Year-end

Should you prefer to browse the albums directly, here they are:

Album 1 (13 Feb through 11 May 2008)
Album 2 (13 May through 30 Sep 2008)
Album 3 (8 Oct through 31 Dec 2008)

Happy New Year everybody!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the gang in Iowa!

Alex opened his first Christmas present 23 December, before we left Lake Zurich. It's a ball that wobbles around the floor while taunting him! He likes chasing it.

Yesterday (Christmas Eve), we made the drive to Iowa. Alex was reunited with his old friend the drum and was presented with his very own laptop. He still has to wrestle it away from Mommy occasionally.

Climbing up on chairs is still a favorite activity of his, of course.

December Pictures

Almost Christmas -- running out of time to post these! Christmas cards just didn't happen this year, nor any cute photo of Alex in a Santa suit. Maybe next year.

Our Roomba (robot vaccuum cleaner) is working quite well. Alex loves watching it clean. He'll crawl around and chase it, but gets scared when it comes after him!

We recently found that we can tire him out around bedtime by crawling between the bedrooms and letting him search for us. Here, he's decided to take a break.

He still loves laptop computers (Michele's, specifically, since it's always on the floor). He can open and shut the lid and is quite proud of himself whenever he makes it to the keyboard (before we catch him and take it away!).

On his car -- he immediately leaned over and tried to crawl away. Perhaps he'll grow into it. He can now hold on to the couch with one arm and reach for things on the it with the other. His reach is limited only by his height, which is increasing steadily. See the teeth? Still just the bottom two. Several of the top teeth are almost visible but haven't broken through yet.

Alex & His Mouth

Alex got sent home from day care on Friday with a fever. Michele took him to the clinic, where they said it's nothing to worry about. I'm convinced it's his top front teeth -- there's a lump or two up there and he gets very irritated if we touch his gums. He's also refusing to sleep in his crib, preferring instead the nice warmth of our bed. Oddly enough, that lets him wake us up every hour or two for attention. Cute at first, but this gets old very fast....

Going back two weeks, we have pictures of Alex tenderizing the plastic stars from the stacking toy before chewing on them. He loves his Cheerios and chews on his toothbrush (not sure how much good it's doing!). He'll also chew on a sippy cup but hasn't tried sucking from it yet. Another favorite of his is the spoon, which he just won't put down.

More pics later, when this troublemaker gives me time to pull them from the camera.

Lots of Pictures

I've cleared the driveway, Michele's out shopping, and Alex is napping. Another hour to go until the new washer and dryer show up. Finally, some time to post pictures!

Alex loves using the kitchen cabinets to stand up (and fall down!). Sometimes he'll get one to stay open, which gives him time to grab at the pots and pans inside. Did I mention he can go from crawling to sitting all by himself?

It's tough to keep him in focus on the floor, because he usually heads straight to the camera -- sometimes we have to hold him. This is a common sight when trying to nap on the futon or couch.

He loves books, especially the tasty and noisy ones. The patio door lock is useless against him, but the glass leaves him puzzled. The hallway gate is holding for now. Once he learns to dig, we're in trouble, as he's mastered tunnels.

Food is not a problem for this guy -- he eats everything we give him. Drinks still require lids, for the obvious reasons. His fine motor skills are improving -- he's able to select a single Cheerio from his tray and get it into his mouth (no picture yet).

Exploring the Kitchen

Alex is now roaming between the kitchen and family room on his own. After moving to a new room, he usually starts whimpering as he realizes we're still in the old room! He then returns to us, slowly, whimpering the whole way.

This is one of the toys we've given him to keep him occupied in the kitchen. He can lift it, and sometimes drags it a foot or two. He likes pushing the laundry basket around but occasionally leans on it a bit too hard.

He loves the dishwasher, too. He's climbed onto the open door on at least one occasion. Here, he's thinking about climbing in again.

