowed! The first snowsuit was fine, snuggly even, but the SECOND?! SERIOUSLY?! I think it was just your excuse to actually say you used those snow suits you got. And all to be put in my rocker where I couldn't roll around in the white stuff. For shame.

Mmmm, toasty warm.

Wait, why are you zipping up again? I'm already dressed!

No! Nuh-uh! This is ridiculous!

I'm the Stay Puft marshmallow man
with my legs and arms stuck straight out

My brief moment in the snow ...

... Before having to enjoy the rest of the time from the porch

Everything else is going well, though. I hope Mommy enjoyed her Valentine's card from me and Claire, and I appreciate someone finding me something to wear for Chinese New Year (I don't own too much red).

Happy Valentine's Day and Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Claire can be my Valentine's this year

I'm smiling and cooing a lot more these days, especially if you catch me right after I wake up. I'll have whole conversations with you if you're willing to hang around long enough. Tummy time is going great, and I'm happy to hang out for minutes at a time just staring at everything around me. It's hard to catch on camera, though, since I tend to fixate on Mommy's red camera and forget to actually do anything but stare.

Chattin' it up

Checking out this side of the mat

Auntie Debbie and Uncle Teddy came to visit us. It was quite an adventure just getting to us, and I'm so glad they came. We went out to my first restaurant experience (Los Lupes, yum) and then to Jacob's house to play.

We had some wonderful visitors come
shower us with love and see my cuteness in person.

I've really enjoyed being carried a lot and try to show my appreciation by only crying when I'm tired and by sleeping in my box as much as possible. Hey, I can't help it that Mommy doesn't bother putting me back in bed sometimes when she's too tired! You'd be surprised how soothing it is to chase a toddler around the house, maybe more for the passenger than the driver or the target.

Relaxed in the Ergo.

Mommy prefers the Metro wrap when folding laundry

She says she can maneuver the best
because it's almost as if I'm in her belly again!

Again, just along for the ride

I haven't yet decided if I'm going to use anything as my lovey, but I'm starting to dig this longhorn that they keep sticking in my mouth. Hook 'em!

Maybe I'll just stick my whole fist in my mouth to soothe

Trying a little bit of everything

I know I'm not sucking right now,
but there's no need to take it away quite yet

I guess that wraps up February. Make sure you check out all the pictures in our February album!

And Six Weeks After That ...

I just turned six weeks old, and to celebrate we had my one-month birthday party. Huh? Well, we decided to take advantage of family coming in town -- Po-Po, Gong-Gong, and Da-Jiu came for my big sis Claire's 2nd birthday -- to have my one-month birthday party at the same time ... which is fine since technically the party should happen when I'm 100 days old, so it's not like we're exactly breaking any tradition. I'm not exactly sure how her party went (you'll have to check her blog instead) since I slept the WHOLE time, but I did like having all that family in town!

My red eggs decorated by Mommy, Daddy, and Claire

A toast to Gavin!

Gavin Pee ... that's me!

With an an active social calendar and a sibling in school, I've managed to pick up my first cold. In fact, our whole family was sick the same week! I'm a pretty good sport about it, though, even if I don't like the nose spray. And with my curiously strong nose, Mommy can't even pinch the snot out!

Ready to go to the store

Found my fingers and discovered they're fun to suck.
Sometimes I have to use the other hand to hold it in, though.

I'm still sleeping pretty well including a long(ish) stretch between 10:30pm and 2:30am. Plus, I sleep in my own bed (well, my own box inside my own bassinet) which is pretty nice for Mommy, but somehow I still find myself in her arms in the wee hours when she's too tired to put me back in bed.

Typical morning: Still in PJs with Claire reading and me doing tummytime

If I had any teeth, I might bite you

I'm working through some cradle cap issues right now, though it's mostly afflicting my eyebrows (I guess since it's hair?). I'm enjoying sitting more upright and checking out the world around me. Don't think I can see that far yet? Just try me.

Who's that in the middle? I look like him. Oh, it's Mommy!

Working out my freakishly strong neck

How else can I check out what's going on around me?

With Gong-Gong in town, you KNOW he took lots of pictures of me. There's even a montage of the many faces I make when I sleep. Mommy selected a few (out of the hundreds) and put them up in our February album!

