Abby, Sadie (E, F, G)

Picture This

2011-10-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the last few months. People visited, we traveled. I had a birthday party with a real face-painting lady, just like in my Wheels on the Bus book, and another MRI. Abby learned to roll over, sit up, crawl, cruise, climb stairs, eat pizza and apples and ice cream, and shriek. Boy can she shriek. I learned to open doors, push the stroller, ride a balance bike, and keep my hair away from Abby.

I would wear my fingers down to stubs if I tried to write about it all now, so I'll point you to Abby's and my monthly photo collections, where you can make up your own witty captions and pretend I wrote them.

A New Friend

2011-01-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

In the book I'm a Big Sister, book-Sara has a bunny she carries around everywhere. I'm not about to let some book-kid one-up me like that, so I laid claim to a bunny that appeared out of nowhere around the time Abby showed up. The reassuring rattle of my new friend Nunny's head reminds me of Dad as I drift off to sleep.

Sleeping Comportment

2011-01-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

I regularly sleep three, four, sometimes even five hours in a row at the beginning of the night. Too bad night starts at 8 PM. I went over six hours once last week, but the following night I ate every two hours just to keep Mom off balance. I'll be so disappointed when I'm too old to be this fickle. Then again, Sadie still wakes up four or five times a night sometimes, so I have a while.

Babies are the new ducks

2011-01-24T12:11:00.000-08:00

Waterfowl are so last year. Everyone who's anyone now demands baby movies. There's a really cute one whose oeuvre I revisit every day. Mom says it's me, but I know she's just trying to get me to identify with the protagonist.

Ride 'Em Cowboy

2011-01-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

Grownups only tell kids not to stand on chairs because they don't want us to discover how exciting it is to tip them over and ride them to the floor. As anyone who's seen Dr. Strangelove knows, the higher the fall, the more fun for all. The bruises on my hands and knees are a small price to pay for the cred I'm going to get at the Krippe.

Coffee and an 8x10, please

2011-01-23T10:07:00.000-08:00

I like going to brunch at Kistenpfennig because this corner is my favorite color. They should totally switch from selling pretzels to glamor photography.

Open, Says Me

2011-01-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

In the mornings, when Mom's still in the bedroom with Abby, sometimes Dad closes the bedroom door. Usually I protest against this horrible injustice to no avail. But today I tried a new tactic: I asked nicely. "Daddy, o(pen) dee do(or) p(l)ease: Mommy (is in there)!" Amazingly, it worked. Wonder if I'll remember how to do it tomorrow.

I also tried "Open the door please" on a can of wooden blocks, but Mom didn't understand. After a few tries I switched to "Open the blocks". She's still learning, so I'm flexible.

Sole Proprietor

2011-01-22T18:08:00.000-08:00

Mom's shoes are hard to fill. Maybe I should get out the Play-Doh.

Game On

2011-01-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

People are playing D&D here again. I'm getting too big to cast charm person without a verbal component, so Dad's teaching me to yell "twenty!" every time someone rolls a die. I was going to take a level of Rogue, but Mom got mad when I beat her initiative and swiped the dice.

E-ink, meet e-crayon

2011-01-22T15:35:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what computer people mean when they talk about "screen drawing," but now I know it doesn't involve crayons. Sorry, Dad.

Couture Shock

2011-01-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

It seems like no matter how well I'm bundled up, all the babies I see on the U-Bahn are wearing at least two more layers. And no matter how pink and frilly my outfit, someone will ask if I'm a boy. Guess I'll have to work on my Munich fashion sense. Do they make knee-high leather boots in size 3 months?

Playtime

2011-01-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

After a couple of weeks of staring at the walls in our house, Mom went on a tear. Wednesday we met a group of English-speaking moms and kids at Leann's house, yesterday we went to lunch with a different group of English-speaking moms and kids, and today we had lunch with, you guessed it, yet another English-speaking mom and her kid.

I bet playgroups are even more fun when you know how to play.

Nook

2011-01-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

At last, I've found my niche.

Clipping

2011-01-19T18:16:00.000-08:00

Yeah, it's small. But like everyone says, it's not the size, it's how you use it.

I've been using it to create my own body modifications, so Dad snipped it off over my vehement protests.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

2011-01-18T17:34:00.000-08:00

Dad keeps saying that my Chariot is designed to be pulled rather than pushed, but until today I didn't believe him. (He also says I've ridden in it that way before, but I don't remember a thing.) Bundled up in lots of warm clothes and a quilted stroller-bag, it was a little chilly, a little scary... and a lot of fun! I'm inspired to practice my latest word: "bicycle".

Tummy Time

2011-01-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

Tummy time isn't so bad.

Shadows

2011-01-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

Dad's teaching me about shadows. So far I've learned that Mom is much bigger than anyone else, and I come up to Dad's shoulder.

Swing is Here

2011-01-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

Life is skittles, and life is beer. Or at least ice cream: 14°C (57°F) on a January morning, and the outdoor tables at the corner Eiscafe were packed. So how come all I got was a push?

Cleaning Sucks

2011-01-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

Mom's really impressed. I just like the cozy ride and the white noise.

Sling Low, Sweet Chariot

2011-01-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

Our trailer is a double-wide, but until today I didn't get to enjoy it, because it only had Toddler Class seating. But Mom and Dad just got an upgrade to Baby Class for one side.

I hope Sadie doesn't get frightened riding next to a bear.

Will you be mine?

2011-01-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

Some people make snow angels, but that's too cold. Plus all the snow melted. So I'll settle for making a bed angel, in my new larger sleep-sack.

Consulation Prize

2011-01-12T11:11:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad took me to the US Consulate today and spent an hour talking to a lady in a little booth, going through a stack of papers taller than I am. I think she must have been a wizard, because she gave them a quest. In order to receive my Consular Record of Birth Abroad, passport, and Social Security number, we'll have to venture to the distant Kreisverwaltungsreferat and retrieve the "beglaubigte Abschrift aus dem Geburtenregister", complete with the seal of the mighty Standesamt.

But they're closed Wednesdays, so we'll do it tomorrow.

Double Thighs

2011-01-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

I watched Dad changing Abby's diaper today. She gets messy in places where I've never had places. You've heard of double chins, right? Is there even a name for an extra crease in your upper thigh?

Abby's now 11 lb 14 oz, and I've been hovering around 21 lb for a couple of months. At this rate she's going to outweigh me before she's 6 months old. But I'll still win the wrestling matches, because I can roll over — not to mention running to get Mom.

You will get a complete new wardrobe

2011-01-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that exposed ankles and wrists aren't in fashion this season, and my poor widdle toesies are smooshing against the ends of my jammies. Mom noticed too, and next thing I know she's yanking piles of clothing out of boxes and getting all nostalgic. That outfit Sadie's wearing in her passport photo, when she was 6 months old? Mine mine mine now, at 7 weeks, and it fits like a glove.

Sadie got a stack of new clothing too: some coveralls, shirts, a whole bunch of sweatshirts, and one funny hat.

I don't understand the title of this post either, but Mom says Grandma will like it.

Epiphany

2011-01-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

Today is Epiphany, a holiday here in Bavaria. My epiphany: I have pockets I can put things in! I know I put a purple and a blue hair tie in there, I just can't figure out where they went.

Slip Slidin' Away

2011-01-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

It warmed up and melted all the snow, then it cooled off again, then it rained, then it snowed some more. I wish the weather would make up its mind. This sidewalk looks wet, but if Mom and Dad's flailing and curses are any indication, it's solid glare ice all the way. Whee, maybe I can learn to skate.

Cold Front

2011-01-05T17:23:00.000-08:00

Sadie came home from daycare with a runny nose today. Sigh. At least tomorrow's a holiday here in Bavaria, so we can all stay home sick together.

