16 weeks and Christmas Eve

Malcolm says...


Happy Holidays everyone! And tomorrow I'm taking my first plane ride to see my Grandma, Grandpas, Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins! P.S. - I love this bear! (and Daddy making faces at me behind the camera...)

(fingers crossed that the melt that started this afternoon continues - it would be nice not to have to drive to the airport in chains...)

Arctic Blast!

So, we are having TONS of snow (with a lovely layer of ice in between). TONS. Not just tons for Portland (which would be maybe a few inches) but tons for snowier cities. Well, I haven't lived in a snowier city for 10 years, so I may be misremembering (especially since we have a distinct lack of snowplows here, so it builds and builds), but it's over a foot! And there is the matter of that lovely layer of ice... the city is pretty well shut down, and in fact Portland's county (which is not ours) has declared a state of emergency so that they can get state and national guard resources. Yikes!

Anyway, we haven't driven since Saturday, and going a bit stir-crazy, decided to make an expedition to the grocery store, about half a mile's walk. Malcolm doesn't have a snowsuit, so we put him in a largish fleece pajama over his regular clothes and sweater, a nice warm Jayne hat which a friend knit for "wee cap'n Mal" (KT has an adult-sized pattern here), and red furry socks as mittens. I eventually zipped my coat around his feet and tucked my scarf (Christmas gift from KT a couple of years ago!) around his neck too. He was content (as long as I was moving) to chill (hah!) in the Beco baby carrier and watch the snowy world (and Daddy). Here are a few pictures:

starting out:"whoa, it's all, like, white out here"
We made it! Lots of folks stocking up, and our neighbors toldus later that they had talked to the grocery store manager - the chain (Albertsons') had told him that they couldn't make deliveries today (some of the highways are closed!) so he called up local restaurant supply places and got produce that way. Hence the garlic, yams, etc looked a bit rough as they were not meant for display. Yay, local grocery store manager!

On the way back, Malcolm had a nice nap while I had a soda. Then we stopped in at the aforementioned neighbors' for tea. One of the neighbors is from Ireland, so of course they had Barry's tea - nice!
Oh, and we're supposed to fly out of here on Thursday, and there's another storm forecast for Wednesday... wish us luck!

15 weeks

Whoops, well, we skipped 14 weeks... but Malcolm is getting big enough that weekly pictures aren't a necessity. See how Malcolm is admiring the bear (or maybe the thought of his cute self) here!At 15 weeks (yikes, 3 and a half months!) Malcolm is definitely reaching for things, studying things intently, and even will tolerate having a book read to him if it is interesting looking. He didn't used to like to sit on laps! We've had some laughs/giggles which sound more like "heh heh heh", particularly in response to the "Daddy far away.... DADDY UP CLOSE!" game, which in the right mood will result in Malcolm chortling, opening his mouth, and attempting to shove both fists in :)He's also gotten into standing, and will suddenly go straight and stiff in our arms, our cue to prop him up on his feet to look around (especially at whoever is not holding him) or even try to reach for things. I wanted to add a picture here, but we don't have any great ones... will try for one later.

In the right mood, he'll take to tummy time like a seal... for short periods, anyway. No rolling yet except the occasional accidental front-to-back.

He's still got an odd schedule - during the day, he can only be awake for an hour and a half before needing a nap, which might last between 30 minutes and 3 hours (though the 3 hour naps have gotten rarer, sadly). He can nap in the baby carrier or the carseat, though often not as well as in the bouncy chair. I'm not going to mention nightime sleep since I have now learned that to do so invites smiting by the Sleep Gods... ;)

More posts tomorrow, probably - we're having a blizzard and an ice storm, and so there should be more time for the internets...

