Medibottle

Time was when I had to take medicine for acid reflux. There was the horribly salty one, and there was the liquid distillation of peppermint Altoids. Five times a day, Mom and Dad would wrestle me to the floor, pin my tongue down with a finger, and squirt in a foul concoction.

Not anymore! I spit out that nasty stuff until they gave up. Now I just drink yummy milk. A couple of times a day it comes in this weird plastic bottle, and Mom or Dad fusses with a syringe stuck into the bottom of it. Whatever makes them happy. I am gracious in victory.

You should tell your parents to get a Medibottle, too. Sure beats taking medicine.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy birthday to me! Today I am five months old. This bib r0x0rz too much to wait seven more months.

Having a Ball

Tummy time is more fun when there's loot involved. If I can reach it, it's mine, right? I've got to learn to crawl.

Swing Shift

Dad took me and Rebecca to the playground. It was my first time in an outdoor swing. How do you turn on the lullabies?

Two-and-one

Oh my goodness! The Giants lost tonight in a quick 3-0 to the Cubs. I've never seen them lose more deservedly. (Before now, I've never seen them lose.) I guess all good things come to an end.

Except me. I'll always be cute.

Progress

Welcome back, Uncle Mike! Since we saw each other last, I learned to put toys in my mouth, suck my thumb, and squeal with glee. What have you learned to do?

Of Gravitas and Thrones

I invited Mom, Dad, and Uncle Mike to dinner up in San Francisco. The minions didn't want to lug my carseat on the train, but it's just as well. I discovered it's easier to command the proper respect from a well-padded high throne.

I'm sure the fuzzy lion footies only enhance my gravitas.

Lulled

Woke up at 3:30 AM last night. Stayed awake, effervescent and playful, until 5:00. Gotcha!

Lulling the Parents

For two nights in a row now I've slept from 11 PM until 7 AM without waking. Dad likes to say, "Once is a fluke, twice is coincidence, and three times is a pattern." Don't worry, though: I'll go back to waking for food at 3:30 and 6:00 as soon as Mom goes back to work.

Wiggle Room

I start my stint at the Minimum Security Daycare Facility next week, so Mom and Dad took me to visit today. I wiggled on a fluffy rug, and Dad read me Goodnight Moon. I also met a couple of fellow inmates, and get this: they can crawl. I've got to get them to teach me that; it looks useful for my ultimate plan.

Double the Fun

Mom's taking two weeks off work before I start at daycare, and Dad's still hanging out at home too. Does this mean I get twice as many airplane rides, or that I only get away with half the mischief?

I've Got to Hand it to Me

I get tired of waiting for Mom or Dad to give me back my pacifier. So as soon as they let me out of the sleeping straitjacket, I found a handy substitute.

And if I dribble milk on my hands when Mom feeds me, I can save some of my last meal for a scrumptious midnight treat. Bonus!

sedapS ni saraS

Who knew there were so many cute babies in the world? And all of them living in my bathroom!

Solids

On second thought, I'm not so sure I like solids after all.

Seriously, rice cereal? What a way to ruin perfectly good milk.

Abandoned!

Mom and Dad abandoned me at home, crying in my bassinet; they thrust a pacifier and bottle at Uncle J and Auntie K and scampered off to see the musical show Dik Od Triaanenen Fol (Finns Ain't What they Used To Be). I can only imagine it was done out of ignorance on their part: if they'd known how passionate I am about Finnish musical theatre, they would have brought me along, right?

Another for the Record Books

Far be it from me to be excessively prideful, but I produced a continuous filament of drool that reached from my mouth almost to the floor. While Dad was carrying me. It finally broke when Dad tried to do yo-yo tricks.

Look, Ma: Hands!

My friends, you are looking at one totally empowered woman.

After he shot this photo, I had my empowerment carry me out back so I could watch the water fountain.

Reader Mailbag

"I love that you do this. Don't let anyone convince you it's anything other than a service to humanity!"

My fans are few, but fanatical.

New digs

Mom and Dad booted me out of my cozy nest in their bed. They claim I outgrew it, but the grapevine says I was wiggling too much for Mom to sleep through. This fancy bassinet makes noises I'm supposed to find soothing. I don't care for the beeps and chirps they call music, but I groove on the internal organs: Lub-dup, gurgle, swoosh. Gets me every time.

This photo shows the calm after the storm. You don't want to be around when this girl misses her morning nap. I tried to curl up in a corner for "time out", but, uh...

Sugar is solid

Grandma shared her breakfast with me. I could get to like these "solid foods" I've heard so much about.

Sharing

Rebecca and I share lots of things: Her books, my text-to-speech interpreter. Once Rebecca learns to read, we'll trade Dad in for a bookmark and some cool Nintendo games.

Swim party

Grandma Natalie held a pool party at her hotel. Even though I totally lived in the water just a few months ago, they wouldn't let me swim.

So I sat on Anya's lap and let her bathing suit soak me.

What did you bring me?

Grandma Natalie and Grandpa Dale are back for their annual Labor Day bridge tournament and grandchild visit. With 50% more grandchildren to see than last year, it doesn't look like they'll be playing a lot of bridge this time around.

Mom and Uncle Henhuh are expected to fade discreetly into the background and magically appear again whenever a child starts crying. There will be a test.