Finding Fingers (and Hands)

Dear Noah,

You have found your hands and fingers!  Mommy caught you putting them in your mouth here and there, and she has the following photos as proofs.

Yummm.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Jabs

Dear Noah,

You had your set of 2-month old vaccinations (or jabs, as the Brits would call them) last Friday at the pediatrician's.  You got 3 real shots (the nurse told Mommy they were of 1-inch needles, as though that would have made her feel better) and an oral solution.  You, for the most part, took them like a champ.  You only cried for a little bit and then calmed down after Daddy gave you the paci and held you.  Mommy was more upset seeing you get jabbed and actually cried more than you.  Silly Mommy, huh?

Here's a picture of the aftermath, after you were soothed and calmed by Daddy.

Here's a rather funny picture of you having fallen asleep after nursing, with the Cookie Monster bandages from the jabs on your legs...

You'll be getting shots basically every time we go to the pediatrician from now on.  Hopefully you won't be too bothered by them, just like at this appointment.

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Party Animal

Dear Noah,

You went to your first birthday party yesterday!  It was your baby friend Owen's 1-year old birthday celebration (Owen is Mommy's friend Teresa's baby), and man, were you a party animal.  :)

Here you were hanging out by the food.

You decided to have some fruit...

...and some pizza.

Here's the birthday boy with his Mommy, Daddy and his baby cake while everyone sang Happy Birthday.  

You skipped out on the singing, but did have some cake afterwards.  Yum.

After the party, we went for a quick walk around Lake Merritt and then came home.  You hung out with Daddy still wearing the matching "Oaklandish" shirts that Mommy got him (and you) for his birthday.  I think you were a bit upset that Daddy was messing up the shot with his crazy hair.

You played on your playmat for a while before taking your late afternoon nap.  

You starting grasping onto things!  Look who has gotten a hold of the keys!

All in all, it was a pretty good day.  :)

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

2 Months Old

Dear Noah,

You're 2 months old today - look at how big you've gotten!

This is the "official" 2-month-old picture.

Here are a few "outtakes."  Clearly, we're still working with you on your muscle control.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Week 6

Dear Noah,

This week was exciting because your Auntie Rima - one of Mommy's oldest and best friends - came all the way from Atlanta to visit you.  It was so great to see her, and she was really excited to meet you.  You really liked hanging out with her too and flashed her a few cute smiles.  She helped feed you, changed one of your diapers (you peed on her), did tummy time with you, and also cooked for you...well, she cooked for Mommy and Daddy, which is almost the same as cooking for you.

Here are a few pictures of the two of you together.

New happenings/milestones this week:

• You started napping in your crib in your own room this week.  We still use the rice bag Pau Pau made you to make you feel safe.  

• You have been used to Mommy and Daddy rocking you to sleep up until now, but this week, we started putting you down in the evening and letting you fall asleep on your own.  You really cried at the beginning - Mommy and Daddy would come into your room to comfort you after 10 minutes, or sooner if you cried so much that you started turning purple - but after a few times you were able to fall asleep on your own.  We were so proud!  We started a bedtime routine that consists of nursing you, changing your diaper and into sleep-appropriate clothes (although sometimes Daddy would dress you in a onesie intended more for going out), and then rock or bounce you on the bouncy ball while singing a few songs.  Mommy would always sing "Rainbow Connection" and "Lullayby" (by Billy Joel) to you, whereas Daddy would sing whatever tickles his fancy.  Daddy also likes reading to you too but you would always start crying after a page or two.  After the singing, we'd put you down, kiss you good night and let you go to dreamland.  Even though sometimes you change schedule on us, we try to be consistent in doing these activities so you'd know it's night-night time.
• You started sleeping in longer stretches.  There were a few 4 and 5-hour stretches at night!  Woohoo!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Week 1

Dear Noah,

Your first week seems like such a long time ago now, even though it really has just been 7 weeks.  Because everything about you was so new to Mommy and Daddy, and we were, quite frankly, exhausted, those first days seem like a big blur.  Here's what M&D remember:

• You had your first pediatrician appointment (outside of her coming to visit you at the hospital) when you were 4 days old.  Mommy and Daddy were a bit nervous venturing out of the house (the first time!), but luckily your doctor's office is within walking distance from home so we were able to take you there in the stroller.  You had already regained what you lost and back up to your birth weight, which was amazing!  Everything was on the right track in terms of you being a healthy boy.
• You ate every 1.5-3 hours and slept in between feedings.
• Your first regular pee diaper came on day 5 (your pee had urate crystals in them before then).  Mommy and Daddy were so excited because we knew you were dehydrated.
• Your first non-meconium diaper came on day 6.  Mommy and Daddy were, again, very excited.  Who knew we could be so thrilled about pee and poop?
• Gung Gung and Pau Pau busied themselves everyday with grocery shopping and cooking for Mommy and Daddy so we could focus on taking care of you.  There were all sorts of soup and Chinese food deliciousness.
• Your Grandpa Len (Daddy's Daddy), Grandma Laura (Daddy's Mommy) and Uncle Ben (Daddy's brother) arrived on Friday of this week for your bris.  We would also have a mini party for you to celebrate the occasion.  

Here are a few pictures from your first week, after you came home:

You were so tiny!

Your stubbly toes, including a crooked one.  Ha.

On our way to the pediatrician's office for your first visit since coming home!

First time peeing on Daddy since coming home.  We left you sans diaper for a few minutes to air-dry your bottom.  You took full advantage of the opportunity, aimed and fired!

First bath.

You HATED it.

Happiest after eating.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Piggy

Dear Noah,

Someone is a bit of a noisy sleeper, huh?

We still love you and think you're super cute though.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Sleeping

Dear Noah,

So you like to sleep.  A lot.  In lots of different postures...anytime, anywhere.  Well, I guess not anywhere because you 1) hate the carseat and would often wake up screaming if we put you in it, which makes getting out of the house sometimes very interesting...and taxing; 2) sometimes like your crib, but sometimes you cry when we put you down; 3) same goes for your swing, rock n play, the moby wrap and Ergo; and 4) sleep the longest/most soundly when Mommy and Daddy hold you.  

We love watching you sleep and sometimes take pictures of you sleeping because you look so cute and peaceful.  Here are a few from the last few weeks from Mommy's phone.  

Days 2-3

Dear Noah,

The rest of our stay at the hospital was relatively uneventful.  A revolving door of people kept coming into our room to conduct various tests on you and check up on you and Mommy.  Here are a couple of pictures of you and Mommy and Daddy during the few moments of calmness.

Both Mommy and Daddy tried to sleep when you were sleeping.

Because you came early, Mommy and Daddy weren't quite prepared in terms of their work - we both worked up until the day before you arrived!  Here, Daddy was holding you while checking his work email.  He was good though and didn't do anymore work for the next two weeks when he was home with you.

Gung Gung and Pau Pau came to visit and brought home-cooked food for Mommy and Daddy.  Even though the hospital food wasn't too bad, we preferred the homemade soups and cooked dishes.

On Monday, June 24, we were discharged and you were heading home with us for the first time!  Mommy picked a onesie that has the word "hello" printed in different languages - she thought it was cute and appropriate.  :)

Home sweet home!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy