My First Blog - by Baby Fasteen

Fall 2011

2011-11-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

Video of Hazel and Henry taken shortly before Halloween.

Hazel and Henry are growing up in a big hurry. Hazel is starting to scoot around on her tummy and has been known to track down a floor cheerio every once in a while. She's off the growth chart for height, and at 50% for weight. Quite a bit lighter than Henry at this age. She got her two bottom teeth a few weeks back. They both showed up the same day. She's thinking about learning to crawl some time soon.
Henry is learning new things every day. He loves school. They are learning about time and seasons and dinosaurs. He loves to play with his friends and asks to invite them over all the time. Eight hours in a day with his buddy Jack is just not enough.
Hazel and Henry are proving to be good friends. Hazel loves Henry's crazy antics. Henry loves taking care of Hazel. He has kind words when she's sad and lots of toys to share. He's waiting for her to learn to crawl, so she can chase him around. We had never imagined that he would be so fond of baby sister.

Being Big Brother

2011-05-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written lately. So busy being big brother that there's no time to write. Baby Hazel is growing bigger, but she still doesn't do very much. Mostly she sleeps a lot and she drinks milk. I help Mom with diaper changes. And I help with tummy time. I lay on my tummy too and keep Hazel entertained. I also sing to her and play peek-a-boo. Our favorite song is "Rock-a-bye Henry and Hazel in the tree top..."

In addition to being a big brother, I've been busy with lots of other things too. I had grandparents to entertain. Grandma Dot and Grandpa Jay came on the train to visit us after baby was born. And Grandma Kathy came to visit during spring break. We went to the zoo together and saw all the animals. A big mommy monkey came right up to the glass where Mom was holding Hazel and she was checking out my baby sister like she wanted to hold her too. I didn't like that very much. She was only a couple inches away. Next time we go to the zoo, I'm going to keep my eye on those monkeys.

Other than entertaining visitors, I'm also busy learning all the things a two year old should know. I'm getting pretty good with my numbers, but I keep forgetting about 5. I like to play Legos and puzzles. I got too good at the 12 piece puzzles, so Mom and Grandma got me some 24 piece puzzles. I like to read stories a lot with Mom and Dad, and draw pictures. I'm also pretty fond of scissors and glue. And now that its not raining every day, I love to play outside. Last week we went to the park 3 times and we dug for moles and got really dirty.
... so you can see how I've been busy. But we still put pictures up, even if I don't write. So you can keep an eye on me and Hazel that way.

Here's one more picture of baby Hazel, taken by her babysitter Valerie. She watches Hazel while Mommy teaches class. Hazel is 11 weeks old now, 24 1/4 inches long, and about 13 1/2 lbs.

Hug-A-Baby!

2011-03-03T22:06:00.001-08:00

Baby sister is great! She still sleeps a lot, but Mom and Dad let me hug her, sometimes even if she's asleep. Here's a picture of us when she was awake.

She is awake more than she used to be. She can't play or anything yet, but she does have a round stuffed cow she likes to look at. She tries to eat it when it gets close to her mouth. (Here's a video.) Maybe she thinks milk will come out, because its a cow. Silly Hazel, its only a pretend cow.
Hazel had to go to the doctor again yesterday for a check-up. Mom says she is doing well and now she weighs more than 8 1/2 lbs. The doctor says its okay that she sleeps a lot, as long as she's growing. Mom told the doctor that baby caught my cold. The doctor agreed that its sad for Hazel, but that she'll be okay soon. Mom says Hazel did well at the doctor and didn't even fuss when they weighed her, like I used too.
In other news, I am still going to school, which is lots of fun. We've been rearranging my classroom so that more of the little kids can join us. I guess I won't be the youngest one in the big kid room soon. When Mom came to pick me up today we were listening to a story book on a tape. We each got to use our own set of headphones to listen to the same story. It's pretty neat. I really like school, especially playing with my school friends.

Hazel

2011-02-23T21:44:00.000-08:00

Being a big brother is going very well. Hazel is a nice baby. She is soft and she likes it when I pet her hair and give her kisses. She sleeps most of the time. Here is a video of when she was awake. Hazel Video. When I get home from school the first thing I do is run to find Hazel and see what she's doing. I say hi and pet her gently.

I help Mom wake her up so she'll drink her milk. She had to go to the doctor today for a blood test for jaundice. Mom said she had to drink her milk so she'd be ready for the test. It must have worked, because the doctor said she passed the test. They had to poke her in the feet and hands to get blood and now she has band-aids on her feet. She did not like the doctor visit at all.

My Baby Sister is Here!

2011-02-21T20:39:00.001-08:00

Baby sister is finally here! She was born yesterday. Her name is Hazel Ruth and she is very small. Her hands are really tiny. Mine are big. She has lots of black hair and its really soft. Mom says its okay for me to pet her, if I'm gentle.

The last few days have been very busy. Yesterday Mom and Dad got up really early. Mom got up at 3 a.m. and she woke Dad up at 6. They had my friend Dyea and her dog Luna come over and play while they went to the hospital. I got to watch cartoons and play with the dogs. Mom says she got to sit in a jacuzzi at the hospital until 10 am, and then baby sister was born at 10:33am. I got to visit her in the afternoon. She is 8 lbs 5 oz, which is just 3 oz less than I was when I was born.

After I visited her in the hospital, Daddy took me home and we had bath and story time. Then he went back to the hospital to stay with Mommy. Ryan took me to visit baby sister again this morning. Then I went to see bunnies and baby chickees with Emily and Garreth. When they brought me home, Mom and Dad and baby sister were already here! I was tired after my busy day, so I just cuddled on the couch with Mom and baby until bath time.

Baby sister is soft and nice, but she sleeps a lot. When she does wake up, she makes a lot of noise. Then she eats and goes back to sleep. Mom says I was the same way and that she'll get more fun as she gets bigger. She says I get more fun all the time.

Redecorated!

2011-02-12T20:22:00.001-08:00

I have a robot a robot a robot, I have a robot, on my wall!
Mom redecorated my room and now it has a robot as big as me on the wall, and a spaceship, and planets. On the other side of the room there are owls on the wall above baby sister's crib. We rearranged all the furniture so that there would be room for my big kid bed and then we had to put something on the blank walls.
We are waiting for baby sister to arrive. Mom says she will probably come next week, but we don't know when. Right now she lives in mommy's tummy and when I run to give mommy a hug, I run right into her. Mommy says they will give her a name when she comes out of her belly, but I think "baby sister" is a pretty good name.