A Beautiful Noise

2011-01-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad talk and sing and make funny noises. My swing can play six tunes and three nature sounds. The flat screen in the corner makes a bunch of different sounds when it's not black. And Sadie makes lots of noise, everything from squeals to crashes. So I figured it was about time I started making sounds other than crying. I'm starting out with a simple "ah". We'll see what that gets me before deciding where to expand.

Wardrobe Wishes

2011-01-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

Dad gets me ready for daycare in the morning while Mom takes care of Abby. I was content to let him choose my outfits until he started doing it without turning on the lights. So much for geek fashion sense. Now I sometimes pick my own clothes, even if I have to toss all the pants out of the dresser to find the coveralls.

At least nobody can say my mother dresses me funny.

Skip Two, My Loo

2011-01-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

Mom thought she was being prepared by buying my diapers a month in advance. But I've been shooting up the weight curves, and at 11 lb 7 oz, I've now outgrown the ones she has stockpiled. Anyone need about a hundred size-1s?

Her next clever plan is to skip size 2 entirely, going straight to size 3. It'll be a while before I'm too big for my britches again.

Forecast: Cold

2011-01-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

Happily, I'm just about over my latest cold. Mom promises that congested isn't the inevitable state of a baby's nose, but I'm not sure I believe her. I've had coughs and sniffles for 2/3 of my life. Sadie, you owe me.

In other news, Big Sis went back to her daycare today after nearly two weeks' break. Guess I'll be getting another cold on Thursday.

Marking Time

2011-01-02T13:33:00.000-08:00

Guess what Santa gave me: markers! Guess what I can do way better with markers than with crayons or colored pencils: draw on myself! And then I made some handprints for posterity.

For some reason Dad was kind of surprised by this. You'd think he'd be inured to it after watching Rebecca draw all over herself for years.

Getting a Handle on Things

2011-01-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

I still can't make these things at the ends of my arms go where I want, but I'm starting to figure out what to do with them when they get there. I grabbed Dad's shirt while he was carrying me, and I regularly hang onto the hand whose pinky I'm sucking the skin from. I even managed to whack Gordon the Knot once or twice and pretend it was on purpose.

Carnegie Hall, look out.

Smile!

2011-01-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

I discovered that if I pull the corners of my mouth up and squint my eyes a little, whoever's holding me imitates me and makes funny noises. I figure this buys me annoyance offsets for at least 37% more crying.

Even better, by doing it during a diaper change, I lured Dad into range so I could spit up into his nose.

Thar She Blows

2011-01-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

I heard that baby boys are able to spray jets while on the changing table. Naturally I took this as a challenge, and I'm happy to report that today's attempt was 100% successful. I scored a direct hit on the box of too-small clothes. You may want to buy stock in our laundry detergent company.

Welcome 2011

2010-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad rang in the New Year in traditional fashion by inviting people over for D&D and Rock Band. Then we all stood at the windows watching the neighbors send hundreds of euros' worth of fireworks up in smoke and sparkles.

Method for Transfering Information Using Sequences of Non-Repeating Linguistic Tokens

2010-12-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

Who would have believed it? As much as you can say with one word, you can say even more with two or three. Abby wuh-wuh, more bottle milk, no apple, mommy eat this, more ducks please... the list of possible combinations goes on and on. I may have to contact a patent attorney.

Pod People

2010-12-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Sadie shares her pacifiers with me, so I'm returning the favor by letting her use my overstimulation pod. She cheats, though: she controls her hands.

Incidentally, that mustard-yellow spot on my blanket-sack isn't what you think. It's curry. The Indian restaurant down the block was happy to see us all there again. I looked pretty different last time Mom carried me in.

Wash and Wear

2010-12-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

My bedtime routine has been pretty well established for a while now. Drink bottle of milk, eat vitamin, wash hands and face, brush teeth, apply face cream, take fluoride. Diaper, game of "Boo!", pajamas, books, song, sleep.

