Out Like a Lamb?

Mateo doesn't think so! He thinks March is hanging on to lion status as long as possible. He glimpsed the sun for a bit today and was lulled into thinking spring was here - alas, it's not. Oh well.

This little lamb has been a busy boy the past week. He grabs his bottle himself, although he's not too steady with it. A-plus for effort, though!



At the end of last week, he started grabbing his feet - both at once! It's so cute. He especially enjoys grabbing his tootsies when he's hanging out on his changing table in the buff! We'll try to get a pic of him in action this week.
Speaking of Mateo in the buff, Grandma has been letting him chill on his changing table sans diaper for a little bit. Today, he decided to pee all over himself, his outfit and his changing table...twice! When ya gotta go, ya gotta go, people.

Mateo likes to grab everything with both hands (including Mommy's hair). He puts everything he grabs in his mouth - could teething be in his near future? Joy.



On Sunday, Mateo met up with his friend, Ryan, at Alki. Mateo, Mommy and Daddy had brunch with Ryan, his grandparents, Jim and Mary Pat (visiting from the Chicago area), and his parents, Kate and Brandon.



The sun was out on Alki, so Daddy and Brandon staged a little daddy stroller derby. Note the matching strollers and cheesy grins. ;-)



Mateo has been a very good boy this week - he has taken two solid naps each day, giving Grandma a much-deserved rest. He's also eating up all of Mommy's supply of stored breast milk! We think he's going through (another!) growth spurt! Pretty soon, he'll fit into those 3T sleepers Tia Nena gave him for Christmas!

Pppppfffffffffffffffftttttttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhht!

The kid in action:

Twins!

And they didn't even plan it!

Zerbert Central

Mateo has discovered the joy of zerberts - he's constantly pursing his little lips and making poot noises. It's super cute! He also discovered his tongue and spends time sticking it out, biting it between his gums, and going pfffftttthhhh.



The little guy spent last week hanging out with Grandma. They had loads of fun! Mateo is getting used to Mommy being at work during the day...we're all adjusting pretty well! Mateo even deigned to take a bottle! He missed breastfeeding all day at first, but now he's an old hand at bottlefeeding.


He has also started putting everything he grabs into his mouth, and he's getting more dexterous with those little hands. He can grab with both hands and maneuver with the best of 'em!

Faith and Begorrah

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Okay, okay - even though he really isn't Irish, Mateo wanted to wish everyone a happy day filled with corned beef, cabbage, and green stuff!



The past few days have been very eventful. Mateo spent the weekend hanging out with Aunt Kelsey, and he got to meet Tracey and Sean for the first time. They were visiting from San Francisco for the weekend! He was impressed with Sean's grin - look at all those teeth! Mateo hopes he gets a tooth or two someday soon!



He has been adjusting to his new life with a working mommy. Mateo hangs out with Grandma during the day while Mommy is at work and plays with Mommy when she gets home. We are trying to establish a schedule where mommy goes in earlier and comes home as early as possible to cuddle with Mateo (and finish any work after he goes to bed). It was pretty hard the first day, but the second was a little better, and he hopes he will get used to things pretty quickly. Mateo enjoys every minute he has with his mommy and daddy, and they love him more than anything!!!

4 Months, I Say

How can Mateo be four months old already?! He keeps growing - pretty soon, he'll be heading off to college...just as soon as he masters rolling from back to front!



Mateo has been enjoying his last week with Mommy before she heads back to work. Mommy will be more traumatized by the change than he will! This week, Mateo went shopping, walked the pups, went to PEPS, enjoyed the sunshine, and spent lots of quality time with mommy. He has been enjoying tummy time in the nude, although we're sure he'll live to regret these photos some day when mommy breaks them out to show his future significant other. ;-)



Mateo went to the doctor today for his 4 month checkup. He is extremely healthy! In fact, he's at the top of the charts for head circumference, weight and height. He weighs 16 lbs 10 oz (83rd percentile) and is 26.5 inches long (94th percentile). The doctor said he's as big as a six-month-old! Whoa Mateo! No wonder he's growing out of his 3-6 month clothes already. What a little bruiser.



