Dreamy Baby

Our little Angel

Take a Stand

I wasn't able to get a picture of this momentous occasion, but I figured I have to get it blogged in. Yesterday, Harvey was messing around with the dishwasher - one of his favorite toys, along with my computer hard drive, the refrigerator and the vacuum cleaner. I needed to close the door to start the machine. So when I pried his fingers off, I expected him to fall backwards as usual, but this time he stood there on his own two feet, balancing and grunting with deep concentration and pride. I started screaming to the piano tuner, "LOOK LOOK! He's standing by himself!" The tuner didn't seem very excited by this news and didn't get there fast enough to witness this terrific baby balancing act, but those 5 seconds were the most delicious 5 seconds of parenthood to date. Time literally stood still (sorry about the bad pun) To me, it was more exciting than crawling or rolling over or even the day he played his first scale on the piano. (just kidding - just wanted to keep the readers on their toes - oops another bad pun). My mother commented that he will walk before we take off for France. Any bets?

Looking Back

mommy
Harvey (Cheer up little buddy!)

Godmothers, then and now

Here is mommy with her godmother.
And here is Harvey and his godmother - notice he is wearing the same dress that grandma made.

Precious

It's another of those magical pictures. This was actually taken by our friend Jim on New Year's in San Antonio. Harvey was so fragile back then. Here are some of his latest tricks which will require additional childproofing:
1. Pulls himself up to stand in his highchair and rocks back and forth wildly enjoying the sound of the chairlegs bumping against the uneven floor.
2. Opens the cabinet doors
3. Speed crawls when he hears me open the dishwasher and goes right for the drawers which he can roll back and forth.
3. Manipulates the decorative folding screen in the living room (we had to put a heavy basket in front of it so it wouldn't topple on him)
He is also getting wise to the idea that I still exist even when I am not in the room, so putting him to bed at night has opened up a new can of (screaming) worms.
Ah, the joys of witnessing growth and development

"MA MA"

Today he said it; very clearly, and Joe was there to witness it. I was lying in bed coughing like crazy feeling like I wanted to die from whatever bug I have been sick with since Thursday. I was musing over the fact that my voice has been lowered 2 octaves when I heard that little voice scream to be nursed...."MAMA"

Taxi Touchay!

Harvey LOVES his new toy! Thanks to M and MJ.

How Sweet It Is

Harvey and Daddy made Mommy pancakes for Mother's Day today. Actually, Harvey slept late this morning so that Joe could make the pancakes. It was such a joy to be pampered all morning.

Then, as we were walking out the door to ride to Grandma and Grandpa's house, the buzzer rang. "Who is it?" I called. No answer. "Just buzz them in," I heard Joe calling out from the other room. It seemed odd to me that this safety-first guru dad who looks for rounded edges on furniture would be so eager to let a stranger into the house! But I complied despite my silent protests. 2 minutes later the mystery visitor rang the doorbell. "Who is it?" I asked, deciding that I wasn't letting them in without a response this time.

"Flowers!" And as I opened the door and signed, Joe joined me and my roses with a happy-to-be-guilty grin. I think I like this Mother's Day stuff! PS Harvey said, "BA BA" today.

Cousins in the Grass

I wonder if Harvey has allergies like the rest of us. He seems to be doing quite well here in the grass with Peggy, but mom is all stuffed up with a massive headache and PND. It is the first time that I have felt the urge to seriously reach for Sudafed. Fortunately, I found a website with some pretty decent answers about drug levels in breastmilk. The good news is that Harvey is old enough and there is little worry of having adequate milk supply at this point in time.

First Sick Visit to the Pediatrician

It's pictures like this that keep me going after the trauma of a sick baby. On Friday, Harvey woke up with discharge glueing his eyelashes together. So we got a prescription for antibiotic ointment. OY-ntment is more like it. Trying to get that stuff in a little baby's eye is like threading a needle with invisible thread. On Saturday we went out to a party and the babysitter reported that Harvey wasn't his usual happy-g0-lucky self. He has had a little bit of a cough, too. Yesterday and today I knew he really wasn't doing too well at all. His temp was up to 99.3 and he was sleeping later and not nursing very well. So I had to cancel some piano teaching and scoop him off to Dr. King. He was resting so peacefully when I had to transfer him to the examination table. First the Doctor checked his torso and throat (which was a little red) and nose (a little mucus). BUT! Then Harvey was subjected to the dreadful eardrum check. The pediatrician used a special instrument to remove earwax. This was the worst part of all. I had to pin my poor boy down while he had his ears scraped. Fortunately there was no ear infection, but he screamed and wrenched his body with all his might and gasped for breath the whole time and I was so traumatized by his yelping that I could hardly drive him home afterwards. The receptionist insisted that I take a lollipop for the road! Harvey was quivering in my arms for quite a while in the doctor's office with tears running down his cheeks. I think this has been the most difficult day of parenthood. I was hardly able to keep myself from crying until I got to the car. Pauvre Harvey! Mommy loves you so much and hopes you feel better soon. I am glad that Joe didn't have to hear his cries.

I am still reeling about the extra $295 we have to pay for Harvey's flight. Is it a "crying" surcharge? Harvey is a good traveller and very compliant. I think that the baby-fee should be on a sliding scale depending on how cranky the baby is during the flight.

Globe Crawler

Harvey is so excited about going to France that he started checking out other cool places to visit on the planet. We are waiting for his passport to arrive. Joe took the photo for it and the passport lady at the Post Office exclaimed that it was the best baby picture she'd ever seen on a passport. Today I spoke with the travel agent and we still haven't been guaranteed the bulkhead with a bassinet yet. US Airways has been a bit over the top. They charged us $295 for Harvey even though he's not getting his own seat! Meanwhile, we are trying to figure out what to take. Should we bring the carseat and stroller transportation system and pack-n-play? Should we try to find a crib for loan in Fontainebleau?

Another Auntie Pic

It's another "awwww" so cute pic . We'll be back to San Antone in Aug. Harvey will probably be running around by then!

Look Ma, One Hand!

Harvey is finally able to balance himself on his four-wheeler. He was so proud of himself! He also took to eating broccoli this week. He'll eat just anything as long as I stir a teaspoon of bananas in the bowl.

NYC Social Scene - Making the Rounds with...

Kirstin

Eleanor

Tony

Linda

Betsy

Mary

Andrew

Andy

Geoff

Are You My Mother?

Somebody commented that boys start young...

Steak au Poivre at the French Roast

He didn't seem to go for it at first....













But then he tasted it and said, "ENCORE! ENCORE!"

First Fontainebleau Event

Harvey is gearing up for France. Last week he made a lot of friends at the Alumni gathering in NYC. He is pictured here with members of the class of 2004 when he was merely a monkey in potentiality. He was quite the hit of the party and a few people came just to get a glimpse of him. Unfortunately there weren't any suitable crawling areas so at 9 PM Harvey promptly passed out into baby dreamland.

Hungry Harvey

I wonder if this is bad for his gums.