margaretyagan

Well, I had my first cold today.  It’s really hard for me to eat or breathe because I can’t breathe through my nose.  But I was really excited to have Mom back after her week-long trip to Europe!

Mom didn’t get in until really, really late last night, so she spent most of the day catching up on sleep while I hung out with Dad.

Despite Nana’s suggestion that I stay inside all day, Dad and I started the day with a trip to Dominick’s.

I also took a couple steam showers with Mom (that’s where Mom & I get in the shower and the steams clears up my nose!).

Mom, Dad, and I went for a walk in the evening and then I went to sleep…

Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words…I say a video is worth two pictures! We didn’t take any pictures today (Nana & Grandpa had their hands full with me!), so here’s a video from last weekend that I thought you’d enjoy:

Well, I was sleeping perfectly well when all of a sudden I heard some noises in my room. Oddly, it was Dad and it was 4:30 am. That made no sense to me! Anyway, so since Dad was around and I was up, I screamed for my bottle — which, mysteriously — Dad already had with him! So weird.

I woke up for the day at 6:20 and Nana came and got me out of my crib. More weirdness. To celebrate the weirdness, I woke up with a huuuuuge poop. Good morning!

The day got pretty normal after that. I at at 7:00 and 10:00 in the morning, with a nice nap in between. I also read with Nana and entertained myself better than I usually had. Nana and I went to Wicker Park for about an hour and saw what appeared to be Mexican festivities.

Anyway, I had my last bottle of the day exactly at 8:00, as usual, but Nana gave it to me in my room (Nana never feeds me in my room!). After I ate, Nana put me in my crib and that was that. Where were Mom & Dad?!?! I saw Dad ever-so-briefly, but I’ve never gone to sleep without either of them around!

Well, it seems like this was a really big deal — and I missed Mom & Dad — but it all went so smoothly.

My night was uneventful. I woke up at 4:00 for a bottle and then 6:30 for the day. I was a bit fussier than usual today and I think I’m coming down with a cold! I think I got it from Dad…Nana always tells him to stop kissing my face, but he never does! I took really, really short naps, mostly because I had trouble breathing through my stuffy nose (it’s actually hard to drink of a bottle with a stuffy nose, too!).

Nana did a great job putting me to bed and I was fast asleep by 8:30.

My night was totally uneventful until I woke up around 4:30.  Dad gave me a botle and I fell right back to sleep, until around 7:00.  Nana was really excited to have me and she grabbed me out of Dad’s hands.  I got a bottle around 7:30 and then Nana and I headed out to the park until about 9:00, after which I took a one-hour nap.

I woke up, ate, and played for a bunch with Nana and Grandpa.  Dad came back from his conference (skipipng the last couple sessions!) and went down to the office to work.

Perhaps the most exciting part of my day was that I got a new piece of equipment: a spinner!  I can’t remember who got me this gift (before I was even born!), but it wasn’t until today that Dad got it out.  I totally love it!  I lifted my head higher than ever, started supporting more weight on my arms, and got to spin around in circles. 

I got a bath from Dad and then Nana handled my bedtime routine so that she could be consistent tomorrow when she’s in charge!

I woke up three times overnight as the worst thunderstorm of my life rolled through Chicago.  Luckily all I needed was my pacifier to get back to bed, but between my waking up and the risk for storm damage, Dad definitely didn’t get much sleep.  I woke up for the morning around 6:00, but I was more than just hungry — you know it, I had a huge poop.  I ate and went back to bed until about 7:15, when Dad brought me downstairs and took off for his conference. 

Nana helped me do my exercises in the morning and then took me for a walk to the park.  After my first two feedings in the morning, which are still pretty close together, I’m definitely getting closer to about 3 hours between feedings (it helps that I’m getting 5.5 ounces per bottle these days!).  I took four naps today, only one of which lasted more than two hours.

Dad got back from his conference and went to work down in the office.  At around 7:15, he strapped me into the Baby Bojorn and took me for a walk (designed, I think, to distract me until bedtime).  We walked “the triangle” — Damen to Milwaukee to Division.  As soon as we got back, Dad got my bottle ready (thanks, Mom, for the milk you left me!) and put me to bed.

I did Dad a huge favor by sleeping 8 hours and not getting up for a snack until 4:30 am.  Dad brought me a bottle and then I fell right back to sleep until 7:00!  So, 10.5 hours of sleep with only one quick snack.  Nana was already up and about getting my bottles ready, eating breakfast, and generally getting ready for me to come down the stairs.