New Toys

Two weeks ago, we took the new van to visit the grandparents. Alex passed on the rocking chair but did came back with a plastic horse. It's never too early to learn how to ride the mechanical bull that occasionally appears at the local bars!

As with many new foods, he didn't like the seaweed at first. Come to think of it, he still doesn't like that seaweed -- guess he's more the 7-Up type.

While not new and not his, he's discovered the DVD player. I dread the day when he learns that one of those little buttons will pop the tray out!

Another new toy is this walker (one of two). He figured out how to lean on it and stay upright within minutes. He still likes chewing and/or sucking on his other, simpler toys.

Halloween Pictures

Better late than never -- we decorated with pumpkins this year. Perhaps next year they'll be carved! Alex dressed up as a pumpkin but fell asleep before we could get many pictures.

On Halloween, we put him in a turtle costume. He promptly rolled over and started crawling away -- let's see a real turtle do that!

He's learned to stand with the help of other objects, such as a chair (pic 2) or his crib.

We got a mini-van two weeks ago -- Alex enjoyed exploring it.

That's all for now....

Pumpkins

Two weeks ago, we went pumpkin shopping. Alex didn't know what to think of all the pumpkins! He did find one his size.

Last weekend, he started climbing on things. Here he is climbing through our coffee table, and here just crawling around the floor. He hasn't decided on a Halloween costume yet.

Dunno what to say about this one -- just another funny face.

Ottawa (Last Weekend)

At first, there's something suspicious about graham crackers. Once they're in the mouth, though, they're actually very soothing.

Last weekend's trip to Ottawa went very well. Alex enjoyed the airport and behaved very well on the plane. Once there, he was a bit antsy and couldn't wait to hit the floor and crawl around. There were plenty of toys and lots of open floor at the Grandma & Grandpa Ting house. The rugs? Very uplifting. We put together a new driving toy that made lots of noise.

On Saturday, Aunt Kuen tried to teach him the piano. Alex also got to meet Uncle Ron and Kimmie and stick his tongue out at the camera. And finally, we flew back to Chicagoland on Sunday, just in time for Michele to repack and go visit that famous mouse in Florida.

First Tooth (er, Teeth)

Alex tried sucking my finger this morning, as he occasionally does. This time, I felt something like a knife when he bit down! Sure enough, his bottom front teeth ("O" & "P" -- yes, both of them) are coming in. He hasn't let me get a good look yet, but I have been able to see broken gums in two places.

Pictures are next on my list of things to do today.

Day Four of the No-Mommy Experiment

It's nearing the end of day four for those of us not vacationing at Walt Disney World. Alex has been on his best behavior for me, going to bed promptly after finishing his dinner (around 7:30-8:30). He's also been very kind in the morning, waking me only once or twice (around 7 AM) and allowing me the privilege of waking him up the remaining days. There have been some comments from daycare that he's not napping very well, but perhaps he's just not that tired -- he certainly has enough energy to crawl around when he gets home.

The downside to taking care of him constantly means very little is getting done around the house. It's at least as clean and picked up as it was Sunday, but not that much better. I have not had the chance to upload any pictures (or even look at them!) from last weekend in Ottawa, nor have I had time to finish installing the fireplace. Two major goals for this weekend: 1) get pictures posted and 2) get a few pumpkins on our front step!

Pictures

Posting a few more pictures before we head to Ottawa to visit Michele's parents and family next weekend. Alex has discovered laptop computers a year or two earlier than expected.

Michele was brave enough to go outside and try finger-painting. I'm not sure which of the two had more fun!

Here's Alex with one of his favorite things to chew on and a few of his larger toys.

He sometimes has a very determined look on his face when trying to crawl, seen here, here and here.

Weekend with Grandparents

Grandpa Jim & Granny Susan came to visit last weekend. We had fun, and it was over way too fast.

Took pictures of Alex on the floor, with his music machine, and attempting to crawl (for now, he just "jumps" with his hind legs!). He spends more time with this bucket than the shaped toys that came with it. We're pretty impressed that he can hang on to it even after rolling over.