Thing about established routines is, they get boring. So I'm adding a new step: soak hair. I wasn't sure Mom and Dad would be too keen, so I've been rubbing maple syrup and yogurt on my head. They tried preventing that, but I had a fallback plan: runny nose.

Abby Wuh-wuh

2010-12-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

I fell off the pacifier wagon since they're around all the time for Abby to use. Ironically, Abby never wants to use one, even though I offer them constantly and insistently. Come on, sis, show some solidarity.

Sadie Lou Who

2010-12-28T09:02:00.000-08:00

Daycare asked me not to wear barrettes anymore, because after I pull them out of my hair, some of the smaller inmates try to eat them. So Dad's practicing with ponytails. Why do I feel a sudden craving for roast beast?

Bye-Bye, Tree

2010-12-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

Seems like either Mom and Dad leave stuff hanging around forever, or they get rid of it in the blink of an eye. Mom got a bee in her bonnet this afternoon and pushed the tree and its decorations into the second category. I helped by winding a string of beads... around my leg. Abby, as usual, helped by sleeping through the whole thing.

Ducks On Film

2010-12-27T14:17:00.001-08:00

You can make fun of my outfits, take away my giant purple bunny, even step on my blue suede boots, but you'd better not deny me my 15 minutes of ducks. I highly recommend Bubbaist's videos for all your duck-watching needs.

Flat, Broke

2010-12-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Imagine my surprise the morning I noticed that my wheeled Chariot was limping. Riding in the Daddy Saddle wasn't so bad, but I'm glad Dad finally got around to fixing the flat. He was starting to protest too loudly when I kicked him.

Snow Business

2010-12-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

The visiting relatives are staying at the local Holiday Inn. Dad made me walk with him there and back, in minus-ten-degree weather, through two feet of snow (my feet aren't very big), uphill both ways. At least there were ducks to watch, and cookies at the other end.

Look Out Behind You!

2010-12-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

Red is clearly the color of the day. Even the dining room got the memo.

Until Mom took this picture, I hadn't noticed the trio of zombies on the couch behind us. The Princess Bride melted their brains, or maybe it was Robin Hood. I'm sure I'll understand how that happens when I'm a little older.

Thanks for Sharing

2010-12-25T10:56:00.000-08:00

Figures. My first Christmas ever, and all I get is clothes. At least Sadie understands. Thanks for sharing your new cars with me, Sis.

Present Accounted For

2010-12-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

I wasn't clued in last year, but now I've definitely figured out the meaning of Christmas. I don't want to chew on the wrapping paper anymore. The presents, though...

Hofbräuhaus

2010-12-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

What do you do for Christmas Eve dinner with the whole family in Munich? Visit a cultural institution, of course: Hofbräuhaus! (It's also one of the few places open tonight.) They only had a table for 10, so Abby sat on a neighboring bench.

It was late and our food took a while to arrive, so I munched on zwieback and read the riveting tale of I Spy Letters while we waited. I tried to get Abby to flirt with the cute waiter, but as usual she fell asleep instead. We save our best behavior for restaurants, so they don't make us scrub the floor.

New Swan Stone

2010-12-23T15:36:00.000-08:00

The whole gang traipsed off to Schloß Neuschwanstein today. I wanted to spend more time with my cousins, but I didn't think 8 hours of it would be on trains and buses.

Here I am showing Mom the view of Schloß Hohenschwangau from one of the Neuschwanstein balconies. It's been a long time since I last rode in the Mommy Saddle, but after a long day with no nap, no lunch, and no afternoon snack, I felt I deserved whatever concessions I wanted.

It's for the burned dinners

2010-12-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

I made these decorations at daycare with only the most incidental of assistance from the teachers. Shh, don't tell Mom and Dad — they think they're getting an ashtray.

Just like Clementine

2010-12-21T16:55:00.000-08:00

I've been telling Dad about the people I miss when they're not around. Oma (German for Grandma), my friend Maxim, and Maxim's Elmo doll: Out of sight, but not out of mind.

