30 fingers and 84 toes

TEN MONTH UPDATE

2008-11-05T20:02:00.008-05:00

I've been slack with keeping this blog up-to-date. But with the recent arrival of my new camera, I am inspired to post. David is growing so quickly we almost can't keep up. Beyond learning how to more efficiently get from place to place, he's learning what words mean and can understand so much of what we say to him. And he is learning how to express himself in all sorts of crazy ways. I give him a cookie, and he gives me a speech and a whole lot of faces...

He has also learned (or thinks he has learned) how to fool Mom by faking a nap,

and he's learned how to enjoy a good book,

and has developed quite a sense of humor. He must take after Uncle Greg.

RENAISSANCE BABY

2008-09-05T22:15:00.003-04:00

David got to experience the Renaissance Festival last weekend. He enjoyed the joust, the sword swallower, and the tight rope walker...

but most of all, he enjoyed hanging out with Dad.

MAMA

2008-08-27T23:33:00.003-04:00

Mommy snuck her way into a few photos this weekend!

CAMERA = SNACK

2008-08-27T23:06:00.005-04:00

A few months before David was born, we got hooked on our friend, Elias Hilsee's, blog. We would watch in hysterics Elias going after the camera like it was his favorite snack. This video (and David's longest trip thus far on all-fours) is a tribute to Elias.

THE BIG BLUE BATHTUB

2008-08-27T22:26:00.003-04:00

We took David to the beach this weekend. The wet sand and brisk water on his toes made a pretty powerful first impression.

But after a while, David came to understand that the big blue bathtub wasn't going to swallow him up. So he spent the rest of the first morning learning how to hang loose...

which in baby terms, means to sit in the shade on a clean blanket and play with your toys pretty far back from the big bathtub.

And of course, he ended the day with a snooze.

totally OUT.

NEW TRICKS

2008-08-17T11:46:00.002-04:00

Staying put is a thing of the past. David has mastered the art of sitting up on his own

and creeping around with the dust bunnies on the floor.

He is enjoying his new "on-the go" lifestyle.

HAPPY

2008-07-02T22:15:00.003-04:00

POOL TIME

2008-07-02T21:28:00.007-04:00

David had his first experience in the pool last weekend at his cousin Philip's birthday party. He wholeheartedly LOATHES bathtime at home (we avoid it at all costs), so we weren't sure how he'd take to hanging out in a really HUGE bathtub with 20 other kids sloshing around him. At first he was a little apprehensive.

But after a while he got a little more relaxed and took a few swimming lessons from Daddy.

Look out Michael Phelps.

And after he kicked his sea legs off and settled down a bit, he got to spend a little time with his cousin Reilly. They seemed to have a lot to discuss. Reilly tried to teach David about the many ways the sea is used as a metaphor for various stages of life.

And David was all, "Dude, did you see how GIGUNGUS that bathtub was? I almost crapped my TRUNKS!"

THIS LITTLE PIGGY

2008-06-23T22:19:00.004-04:00

A LITTLE STORY ABOUT PEAS

2008-06-16T23:23:00.002-04:00

David had his first helping of peas today and apparently he had a lot to say about it.

FATHER'S DAY

2008-06-16T23:18:00.003-04:00

I tried for weeks to get David to say a nice clear "Dada" to the camera for father's day. But this is seriously the most I got out of him. Sorry, Scott!

TEETH

2008-06-16T23:14:00.003-04:00

So I think because the last posting announced the beginning of David's teething process and it was over a month ago, I don't really have to explain why we have been lame blogsmen. Teething is not a nice process. I don't wish it upon anyone. Only the bottom two are in so far, and you can only see them when he cries.

It bothers him mostly at night. During the day he resumes his normal activities, such as snuggling with Daddy,

showing off his enormously long feet,

and playing in his new exer-saucer!!

5.13.08

2008-05-14T10:03:00.002-04:00

First tooth!

PRIDE AND JOY

2008-05-11T16:27:00.002-04:00

Looks like David (aka Baby Fred Astaire) was busy making movies while I was at work this week. What a great Mother's Day gift!!

FRIEND OR FOOD

2008-05-05T20:54:00.004-04:00

friendly gesture? or taste test?

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE?

2008-04-26T16:12:00.004-04:00

HANGIN IN THE CRIB

2008-04-24T20:45:00.002-04:00

A shout out to all the fly honeys...