Nineteen-plus Pounds

Alex weighed in at 19.8 pounds this afternoon (fully clothed) -- he's gained over a pound in the past month! Took some pictures of him chewing on some rings in his high chair this afternoon. That pictures exhausted him, so we put him down for his second (third?) nap of the day.

Catching Up

Haven't posted pictures in a while, as we've been sick off and on. Alex managed to roll over to this bag of peanuts which was left on the floor. We moved the bag just after the picture so he wouldn't try to eat them!

We usually hold him on our laps while feeding him, but occasionally let him play in the high chair. He's getting quite good at rolling around on the floor. He has a clear preference for one direction (to his right, starting from his back) but can roll the other way when he really wants to.

More pictures of him playing on the floor.

He has tried playing the piano, but promptly picked it up (with ease -- he's strong!) so he could get a better taste of it.

Alex in Motion

Here's a sequence from last Saturday. Alex starts out sitting comfortably, but leans a bit too far and ends up on his face. He may be doing this on purpose, as he was quite happy rolling around and sucking his fingers afterwards.

Alex Back to Normal

The good news is that Alex was feeling better Tuesday and returned to daycare on Wednesday. The bad news is that Michele and I both caught a cough/sore throat! We're not even sure we've got the same thing. Regardless, this will be a quiet weekend here.

Last Saturday (just before he got sick) he was in a good mood, so we let him sit on the new couch. He was very good to it and may get to use it again some day!

He is becoming quite skilled at the use of a speaker phone. He's also become quite proficient with solid (OK, mushy!) food and will lean into the spoon (with an open mouth!) when he sees it coming. Sometimes he gets distracted and looks away, but I've taught him that a "moo" means he should straighten his head because there's another spoonful coming. He still misses once in a while. He's always happy when his belly is full, even if he sometimes frowns during the process.

Alex Returns to His Birthplace

Alex was cranky all day Sunday. He wanted to be held constantly and cried whenever we'd put him down. Around dinner time, we gave up and took him to the ER (the hospital where he was born!). After about six hours, an IV, and a chest X-ray, he was released with a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and bronchitis. He also had a tube of eye ointment (Bacitracin) and a prescription for some oral antibiotics.

We had him home and in bed by 2 AM. He slept soundly, waking around 8 AM. Michele canceled her trip (work) to San Diego, and we're now taking turns caring for him during the day. Follow-up appointment is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, where we hope to be told he's better and can return to his usual daycare routine. (I'm convinced he's bored at home -- how can either one of us possibly be as entertaining as watching two grown women chase seven other babies around?!)

Alex at Six Months

Here's a look at Alex's face after eating some mashed sweet potatoes. He didn't like them so well.

Last week, he hit the six-month mark. We took some pictures as he ate the rice cereal he loves so much. For some reason, ee seems to prefer his bib.

Weekend Update

Alex seems to be slowing down on the growth side. As of last night, he's approximately 18 pounds. On the plus side, he's now able to sit in a chair for as long as he can hold still. He can grab his feet (even both at once).

Apparently he's still a bit embarrassed by the "naked" pictures. His is still smiling during bath time (perhaps not always).

Granny Susan sent some teething toys a few days ago. Alex was quite interested in the box they came in (& a close-up).

Professional Photos

Went to Sears for professional photos this afternoon.

All three of us, in black and white, color, or with a dark background.

With Daddy and Mommy.

By himself, leaning forward in a yukata, sitting up, and lying down.

And some "topless" shots, in sepia or with hand and feet close-ups.

Visitors Last Weekend

Michele's Uncle Mario, Aunt Siew Hong and cousin Aline came to visit from Hull (Quebec) last weekend. Aunt Siew Hong (Alex's great-aunt) was caught holding him on multiple occasions. By Sunday, Alex was thoroughly worn out!

On Wednesday (23 July), he demonstrated his mastery of rolling from his back to his stomach (always to his right so far).