The adventures of a two year old!

2011-01-16T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm a big kid! I turned two about a week and half ago. I had a birthday party and I helped Mom make a carrot cake, from scratch. There were candles and presents and everything. Thanks to everyone who came!
My favorite birthday present was a plastic giraffe. I got to take him to the bath tub and eat breakfast with him (he got cream cheese on his hooves, but Mom cleaned him up again). And then I got to take him to school too. Mom and Dad are perplexed by my fascination with the giraffe. It's just so cool.
Yesterday we went to another birthday party, for a whole bunch of my friends who all turned two in the last few weeks. It was in a big gym with a trampoline and lots of riding toys. Dad and I got to jump on the trampoline. Here's a video. Mom said she wasn't allowed to jump because of the baby in her belly.
Last weekend we went to the store and I got a brand new big kid bed. Today I helped Mom and Dad put it together. I'm pretty handy with an allen wrench. Tonight is my first night in the bed. But puppy and alligator will keep me company, so everything should be fine. Mom insisted on putting the safety gate on my bedroom door, in case I try to wander off in the night. Mom and Dad are getting my room ready so I can share it with my little sister. She's supposed to be here in about 4 weeks. She'll get to have my crib, now that I'm a big kid.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T19:52:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year friends! We've been having a really fun Christmas vacation. Mom and I had two weeks off of school. We got to spend lots of time together and visit friends. Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Terry came to visit us. They got here on Christmas Eve, so I got to play with them when I woke up on Christmas morning. Uncle Jeff came on Christmas Day and surprised Grandma and Grandpa. He got a new knee for Christmas, so he had to use a cane while he was visiting. Cousin Steve drove up to visit too.

We all got lots of presents for Christmas. I got new cars and trucks and a cool Matchbox case to put them in. I also got a tractor and a tricycle and a magnet fishing rod and 3 Potato Heads and lots of other toys and books and clothes. Mom says I'm spoiled. Mom and Dad and everyone else got presents too, even Henrietta. Henrietta is the baby in Mom's belly. Mom says we're only calling her Henrietta until she is born and gets a real name. She got pink girly clothes for Christmas, and a carrier for Mom to carry her around in. Mom says that way she'll still be able to hold my hand when we go out.

On Christmas Day we made gingerbread trains. I got to taste all the candy before sticking it onto the trains. We made glue out of powdered sugar. That was also delicious. The day after Christmas we took down our big Christmas tree. I helped put away all the ornaments for next year. We needed to make room for me to play with all my toys.

I like to play Legos every day. Some days I play blocks or puzzles or trains too, plus coloring and playdoh and painting. I'm very busy. But I'm pretty good about putting away one toy before getting another one out, if Mom and Dad remind me.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T21:21:00.001-07:00

I'm a cowboy. The Deputy Sheriff, to be specific. Mom and Dad took me to a costume party tonight. It was lots of fun. Last night we went to a pumpkin carving contest. I got to play with pumpkin guts. We also got to go to a real farm and see pigs and chickens and lots of squishy pumpkins. Halloween is pretty great.

I haven't posted anything in a while. But that doesn't mean I haven't been up to anything. Last month I started preschool at daycare. I like it a lot! I get to go downstairs with the big kids (2 and 3 year olds) and we have lots of fun. We have music class and yoga class and a cooking day and library day. They have lots of great toys in the downstairs area. Cars and trucks and dolls and paint. Mom says I'm talking a lot more since I moved to the preschool. My teacher said I could have a few months to adjust to preschool, but I took to it right away and didn't want to go back with the little kids anymore.

Daddy just got back from a long business trip. He was in London for a week and a half. I missed him a lot. At the beginning I checked his bed every morning to see if he was there. But then I got more used to it. I got to talk to him on the phone. When he came back I was so excited. I said "Daddy home daddy home daddy home..." I was very worried when he went away to work the next morning. But he came home again and mom says he'll keep coming home.

Family Vacation

2010-08-31T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our family vacation was awesome. I got to ride on two airplanes to get to Fargo. Then we saw Grandpa Terry and Grandma Kathy. The next day we saw lots of cousins and great aunts and uncles. I think there were about a hundred of them. I got to play with my second cousins Corbin and Lidia. They are just a little bit older than me. There are pictures on the Picasa link.
While we were in Detroit Lakes we got to go to the parks and play on the slides and the swings. We went swimming in the lake. Mama and I both had new swimming suits to try out. We even went on a boat ride. We also go to see lots of animals while we were visiting. I saw horses and cows and a big tom turkey. The turkey and I had a slight misunderstanding. I wanted to pet him, but he didn't think that was a good idea and he knocked me over.

After a week with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Terry, we drove to Bismarck to see Grandma Dot and Grandpa Jay. Uncle Jeff came to visit too. In Bismarck I got to go four wheeling with Grandpa and we went fishing. We visited with Great Grandpa Vern and Great Aunt Connie and Great Uncle John. It was pretty great.
I liked spending time outside in the garden and the big yard. I picked tomatoes and played in the corn and gave treats to the Grandpa's dog Sally. Grandma found Mom's old legos from when she was little. I had lots of fun playing with those. Grandma and Mom were impressed at how intently I played with them.
On the last day of vacation we went to the zoo. I saw tigers so close I could almost pet them. I played peek-a-boo with one who was right up by the viewing window. Mama said he was hunting me because I look delicious. I also got to feed a deer at the zoo.

I was sad to leave all my grandparents behind. Mom says I was well behaved but very squirmy on the plane ride home. Daddy had left two days earlier since he had work. I was so excited to see him at the airport. It was 11pm Bismarck time when we landed, but I stayed up the whole time so I wouldn't miss anything. Vacation was lots of fun, but we were all happy to sleep in our own beds at last.

Mud!

2010-07-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Mom and I had a great day today. In the morning we went shopping for cereal and a new trike. Mine has a broken wheel. I think some big kids in the neighborhood accidentally broke it. We found a trike and another riding toy at a rummage sale. I'm so excited.
After shopping we had lunch and played with the camera. It had been lost in a mysterious pocket of the diaper bag for a few weeks, so we were excited to get it back. It was a good thing we found it today, because the mud made for some great photos.
After my nap we went to the park to play with Griffin and his mom and dad. They've been on vacation so we were very excited to see them again. We played at the splash park. I usually just stay at the edge while Griffin plays in the water, but this time I found a really great mud puddle. You can see it in my video. After I got the hang of splashing in the mud, the rest of the splash park seemed more fun and I got soaking wet. There are more good pictures at the Picasa link on the right.

