margaretyagan

I woke up today in a great mood.  I had a very messy breakfast, getting cereal all over myself and especially in my neck folds.  Nana had to change my entire outfit!  I ended up taking two morning naps today, which is highly unusual for me.  That pushed my lunch meal (avocado) back to 2:45.  In fact, it screwed up my schedule so much that I didn’t have time to eat dinner!

I had my bottle, of course, and when my Mom got home we did the usual nighttime routing.  But it just wasn’t the same without my dindin!

Today was a good day — I was even more mobile and vocal than usual today.  I took three good naps today and Nana and I went for a walk around 6:00.  Miraculously, I had three easy, normal poops today.  I cried a bit today — Nana had never seen my tears before — thanks to my toothache (Dad — do you believe me yet?!)

I slept really well Saturday night and woke up around 6:30 am.  Dad came in to get me and after changing me, took me downstairs for my morning bottle.  After I was fueled for the morning, we played on my playmat, vaguely trying to keep our voices down to let Steve and Allison sleep in a bit.  After we played and read a bit, Dad brought some his cutting board over to my the floor and let me play with some of the food as he got it ready.  I wasn’t too interested in the scallion he handed to me and desperately tried to reach the smushy pile of avocado he was peeling.

After a short nap, Mom got up and we went for a walk to the famers’ market.  We bought apples for Mom, an onion for Dad, and cauliflower for me.  By the time I got back Steve and Allison were up and the five of us took for my favorite restaurant, Moonshine.  We sat outside and I got to sit in the highchair, as is becoming the norm.  After a bit Mom discovered I had a dirty diaper, so Dad took me into the bathroom to get me cleaned up.  I decided to make things exciting with a mid-change pee that got the new diaper dirty.  Dad had no clean diapers and I was just giggling, waiting to see what he would do.  Well, he created a make-shift diaper out of paper towels and took me outside to get a new diaper from Mom — who seemed perplexed.  I was so tempted to make him pay for such a brash move, but I had to behave in front of our guests.

We came back home and I ate my zucchini, but wasn’t too excited about it (because I was tired).  I took a nap while the adults worked and watched the Bears’ game.  As soon as I got up, I finished my zucchini from earlier and Dad and I gave Steve & Allison a ride to the airport.  On the way back I got really hungry, so Dad pulled over the shoulder of the interstate and fed me a bottle in my carseat.

On our way home, we stopped by a building in which Mom and Dad used to have an old sublet to pick up their friend Sara.  She was so excited to see me!  We drove home and after some playtime, went for a walk to Oberweis.  On the way back home we stopped in Wicker Park and Mom had the crazy idea to let me try out the swing.  Dad seemed highly skeptical, but after some convincing from Mom, Dad got really into it and pushed me even higher than Mom wanted to.  I had a really good time and loved watching the other kids swing, too.

When we got home, it was time for my dinner: avocados (my tenth solid food).  Sara fed me and was quite enthusiastic, perhaps because avocados are one of her five favorite foods in the world.  Who knew that I was eating adult delicacies already?  After I finished up, I played with Mom a bit while Dad went for a run and then it was time for bed.

I should also mention that there’s been a lot of tooth-talk this weekend.  Mom is convinced that I have my first tooth — so much so that she emailed my entire family with an emergency news alert.  Dad, however, despite significant inspection, has yet to see that alleged tooth.  So, we’ll call October 11th the day of my first tooth, but with little asterisk!

I woke up on Saturday and was greeted by both Dad & Mom.  Dad’s usually hanging out with my on weekend mornings, but Mom was up to because Aunt Claire was online for her weekly IM from India.  I had breakfast and a nap before the three of us took off on errands.

Our first stop was Target, where I got to ride in the cart like a big kid.  The highlight was that Mom and Dad bought me a Halloween costume.  I wish I could tell you what I’m going go to b, but it’s TOP SECRET.   You’ll have to check back if you want to see me trick or treating.

