Holiday hijinks

My what a busy week it has been. I feel inadequate as a blogger to have let nearly a week pass between posts, but hey, I'm a novice daddy and blogger, so give me some slack.

Petra's week was pretty busy as well. She kept mommy company for a doctor's appointment (everything A-OK!), and then had a very busy Wednesday visiting daddy's work (she and mommy came in the morning). Petra was certainly the hit at work, with everyone oohing and aahing over her. Maybe too many people, as she obviously was geeling pretty cranky. But what a great excuse to leave work early and start the holiday!

Thanksgiving was at my cousin's house in the valley. My mom, my sister and her family, aunt & uncle and some family friends all came to make for quite a crowd. Petra was a BIIIG hit with her cousin. She had been dying to meet Petra, and insisted onholding her every chance she got (that is, until she was "squishing me"). Petra was very sweet though, and didn't melt down until the ride home. I should have been riding in back with her, instead of twisting my back out of whack trying to stick a finger in her mouth to quiet her (which worked).

Friday mom and my sister came over to hang out as well, and other friends also came to visit for awhile. Three days in a row of being center of attention is obviously Petra's limit though. She had a screaming fit for about half an hour Friday night that scared me and mommy. We had to put in ear plugs so we could get close enough to hold her and try to soothe her to sleep. She wouldn't even quiet down for the boob, bringer of all that is good in the world. Once she did settle though, she slept like a log, and was her usual sunny morning baby self the next day.

Breakfast out Saturday was all the excitement she got over the weekend, recovery time much needed by her and by us. Daddy put up a little potted tree for Xmas, and we've got the decorations up and ready for the NEXT holiday. I think we are going to stay home alone for this one!

Milestones? Too many to count. In addition to knowing her vowels (she clearly says "Aayyy" "eeeee" "ai" "Oh", but "Uuh" is a little tough), and repeating them a LOT, she is also REALLY smiling at us. Not that "it might be gas" smile, but real big "hi daddy" smiles with dimples and everything. She is also even more alert than before, and puts her head up and turns it left and righ to track the mobiles in her swing and crib. She watches everything around her all the time. The total screaming meltdown could be called a milestone, but I hope we never see another one!

Birthdays and Babystyle

Friday was Petra's 1 month birthday. Happy birthday sweetie! In some ways it feels like it has been much longer, and in others much shorter. I miss her like crazy everyday, and she is growing and changing so quickly. Her bellybutton is healed up and a cute little one it is. This weekend she has really started smiling, not just the "it looks like a smile but really it's gas" smile, but the "hey it's daddy and he's being silly" smile (well, OK, more likely "oh look, the boob!"). I measured her at 22", 10% longer than when she was born. I'll let you do the math and tell me if she's going to be WNBA material.

We took a sojourn to Babystyle in Santa Monica with our 6-months-behind-us-in-the-baby-department friends. Materinity wear for her, showing off Petra and the Quinny Zapp/Maxi-cosi for us. First a quick stop at Peet's coffee (decaf for Alison), and an "excuse me, but I haven't seen one of these..." adoration session for the Quinny. The shopgirls at Babystyle also were very interested in the stroller, asking lots of questions (one wants to order one). We might have to get rid of it though- everyone notices the stroller, and not the beautiful baby! That may explain the meltdown Petra had in the store, that and the fully loaded diaper. Luckily (good marketing I'm sure) Babystyle has a batheroom with fully equipped changing table (and wipes as well). Alison had to do a little backseat feeding before we could head home, but otherwise Petra was a gem.

This week Alison has been videoconferencing Petra to me at work each morning (usually after feeding when she is calm and adorable). This makes me a MUCH more productive worker, really! I keep calling people in to see her when I have her on the line. Everyone agrees that she is absolutely darling (that nose, those cheeks, that hairline!). I've pretty much decided that she is too cute NOT to video, so despite my best intentions I started researching camcorders this weekend. Definitely Mini-DV (the hard-drive versions are just too expensive still), but otherwise I'm open to suggestions.

Petra-fu

Petra has developed a series of wacky behaviors that are regular enough that each has been given a name. In the grand tradition of Hong Kong action films and Drunken Boxing, we introduce "Petra-fu":

The Fainting Goat: In this move, Petra goes from agitated flailing to complete calm in a fraction of a second. She lies motionless for awhile, then suddenly starts moving again. The move reminded us of the odd behavior of the "fainting goats" that go rigid when frightened.

The Bow: When Petra is tired of being held (by daddy at least), and goes looking for mommy, she stretches her self out as long as she can get, arching her back and neck looking over her shoulder. She looks like a taught bow when she does it. When she was less than a week old she would do this while screaming inconsolably, and daddy would freak out thinking it was some brain seizure or something.

Smacky-smacky: Though Petra is normally a "Barracuda" type feeder, she sometimes decides that just gumming the nipple is much more fun. The wet smacking sound that this makes is amusing during normal waking hours, but is not so cute at 4 in the morning. Luckily, she will usually settle down to business before long, or fall asleep (which is cute ANYTIME).

Others are certainly developing, so the list will grow. Stay tuned!

Bath time

After a hard day sleeping through construction noise (our street is now a big open mud pit), and a walk to the post office and the farmers' market, Petra was tuckered and ready for a bath. It's amazing how dirty a baby can get in only a week!