Tomorrow we get to go to a birthday party for my friend who is turning 2. On Sunday mom and dad said we are going to "Star Trek in the Park," which is like Shakespeare in the Park, but with classic episodes of Star Trek. Its going to be a fun weekend.

Fourth of July

2010-07-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally getting started around here. After weeks of rain its getting sunny and warm. We had a fun 4th of July yesterday. I got to play with snap-its. Here's a video. I'm pretty good at stomping now. I also rode my tricycle with the neighbor kids and Mom and Dad grilled pizza and a chicken for dinner, and corn on the cob. It was a fun day.

In other news, Mom took me to the pediatric pulmonologist last week. He said I might have asthmonia, which is a made-up word for some kind of pneumonia that is caused by asthma or something that looks like pneumonia on an x-ray but is really an asthma attack. The doctor put me on Flovent, but I got all withdrawn and angry for a few days and threw a big temper tantrum that scared Mom. The drug made it hard for me to be my happy busy self. So now we're trying a different medicine and I have to use a nebulizer for 10 minutes twice a day. I don't really like it, but I put up with the first 5 minutes or so without complaint. Mom and Dad let me watch cartoons during the treatments.

I have steamy dragon breath when I use the mask, so that's kind of cool.

Happy Mothers Day!

2010-05-08T22:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms and grandmas out there! Mom and I have been having a fun weekend. We went to the zoo today and we saw a giant elephant and a baby elephant. We also had a picnic and we saw turtles and fish and lots of other animals. It was sunny and warm finally. After the zoo, I helped Mom with some gardening. I have my own shovels and I LOVE dirt. I got dirt everywhere, even inside my shoes and in my nose. We planted two upside down tomato plants and we did lots of weeding to get ready for more planting. After supper Mom and I went to the store to get some bark mulch, so tomorrow I'll help Mom spread it out in the flower bed.

Mom and I have been having lots of fun, but we both really miss Daddy. He's been gone for a week now, in Spain and now London. He's having a big adventure. Mom says he's coming back in a few more days. I hope he brings me something fun! Grandma Kathy said I'm the man of the house while Dad is gone. I'm taking good care of Jake and Mom.

Mom took a video of me today. She says I'm a great helper around the house. Want to see?

Harmonica

2010-04-10T21:39:00.001-07:00

Here's a fun video of me playing the harmonica and chasing Easter bunnies.

We finally had a sunny day today. We played outside and Dad mowed the front yard. I did some sidewalk chalk decorations. Tomorrow I think we're having a bbq.

Yesterday I got to play with a real alligator and a real turtle at a reptile petting zoo. And I got to pet a stegosaurus and a brontosaurus too.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

We had a big day today. We went to Easter church this morning and it was packed. Then we went to our friends house for a big Easter feast and to play with bunnies. They are so soft. I wore myself out with all the bunny chasing so I took a nice little nap on the car ride home. For supper we had my friend Griffin and his parents over for elk meatloaf.
Griffin and I played with all my toys and my dog Jake. It was very fun, though our parents say we both need to learn about this idea of "gentle." Sounds important.
I had such a busy day that I had trouble going to sleep at bedtime. Mama had pity on me and rocked me and rocked me until I was ready to sleep by myself. Secretly, I think she doesn't mind the extra cuddling sometimes.

Spring Break!

2010-03-31T22:53:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how fast March went! And you wouldn't believe how fast I can go! I am so quick now that Mama and Dadda have a tough time keeping up with me. I'm getting more independent every day. I don't need to hold their hands when we go out. I like to go off to explore.

Spring Break was last week. It was great! Grandma Dot came to visit us and we did lots of fun things. We played outside in the beautiful weather and we went to the kids museum. We even went to the zoo. My favorite parts were the turtles and the elephants!

I took naps every day during spring break, in my crib by myself. Most days I took two naps. Mom is very excited at how well I nap now, because before that I used to fight my naps a lot. But its easier to be happy when I sleep enough.

In other news, I'm working on my talking skills. I can say Ma and Da at the right times. Whenever I see a dog or something like a dog, I get super excited and let everyone know its a "Da". The other day I saw some kids playing basketball and pointed them out to Mom and said "Ba". Words are pretty hard for my little mouth, but I do make lots of noise and I chat and sing to myself and one day those noises will be words. In the meanwhile, one of my favorite sounds is "this" which works for so many things.

In addition to my singing, I can also dance. And I'm working on learning to play the harmonica. Mom said she'd try to get some videos of that later.

Walking!

2010-02-23T20:40:00.001-08:00

No time to write tonight, but Mom caught me on camera with my new walking skills, so we thought we'd put it up right away. Do you like my awesome robot pjs? They're from Grandma Dot.
Evidence of my new walking skills. Watch out world, here I come!

I can walk!

2010-02-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

Big week for me. This week I learned how to walk. It started by me taking a few steps to Dad one day. Then on Thursday when Mom set me down at daycare, I took 3 steps over to Melinda, my favorite daycare lady. Since then I've been practicing a few steps at a time, and lots of steps if I hold onto Mom or Dad, or the furniture.
I know its been a while since I've posted on the blog. Mom and Dad and I have all been so busy. Dad went to New Orleans for a week this month. It was for work, but he had lots of fun too. Mom has been busy with school, teaching and grading. When she comes to pick me up from daycare, we sometimes sneak away to the park before we go home for supper. Its been sunny all week and I like to play on the swing and dig in the bark.
We've been having a great weekend. Yesterday we went to play with Joanna and Quinn at the park. Then we had lunch with Mom's friend Ruth from grad school. I was very well mannered at lunch. After a long nap in the car, we went to baby filled potluck. Lots of my old friends were there. It was fun to see who was walking and talking and who looked different. I met those babies when I was just a few weeks old, at the new moms' group.
Today we got to play with my godmother Jennifer. She was flying back from a physical therapy conference. She left just a little bit ago, to drive back to Medford. Now Dad and I are waiting for the big Olympic hockey game to start.
The picture at the top of this post is from my friend Griffin's house. He lets me ride his pony when I come to visit.
Here's a new video.

Birthday Party

2010-01-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

I turned one a few weeks ago. We had a party and there were presents and cake and my very own candle. Birthdays are fun. I plan to have one EVERY year!
I'm very busy at daycare these days. Lots to explore and always on the go. I can stand up and walk, as long as I have something stable to hold onto. I don't mind crawling though. I'm super fast.

