Tricks and Treats

First, the not-so-nice trick on Halloween: a visit to the pediatrician. Today was Lincoln's 4 month checkup. He now weighs 13 pounds, 15.5 ounces, is 24.5 inches long, and has a head circumference of 16.25 inches. On the CDC Growth Chart's 4 month scale, his height and weight are around the 30th percentile, but if you adjust for his month-early delivery, he's in the 75th. Out of curiosity, I checked out Greta's 4-month stats: 50th for length and 25th for weight (if adjusted for her 2-month prematurity, 97th and 80%).

Lincoln is in good health, but the doctor gave us a prescription for a vitamin supplement to prevent vitamin D deficiency and rickets. No worries--it is the norm for breastfed babies. The doc also expressed mild concern for uneven neck muscle development, but with more tummy time and some exercises, he should be fine and will be re-evaluated in two months. And I thought he just liked to cock his head when he was listening to me! He was a screamer through the oral vaccine and three shots, but quickly settled down with some TLC.

Greta was checked out, too. She weighed in at 28.5 pounds, and measured 36.5 inches tall (47% and 66% respectively). She was amazing at the doctor's...I guess the Berenstain Bears book has really helped. I just kept saying "Like Sister Bear" to everything the nurse and doctor asked her to do, and she did it! She didn't even flinch or cry when the nurse gave her the flu shot. She just said: "The shot helps me not get sick!" What a champ! For a treat, we went to a nearby McDonald's Play Place. I know, I know, taking a healthy kid to a germ-infested kid zone was probably not the best idea, but since she just dances around the floor and doesn't climb up anything, I figured it wasn't too terrible.
After a descent nap, we again donned the Dora costume for Halloween at the Turtleback Zoo. Lincoln was dressed as a Yankee baseball player. Greta was really shy, but wished many people a happy Halloween, and got the hang of saying "Trick or Treat" by the end of the loop. Then we went "Safe Treating" at the shops in South Orange, which Greta loved, and Lincoln slept through. Greta kept singing the Dora theme song, and when she said "Where are we going?" she made me reply "Trick or Treating!" It was hilarious. Of course, I forgot the camera, so no memorable video to share. Just trust me, everyone who saw her loved it. She grinned non-stop for the hour walk around town. We met Rob for dinner downtown and finally got home at 7:30 to hand out treats. Greta stood on our front steps, calling "Kids, come get candy!" while Lincoln babbled away in the doorway. All in all, a wonderful day!

All Hallow's Eve Eve

I was tempted to sit on these photos until Halloween itself, but they're too good not to share. Carey took the kids to a costume party concert at the library last night. Here's a couple shots of our Greta the Explorer and the Littlest Pumpkin.

Promotion?

We had a lovely weekend in Washington -- reconnecting with family and friends. I'll trickle out some photos throughout the week, but here's the first, with a back story.

Met up with Aunt Kathy Friday night at her place in Ballston. After Greta chased her four cats around the condo, we took the elevator down 15 floors to Ruby Tuesday's. A very kid-friendly place, I must say, even at 7 p.m. on a party night. All week Greta anticipated the trip, mentioning Aunt Kathy by name and her friend Jay. I'm sure she has no idea that aunt means "sister of mommy's father," but she had always used the title in the past, even when we saw Kathy regularly while we lived there.

Well, somewhere on I-95 and in the last seven weeks, Aunt Kathy became "grandma." And trust me, that's not because she's been hiding a 30-something son or daughter who just gave birth! I prefer to think of it as a promotion in Greta's mind. Kind adult woman = Grandma. She called her that all night and part of Saturday morning. And Grandma didn't seem to mind a bit.

Bibs don't lie

P.S. I'm off to D.C. for a couple days of work, then we're spending the weekend with Gardner, Alli and soulmate Jay. So we may or may not post until Sunday.

One really good thing about relocating to NJ

GRANDMA GETS TO VISIT MORE OFTEN!!!

3 girls and a guy

Grandma Vickie surprised us with a visit this weekend and we had a great time. Greta and Lincoln got to go to a fall festival in Clifton, N.J., and Mommy & Daddy got to go to their first movie in N.J. (Rendition, because Michael Clayton was sold out. Readers, wait for the rental.) More photos later, but for now, here's a nice one.

Notice the lotus

To accommodate nap time, the yoga lady moved the start time back to 10:45, which means I can partake before my train an hour later. Here's a gallery of Wednesday's poses. She's really pretty good at them. Although the instructor should give up on any relaxing, deep breathing exercises. Greta much prefers to run around like rain drops or chase Mommy like a dinosaur.

Autumn Art

Devoted blog readers might recall our daughter's auspicious premiere as a budding artist just over a year ago. Not wanting her talent to lapse due to her new status as a SAHK (stay at home kid), I've tried to provide opportunities for her inner artist to emerge. Behold, three of her most recent works: Neon Autumn Scarecrow, Two Rocket Ships With Moon and Star, and Pressed Leaf Collage. Stunning, don't you think?