He's such a fun little guy - he's spent the last weeks mastering new skills, like grabbing his rattles, throwing toys on the floor, chewing on his toys, shoving his entire fist in his mouth, and playing the annoying music on the Exersaucer over and over and over and over and over. Good times! Mateo definitely rules the roost in West Seattle!

Spring Forward

Yesterday, Mateo met a new friend, Cora, and spent some time with Nathan while his mommy chatted with Melissa and Kaye.



Last night, Mateo was on his best behavior so his mommy and daddy could go out to celebrate Aunt Kris' birthday. He spent the evening with Uncle Joe's parents, who kindly offered to watch Makayla, Jack and Mateo! Reid and Linda truly are rock stars! According to reports, Mateo only fussed a little and was a good boy for most of the evening.

Mateo also slept better last night than he has in 4 days (the multiple nighttime wakings are killing mommy right now). He was excited for daylight savings!

The Lip Strikes Again

Mateo met Chad today for lunch at Elliott Bay Brewery. He had fun looking at the ceiling fans and was a very good boy. However, toward the end of lunch, the pouty lip made an appearance:



Earlier in the week, Mateo went to PEPS to discuss television and its effects on brain development. He took a walk with the pups to the dog park and napped so mommy could paint her table.

He also spent time with his monkey friend - he is a little monkey boy, after all.

Giggle Head

This is what happened when mommy tried to put Mateo down for a nap this afternoon. He's laughing because he foiled any and all attempts at an afternoon nap. The giggle monster strikes again!

Sit and Be Fit

Mateo is diggin' the Exersaucer. Yes, folks, it is as fun and exciting as it sounds! It involves noisy toys, dangly things, beeping, bouncing, rolling, and springs. What could be better?

He is such a tall baby, and he's gotten so good at holding his head up, that he decided it was time to take the 'Sauce for a spin. And boy howdy did he enjoy himself! Observe:




Dutch tried to get in on the action, but he wouldn't fit in the seat...



The 'Sauce is just shy of displacing the Stim as the apparatus most capable of holding Mateo's attention. Let's give it a few more weeks and see what happens...

Um, Mateo, I think you forgot something...


Mateo is very confused about Seattle's weather this week. Sunday was dreary and rainy, but Monday and Tuesday were sunny! In fact, it was so nice yesterday that Mateo and mommy took the pups to the dog park. Today, it nearly hit 60 degrees! Mateo went to Home Depot with mommy to get some paint for a table painting project (although it's uncertain whether Mateo will give mommy enough down time to actually get started). After the Depot, Mateo and mommy took a walk at Lincoln Park. They made it back just in time...rain drops started falling just as they left the parking lot to head home. Phew!

In Like a Lion...

March is here, and Mateo hopes spring comes soon! He'd like to comment on the first day of March. In his humble opinion:


"What's with the rain, ma?!"

The kid has become quite the Stanford fan...or maybe his mom likes to force the onesie on him while it still fits. ;-)



Mateo is becoming such a big boy! The past few nights, he slept in his crib in his own room. He seems to be adjusting well, although we've all learned that 3 nights does not a trend make in Mateo's world. He falls asleep by himself right away - such a good boy. While he's been waking up 30-45 minutes earlier than he had been for his 4 a.m. feeding, he's doing really well.



Mateo made the rounds this weekend. Friday, he visited Amy. She was in for the weekend for a quick trip. Saturday, Mateo went to Amy and Rob's wedding shower at Library Bistro. He enjoyed some lovely breast milk while everyone else dined on brunch fare. That night, Mateo went to Clay and Robin's with his mom and dad. He saw friends Derek and Warren and even let Ambika hold him without fussing! Derek got to enjoy a yummy cupcake while Warren and Mateo made due with...you guessed it...milk!


Sunday, Mateo spent the day with mom and dad. He helped them decorate the house and clear out some stuff for Goodwill (by sitting in his swing for more than 5 minutes). Now, it's time to rest and get ready for the week ahead!