Chanukah!

I had the best Chanukah a baby could ever hope for! The day before Chanukah, my grandmommy flew in from Orange County. It was so nice seeing her since I haven't seen her since I was a couple weeks old. She also brought my Uncle Brian up with her who only saw me when I was five days old! He thought I have gotten really big!
The next day, Jenni had a playdate for all the babies! Unfortunately, Sam and Maddie weren't able to make it...but I still had TONS of fun with Dylan and Aiden. On our playdates, we now enjoy eating each other, taking each other's toys, and babbling to one another. These playdates just keep getting more and more fun for the babies (and the mommies!).On the first night of Chanukah, my entire family came over. My great bubbie came over and loves to hold me! I sure love her a lot!Also, all of my grandparents were on hand to share my very first Chanukah. We played dreidel, lit the menorah, ate brisket and latkes for dinner, and of course, I opened a present or two! I think my grandparents really enjoyed learning about this new holiday. I appreciate my bubbie and grandpa making the entire dinner!

Next year, I hope to be able to eat some of that yummy food. But for now, I'm enjoying all my veggies. So far I've tried peas, green beans, and squash. Next up is carrots and sweet potatoes! I really seem to be getting this eating thing down and have started to open my mouth as I wait for my next bite! I LOVE squash. Here's a video clip showing you just how much I love it!

Doctor Appointment

Yesterday afternoon, my mommy left work early and met me at the doctor's office for my six month doctor appointment. I weigh 16lbs 6.8oz which puts me in the 27th percentile and am 27 inches tall which is the 68th percentile for the 6 month age (not 5 months)!! Not bad for a preemie who wasn't even on the charts the first couple of months! Hard to believe I am above average in something, though not surprising since I'm too tall for most of my 6 month outfits! Dr. Clark was thrilled to see me sit up on my own since they still consider me a 5 month old! I laughed for him and tried to pull off all of his gadgets that were around his neck...hey, a boy's gotta try! After the doctor appointment we went downstairs to the shot clinic where I had 4 different shots and an oral immunization. I took it like a champ and only cried for a minute a two and was fine the rest of the day. My mommy and daddy says I'm a trooper and they couldn't be more proud of me!!

6 Months Old!!

Ok, it's mommy's turn to write...

I can hardly believe that Tyler is 6 months old today. I write this with a tear in my eye as I can't believe what a big boy he has become. He is no longer the 4.5lb baby I took home from the hospital, what seems to me like yesterday. The day he was born he completely fit in Alan's two hands. Now he is about 17 lbs we think (he goes to the doctor next week) and has pretty much quadrupled his weight. He now laughs hysterically, can pick up objects precisely, sit up on his own, attempt to crawl, has eaten rice cereal from a spoon, puts anything he can into his mouth, and babbles constantly. The best thing is that he now reaches for me when I come home from work!
Some things that haven't changed are the thousand of kisses he receives each and every day, all the love he gets from so many family members who see him at least weekly either in person or via webcam, and the amazing little man he has been who rarely cries. Alan and I say to each other all the time that we are so amazingly blessed to have what we have in our lives. Tyler is one lucky boy to have family babysit him everyday and not have to go to daycare. He truly is our dream come true and these past six months have been nothing short of tremendous.

Happy 1st Thanksgiving!!

Wow! What a big day I had! Today was a day of many firsts. In the true spirit of Thanksgiving and eating, I ate food today! Rice cereal for the first time! I had about 6 spoonfuls this morning and my mommy can't believe what a big boy I am. Here's a video of my scrumptious meal along with a picture of me!

After my big meal, we took some pictures for some holiday cards. Since Auntie Mel Mel was in town, we decided to take some with my mommy's side of the family and then just some with my mommy and daddy because I haven't done that in awhile!

AND...I sat up on my own today for the first time. My whole family was so proud of me! Look mommy, no hands!!

I had a great Thanksgiving with my family. I was fortunate enough to share this special day with my mommy, daddy, grandpa, bubbie, great bubbie, and auntie Mel Mel. I also got to see Nana, Popoulli, Great Grandma Shirley, and Uncle Brian on webcam this morning! They enjoyed watching me play in my ExerSaucer. Here's a picture of me with the turkey...next year I get to eat some real Thanksgiving food!