My First Christmas

2009-12-26T22:27:00.001-08:00

Christmas is awesome. I get presents and grandparents! Mom and I got up early and made pancakes. Then we made more pancakes for Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa. Santa Clause brought them to our house late on Christmas eve. On Christmas morning we opened lots of presents. Here's a video of me opening my first present. It took some practice to figure out what to do with all the wrapping paper, but I'm an expert now.
I got lots of great toys. I got wooden blocks and a dragon puppet and a wooden dinosaur. I got books and Christmas ornaments and nesting cups. Mom and I got a roomba. Its to clean the house and for me to ride on. And I got new clothes to grow into. And Mom got a new toaster, but that's for me too, since I love toast.
After opening presents, I took a little nap. Then it was time to play with presents. I like to put the blocks in the wagon and take them out. And I like to knock down whatever mom and dad build for me. But I knocked down a really big castle that mom built and the noise scared me. So now I knock things down before they get too big.
Today we took Grandma and Grandpa shopping and went out for lunch. Then Grandpa and Dad grilled seafood outside and we had a big dinner. Grandma helped with bathtime and took lots of embarrassing pictures. Then Mom and I snuggled down for bedtime. Christmas time is fun and tiring!

My favorite part of Christmas is all the grandparents. Last week mom and I flew to Bismarck to see my other grandparents, and great grandpa Vern. I had fun playing with mom's old toys. Did you know she used to be little? She let me have her Cabbage Patch doll.
It was very cold in Bismarck, but we tried out sledding in the snow for a few minutes. Grandpa and mom pulled me on the sled. Mostly I played inside with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma has lots of pretty music boxes for Christmas. We played with those whenever I got sad. I'm working on a new tooth, so I had a few rough times.
I will be sad when Christmas time is over and all the grandparents are gone. But mom says Christmas will come again next year.

My first trip to the ER

2009-12-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

My pneumonia came back. Mom took me to the doctor yesterday and I had another chest x-ray. They also put a thingy on my toe that told them my blood oxygen level was too low. It was 92 or 93, and they wanted it to be 98 to 100. So the doctor sent us to the ER for more tests and for IV antibiotics. Dad came to the ER too.
I screamed and cried at the ER. They weighed me and poked me and prodded me. They took my temperature in a very rude manner. (It was 102.5) The ER nurses had a really hard time giving me an IV because I'm so cute and chubby and my veins are hard to find. Once the IV was in, they taped my hand to a little board and put a diaper on it so I wouldn't pull the IV out. I didn't mind that. I got to use my giant diaper hand as a boxing glove. It was funny.
I got another X-ray at the ER and they took my blood to run tests. The tests were okay and the ER doc said I was okay to go home with mommy and daddy. My oxygen levels were up to 98-100, probably from all of the screaming.
I have to take antibiotics 3 times a day for the next 10 days. I hope they don't taste bad.

Much Better

2009-12-02T20:59:00.000-08:00

I am feeling much better these days. Mom and I spent a few days at home, cuddling and napping, and now I'm all better. I was back to my old self by last Tuesday so I could go to daycare for 2 days before we had another long weekend. Thanksgiving was fun. I got to play with Quinn and we chased each other around.
On the weekend my godparents came to visit and on Sunday I was officially baptized. I'm Lutheran now! I got all dressed up and they splashed water on my head and oil and then we had cake and a party. There were lots of snacks, but my favorite was the celery. I could chew and chew on it. A classy food for a classy lad.

Rough Week

2009-11-21T10:44:00.001-08:00

Its been a while since my last posting. I've been busy learning new things. I can crawl super fast now and I can pull myself up to standing, if there is something to hang onto. I like to crawl up people and to stand up by the furniture and throw everything on the ground.
Here's a video of my latest activities.

The last week has been pretty rough on me. I got sick right after my flu shot on the 11th and I haven't been feeling too well ever since. Mommy took me to the doctor yesterday and they listened to my breathing. I didn't like that.
The doctor said I needed a nebulizer treatment, to help me breath. That wasn't too bad. I got to nurse and nap during the treatment and I just had to breath some mist in for 15 min. Mom got the nebulizer treatment too, since she was breathing right next to me.
Next I got a chest X-ray. I really didn't like that. They had to trap me in a plastic tube with my arms sticking straight-up. Then they left me there forever. Almost 3 minutes.
But Mom says the X-ray will give me super powers, so I guess that's okay. The X-ray said I have pneumonia and croup. So now I get to take steroids, an inhaler, and some antibiotics. Mom has been giving me lots of cuddles and mostly I just nap on her as much as I can. When I cough a lot, she makes me use the inhaler. I don't like that at all. But Mom says I take after Daddy, since he used to get croup when he was little and he uses an inhaler just like mine.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

I'm a dragon! Not a dinosaur. Dinosaurs don't have wings. I have awesome wings. More pictures available at the link on the right.

Pirate Festival!

2009-09-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

Today we made it into the Guinness Book of World Records! We went to the Portland Pirate Festival and they were trying to beat the world record for the most number of people in pirate costumes in one place. The old record was just under 1500. We beat that by more than a thousand. I was one of the pirates. So were Mom and Dad.
The pirate festival was lots of fun. There was music and food and pirate history. And there were ships and pirate costumes and pretty parrots. I got to wear my glow in the dark skeleton pajamas all day. There were lots of kids and even babies in pirate costume. I hope we get to go again next year.

Big Week

2009-09-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

This has been a big week for me. On Monday I got my first tooth! Its on top, on the left. I like to feel it with my tongue. I also like to nom on everything to make my gums feel better. One of my favorite things to nom on is a cold lime.

On Tuesday I started daycare. I was upset when mom left without me and there were so many new people. But they tried to help and they carried me around and fed me and brought me toys. I was so tired when mom came back a few hours later that I fell asleep on her and then fell asleep in the car too.

Wednesday was better. I didn't even cry when mom left. I'm making new friends. There are 3 boys my age and 3 girls who are about a year older. There are some bigger kids too, but they go to preschool downstairs. There are lots of toys to play with and books to read. If I get sad I can sit in my teacer's lap until I feel better and then I can go exploring again.

This morning I was very sad when mom left, but I did okay after a bit. I had breakfast and a nap and I played in front of the big mirror with my friend Jack. We're the same size and with the mirror there were four of us. Pretty cool. When mom came to pick me up I fell asleep in the car again. When we got home mom said I couldn't take a nap because it would be too close to bedtime. So we played and went swimming and had yummy ravioli for supper and went to bed early. This week sure has been exciting and tiring.

