amalia: three months of you...

My sweet Amalia,

It's hard to believe that it's been a quarter year since your arrival on that cold, January day. Yet, at the same time, you so seamlessly fit in to our family that it feels as if you have always been here. You and your happy, smiley, wide eyed self!

At three months you: are full of smiles, love to talk (coo), grab toys and bring them to your mouth, know as soon as Mommy walks in or out of a room, watch your brothers intently, love cuddling with Baba, wear 0-3 month clothing with room to spare, cannot stand tummy time, are a great sleeper at night and nap best on the go, nurse heartily, capture the heart of anyone you meet.

Love you to the moon and back,
Mommy

jack at one year...

My sweet Jack,

You came into our lives, exactly as planned, on a cold, clear morning exactly one year ago today. Baba and I both t eared up the second we saw you in all of your screaming perfection. As they cleaned you up in the warmer across the OR, I saw your little toes and exclaimed to Baba, "He has your feet!" And, somehow, here we are today a full year later.

Your first year has been a beautiful blur of nursing, giggles, walks around town, days at the zoo, car rides, snuggles and, thankfully, good health. Being able to stay home with you and your brother and experiencing every tiny little moment and milestone has been such a blessing.

It is difficult to put into words how much joy you have brought to our family. You are such an easy-going child, full of smiles and content. You just fit in so easily. We have LOVED watching your personality develop over the past several months. You are strong-willed, funny and incredible sweet. You dole out smiles and flirts everywhere we go...a complete ham.

At one year you...

• weigh 19lbs12oz (25%) and are 29.25" long (25%)
• wear 12 month clothing and size 4 diapers
• love to feed yourself and will try most any food we serve, but not eggs
• have two teeth and two more on the way (that are giving you a hard time)
• are super ticklish under your arms and on your belly
• cannot stand getting your diaper changed because it means staying still
• love car rides and being out and about
• walk, run and climb...everything
• are already getting good at puzzles
• love pureed food pouches, especially applesauce
• are a good napper
• love to clap, dance and play pat-a-cake
• enjoy books and your favorite is Hands, Hands, Fingers, Thumb
• say Mama, Baba, Pappou (Greek for Grandpa), YiaYia (Greek for Grandma), this, palamakia (Greek for clap)
• copy everything your brother does
• love to watch Elmo, Small Potatoes and Little Einsteins and otherwise don't pay too much attention to tv unless music comes on

We love you SO much little guy!
To the moon and back, and again,
Mama

jack: three months of you...

Dear Jack,
Happy quarter year little guy! You fit so seamlessly into our family that it feels some days as if you have always been with us, though your birth date states otherwise. You are such a happy baby, full of smiles and giggles. Face to face interaction is your favorite thing right now and we are thrilled to oblige!
At three months you:

• were almost sleeping through the night, until the 12 week growth spurt struck
• are wearing 3 month clothes and size 2 diapers
• weigh 12lbs, 7oz (25%) and are 24" long (35%)
• wake up happy and smiling every morning
• love to giggle when we blow raspberries and when spoken to, especially in Greek!
• have a tickle spot, on your left side under your ribcage
• chew on or clasp your hands much of the time
• stare intently at your feet when you kick
• mimic our sounds and facial expressions
• smile when we echo your sounds
• like chewing on Sofie the Giraffe
• can play for an hour or more on your play mat and can now grab the toys and bring them to your mouth
• love watching your brother zoom around the house at play
• enjoy bath time
• love when we blow raspberries and are trying hard to figure them out for yourself

We love you to the moon and back, and again!
Mama

one month of jack...

My sweet, tiny baby,
Somehow it's been a full month since you wailed your way into the delivery room and captured our hearts. You have a sweet disposition, are easy going and a good sleeper and eater. You truly are the most perfect addition to our family!

At one month you:

• weigh 9lbs, 5oz and are 20 3/4 inches long
• are wearing newborn clothes but, not much longer
• wear size 1 diapers
• eat about every 3 hours during the day and cluster feed in the evenings for a few hours before bed
• have a head of straight, dark brown hair and your front hairline has just started receding
• have beautiful grey-blue eyes, for now
• only cry when you are hungry or need to be changed
• sleep best when swaddled tight and in your snugabunny rock and play
• nap in your bouncy seat a couple of times each day
• like being worn in the Moby Wrap
• started smiling at us around three weeks, the sweetest sight :)
• get kisses good morning and good night from your big brother and like to watch him play
• have excellent head control and like to look all around when doing tummy time on our chests 
• track us across the room when we are walking around or you hear us talking

We love you so much and are so grateful you have joined our family.
I love you to the moon and back, and again,
Mama

you at 19 months...