Happy Halloween!!

Our little three-eyed monster had a great time on Halloween...despite probably thinking "what is going on and why am I in this?" During the day, he was spoiled by Grandpa and Nana, while he waited for the rest of us to get off work. They loved watching him play in his jumpy seat!

At 5:30p our street had a block party! All of the families, including lots of little kids showed up for the bbq and pot luck. Tyler's little neighborhood friends all enjoyed seeing him as usual, once we explained to them it was "Baby Tyler" underneath the monster! Emily and Mike came by after work to get a glimpse of our scary little man and be apart of his special day!At 6:15p, Tyler participated in his first ever Halloween parade that went down our street and up another. The kids and the parents usually follow police cars and a big fire truck, but the fire station got a call and couldn't make it. As always, the police shut off all of the streets in the neighborhood so this parade could happen - and this year there were over 100 people in the parade! Here's a picture of us along the parade route with Nana!
The parade route ends at the basketball courts at the park near the beginning of our street. Once there they have a costume contest for all the kiddies. Daddy entered Tyler in the "little boys 0-1 year age group category" and Tyler took home first place, which earned him 2 silver dollars! We were so proud of our three eyed monster (hey, it's still first place, even if he was the only one in his category!). Here's a picture of us with Bubbie and Grandpa right after his first place winning!
It was a really fun night and we enjoyed handing out candy to all the little adorable trick or treaters that came by! Tyler was zonked out at 7p from all the excitement of the day. We can't wait for Halloween again next year on the amazing block we live on! Thanks to everyone who made Tyler's first Halloween so special!

Playdate!!

Last night, I met four of my buddies, along with their mommies and daddies at a (family-friendly) brewery in Burlingame. When we arrived at 6p, I, along with all of the other babies were fast asleep in our infant carriers after the car ride. We soon all woke up and started smiling at each other from across the table, as our parents carried on conversations, mostly about us! At the end of the night, our parents put us all together for a picture - we even put on our little pumpkin beanies that someone at my mommy's school made all the babies. We all sit up much better than it looks in this picture, but it was a very slippery bench we were put on! I can't wait to see all my friends again soon, hopefully with Maddie next time!

Tyler Learns a New Skill

Tyler Rolls Over!

This morning, with both my parents looking on, I rolled over, from back to stomach!! To show them it wasn't some fluke, I did it a few more times...until I got hungry. My mommy and daddy were so surprised and happy. My mommy was a little teary eyed as this was one more step away from being an infant and one step closer to being a big boy. Yesterday my grandpa took some great pictures of me...here's one to enjoy!

4 Month Doctor Appointment

This morning I went to my 4 month doctor appointment. Dr. Clark thinks I'm a very cute baby and am doing exceptionally well. I now weigh 13lbs 5oz!! I shocked everyone, needless to say. I am 25 inches now also - such a big boy! The doctor says that since I was a month premature, my adjusted age should be 3 months. I'll be a month behind until I turn a year. So my percentiles for a 3 month old for weight is 50% and height is 75%. Besides height and weight, I am right where a 4 month old should be developmentally - so I'm even a little ahead for my adjusted age! He was impressed at how well I scooch and hold my head so high when I'm on my tummy! I even laughed and talked to him while I was there. After meeting with Dr. Clark, I had to endure four vaccines: 3 shots and one oral. I was a trooper and only cried for a total of 30 seconds. I'm a little fussy today because of the shots, but the tylenol is starting to help. We asked the doctor about having something other than milk, but he said no food until I'm 6 months. He said I could have some rice cereal twice a day when I'm 5.5 months. So, it's a lot of milk for me for now - especially since I now eat 6oz every 3 hours! I go back to the doctor at 6 months and I wonder how big I'll be then...

Daddy and Me Playtime!

Okay, last post I let Mommy do the writing for me because I was tired, but I am back and have a great video to show you! Daddy was changing me the other day and just couldn't help himself - he had to go and tickle my belly. Well, I don't know about you, but when my belly is tickled I just have to laugh and laugh. Click below to see for yourself!

For the past 11 days my Auntie Mel Mel came to town and spoiled me! She's giving me my last bottle now before she leaves and I sure will miss her! Here are two of my favorite moments with my Auntie Mel Mel.

