His Valiant Efforts

This week has been a little tough for Adam. He has a bit of a rash that looks like the hives to me, and a bit of a cough, plus all the sneezes. We're going to the doctor this afternoon, just to check it out. He's getting extra naptime today, and you can see from his face that he's sort of mellow and sad. Still cute, though.

But he's also been making some amazing strides. He has two teeth now--both the bottom middle ones. He's been doing an amazing job of trying to pull himself up to standing on the furniture. He can do it using my body--if I'm sitting on the floor, he gets up on my leg, then pulls himself up my belly to stand holding my shoulders. He has trouble on furniture, though, because he needs the intermediary steps. He almost got up today, though, using his changing table--bottom shelf, wicker basket, second shelf--he was kneeling and almost had his feet under him.

And today, there was a new one. He was trying to build a block tower! There were two stacked blocks, and he had the third one in his hand, and was tapping it on top of the tower. He couldn't quite coordinate lining it up and letting go of it....but the fact that he was trying has just bowled me over.

Finally, to those who have pointed out how fast he's changing, I think I have an explanation. He's using technology.

Adam Sitting

An uneventful but somehow charming bit of video for your amusement.

Outtakes

I took a bunch of videos this week, but those take a while to put up. And, to be honest, he's not that cooperative in some of them. I'm sure, five years from now, we'll look back and be amazed at how little and darling he was, but right now, it's just the back of his head and some moaning. We'll post some later.

To keep you entertained while we get the video uploaded, and to make up for a long week without photos, here are some still shots from among the filming sessions and living room detritus.

Adam at 7 Months

How, I ask you, am I supposed to choose a definitive photo from among this line-up? These are just representative of a great photo shoot. It was hard to even pick four. He's such a grown-up; how much bigger can he get?

Camera's Back Online!

Okay, updates. At Watertown Public Library the other day, Adam pulled himself up--all by himself!--onto the soft blocks, and stood there. I think it's just the right height for him, and we should find something that tall. Unfortunately, I couldn't get him to look at me for the photo, because there was a big kid who must have been at least 2 playing across the room, and he was SO interesting.

As advertised, The Adoration of the Soup. This doesn't even begin to capture it--he was a little distracted by me and the camera. Usually there's even more delight in his fascination.

We saved the box our new vacuum arrived in, assuming correctly that it would be popular. As Mike said when he saw it, "Looks like a time machine to me."

And finally, more standing. Note that I am about one inch out of the frame here waiting to grab him if he falls. I don't think he even realized he was standing--he just REALLY likes to chew on tags.

This has been the Adam Update. Now back to your regularly scheduled internet.

Sorry About the Downtime!

Something's wrong with the camera! I'm not sure what--it could be that our rechargeable batteries aren't holding the charge, or it could be the the camera is tired of us and just wants to go back to sleep. We'll figure it out, but in the meantime, you'll have to put up with last weekend's photos.

And an anecdote! Adam has a weird baby-crush on the framed Andy Warhol Campbell's soup can print on our kitchen wall. He LOVES it, wants to stand in front of it and stare at it, then lean forward and touch it. It makes him laugh out loud. What? Why? I don't know, he's a baby. They're crazy.

He's also into light switches. He is occasionally able to turn one on or off, but he loves to try--touch them, smack them, rub them. It's a fun way to kill ten minutes, if you're 7 months old. Seven months! New bear photo needs to be taken--we have to fix this camera!

Showoff

Marsha calls this one the "Sexy Fireman" pose. She says he's practicing for the calender photo in twenty years.

The swing has made a resurgence in popularity, partly because he's had such a tough time sleeping lately. He's taken a couple of swing naps in the past few week.

I'm trying to decide if we have it in us to get to an 8:30 am Waterbabies swim class next month. What do you think?

Grandfolks

I had this post all planned out about how Mike's parents came to visit and Adam's been making faces and sucking in his cheeks and what a nice visit we had, etc. But!

There is a tooth!

It's peeking out of his lower gums. It explains the night screaming and day whining and how much he loves his Tylenol lately. It's teeny and magnificent and I already miss my gummy little guy. A tooth!

I have no idea if I'll ever be able to photograph it. But here are some other pictures to tide you over.

A tooth!

Sartorial and Epicurian Challenges

I did this to him. no one else can be blamed. I loved the new yellow onesie with the busy bee theme. I only had blue pants available. it was cold, and the gray socks were the warmest. And....well, I didn't have a sweater for him right there. But I did have his Baby Legs. So...well....

....Baby Sleeves.

Today is New Foods Day! We're supposed to introduce them one at a time, so we started on squash this morning, which went over VERY well. So far so good!

Lately, though, he's been really impatient with his noontime bottle. It's about time to start him eating lunch, but I've been lazy about it, since it would cut into the only two hours a day when we can easily get out of the house. He gets too impatient to finish his bottle, though--he doesn't want to keep his head tilted back long enough to drink it all.

So today, he tried to eat my lunch. This would have been bad for a whole lot of reasons, but I'll only point out that it had peanuts in it, and you're not supposed to give babies peanuts. So I said, you want real food? And he got a container of yogurt.

He got his hands on the spoon toward the end of the experiment, when his clothes and face were already covered with vanilla yogurt. He LOVED it, though. So, assuming he doesn't start sneezing or scratching, we have a couple of new friends in the kitchen!

Auntie Steph and a Boy in Motion

I could NOT get a photo of Adam holding still with Steph. He was just to mobile. Squirming, crawling writhing. Steph didn't mind too much, though, which we appreciate.

New Hampshire's Hidden Hurdles

Adam really hates the outdoors. I knew he didn't like sitting or standing on the grass, but yesterday in New Hampshire, I realized that, even sitting comfortably on a table, just being outdoors is unpleasant for him.

But he's too good natured to stay down for long. And today, in our yard, he was eating grass, so I guess that's progress. Of an unsanitary sort.

I don't know quite why, but Adam decided he was terrified of my dad yesterday. It could be because he smells a little like smoke, it could be the wild beard. But when he so much as sat down beside us, Adam started fussing. Eventually, though, we found a way for them to sit together comfortably.

They have to hang out more, though. Very important!

Poorly Themed Baby Clothes: A Rant with Unrelated Photos

The Littlest Beastie Boy

Sometimes you take a look at baby clothes and you'll see some really weird theming. I noticed the other day that he has an outfit covered with African animals--lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes--and dinosaurs. Just mixed in like they fit together somehow. Wha?

Up close and personal

And last night, he slept in a onesie that had little rows of stylized rattles, baby carriages, flowers, sunshines--and elephants. Throw in a lawnmower and a turkey leg and you have--well, even more confusion.

Standing, with some help

So whose job is it to come up with these patterns? Who sat down and said, "Let's do jungle animals! Giraffes live in the jungle, right? And dinosaurs?" And his partner said, "What about unicorns?" And the first guy smacked him on the back of the head and barked, "Fool! Unicorns live in the mountains."

All Before 9am

Adam conducts a symphony.

Adam gazes coyly at me.

I guess it's not that much to get done before breakfast. So okay, I admit it--it's a cheap excuse to post adorable pictures. So sue me. But he does have a new nickname: Scooter!