Gratitude Jar

Future Indicator?

Hopefully this is no indication of my son's future. Here he is practicing his up-against-the-wall stance, ready for the frisking. Maybe it is fitting because already I'm thinking his middle name is T-R-O-U-B-L-E. H is pulling himself up to, and pushing against, everything these days. His favorites right now are the Fridge and the door pictured here.

8 months

Where has the time gone? Yesterday was H's 8 month birthday. Only 8 months and already he has 3 strollers and a backpack carrier. How many modes of transportation does this guy need? It's been an amazing 8 months. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Every time I pick him up and look at him I just can't believe he's going to grow up to become a walking, talking sentient being.

You know you're a parent when ...

You take the piece of apple that your baby has been gnawing on for the last five minutes and eat it even though it is covered in his drool.

Video: Hieu and Mommy

A couple of videos of mommy playing with her boy.

Photos

An artsy-fartsy black and white pic of the H-man.

This used to be our dining room, but it was invaded by a bunch of mats and baby furniture.

Hieu Crawls

Video of Hieu crawling.

Jumperoo Hieu

Video of Hieu in his Jumperoo.

Boys Day

Here is a picture of the boys and the flag pole for Boys Day. May 5th is Children's day in Japan. It used to be Boys' day and Girls' Day used to be March 3rd but they combined the holidays some time back. Anyway in Japan you are supposed to fly a Carp wind sock for each family member. So there is the Daddy Carp (Black), Mommy Carp (red) and baby carp (blue). The kit that was given to us is meant to be attached to some metal fence but since we don't have a metal fence I spent a good part of the day looking for some way to plant the flag pole. Pain in my a**. But since someone took the time and trouble to get us the set and cart it all the way back from Japan it was the least I could do. Besides, once I got everything set up it was pretty neat to look at. H was facinated by the socks blowing in the wind.

Two pics

The other day we were wondering what our son would look like if he decided to become a Hasidic Jew. Now we know.

Here is H getting his first taste of rice cereal.

Video of Hmo

Hmo likes to kick.

Remembering two amazing people.

Today is the 4oth anniversary of MLK's assassination. There is no question that he was one of the great orators of American history. This morning on NPR I heard the story of the speech Robert F. Kennedy's gave that day in Indianapolis to a largely black audience. The police advised him against making the speech and even refused to give Kennedy a police escort. That he decided to go anyway and the speech he gave was amazing. I don't know how long it took him to prepare the speech but witnesses say that he didn't look down once while giving it.

I can only hope that H, who turns 5 months today, will grow up to be half as accomplished and eloquent as either one of these people.

For your consideration...

Apparently some people actually bookmarked this blog and check it occasionally for new content. Rather than type a lot, I'll depend on that whole "picture is worth a thousand words" cliche and just give you a picture of H sporting a new hat.

-tmo

Baby Haiku II

Cold, damp sensation,
Dark spot on my shoulder grows,
Son spit up again.

Baby Haiku

Three-thirty AM
Nighttime ended, not yet light
Hungry baby cries

If there was any doubt

This is proof beyond a doubt that H is my son. Just 4 months old and he's already trying to get at the booze. Almost brought a tear to my eye.

LIke Father, Like Son

OK, it may not look like it here, but H's feet look a lot like mine. His toes are shaped a lot like mine. Of course, T says that his feet don't smell like mine, but it's only a matter of time.

Go see the Doctor

When you think about it, where is the last place you want to be when you, or your baby, are sick? In a room full of other sick people. But there we were, sitting in the ER surrounded by other sick children. The ones with the bandaged extremities didn't worry me, but the kids with the green snot oozing from their noses were particularly worrisome.

Being Sunday we really didn't have many other choices. Our baby had a cold and was wheezing and the nurse told us to go to the ER. Luckily we live in a city that has a Children's hospital that is not too far away. Because it's a children's hospital and because it is not really centrally located, the ER is not packed with people who don't have insurance and are using the ER as their primary medical caregiver. That's the good part. The bad part is that you have to look at sick children. It breaks your heart to see little babies in obvious distress and discomfort.

Lucky for us, H just has a cold and should be fine. Granted, spending three hours in the ER is not an ideal way to spend your Sunday, but thankfully it was just 3 hours and not overnight or worse. Plus I scored some free syringes.