Sitting down to a meal

2010-12-20T16:45:00.000-08:00

My babysitter invited all 11 of us to her mom and dad's house. I prefer to think it's my charm, but maybe Tina having been my cousins' au pair back in Boston had something to do with it, too. Dad wouldn't let me help with his beer, so I ate cake till I groaned instead.

Since we spent the evening at the babysitter's house, does she have to pay us?

Showering Affection

2010-12-20T09:56:00.000-08:00

Time to clean the accumulated milk deposits from behind my ears again. Bathing in the bathroom sink was too awkward, so I'm sharing a shower with Mom, just like Sadie does. It's warm and soothing, plus the steam is helping clear the congestion from my latest cold. And there are toys, which will be loads of fun when I learn to control my arms.

Present Arms

2010-12-19T21:24:00.000-08:00

Mostly what I remember about today is lots of naps, in lots of different arms.

This is the life.

Hand Cleaner

2010-12-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Blueberry jam makes kind of a mess, but I don't mind. I have a highly effective, self-propelled hand cleaner.

Sufficient Incentive

2010-12-18T19:03:00.000-08:00

Cousins Martha and Sarah are a little intimidating, but I'll brave their rambunctiousness when brownies are on the line.

Holiday Addition

2010-12-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

A bunch of Dad's relatives (my relatives too, I guess) came all the way to Munich to play with me. But they got cold feet at the last minute and hid in baggage claim for 2 hours. Their feet are going to get a lot colder, because it's -6 C outside and their boots are in Rome with the rest of their stuff. From left to right, that's Sarah, Aunt Martha, Ethan, and Uncle Colin riding in from the airport. Cousin Martha, Dad's shoulder, and I are reflected in the train window.

Bunny Booties

2010-12-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

I got dressed up for a LoAHf lunch at a cupcake bakery. That's a meal worth braving the weather for — especially since I'll be riding in my cozy cocoon while Mom slogs through the snow.

OK, so I didn't get any duckies, but I'm totally rocking the bunnies.

A Sinking Feeling

2010-12-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Sadie tells me she took baths in the sink for her first few months too. Somehow I don't think it was quite this cramped. And my request for a duckie was summarily ignored, even though I saw at least four in the living room. The Baby Union will be hearing about this.

U3

2010-12-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

At my U3 appointment, I tipped the scales at 4350 g (9 lb, 9.5 oz) and measured 54 cm (21 in) long. Plus, they let us go home afterward, unlike last time. Mom's glad, because the grown-up food in the hospital isn't nearly as good as the cafe we visited to celebrate.

Festooned

2010-12-14T11:30:00.001-08:00

Today is my U3, Germany's fancy name for a one-month pediatrician appointment. In the name of cultural sensitivity, we're being extra efficient by taking the recycling to the bins on the way to the doctor.

Busted

2010-12-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

I got kicked out of school today for crying and acting tired. If they had let me stay, the whole class would have agitated for more nap time: mass unrest for rest. Can't let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel. I blame Dad for leading me astray.

Jailbreak

2010-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

Don't worry, sis. We're gonna break you outta this joint this afternoon. Remember the password: "The elephant is in the middle."

Back Where It Came From

2010-12-11T07:23:00.000-08:00

Because I kick my legs and cough when I'm exiled to the baby cage, Mom let me sleep next to her for a while early this morning. It was less lonely, which was nice. But she was nonplussed when I tried to put my last meal back where it came from.

Fashionista

2010-12-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

I'm trying out a new fashion trend. I call it "Oxygen Haberdashery", and I think it sets off my cheekbones rather well.

Dad calls it "The world's worst handlebar mustache". Well, Mr. Mode doesn't know he's wearing my lunch as a boutonniere.

Mom calls it "Too-Small Tube Set". Boring Mom.

Dad's Wrinkles

2010-12-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like sucking on a tasty Dad-pinkie when you're feeling a little under the weather. At least, not once Mom gets grumpy and takes away the real thing.

In other news, today I weighed in at 4130g (9 lb 1.5 oz). I guess hospital food agrees with me.