As soon as I did, she grabbed me out of Dad’s arms and the fun began.  I ate at 7:30 and just as Nana and I were about to go the park, it started storming.  When there was a break in the clouds, we ran out for a quick walk until it started sprinkling.  Mom covered up my stroller and brought us back home.  I had a huge poop and then ate again at 10:30.  I ate at 1:00 and then had play time with Grandpa while Nana rested for a bit.  Grandpa didn’t notice my  second huge poop of the day — Dad noticed after I started screaming and he went to pick me up.

I fell asleep at 2:25 and Grandpa took me up to my crib, instead of putting me in my bassinet.  That didn’t last long, as I was up again before 3:00.  Then, still having not eaten since 1:00, I fell asleep at around 3:50…and I slept…and I slept…and I slept…and I slept…until 6:20!  That’s a 2 1/2 hour nap and 5.5 hours between feedings!  I don’t think Mom would be too happy!  Grandpa gave me my bottle and then even though Dad asked if he could take me on a walk, Nana insisted on taking me for my evening walk.

We got back, Dad gave me a bath, and then I got my first, last, and only bottle of real milk today.  (Dad was going to go all-formula all-day and consolidate the war-chest toward the end of the week, but Mom phoned in a request from Cambridge, UK, so Dad conceded.)

I got up for the day around 6:00 and as usual on a Sunday, Dad got up to hang out with me while Mom got to sleep in a bit.  We came downstairs and immediately started “exercising” — which is what Dad calls the various physical development drills that he puts me through every day.  I then played in my jumperoo while Dadquickly threw together a meal that would eventually be Mom’s and Dad’s lunch.

As soon as it struck 7:30, we headed out on our first errand, which was to Home Depot, where we bought two fire alarms (although Dad can’t seem to find them now; maybe we left them in the shopping cart!) because Mom is convinced that the ones we have in our house don’t work.  After that we went to a Bank of America ATM so Dad could make a deposit and withdraw some cash for Mom.  Finally, we went to Whole Foods to buy some fenugreek for Mom.

We were so productive on our trip that we were done with errands before Mom would want to get up, so, not surprisingly, we headed out to Starbucks (Dad had thought ahead and brought his computer!) where I took a nap and Dad got some work done.  When I woke up we headed back home where Dad gave me a bottle.

Dad went for his morning run (on our treadmill) and I hung out with Mom upstairs in her room while she packed for her upcoming trip.  They ate lunch, I took a nap, and eventually Dad and I headed out for another set of errands. 

I hung out with Mom most of the evening … until 7:00 when all of a sudden Mom got into a funny-looking car and with a really sad look on her face gave me a kiss and rode away!  I could tell Dad was really sad, too.  I was tired and so was a bit cranky.  All in all, it wasn’t our best evening.  To cheer me up, Dad decided to take me for a walk.  To cheer himself up, Dad made our first stop Letizia’s Bakery, where Dad bought a chocolate chip cookie.  We looped all the way around to Chris’s house and back just in time to walk in the door a few minutes before my bedtime.  I fell asleep for the last leg of the walk, but I quickly woke up when I realized there was a bottle in front me.  I got my vitamins, changed into my PJ’s, and had my bottle before falling asleep around 8:25.

I know this is going to sound like a broken record, but my Saturday morning went pretty much like all of my previous ones.  I woke up at 6:00 and spent about an hour doing my morning workout with Dad.

Our errands that morning took us first to Carter’s where we shopped for new pajamas (the one’s I am currently wearing are size 3 months — and I’m huge!).   Mom and Dad tend not to buy me many clothes (since I seem to get so many gifts!), but somehow I ran out of PJs.  The ones Dad picked out are pretty cute — even approved my Mom.

After Carter’s we headed out to Target. Conveniently, I fell asleep on the way.  Dad placed me ever-so-delicately in a cart and I didn’t wake up until after we checked out.  Mostly, Dad bought stuff that Mom needed for her upcoming trip to Europe.  We got done so quickly and we wanted to stay out of the house as long as possible so that Mom could get work done, so our next stop was, shockingly, Starbucks.  Dad and I sat outside and I took another nap while Dad wrote a bunch of emails.

We eventually got home and I was so excited to see Mom again.  She fed me and then I hung out with her while Dad discharged some groomsman responsibilities for his pal Chris.  After I ate lunch and took a short nap, it was time to run errands with Dad again.  We ran by Whole Foods (to get some stuff for Mom and to look for crawfish and crab meat) and then hit our usual grocery store, Dominick’s.  We ran through the store a bit more quickly than usual and got back home in no time.

