waiting for Santa

This is me on Christmas Eve. You can tell it is a special day because I am wearing the sweater vest my grandmother bought me in Victoria.

In the morning on Christmas Eve, we had to do a bit of shopping. Had we known that the stores would be completely empty (of people, but not merchandise) we would have left all of our shopping until the day before Christmas! Since I detest shopping so much, we didn't really do very well buying gifts this year.

We went to Terese's house for a yummy lunch. It had been way too long since I had seen her and Jo. Jo gave me a fun activity table and it helped me practice up on opening gifts. And, best of all, she gave my mom some yummy yummy sweets. I guess Santa agrees that Jo is the best baker in the world. I put one of Jo's cookies on my penguin plate (see photo) and left it for Santa. Santa brought me a mountain of gifts. I haven't finished opening my gifts yet though because I get a bit overwhelmed with the activity and once I find something fun inside of the wrapping paper, I just want to play with it. Actually, if it was up to me, I would just stop at the bow and paper.

here's us swimming!!!

shrimp

Today, I am a proud graduate of the Shrimp swimming class at the YMCA. This is a photo of me and my dad on the first day of swim lessons. To go along with my new love of swimming, I have invented a high-pitch dolphin squeal. The only thing I didn't like about swimming is how tight my swimsuit is around my chubby tummy. It takes two parents to squeeze me into it!

Speaking of my chubby tummy: we went to the doctor for my six-month visit. I am a healthy healthy baby. I was 19lb, 4oz (I think they took an inaccurate reading last week when I had my cold). I am 27 inches tall. I had two shots this time and I didn't cry nearly as much as last time - or even as much as when I went to the doctor last week thinking I was going to get shots. I am brave.

Since people keep asking and asking and asking about food: NO, I have not started solid food. I like to watch people eat but I don't think I am quite ready. The latest experiment was to spoonfeed me breastmilk and I shuddered like it was gross (but not as bad as the bottle but a bit worse than the sippy cup). My doctor, who happens to be an expert about breastfeeding and is also a board member of the Milk Bank of Austin, encourages me to carry on how I am since I am so healthy.

19lb, 8oz

Today, I visited the doctor. It isn't quite time for my six-month check up yet but I caught a cold from my pal at yoga (thanks to his mom for foolishly thinking that clear snot is somehow less contagious). This morning, I thought maybe I had an ear infection but I don't . . . just a bad cold. I am miserable and it is my goal to make everyone else miserable right now. At the doctor, I weighed in at 19lb, 8oz; I am just a few ounces shy of being Dr Cox's biggest/heaviest baby! At my appointment today, I discovered that I am sharp enough to associate the doctor's office with shots so I cried and cried until the end of my appointment when I realized that I was safe and then I smiled at everyone - especially the cuddly nurse who I adore. Sadly, I had to miss yoga today and I will have to miss swimming tomorrow since I do not want to pass my illness along to other babies. There is a special place in hell for parents who take their sick children into social settings.

As for being almost six months old: I have been practicing to sit up and I am quite good at it.