Then Mom was on a mission to buy me a winter coat.  They had two gift certificates to baby boutiques in Lakeview & Lincoln Park.  Well, the first place we wen to, Beansprout, was out of business!  Oops.  I guess that’s why everyone’s worried about some “economic meltdown.”  Whatever.  At least we got to see Conor while we were in Lakeview.  Next stop was Beautiful Beginnings.  Well, the problem with BB was that everything was ridiculously expensive.  There was a $300 coat — for a baby!  We did find a really cool contraption: a coat that attaches to my car seat and stroller.  Mom & Dad were so impressed that they bought two!  Pictures to come when they actually get used.  While Mom & Dad were shopping, one of the ladies who worked there physically took my from Dad and paraded me around the store telling everyone how beautiful I am.  Cool, but weird.

Oh, want to see me moving (albeit backward)?

After lunch back at home with Young, Mom’s cousin Erika and her husband Daniel stopped by.  I had never met them before but they’re so fun & cool!  I played with them for quite a while (and let them watch me nap).  After I got up and had a bottle, Dad and I took off for Dominick’s (dropping Steve & Allison off “on the way”).  I screamed like  crazy in the parking lot, but eventually settled down and had a really fun shopping trip with Dad.  I discovered helium balloons in the checkout lane — I think I want one!Got home & went straight to Mom who already had my bottle ready and I fell asleep really quickly.

Friday was a pretty exciting day.  I woke up with a little present in my diaper,which is always a good sign — think of it as my version of a beautiful sunrise.  Dad was working from home today, which meant that I got to play with him in the morning.  But, to my surprise, Mom was also working from home today.  So, I got to play with Nana and Grandpa all day and get random visits from Mom & Dad whenever they came out of their office.

I had more millet (yawn) for breakfast.  I took a nice long nap at 9:00 and then Nana and I took a long (1:15!) walk outside.  Everyone keeps saying it’s going to get cold soon, but as far as I can tell, it’s still beautiful outside.  I got some good jumperoo time after lunch and then got a nap in before it was time for my doctor’s appointment.

Well, it was actually a nurse appointment to get my vaccinations.  I got three shots: my second flu shot, HIB, and DTAP.  We made a quick stop by Whole Foods on our way home. I played with Mom while Dad went back to work for a while until Dad’s friend Young came by.  Young was really cool to play with while Mom and Dad finished up work and got me ready for my bedtime routine.

Millet.  Not exactly a word that generates excitement or enthusiasm in most people’s minds.  In fact, when Dad asked Grandma Droste whether she had ever had millet before, she said, “Oh, it’s in lots of birdseed.”  Birdseed?!  I may be little, but I think I’m offended.  I have no idea where Mom & Dad are getting their ideas from, but feeding me a grain that neither of them has ever eaten — but many birds have — seems ridiculous. 

So, after the string of really yummy foods added to my diet, I have to say millet was very disappointing.  Now that I have so many foods for Mom and Dad to choose from each day, my menu is a culinary adventure.  I was excited to get apples for lunch — definitely one of my favorites.

Nana and I went for a walk around 3:45.  We had a good time and I came home with a little present in my diaper.  Took a lot of negotiating to get it out, but it was progress.

Saving the best for last, today was the first day I made repeated, recognizable consonant sounds.  I’ve been “talking” for weeks but this was the first time I made a sound that resembles anything in the English language.  You can be sure that Dad was very happy with my choice of “da” to start with.  And of course I didn’t just say “da” once, I said it dozens of times in a row.  Hey, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Today there’s not too much to get excited about.  I slept pretty well in the morning (a two-hour nap) and I played well and ate well.  I love solid foods so much.  I love getting three meals a day and I can’t wait until they get big enough to satiate me!

I was happy to get some prunes this morning, I have to say.  It’s been quite a strain to keep the plumbing working right! 

My week got off to a pretty good start.  I got to eat my ninth solid food ever (bananas), but then I realized that bananas have the side effect of making it harder for me to poop!  I’m thrilled with the new schedule of eating three meals a day and can’t wait to get to eat more advernturous meals.

I played well, ate well, and slept well.  I spend much of my days straining, which is no fun.  At least it makes the diaper changes really easy.

As many of you know, generally, I’ve been a good sleeper.  Before I turned even one month old, I was getting long stretches of sleep at night.  And after a short adjustment to life in Chicago, I was also often getting 7+ hours of sleep at night.  But the last few weeks have been a bit more erratic for me, especially, it seems, on weeknights.

Well, it all came to a head last night.  I woke up around 12:30 and Dad came in to soothe me as whomever is on duty usually does.  I was screaming, but Dad was pretty patient.  He held me and rocked me to sleep, but when he tried to put me in the crib I woke up screaming.  So he picked me up and rocked me to sleep again, but I wasn’t happy when he put me down.  Then Dad tried to get me to fall asleep in my crib, but to no avail.

Finally, Dad decided (as he and Mom had discussed weeks ago) that it was time for me to cry it out.  So, he just left me to my own shrieks and tears.  He came in a couple times to give me my pacifier, but I was on my own.  I finally calmed down a bit and got some sleep, but then I woke up again, screaming.  This time Mom came in, but true to their strategy, she sat a few feet from the crib and try to verbally calm me down.  I tried to get to her so badly that I even used the bars on the crib to pull myself toward her.

Well, I finally got to sleep and woke up a bit later than usual.  Mom & Dad were both up to IM with Aunt Claire who was online from India.  Dad also made me some food that I’ll be eating after I’m done with sweet potatoes (today).  I took a nap and Dad went for a run and then the three of us went to the farmer’s market.  Mom seemed really excited and Dad just mocked everything.  We bought a few gourds or were they squash — depends whom you believe.

Today was my second day eating three meals a day, which was fun.  When we got back from our outing, I ate peas and then took a nap.  The three of us spent a lot of time together all afternoon and evening.  Dad tried to make me do tummy-time, but I wasn’t having any of that.  I love standing up, though!  Dad’s trying to figure out how to get me cruising ASAP!

Saturday morning started out pretty much as usual (without the trip with Dad to Starbucks), but by around 8:00 or so, Mom and Dad started frantically packing me up — including my prune & cereal breakfast — for a little outing.  We hopped in the car and headed to the Embassy Suites downtown where we saw Marty and his whole family!  I haven’t seen Marty since our last week in New York (which I can barely even remember!).  I was so different then — I couldn’t sit up or laugh.  He was so surprised by how advanced I was.

Marty fed me breakfast — the first person not in my family ever to do so!  I also got to know his parents and his brothers Tony and Andy and Andy’s girlfriend.  It was so nice of them to let us crash their party (Mrs. D’s birthday weekend!).

We then drove Marty out to the airport and then headed home.  I was so hungry by the time we got back that I scarfed down a bottle.  Today was also the first day that I got to eat three solid meals, so I got to eat peas for lunch.  I took a nap in bed with Mom and then when I got up, Dad and I headed to Dominick’s.  For the first time ever I got to sit upright in the shopping cart (instead of in my car seat).  It was such a different perspective!

Dominick’s didn’t have two of the things on our list (both for my own food): organiz zucchini (organic because I eat the skin) and millet (it didn’t help that Dad had no idea what this was).  So, Dad decided to swing by Whole Foods, where we found millet (and quinoa, for good measure).  We made a pit stop at K-mart in a failed attempt to find ice cube trays and then headed back home, where Mom was waiting impatiently.

The evening was pretty uneventful.  The three of us took a quick walk to Flash Taco where Mom and Dad got dinner.   I was so tired that I started screaming while we were there, so Mom rushed me home for a quick nap.  I got up, ate dinner (sweet potatoes!), and then the three of us went down to the office for family play time.  Then it was bottle time, bath time, and bed time.