Halloween Parade

One of the most interesting things about being a parent is that an alternate universe opens up to you.

Case in point: the halloween parade. Apparently this is a time honored tradition associated with any daycare/school establishment. The kids get all dressed up, the teachers and caregivers get dressed up, parents are encouraged to do the same, and the parade commences. It makes sense, but it was not on my radar screen before Winston, and that is such a shame. There is something magical about watching little kids and big kids experiencing the pure joy of Halloween. Yes, it has something to do with the candy, but I also think there is something joyous about watching a group of people delight in each other's funny/scary/awesome/outlandish/creative garb.

Here are some pictures from Winston's first Halloween parade. There are more available at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=291106&id=520878553&l=4fd369587d.

Me getting Winston gussied up in his penguin outfit. The socks lasted about 2 minutes before he kicked them off!

Winston and his harem...(L-R): Madeline, Winston, Evelyn (aka Winston's "twin"), and Molly

The twins Tyson and Kai...my favorite little guys!

Madeline as an elephant, Evelyn as her bad self, and Winston as the penguin!

A Sighting of the Rare and Elusive Florida Penguin

Winston had his 4 month checkup earlier this week. He initially tipped the scales at 17.8 pounds...which put him off the charts in terms of his weight gain! The doctor had him re-weighed and his actual weight is 14 pounds, 8 ounces and he is 24.5 inches long. He is growing so big and we even got a lecture about limiting his daily ounces to 25 (he's getting about 25-30 we estimate). What a difference a few months makes!

Other than that Dr. Sanders was pleased by his development and said Winston looks great. Winston was a trooper through two immunization shots - he cried a bit but we think he must have a pretty high pain threshold as after a few whimpers he calmed down.

Winston is finally getting some relief from the gaggle of little girls in his daycare class. Finnegan McClure is joining the crew ... another pale bald baby (good Irish pedigree). So now there are 3 bald babies (Winston, Evelyn and Finnegan) and two babies with full heads of hair (Madeline and Molly). They are too cute for words and it is very interesting to see all the babies learning and changing each day. I am also intrigued by the different temperaments - their personalities emerge so early.

Winston is "dressing up" as a penguin for Halloween. We were very tempted to dress him up in an outlandish fish costume, but decided to save the uncomfortable costumes for when he actually can appreciate the pomp and circumstance of the holiday.

Here's a preview of his costume.

Winston is 4 Months Old This Week!

I am writing this while watching Winston squirm around on the floor, gurgling and blowing bubbles and entertaining himself with his vocal dexterity. He has discovered that his fist is an always accessible pacifier, and with the onset of the drooling phase, his hands are often cold, wet and clammy. Ick. It doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest...

The milestones keep on emerging. Just last week, Winston rolled from his belly to his back - two times in a row! He is starting to rock on his back and I believe very soon he will be launching himself from back to stomach. Dave has noticed how smooth his movements have become - he is able to set his sights on an object and reach for it with confidence and grace (ok, grace might be a bit of an overstatement).

Miss Nora, Winston's daycare provider, told us that Winston is an unusually happy baby. She said most babies will coo and smile when spoken to directly, but Winston seems to delight in any human voice he hears and responds with a grin and giggle to even the most distant wisp of a conversation. We don't have much in terms of a point of comparison, but it is amazing for us to see how he responds to strangers and friends alike.

I am encouraged to how well he responds to books. We try to read to him daily, and he seems to enjoy it and loves to touch the books and look at the pictures. I'm not so thrilled by his rapt attention on the TV screen - especially when watching sports. We're really trying to limit TV time, it is disconcerting how entrancing it is even to a tiny baby.

As you can see from these pictures, Winston is no longer a fragile little bird. He has acquired quite a bit of a belly and feels very solid and substantial these days. He has his 4 month weigh in on Tuesday...we're thinking he is at least 12-13 pounds.

Latest Pictures

Winston is getting so big...check out these latest photos. He is 3 months and 3 weeks. He is looking very cool in his onsie from Mitch's Surf Shop in La Jolla (thank you Barry's!).

Winston's First Cold and Other Milestones

Winston is at the tail end of his first cold - it lasted nearly two weeks and made us all pretty anxious. Doctors are strict about avoiding cold medication for babies under 6 months, so aside from saline drops down his nose (you can imagine how much he loved this), Winston didn't get much relief. Thankfully his head is clearing up and the only remnant is a cough every now and then.

His cold didn't impact his appetite - Winston is growing and changing at a remarkable pace. Just a few weeks ago, he was still wildly conducting an imaginary orchestra, with his hands moving erratically here and there. He's still moving alot, but he is gaining coordination day by day - in fact he is now grasping at objects in front of him and pulling them to his mouth to "explore" (aka gnaw). He is starting to verbalize more but so far no distinct noises beyond a monotone ehehehehehehehehehehehe.

Winston had a great visit with Tutu (Kathy), who stayed with us for a few days and helped out while I was traveling to DC at the beginning of last week. He loved staying home from day care and having the undivided attention of his grandma (what kid wouldn't?).

We've finally accepted that Flurry has left us. We're hoping she has found a new home somewhere nearby with a loving family - and that is what we are choosing to believe happened to her. The alternative is just too depressing. Dave and I both miss her alot - she was the kind of cat that would always be waiting to greet us when we arrived home (more doglike than catlike). Dave is thinking that perhaps she came into our life to prepare us for childrearing...and that once we had a baby, she had to move on (a Mary Poppins Kitty!). Regardless, we will eventually welcome a new cat into (we have several neighborhood cats auditioning for the part every evening...I have a bad habit of feeding any kitty that wanders into our yard).