Food Update

"What do they feed that kid?" you probably ask yourself as you see my voluminous size and ever increasing girth. Well, people, I do have a wide and varied palate. That being said, I grew pretty fast when it was all breast milk all the time too...

Anyhow, here is the addition to my last list of foods:

Oatmeal
Mango
Zucchini
Blueberries
Yellow Squash
Brown Rice & Peas
Green Beans
Avocado
Banana
Lentils
Kiwi
Plums

My dad sometimes steals some of the kiwi-plum-banana combo that my mom made for me. Its that good, its that good. In general, though, my favorite food - hands down - has to be..... Sweet Potato. I can't seem to get enough of it.

In other news...... I am developing a sense of will and self - and a corresponding ability to arch my back when I don't want you to put me down. That's right. I am I. I am Baby. Hear me roar. I know all that "I think therefore I am" stuff but I am more of the pragmatic philosophical school rather than an epistemological bent. The cornerstone of my philosophy is, you guessed it: "I poop therefore I am." What else binds you closer to existence that that? I think Descartes needs to go to the bathroom. Soooo, as I was saying, I have discovered that I can do (some) things by myself. I can kind of scoot myself across the floor although I can't quite crawl yet. I can just about get on my hands and knees but there is this one pesky foot in the way. Soon, soon... Also, if my mom stands me on the side of my crib, I can (mostly) hold on and stay standing myself. The landings are still a little rough but Rome wasn't built in a day. We're getting there. That's the royal We. I think my Mom and Dad stand pretty good already.

My main interest continues to be music. My parents haven't figured out if it is nature or nurture. When I wake up, I stare longingly at the stereo - hoping that it will light up with Track 1 if I just will it, will it, by staring intently. When the music kicks up, I feel the groove through my body. My shoulders begin to bounce in time with the music and, if its a really good piece, then my hand starts banging on my thigh. One of my favorite songs at home is "They All Ask'd For You" (hit the little play button ) The Meters – They All Ask'd for You by The Meters off of the New Orleans Playground CD. My friend Charlie gave me the CD. I also love the CD that my Great Aunt Debbie and Great Uncle Richard gave me, you are my little bird by elizabeth mitchell. there are so many cool songs. this Elizabeth Mitchell – Hickory Dickory Dock (Bonus Track) is a cool one.

Now, when Music Together class rolls around and Pete the Teacher whips out his guitar. Well, forget about it. I can't take my eyes off the guitar. If you look here, you can see both of my cool-ass teachers, Stephen too. I am so punk rock. As you can see, both are guys, both play guitar and both have more hair than my Dad!! Well, when we listen to the CDs, my face lights up. Its one of the highlights of my week. That and shuffleboard. Its true, did you ever think about it? Being a baby is somewhat like being retired. People feed you on a regular schedule, have cutesy activities for you to do and, well, I guess I've already spoken to the salubrious effects of a good poop so that goes without saying it. Though I would never let an opportunity slip by without saying it.

I've gotta go my costume ready for tomorrow... plus I have to plan whose house I am going to egg and TP tonight!! Gotta run!!

Not quite 8 months...

Yes, you can still hold me. Its true. I'm not quite that big but I ain't slowing down either. Life moves fast and I am in the fast lane people. Things are happening, I am growing, new foods are being eaten and new experiences are being had.

This very morning, Dad took me to the swings - it was really awesome. Its not my first time at the swings (please, I wasn't born yesterday) but I am still somewhat of a novice with the whole swing thing. Instead of screaming to be pushed higher and higher, I just kinda chilled out and was more interested in the other bigger kids in their swings. I enjoyed it though.

There is so much to update you on that this post will be "in no particular order." I suppose the most *important* milestone is the ever advancing enamel bits emerging (rather painfully) from my moist, fleshy gums. A few weeks ago, I think, my first tooth started coming in and - oy, let me tell you - this is nothing I would wish upon my worst enemy (if I knew what enemy meant or even had one). Simply put, *@&$# !!! In my typical adaptive way, I quickly adjusted and made use of this new tool, biting my Dad and my Mom. Now, a second little guy has emerged and I feel pretty old and jaded. I mean, one tooth, that's pretty cool. Two is old hat guys. Come on! I am in much better shape now and the pain isn't so bad. So, without further ado, this is the best picture Dad has of my teeth so far. I like to keep them "under wraps" until the official unveiling: (I am helping to put away groceries here...)



Next up, laughing. I like laughing. Here I am laughing after Dad said "Bless you" when I sneezed: (this is a little grainy)



Other cool stuff I've been up to. Well, I continue my budding singing career with Music Together. This is my second class. I took my first class with my Dad and now I am with my Mom. Needless to say, my musical talents are increasing exponentionally. Instead of now licking the drum, I bang it with my hands. Okay, sometimes for old times sake, I give it a quick lick when Mom isn't looking. Mom also says that I am banging my hand on my thigh in rhythm and have even been known to clap on occasion. I know that my parents know better than to try to live their life through me but they sure seem excited about my musical prospects. I am thinking about starting up a boy band called No One is Better Than Ezra, whaddya think? I definitely have a pretty cool booty shake going and I think that other tots are going to really dig it. The older women are already waaaaay into me.

You probably won't believe that I am now 7 1/2 months old but it's true. Also, twice in the last few weeks I've been to the Zoo! In fact, I have been to two wildly different types of zoos. I went first to the Prospect Park Zoo, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (really the Bronx Zoo). I also went to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Which do you think I was more impressed by? You guessed it - the local dinky Prospect Park Zoo! As you can see below, I made some pretty fast friends with an Alpaca.

From Through 8 Months

Of course, my ABSOLUTE favorite at both zoos were.... the Meerkats!!

From Through 8 Months

You might think that when presented with a cute Panda bear at the National Zoo waking up inches in front of my face that I would be interested. But, frankly, there was a very fasciating rock nearby. My parents were screaming for me to look at some funny looking Panda bear but the only thing at the National Zoo that I noticed were the Meerkats (again) and a Cow which I saw in the petting zoo on the way to the car. Well, Mom seemed to enjoy herself as did Dad. Really, I just want them to be happy. Why can't they understand that? I do this all just for them...

My Mom has been back to work part-time for about two months now and that is going well. She seems happy. I am happy because I get to be with her 5 days a week (alright!) and we hang out a lot with Mom and some other babies. The other 2 days a week are spent with my cool babysitter Lavaughn. She sings to me in a pretty Caribbean accent, I like it. I flap my arms when she comes in the morning. That is my super-secret code for - "I like this person.'

Click the picture below for the complete album of recent photos:

Through 8 Months