Catch Up

Fooled Him

Over the past few weeks, we've been webcaming with our families, which is a blast.  We even managed to catch Jon (Jason's bro) in the buff and celebrated Hanukkah with the Kressners.  Every time we webcam, Tanner's less than entertaining, despite all our efforts with funny faces and bodily noises.  He doesn't crack even a small smirk.  Our families our lucky if they even get a small nod.  At the end of each call, we swear that Tanner's fun and does more than lay in the buzzy chair with a stoned look on his face 24/7.  Unfortunately, he's on to us with the camera, video camera and now the computer.  Doesn't give us anything (as you can see with the limited smile pics on the blog).  Well, we tricked him. Jason got him all riled up with idiot antics and I grabbed the video cam as quick as I could.  See if you can find the 2 spots where Tanner caught me filming.  We have another video of the laughing (that's even better) that we're attempting to upload with great difficulty.

Hot Mamma

Despite what the title of the blog suggests, this one isn't about me.  It's Mallory.  She knows how to shake it and she wears little skirts.  She's Tanner's favorite hot mamma (or rather monkey).  We hit another milestone this week - playing.  Tanner actually plays with his toys. Okay, it's more like feels them up (especially in Mallory's case), but it's nice to see him entertaining himself rather than staring blankly at me with the occasional fuss mixed in.  Tanner also attended his first 1 year old birthday party at the zoo and gave his pal Roxy a really cute sweater and matching shoes for their first date.  Tanner wasn't as into the zoo as when he went with Poppy and Grammy to the Oakland Zoo, but did get his first talk on the birds and bees and incest.  (The lions- father and daughter, were, let's just say enjoying each other.  I'm hoping our friend Tony posts the video on that one).  

Tanner also enjoyed a great day with Jason's Nannie, Aunt Connie and Uncle Joe.  He got lots of kisses and enjoyed a good inconsolable cry at lunch over looking Fisherman's Wharf.  The family fun continues tomorrow when Uncle Scott and Uncle Jorge arrive to take Tanner on his first shopping spree at Union Square.  But before that, we're off to Mommy and Me movie today.  I'll be taking Mallory with us, but chaperoning the whole time.  

Super Sunday

Sunday was about as good as they come.  Tanner continued to dazzle us with his amazing feats (and feet below).  He turned over from his tummy to back ---which is a big deal.  Unfortunately, I looked away for a second to grab one of his toys and I found him lying face up under the coffee table.  No idea if he turned over himself or the turnover fairy had something to do with it.  Jason also reported that he has a thing for elephants (just like mom) and intentionally grabbed for his purple one on the activity mat (vs. accidently batting it in a fit of frustration which is normally what happens).  We ended Super Sunday with a good ol' bath.  Tanner went in his birthday suit, but Dad was a bit more conservative.  Oh, and I almost forgot the best news yet - Tanner's been smiling for almost a month now, but he's continually eluded the camera.  We put him on our bed and wouldn't let him up till he gave it up.  The progression below says it all.  Every time I look at it, I melt.  But then again, I'm his mom and a sucker.

I can't sign off without telling you how awesome it was to webcam with my two Grandmas (Sarah and Freda) on Thanksgiving.  I will never forget all the wet kisses they gave to the cam and the Yiddish songs.  Speaking of Yiddish and the non-kosher, my Grandma Freda appropriately gave Tanner's Franks & Beans a new name after seeing them - Pepperoni & Kneidlach (Yiddish for matzoh balls).  

Birthdays Galore

My Savior

Today is Tanner's 3 month birthday!  To celebrate, Tanner and I went to another Mommy Movie to see 007.  I enjoyed feeling like a normal person for 2 hours, and Tanner enjoyed all the blood and shooting to fall asleep to. 