NABI THE CAT

2008-04-24T20:35:00.003-04:00

Our cat, Nabi, ran away a couple weeks ago, and we have not yet found her. Since she escaped without her collar and tags, we aren't very hopeful that she'll be returned to us. She was a fine cat, and we will remember her with love. So I guess we are now 30 fingers and 36 toes (not counting the mice that live under our dishwasher).

BEDTIME FRIEND

2008-04-17T22:29:00.007-04:00

For the last few days, David has been sleeping through the night in his own room. It's amazing how just last week he wanted nothing to do with his crib or with a long night of uninterrupted sleep. So early this morning I snuck into David's room to get a peek at what was going on.

He was snoozing away...

until Mommy's camera woke him up...

and the fussing began...

And then I realized what has been keeping him quiet these last few nights--his new friend, MR. THUMB!

We decided to let Mr. Thumb stay. In fact, he's welcome ANY time.

PARTY TIME

2008-04-13T21:06:00.010-04:00

We had a delightful time at my cousin, Audrey's, birthday party today. David enjoyed meeting some of his second cousins. Audrey (the birthday girl);

Reilly (the chaser of bright orange balloons);

Tommy (the silly face maker) ...

(and monkey chair climber--or Mork for those who grew up in the 80s);

Julia (who is ready for her cupcake ... NOW!);

and Phillip (the mature grown-up who doesn't feel the need to ham it up for the camera, so I only got this tiny shot of him [lower-left]).

All of this celebrating wore David out, and a couple hours in he thought it was high time for a nap.

And Miles, the Pug, followed suit.

GOLDEN BATH TIME

2008-04-06T21:51:00.004-04:00

This is David before he peed on Mommy.

This is David peeing on Mommy. (If you look closely you can actually see the shower.)

This is David just before he peed on mommy AGAIN.

We LOVE bathtime!!

SUNDAY MORNING CUTIE-PIE CLOSEUP

2008-04-06T16:13:00.001-04:00

TOUCHY FEELY

2008-04-06T14:44:00.002-04:00

David has recently discovered that his hands are good for more than nibbling on. It has opened up a whole new world of exploration for him.

SOFT-HEARTED

2008-04-06T12:34:00.005-04:00

We succumbed to David's incessant crying and ended up bringing him into our bed for most of the night. How can you separate yourself from this much cuteness for hours at a time?

BYE BYE BASSINET

2008-04-05T22:03:00.003-04:00

Tonight we will put David to sleep in his own room for the first time. I will miss waking up and peeking into his bassinet to see him in all sorts of sprawled positions in the night.

VOTE FOR DAVID

2008-04-04T16:35:00.001-04:00

I just entered him into a baby cuteness contest. CLICK HERE to vote for our cutie-pie!

HELLO, DAVID

2008-04-04T10:58:00.003-04:00

SNOWSUIT MUMMY

2008-03-30T12:42:00.004-04:00

We bundled David up in his cutie-pie blue snowsuit yesterday for a little backyard campfire. The material was so thick, it rendered his arms and legs completely immobile. This is the picture I will show his first girlfriend. Poor David.

WHITE BOY DANCING

2008-03-30T12:27:00.004-04:00

This morning, in his play-time gym, David felt the groove of the electronic classics and flapped his arms like a true white boy.

GOOD MORNING STRETCH

2008-03-29T19:19:00.002-04:00

(sort of) NEW TRICK

2008-03-27T09:56:00.002-04:00

FUNNY BUSINESS

2008-03-23T12:10:00.002-04:00

Someone's got a case of the sillies this morning.

HaPPy eAsTeR, bABy!!

2008-03-23T09:58:00.005-04:00

This morning, we endulged in an easter egg dying session and found that PAAS went NUTS with the colors this year! There were TWELVE dyes (one of which was called DENIM!?!)! We exhausted David with stories of what easter was like when we were kids, when life was SO much simpler and PAAS only made four dye tablets: pink, blue, yellow and green, with which we would unleash our imaginations to create a vast cornucopia of easter egg creations. But I digress.

We managed to use all twelve colors anyway.

And finally, David was presented with his first easter basket, which he thought was a good excuse to giggle. HAPPY EASTER, DAVID!

SLEEPY TIME

2008-03-23T09:54:00.002-04:00

SLIGHTLY IGNORED, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

2008-03-16T20:01:00.003-04:00

Yes, we still love the dogs.
Bella is still a bashful beauty.