Earlier today, we fed him more rice cereal. He keeps most of it down, but it certainly covers his face.

Real Food

We tried feeding Alex his first real food this evening. He's holding steady at 17 1/2 pounds and his diapers have started to smell worse, so what's the harm? He made a few faces but eventually decided he liked it. It was a nice evening and we didn't feel like cleaning the floor and/or walls so we fed him on the back porch. Turns out his face was the only thing that got messy.

Here's a bonus shot of him sitting in a regular chair.

Independence Day

OK, down to a one-week lag. Here's Alex in bed the morning of the Fourth. We met up with Kurt and Carly in Muscatine. Aunt Kendra and Uncle Greg each had their turns. Granny Susan and Grandpa Jim were there, too, of course!

Alex in his Cub Scout uniform. Compare this to his earlier photo, taken at just over one month, which was later used for promotional purposes. Yes, that's really the same hat, and no, it didn't shrink in the wash.

Finally, some pictures from today! This is a very happy Alex, just lying on the floor to celebrate five months. He spent some time contemplating the physics of rolling over afterwards. He can raise his legs and roll to one side, but has yet to figure out how to get all the way to his belly.

Two weeks behind

'Round about two weeks ago, Phong was in town and stopped by for dinner. Just after that, Jo-Anne and Claudio (another pic) spent the weekend with us.

We're not sure if Alex is teething yet. It seems early, but he's gnawing on fingers and drooling a lot.

He seems to recognize himself in mirrors now. He's still getting used to the Baby Einstein chair/entertainment center/education thingy.

Way Too Long Without Pictures

It's been busy here, but way too long since I posted pictures. Alex has been developing his leg muscles and they are now too fast for the camera. Eventually, he stopped kicking to stare at me. Here's Alex back on June 13, celebrating his four-month birthday by lifting his head -- that still takes some effort. Did I mention he likes to lie on his back and kick the air? He likes to sleep with his arms over his head. At his four-month check-up this Monday, he weighed in at sixteen pounds, eight ounces.

Sleepy

Alex slept ten hours in his playpen last night -- 8 PM to 6 AM! Even then, we had to wake him to get to work on time (us, I mean; he's just going to day care!).

Almost 15 Pounds

With a clean diaper, onesie, and a full belly, he's just a few ounces shy of 15 pounds, says the bathroom scale. (Which is somewhere around 6700-6800 grams for you metric folk!)

Baptism: 5/25/08

We've been a bit short on time lately. Finally, the pictures from Alex's baptism are being posted.... Here he is yawning in the sunroom, with Michele, and a close-up. We also have a very surprised Alex with Granny Susan and Grandpa Jim. Then we swapped in Aunt Mindy. Here's Daddy, teasing him with ice cream. Uncle Greg, another of Granny, and then we have baptism photos. Parents & Godparents (Uncle Greg & Aunt Kendra), Mommy quieting Alex, and the whole group at the church. First to be caught napping was Greg, followed promptly by Alex. (Surprised? Didn't think so!)

Libertyville Baby Shower

Michele finally had her Motorola baby shower in Libertyville Thursday. They had cake and presents. And balloons (but no clear picture of those). Her boss, Atis, coordinated the show.

Backyard Visitor

We had a visitor climbing the willow tree in the backyard Thursday evening. Alex didn't let it bother him!

We also have a few baby robins nesting on the back wall. Their mommy is constantly flying back & forth bringing nice, tasty worms for them to munch on.

Three Months

Alexander hit three months old yesterday. He seemed quite happy in his favorite chair, even without a birthday cake. He's been sleeping soundly for six to seven hours the past few nights (9 PM-3 AM or so) which is making the rest of us just as happy!

Side note: I'm starting a new album on Picasa Web to keep things manageable. The old photos are still there, but will be in a separate album.