My sweet George,

It's been four months since I penned your last milestone letter.  You have grown and blossomed so much in that time, we can scarcely keep up!  Everyday now, rather than my baby, I see before me glimpses of the wonderful boy you are becoming. You keep us on your toes with your constant movement much of the time and bring us such joy with your cuddles and hugs during quiet times. Your quick smile and charm delight everyone you meet.

At 19 months you:

- weighed 26.9 pounds and measured 32.5 inches at your 18 months pediatric appointment on July 1st.
- will take us by the hand and lead us when you want to show us something.
- kiss the faces of your favorite trains in the morning, then bring them to Mama to kiss.
- are still climbing on everything - kitchen drawers, couches, chairs, ladders and climbing walls at the playground.  If it is in front of you, you will find a way to climb it.
- still enjoy Sesame Street but, also love Thomas and Friends, Super Why and Word World, all on PBS Kids.
- excitedly point to letters everywhere we go - on signs, license plates, the t.v.  Though we limit television, Super Why (along with lots of reading) is teaching you beginning reading skills by identifying letters. You correctly point to and say "O" whenever you see one.
- point to your mouth when hungry.
- are getting better and better at communicating. You call out "Mama" to get my attention, "more" when you would like more food or to continue an activity, "again" to repeat a favorite book, "ba" when you want milk (usually while standing at the fridge) and "bubble" for us to blow them for you.
- are wearing 18 month clothes and have moved into some 24 month.  You are quickly growing out of your size 6W sneakers, are wearing size 7 sandals and size 2T-3T socks.
- don't sleep well away from home.  You are definitely a toddler of habit when it comes to sleep and only like your own crib.
- love to see trucks and motorcycles pass by when out walking or in the car.
- have started dancing to music and think it is funny when we dance with you.
- are ticklish under your arms and your neck.
- nap once a day, averaging two hours.
- sleep about 10.5 hours a night, from 7:30 pm to 6:00 am.
- eat a LOT of fruit.  Your favorites are apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, strawberries and blueberries.
- are still a good eater and will generally eat whatever we are eating.
- have overcome your bath terror and again eagerly run to the bathroom when you hear the water being drawn in the tub.  You have also learned to love the pool and sprinkler park.
- are an excellent traveler.  You have now flown a total of four times (two round trips) to Greece and Buffalo, NY. 
- say, "No, no, no," shake your head and wag your finger when you do not want something.
- point to things you do want and point our fingers at words and pictures in books to follow along.
- have seven teeth, four on top and three on the bottom.
- are very sure on your feet, have excellent balance and body control.
- will take our hand when we ask you to or when you you need help.
- absolutely adore your Thomas trains.  They make up the largest part of your daily play time.
- will get your shoes and stand at the door when you want to go outside saying, "Go baby" or "Go, go, go."
- can dribble a soccer ball.
- like playing chase. A sure fire way to hear your belly laughs.
- are mimicking words more and more.  Last week as you stood in front of the fridge I asked, "Would you like dinner?"  You said back, "Dinn-o."
- can stack 3-4 blocks high but, still prefer knocking them down.
- cling to us for a long, cuddly hug when we come in to your room to say good morning, as if making up for the missed hours while you were sleeping. One of my very favorite times of the day.

Life with you is so incredibly happy.  Though there are trying moments as you begin to assert your independence and use repetition to learn, I am aware just how fleeting this toddlerhood will be and am holding fast to and delighting in every day I am blessed being your parent right now.

I love you to the moon and back, and again,
Mama

you, at 15 months..

My sweet George,

You are officially a toddler and are living up to that title and then some!  So curious about your world, a constant explorer and communicating with us more each day.  It is so much fun watching you play, interact and discover. You are an incredibly happy and sweet boy and we are thankful everyday for you and your easy disposition. At 15 months, you...

