Happy Christmas one and all

I hope all of you had a happy Christmas. Mine was not too busy, but I managed to get quite a few things done. I have pictures from earlier in the week to post, but Mama says it's late and she'd like some sleep tonight. Without further ado, the pictures:

Good morning, I will be your tour guide for my activities today.


Daddy and I got our picture taken.


I tried my hand at opening a present. I did try to eat the paper. This was a ladybug shaped noise maker. Mama forgot to get a picture of it.


We visited big brother Connor. Check out the hat hair on all of us. (Well, Daddy just had a hair cut so his looks ok, but mine was pretty wild!)


Connor and I had a picture together. Well, several, but this is the only one where we looked in the same direction that was at the camera.

December 11 - Tooth!

I have the sharp point of my first tooth coming in. Mama & Daddy each felt it this morning.

December 10- - Doctor visit

Today I weighed 16 pounds, and measured in at 27 inches long. So I'm in the 50-75th percentile for height, and the 10-25th percentile for weight. The nurse practitioner at my new doctor's office suggested that I could stand to eat a little more, but agreed that if I spit up more when I eat too much that stopping when I indicate I'm done is fine.

Uncle Kevin and Mama both liked her. She was full of common sense.

December 4 - sometimes it's the simple things

Daddy and Uncle Kevin set up the booster seat from Aunt June on a chair, and today was my first time in it. I ate some food, and Daddy put a little rag on my head, and I laughed and played with it. I pulled it off a few times and laughed some more. Eventually, Mama got Daddy set up with the camera.


Here is a picture of me in action once Daddy switched to video mode.

November 27 - Six Months Old

I've changed a bit since I was born, besides just the obvious of getting much longer and heavier. (Mama's bad back reminds her about the heavier part every day.)

My eyes are turning hazel. Some days they are mostly a dark greyish blue, some times they are green, and sometimes you can see golden tan highlights around the iris. Quite a lot like Uncle Kevin's eyes, actually.

My hair has gotten lighter in color. It was almost black when I was born, and now it's a light brown like Mama's hair, but with more golden highlights and hardly any red highlights. No one is sure if it will continue to get lighter to where I might be blonde for a while.

I have become a very active roller. I can roll multiple times to get from one side of a room to another. I'm not terribly predictable unless there is something in the room where I can hit my head. I'm good at finding those, Daddy considers me a natural, in fact.

My vocabulary builds steadily and I'm currently working on clicking my tongue. I've also mastered the fine art of screaming very loudly, even when I'm not hurt. I got really good at it last week when I was sick. I think I might have scared Oma. Sorry Oma!

I can sit up for long periods of time without support, although I still sometimes balance with my hands. I can't sit up by myself yet, but I can stay sitting when placed in that position.

I love to "stand" while supported. I'm not happy to sit when I think I should be standing. I've moved my feet like I will when I start walking, and sometimes I have feet that are flat on the floor for this. I don't have a lot of patience when I fall and bonk my head, so the adults are pretty careful to watch and catch me if I look like I'm going to fall over--even when sitting--and they always hang on to me when I'm standing.

I still like to "fly" like "Superbaby", but that tires adult arms out pretty quickly. It still works reasonably well to settle me when I'm fussy and they have ruled out the usual causes. I still like my jumper, but only with an audience. Uncle Kevin and cousin Nicole call me the "Rock Star."

I started supplemental "solid" foods about a month ago, and I'm a good eater. So far I like most of what has been presented to me, although I was really not sure about the bananas at first, and I'm still not crazy about carrots. I like my carrots mixed with something to make them sweeter. I take after Daddy in that I love peas!

Mama is still breast feeding me, although she may only do that for about another month. I'll be on formula with pumped milk for a while, and then just on formula with my "real" food.

I really want to figure out this crawling thing. So far I can get into the hands and knees position with my head up, and sometimes I move a back leg, but I still haven't figured out these hands. Sometimes I have done the five-point scoot, where I put my head down for balance. (This gives me interesting wear patterns on my hair.) But I don't reliably move either direction at a true four-point crawl.

Mama is sure this will change, and not at all sure that she's ready for that day.

November 27 - Thanksgiving at Antema's house

OK, this is supposed to be a big day for eating, and I appear to be READY!!! I've got my shirt with directions, and my mouth wide open. Bring it on.


Hey, I've got instructions for later as well. Thanks for the shirt, Aunt Baggy!


This is only a test of the baby output system. This was only a test.


Aunt Jaki and I hang out for a while


I spent some time in my bouncer in the doorway between the kitchen (upper) and dining room (lower) and was in the way a couple of times when things needed to be carried between the two rooms.