3 months (=13 weeks)

Malcolm's month- and week- birthday lined up this week - he was 3 months (or 13 weeks) on Wednesday! We took his photoshoot in the morning, and for the first time, he actually seemed to notice the bear! He's been grabbing (or waving at and randomly opening and closing his hands near) things this week, and decided to go for Bo! The best pic I got is a bit off-center, but includes both a grabbing hand and a smile for the camera :)

We even got a little video:

Malcolm notices his bear! from Alison (& Andy & Malcolm) on Vimeo.

He's also gotten really into sucking on his hands this week. He discovered them a few weeks back, but didn't really do anything with them. Now, it's drool, slobber, suck... If we give him a napkin or burp cloth to hold at the same time, he will kind of wipe up his own drool :)

No knitting update today - I am rather behind on the one thing I am trying to do for Christmas. Hmm, I should go get it...

Napping in the bouncy chair

a comparison.

2 days old:
4 days away from 3 months old:
At his 2 month appointment he'd grown 4 inches over birth (from 20" to 24"), and I'd guess he's added at least another one or two to that. He's growing lengthwise out of his 0-3 month onesies, but the 3-6 month ones are a bit roomy in girth. Andy and I both have height in the family, though neither of us is particularly tall (and I also have plenty of short in the family). It will be interesting to see if he continues long and lean...

And yes, we still swaddle him for naps and bedtime (and for calming him down when the crankiness takes over). Good thing I bought these extra-large swaddle blankets on Etsy (from this seller's shop) before he was born! Regular receiving blankets certainly wouldn't cut it now. We're using the Miracle Blanket (i.e. Baby Straightjacket) at night and slightly dreading what will happen when he grows out of it. Knock on wood, but last night he slept for 8.5 hours!

Bumbo bumbo bumbo bumbo... (and sweaters)

One of those words that's just fun to say! Til we took an interest in baby gear, we had no idea what a Bumbo was. Is it a variant of the cheesehead?

No, silly Andy, it's a baby seat for babies who can't sit up yet! Technically they're supposed to have complete head control, which Malcolm doesn't quite, but he's small enough that the back supports his head a bit, and he can hold it up really well when he wants to.

He will sit in the Bumbo while I have my breakfast in the morning... and it makes a great seat to showcase knitted sweaters...
Yes, I finally finished his Baby Surprise jacket! Just in time, too, since it just fits him. I'll try to block it bigger when I remember to wash it. This was made with line by line notes by Dawn Adcock to help keep track of where I was. It was a fun knit which would have been pretty quick had I not started it 6 days before he was born, just 3 days before I went into labor! After that, it took me about 11 weeks to get through it :). Here's another view on his playmat, where Malcolm likes to gaze and swat at his ladybug and his sun:
My knitting goals are much reduced for the rest of the year - just a scarf for a Christmas gift, which I really need to get working on. And I guess I'll need a project for the flight to Boston, assuming Mr. M. cooperates and sleeps for a good bit.

Here is the promised other view of the lovely blue sweater, one of a couple his Grandma brought from Boston for him. Grandma, you need to put these on Ravelry!

taking advantage of a nap for 12-week pic

I promise, he had socks earlier, but baby feet and most socks don't seem to be compatible! Malcolm was 12 weeks on the day before Thanksgiving. He's been working on slow, deliberate arm and leg movements, and also more frequently finding his hands. When you give him a pacifier, he will often reach up his hand and either hold it in or pull it out depending on the luck of the draw!
I'm sure eventually he will notice the bear, but so far it's still "Mom, why am I propped in the chair"?

And since these far-away pictures never show off his gorgeous blue eyes (they're darker than mine or Andy's, but may still be lightening), here's a feature picture from today, en route to lunch. The sweater his Grandma knit him sure enhances his big blues! (more on this sweater in another post). He did remarkably well at lunch (just a local place in Hillsboro here), staying awake as we ordered, then starting to crank, taking the pacifier, and drifting to dreamland as we ate.

Too bad the carseat has that giant warning sticker - otherwise this would make a lovely wall hanging. Maybe I'll have to try my Gimp (free photo-editor a la photoshop) skillz...