Month: May 2014

My Dad gave Theo a book last year that we love. It’s called Beautiful Yetta and it is a story about a Yiddish speaking chicken who escapes being turned into soup and is “taken in” by the green parrots of Brooklyn. We learned awhile ago that there are, in fact, green parrots that live in Green-Wood Cemetary near where we live in Brooklyn. Sooo, naturally, we investigated.

At first we didn’t see any. The beautiful entrance has a giant nest near the tippy top and we saw a few pigeons, but that was it. You can see the nest in this photo.

We went into the office so Theo could ask about the parrots. The woman told us they are often seen in the trees lining the drive up to the entrance. We decided to grab some lunch at a cafe across the street and come back to check on them. When we came back, I saw them! We got close in the trees and started to see several.

Theo was so excited and it was really great. We had to go back to the office so Theo could let the woman know that we saw them. We got maps and plan to return on the weekend with Daddy soon. It’s a huge, beautiful cemetary and there are many famous people from history buried there.

We had an awesome family day down at Brooklyn Bridge Park as a great way to kick off the impending summer season. Theo got to play at the Water Lab at Pier 6 for awhile and he was so excited. Ruby debuted her first swimsuit!

She was none too pleased when Daddy dipped her little toesies in the chilly water. We had lunch down there and then strolled over to the newly opened Pier 4, which has a little mini-beach. Theo enjoyed playing in the sand and wading his feet in the chilly water.

A great time had by all. Now back to the work week… can’t believe summer is actually almost here!

Before

I love, love, love Theo’s hair long but he was ready for a summer haircut. He is such a ham it is always a fun outing to take him for a cut. He chats with all the barbers and they always adore him. It really lights up my day to see him so social and friendly and happy. At one point towards the end of the haircut he wanted to hold my hand, but he is very independent as I mostly sat back on the bench with Ruby. He made a new friend and we will definitely be back to this barber for future haircuts.

After (Theo with Vito, the Barber)

Ruby turned four months old on Saturday. We visited the pediatrician a few days ago and she is doing really well. She was 11lbs, 13oz and 24 inches. Still a little peanut in the 8th percentile for weight, but her weight gain is normal for her and she’s healthy. The doctor prescribed some anti-reflux medication to see if perhaps that might help with the spitting up and even help her gain a little more. She has been a lot better, though, overall.

Ruby is getting really fun! She can grab toys and play with them now. She is very smiley and loves to interact with us and watch what is going on. She wants to be sitting up and a part of her surroundings. She laughs, rolls over and loves to make songbird sounds and blow bubbles.

She is sleeping well at night but this week seems to be having a tougher time staying asleep for longer naps during the day. We are trying to figure that out. Now that she is four months I figure we should have more of a routine down but things are still a bit here and there since our days vary so much.

She is doing great and such a sweet addition to things around here.

We spent a beautiful Saturday at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with our friends Dan and Nathalie. Frolicked in the Cherry Esplanade, and watched the Koi fishies in the Japanese Garden. I love that place. We came home with new plants and a tired family.

Oh, and we got a rare family photo!

Ruby is growing much stronger these days. Pushing herself up when she is on her belly, and looking around (usually) to see the whirlwind commotion that is Theo, or to greet Theo as she wakes from her slumber.

She has been rolling over and has great head and neck control. She is grabbing toys a bit and loves to hold onto my thumb when she is nursing. She can’t quite get the toys in her mouth for an extended amount of time, but it will be nice when she can because I know she really wants to gnaw on something. She is teething and drooling a bunch. Ruby also makes the best coos and gurgles and smiles so much.

Four month visit next week so more updates to come…

Theo says, “When is Ruby gonna be big? It’s been sooo long!!!”.

And Ruby just loves him sooo much already. It’s so sweet. Looking up to that big brother.

Ruby visited the pediatrician today. It was sort of an in between visit as she is not quite 4 months yet, but we wanted to have an earlier well visit to check on her weight progress. She will go back in two weeks for her shots and another check-in.

She is 11lbs, 3oz and 24in. The little peanut is only in the 8th percentile. Head circumference was 41in. Ruby checks out great in all areas but the doc is still a bit concerned about her slow weight gain. She IS gaining, so that’s good. And it was a decent gain from the last visit, but of course she’d like to see more.

See, the thing is, Ruby doesn’t like formula so much. Most days she maybe has 2 – 4 ounces of formula supplement total all day. My thought is that this is a good sign. A sign she only needs a little bit extra, but there are times I wonder if she would be eating a lot more if there were more breast milk available to her. It’s upsetting and frustrating at times. She certainly prefers nursing and there are few times where she really takes down the contents of a bottle. More so when it’s breast milk, of course. I continue trying to boost my supply.

Her fussiness/gas has certainly improved and she is generally a happy gal. Very smiley and happy to watch her surroundings and when we play silly with her. It’s hysterical to watch her see her reflection in the mirror. She is so confused! She has very good head control and can push herself up when on her belly and today she really rolled over from belly to back.

Ruby is sleeping well at night. I sometimes feed her around 3am, or so, but often not until 5 or 6am and then she sleeps until 9 or 9:30am. Unless it’s a school day for Theo and I have to get her up to take him to school.

I think Ruby has already entered into the teething zone. Uh oh!