• are walking like a champ, starting to run and still climbing everything 
• got you first pair of "real" shoes: New Balance sneakers, size 6 wide
• wear 18 month clothing
• make a "ooo, ooo" sound when you are excited about something or want to get our attention, making an "o" with your mouth, and point to what you want
• are still an excellent eater.  You have at least one apple each day and also love bananas, clementines and blueberries.  Some other favorites now are veal with orzo, lentil soup, turkey chili, shredded taco chicken, pastina with chicken and carrots, blueberry waffles and egg and cheese omelettes 
• when you want milk or, if we ask you "Thelis gala?" (Do you want milk? in Greek), you run to the refrigerator and try to open the door. Same goes for your milo (apple)
• say Mama, Baba, ba-oo (balloon), ba (ball), go and got it.  You understand much more than you can speak and this is very normal for toddlers in bi-lingual homes.
• are very ticklish under your arms and give us fantastic giggles whenever we play Tickle Monster
• still adore Sesame Street.  Your favorite episode of late is one where Elmo gets ahold of Abby's wand and makes everyone sing. Baby Bear and Mr. Hooper sing about porridge and you smile and laugh the whole way through the song, "I'm talking porridge, porridge, porridge, yummy, yummy porridge!" The tune is now stuck on constant loop in Mama and Baba's heads
• know how to kick a ball with your instep.  You dribble your small basketball or soccer ball  through the house daily
• love your books...to their demise! We have had to replace several of your favorites as they were, ahem, over loved and literally fell apart
• have complete crying and yelling meltdowns when we need to change your diaper in public restrooms.  I have no idea why this is happening but hope it is a stage that passes quickly
• give the best hugs and kisses
• weighed in at 25 pounds even at a recent sick visit to the doctor.  I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of your stats at your fifteen month appointment next week
• are still getting used to your feet and wearing shoes on different terrain.  You've taken a few tumbles, resulting in some scrapes and your first boo-boo requiring a band-aid
• love taking walks around town.  You will happily sit in your stroller for long stretches of time around town, people watching and pointing to the trucks as they drive by
• have so much fun at our local parks with lots of structures to climb and room to run.  We were lucky to have some early spring days in the past month for you to explore our parks for the first time since you started walking. 
• can reach doorknobs.  We had to put safety caps on the front and bathroom doors, just in case
• are very interested in figuring out how things work: taking things apart, seeing how pieces fit and pushing buttons
• go nap once a day for 1.5-2 hours, usually about 4 hours after you start the day. Lately, you have started initiating your own naps, going to the refrigerator and signaling that you would like milk.
• bedtime is 7:00 pm.
• when we are home, you cannot stand to have me out of your sight. When out, you will go quite a distance to play, occasionally check to make sure I am still around and, every once in awhile, will came back just to give me a quick hug *melt*
• are a great car traveler. You will either sit quietly in your seat (still rear-facing), playing with a few toys and listening to music or, you will drift off to sleep

Life with you is such an incredible joy.  Every time you meet a new milestone or discover something new, I think, "This is my favorite age/stage." Then, the next one proves to be even more exciting.  We  can't wait to see what's to come...

I love you to the moon and back, and again,
Mama

11 months of you...

My sweet George,

My letter to you this month is few days late. I could blame it on the busy events of last week, preparing for your first Thanksgiving and going out of town but, to be honest, I think it is more because I cannot believe that my next letter to you will be on your first birthday. The past eleven months have been filled with countless joys and my heart and life are fuller than I could have ever imagined because of you.

At 11 months you...