Last Weekend

We dropped Alex off in Muscatine last weekend for a night at Eagle Ridge Resort (just the two of us). Granny Susan took care of him while we went out to party! Of course, some of us slept in Saturday morning, leaving us less time than we would have liked. Next time we'll shoot for two nights. Aunt Mindy and Grandpa Jim were there for entertainment as well. I still haven't figured out exactly what this toy is supposed to be, and from the looks of it, neither has Alex. Regardless of what it is, he eventually decided it was okay.

After hearing that Michele likes to (OK, demands to) coat Alex in olive oil after a bath, Aunt Mindy went off to find some. Her first attempt, well, left something to be desired!

We had just enough time for a family portrait in front of the lilac bushes before heading out of town.

Last Week

A few pictures from last week: Alex sleeping, comparing the size of his head to Mommy's, and presenting his Mother's Day gift a little early.

Long Grove Chocolate Festival

We went to the Long Grove Chocolate Festival this morning. The food carts were not very photogenic, but the area is very scenic.

Going back through some older pictures.... Alex makes some interesting faces, depending on his mood. Here's one, and here's another in his Snugli. Occasionally, he gets to sleep in his crib with his mobile or in his bouncy chair.

He got a new play set/mat last weekend. It has a mirror and lots of hanging animals. Here's him taking yet another nap, and trying to suck on his thumb.

No Alex in this one, but I thought the tulips in the front yard were worth sharing.

First Day of Day Care

Alex survived his first day of day care! We checked him in around 8, gave him a quick tour of the place, and left him sleeping in his new crib. Michele returned to pick him up at 5. The report from his teachers? He "was very alert and smiley" and "didn't sleep very much." He's been awake the past hour, too, so perhaps he'll sleep tonight.

Here are a couple of pictures of Alex on an evening walk last Friday.

Mid-week Update

Here's Alex finishing up a bath. Lately he's been enjoying them, possibly because of the olive oil massage he gets afterwards. Won't be all that long till he's standing on his own....

As of Sunday (two days ago), he's grown to approximately twelve pounds. That's 24 ounces in two weeks, for those of you counting!

More of Alex, Outside and Active

Alex went for another walk around the neighborhood Sunday. He got to sit in the backyard swing, too.

Open this picture, then view the next six using the Picasa Web's "next" button (arrow pointing to the right just above the photo). He was quite "wiggly" on Monday!

Alex Goes Outside

Apparently, Michele had some fun with the camera when I was out earlier this week -- apparently Alex didn't mind.

Since the weather was so nice yesterday, we took Alex out for a walk to the park. He's having no trouble holding his head up, so we think he's big enough for the stroller without the car seat! Here he is about to leave.

Two-Month Checkup

Alex is officially 10 lbs 8 oz as of this morning. A little cranky, but doing very well overall after receiving three immunization shots and one oral vaccine. Michele reports that he was really screaming!

Alex Visits Muscatine

Two weekends ago, we took Alex to see the family in Muscatine. Grandpa Jim, Grandma Susan, Great-aunts Mary Kay and Janet, and Great-Grandma Dolores all had a chance to hold him. Took some good group photos (two, three) on the couch. Joe (Mindy's boyfriend) stopped by Sunday (with Mindy, of course!). Alex wasn't so impressed with his new toy. I never did figure out what mischief these two were plotting, but he slept through it all.

Fourteen pictures in six sentences? That must be a record.

Alex is Two! (Months, that is...)

At two months, he's as happy as ever, sleeping in his blue play chair (Mommy's upstairs, also sleeping soundly). And I'm awake, finally posting pictures. More to come....

Ten Pounds

Alex logged ten and a half pounds at this morning's weigh-in. Allowing for a diaper (clean) and an outfit, he's right at the ten-pound mark. We'll have an exact number after his 2-month checkup Monday morning.

Catching Up

The weekend before last Granny Susan (another picture) and Aunt Mindy came to visit with a new toy. We put Alex in his high chair, but he just didn't seem to care! Here's Mindy feeding him. Hours later, he was calm, screaming the next minute, and calm again another minute later.