And Frankie is the same spastic and photogenically elusive rascal.

SUNDAY MORNING CUTENESS CAM

2008-03-16T19:57:00.003-04:00

UNCLE GREG VISITS

2008-03-16T19:43:00.005-04:00

David got to (finally) meet his famous UNCLE GREG today!!! What a BLAST!
There was laughter,

some tears,

male bonding,

political debate,

and, of course, the obligatory family portraits (note how excited David was about THIS)...

FRESH AIR

2008-03-16T19:33:00.004-04:00

David and I enjoyed a walk during the brief hour of sunshine we had this morning. Actually, he enjoyed sleeping in the baby carrier, while I enjoyed the walk. I'm not even sure he knew that he went for a walk. Regardless, we walked ... and got to breathe some fresh Hampden air.

COO d' état

2008-03-09T17:30:00.002-04:00

FIRST WORKOUT

2008-03-09T14:13:00.004-04:00

David gets a little eye-hand coordination exercise this morning in his new play-time gym. Thanks Great-Uncle Buppy!

TWO MONTHS!

2008-03-09T14:08:00.008-04:00

David got to celebrate his two-month birthday this week by spending some quality cuddle time with Grandma.

And some silly time with Great-Uncle Buppy.

And some Mommy-Daddy sandwich time.

BABY CROCODILE

2008-03-05T10:50:00.001-05:00

He's totally faking it.

BABY'S GOT A BRAND NEW HAT

2008-03-02T23:02:00.004-05:00

Nana stopped by today with a gift for David.
We're not sure who enjoyed the gift more: David or Nana.

Definitely Nana.

EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING

2008-03-02T22:58:00.003-05:00

While Mom and Dad work hard to prepare the house for guests this week, David does what he does best—maxes and relaxes in his swing.

NAP TIME

2008-02-13T14:16:00.002-05:00

THE POWER OF SUGGESTION

2008-02-10T11:06:00.000-05:00

It seems that whenever David sports this adorable "PEEP and POOP" onesie, illustrated by our friend Robbi Behr, he "messes" it up within minutes. Coincidence?

OUR SON IS SO ADVANCED!

2008-02-06T23:13:00.000-05:00

We promised we wouldn't be the parents that constantly talk their child up as being SOOOOO SMART. But holy cow, David is SO ADVANCED! He is already SMILING...way ahead of the milestone timelines in all of our books. Way to emote, son!

HOME AT LAST

2008-02-06T22:48:00.000-05:00

Since we've been home, David has been gradually easing his way into society. He's already been to his first wedding, gone shopping at the supermall, been to work with Mommy ...

had a visit from Auntie JoAnn,

been introduced to SNOW,

made a decision about how he feels about being out in the cold (note hand gesture),

and took a nap on Nana.

He's also been doing a lot of maxing and relaxing and laying around looking CUTE.

PACIFIER FRAUD

2008-02-06T22:25:00.000-05:00

The night before we went home from the hospital, we got to room in with David. We learned that David is a smarty-pants. Too smart to buy into this pacifier business. Upon figuring out our little "quiet the baby" scheme, he promptly spit it out and demanded the real thing. THAT'S OUR BOY!

We're pleased to report that they have since come to an agreement and are now peacefully coexisting.

SIDETRACKED

2008-02-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

The second day in the hospital, we learned that David had to have surgery to correct part of his digestive system. He spent four long days in the NICU, but proved he was a CHAMP by being very calm (much more calm than MOMMY) and looking cute in his little NICU bassinet.

FIRST DAY

2008-02-04T22:04:00.000-05:00

We know we're lame because we waited a month to post anything (Can you believe David's already a MONTH old?). Here's to catching up...

This photo was taken just hours before David was born. Note how relaxed I seem. One word: EPIDURAL. It is a beautiful thing. This is Shirley, my nurse for most of the labor. If you ever have to have a baby, I recommend having Shirley for your labor and delivery nurse. She is the GREATEST! WE LOVE SHIRLEY!

The baby, at last! minutes old...

Hours old, David contemplates the many creative shapes one's facial hair can take.

WELCOME, DAVID

2008-02-04T18:37:00.000-05:00

A little belated, but ... WELCOME, DAVID! Our little slice of magic (Josef David Matejicka) was born on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 11:31am. He was 6 Pounds, 15.7 oz and measured 20.5" long.