As I write this, it occurs to me that we have deprived her fans of many works produced under the guidance of Ms. Te and Ms. Leah...perhaps a gallery showing at a later date will feature her spectacular "sponge shapes" and "free scrawl" created in Room 106.

Pockets

Greta's discovered them. She and Mommy play a favorite game that I call "Squirrel." You guessed it -- see how many acorns or chestnuts Greta can fit in her pockets. You'd be surprised at how many she can carry.

Here she is the other day carrying her post-breakfast snack on the way to the playground.

Girl in the hood

We're minorities here in South Orange. And that's fine with us. Greta and Lincoln will benefit from growing up in a much more diverse neighborhood than we both did.




But lately Greta's been taking it a little too far. Here's how she wears her pants, just like the teenagers on the street corner.

He's a charming thumb-sucker

That's the sentence that sums up our youngest at the moment. He just started to bust out the grins this week and now prefers his thumb to the paci. We had a window contractor in the house yesterday morning, an authentic New Jerseyan named Sal with a big, black moustache. Lincoln couldn't stop laughing at the guy. It was actually disruptive. I'm trying to listen and hear what sort of U and R-rating the windows have and Lincoln is doing everything short of pointing at the guy and saying, "You look FUNNY!"

Ol' Blue Eyes

I don't know how much longer they'll be blue (Greta's turned hazel at about six months), but for now they melt my heart every day.

Just a couple cute photos

Lincoln continues to be a champ at tummy time, and Mommy asks me to report that he slept from 9pm-5am last night. The Greta photo is from Saturday. Seton Hall University hosted a South Orange Appreciation Day featuring a parade and pumpkin painting. Greta scored 5 lollipops at the parade and was particularly proud.

Perspective

Lincoln doesn't care that the Yankees lost -- again -- in the first round of the playoffs.

But his Daddy sure wishes this blog post would stop being an annual tradition.

Tuck me in!

When you're first-time parents of a newborn, there's only one thing on your mind when you get the kid home from the hospital: Don't let him kill himself. You're convinced, if you're at all like Carey and I were, that your home is a death trap just waiting to lull the unsuspecting infant into its lair. And the deadliest place of all is the crib. Back to sleep! He could die. Suddenly, even. And don't you dare put anything in the crib -- even a light baby blanket could become a noose.

Well, fast forward 2 1/2 years, and this is what Greta's bed looks like before she gets tucked in at night. Count 'em -- 8 blankets (4 "silkies," 1 handmade quilt, 2 fleece baby blankets and 1 fleece throw), 3 dolls, a stuffed kitten, and a pink Teddy Bear. And if you remove any of them, well, you're risking your life, not hers.Here's a shot of just the bed before lights out... sort of like a sedimentary rock with its layers.

Our little yogi

Carey signed Greta up for a kid's yoga class every Wednesday. She loves it, even though yesterday she was the only kid in the class! Well, besides the teacher's 3-year-old and 1 1/2-year-old. Greta's really good at the stretches and both teacher and Mommy were impressed by how well she listened. Odd, she doesn't seem to listen much at home!

Seat belts

Last weekend we went to the Rye Vehicle Fair, an annual fund-raiser for the Rye Public Library. The kids could climb all over the town's vehicles -- from firetrucks to garbage trucks. Max and Greta took a turn in most of them, and Greta insisted that they wear seat belts. They also got their faces painted -- Max as a cheetah, Greta with a small kitty cat on one cheek.

Grandma Pat & Grandpa Jerry

No cutesie names for our kid. My folks are Grandma Pat and Grandpa Jerry. Carey's mom is Grandma Vickie and her husband is Grandpa Larry. Grandma Pat and Grandpa Jerry visited this past weekend. Dad's mission was to paint Lincoln's room. I'll post a photo of that later in the week. Mom's mission was to collect all the cuddles she could. Both can fly the "Mission Accomplished" flag proudly.

How we sleep III

Or IV, or V, or VI ... honestly, I lose count. Here's our daughter, nigh on to midnight, doing her best Jesus impression.

Big boy

Lincoln is a couple weeks from his four-month checkup, but my mom, who's visiting this weekend with Dad, agrees that he's a very big boy. We're thinking 12-13 lbs. His strength is amazing compared to Greta at this age. He actually enjoys tummy time and lifts his head up like a perfect little turtle. And when he doesn't want to straighten his legs on the changing table, you might as well resign yourself to snuggling a naked baby.

I credit all the yummy Mommy milk for his supernatural powers. The kid eats like a champ and with all those antibodies, he hasn't been sick once! (knock on virtual wood)

I guess what I'm saying is I think he's really neat and it's an honor to call him "son." Although the nicknames of the moment are "squirrel," "squirt" and "the biggest of the bigs."