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.

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.