My First Beach Trip

This weekend we took Tommy to beautiful Redondo Beach, CA to enjoy sand, surf and sun before it gets too cold. The weather was in the 70s and perfect for a first time beachgoer. We bought a beach umbrella, as our bambino is still too young for sunscreen, and spent the day strolling "The Strand" between Redondo and Hermosa beaches with Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jeremy. Tommy really enjoyed the sound of the waves and also showed interest in the hundreds of gulls that congregated near our beach towels. Dad had fun mocking said birds with a "Mine, mine, mine" from Finding Nemo. Fortunately we avoided a direct hit from the flock.
Here's our future sandcastle building champion! Tommy dug right into the sand...fortunately we stopped him from getting any in his mouth, but he was trying!

Our happy boy with Aunt Cindy.

Sleepy Little Fella

Tommy was very sleepy today...he must be having a little growth spurt. He hasn't been one for naps since day one, but today he took FIVE! He sleeps very well at night (8-10 hours!), and if he actually starts snoozing during the day it will be a godsend. Particularly in the coming weeks as I try to put the house back together after our move.

And this picture was just too cute to pass up. Here our well-rested Tommy poses on his tummy.

New Toys and Food

Tommy had a big day yesterday. He tried out his new exersaucer toy, which was a huge hit with both Mom and Baby. He really enjoys his newfound "sitting" capabilities and he was content playing with all the different contraptions attached to the entertainer for nearly 30 minutes before he got fussy. This will give Mommy a chance to get a little more done around the house.

Another big first yesterday: rice cereal. Mmmm! Now, as much as he likes his exersaucer, he dislikes rice cereal. 99% of the cereal ended up on his bib, which is de rigueur for the first feeding (and several hundred thereafter!). Next time we'll try it in a bottle with milk instead of attempting another spoonfeeding, though the "thhhptttttpptt" noise he made with the spoon was pretty funny.

Today we went to lunch with my girlfriend, Carla. Tommy sat on my lap for most of the meal and managed to grab several pieces of iceberg lettuce and bits of cabbage off my plate and drop them on my jeans (only a little bit of ranch dressing came with them). Dining out with a little one can be quite challenging, but we hope that by exposing him to restaurant situations when he is small it will make for better mealtimes as he grows. I'll get back to you on whether or not this theory works! Ha ha.

The next week will be very busy for our family. We get the keys to our new house a week from today and we have much to do to prepare for moving day. Grandma Norma is coming to Las Vegas to keep Tommy company while Mom & Dad pack and move. We're very excited for her visit as she hasn't seen our little guy in nearly two months. I hope you've been lifting weights, Norma...he's put on a few since you last held him! Ha ha.

Two Feet Tall...and Needle-Proof

Tommy's four-month check-up went very well. Mommy winced more than he did when he got his second round of immunizations! He is officially two feet tall and weighs in at 15 lbs., 4 oz. That's more than twice his birthweight already. His 24" height puts him in the 10th-25th percentile of his peers, which means he's a little vertically challenged...this week. But his weight places him in the 50th-75th percentile, which means he likes to eat! Overall, he is a very healthy baby who is developing right on schedule. Doc says we can start him on cereal and solid foods (read: yucky mush!) whenever we wish, though he seems to be doing fine just nursing for now. I'm a little nervous about giving him formula or other foods because then he won't need me as much as he does now. Silly notion, yes, but mothers are full of these little fears.

Tommy's Tummy Time

Tommy can now roll from back to tummy without help from Mom or Dad. He did it for the first time yesterday afternoon, and it has quickly become one of his favorite ways to pass the time when he's on his playmat. This photo was taken this morning after he completed the feat several times on his own. We're so proud of our little guy!

Tommy's getting plenty of exercise outside, too. He attended his second swim lesson and went under water for the first time with Mommy's close supervision and help. He really enjoys the water and loves to float on his back in the pool. He also likes to try floating on his back in his baby bathtub, which is way too small for this type of trick! It makes bathtime a little tricky, but the splashing is fun for him.

Welcome to Tommy's Blog!

What better way to update our friends and family on our growing boy than his very own web page? We'll post pictures, new and old, here, as well as his latest milestones and funny stories.

Here is his most recent photo: Aloha Tommy! He can't wait to go to the islands with Mom and Dad someday. With as much as he loves his ocean-themed playmat, he will be right at home snorkeling with the turtles once he's big enough. We started swimming lessons last week (basically glorified bathtime without the pesky soap) and he loves the water so much.

Nearing the four-month mark, he holds his head up very well and loves to "stand" with a little help from Daddy. Tommy has a strong grasp on items such as his blankie, small rattles and Mommy's hair. He also likes to flap his arms up and down as if they're wings. Future aviator perhaps?