Tomorrow I'm throwing mom a pool party for her birthday. Dad is out of town on a business trip, so I'm taking care of her. Then on Saturday we are all going to the Pirate Festival. Yeah!

Bunnies!

2009-09-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

This week Mom and I were bunny sitting for friends.
Here's a video. I like to chase the bunnies around and steal their carrots. Mom says the carrots aren't for me because I don't have any teeth.

Today is our last day of summer vacation. I start daycare on Monday and Mom goes back to work. I'm excited to play with my new friends, but I'm going to miss Mommy. Especially at snack time and nap time and wake-up time. Mom says I can bring my stuffed puppy with for nap times.

A day in the park

2009-08-20T23:09:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we all went to the park. I got to swing and ride around on Dad's shoulders. We even got to play on the teeter-totter.

This week Mom and I went splashing at the splash park. (We'll try to get pictures from a friend.) I got to wear my swim trunks and play in a big puddle with some other babes. I had to wear gobs of sunscreen because I didn't want to hurt my snow white complexion. We also tried to stay in the shade most of the time. We are very sad to hear that Portland may have to close all the splash parks by the end of the year. What will we do next summer?

Today I got to play with a wooden train. It was lots of fun. Here's a video. I did a bit of a faceplant, but I got what I was after, so I win!

Seven Months Old!

2009-08-08T23:21:00.000-07:00

I got to go swimming today with Mom and Dad. We splashed around and had lots of fun. Follow the link on the right to see photos. Or check out the video link here: Video of Henry: Seven Months Old

Today we went to the farmers market and got blueberries and raspberries and peas and beans and zucchini and corn and tomatoes and cilantro. Yummy! I ate blueberries and Cherrios and tomatoes for lunch today.

We went to a rummage sale Friday and another one today. Mom is working on keeping me in clothes when I get a little bigger. The new clothes say 18 to 24 months, but I'm pretty big so who knows when I'll grow into them. Right now I usually wear 9 or 12 month size.

Today I got to dress like Dad. Mom says we look very handsome together... blue jeans and black t-shirts. Mom says I look very grown-up.

Berry Picking

2009-07-19T22:22:00.001-07:00

Today we went berry picking. We got blueberries and raspberries. I supervised Mom and Dad and did a little taste-testing. My hands aren't quite ready for berry picking yet, but I did pick a few leaves while I was helping Mom. Mom says I looked like a real farmer in my overalls.

On Friday last week, I graduated from the New Mom's group. That means I'm too old and active to go back. I might trample the new babies. I'm twice as big as them. Here's a picture of me in my graduation hat. Three of my buddies graduated with me.

I am one half!

2009-07-09T21:29:00.001-07:00

On Sunday I turned 6 months. We were still on vacation then. We drove all the way to Minnesota and saw all of Dad's family. There were tons of people and I loved all the attention. I met a bunch of great aunts and uncles, cousins, and a great grandpa and two great grandmas. We went to the lake and I got to try out a swing set. It was too cold for swimming, but we had lots of fun anyway. Dad and Uncle Jeff went fishing with Grandpa Terry.

Next we went to Bismarck to see the other half of the family. I got to go to the zoo with my cousin Lily and our parents and grandparents. We saw lions and monkeys and bears. I got to ride around on Mom and Dad.

One of my favorite parts about visiting Bismarck was meeting my Great-Grandpa Vern. Here we are having a chat. His dad was originally named Henry like me, but he went by the name Harry. His grandpa was Henry too.

The car ride was not my favorite part of the vacation, but Mom says I was a good sport about it anyway. She also says I did well with all the changes to our routines. I had a little trouble at night in new places, so I got to sleep in the bed with Mom and Dad more than usual. But its okay, 'cause I'm very cuddly.

Now that we're back home, life is returning to normal. Mom is starting her search for daycare for me when she goes back to work in the fall. She's nervous about leaving me with someone else, but I'm excited that there might be other kids for me to play with.

On Vacation!

2009-06-30T09:50:00.001-07:00

Having too much fun to blog much now. Pictures are up at Picasa Web. The car ride was very long! 27 hours! But we're here now. Having lots of fun with all the family. Here's a picture of Grandma Kathy and I playing with a funny old rotary phone... not like Dad's blackberry at all.

Time to go have more fun. Its Daddy's birthday today! He turns 29. We're goin' fishin'. Then we'll have steaks.

Five Months Old!

2009-06-05T23:54:00.000-07:00

I got to try out a Johnny Jump Up yesterday at the baby play group. It was fun, especially with the toys.
The play group was fun, and exciting. A big storm blew in while we were playing. A huge cloud of dust rolled over the city, and lots of wind. A tree next door to the playgroup blew over onto someone's house! And about a block away a transformer blew and started a brush fire. There was smoke everywhere. Another mom at the playgroup got to call 911 and tell the firemen.
There was so much smoke that the fire alarm inside the house started to go off. The other babies got upset, but I smiled and laughed at all the excitement and smoke. Mom says I take after Dad. We had to end the playgroup and go to less smoke filled places. On our way home it started pouring rain. Just what the fire needed. There was even lightning and thunder.
We got home just in time to rescue Jake from the downpour. Mom and I enjoyed the rain and lightening. Jake hid in his box.

Grading Papers

2009-06-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

Mom and I have been very busy lately. School is almost done, so she is doing lots of grading. I am very helpful when it comes to using the red pen.

Last weekend we had a big bbq for Memorial Day. There was steak and chicken, hamburgers, corn on the cob, mushrooms, s'mores, and ice cream. I got to play with Quinn, and with Dad's work friends. Dad got a new grill for the occasion. Mom says maybe I can have the green weber grill when I grow up. Its already been through three generations of Fasteen men.

This weekend Daddy and I helped Mom learn how to drive a stick shift. Now she can go from stopped to 2nd gear pretty smoothly. Daddy was a very good and patient teacher. Higher gears will have to wait for another weekend.

We know we've been short on pictures and blog entries lately. We will try to do more updates soon, and include pictures from our trip to Minnesota.

I can fly!

2009-05-11T23:57:00.001-07:00

I got my vaccines on Friday. I was a little fussy after the shots, but I did okay. We found out I'm 17 lbs 10 oz, and 26.5 inches tall. That puts me in the 90+ percentile for weight and height.
Above is a photo from family photo day last weekend. That's what Dad and I got Mom for Mother's Day: a family picture. We'll try to post some of them soon.
Mom is working on getting us packed for a trip back to Minnesota. I may be small, but I have a lot to pack. I have to bring my toys and my clothes and my car seat. And drool rags and diapers and more toys. And now Mom says she needs to pack an extra shirt for herself in the diaper bag, just because I spit up all over her shirt this morning. Its like she doesn't trust me or something.

