Ping Pong's First Birthday Party!

This weekend was my very first birthday party! We had a great time celebrating with some of my favorite people!

First, my brand new friend, Max stopped by for a little pre-party.



Also, my Aunt Rachey and Uncle Charlie came up from NYC to spend the whole day with us!



After my friends arrived and we all played for a little while...



It was time for cupcakes! Mom made me a very special Very Hungry Caterpillar (cup)Cake!



Here's the big moment on film:



It was as delicious as it was cute! Just like me.



Poki won the fight with Joe and got to eat the caterpillar's face...and then went into sugar shock.



He wasn't the only one.



But I recovered quickly and got back to the party!



Thanks to all our friends for making this such a special party for all of us! We love you!

Happy Birthday, Ping Pong!

My sweet Ping Pong,

When you were born, I felt guilty knowing that I would never be able to give you the attention I gave your brother. I knew you would have something wonderful from the very beginning that he did not—a sibling—but that sibling is a strong-willed, extremely loud, brilliant kid. I knew it would be easy for his shadow to cover you, and so, like all mothers inevitably do, I worried. Boy, did you show me. In the flash of time that has been your first year, you have proven yourself to be even more strong-willed, even louder (that screech!), and just as bright as your big brother. You are a presence all your own, my love. No one, not even your crazy brother, can hide you.

Everyone said I would be amazed that I could love another child as much as I loved my first, but I had no idea how true that was until you got here. I am so in love with you. I am so grateful for you. You have done something amazing to our family. The other day, we were all playing together on the floor, and I stepped back for a minute and just watched my three guys. I couldn’t believe that there was ever a time when you weren’t there. It feels like you were just born a month ago, but I have to work to remember our family without you. From that first cry, you changed us.

I love you, Pork Chop.

Happy Birthday!

Mom

1...

Then...



Now...



Sigh...How did that happen?

2...

Today is the day before my birthday! It is also Ash Wednesday, which seems oddly appropriate: A day of repentance right before my new start as a one year old. Well...as much as an almost one year old can repent.

3...

Today I got my very first birthday card. Boy, the big day is really almost here!



This is also a great opportunity to show you one my new tricks: Pointing! I point at everything and say "da!", which my Mom thinks is my way of asking what something is.



Thanks for the birthday card, Aunt Tata! We'll always remember who gave me the first one!

4...

Photos by Poki

5...

This weekend, Babi and Babushka came for a pre-birthday birthday party. Babi and Poki even made me a cake!



While they were busy in the big person kitchen, I was hard at work in the little guy kitchen.



Here I am taking my favorite dish out of the oven.



Then, today, we had my party!



Poki thought the cake was delicious!





But what did I think of my very first bite of cake? Chocolate cake?





Mmmmm...What is this stuff?



You need some too!



No seriously, what is this stuff?



Thanks Babushka and Babi! What a fun pre-party!

6...

Please enjoy the ridiculous cuteness that is me:

7...

Sorry for the missed post yesterday! Mom had a stomach bug that has been sweeping the city and just wasn't up to it. We'll catch up today though.

For our first of today's countdown, I thought I'd share something awesome about myself that you might not know: I go to sleep really well. I might not stay asleep really well, but I go to sleep really well. For example, this week, we've had a contractor in our house building me a room (Happy Birthday to me!) so I've been napping in a pack-n-play in the kitchen. Mom was a little worried about the quality of my naps because, you know, babies aren't exactly fans of change, but I've done really well. She just stuck to her regular routine of nursing me, then singing a lullaby (my latest favorite is "Great Big Stars"--I even sing the first three notes with her), then putting me in my bed with a board book. I look at my board book until I fall asleep. Pretty awesome, huh? Today, she forgot to grab a book from upstairs, so she gave me my funny blanket to look at instead. It was a gift from my Aunt La La and I think it is pretty much the funniest thing ever. I snuggle with it and kiss all the different decapitated animals. (It's really not as gross as that sounds). About 5 minutes later, Mom peeked into the kitchen and snapped these:







All together now: "Awwwww!"

I know, right?! I'm insanely adorable.

8...

For today's birthday countdown post, I thought I would share some cool big boy things I've been doing lately.

First of all, this is my favorite toy. I could play with this thing for minutes. (Hey, "minutes" is good for a kid my age!) This is a little long, but honestly, Mom sort of forgot she was even filming.



Now this one is something I can't believe we haven't shown you until now. Shortly after we returned home from our Christmas vacation, I started pulling up and cruising around on furniture. So this is something Mom should have posted about months ago, but, as you all know, I'm the second child. Anyway, here is some video of me on the move. If I wasn't such an expert crawler, Mom would say I should be walking on my own any day now--but I am an expert race car crawler. We'll have to get some video of that up soon too! In the meantime...

