Curls Curls Curls

The Front

The back

My hair has recently had a growth spurt...and Mom won't leave my curls alone! She keeps playing with them, and taking pictures, and pointing them out to EVERYONE. Its frankly getting a little old...people will think I'm a girl the way she's fussing with my hair!

Grandma & Grandpa visit

Grandma really spoiled me, and her other "grandchildren", Kajsa, Kalle, and Sarek (the cats and dog). It sure was hard to get lap time, but it was worth the wait.

Thanksgiving snow

I saw my first snow in Chicago on Thanskgiving day. Daddy took me out in the freezing cold, sat me on his lap and we zoomed down a steep hill on a little piece of plastic. CRAZY! I was really worried daddy was going to hurt himself! We survived to eat a big dinner with Farmor and Farfar and I also got to visit my Great Nana and Great Papa, they really enjoyed my mealtime shows. It was fun to see so many people and play with all sorts of new toys I don't have at home!

Favorite Passtimes

I'm 9 months old now! On Tuesday I got my shots...they went pretty well. I am now 26lbs 15oz (mom says 27lbs since its sooo close). And I'm 31.5 inches long. I'm still very big for my age, but my weight is only 97th percentile, while my height is still 99th percentile. I've been working out. I like to walk everywhere with mommy and daddy, and now I can pull myself up on stuff. Mommy thinks I am allergic to eggs and milk now...so that is limiting what she'll let me eat...boy do those hives itch!
No chocolate milkshakes for me just yet! Tomorrow I fly to Chicago for Thanksgiving. I'll get to see lots of family I haven't seen in a long time and show them all my new tricks...I can't wait!

Halloween

Grandpa picked out my stunt driver costume for Halloween. We went to a fun carnival at church, where I got to ride down a big slide and jump in a jump-house!

But the only stunts I got to pull were in my jeep.

Cruisin'

Now that I've figured out what my legs are for you're not going to see me sitting around! I want to walk walk walk!!! Mommy and Daddy say their backs are tired so they got me a jeep to walk in! Its ok, but I prefer the good old fashioned way of walking around...all by myself. Mommy and Daddy keep insisting that I hold their hand as I walk around, I've had to resort to biting to get them to let go...they really need to read a book about separation anxiety or something. They really throw me off balance when they let go, so for now I guess I'll let them hold my hand until they work things out and are ready to let go.

The future "eyes & ears" of America

Grandpa sent me this cool t-shirt...So I'm now starting my 30 year life plan based on clothing, First I'll go to Virginia tech for undergrad, then georgetown for my masters, and then I'll work for the agency. They say you have to start thinking about your future when you're young! Mom wants to know if they have a t-shirt that says I'm a millionaire and I buy her lots of cool stuff like an SUV, a big house, an island in the carribean...Nah, she said that if these shirts really do predict the future then she really wants me to just have a shirt that says " I love my Mommy".

Georgetown here I come

I'm finally big enough to wear the cool Georgetown t-shirt Uncle Niclas bought me...I hope mommy and daddy are saving their pennies!

P.S. See all my teeth? And I sit up really well now.

sitting up by myself!

Here I am sitting like a big boy. It takes more muscles than you'd think to stay upright! And all those toys lure me to lean over...just not too far or oops over I go!

Rollover Rampage

Today I mastered the art of rolling over, by demonstrating the back-to-front sequence. I showed it off for Daddy while Mommy was at work!

From here on out, everything is downhill. For next week, I'll be learning to drive a car.

Labor Day: Swimming with daddy

Here I am swimming with Daddy. I love to splash.

Checking up on things

Today was my 6 month check up. I'm as healthy as a horse, and nearly as big as one! I am 25lb 7 oz and 30 inches long. I am still in the 100th percentile for my age! I also had to get my next set of vaccines, the nurse I have is very quick, so it wasn't too bad. Plus mommy gave me some tylenol before we went. Can't wait to keep growing and impress them more next time!

Mommy goes back to work

This week mommy left me starving for hours. Daddy tried to help, but all he has to offer is that icky bottle, I can only stomach it when I'm super hungry and half asleep, so that I don't notice that it's not the real thing. I didn't eat for 10 hours on Saturday! On Sunday mommy was only gone for 5 hours so it wasn't as bad. But then on Tuesday I gave in and ate 8 ounces...I hope this isn't going to happen too often!

A toothy grin

Here you can see my big top teeth, and one of my bottom teeth. I have all four though. I like to chew on everything! Just thought you'd like to see them!