Going back a bit farther, we have a picture of the February snow in Ottawa and Grandpa Joe with Alex at 5 1/2 weeks.

And we're caught up through the end of March. Alex is now screaming and it's been decided that it's up to me to calm him, so the April pictures will have to wait....

Tummy Time

Earlier this week, we caught Alex in his Moby Wrap and exercising his lungs. We also offered him some tummy time on the monkey rug, but he decided he'd prefer the turtle-on-its-back position and flipped himself over. He won't do it on command, but he did manage this feat (front to back only) several times this evening.

For the past few weeks, he's been able to lift his head for (very) short intervals. It's been a challenge, but here's a picture of his head in the air. And after all this, we immobilized him and put him in his playpen for a nap.

Grandparents & Family from Ottawa

Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Joe flew in from Ottawa this weekend. Michael & Helene also flew in from Pittsburgh to hold Alex.

Alex was very awake this morning (Sunday) and wanted to play with his stuffed animals. The monkey seemed lonely, so we added a white bear and a giraffe.

Last Week

From last week -- looks like he's settling in for a nap, huh? Ha! He's really hungry. One more of him making a face in his Just Ducky outfit.

More in a few minutes....

Weekend Update

More pictures of Alex sleeping. We also caught him during a massage and smiling seconds later. He's still a bit too young for Cub Scouts, despite the cap & handkerchief. Celebrating his birth in the year of the rat, he has a red rat t-shirt and pet rat.

Check back for more pictures next weekend when Michele's parents and brother Michael & Helene come to visit us!

Mike, Elvie & Logan Visit

Mike, Elvie & Logan came over to meet Alex this afternoon. Here's Elvie with Alex. Logan gave us a good taste of what's to come at 14 months. Suffice it to say we've got some work to do on toddler-proofing the place!

Here, Alex screams after ingesting his daily vitamin drops. He's eating more regularly the past few days (no more of this every-90-minutes thing). All three of us got a two-hour nap this afternoon!

Grandparents & Family from Iowa

Grandma Susan and Grandpa Jim came to visit us (Alex, actually!) just over a week ago. Also here on Saturday were Aunts Mindy (another photo) & Kendra. Uncle Greg had his turn, too.

Bonus pictures: Alex preparing for a nap next to a mountain of diapers, smiling with Mommy, and clinging to my arm like a monkey! And to finish off, a shot of all three of us.

I'm off to take a nap now. This whole sleep deprivation thing isn't what it's cracked up to be!

First Bath

Alex got his first bath earlier this evening. Michele did the hard part while I read the directions and took pictures. The finished product is here.

Also, the welcome home sign placed in our front yard courtesy of our neighbor Rose.

Alexander's first night at home

He made it through his first night at home! Here he is waking up and, after a feeding of course, about to start a new nap (note the open eyes!).

He's home!

Brought him home around three this afternoon. Slept the whole way home. Slept through the afternoon. Woke for some food & diaper changes, then back to sleep. On the way home, sleeping in the family room, and sleeping on me.

More Alexander Pictures

Still at the hospital, more pictures of Alexander. Same link as before.

Alexander Pictures

A few pictures from the hospital. At 20 hours old, Alexander is doing quite well. Michele recovered almost instantly and was walking around within hours.

Alexander Ethan is here!

Alexander Ethan has arrived! Born 8:24 PM on Wednesday, 13 February 2008 at Advocate Good Shepherd hospital in Barrington. 6 pounds 2 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long.

Michele Cooks Dinner

Here's Michele, after returning from the urgent care facility down the road. She's promised not to use a sharp knife on frozen hamburger patties again. The six stitches come out in 7-10 days.

Baby Site

Mindy and Kendra have created a BabiesOnline.com site for us. Various baby-related news, photos, etc. will be posted there. The password is "dougandmichele".

Christmas in Muscatine

Photos from Christmas '07 in Muscatine....

First Post

I'm creating this blog to share news & pictures with family & friends. Direct email just doesn't scale well. Enjoy!