How big am I?

2009-05-02T12:32:00.001-07:00

Next week I have my four month doctor visit and we will find out how big I am. So we're taking bets. Any guesses? You can post in the comments link if you think you know. Dad says you should take my cheeks into account. :)

Video Clips

2009-04-21T22:45:00.000-07:00

We had a long day at school today. I played nicely with the babysitter while Mom taught class. Then Mom and I went for a walk and had a little picnic between classes. After that Mom and I were students and learned about APOS theory and coding abstract algebra. I got impatient during class, so Mom walked me around and bounced me on her knee and played with me on the floor. Then I got to sit with one of the other students and I took a little nap.
After class I had a screaming fit in the car before I fell asleep. Then it was bath time and bedtime for me.
Here's a video of my latest skills. I can squirm and coo and make faces.
New Video of Me

Busy baby

2009-04-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

We just finished our third week of school. So busy! I go to school with Mom 4 days a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I get to play with my babysitter Amy while Mom teaches. She takes me for walks and shows me books and we have lots of fun. Sometimes I give her a lot of grief, but she keeps coming back. :)

On Mondays and Wednesdays Dad comes to pick me up after his work and we get to spend hours together while Mom teaches. We have father-son bonding time, talking about cars and video games and other important man stuff.

On Fridays we don't have to go to school. I get to spend the whole day with Mom. Sometimes we play with other babies and their moms.

With all this schooling, I've been learning lots of things. I'm learning how to grab my toys and hang on tight. And I can stick most of my fingers in my mouth at once. I learned how to impress the ladies at school by smiling and making gurgling noises.

First Day of School

2009-03-30T23:01:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of Spring term for Mom. We went to school this afternoon and Dad picked me up before Mom's class. She says I'd be too much of a distraction, so I can't come to class. Here I am dressed up for the first day of school. Its my Mr Fix-it outfit, covered in tools.

Dad and I had lots of fun while Mom was gone. After class, Mom hurried home to cuddle and feed me. Then it was bath time and off to bed. See how tired I was?

A day in the life...

2009-03-23T22:39:00.000-07:00

Today Mom and I had a nice day. I woke up at 7am, very hungry after 9 hours of sleep. An hour later I was ready for more sleep. After a two hour nap I was ready to be up. Meanwhile, Mom had a chance to make breakfast and get ready for the day.
Next we went to Mom's work for the afternoon. Mom got a parking pass for the term, so it will be easier for us to come and go. Mom took care of some of the class prep and photocopying for the first week of school. And she cleaned up her office. Class starts next week! Mom thought we needed a few practice days at school before the rush of classes starting. I was very well behaved. I had a snack and a nap in my pack-and-play while she worked. I only screamed for a few minutes, when I woke up with a very nasty diaper. After that I needed some cuddling, but was otherwise a good sport.
On the way home we stopped at Trader Joes and stocked up on some back to school breakfasts and snacks. And we got ingredients for making pizzas and calzones.
After we got home, Mom did some cleaning and then made a batch of calzones and some pizza for supper. She also made shredded chicken for a meal later this week. She put my swing by the kitchen and I supervised while she worked. She's teaching me to cook.
While she was cooking Dad came home. He played with me while Mom finished the cooking. I was getting fussy, so they had to take turns eating dinner so there would be someone to play with me. Then I took a little nap before bath time. After bath time, it was time for a bedtime snack and a cuddle. Then Mom tucked me in to bed... zzzz... and went downstairs to make some cookies.

But 15 minutes later I woke up and now Dad is in my room, cuddling with me in the big rocking chair while he reads a book.

Tomorrow we get to go to a playgroup and I will be part of another baby pile. I think we get to see Quinn tomorrow too. He is home from the hospital.

New Friend

2009-03-20T18:16:00.001-07:00

I made a new friend today. His name is Quinn. He is less than 24 hours old. Here is a photo of me whispering all my baby secrets to my new friend.

Quinn's mom works in the math dept with my mom. Their offices are side by side. We will get to play together at school.

Quinn weighs 8lbs 13oz and was a week and a half late. He has lots of hair and he has eyebrows! When will I get eyebrows?

St. Paddy's Day

2009-03-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

Today Mommy and I went to a playgroup to make friends with other little people. Some of the moms were from swim class and some were from the new moms' group.

Most of the babies laid on the floor and played together while the moms chatted. Some of the babies cuddled with their mommies or had a snack. It was very nice way to spend a rainy day. Most of the babies were 2 to 4 months. Can you find me in the pile of babies?

Week 10

2009-03-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

I will be 10 weeks old on Monday. I'm learning new things all the time. This week I've taken up licking things. Anything that gets near my mouth is fair game. Can't wait until I figure out how to use my hands to grab stuff. I will be able to taste the whole world.

I'm also becoming slightly more mobile, as you can see if you get to the end of the video above. If the video doesn't play, try this link instead.

I've been Shot!

2009-03-05T13:47:00.001-08:00

Today I turned two months old and I had to get my two month shots. I was so mad I couldn't even scream. I just turned red and scrunched up my face as tight as I could and held my breath. After I turned purple I remembered how to scream and I told them what I thought of it. Three shots! And a funny tasting liquid for rotavirus. The baby aspirin tasted okay. I got three camo bandaids for my three shots.

Mom and I are taking it easy today, cuddling and napping. Here's a picture of me being happier. I'm getting the hang of these little hands of mine. I can suck on my fingers and I don't hit myself in the head so much.

In related news, I'm a giant. I am above the 70th percentile in height and above the 90th percentile in weight. I'm very "healthy." (I think that's a code word for "huge.") I'm 14 lbs of snuggly goodness.

Here's a picture from the weekend. Dad's helping me ride Jake. Jake is very patient.

Baby vs Bunny

2009-03-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had a big English breakfast at Dad's friend's place. Mom and Dad ate lots. And I got to meet rabbits. Mom made me an early Easter shirt for the occasion. The ones at the store were too girly, so she painted a special one for me. Its a hare in the crosshairs.

The rabbits were too scared to come out and play for most of the morning. By the time they came out to play, I was asleep. But here's a picture anyway. So soft...