9...

Here is a picture (that stealthy Granny snapped) of me and my mom from March 2, 2010...



And here we are today! (She looks much happier, right?)



I like to lean into my kisses



Okay, enough kisses, Mom! Sheez...



And one of just the soon-to-be birthday boy!

Let The Countdown Begin! 10...

It is just 10 days until my big day so we're going to celebrate with a post every day until March 10!

One year ago today, Granny arrived in New Haven to meet me. She barely survived the day because she kept trying to take pictures of my mom and her giant belly. She even tried to take pictures of my mom from behind. Anyone want to guess how my mom felt about this? I believe there is a photo floating around somewhere of a very pregnant Mom doing something called "flipping a bird"...whatever that means.

Of course, now Mom is glad to have all those pictures. (Yes, Granny, you were right).

Speaking of pictures, here are a couple of me from this morning! Don't I look good in hats?





Until tomorrow...

Let The Countdown Begin...

Today is my 11 month birthday! To celebrate, I ate the very same big-boy breakfast as my brother!



And I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!



Just 1 month to the big day! Can you believe it? No one here can. In fact, it's hard to believe it was a year ago that mom was sleeping with a stopwatch next to her bed because her doctors were telling her I could come at any moment!

10 Months???? Seriously?!

Where has the time gone? And how can I get it back?

Happy 10 Month Birthday, Ping Pong!

I have mountains of videos and photos to post...just as soon as I find that dang camera cord. In the meantime, here are a few things you can look forward to seeing a 10-month-old Ping Pong do:

1)Wave and say "Hi!"
2)Say "Uh-oh!" (His first word)
3)Pull up
4)Walk while holding someone's hand
5)Raise his arms to show "Sooooo BIG!" when someone asks how big he is
6)Dance (And let me tell you, it's the cutest thing you will EVER see)
7)Sing "La la"
8)Flash a four-toofer smile
9)Drink water from a real cup
10)Feed himself with a spoon
11)Blow kisses

And much, much more!

Coming soon!!! (Now where is that camera cord???)

9 Month Stats

Well, it's official. I'm a peanut. My mom has been suspecting this for a while, but the doctor confirmed it this morning. The baby who looked 6 months old at birth now looks...well, 6 months old.

Here are my stats:
Height: 27 1/4 inches (15th percentile)
Weight: 19 lbs 6 oz (20th percentile)
Head circumference: 45 1/4 cm (40th percentile)

See? Peanut!

This is so strange for my mom to see because Poki was such a chunk. He was always around the 75th percentile for height, 90th for weight, and...well...40th for head circumference. We've got that one thing in common. It just goes to show how different brothers can be!

We did get some pretty fantastic news at the doctor today: I no longer have to take prevacid! No medication for me! Mom's still cutting dairy and soy from her diet, but soon, she should be able to eat some dairy again. Pretty awesome, huh?

In other growing baby news, my first top tooth broke through today and the second is following close behind!

ps
Check back in tomorrow for footage of Poki's first Preschool Christmas Program!

9 Months!

Yep--can you believe it? I've been out longer than I was in! Well, sort of...I was a bit late. (Don't think my mom has forgotten).

Mom still thinks of me as a tiny baby, but the truth is, I've suddenly been doing a lot of big baby stuff.

I want to stand all the time.



Even without holding onto anything!



I'm still scooting around on my belly when I want to get someplace, but most of my time is spent either rocking on all fours or practicing yoga. No really, just check out my downward dog!



But mostly, I just like doing whatever my big brother is doing. He's pretty much the coolest, funniest guy I know.



Sometimes my mom feels guilty for not being able to give me the attention she gave Poki in his first few years, but then she remembers that I have something he didn't: a sibling right from the start. We have so much fun together--now more than ever! And it's just going to get more fun! This is only the first 9 months, after all!

Happy Eight Months!

Today Ping Pong is 8 months old! I wish I had some adorable picture or video to post, but unfortunately, poor Ping Pong is very sick. He's terribly dehydrated following 4 days with the stomach flu. Send healing thoughts our way and hopefully we'll get some cute pictures up before you know it!

7 Pictures For 7 Months

ps
Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Blah Blah Blah Blah...

Today is my half-birthday! I'm 6 months old! And I've got a lot to say about it.

5 Months (+ 1 day)

I turned 5 months yesterday! Can you believe how quickly time is flying? Mom let the day go by without taking a picture of me, but here is a super cute one of me from Sunday.



Thanks so Alan and Nancy for the adorable Red Sox uniform.

Many people have been saying that I look just like my brother (click here for his 5 month birthday post), but Mom found this picture recently and thinks I have a bit if her in there too.



Need a split screen?



Weird, huh? Mom can't believe she has a child that remotely resembles her after my big brother looked so much like Daddy.