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.

A week of bliss!!

From Nana (formerly known as Grammy Kris), Grampy and Uncle Jonathan...

Finally getting to meet and spend time with Tanner has been a dream come true!  It has been a week of happily giving him his bottles of milk, changing his diapers and clothes, going for long walks, visits to the Exploratorium science museum, the Aquarium, holding him closely, and giving him lots of kisses and hugs.

It's going to be very difficult saying our goodbyes tomorrow morning when Uncle Jonathan, Grampy and Nana have to travel back to Boston.  We'll hold on to the special memories we shared especially Tanner's adorable expressions, his beautiful little smiles, his baby talk, and his soft and cuddly little body.  We'll look forward to Jason and Stephanie sending us lots of photos and videos to keep us close until the next time we get together.  Uncle Kyle can't wait to meet Tanner!

We're so proud of Jason and Stephanie and the wonderful parents they have become.  It's amazing to see how natural it has become for them.  They're very attentive and ever so loving. 

Now is a good time to pat ourselves on the backs, Grammy and Poppy / Nana and Grampy!  We must have done a few things really right!!

We love you Jason, Stephanie and Tanner!

XOXOX

Coo Coo Kachoo

Tanner's First Words

As promised, here's a video of Tanner. Poppy "loaned" us his Flip video recorder, so we'll be sure to capture more antics, more often.

A Few Words from Grammy Sandy & Poppy

Grammy Sandy....

It's going to be hard to keep this posting to just a few words, first I am  a woman of many words and second this has been an amazing 15 days.  I don't know where to begin.  

I have a new love of my life (sorry Mark) his name is Tanner Kai.  I am smitten, he has captured my heart and takes my breath away.  It's really hard to describe the feelings that I feel when I hold, kiss, or am around him.  Words cannot do this feeling justice.  I realize that  I am absolutely biased, however, he is the most beautiful child I've ever seen (sorry Stephanie and Scott.)  He has amazing blue eyes (with a hint of gray) and his mouth is heart shaped but he has wonderfully sized lips.  His head is perfectly sized and round with lovely shaped ears that are flat to his perfectly sized head.  Can't say much about his nose yet, it is pretty nondescript, next visit (January if Steph will have me.)  He has a great smile and his little giggles are just precious (the giggles are only when he sleeps, Stephanie says he is dreaming of puppies, I think it is a gas reflex.)  I can go on and on but I won't bore you all.  We hope that Stephanie, Jason, and Tanner will be coming East in March (for Grandma Freda's b-day) and hopefully there will be a stop over in CT where we can introduce him to all our peeps.

Another gift this trip offered, was being able to spend so much time with Stephanie.  We realized we have not had this much one-on-one time since she was in middle school.  I know she would agree (because she told me so) that the time we shared was incredibly special.  It's funny how mother/daughter relationships become closer and are redefined as we both get older and grow.  It is a given that Stephanie is a great daughter, but she has also been a great friend these past 15 days.  We did so many fun things together and were so in sync.   

Now a few words about my amazing son-in-law (more like a son.)  Any man that can have his mother-in-law around for 17 days and still smile and not mutter under his breath while I am in his presence, deserves a gold medal of honor.  Jason, thank you, for your patience and hospitality, I can't wait to come back soon, just kidding, I'll give you kids a breather for a while and promise I won't stay as long the next trip out.

My parting remarks, Tanner Kai is one lucky boy to have such wonderful parents as Stephanie and Jason.  They are naturals.

Tanner Kai you will be in my thoughts every day, and the kisses and feeling of your baby soft skin hopefully will sustain me till my next visit.

I love you all,

Grammy Sandy

and now Poppy...

I not  like my wife, am a man of  few words.  What they said about being a grandparent is an understatement.  You can never believe the inner feelings you experience from seeing this little thing who evolved from you.   He is everything I could have ever wanted.    Even in this short time we have accomplished so much together.  A visit to Buena Vista and a trip to Sonoma.  Most importantly, time together to bond and discuss the many things we will be doing together in the next thirty years.  Thank you  Tanner for cooperating when I finally mustered up the conviction to change your diaper this morning.  This too was an  extremely gratifying experience.  Who would have thought that I would say this.  Thanks to Steph, Sandy and Jason for letting me take care of my boy every morning since I arrive.  This too was an amazing, wonderful experience.  I could go on and on  but I am a man of few words.  Thanks to my daughter and son-in-law for giving Sandy and me this most wonderful and cherished grandson who we  will love for ever, more and more every day.

Found: Smile, Thumb & Waist

Some belated Oakland Zoo pics.  Tanner loved the giraffes the most.

Afternoon Nap

Grammy Sandy & Poppy

Yesterday was a big day.  Before I go on, I have to preface that I swore up and down that I wasn't going to be one of "those moms."  The one that goes on and on about stuff people never want to hear about - like the shape of Tanner's poop last night, that funny noise he made while I was feeding him, etc.  But indulge me.  This is good. Pretty good.  Yesterday Tanner graced us his first bona-fide non-gas related smile.  Precious.  And fleeting.  So fleeting that we couldn't get a picture. He also managed to find his thumb, and sucked it till we submerged him in his bath and he had to quickly get it out of his mouth so he could wail (his bath time ritual).  Poppy Mark did get a picture, but we'll have to wait till he gets back to Connecticut to post it.  As precious as the thumb sucking was, I'm already neurotic...getting worried that he'll suck his thumb till he's 7 and be forced to have braces twice (for a total of 5 years) and no dates till he's in college.  If you don't believe me, ask to see my elementary school pictures.  I was the picture of loveliness with bright red Sally Jesse Raphael glasses and teeth the stuck out of my mouth - WHILE IT WAS CLOSED.  My mom had to barter ear piercing to get me to stop and I was forced to sleep with dirty socks on my hands for weeks.  Okay, enough about me.  Well, maybe one more thing.  Yesterday, I found my waist.  I"m proud to announce that I'm 0.5 lbs. lighter, yes lighter than when I got pregnant.  Now mind you, it's way more muffin top-esque and there's zero quarter bouncing or six packing going on, but I'll take it.  I guess it's the only perk to pumping and being Bessie the Cow five times a day.

String Bean

Sorry I've been so lax at updating the blog.  I'm kinda busy.  Ya know, the baby and all.  We've all been lucky for the past week - Grammy Sandy has come to SF to baby both babies (Tanner and me).  We now have a live in (at least for 17 days) poop changer and burper.  I've actually gotten to go to the gym 3x this week and blow dry my hair.  Amazing feat for a new mom.  We also went to the Pediatrician for the monthly check up.  Tanner is ready for NY fashion week; he's tall and thin. He's now 9lbs. 5oz (up from 6lbs. 5oz a month ago) and in the 25th percentile, 22.5" (up from 20.5") and in the 75th percentile.  He's loving long walks along the beach and starting to coo and maybe break a non-gas related smile.  Can't wait to get pics of that one.  In the meantime, here are his latest pics sans hair, which he's lost in the front, but not the back.  He's sporting the new mullet or Poppy look.   Speaking of, Poppy will be joining us on Tuesday and we'll be able to post lots of videos.  Yay!  Check out the latest pics of the string bean above, including him in his newest favorite pastime - wrangling ponies.

I do want to share one story, one to surely embarrass him, or perhaps me, on his first date.  Yesterday, when I was changing him, I noticed a bit of a "chubby."  I had to show it off.  So I called in my mom, and before she could even get in the room, I was covered in projectile pee. I guess it wasn't a "chubby" after all.