• stand on your own for brief moments, until you remember you are supposed to be holding on and grasp for the closest surface.
• walk around the house behind your push toy. You are so fast, quickly learned to maneuver around corners and away from walls and say "voom, voom, vooooom..." as you go. Pretty much the cutest. thing. ever.
• initiate peek-a-boo several times a day, whether it is from behind a chair or around a corner. You'll start the game and let out big, long belly laughs when you make eye contact with whoever plays with you.
• are headstrong. You want what you want, exactly when you want it and will stop at nothing to get it. This includes scaling the couch, using your toys, pillows or whatever else can serve as a step stool - unassisted. Oh boy!
• eat, eat and eat some more. You still have a terrific appetite and continue willing to try anything. You are still eating purees in addition to whole foods, mainly to help give you enough to eat because chewing with only two teeth is tiring work.
• have slept though the night several times in the past month. Then, you hit a growth spurt and your sleep took a dive again. Then DST started and complicated things further. One day you'll figure it out.
• are wearing 12 month clothes (though some pants are already too short!) and size 3 diapers (size 4 at night).
• are saying: Mama, Dada, Yia Yia (grandma), voom (vroom), this, and got.
• love books. You flip through the pages of your favorite books several times a day and hold them out to us to read to you. When we read the Mr. Brown book one page says, "He can sound like a hand on a door. Knock, Knock, Knock." Mama will knock on the floor and you'll crawl over and knock, too.
• have some separation anxiety. You want to know where your Daddy and I are every moment when we are at home. If one of us goes in another room, you will crawl over and knock at the door, yelling for us.
• will pick up the tiniest piece of nothing from the floor and put it in your mouth. When I attempt to retrieve whatever it is you will either 1) smirk and crawl as fast as you can in the other direction or 2) fish it out of your mouth and proudly hand it over. Let's work on developing #2 a bit more, shall we?
• play well with others. We have had a few playdates this month and you have played so well with the other babies around your age. You will share toys and are very gentle when you touch other kids.
• enjoy music. You fall fast asleep to your music in the car and bounce/dance to the Toddler Tunes music channel on cable or the songs on your toys.

You have grown so much in the past month and, every once in awhile, I catch a glimpse of you as the big boy you are becoming. It both thrills me to see you thriving and saddens me (just a bit) that you are a baby for just a few more weeks. I plan to enjoy every minute of time with you in this last month of babyhood.

I love you with all that I am, to the moon and back,

Mama

ten months of you...

My little monkey,

It's written all over your face in your ten month photo that sitting still is just not cool with you right now. Just when we think you are pausing to catch your breath after a marathon session of cruising along furniture, walls or crawling at warp speed you are up and off again, stopping only to eat and sleep. You have become incredibly curious about your world and it's workings. You explore every inch of our home, get down on your belly to look under furniture and doors and we can almost see the wheels turning in your brain as you try to figure things out.

You have started to become a better communicator. When you want something from me, you will assertively call out, "Mama!" When Daddy walks into a room or, leaves it, he hears "Dada!" You point to things that interest you and are making all kinds of pre-verbal sounds - more each day.

But, the best part of ten months? You are the happiest baby I have ever known. You smile, giggle, coo and belly laugh all day long! We are so incredibly blessed to be your parents.

At {TEN} months you:

• love to play hide and seek. We will hide around a corner and, as you find us you break out in peals of laughter
• are chewing through the rails on your crib. You may only have the two bottom teeth but, they are sharp and strong!
• are a big fan of our windows. We have large windows with window sills that are the perfect height for you to rest your little arms and peer out at the world below. You spend a lot of time walking back and forth along the sills, watching the cars come in and out of our complex and particularly love the show put on by our landscapers using the leaf blowers.
• wear mainly 12 month clothes now. The pants are still a bit long but all of your 9 month pants are highwaters...you are stuck in between, my boy. You are still wearing some of your 6 month onsies though (thank you Carter's). You are in size 3 diapers and likely will be for a while longer.
• eat anything we put in front of you. You still take fruit and veggie purees but are also a big fan of chicken, fish, ground turkey, rice, banana, toasted cheese sandwiches, hummus on whole wheat and cooked veggies. At dinner time you eat whatever we cook. It is a pleasure to see you enjoy your meals and use that well developed pincer grasp to self-feed.
• love music! You dance to the Toddler Tunes channel on our t.v., the music on your exersaucer and love listening to your kid's music playlist on Mama's iPhone when we are in the car.
• have discovered the drawer of baking pans under the oven and like to drag them out and use them as vehicles to navigate the kitchen floor, or as very loud make-shift musical instruments.
• are starting to show a bit iof separation anxiety. You don't like to see Mama or Baba leave the room and protest loudly when we do.
• are becoming more social. You enjoy interacting with other kids on our playdates, share toys and are gentle in approaching your friends.
• give hugs. While you are mostly on the move all.the.time. you do have some quieter moments where you will fling your little arms around the nack of whoever is holding you or, will sit quietly on a lap and cuddle.

It is so hard to believe that you are just two months from your 1st birthday and have come so far from the sweet, tiny bundle we brought home from the hospital. We are loving every little bit of your growing and changing but, stay a baby just a bit longer for us, okay?

