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

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.  

First letter!

Dear Noah,

This is officially Mommy and Daddy's first letter to you, even though you are already 6 weeks old!  Mommy has been a little bit behind the ball in getting this going, even though she has been meaning to start this for a few weeks now.  I guess that's mostly because last week was the first week you and Mommy got to spend our days alone together, and Mommy needed some time to get into a routine with you.

In any case, after a rough start this week (you were very fussy and constantly hungry on Monday), we had a much calmer day yesterday.  So calm, in fact, that when the lactation consultant came to visit us at our home, she was amazed at how much of a cool customer you were.  Today has also been a pretty calm day.  You started off by waking up at 6:40am for some early breakfast (milk); then a nap, an early lunch (milk), a bath (which you have finally started to like...well, at least you like it enough that you're not wailing), a nap and then an early afternoon snack (milk again).  Since it was such a nice day and you were relatively well-behaved, you and Mommy went for a walk in the Ergo carrier.

We went to pick up some shrimp from JP Seafood for dinner and a few odds and ends on Park St.  We came home an hour or so later and you were still tuckered out.  Mommy left you in the Ergo infant insert for a while because you were sleeping so soundly.

When you wake up, you'll be happy to see that you got another package from your Grandpa (Gung Gung) and Grandma (Pau Pau).  They have mailed a second package of clothes and gifts from their friends for you.

You are one loved and lucky baby!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy