Attorney Work Product

Teething

We noticed yesterday that it looked like there were teeth just below the surface of Alex's top gums. Today, the one one the left is even more obvious, and the one on the right is not far behind. I am guessing Alex will have his two front teeth in by Monday. Not sure why he's getting his top teeth before the bottom ones, but really, has this child done anything according to the books? I'll be sure to get a picture!

Walking!

Alex took his first steps just three weeks ago. Since then, I've joked that he has walked, but isn't walking just yet. Well, this weekend he took major progress toward walking. His Godparents came over for dinner last night, and he was walking all over the place. Even between last night and today, he is taking many, many more steps without help. Amazing how much progress he makes in such a short period of time. I thought crawling was a difficult new stage, but yikes! We're really in for it with this walking stuff!

Outfitted for Summer

You know those people who are just amazing shoppers? The ones that can sniff out a bargain a mile away? My Mom has a co-worker like that, and her specialty is baby clothes. So when Alex was born, Mary graciously offered to do some clothes shopping for him. She mostly bought stuff in 12-18 month sizes, for the following year. Hard to believe, but "the following year" is fast approaching. With the sudden summer-like weather we've been experiencing, I busted out some of those clothes this week. They are fabulous quality items -- this shirt is from Baby Gap, for example -- and she paid no more than 2 or 3 bucks for each item. I know they read this at Mom's work, so thanks for the great shopping!

And he just looks so handsome and grown up! Claudia was just amazed when she saw him today. This picture (and his weekly pic) were taken near a flower bed on the green outside of Claudia's apartment. I am so grateful they have such a nice green expanse to play in!

Down he goes!

Alex has figured out how to climb down, and now we are really in trouble. Down from the bed, down stairs, down from the couch. Yipes! He is so proud of himself when he does it, too. He comes close to the edge, turns himself around, and down he goes! He is especially fond of doing it on the stairs, since he can practice over and over by climbing up, then down. Wowza!

My Friend Clyde

Our day care provider is friends with her neigherbor Clyde. Clyde is 93-ish, but very spry, and just loves all of the kids. Well before she had the day care, Clyde "adopted" Claudia's boys as his own psuedo grandkids, as he and his now-deceased wife never had kids of their own. Clyde just thinks Alex is as special as the come. Alex lights up when Clyde walks in the room, and immediately crawls to him.

When we had our chicken pox scare, poor Clyde had to stay away from the kids for an entire month, as he has never had the chicken pox and it would have killed a man his age. It made Clyde so sad. I am glad I was finally able to snap a picture of them together!

Wednesday's Child

When we decided to go forward with the induction, one of the things that had me ever-so-slightly concerned was that it would mean Alex would be a Wednesday's Child. Most of the days have nice things associated with them, but full of woe? Not what I really wanted to be choosing, but healthy baby was what mattered. Luckily, so far it hasn't borne out at all -- Alex is a very happy baby, for which I am grateful. But I was looking back at the stuff I wrote back in June, and I noticed that while he may not be full of woe, he meets the description in the alternate version Nani found on the Internet.

Ten Months

Alex is ten months old today. At ten months, he stands unassisted (though he needs something to pull up on to get in that position), can cruise a piece of furniture like nobody's business, and can walk several steps without holding on and across a room with a single adult finger for balance. He laughs a lot, particularly at the dog, when Mommy sticks her tongue out, and when leaned backwards. In fact, he likes playing "wheeeee" backwards so much that you have to be careful when you are holding him that he doesn't throw himself backwards out of your hands. He claps his own hands, both to imitate an adult, in response to being asked to "clap hands, Alex, clap hands!", and even sometimes at the correct spots in "When You're Happy and You Know It!" He climbs up staris quickly, and has gotten down stairs, laboriously. He has a lot of hair for a little guy, and really is getting to the point where he needs a haircut, though I can't bring myself to do it. He has big brown eyes that are his most complimented feature -- which I always marvel at, because usually it is the blue eed babes who get noticed for that feature. He has a gorgeous, heartbreaking grin that has not a sign of a tooth. And thank goodness, because his kisses, while loving, are still often open-mouthed, and often involve taking my entire chin into his mouth. He reaches for Mommy and Daddy, and says Mama and Dada like he means it. He also tries to say Tucker, and dog, and Claudia and her partner swear he said stop the other day. He's hit-or-miss about waving goodbye, although he did do so today after brunch. He loves to feed himself tofu, rutebega, cheerios, carrots, and just about any other veggie or fruit I put in front of him.
My baby boy is ten months old today, and I already feel like I am losing my baby. How am I going to make it through the next 20 years?

In all his glory...

We've been following Alex around with a video camera all weekend hoping to get a shot of him walking. The max we've been able to capture thus far is two, even though he took seven full steps when we didn't have the camera out (Tom and Tiff are witnesses!). Still, with a little magic editing from Daddy, you can see Alex walking in all his glory.

Hippity Hoppity

Easter's on its way....
(at CVS, a few weeks ago, actually, but I just kept forgetting to post it!)

Waaasssuuup???

Not sure why Claudia decided Alex needed a do-rag today. It was the girls' spring break, and I think the two twelve year old girls visiting had something to do with this as well. This is how Alex greeted me when I came to pick him up from day care. All he needs is a can of beer...

Walking!?!?!?

Claudia reports that Alex walked today. He walked without assitance the distance between the corner of her two couches, about 3 feet. Well, walked/ lurched, but he covered the distance by moving his feet and not hitting the ground. WOW. I think we can call that first steps, even if he isn't doing it regularly yet. He is getting more and more regular at letting go of things and standing unassisted. He did it several times for me around the house yesterday, and also several times at the mall with Claudia today. And he is not yet 10 months old. Given this pace, I am sure he will be walking regularly and unassisted before he hits eleven months!

Their eyes met across a crowded room...

My son is too young to have already bought into the whole weddings-as-an-opportunity-to-hook-up. But at this, his third wedding in less than a year of life, Alex found a girlfriend. Literally, Alex and Victoria saw each other from across the room and both crawled as fast as they could to each other. Much baby flirting ensued. I also got a few good pictures of Alex against the backdrop of the DC skyline, as the reception hall had great views.

The wedding was for David, the former occupant of Alex's bedroom (prior to it being painted with stars and swirls, mind you!). It was yet another reminder of how much life can change in such a short period of time. The Talleys were stunning, the location was stunning, and the vibe in the room was stunning. Andrea threw together the wedding in less than a month to prepare for their deployment to the Middle East, and all I can say is wow. She had the most amazing, positive attitude, and we wish them both the best of luck and Godspeed in their travels.

Edited to add: I've posted a quick video of Alex and Daddy having fun at this wedding here.

Babysitter

Alex's Aunt Tiff is the best babysitter in the world. She got him to sleep so Mommy and Daddy could go to a dinner for Mommy's work this evening. She somehow did so without even giving him the bottle I had left for him. Since it was a fresh and never refrigerated pump, daddy got the pleasure of giving him that bottle when we got home (can't waste that precious stuff!). It was only the third-ever time Mike has given Alex a bottle. Much different from the first time, that's for sure.

All in all, a successful evening, and we were glad we has someone to leave him with that we felt so comfortable about. Thanks, Aunt Tiff!!

Downstairs

Alex got himself down the stairs this morning. Then he climbed to the top of the stairs and did it again. Much clapping ensued.