I love you to the moon and back,

Mama

nine months of you...

My precious boy,

You have been with us now for three quarters of a year. In the last month you have really begun to show us more of your personality and are keeping us on our toes, quite literally, as we try to keep up with your crawling and cruising.

At nine months you:

• have two teeth, your bottom, front two.
• are an incredible eater. You will try anything we put in front of you and are less and less interested in purees as you discover new tastes and textures of table food.
• are crawling (at lightning speed), pulling to standing on anything and everything and cruising along furniture.
• are tenacious and persistent. If you can't go through it or around it, you'll find a way over it. When you set your sights on something, it's very hard to distract you from that goal.
• have quite the memory. If we take something out of your sight and you happen to see where we've hidden it, you'll come back to that spot an hour later to retrieve your prize. Amazing.
• are making lots of pre-verbal sounds and will 'talk' for long periods of time in your incredibly sweet little voice. Most of your sounds consist of "da-da", "ya-ya", "ma-ma" and lots of cooing and hissing.
• said your first word on 9/12/10 at 1:45 pm. Baba walked in the door from work, you crawled right over to him and said, "Da-dee". He thinks it was a fluke but, I'm counting it as the real deal.
• love your Mama and Baba. When one of us has been gone (for a few minutes, or hours), we return to your squeals of delight, big grins and you'll crawl right to us with arms extended, asking us to pick you up.
• way hello and good-bye.
• point to things that interest you.
• weigh 19 lbs, 10 ozs (35th%) and measure 28.5 inches long (55th%). Our long, lean boy.
• are wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes but, those pants are getting short so we'll be moving you into 12 months soon.
• love the park. When we head out for a walk, you squeal with delight as you see the park and the swings in view.
• love to swing and the back-and-forth motion rocks you right to sleep at times.
• love watching animals and other kids.
• are very social. You are fine with being held by anyone we hand you to and are a merciless flirt when we are out and about, smiling and waving to anyone who pays attention.
• are still nursing, mainly mornings and nights. You have dropped a couple of bottle feedings during the day in favor of foods. When Mama is at work, you now get one bottle of infant formula. It took you a few days to get used to the different taste but, now you will drink your bottle with no problem.
• are happy! It doesn't take much to get a smile out of you. You have a ticklish tummy and sides and give us great belly laughs when we do 'raspberries' on your belly or neck.
• love, love, love bath time! Whenever we open the bathroom door, you make a bee-line for your bath toys and the tub...ever hopeful.
• were baptised on 9/18/10 and Father Nick was astounded that you were not only calm and happy but, splashed around in the baptismal font. That may have been a first for him.
• make diaper changes quite challenging. As you are so mobile, you'll spin around and don't like to lay still long enough to get a new diaper on. Bribing you with toys and singing works...sometimes.
• love the sound of Mama's singing voice (for some odd reason!). If you get fussy in the car, I just need to start singing to you and you settle down in a moment.
• are a little explorer. You love checking out every inch of our home and any new space.

I know it's your job but, you are growing far too fast! We are enjoying watching and loving you upevery day. You bring so much joy to our little family, little guy.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mama

eight months of you...

My sweet George,

When I used to imagine ahead to this point, I pictured you as a still dependent infant relying on Mama and Baba to carry you around and attend to your every need. You had other plans in mind and lately, several times a day I catch glimpses of you as a big boy. You are on the move, crawling, cruising and exploring your world. You still look back to make sure we are there with you and count on us to catch you from falling but, you are quickly gaining independence and are growing and changing at a rate that makes me both extremely proud and more than a little wistful.

Until today, I've been able to take your monthly photos all by myself. Those days are now gone and you do not like to sit still for more than a moment. Baba and I carefully set things up today to be as sure as we could to snap a few pictures in just seconds, knowing you'd be off in a flash. That's about how we do things now. Plan as well as we can, baby proof and follow you around and around and around. Such a busy boy!

