Holiday Cards

Taking holiday card pictures with an infant is not as easy as it looks when you see cute family photos. We still are trying. Here are a few tries.

Missing you Lolo

Lolo went home to Rochester last night to be with Papa Doug. We miss her. Stanley is missing his comfy sleeping pillow and walking partner.

2.5 months

In the last two weeks, Stanley has gone through an amazing transformation. Life for all of us is so much easier with him now. He has gone from a fussy little newborn to a very inquisitive, smiley, active little baby. He loves to look at anything and everything. In general, he will look at things for a few minutes and then move onto something else. But, for one dinner, he sat in his chair and watched the kitchen and me cook up an entire meal--granted it was just pasta, but is it a very big improvement. His fussy time in the evening is barely existent in the evening and he is sleeping much more soundly when he sleeps at night. 

Lolo realized that he absolutely loves to look at the Christmas tree.

Stanley Can:
- Almost grab items, but he does not seem to know he is doing it yet.
- Hold up his head almost completely. Though the bobble head comes back once in a while
- Wring his hands together as if he is plotting something very bad.
- Drink milk too fast and then make himself sick
- Stare at items for a while especially dad's napkin rings
- Follow items with both his eyes and his head
-Smile when smiled too 

Stanley Loves:
- His passifier when he wants it. Otherwise, he gags, a very effective way of having us take it out
- Loves his swing. It is a good thing we did not give this back. He LOVES his swing
- Nuzzeling into people's neck
- Sleeping swaddled
- The moby
- Sophia the giraffe
- His play station
- The Christmas tree

Stanley does not like:
- Riding in cars!
- Hot places
- Riding in cars!
- Being hungry
- Riding in cars!

Here are a few more photos from the past few days.

We got our tree in the Whole Foods parking lot this past weekend and walked it back by hand. I hope Stanley does not always think trees grow from parking lots as tied up bunches of green.

Nanny Supreme

Our Nanny Lolo is amazing. She has Stanley pegged. "He is fussing for one second and will go to sleep the next" (He did it) "He is hungry" (Yup) "He will calm down laying on my legs" (Works like a charm)

When I came home from work, Stanley was quite content with Lolo despite their clashing outfits.

And, even better, when I am home, Lolo, Stanley and I get to go on little adventures. We went to the deYoung museum yesterday afternoon. And, afterwords, Stanley got to have similar luck as he did the last time we were in Golden Gate Park (when he saw a hawk eat a squirrel). This time we got very close to a beautiful bird.

It isn't quite eating my hair as it looks in the picture, but it sure is close.

Again, he slept through it, but someday maybe he will notice the beautiful wildlife in the middle of the city.

Lunch at the Lab, Part II

Julia and Stanley came up to the lab in Berkeley again today to have a late lunch with me.  It was nice to see them during the day and the weather was absolutely fantastic.  About 70 degrees in Berkeley and bright shining sun.  We ate outside on the deck with a great view of the bay and San Francisco. 

Stanley also got introduced to a few more of my colleagues at the lab, which was nice.  Hopefully the nice weather stays around for the weekend. 

Aaaaanndd, We're Back!

In case you hadn't noticed, we got back just fine from Thanksgiving in Colorado.  I wore Stanley through the airport and Julia commented that, when I wear him, I get way more looks from other people, but less help.  Apparently a father wearing a baby in public is good cause to stare, but not to offer any assistance... 

The orange and blue is a nice combo, I think.

No matter.  Stanley was very well behaved the whole trip back to San Francisco, except for a bit of fussiness on the BART ride back home from the airport.  Stanley seemed to recognize his home for the most part and even found Mr. Zebra over the changing table waiting there for him. 

Our little buddha

Stanley went to the doctor on Monday for his 10 week appointment. Apparently we have a buddha, heavy weight champ or linebacker on our hands. He weighed in at 13 lbs and 15 oz. That means he has gained over 1 oz per day since his last check up. This puts him at about 95% for weight while being at 75% for height (23.5inches). His head circumference has always been on the high side following in the Cline footsteps (42.5cm).

I guess he seems to be eating well. Too bad there is more milk than he can eat.

This past week has been so much fun with Stanley and Lolo. Stanley is really talking up a storm. Plus, his neck is getting lots stronger. He loves to sit up on some ones lap and look around. And, for us, it is a lot easier to care for him. He can sit in his chair for up to about 10 minutes. Today we cooked an entire pasta dinner with him looking around in his chair.

This is a fun time. I like this age.