Catching up

I had big plans to keep your blog up to date... yeah that didn't quite happen. But here's an attempt to catch up as I renew my efforts.

You are in school now! Jefferson Nursery in the Sunset district on 23rd between Irving and Judah. It's for 3 to 5 year olds and you are just barely old enough to go. You are the youngest in your class, but according to your teacher Troy you like playing with the older more rambunctious kids. Overall you seem to really like it, including taking the bus each day. It was a comedy the first day as you were terrified of the bus, but no longer. You seem to have a couple friends including a cute little girl who likes you. I'm told that in general you are pretty well behaved, which I believe.

You weren't interested a few months ago, but now seen to love the California Academy of Sciences. They have a terrific aquarium and you are very good at identifying fish, in particular sharks and jellyfish. We spent quite a while with jellyfish :-) Rainforest and other exhibits were less interesting to you, but you really like to watch the fish.

Planes, cars and trains are of course the most interesting of all. You never miss a chance to point out a plane in the sky or a bus or train on the street. And then there is the moon, another favorite. I had a laugh the other night as we went inside the house at night and you said "good night, moon." We haven't read that book yet but it will be next on the list.

You are quite a dancer and are getting more and more into music. Before you took the bus and I drive you to school you would get in the car, point at the radio and proclaim "dance!" until I turned it on. Watching Smooth Criminal with you is awesome, you mimic the moves by Jackson including the impossible leaning forward. Awesome to watch.

Sounds have meaning

Well the various sounds are now turning into meaningful words and letters, even numbers.  We can cycle through the alphabet and after 'z' you know the tickling begins.  Saying 'z' starts by running away from me while laughing hysterically in anticipation :)  Same for '10' when counting.

You've also now discovered how to do the opposite of what I want you to do.  Going through the alphabet results in stopping and repeating 'f' when we get to 'g' - you look quite devilish and are clearly doing it on purpose... resulting in laughing as I keep repeating 'g' over and over again.

'Uh-oh' is now quite popular when dropping things as can be expected.  Another favorite: 'oh, baby' which I apparently said when you did something dangerous, now you say it all the time.  I'll have to watch my mouth.

Maxim goes to Moldova

Time to remodel, that means no kitchen and little access to bathrooms. Translation: you are off to Moldova for a few months to live with your grandparents!

All smiles...

Been a while since the last post, it's a busy place here!  You're smiling a lot more know, your stomach is stronger and your digestive system is probably starting to actually function now so you are much happier.  We even got a first laugh out of you the other day: peek-a-boo.

Your hair continues to go all over the place: I love it but your mother and Natasha keep trying to get it to sit down.  Don't let them win.

You've also taken to sucking on your hands recently, could you be getting teeth already?  You seem to be, we'll find out soon I'm sure.

3 months at 7 weeks

Before going to a party last night your mother was putting away clothes that you've outgrown, filling up a box.  Much of it was for up to 3-month olds, except you are only 7 weeks old.  Very, very tall.

Last few days also brought some smiling and cooing which is a nice surprise.  You and Grisha had a good exchange today of nonsense words and you flashed him a nice big happy smile that made him melt.  Gotta run, you're in Golden Gate park walking with Natasha and need to go pick you up :)

Growing fast

You've outgrown diapers and most of the clothes that you were supposed to wear for at least a month, hard to keep up with you.  You have a new nanny starting today, Natasha.  It's a funny household, she speaks no English but speaks Spanish and of course Russian, and for me it's easier to speak in Russian but listen to her in Spanish.  So now in the house we have Russian, English, Romanian, Spanish and a little bit of Hebrew too for good measure.  You're going to be one confused little kid :)

Day 6

We took you to your first pediatrician's appointment today.  Turns out you are only 22" long (not 23" as initially measured at the hospital), so now you are just tall and not freakishly tall :)  You're down to 8lbs. 13oz. which apparently is aggressive in gaining your birth weight back; you are overall very healthy.  While you were on the table you managed to pee all over me, your blankets and the floor.  You seemed elated, I hope that's just because it was physical relief and not a sign of rebellion at this young age.  Not sure if I covered it in other posts, but the first thing you did after being born and put on the newborn table was to pee right at me, thankfully you didn't have the strength yet to get me.