Mom stopped working and the three of us hung out for much of the afternoon.  Dad and I took a walk to Oberweis to get their favorite dessert in the world, a chocolate and peanut butter milkshake.   By the time we got home it was time for my bath — which Dad gave me — and then Mom fed my supper and put me to bed.

Friday morning was pretty fun.  As usual when Dad’s home, he hung out with me until about 7:00 when Nana took over and he went down to his office.  My morning was pretty uneventful though the weather allowed us to spend a little more time outside than usual.

During the summer,  Mom gets to work a half-day on Fridays, so Nana and Grandpa get to head home right after lunch.  They headed out a bit earlier than usual since I was taking a nap and Mom had already told us she was on her way.

Mom brought a lot of work home that she had to take care of this weekend, but since Dad was busy, she relaxed and hung out with me, which was great.  Friday afternoons are one of my most favorite times of the week because I get such quality time with Mom!

Mom suggested that she and Dad buy take-out for dinner, so Dad strapped me in the Baby Bjorn and we took off on an exploration.  We first walked by Skewerz, but Mom wasn’t too interested.  Then we checked out Flash, but it seemed a bit trendy (ie loud).  So they ended up at Santullo’s, where they each got sandwiches to take home.   I got to sit at the high-chair with Mom and Dad and throw things on the floor as they ate.

After they got done eating it was my turn, and I jumped in bed soon thereafter.

So, the highlight of this week was that Uncle Danny was around all day on Monday and he had gotten enough work done over the weekend that we got to spend a lot of time together.  It’s also cool that he’s been taking so many pictures!  After a couple weeks out of the limelight, it feels good to be in so many pictures again.

Since we depleted the store of milk in the freezer, I’m now taking about 80% of my milk from Mom and about 20% of my milk from formula.  It’s working out great, since there’s never a worry about running out and I’m still primarily getting the good stuff.

Dad couldn’t be around today because he had a screen test for a TV show!   Dad on a TV show?  That can’t be a good idea!

Uncle Danny took off Tuesday morning and the rest of the week was pretty much back to normal. It was a really hot week, so I didn’t get out to the park quite as often as Nana and I would have liked, but we had to be more diligent about going out early in the day or right before Mom came home.

This was a remakably busy weekend!  First, it’s Mom’s and Dad’s fifth anniversary.  Just think, if they hadn’t found each other, I wouldn’t be here!  So, I’m pretty excited about that.

Saturday started off, as usual, hanging out with Dad.  Dad has a morning workout program that he puts me through to make sure my physical development is keeping up.  Once we did that, Dad took me outside (which I love) and I watched him do a bunch of yard work (a “bunch” relative to our pretty small yard!).  I had never noticed this before, but there were two dead evergreen bushes right next to our front door.  Dad knew that Mom wanted those taken down, but he didn’t have the necessary equipment…so, we took a road trip out to Home Depot and bought a hacksaw.  We got back and Dad sawed down the bushes and threw them out.

Mom came down and fed me and after a nap and lunch, Dad and I took off for our weekly trip to Dominick’s.  But the highlight of the afternoon was that I went to my first concert ever at Wicker Park Fest.  Which band did we see?  One of Mom’s and Dad’s favorite: Bishop Allen.  We saw a bunch of friends there: Reshma, Chris, and Monica, but Mom was stressed the whole time — she was afraid that the loud music was damaging my ears!  As soon as Bishop Allen’s set was over, Mom sprinted away with me while Dad went up and talked to Christian.  (Woah, how many people have their own Wikipedia pages!?)

Sunday morning was a bit unusual.  Dad and I started with my usual morning workout, but instead of taking off for Starbucks, Dad tossed me in the car and we went to have breakfast with Christian at Swim.  Christian was really nice and fun.  I now know a rock star!

Sunday afternoon brought even more new friends, including Charu, Kurt, and Jui.  They were so nice and fun.  Charu is a doctor (Mom and Dad have sooooo many doctor friends!) and gave Mom and Dad another lecture (I mean, opinion) that they should be more aggressive with my vaccinations.  Charu & Kurt just got married (days after getting engaged!) , so there were lots of stories being bandied about.  Jui seemed totally scared to hold me, but eventually proved her maternal skills by making me really comfortable and happy!

Uncle Danny was around all weekend, but he was mostly working on his own research.  He stopped by, hung out with me, and took lots of pictures, but I didn’t get a ton of quality time with him (yet).