At eight months you:

• are crawling. A few weeks back you decided it was time to move beyond rolling and started a half crawl, dragging one leg (mainly your left) behind or tucked up under you. Within days, you figured out that being on all fours was much more efficient and have now mastered the crawl - and fast!
• are cruising! Crawling was not enough though. As soon as you had that down, you were pulling yourself up to standing on anyone and anything and now are cruising along the edges of furniture. Be still my heart.
• are such a good eater. You are adventurous and will try anything we give you from purees, to snacks to semi-solid foods.
• are still toothless. Being all gums hasn't slowed down your eating at all though! In the past two weeks you've eaten watermelon, meatball and cupfuls of puffs and Cheerios.
• love music. You have started to bounce around when you hear songs you know and will bang your hands on a surface along with a tune. You particularly love your two toy pianos right now.
• enjoy Mama's singing voice (though I wonder why!). Your favorites are "Itsy Bisty Spider", "Bingo" and "The Wheels on the Bus". If I need to get your attention or you get restless during a car ride, any of these will help right away.
• wave hello and good-bye.
• are growing in more hair, little by little and, it's so light! We're still trying to figure that one out.
• really like Sesame Street and watch an episode each morning as Mama gets ready.
• love to swing! As we walk toward the park, you get very excited and start cooing and kicking your feet as soon as the swings are in sight.
• have fun with the climbing train at the park - especially the portholes. You love peering through the round openings, especially if one of your favorite people is on the other side.
• play peek-a-boo with a blanket, a toy lovey or around someones head while being held. It's your favorite game right now.
• enjoy watching other kids play and watching dogs and cats. You fell in love with your great Aunt Patty and Uncle Joe's collie, Murphy at camp - especially as he chased his frisbee.
• are a happy, smiley, giggly boy. You have the sweetest disposition and the best smile around. Your dimple just melts me!
• are wearing 6-9 months clothes, although you have plenty of room to grow in them. You can still wear a lot of your 3-6 month onesies and shorts. You have a longer torso but are still lean through the middle.
• have deliciously chubby thighs, arms and cheeks...we kiss them all the time!
• love the water in any form - sippy cup, baths and swimming. You are a water kid and love to splash around.
• are a people person. You love to meet new people, study faces and have a quick smile for anyone you meet. You tend to charm even the grumpiest of strangers when we are out and about.
• are fascinated hearing Greek. Your Yia Yia and Papou only speak Greek to you when you are with them on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while Mama is at work, and Baba speaks in Greek to you at home much of the time.

You are the very best part of every day. I love you to the moon and back little guy,

Mama

seven months of g...

Hello sweet boy,

Today you have been in our lives for seven wonderful months. It's your third season, your first summer, and it's been a scorcher! We've had to get creative with outings to keep you cool and, earlier this month you had your first swim in your very own little pool. Which you loved. A lot. We are so looking forward to taking you on your first vacation to the lake next month.

At seven months you:

• have made it through your first illness - an ear infection. You were pretty uncomfortable but bounced back quickly. Then, after only 4 days of the antibiotics, you developed a rash all over your little body. Likely diagnosis? A slight allergy to penicillin.
• are rolling as far as we will let you. We'll put you down on the floor to play with your toys and in mere seconds you'll roll yourself across the room to something more interesting. Thinking that crawling is in the very near future. Let the baby proofing begin!
• are still toothless for now.
• have made nighttime a guessing game. Just when we think you've gotten the hang of sleeping better (read: 1-2 short wake ups), you all of a sudden revert back to a few nights of being up every hour on the hour. Let's grow out of this one quickly, okay?
• giggle. A LOT! At silly sounds we make, belly raspberries and when we laugh. It's the best sound in the world. I hope you can always find and enjoy humor in the everyday.
• love your food. It is such a pleasure to feed you and to be treated to your joyful, "Mmmmmm's." So far you have loved everything you've tried and we're hoping you become as much of a foodie as your parents. You eat a mixture of jarred food and food that I make for you (chicken, peas and green beans so far).
• are quickly climbing the growth charts. At your 6 month appointment you weighed 16lb, 14 oz (35th percentile) but, just three short weeks later (7.15.10) at the sick appointment for your ear, you were already up to 18lb, 4oz!
• are still wearing almost all of your 3-6 month clothes and have started being able to wear a few more of your 6-9's without them looking huge.
• are still nursing well. I pump for you during my work days and you, thankfully, have been taking your bottles without a problem.
• have handled Mama's transition back to work (part-time) like a champ! You spend two days a week with your Yia-Yia and one day with Christine and your friend, C.
• understand object permanence, especially when it involves the t.v. remote control!
• like playing peek-a-boo with a small blanket or burp cloth.
• have started to suck your thumb a bit more to self-soothe. It's not all the time, but seems to comfort you when you remember to use it.
• really, really want to stand on your own and would be happy if we held you up to do so all day long.
• are slightly obsessed with the pull chains on the ceiling fan in your room and love turning the light on and off, and on and off and...
• reach your little arms up to us now when you want to be held. love this!
• have a new way of letting us know you want something - you hold out a hand and touch together your thumb and first two fingers in the direction of the desired object. so cute!
• no longer want to sit in your infant carrier in the stroller. You now sit in the stroller facing forward and intently watch the world go by. You seem to be particularly interested in passing cars and trucks.
• no longer want to sit in your stroller at all when we are on indoor outings, such as the mall. Thanking your grandma everytime I put you in the ERGObaby. You end up content and I'm happy to have your snuggled close.

