First Attempt at Solids

A few photos

This photo cracks me up. Our furnace broke on New Year's day, and I also chose that day to lose Zander's winter hat. We resorted to using his summer cap, which Jason modified to cover his ears. Poor kid looks ridiculous.

Hangin' out with papa.

Zander was playing and grabbed his "lamb" skin rug. He pulled it over himself and ... well, basically started wrestling with it. It looked like he was being attacked. Pretty funny.

Christmas and the New Year

We had a fantastic Christmas, with three celebrations. First, we had an early Christmas with Jason's family in Michigan, then we spent a week in Minnesota with my family and our friends. It was so nice to see everyone again! We got back home to Michigan and celebrated our first little family Christmas on New Year's Eve. All in all, a wonderful few weeks.







All the pictures we took of our little Christmas celebration look like we dropped acid.






Here are some fond memories of the holidays:

- Christmas dinner was delicious. Mum prepared her traditional feast and I absolutely stuffed myself.




- Phillip received the entire seven seasons of Buffy on DVD, so we spent many many hours watching that. It was the first time I had seen it since having Z. Very strange to see another Zander on screen!

- We went to the Brave New Workshop and Zander attended his first live performance. The kid was amazing, just hanging out and watching, then eventually falling asleep. (That's not a reflection on the show, which was really fun!) We even went out to the Mill after a show where Z just slept in his carrier while we hung out.

- On our last night in Minnesota my parents took us out for a nice dinner. Zander was sitting on my lap while we were eating. My dad finished his food then took Z from me so I could finish eating. I looked down and thought, "that's strange, how could I have spilled something all over my lap?" A few seconds later I realized that I was covered in poo. Jason was wonderful and whisked Z into the bathroom to clean him up.

- We were awakened on New Year's morning by the sound of our furnace breaking. After hearing the astronomical rates that repairpeople charge on holidays, we decided to brave the cold until the next day. We bundled up and huddled around the space heater. I'm very happy to say that it is now fixed!

Also, our shower is finished! This morning I took my first shower in our house since November. It felt so luxurious.

It's almost December?!?!

Well time is certainly flying by. Between fixing up the house, dealing with a flood of bailout news at work and, of course, raising a beautiful baby boy, a month has passed without an update.

How far he has come!

His first picture in the womb
February 15, 2008



His first picture in the world
August 18, 2008



His first Thanksgiving (sitting in Grandpa Ron's chair)
November 27, 2008



His first bedroom
November 30, 2008



Zander has recently developed the ability to play by himself which is quite adorable. He will lay there and bat at his toys while either talking to them or singing to himself.

Zander meets his cousins

In non-Zander related news, we bought a house! It is very exciting and lots and lots of work. We spent the weekend cleaning and painting, with the generous help of Jason's family.

It was a big day for Zander.

He's not used to this much excitement.

He ended the day by falling asleep in Grandma's arms.

...and he giggles in his sleep....

Zander likes to sit upright, but he's not really able to do that just yet, so we prop him up with blankets to slow the sideways topple.

He doesn't like it when I use the flash on the camera.

Maybe it's not so bad.

But when I don't, it looks like he moves at lighting speed!

Whoooooaaaaaahhhh!

That was exhausting.

Time for Fall Clothes

Look what showed up on our doorstep

Zander has arrived. Let the party begin.




Little Zander is really starting to engage with us, and his playful personality is coming out. Here is our beautiful baby boy smiling at his dad.

Fiji Toes!

Zander has Fiji toes! Is this a new development? Have I simply overlooked it until now? Who cares! He has Fiji toes!



My boy, you can look forward to a lifetime of picking things up with your feet. Hooray!

One Month Already

Believe it or not, Li'l Z is already a month old. Time is flying by, and he is already changing so much.

He has already outgrown:

- the small setting for the straps on his car seat

- he is almost too big for his Beastly Bumz newborn diapers

- the baby straight-jacket (aka swaddling). If we try to swaddle his arms, he will lay there and punch until he gets his hands free

- he can drink out of a bottle (which, I have to admit, made me a tiny bit sad)

- sponge baths (now that he has a proper belly button, he can have regular baths). On the upside, he LOVES taking baths.





Here he is "sun bathing."





On advice from some of our friends, I went to "Grow with Me," a shop for gently-used baby stuff. It is a great store, and I found an infant stroller for $25! We are getting tons of use out of it, and Zander seems to enjoy our walks.



One of Zander's favorite places is him faux-lambskin rug. By a wacky coincidence, we received two identical rugs as gifts. Perfect! Now he can spit up on one and use the other while it is being washed.


"Baby on the lam"

Goodbye Umbilical Cord, Hello Belly Button

Zander lost his umbilical stump today!



Here is his new little belly button.



Zander seems to prefer not wearing clothes, but his hands and feet get chilly. This is our compromise.

Zander wears his first hoodie

Babies for Change

Our dear friends Melissa and Fred gave us this adorable little onesie for Zander, helping him to make his first political statement.