I also celebrated my 23rd birthday on Sunday. Okay, it was backwards day, but I'm entitled to it.  It was, after all my birthday, and I was a princess.  I was treated to a very lovely gift card to buy boots from Tanner, and Jason gave me the best present of all - Holly.  Holly the Babysitter.  Jason and I celebrated at our favorite restaurant, Terzo for an amazing meal and a surprise Citizen Cake Cheesecake (my favorite desert in the whole wide world).   We returned home 3 hours later to a very happy and peaceful Tanner and a charmed Holly.  It's funny- I wasn't worried about Tanner at all.  I was more worried about Holly.  I just wanted Tanner to behave so she wanted to babysit again.  From what Holly said, the night was a success.  She got him to burp half way through a bottle (something I rarely accomplish) and lots of smiles and giggling.  Yay!  So, if you're reading this Holly - THANK YOU!  You were awesome and please come back and play again.  And a big props to Tanner as well for not pooping on Holly or making her have to resort to hitting our liquor stash.  And I also can't forget to thank the Sterns who were nice and generous enough to let us share Holly.  Most new parents would rather be killed by stoning than give up their sitter's digits. 

Oh, I also have to mention my Mom's latest fixation - the web cam.  My Dad successfully managed to install it, and we had our first Skype web cam call on Sunday, which was a blast - until my Dad (the constant "Mr. Let Me Try This") pushed a button and the screen went black.  Hopefully he can get it up and running for Thanksgiving so we can introduce Tanner to the rest of the Kressner and Cappel clan. 

Good Friends, Family & Fun

Jason taking Tanner surfing for the first time.  Who cares if it was on a screen and the board was screwed to the floor.

Practicing those Tae Kwon Do Moves

Is this Tae Kwon Poop?

The Future Hubby & Wifey

Gabe, Ellie, Jason & Tanner

Jontue, Ellie and me at Ft. Mason

Uncle Scott

What an awesome week.  The fun started on Thursday with taking Tanner to the movies....with 100 other babies.  Once a month, a stupid movie theater lets in moms and babies to see a movie - for free.  Tanner was so well behaved.  Slept the entire time, except when he farted and pooped at the perfect times - when George W was blatantly being an idiot.  (We saw W).  The whole experience must have been quite a site for moviegoers who had no clue that they decided to attend the Mom Movie showing.  There were strollers, diaper changing pads and hooter hiders everywhere.  Then Uncle Scott was in town for work and got to spend some QT with Tanner.  He didn't even complain when Tanner spit up on his new cashmere sweater.  What a guy.  While Scott's visit was short, it was such a treat to have him here.  He can vouch that Tanner actually does Pounds. (See Dad, I told you so).  Then on Thursday night, our friends from Hawaii (now living in NYC) Jontue, Gabe and Ellie their 2-year old arrived for a long weekend visit.  We indulged on lots of wine, taught Ellie the Chicken Dance and went to the Discovery Museum, which Tanner could care less about, but Jason and I had a blast in the Tae Kwon Do area.  We're hoping to get a membership when he turns one year old.  I also got my mom's playgroup together with another one yesterday at the deYoung, and we all hit it off, so it looks like we have many more lunch dates in our future, plus another Mom Movie - 007 next week.  Maybe I can get Jason to play hooky from work so we can see it together.

Below's Tanner's take on the chicken dance.  His 3rd favorite thing (behind bottle and his hands) is wiggling.  All the wiggles are care of Tanner.  No mommy intervention.  Okay, except for one part, which you'll probably notice.

4 Years, 2 Months, 11 Days

Well, it's only been 4 years, 2 months and 11 days, but better late than never. Yes, we finally finished editing the wedding video.  Enjoy, and please don't tell us how young we looked.  We know. Having a kid ages you at least 20 years.

Yummy

Tanner's second favorite food (behind his milk) is his hands.