In My Sling

2009-02-24T15:48:00.001-08:00

In this picture I look kind of like a bowling ball. This is my other sling. I can sit cross-legged and look out at the world. But when I get sleepy, I tip over and get my head stuck in the sling. Sometimes Mom puts me in this sling when I get fussy in the house, and we walk around and do chores. The Baby Bjorn works better for long walks because I always fall asleep, but don't have to worry about tipping over.

Today Mom and I went to the Mommy Matinee at the Kennedy School. It used to be a grade school, but now its a restaurant, movie theater, and has two pubs. They have couches and show second run movies and during Mommy Matinees, fussy babies are welcome. I was not fussy. I politely snacked and cuddled and slept through the movie. There was a very polite tiny baby on the sofa next to us, less than 8 lbs. She was only 9 days old. I am an old giant compared to that.

Seven Weeks

2009-02-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

I got a new rattle from my grandparents for Valentine's Day. I haven't figured out how to grab it yet, but I can hear it and watch it and taste it. Video Link

I haven't quite mastered the rattle yet, but Dad is teaching me how to play X-Box. It'll be a few years before I can beat him, but one day...

Here's a picture of Mom and Jake and I enjoying a nice February afternoon. Sunny and 50 degrees. We like to go for walks if its not raining. All the neighbor kids come out to play when its sunny. I got to meet some of them this week. They came over to pet Jake. One of the neighbors will have a baby girl in a few weeks, so I will have a friend my age.

In other news, I'm working my way up to sleeping thru the night. Two nights in a row I slept 6 to 7 hours at once. Mom didn't know what to do. I think she missed me. After the long sleep, I woke up famished and had to eat several breakfasts.

Baby Bath Time

2009-02-14T16:43:00.000-08:00

We're getting the hang of bath time. I enjoy the warm water and splashing noises. Getting out and drying off is less fun. But I do have an awesome shark towel.

This week we went to a mommy-baby group and met lots of other new babies. I like to watch the other babies. Some of them are tiny and some are twice my size. The moms talked about feedings and milk and sleep schedules and lots of mom stuff. One of the mom's from prenatal swim class was there and she has a baby just 3 days younger than me. We went out for pizza. It was great fun.

On a different note, mom has been playing with the video camera again. Here's a link to a video of me in the bear suit.

Baby Bear

2009-02-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

Mom and I went for a walk with the Baby Bjorn. Baby Bjorn means baby bear, so I figured I should wear my bear suit. This is a picture of me screaming while Mom got the bjorn assembled. The bear suit keeps me nice and toasty, except for my hands, so I keep my arms cuddled in by Mommy. I stayed awake for the first half of the walk this time, checking out the neighborhood.

This week I'm becoming more interactive. I'm starting to notice my toys, especially the ones that play melodies. I also like to play with Mom and Dad and be carried around the house to look at everything. I'm learning how to make faces. Here's another mini-video.

Mom's been teaching me how to hug. Here's a picture of me practicing on my teddy bear. My arms aren't very big yet. It sure is tiring.

My Faithful Steed

2009-02-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

We had nice weather today, almost 60 degrees and sunny. Mom and I went for a walk around the neighborhood with the Baby Bjorn. I'm big enough that my head doesn't tip over when we walk around.

Then Jake took me for a ride around the house. He's my faithful steed.

Mom and Dad were playing with the video camera. Dad and I were practicing my dancing. We'll attempt to include it here. Yes, those are hiccups in the background.

I'm blogging...

2009-02-01T22:28:00.001-08:00

Mom got a picture of me blogging. Dad is helping me with the big words.

More Fasteens

2009-02-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

My Fasteen grandparents have come to visit me, and Uncle Jeff has come too. Grandma Kathy is very cuddly and I like to stare at her glasses. She's little like me. Grandpa Terry is a giant. There is a picture of our first meeting. He's a friendly giant.

We went on a trip to the park yesterday. Today is the big Superbowl. My godparents Jennifer and Steve have come up for the big game.

Why am I Henry Ulric?

2009-01-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

Where did my names come from?

I inherited both of them, one from each side of the family.

Henry is the name of my great-great-great grandfather (mom's mom's dad's grandpa). Henry Silvester was also the name of his son, my great-great grandfather, before he ran away to America to join the cavalry and changed it to Harry Sylvester.

Ulric is my great grandpa's name (dad's mom's dad). He was a World War II bombardier. Dad says he was a prankster. Maybe I will inherit that too.

Two Weeks Old

2009-01-21T17:54:00.001-08:00

I've been so busy eating and sleeping and growing that we haven't updated the blog lately. I am now 9 lbs and the pediatrician says I'm doing very well. She had the coldest stethoscope ever, so I made the loudest noises I could. Now she says I'm healthy and have good lungs. She also says my belly button is officially dried up, so I can take my first real bath any day now.

I am extra cuddly these days. I am a pretty happy camper as long as Mom or Dad are holding me. But when put down, I tend to make a bit of noise. Mom and Dad are both learning to live with less sleep. But don't worry, I still get lots of sleep. I wake everyone up for 2 or 3 snacks at night. But Mom and I usually get a nap in the afternoon.

More pictures at the link on the right.

I'm here!

2009-01-07T17:51:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone!
My name is Henry Ulric Fasteen, and I'm finally here. I was born at 2:30 am, Monday, January 5th, 2009. I weighed 8 lbs 8 oz and am 20 1/2 inches long. Mom and Dad are so excited. They can barely sleep. But I can sleep. For many many hours a day, and most of the night.

We got home from the hospital last night. Today we've been taking it easy. Sleeping, eating, sleeping.

Pictures are posted on the link to the right.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T12:09:00.000-08:00

Click for more Christmas Pictures

We spent Christmas Eve with friends, making gingerbread houses and a sugar cookie Christmas tree. We also went to church and sang Christmas carols.

Papa is getting impatient for my arrival and attempting to poke me until I come out to play. Mom doesn't know if Papa will survive this strategy.

Snow Day!

2008-12-21T22:22:00.000-08:00

We have about 8 inches of powder in the yard, with a 1/4 inch of ice on top. Portland has pretty much closed down. Last week, most kids had 5 snow days in a row. The snow is fun, but the freezing rain makes for bad driving. Mom says I should wait until the weather clears up before I make my arrival.

We went for a walk tonight, crunching through the snow. Its good for Mom to get some exercise. She had to wear Dad's coat though, 'cause I'm too big. We'll try to add more pictures tomorrow, in the daylight.

Jake is attempting to rescue Dad from the snow.

Christmas Family Picture

2008-12-20T18:07:00.000-08:00

Finally a picture of the whole family. That's our tree in the back.