I spent some time hanging out on a blanket on the floor. Earlier I was rolling about, but right now I'm pretty calm.

November 22 - Thanksgiving at Oma's house

On Sunday, November 22, Mama, Uncle Kevin and I went to Oma and Grandpa Ron's house for an early Thanksgiving. Mama decided that the food was good, even the turkey which she traditionally doesn't like.

She told stories about how she pitched a fit the first year that her Grandma Dot tried to put her at a "kids table" at Thanksgiving. Because she was the only grandchild for so long, she had always been seated at the table with the adults. She remembers NOT wanting to go sit with the young kids. She also remembers winning that battle--the legend of her stubbornness begins.

Anyway, I got my first try of mashed potatoes and found out that I liked them. Uma was careful to make sure there weren't chunks in the spoonfuls that I ate.


Now you can see the mashed potatoes on my mouth. I'm still working on this solid food eating thing.


Mama wanted pictures of Oma and I, but it took a few tries. First no one was ready.


Then I took a dramatic pose instead of looking at the camera


Oma closed her eyes.


Success! Oma and I are both smiling at the same time.

Many faces of Russell

These were taken by Uncle Kevin on October 16 or so.

October and November belated pictures

I like my activity center because there are lots of things for me to do while I practice sitting up.



Cousins--Nicole and I


Daddy helped me go from lying down...


To standing!


Got my foot!


With Oma (formerly Grammy Betty)


Silly mama fed me in my bouncer (johnny jump up) and I wore carrots on my nose!

Is it really November already?

Hello from my floor activity center!

Mama is having a hard time believing that we're almost halfway through November. I don't know anything about telling time yet. However, we need to give you some long overdue updates.

I can sit by myself for quite a while now, although I haven't mastered getting into that position by myself. I still love being in my johnny jump up bouncer. I've begun to get a wider variety of foods and I'm a pretty good eater. I really like pears, bananas, peas, sweet potatoes and squash. I'm not so enthusiastic about the turkey stuff yet.

I'm working hard on my crawling, but I tend to do the "five point scoot" instead. I can roll over both ways, scoot around and in lots of other ways get myself around the living room floor.


On my five month birthday I decided to taste Daddy's foot.

More pictures will have to wait.

October 5 - I got a new crib

Mama was searching on Craigslist and found an inexpensive crib--full size with dropping sides. Daddy went and picked it up today. I had tired myself out a bit at Antema's, so I slept really well.

I am now in "my" bedroom. I have been sleeping upstairs for about a week, and doing well. Mama and Daddy moved the changing table up, along with the dresser from Aunt June. Mama is joking that it would be good for her to have to go upstairs as a form of exercise, but right now it still hurts her.

Antema sent the "Johnny Jump Up" home with us, so I should be able to practice my jumping without wearing out parental arms.

October 2 - Another day, another doctor visit

I don't like getting shots. Mama did remember to medicate me beforehand, so I was better this time, but I still don't like them. I was then grumpy for a couple of days.

I measured in at 26 inches long, and I weighed 13 pounds, 15 ounces.

I was my usual charming self before they stuck those big needles into me!

October 1 - Wiggle bottom boy

Mama finally got a picture of me with one of my really sweet smiles!

I haven't figured out how to coordinate my arms yet, but I was practicing how to crawl with my legs. Or maybe I was trying out my hip shimmy for an eventual belly dance routine? Mama isn't sure.

September 27 - Four months old today

This picture is from a couple of weeks ago, but Mama doesn't think she posted it yet. She calls this carpet swimming.


I blew my first "raspberry" today. Mama wondered if I was going to be a born trumpet player when she saw me. I haven't done it again yet. But I learn new things every day.

I also have been working on some old things--like trying to crawl. The back end is willing but the arms are still weak. So I'm carpet swimming for a bit longer, it seems. Mama and Daddy breathe a sigh of relief, but I'm not sure why.

Mama found a jungle themed floor mat play thingy for me and I really seem to like it so far. I hit some of the hanging danglies (sometimes I just kick them), I flirt with the baby in the mirror, and I grab the elephant's ear that makes the funny crinkly sound. I keep rolling over and sometimes rolling off.

I'm still doing my best to start standing. I push off with my legs anytime I'm held, and I smile really wide to encourage my holder to keep supporting me while I try again.

September 25--Pictures from Antema

Antema has a play set in her yard. She propped me up in this swing and I was confused for a while, but then I started to like it. She promises me that some day I'll be big enough to fit without the extra support.


I was enjoying myself!


I've learned how to cover my face when the lights are bright and I want to be left alone.


Antema got me a "Johnny Jump Up" in good condition, and since I like to jump, I really like it!


I like to chew while I jump