Gasp!

2010-12-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

I've had a cold for the last few days, thanks no doubt to Sadie's daily trips to the germ swap — I mean, her daycare. Yesterday I started coughing and running a low fever, so this morning I dropped in on the baby doctor.

Now here I am, seven hours later, in the isolation cell of the Krankenhaus with a case of RSV. Do not pass Go, do not collect your clean pajamas. It's not too severe, as such things go, but they wanted to hook me up to more wires than we had at home. (And if you know Mom and Dad, that's saying something.) I don't like the oxygen tubes much, but I'll tolerate them for the tape hearts.

On the plus side, I get Mom all to myself until they send us home.

Collect all 16

2010-12-06T15:33:00.001-08:00

I now have all the teeth any toddler should have: 8 incisors, 4 canines, 4 bicuspids. And Dad's fingers have marks from every one.

Baby Passport Photos Redux

2010-12-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

I'm ready for my cameo on Hollywood Squares now!

Since I'm already an expat, I need a passport, which means I need a picture. Mom and Dad are pros at this after taking Sadie's passport photo. Mom picked a cloudy day (plenty of those in Munich this time of year) and laid me on the floor near a window ("no distracting shadows on the face or background"). First she put a white sheet ("plain white or off-white background") under me, but that was too wrinkly. Then a white piece of felt, but that also wasn't smooth enough. Finally a pad of Sadie's drawing paper did the trick.

Even though I was lying on my back ("nothing used to support the baby may appear") and I'm not old enough to smile ("encourage subject to have a natural expression"), I could still look off to the side ("full face, front view, eyes open"). But 28 shots later, we have some good candidates. The two in the bottom right corner of the mosaic above are our best choices; stay tuned for a report on whether one of them is accepted.

Swing Assembly

2010-12-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

Grandma sent me a swing. Mom put it together tonight. Once again I helpfully slept through it all. Don't count on too much more of that, Mom. Unless that swing is as relaxing as Sadie says they are.

A Tangled Web

2010-12-05T16:23:00.000-08:00

Mom opened the box that's been sitting in the living room for a few days, and pulled out a strange tree and some pretty baubles. Apparently the idea is to put the beads and ornaments on the tree, then plant it on a table in the dining room. I helped by artfully tangling the beads, and Abby helped by sleeping through the whole thing.

General Relativity

2010-12-04T23:09:00.001-08:00

I like to read a book called I'm a Big Sister. It's about a girl named Sara, who has a baby sister named Abby. And that's just the beginning. Book-Sara has a book-mom and book-dad just exactly like I do. Who knew other kids could have family relationships that parallel my own?

Then the similarity takes an eerie turn: the baby they took out of Mom's tummy is named Abby too. What a coincidence! And truth really is stranger than fiction: Book-dad is a mensch, but my dad is a dork.

Probably a Milk Snake

2010-12-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

I've been growing quickly. I'm a half-inch longer and nearly a pound and a half heavier than when I was born. That must be why I'm molting.

Too Rich For My Blood

2010-12-04T16:11:00.000-08:00

When you see a woman walking around the baby store wearing a real fur coat, you can guess the stuff's going to be pricey. But €85 for cotton pajamas was still a little unexpected. Does that come with nanny service?

Hue Grant

2010-12-04T13:05:00.000-08:00

It started out with the bath book. Orange fish, blue fish, yellow fish. Then there were the blocks: red block, green block, white block. Now Dad's asking me for help identifying colors every day. Does colorblindness run in the family?

I fooled him, though. He asked about a red block, and I pointed to my bright red shirt instead.

Stacking Up

2010-12-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

Bricks are a lot easier to stack when they have these pegs to hold them together. The single-peg size are my favorite, mostly because the bigger ones hold together too well for me to get them apart. Plus, now that I have a horsie, I need a lance for jousting.