Farmor and Farfar visit

I've had a great time this week, soaking up all the attention I can get from Farmor and Farfar. We went to the applefair, and wine tasting, and swimming. I was even good for them when they babysat me for a few hours! This is a picture of us swimming. I had a lot of fun splashing my hands and kicking my feet in the water. It was fun to have them visit, they would play with me, and sing funny songs to me! I hope they come again soon!

My friend Kalle

Kalle keeps close watch over me. He likes to sleep with me in my bed, its okay with me except when he hogs the blankets!

Chomp! Chomp!

I'm ready for some steak! I now have 4 teeth. My right top tooth came in today so now I have 2 top and 2 bottom. I like to use them, but mommy yells OUCH! when I practice chewing when eating....

jogging stroller

Check me out in my cool jogging stroller. Mommy and Sarek and I go for walks and runs in it. I like it alot, with all my toys. When we first got it, I was so short that my legs stuck straight out, but now I can bend my knees over the edge!

Rolling over!

I rolled over for the first time today! While Daddy was opening his birthday presents, I reached for one of my toys and I rolled from my stomach to my back.

This isn't really a picture of the actual roll-over, but I sure am trying!

Snoozing with my puppy

Here I am, taking a nap in the car seat with our puppy in my lap. We're on our way to a park to go for a walk with some of Mommy's friends.

Playing Poker

Today, Daddy took me to play poker. I wanted to take the cards and play myself, but all I Daddy would let me was watch.

Teeth

You can't really see them but you sure can feel them! You should have heard Daddy yowl when I took a chomp on his thumb at dinner tonight...he made Mommy check to see if he was bleeding! I have both my bottom teeth now!

Just like Mom

I guess I'm a little like Mommy too. This is Mommy and me enjoying a sleepy sunday morning. I don't think Mommy wants this picture up on the internet...he he he!

Just like Dad

Mommy says this picture reminds her of Daddy since he always has his eyes shut in pictures...she said she hopes I don't make a habit of ruining all her pictures! This was at the birthday party also. I liked to squish the sand in my toes.

Swing

Here I am swinging on the big kids swing at Kalie's birthday party. Dad wouldn't push me very high...what a chicken...I tried to tell him "higher, higher, do an underdoggy" but he didn't seem to understand.

Eating adventures

I'm not so sure about this eating thing. Although my favorite food is apple sauce.

Playing on my stomache

Here I am, playing on my stomache. On my right is a musical hanging toy. It's hard work keeping my head up.

Mommy flashed this light right into my face, so that she could get a picture of my big blue eyes.

My first tooth!

Today I got my first tooth. Mommy found it when I was chewing on her knuckle. After two months of drooling and chewing on everything in site, I have to admit its a bit of a let down...all that fuss for this? Seems pretty useless to me. But, mommy was pretty excited so it must be a good thing.

Mr. Yellow in Vegas

This past weekend mommy and daddy took me to a Vegas Wedding! I had fun dancing at the wedding, and then had a lot of fun touring the strip from the comfort of my stroller. You should have heard the others compaining about thier feet hurting! I would have shared, its not my fault they're too big. Here is me with Mr. Yellow. He was pretty cool. Mommy says some day I'll like to eat him...that sounds crazy....

4th of July

Grandpa took this picture at the fireworks show. Everybody said the fireworks show was great, but I slept through it all.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit me this weekend. We had lots of fun. Boy are my stomache muscles sore from all the laughing that I did!

Sonoma hot air balloons

Here I am at the the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic. Mommy and Daddy had to get up at 5am to see the balloons take off in the morning sun. I wanted to go for a ride, but Mommy said I was too little.

After

Ah, I feel much better now. It was about time mom brought out some real food. Liquid diets are for crazy dieting supermodels not growing boys!

Before

Here I am before my first bites of rice cereal. I'm so hungry I could eat my own hand!

New Friend

I've made a new friend. Mommy says his name is "babyinthemirror". We have so much in common! He really is a funny guy! He pops up all over the place, in the bathroom, and the front hallway, and he's there when I play with many of my toys. Our moods are so in synch, I think we'll be friends for a long time!

Johnny Jumper

Hey there, check me out. I'm upright and bouncing. This thing is cool, I can even turn myself around. Freedom is almost mine! There is my kitty Kalle. He had to check out my chair, make sure it was safe and all. Things are really changing around here for me. The four month mark has led to huge changes! I get to move around on my own power! Yesterday mom and I went to the store and bought a highchair. French fries here I come. I haven't tried any cereal yet...so stay posted!