Ok, that is all for now. Needless to say, I am such a happy baby and love all my family who helps to make me so happy.

Such a Big Boy!

Tyler's quite the big boy lately. Last week, Tyler went to his first High Holiday, Rosh Hashanah service. Everyone thought he looked like the cutest little man ever in his dark tweed pants, polo shirt, and sweater vest. After services we went to great grandma's house for some brisket and challah. We just happened to snap a picture of him in his adorable outfit.

The next day, Tyler's good friend, Aiden, and his mommy, Brooke, came over for a visit. Aiden is just a week younger than Tyler and they had sooo much fun playing with each other. They really noticed each other and interacted so much more, than when they were only a month or two old and the mommies carried them around. We can't wait to see all of Tyler's other friends near the end of October when we all have dinner together.

Tyler also tried out his ExerSaucer, and he's such a big boy now that he can stand/sit in it and play with the many toys on it. He can also scooch himself 360 degrees in it to be able to see all his new "friends." Here's a short video of him talking to all his friends and having the best time playing:

Hope everyone has a good week and here's a couple favorite shots of ours from the week:

Sleeping Through The Night

I have made my mommy and daddy so proud this last couple of weeks! In the last month or so I began sleeping most of the night and only waking up once for a snackie. And finally on Saturday the 20th I slept through the entire night - from 8PM to 6AM!! Since I have been doing this every night since, my mommy and daddy are sleeping so much better and of course are ecstatic.

Some of my other accomplishments include holding my head up better and more steadily. Also, I am able to track people across the room, and my favorite people to watch and follow are my mommy and daddy. I am also talking and smiling so much these days, and am laughing almost everyday! Obviously my parents are doing a great job making me this happy!

I was so excited today when my grandpa brought me my first real baseball - and it is so special because it was a foul ball he got at the Giants game last night. Ok, it is my bed time and so I am off to bed (err, I mean crib), but I can't wait for next week when Auntie Mel Mel comes to visit.

Tyler Holding His Head Up!

Tyler's finally doing something other than sleeping during "tummy time"...he's getting good at lifting his head up!

Tyler's Favorite Playmat

Click play below to watch me have some fun on my favorite playmat!

Tyler's First "I Love You"

When my mommy told me she loved me the other day on my changing table, I responded "I love you." Luckily my daddy got it all on video, as no one is believing my parents that I actually said those three words! People seem to be chalking it up to baby talk...humph! Enjoy the clip below...

3 Months Old

Wow! The last three months have flown by!! As I officially get out of my newborn phase, I am starting to do some "big boy" things. My parents bought me a Bumbo (a seat that helps babies sit up on their own before they are able to without one) and I am able to sit in there and hold my head up. I'm not strong enough to sit in it more than a few minutes because my head falls over! Although I am three months old, I am developmentally only two months because I was born a preemie. They say it will take at least a year for me to catch up to my actual birth age, but I am doing pretty well. I am working on pushing myself up onto my hands/elbows when I am on my tummy. I did it for the first time today! My favorite toy is still my playmat - how can you go wrong with a dozen toys hanging down waiting for you to play with and one that lights up. Speaking of which, I have much better control of my hands these days and instead of batting my toys, I hold onto them.

I am getting into more of a routine these days too! I no longer sleep in the bassinet, but instead in my big boy crib in my own room! I have been going to bed around 7:30-8:00p, sleeping 6 hours, waking up and eating for a bit on my mommy, and then going back to sleep for another 3-4 hours. My parents are loving my new schedule and seem to be in better moods because of the extra sleep they've been getting! Hey, I didn't enjoy waking up every 2.5 hours either!! We're early risers in this house. My parents leave for work by 7:00a so my bubbie comes to watch me in the mornings from 7-9a and then my grandpa watches me all day (I enjoy all the fun outings he takes me on!). On Tuesdays, my nana comes ALL day. I love playing with her and showing her all the new things I am able to do each week! She also organizes and cleans up here and there around our house...my parents love when she comes over! I'm so lucky to have my grandparents watch me and I couldn't be happier spending my days with them.

Below are some pictures of me from my 3 month photo shoot! (If you click the pictures, they get bigger.)