Blogging Nate: May 2006

Caleb vs. The Stairs

Happy McSmilington

Grandpa's Birthday: A Weekend With Aunt Kristin, Uncle Mark, Grandpa, Cousin Jordan, and Cousin Caleb

Nate shows off his smile for everyone:

Aunt Kristin loves Nater Tot:

Caleb shows fierce determination when it comes to torturing the cat:

A rare moment of calm... Note battle scars...

All of Grandpa's Boys:

Nate plays with his Mama:

The Duality of Man

"Oh thoughtless Mortals!
Ever blind to Fate,
Too soon dejected,"

"and too soon elate!"

OK, maybe not *elate*, but at the very least, content...

Softball is a Dangerous Sport

Nathos the Greek

Last night we visited the Festival of Greece at St. Basil's. Souvlaki, gyros, dolmades, spanakopita, baklava, and amigdalota were eaten with abandon. The Greek festival also includes authentic Greek rides for the kids, an enviable collection of Grecian books, CDs, and jewelry for sale, delightful Greek dancing, and various drunks yelling "Ooooopppppaaaa!" everytime the festival coordinator made an announcement. Sadly, we missed the Gyro Eating Contest which was held the previous evening. We did, however, see a portly gentleman double-fisting gyros which was pretty special.

Shhh..... My Tiger Lilies Don't Know My Thumb Isn't Green

My gorgeous tiger lilies bloomed in early May, so I'm a little late showing them off. I've done not one thing to them since I planted them three years ago, and year after year they come in full and fiery for two weeks and then fade away.

Word to Your Motha

Four Generations of My Family on Mother's Day:

Nate helps me celebrate my first Mother's Day Weekend:

Our friends welcomed their little boy last month. We had dinner with them this weekend... Nate and Ethan are one month apart exactly in age. Big sis, Jenna, is with us.

Two Months Old

Let's review...

"-2 Months Old" (Jan 17)

"Birth Day" (Mar 13/14)

"One Month Old" (Apr 13)

"Two Months Old" (May 13)

Teddy is Strange

Sometimes the cat ends up in strange places. On an unrelated note, would anyone like a glass of water or juice?

Nate Has a Flat Head

Nate had his 2 month checkup today. The 2 month checkup is extra special because 4 shots are administered at this appointment- Hep B and HIB (Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae Type B, DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis), PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate) and IPV (inactive Polio). Nate was a real champ as he got his injections; the nurse wanted us to bend down and talk to him while she did it. After she gave him the first one, he turned bright purple and was so angry he couldn't even take a breath. Fortunately, he calmed down very quickly while the other three injections went in. Afterward, he didn't cry or act upset at all, and snoozed all the way home. I had given him a little Tylenol right before the shots, and some more 4 hours later to ease muscle discomfort and thwart any fever.

His length growth was in the 10th percentile and his weight gain in the 30th, so he is growing just like he ought to be. Nate's biggest challenge at his 2 month appointment was his flat head also called plagiocephaly. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends no other sleeping position than the baby sleeping on his back. This unfortunately causes the back of baby's tender little head to conform to the flat surface. I personally would rather have a flat-headed baby than a dead baby, and this is the unfortunate dilemma this "Back to sleep" advice presents to parents. The remedy for flat-headedness is tummy time (which we do often) and forcing him to sleep on his side supported by wedges or blankets.

Dr. McGraw asked if Nate was cooing, smiling, following us with his eyes, and holding his head up. He is doing all of those things for us and as she was rubbing his little head he did a little cooing and smiling just for her. We are definitely going to try this head rubbing thing to shamelessly solicit smiles from this little guy.

The vital statistics:

3-13-06 “Birth Day”: 6 lbs, 6 oz ~ 18 3/8 inches

3-27-06 “Two Week Checkup”: 6 lbs, 10 oz ~ 19 ¼ inches

4-12-06 “One Month Checkup”: 8 lbs, 1 oz ~ 20 1/2 inches

5-12-06 "Two Month Checkup": 10 lbs, 1 oz ~ 21 1/2 inches