Father's Day

Today we celebrated Daddy's day and had lunch at the park. It was nice lying in the shade at the park. I got daddy a card he liked and a frame with pictures of me for his work so that he can look at me if he gets lonely at work and misses me.

Exersaucer

I'm finally big enough for this monster of a toy! I saw it in the closet and couldn't wait to get in it! Its a lot of fun. So much to do. It even plays music. Hopefully I won't outgrow it too fast!

4 Month checkup

I just finished my 4 month checkup. I weigh 22 lbs and I'm 29 inches long! They say that I'm bigger and longer than 99% of other babies my age. I'm huge!

We've started getting calls from college football recruiters. Notre Dame is interested in having me play Nose Tackle for their 2022 starting line-up. Ohio State thinks I might be better as a Linebacker! What do you think?

4 month pictures

Today was the forth in a monthly ceremony of professional picture taking. Mommy makes me get my picture taken every month so she can see how much I've grown. Tomorrow we find out just how big I've gotten. And get my shots :(
I think I'll be off the growth charts...I"m a big guy and I like to eat! I liked this picture taking guy. He had the best sqeeky toy of all the places we went. He was smarter than the last guy too...he made sure I still had my diaper under me for the naked shots. Last time I really made a mess. I bet it took the girl an hour to clean that bean bag!

Aunt Kathleen

This is me and Aunt Kathleen. She would play with me on my play mat and make me laugh.

Aunt Char

I had actually met Aunt Char before at her graduation. But it was fun to see her again. She was soft to sleep on. Do you like my Virginia Tech jacket? That is where Aunt Kathleen goes to college.

Aunt Francine

Here I am with Aunt Francine. This was at her singing performance. I liked her singing but the clapping was too loud! She had a cool poodle skirt on that Mommy helped make.

Visiting Grandma in Virginia

Mommy and I flew out to see Grandma and my Aunties in the lap of luxury in business class on the airplane. You should have seen the flight attendants go gaga for me. We spent the days at Grandma's lounging around the pool and I indulged my mommy and Aunties in some shopping trips, as long as they bought me some new stuff too!

First Plane Ride

The plane made me very sleepy with its quite roar and vibrations. Before I knew it I was jostled awake in an airport. Boy were those people in a hurry everywhere. It was fun to watch them. We went to Farmor and Farfar's house. Everyone was there. I met my great Aunt Vera. She was great fun. She knew just how to put me to sleep. I met my Aunt Char for the first time. She's good at singing to me. It was a fun trip. Can't wait to go somewhere else new!

The Dog Carnival

We went to a dog carnival today. It was neat. Sarek had doggy ice cream and won a contest for making daddy do tricks.

A Boy and his Dog

Here is my dog, Sarek. Mommy made us pose like this. Sarek and I agree that it was boring. Plus, its hard work to smile.

Easter Sunday

Here I'm playing banker. Just kidding! I'm all dressed up for Easter Sunday. Boy did that tie bind. Lesson learned: Get job with business casual dress code.

My favorite toy

This boppy thing rocks! There they hang, taunting me, just inches out of my reach! If I concentrate hard enough, maybe I can get my hand to move in the right direction, so that I can grab it!

Farbror Niclas

Here's my Uncle Niclas (Farbror Niclas in Swedish). He's visiting from D.C. He got me a cool T-shirt from Georgetown, maybe I'll go there when I grow up. Hope Mom and Dad are saving up!

You can see Kajsa, my kitty, in the background. She's OK, but she mostly ignores me.

Great Nana and Great Papa and Auntie Becky visit

It was neat to have my great-grandparents fly all the way from Chicago to visit me. I must be pretty special. Great Nana would sing and rock me. And Auntie Becky new just the right dance moves to keep me quite so mommy could sleep more.

First church service

I got this rose for sleeping through my first church service. I really liked the music.

My First Bath

Here is my first bath at home. I'll get Mommy for putting this on the internet! Can't a guy have a little privacy?! I am a good looking guy though. Bath's are great. Warm water, then a lotion massage. I love it!

On my way home from the hospital

Here I am on my home from the hospital. I'm 10 days old. Mommy and Grandma say that its really bad weather, but I didn't feel a drop of rain as Daddy pulled the car right up to the door!

Tonight when we get home, I get to meet Grandpa for the first time! He flew all the way from Virginia to see me.

My Daddy and Me

This is my daddy. He sounds funny when he talks. I think its something called Swedish. I don't mind, I just love the attention.

My Mommy and Me

Let me introduce you to the people I know: This is my mommy. She is the first person I met! She was very worried about me when I was in the hospital. I found it very comforting to hear her voice since I had known it for the last 9 months.