Skype

Suzanne turned us onto video conferencing via Skype. Olivia has enjoyed using video to lobby her grandparents for birthday presents. Just a few shopping days left, Grandma and Grandpa! (Just kidding, I don't need more toys.)

Olivia steps

When I picked Olivia up at daycare yesterday, she walked about 8 feet to come see me.

I haven't had the opportunity to get a good shot of Olivia walking, but here's a movie of one of her earlier attempts (October 12.)

Olivia eating apples

At Margaret's request.

More Olivia movies on the way

About 10 days ago, Olivia took her first steps on her own. She's gradually getting more confident with standing on her own and taking a few steps. I'll try to get a movie over the weekend.

Olivia Movie III

Olivia loves 'flap' books and has gotten quite proficient at opening the flaps. She has also started bringing books to me, as if she's asking me to read them to her. I think she's more interested in the mechanical aspect of reading (flipping through pages) than the cerebral aspect.

Another Olivia movie

Olivia Movie

Things I wish I knew

A lot of my friends are having babies, so I thought I'd write a few things I've learned in the past year.

1) Go ahead, pick them up when they're crying. Let them sleep next to you or fall asleep on top of you. You can't spoil them when they're under 6 months old, they're not smart enough to be manipulative yet.

2) Start pumping and storing early! Buy extra pump parts to have a set at home and at the office.

3) The Lanisoh plastic bags were great for stockpiling pumped milk (pumping while I was home with the baby.) Once we transitioned to daycare, the Evenflo glass bottles were far easier to use with the pump and for transportation/storage. I stopped freezing milk for daycare (except on Thursdays and Fridays,) as thawed frozen milk should theoretically be thrown away after 24 hours, but fresh milk can theoretically be kept for up to a week.

4) Diaper changing will get easier. Once they're about 4 months old, there's only one poop a day.

5) Once they reach the less frequent poop phase, pocket diapers are awesome for home use. They're easier to put on than paper diapers and more ecologically friendly. I bought some from this site and also this site.

6) Provided the poops have become less frequent, airline travel is EASIER between 4-8 months than after 9 months (as they get older they start to wriggle and squirm more.)

7) When we didn't beg, borrow, or steal baby gear, we tried to find it used. Find the local parent newsgroup or message board in your area and start your subscription while your still pregnant. In Berkeley, it would be parents.berkeley.edu. In San Francisco, it would be Golden Gate Mother's Group.

How do you like them apples?

What is Olivia up to in this picture?
a) eating apples from grandpa's tree
b) auditioning for the role as Snow White's evil stepmother.

Another visit to the pediatrician

Olivia had another pediatrician appointment today. Apparently, by now kids are supposed to start demonstrating some cognitive and language capabilities. Olivia may be a bit behind the curve in her communication development and we need to start being more communicative with her. (This might also have to do with the fact that she has Chinese speaking daycare providers.) However, she's advancing quite well physically and with her motor skills.

Height -- 29 inches (75th percentile)
Weight -- 18 lbs 10 oz, 25th percentile.
Head circumference -- 46 inches, 75-90th percentile.

Well, we all know that it's more important to be tall and thin than smart.

We also got shots, the Polio Vaccine and a Flu Vaccine.

My first sick day

Olivia woke up (several times) last night with a fever. So, we're having our first sick day (although if you ask me, she seems as energetic as always and just a little warm.)