Petra's belly button is all healed (and a cute little inny), so we gave her a bath in the tub that Alena gave her. She handled it very well, quiet and content. Up to a point. Once I got to washing her face, she 'sploded (from both ends). Crying and pooping to make sure we knew she was very displeased. Luckily, by that point she was pretty much done, so a quick rinse, dry, and bundle into a snuggly and she was ready for mommy to quiet her down. Instant bliss, and already drifting off to sleep. Ahhh.

Overstimulated!

Petra had quite the (over) stimulating long weekend. Her grandmother Glorena came to visit, and sang her entire repetoire of children's songs, all done in a high babytalk voice. We also out to brunch at La Dijonaise, our favorite french bakery/cafe, and took a stroll on Larchmont to the farmer's market and the new Peet's coffee. Somewhere between grandmother and a double espresso on ice, Petra found it very difficult to sleep Saturday and Sunday. Twitchy, grunty, whiny, hungry. We're thinking it was the caffeine, but we can't rule out the singing! Today Alison was careful not to drink coffee after breakfast. We'll see if that helps. Petra did pass out in the swing for an hour, so it looks good.

Gifts from wonderful friends and coworkers continue to pour in. Uncle Mike & Aunt Lee's songbook was particularly welcome after this weekend (not that I can carry a tune, but it is nice to have something other than old Billy Idol songs to soothe Petra with). A wonderful Scandy knit outfit (with matching tights) from Ken and Laurel was also much appreciated, especially the fact that it is sized for 2 years. We have PLENTY of clothes for Petra for at least the first year.

Petra turns 4 (weeks) tomorrow. Such a big girl she is!

I'm missing it!

I already feel like I'm missing too much of Petra growing up! Yesterday I was amazed she could lift her head a bit, but I get home tonight and she is lifting it, looking around, watching things go by... I feel like days pass for each day I'm at work!

Today's milestone (that I was present for): She had a bath that she enjoyed! No screaming and flailing, just cooing, smiling, and wriggling. Thank goodness, I was worried my jobs (diapers and baths) would all end up being traumatizing, and mommy would just be the bearer of all that is good in the world (boob).

Tomorrow Petra gets to meet grandma Glorena. I have the feeling shopping will be involved (Nordstrom twice-yearly sale for women and kids anyone?). Tonight, she gets to just be a darling!

Heads Up!

Petra got to meet her Grandpa yesterday and today. She was such a darling little girl that it was hard for him to tear himself away when he had to leave. She slept for hours in his arms, the little darling!

Today's milestone was lifting her head up on her own for at least 5 seconds. She was laying on grandpa's chest, and wanted to see what was going on so, up her little head went and she looked around. Any day now she'll be crawling! She's already pretty good at scooting herself around with her back legs (especially when you are trying to change her of course).

Welcome to the system

Petra has now become an official person, part of the blobal bureaucratic Matrix! She received both her Kaiser card and her Social Security card last week. Kaiser I wasn't surprised about, but the SS card arriving stunned me! Such efficiency! I suppose they are hoping to start skimming her wages as soon as possible, but they are just going to have to wait 4 years before that!

Naw, I'm not going to force her into the sweatshop that young! Besides, earning power is greater if she graduates High School and College first. Alison and I are buying weekly Lotto tickets to be sure that by the time she is 18 we can afford Cal State Dominguez Hills. I don't think $20 million will be enough for Cal by then. Sad!

Not Quite Mommy

A daddy is a wonderful thing (person?), but not quite the match for mommy. Petra does love her daddy though, even if he can't give her what she really wants in life (at least not until she can drive). While a finger can temporarily quiet her, she eventually decides that only mommy will do.

Is that a look of fear or disgust? Neither really, it means "I've had enough of your stinky finger and I'm ready for mommy!" Boy can she communicate!

I really missed Petra (and Alison too) during the week. It was so nice today to get to hold her and play so much! She really does like the attention- I swear she smiles and makes faces (yes, I'm probably delusional as well). Who would have thought that Alison and I would be sharing a laugh and tickling Petra over the diaper leak that got all three of us? Pee is suddenly amusing. What's happening to me! I guess I really am becoming a daddy.

Bellybutton!

Petra's umbilical cord stub fell off today, and daddy missed the important event (well, OK, maybe not THAT important). I was going to include a picture, but close up it is pretty groady. Instead, we'll have a super cute baby picture!

Mommy is doing a wonderful job at home with Petra. They get out for walkies every day, and haven't yet gone insane from the horrendous construction noise out front (our street is now a 15 foot deep trench!).

Petra continues to be insanely cute, and absolutely ravenous! She spends so much time eating that I'm feeling a bit jealous. I only get to hold her for relatively short periods between endless feedings. Then again, Alison is probably feeling a bit put upon nursing constantly. So, take the good, take the bad.

She keeps growing and growing

Petra had an appointment with her pediatrician today. Alison walked her down to Kaiser in her Quinny (and she slept the whole way, though cried and needed changing in the waiting room). She's over the hump, and has surpassed her birth weight (she was down 6 ounces 10 days ago, now she is up a fraction to 9lbs 10oz), and is an inch longer (21 inches).

And, because everything is about the stroller, Alison told me the Doctor was impressed by it, and hadn't seen anything like it before. I tell you, the Quinny/Maxi-Cosi combo has paid for itself in ego points!