We absolutely adore you, little guy, and are continually amazed by how much you change everyday and how much you have changed our lives for the better.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mama

happy 1/2 birthday baby boy...

Already half a year since you surprised us with your early Christmas Eve arrival! While the first few months passed by in a blink, you amazed us in the last three with your blooming personality and the rate at which you have mastered new skills. You overcame your hip dysplasia and, finally, thankfully, were freed from the harness you wore for the majority of your new life.

At six months you:

• are incredibly curious. Wherever we are, you scan your surroundings and all of the people around you. You particularly love loud patterns, moving vehicles, faces wearing glasses and beards/mustaches.
• recognize your mom and dad and both sets of grandparents
• respond to your name in both English and Greek
• listen to conversations in Greek intently and they never fail to make you smile, though your favorites are Pappou's silly talk and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" with Daddy.
• are ticklish! The spots seem to migrate but we've gotten great belly laughs by tickling your feet, belly and right underarm.
• roll in both directions, and fast!
• are sitting on your own for several minutes at a time. You're learning to keep your balance as you reach for and grab toys around you.
• love being read to. Your favorite books are: Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, Not the Hippopotamus, Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb and A Color of His Own.
• fall asleep best while being nursed and listening to Mommy singing Brahm's Lullaby. You aren't consistently sleeping through the night yet but, have done so several times in the past few weeks (fingers crossed!).
• are doing so well on solid foods and have liked everything you've tried so far. Right now, you are eating two solid meals each day.
• seem to be teething, although no tooth buds are evident. Still, you are drooling buckets and chew on everything. Everything!
• have a fascination with hair pulling, especially Mommy's. Probably my least favorite of your accomplishments.
• have gotten deliciously chubby through the cheeks, arms and legs. Oh, those meaty thighs! We haven't been to the doctor since your four month check-up and I can't wait to see how much you weigh at your next appointment this coming Monday.
• are a flirt! You give out big, gummy smiles to anyone who sweet talks you - and believe me, there are dozens no matter where we go. You already have natural charisma and easily draw people in.
• love to jump! Your exersaucer has springs in the legs and it is your personal mission to try to wear them out each and every day. Once you get going, you cause quite the racket but, are so happy about it that we can't complain.
• are such a happy, giggly boy. You may be serious when you are tired or concentrating on something but, you are generally quick to flash that adorable right cheek dimple.
  

You are the absolute joy in our life and Daddy and I are loving watching you grow and change every day. Although it's all going far too fast, each new stage is so fun and exciting that we can't help but look forward to whatever comes next.

I love you to the moon and back, sweet boy!
Mama

five months...

My sweet boy,

I'm just the luckiest mama ever to have had your first five months at home with you (with one more full month to go). In the last month, your personality has blossomed and it seems you are learning at least a dozen things each day. You are a terrific supported sitter now and I have a feeling you'll be doing it your own very soon. You enjoy your Prince Lionheart seat and spin (and chew on) the attached toy with vigor! You spend at least 30 minutes a day in your exersaucer, jumping, laughing and playing with all of the attached toys you are getting to know so well. Daddy and I get such a kick out of watching you learn new things and hearing your coos, giggles and squeals of delight.