When you harvest your own trees in Portland, you have to beware of tree-gators.

Christmas Tree - 37 Weeks

2008-12-14T21:36:00.001-08:00

On Saturday we went out in the rain and chopped down a Christmas tree at one of the tree farms outside of Portland. Here's a picture of Mom and I decorating the tree. Jake is helping. (Dad is taking the picture and supervising.)

School is officially done for the term. Mommy just has to finish grading all the finals. All the other schools in Portland are closed tomorrow for a snow day. We got about an inch of snow today, so that closed down the whole city. Snow on top of days of rain makes for slippery roads.

Baby Shower

2008-11-15T21:46:00.001-08:00

Last weekend was our baby shower. Guess which belly I'm in... These are the three new moms: Joanna (-3.5 months), Sarah with Caleb (+3 months), and my mom (-1.5 months).

I got a crib and lots of cute baby clothes. Several with puppies on them. Jake will like that. I also got sheets and towels and blankets. And an awesome space playmat, complete with dangling planets and spaceships. At the shower lots of people painted baby clothes for me. More Pictures Here

Last Saturday was childbirth class. A lot of hours, but not too bad. Tomorrow is newborn care class, where Mom and Dad get to learn how to change diapers and feed babies and whatnot.

I've moved! (Week 32)

2008-11-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

After spending the last 7 months below Mom's belly button, I decided to relocate this week. Now my little feet go several inches above Mom's belly button. Hello ribs... here I come!
We have an exciting weekend planned all around me. Friday and Saturday are childbirth class for Mom and Dad, and Sunday is my baby shower.

Happy Halloween - 31 Weeks

2008-11-01T14:36:00.001-07:00

Mom dressed us up as a ladybug for Halloween, complete with googly eyes. Dad dressed up with horns and a black suit. And red hair.

We went to a Halloween party last night, and a pumpkin carving party on Monday. Very busy week. Pumpkin carving pictures here.

29 Weeks

2008-10-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

We had our follow-up tests over the weekend. Good news: no diabetes. Yeah! On the downside, that orange stuff you have to drink for the test can really make you sick. We were sick all day Saturday. After 15 hours of fasting, there was another 10 hours where no food would stay in the tummy. That's a long time with no nutrition for me. It took a while for my mom to get her energy level back.

But we're doing much better now. Back to being very hungry. Today we had blueberry pancakes, oatmeal, a banana, raisins, spaghetti, and pizza. And now its time for supper... :)

28 Weeks

2008-10-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

We've survived the first two weeks of fall term. School sure is tiring for my mom. I sleep while she works, then I like to roll around and kick when she's relaxing or sleeping. I really like to kick her when she's reading her math ed homework. But if she reads out loud, I usually fall back to sleep.

We got the test results back from last week's doctor visit. We tested positive for anemia and gestational diabetes. Tomorrow morning there's a follow-up test for the diabetes. First there's 12 hours of fasting tonight, and then a 3 to 4 hour lab test with hourly blood draws. Sixteen hours without food sure is a long time for me. Planning a big pasta dinner for tonight, before the fasting starts.

If the second test comes back positive, then our diet is going to get complicated. With the iron pills for anemia (taken twice a day), there's supposed to be no calcium (dairy) four hours before or after. For the diabetes, there are restrictions on carbs/sugar/fruit. Guess that leaves meat and vegetables on the table. We're going to miss ice cream.

My New Clothes

2008-09-10T20:02:00.001-07:00

Here's a new outfit my mom got for me. My dad said I needed something besides pj's.

I've lent my clothes to a friendly sock monkey, since it will be a few months before I'm big enough to need real clothes.

Week 23

2008-09-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture from my first visit to the zoo. There were elephants, hippos, bears, and giraffes. It was for dad's annual company picnic. Dad's team won the Star Wars vs Star Trek trivia contest.

Ninja Baby

2008-09-01T21:34:00.000-07:00

I am becoming stronger every week. Now I can roll around and kick strong enough for both my parents to feel the movement. I stay pretty still while my mom walks around and keeps busy. But when she tries to sleep, that's when I wake up. I also like to roll around while she's driving.

We're on summer vacation this month. My mom is trying to get a head start on fall term planning. She wants to be ready, in case I get to causing trouble, or just make her too tired, when school starts.

Besides getting ready for school, our other big task is to eat. We're hungry all the time these days. I am the hungriest ninja baby.

Everything is okay.

2008-08-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

We went in for another ultrasound this afternoon. The doctor at OHSU said everything is fine and yesterday's worries were a false alarm. I'm assembed well. They took a good look at my heart and other organs and everything looks great. My mom and dad are so relieved.

We got new pictures today, including some 3D images. I look like a tiny old man, complete with a tiny frown. The doctor says I'm about the size of a beany baby.

Another ultrasound

2008-08-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

Looks like I will have my picture taken again tomorrow. The doctor says they need a second opinion of the ultrasound, to see if I'm assembling correctly. The ultrasound says that maybe my esophagus is not connected correctly to my stomach. Its called " esophageal atresia."

20 Week Pictures

2008-08-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here are my little ninja feet. They are for kicking Mommy.

This is a side view of my little head.

Here's my creepy pirate face. Arrrrr...

I am now 20 weeks and about 12 oz. I spent the entire ultrasound upside down. I showed off all my punching and kicking skills for the camera.

Growing Tummy

2008-08-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

This is 19 weeks. I'm making a little more room to move around and its starting to show. Only two more days until my next ultrasound.
Jake knows there's something in there. This was back at 11 weeks. Why was my mom dressed like a pirate? It was the Portland Plunderathon, of course.

17 1/2 weeks

2008-08-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

Visited the doc today. She says I'm growing just fine. From the tip of my head to the bottom of my rump, I'm about as long as my mom's hand.

In two weeks I get to have my picture taken again for my 20 week ultrasound.

I'm moving around enough that my mom can start to feel it. She says it feels like a perch swimming around in her tummy. Just wait 'til I learn how to kick. :)

12 Week Picture

2008-07-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a more recent picture, taken June 26th. I'm much cuter now. My head is the big circle on the right. My teeth and my nose are extra bright.

My leg goes off the upper left part of the picture. You can see a tiny hand by my face, waving at the camera.

I'm about the size of a peach. My heart beats 160 times a minute.

Approx 12 weeks.

8 Weeks

2008-06-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

In my first pictures, I looked like a tiny bear. Or maybe a hamster.
Approx 8 weeks.

--Baby Bjorn