Hard Rockin'

2010-11-30T13:13:00.000-08:00

The League of Accidental Hausfrauen had a meeting today at the Hard Rock Cafe, and since it's around the corner from Dad's office, both Mom and Dad went to introduce me. The food is good but overpriced, the videos are nostalgic if you're an old fogey like Dad, the decor is aggressively thematic, and the co-marketed schwag is the envy of college students everywhere. I showed my disdain by sleeping through the whole meal.

Up a Pound

2010-11-29T12:56:00.000-08:00

At the midwife visit today, I weighed 8 lb 6 oz. Most babies regain their birth weight by 10–14 days old. I'm more than a pound over!

The midwife also rubbed off most of my remaining umbilical-cord scab. I'm not sure how I feel about her hurrying nature along like that, but my navel is prettier this way. Are there positions open for baby belly-button models?

Snow Big Deal

2010-11-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

I went out in my mobile throne again today. This time there was even more of the fluffy white stuff falling on my canopy, and several inches of it piled up on the branches and ground. I like the looks of it, but I can do without the wind blowing it into my face.

Fooled Ya'

2010-11-28T06:54:00.000-08:00

Never mind. Staying up all night, fussing and spitting up, is way more fun than sleeping after all. Bait-and-switch, remember?

No Neti Pot Necessary

2010-11-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

I've heard that sinus rinses are healthy. Sadie's got a doozy of a cold right now, so anything I can do to avoid catching it would be good. Unfortunately I don't have any way to tell Mom and Dad what I want, so I have to do it myself. Milk works well as a sinus rinse, even when it comes from inside.

I may be a little too enthusiastic, though. During morning diaper change today I rinsed my sinuses all over my pajamas, my sleep sack, the changing pad, and the wall. Mom just sighed and said something about not wanting to ruin her perfect record of at least one load of laundry every day anyway.

Night. Right.

2010-11-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

I think I'm beginning to catch on. When Mom and Dad lay me in my command center and stretch out next to me, that's called night, and I'm supposed to sleep.

Last night I slept from 11:30 pm until 3:30 am, and then again from 4:30 am until 7:30 am. It feels weird to miss the most tranquil part of the day like that, but it seems to make Mom happier if I take my cuddles when it's light out.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot...

2010-11-26T17:40:00.000-08:00

Weihnachtsmärkte are springing up all over. Everywhere people would normally meet outside for beer, they're now chugging Glühwein and browsing gifts and ornaments. Tonight was the big tree-lighting in Marienplatz and official opening of the markets.

I'm not having any Glühwein, so I'll be the designated stroller driver.

Initial Public Offering

2010-11-26T16:56:00.000-08:00

Today we all went to Mom and Dad's office for a Christmas cookie decorating party. Dad decorated cookies, Sadie ate handfuls of raw dough, and I entertained gaggles of admiring fans.

It was my first trip out of the apartment since we came home from the hospital, my first time riding in the baby pouch, and my first meal out. The menu in the conference room had only one item, but service was prompt.

Bye-Bye, Belly-Button Blob

2010-11-26T10:39:00.000-08:00

At the midwife's second visit this morning, she tugged a little too hard on the valve stem on my belly — and it came off! Now how will Mom and Dad reinflate me when I run a little flat?

Do Be Due, Two

2010-11-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

Happy due date to me! What, no cake?

Weighing In

2010-11-25T14:47:00.000-08:00

According to the scale at home, I'm now 7 lb 12 oz, up 15 oz from my low point a week ago. At this rate, when I'm 25... I don't even want to think about it.

Clothes Make the Baby

2010-11-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

It's 2 PM, and I'm in my third complete outfit of the day. Can you believe Mom started me out in yellow? It is so not my color. No way did I want to spend the whole day looking sallow and sickly. So I peed all over it at the first diaper change. Woot, communication.

Next was blue, which is fine as far as it goes, but those puppies were far too cutesy for a sophisticated girl like me. So I peed all over it at the next diaper change. Woot, communication again.

Now I'm in blue-and-green stripes, finally something I can live with. Good thing, too, since the pajama drawer is empty.