One Month Well-Baby

Got my one-month well-baby checkup today, and I'm doing just great. I've gained even more weight, got even longer, and am a peanut head just like my big sister. Here are my actual numbers:

• Weight: 10lb 1oz (75%; up from 8.5 lbs)
• Height: 21 inches (50%; up from 20.5 inches)
• Head: 14.5 inches (40%; no change, hence peanut head)

4 week old me, my bear, and -- oh, yes -- my sister

Yeah, buddy

It's probably because my head's not that big that I'm already able to lift my head up during tummy time and check things out. I'm also happy being held upright so that I can check out the world around me.

My day alone with Mommy; what are we going to do all day? Sleep? OK!

After Mommy and Daddy took away my formula supplements, I decided to throw out my regular eating schedule and like to change it up to keep everyone on their toes. Sometimes it's three hours, sometimes it's 2, and every so often I'll go four hours just to keep it spicy. But since Mommy didn't even bother forcing the whole bassinet thing this time around -- something about sleep being more important than "expert recommendations" and that she would do what the experts say if the experts lived with us and did it themselves -- it's easy to just pick me up out of my co-sleeper and head over to the chaise for a sleepy middle-of-the-night feeding.

Nai-Nai helps Claire "bao-bao baby"

Ye-Ye and Nai-Nai take a picture with the grandkids before they go home

Life has been good. I got my first real bath, found the ever popular zebra in the bassinet, have gone on walks, and even attended playgroup. I got to meet lots of aunties and new friends and have been showered with lots of love. The general consensus so far is that I'm such a good baby, very chill, though I definitely have my moments. If I'm fussing, I'm probably ready to go to sleep and just waiting for you to figure out the right hold, bounce, sway, or wrap.

Ah, this is GOOD

So you're the zebra I've heard so much about

I look like I have no arms but at least I'm warm

My first walk to the park

At my first playgroup

I spend lots of time just following my big sister around, but that's okay because Mommy's got me in the Ergo carrier, so I'm nice and cozy. She was supposed to go back to school full-time after Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye left, but we're having so much fun, she hasn't really gone back as much as she could.

Ergo-ing

Can you see the little gift my Jie-Jie left me while no one was looking?

I'm sure there's enough room for two in here

Lucky for Mommy we both passed out

Mommy and Daddy have discovered that I'm not a huge fan of the pacifier. Sure, I'll take one of those things every so often, but it's just not for me. I like to be all dramatic and gag on them. Quite a shock after my sister, but they'll just have to find other ways to soothe me. Hey, we don't want to make it TOO easy on them, right?

Giving the Wubbanub a try

I know it looks like I mostly just sleep ... and sleep ... and sleep, but what's a guy to do? But there's lots more pictures of me (awake!) in our January album if you'd like to check it out!

2-Week Well-Baby

The last few days have been busy! Since my last posting at 5 days old, I've been introduced to the bottle, had tummy time, and been laid out to bake a little longer in the sun's rays (well, what actually gets through these new double-paned windows).

Nekkid and stuck on my stomach but with a hat?!
How humbling.

Being comforted

I can SEE it ...
I swear I can almost reach it
if I could move my arms on command

Froggy feet as long as Mommy's finger

We took the time to get a family picture together before Mommy's family left. Here are some shots:

I may be the littlest baby now, but just you wait!

They even tried to put me in a stocking for one picture.
Nuh-uh. No way.

Thank you, Gong-Gong and Po-Po,
for doing such an incredible job
welcoming me to the world

Right now we're enjoying the company of Nai-Nai and Ye-Ye (Daddy's parents) who arrived when I was one week old. They're going to stay with us for three whole weeks to help take care of me, my Jie-Jie, and my Mommy (and, by association, Daddy of course).

Mommy and Ye-Ye took me to my 2-Week Well-Baby appointment today, and it was good news all around. I have no signs of jaundice anymore, and my weight has increased at an above-average rate (27 ounces in 10 days?!). Dr. Frank gave Mommy the OK to stop supplementing, though he did mention that we could keep supplementing if we want Daddy to do a feeding at night. :) Mommy's not sure whether to disrupt the great schedule I've already set for myself where I eat every three hours and sleep pretty much the whole time in between. Why mess with a good thing?

Sharing one of my many naps with Daddy

Sometimes (okay, often) I fall asleep when I'm getting burped.

I had to go back to the hospital again for another prick on the heel of my foot for the newborn screen, but after one wail, I had forgotten the whole incident already.

• Height: 20.5 inches (50%)
  
• Weight: 8.5 lbs(50%)
  
• Head: 14.5 inches (50%)

LOTS of extra pictures in the January album if you want to check them out!