Holiday fun

I'm really thinking I like this holiday thing! After Hanukkah there were way more celebrations, starting with a party with some of my baby friends at our house. We had a blast tearing apart wrapping paper and smushing food into the ground.

Then we got on a plane to go visit Daddy's family in CA. It was a great trip and I got to spend a lot of time with my Granny, Auntie Kerry and Mimi who spoiled me rotten with gifts! I even got my Elmo microphone and Zany Zoo, I was dying for those.

It was a great trip and except for Mama and Daddy's stomach bug, we all had a great time.

Early morning play

This morning I woke up nice and early, 5:00am, so I could have lots of play time for the day. Mama got some video of me talking to my little stuffed clam while standing by myself. This is my new favorite thing to do. Please pardon my bed head.

The NJ crawl

We are back from our wild week on the East Coast! I had a great time meeting so many of Mama's friends and family. The airplane was pretty cool too, the way there I entertained all the other passengers with my different noises and rubbed my pacifier all over the seats, which didn't make Mama very happy. The way home I was so exhausted I slept the whole time!

I had my baby naming ceremony and now my official Hebrew name is Natania, after Mama's Grandpa Nat. It was a really special day and I loved hearing my Rabbi Aunt Leslie sing in Hebrew to me, it was fascinating.

During my trip I mastered my crawl. I think I had to have the NJ air in me to complete my task. Here is a video of me at my Auntie Kristin's house cruising along.

Let it snow

It was the craziest thing when I woke up this morning (at 4:30am, sorry Mama) to find all this white stuff coming from the sky! It is the coolest thing. At first I thought they were bubbles but then I realized it was something entirely different. I had a great day in the white stuff with Mama and Daddy, we took a ride in the car and I talked a lot about the beautiful view. Daddy got out of work early so we lit a fire and enjoyed our first Seattle snow of the year.

9 months

I turned nine months old last week and even though it was a rough day because both Daddy and I were sick, Mama still managed to snap a few shots of me. I go to the doctor tomorrow for my check up, not looking forward to that.

This weekend we went to a town called Leavenworth that is setup like an old Bavarian village. It was really fun. Daddy was happy because he found a veggie Bratwurst to eat.

I'm able to crawl now, but still just being lazy about it. Mama and Daddy keep encouraging me with lots of goodies, and sometimes I humor them and crawl a little. I really like standing up now though and my balance has gotten really good. I'm eating all kinds of foods and talking lots. Looking forward to my first cross country trip next week!

More cheese please

Mama gave me some string cheese as a snack the other day and I really enjoyed it! I think cheese is my new favorite food...I take after my Uncle Benny for sure.

Happy Halloween

I just celebrated my first Halloween! I was a ladybug, as you can see, and though I didn't mind the costume too much, I wasn't in the best mood for my parties. Unfortunately all the parties were at a rough time of day for me, so I did the best I could, but I wasn't always the happiest ladybug.

I had fun with Mama and Daddy and all my baby friends though, they all looked so cute in their costumes. Maybe next year will be my year.

Granny visit

Last weekend was really fun, my Granny came to visit from CA! On Saturday we went pumpkin picking and I got to go on a hayride. I also got to wear my cool pumpkin hat that Mama bought me.

I took Granny to story time at the library and she really had fun seeing all of the other babies and dancing, singing and reading to me. I liked showing her all my favorite things to do. She was working really hard on getting me to crawl, but I'm still just fine rocking on my hands and knees and scooting back.

I've also discovered Sesame Street. Daddy and I like to watch it in the mornings.

Voice of an angel

Here's some video of me chatting it up last week. Auntie Katy and her new baby Capucine were over and I had a lot to share with everyone.

8 months

Yesterday I turned 8 months old, not an especially exciting day but Mommy and Daddy seemed sentimental again. Even though I've given up on sleep, they still love me.

Here are some pictures of my recent adventures. My Auntie Kerry came to visit and brought me lots of toys! I really enjoyed my time with her, especially my first trip to the Aquarium. I just love those sea otters (Mama made me write that, she's obsessed with them.)

Also a photo of me helping Mama with the laundry, she always says I'm such a good helper. Not sure why Dad snickers every time she says that. You'll notice my cheeks look a little red, I apparently have eczema. Daddy had it as a baby too but I'm feeling much better after I went to the dermatologist.

Rock n' Roll

It has been a huge week for me! I was hanging out with Dad and I figured out how to get from my back to my stomach and back again. It was really fun and now I just can't stop doing it. I also figured out how to scoot backwards. It's kind of frustrating though because I get stuck and someone has to rescue me. As of yesterday, I can get up on my hands and knees. Mama keeps saying her life is about to be over, not sure why she's being so dramatic about my new discovery.