On another note, I've been desperately trying to engage in activities where I can be with others and don't have to feed or change them.  I went to one playgroup last week and another this week.  (I've been the playgroup ho - just jumping around and trying them all out to find one I like).  The one today was from the Golden Gate Mothers Group, a community of 3,500 Bay Area moms.  I posted an ad asking if there were any other mothers of newborns in the Russian Hill area.  I got a bunch of responses and had the opportunity to hang with 4 other moms (Megan, Cate, Roxanne and Erin) and babies (Rose, Body, Julie and Olive) today.  It's not really a playgroup for the kids as it is for the moms to get together and just ask questions to find out if their kid is normal (and if anyone else has dared to have sex yet.  It was split down the middle on that one.)  The women were really cool and it felt great that I wasn't the only one dying for new friends and an adult conversation.  We're all getting together again on Thursday for lunch and then to the Mommy Movie where no one cares if your baby cries or poops because it's free and their kid is doing it too.  

Yes We Can

Tanner slept for a record 7.25 hours last night!!!  The leaky boobs were not happy, but I sure as hell was.

Cabaowl

What's Tanner doing with Gwen Stefani?

Doesn't he look like a monk?

The first year of life is awesome.  Everything is a first - including Tanner's first Halloween.  Nana brought a bevy of costumes with her from Massachusetts: a cat onesie, an owl hat and a bat bunting bag.  That's a Ca-ba-owl.  The first of it's kind.  We went to our friend Lauren and Tony's for a parental Halloween pre-party.   I've never seen so many little ones and toys.  There was Elvis, a hotdog, a lobster, a cow, M&M.  Lots of ooooing and aaahing and runny noses.  (Most of the kiddies were 8mos-1.5 years.)  I also attempted to get into the spirit with my hot afro wig, until I looked liked a complete a-hole.  No other parents were dressed up.  So much for trying to meet new people and appearing to be normal.   Perhaps the wig looked a little too real.  Oh well.  

I also wanted to address the #1 comment we've been getting: "I can't figure out who Tanner looks like."  Neither can we.  As of right now, the UPS guys is a strong contender cause we still have no clue where the perma tan and lips came from.  My mom claims he looks nothing like me when I was a baby because I was never that cute.  And when I looked at pictures with Jason's mom of Jason as a baby, not too much of a resemblance either. Though my friend did point out that Tanner does have a close resemblance to Kingston, Gavin Rossdale's and Gwen Stefani's baby.  

Leaps and Bounds

First Pair of Flip Flops

It's only a matter of time till he finds his thumb

It's really funny how the simplest things are monumental milestones for babies.  Parents squeal in delight as their baby learns to giggle and kick.  And we've had a lot of squealing lately.  Tanner's actually a lot of fun now - not just and eating and pooping machine.  Here are a few of the latest and greatest:

Bath time is actually fun.  He officially had his first non-screaming bath last week.  And we have pictures (above) to prove it. But he did pee twice on Jason again.

He loves his rattles.  Okay, he has no idea what they are and what he's supposed to do with them, but he goes double fisted and clings on to them for dear life.

Smiles and coos abound.  We're getting more and more by the day, but still can't manage to get them on camera.

He kicks and knows it.  Normally when I put him on his activity mat, he mindlessly kicks up his legs and hits the hanging animals by accident until he gets activity overload and fusses.  This week, I caught him kicking the giraffe on purpose and giggling.  ASPCA might not like it, but I'm ecstatic.

Sleeping is like an emotional roller coaster.  Last week, we got a 5 and a 6 hour spurt and thought we were in heaven.  Still hell.  We're back to 3 and 2.5 hour spurts.  At least now we've timed things better.  Jason gives him a mega bottle at 11pm, I do a feeding between 2-3am, and then Jason goes for 5ish. This way, we're each only up once, and Jason doesn't get up till 5.  

Pounds.  This is by far the coolest thing ever.  Over the past week or so, Tanner likes making fists and putting them in the air.  Jason, seizing the opportunity, taught him to do pounds.  I swear, it's not a natural reaction thing; it's the real deal.  Now when we change his diaper, he'll keep his hands up till we do Pounds, and if we don't do it soon enough, he'll fuss.  When we do it, he'll coo and keep his hands up.  It's adorable until we get to the 20th time and it's 3am.  If you're not in the know, here's a video of a 1.5 year old doing pounds.  Tanner's way more advanced - doing it at 9 weeks.  That's our boy.