Another new 'toy' of the moment is one that is never far....your foot! The changing table continues to be one of your happy places and as soon as we lay you down for a change of diaper or clothes you grab a foot - or both - and have it up to your face for a closer look with lightning speed. And those toes must be as delicious to you as they are to us because they find their way into your mouth much of the time. So stinkin' cute!You had your first taste of food earlier this month (organic rice cereal and banana) but, I felt you really weren't quite ready yet so we held off for just a bit longer. You have your whole life to experience all of the wonderful varieties of food in your world - and we do hope you'll be adventurous - no need to rush.

George, you are growing so quickly and right on schedule. At your four month pediatric appointment you weighed in at 14 lb, 10 0z and measured 25.5" long. The doctor joked that the growth charts were modeled after you as you continue to be right around the 50th percentile for weight, height and head circumference. You handled your vaccines really well and reverted to smiles seconds after the tears started when the nurse distracted you with juggling and bubbles. And your hip is doing much better. You are in the harness only from bedtime to waking in the morning. As of today, there are two weeks to go until your next appointment when, we hope and pray the orthopaedist is right, you'll be sprung for good. You've been in the harness for exactly four months now and, while we are grateful that your dysplasia was not severe and didn't require more aggressive intervention, we are ready for you to get a clean bill of health and to help you move on.

You are not even close to sleeping though the night. Every couple weeks or so you give me a night with only one wake up but, most still require two or more middle of the night feedings. I know that this will lessen over time and establishing a good night-time routine for you has started us on a better path to sleep: harness and pj's, quieting the house and dimming lights, read a book or two, one last feeding then, bed.

Each morning, your Daddy and I wake to your coos and content chatter over the monitor - starting our days of with smiles. You are such a happy boy, so interested in the world around you, at ease around other people and oh! The flirting! Your grins charm everyone you meet. It's that elusive charisma and you seem to have an abundance.

I look a you at least once a day and marvel that you are here and ours. We're starting to see traits of me and your Daddy in you. You inherited my habit of raising one eyebrow and you have Daddy's half smirk. There are times I look at you and I know you are an exact, scale replica of your father. Then you change up your expression and I see that maybe, just maybe, you have a little bit of me through the eyes and nose. A little bit of both of us and a whole lot that is all wonderfully, uniquely you.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mama

you, at four months...

Hi there cutie,

So much happening for you this month with celebrations, a little travel and all of the growing you've been doing. I can hardly believe how much you have changed from your three month photo to today. Your personality is suddenly as big as those gorgeous, kissable cheeks of yours!

At four months you:

• weigh 14lb, 11oz and measure 25.5 inches - consistent at about 50th percentile for each. You did so well handling your vaccines. A quick cry and then all smiles when the nurse blew bubbles and did a little juggling act for you.
• celebrated your first Easter. It was very low-key with just the three of us and a trip to Niko's since your Papou was in the hospital but, we still dressed you for the day and took pictures with your bunny.
• are full of smiles!
• celebrated your first Name Day on 7/23/10.
• are doing much more solitary play on the floor with your toys and sitting in your bebePod seat.
• have a new, big favorite toy: your exersaucer. You just sat and looked around the first few times but are quickly learning all of the fun toys and are wanting to stay in it longer each day.
• are sleeping a little bit better at night, as long as I 'dream feed' you just before I'm ready for bed. It seems you just need a little more milk in your belly to get you through for a few hours.
• have longer eyelashes all of a sudden. Your Baba and I comment all the time that we can almost see them grow.
• are spending more time out of the harness than in - a very happy thing for all of us! You need to wear it now at bedtime (as of 4/7/10) and can take it off as soon as you wake up in the morning.
• find comfort in your Sofie the giraffe toy and particularly love to munch on her hooves.
• went to your first lacrosse game at Union College to see your cousin Josh play, followed by tailgating.
• take lots and lots of walks around town with Mama in the beautiful spring weather.
• have become very interested in faces. You love to reach out your little hands to touch Mama and Baba's faces when we are holding you. I think we'd both say it's one of our very favorite things you've learned lately.
• are becoming more talkative with lots of coos and gurgles.
• love looking at family photos. We have a lot of frames on our refrigerator and a sure way to distract you when you are cranky is to bring you to the fridge so that you can study the faces of the people in your life.

George, you are such a sweet, easygoing baby. You are quickly becoming more curious about the world around you and it is such a pleasure to see things though your eyes each day. I'm so very lucky to be yours.

I love you to the moon and back,

Mama