Bath Time?

2010-11-24T10:08:00.001-08:00

My first bath! Sadie loves baths, so I've been waiting for this moment.

Mom stripped me down, put me on the table in the freezing cold kitchen, and rubbed a wet washcloth on my head and neck. I really don't know what Sadie sees in these things.

Abby Fab

2010-11-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

The midwife came for her first visit today. She says I'm doing great, gaining weight and looking fabulous. Tell me something I didn't know.

Bye-Bye, Grandma

2010-11-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

Grandma left this morning. I never managed to talk her into a pony. She'll be back in just a few weeks, though, so I'm planning my strategy now.

Welcome Home, Abby

2010-11-20T15:34:00.001-08:00

Nothing says "Welcome Home" like fresh-baked brownies.

Mom is Nuts

2010-11-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

Time to go home! Although Sadie's old carseat was perfectly modded for Munich winter by Mom, she decided not to call a taxi. So we caught the bus around the corner, transferred to the subway, and finally climbed the 45 stairs to our 3rd-floor apartment.

Mom says she did it just to see how her mom would react. I can't wait to meet my other grandma.

Oh, Not the Band

2010-11-20T09:05:00.000-08:00

Woo! I get to go to U2!

Oh, wait, it's just a doctor visit. Following Germany's standardized pediatric schedule, I had my U1 exam when I was born, and my U2 exam this morning. I weighed 3180 g, up another 70 g from yesterday.

Dad says we live on the U6 subway line. Does that mean I have to wait until I'm 10 months old to go home?

Or maybe they're squished ants

2010-11-19T16:36:00.000-08:00

Mom's book has a lot of pages, but it reads faster than any of mine. After reading it a dozen times, though, the story is still confusing. The little black dots are doing the same thing in every picture.

Supernumerary

2010-11-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

I got called down to the doctor's office this morning, where they stabbed me in the heel, played sounds in my ears, and took a sonogram of my hips and abdomen.

Everything looks good. The doctor thinks I have a double kidney on the left side, like about 2% of people. Usually nobody knows about it until they're old and getting an ultrasound for some other kidney problem. But here in Germany they do the exam on all newborns, so they turn up this kind of thing more regularly. The doctor isn't worried, because my bladder and ureters all look normal, but we'll have it checked out again at my next doctor visit.

Did You Feed Me After Midnight?

2010-11-19T05:05:00.000-08:00

Only two days old, and already I'm pulling the ol' bait-and-switch on the parents. By day I'm an angelic child, sleeping peacefully for four hours in a row, eating eagerly and politely, and blinking adorably when cameras are around. OK, so I spit up once in a while, but that's cute, right?

Then night falls, and I show my true colors. I kicked off last night with a bang, giving Mom a good-sized spitup 5 minutes after Dad left so she could have the fun of hobbling to the changing table and replacing all four layers of my outfit.

I followed with a lusty bout of crying that attracted a passing pediatric nurse, who took off one layer of my clothing on the theory that I was too hot. Mom's bemusement, given that every other pediatric nurse had been telling her to keep me bundled up because I was cold, only added to the moment.

As a final touch, I demanded food every 30 minutes until 4 AM. Now I think I'll catch an hour or two of sleep: the nurse visits start up at 7:00, and I need to recharge my halo.

That was your birthday present

2010-11-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

Abby brought me a welcome gift, all the way from Mom's tummy. That's what Grandma told me. But my Big Sister book says babies are too little to play with toys. Maybe she just re-gifted me her own birthday present.

I'm not one to look a gift pony in the mouth. There's a cat and a dog and a bunny, but no pony. That's okay. Thanks, Abby!

We Meet at Last

2010-11-18T14:45:00.000-08:00

I went back to visit Mom again this afternoon. She saved me her cake from lunch! There's plenty of time to meet Baby Abby when I'm done with cake.

Here we are, one whole, happy family. I've been looking forward to playing with my baby sister for weeks. Did you know my fingers fit perfectly in Abby's eyes?