Yum Yum Mum Mums

Check me out eating these great crackers called Mum Mums. Auntie Amber recommended them to Mama and I just love them, even though they dry like cement and make me very difficult to clean up.

Adventures

It has been a crazy week around here! It all started with my first Rosh Hashanah, which was super fun. We had a big dinner at the house and Mama was going bonkers trying to get ready for it. I tasted my first bit of chopped liver and wow, that stuff is good. Then our dear family friends The Sanders arrived from CA to spend a few days with us. The best part is they brought along a playmate for me...Grant. We got along really well, stole toys back and forth from each other and tried to ignore all the adults taking millions of pictures and videos.

On Saturday I took my first trip to Canada. I got through the border okay, whoosh. The best part of that trip was that I got to see my Uncle Benny! His band was playing a show in Vancouver so we went for the weekend. I couldn't go to the show b/c it was too loud so Dad stayed in the hotel with me and Mama had a night out. She kept moaning the next day about how tired she was b/c she got back from the show at 2am and I woke her up to eat at 2:45am...just wanted to remind her that things have changed!

Lastly I got to spend some time with Uncle Benny and Aunt Stephanie in Seattle and we had a blast. They took really good care of me and I was obsessed with Aunt Stephanie, I loved to look at her sparkly nose ring. Mama was calling me a baby stalker...whatever, I liked that lady, she likes to go shopping like Mama and I.

So embarrassing

Mom and Dad borrowed this stupid suit from the Mancinos to put me in at night b/c I'm really not down with the swaddling anymore. They really laugh like crazy when I'm in it and it's mortifying. Good thing I'm too tired to fight back. I look like a blue marshmallow, I hope this doesn't ruin my fashion career.

New tricks

Lots of new things going on in my world! I went to the doctor last week for my 6 month check up and I wasn't pleased. The shots were more traumatic than in the past and it made both me and Mama cry. The good news is that I'm healthy and growing well - almost 19 lbs and 26 inches tall.

I really like to hang out w/ my Daddy now, he makes me laugh like no one can. He likes to prop me up on the couch so I can look out the window. I can sit up by myself now for a long time, but sometimes Mama forgets that I'm still not a pro and leaves the room for a minute and I end up face planted into the carpet. She always feels badly about it. I also started Gymboree this week and love it! There are a lot of cool songs and toys and some new friends to play with.

Love,
Nina

The Ninas

Today I hung out with my friend Nina, yup there is another one! Mama and her Mommy bonded in one of our classes because of our names. They like to call us The Ninas. I like staring at the other Nina and grabbing her face, she likes to grab my hair...we're very close.

Pickle face

Mama says I'm definitely half Jewish because yesterday I discovered these delicious things called pickles! I sucked it and screamed when Mama tried to take it away from me. This whole food thing is really cool actually...tonight I got butternut squash and that was pretty good. I also like bananas and apples a lot.

Love,
Nina

I'm six months!!

Today I'm six months old! Here is a photo of me the day Mom and Dad brought me home from the hospital and one from today, wearing the same outfit. As you can see it was really big on me and now it barely snaps. I can't believe how much I've grown.

I'm doing a lot now, including sitting up by myself, making lots of noises, eating my feet and toes, grabbing everything in sight and making my Mom and Dad laugh a lot.

Mama keeps staring at me and getting teary today, talking about how fast time flies. Maybe someday I'll know what she means.

Yuck

Mom and Dad were all excited this weekend and kept looking at me and telling me what a big girl I am. Yesterday they took me to some "First Foods" class which was cool because I got to see some of my friends but mostly it was boring, I slept through the whole thing. Then this morning they put me in this highchair thing and made me lick some orange stuff off their fingers. I'm not really a fan of this substance they call sweet potatoes. They were laughing and flashing the camera and really making a fuss but I still don't like it. I got to play with it and the bowl though, that was way more fun. I heard them say they're going to try it again later.....I'll report back.

Love,
Nina

Yes I can!

So tonight my friend Pierce came over with his parents and we had a little BBQ on the deck. I've decided recently that I really like to lick cold beverage cans so Daddy let me have a go at his beer...that stuff is good!

Helping Dad

Daddy got new golf clubs this weekend so I helped him unwrap them. They are pretty cool, he only let me eat the covers though. As you can see he likes to eat my head, guess I know where I get this whole putting everything in my mouth thing from.

P.S. You may notice the posts are being written by me now, I decided to take over for Mom, I think I have a better way with words than she does.

Love,
Nina

Check out my new trick

I found these really cool things on the bottom of my legs. It's really amazing, I can grab them and put them in my mouth, and they taste great!

Love,
Nina