This was a big month for me, in part because my new baby cousin was born, so I got to make a special trip to Washington, D.C. with Mommy to meet her.  I flew on a plane without any incident, and talked the ears off the ladies across the aisle from me!  I’m very chatty now, and I said “Mama” for the first time on July 3, 2016.  Although I don’t say it with intention, it sure makes Mommy pretty happy.  I’ve also figured out how to clap (did it for the first time on July 24, 2016) and will do it back to you if you’re willing to demonstrate.

I’m also becoming more adventurous with table foods, and have tried finger-food blueberries, cheese, salmon, and peas.  I liked them all!  Now I’m eating 4 ounces of pureed fruit at breakfast, 4 ounces of pureed veggies and 4 ounces of finger foods at lunch, and 6 ounces of finger food/purees for dinner.  I’ve been a little less enthusiastic about my milk, and recently went on strike at daycare.  Mommy and Daddy have figured out that if they switch my two 6 oz bottles back to four 4 oz bottles then I’m more likely to drink them.  I’m more of a snacker than a concerted bottle drinker nowadays.  This could, of course, be attributed to teething.  I got my third tooth (another one on the bottom left) on July 10, 2016.  So now I’m rocking a cute asymmetrical smile on the bottom and nothing on the top.

I had my nine month appointment a little late, so Mommy can now report that I weigh 20 lbs 12 oz, am 28 inches long, and have an 18.5 cm head.  In other words, I’m big and healthy (50th percentile for height and 70th for weight, with a head that’s just barely back on the charts).  Oh, and another development … my hair’s officially curly!

Current likes: feeding myself

Current dislikes: having my nails clipped or my pajamas put on

Summer is in full swing, and I’m living ice cream season to the fullest, attempting to stain every shirt I own!  As soon as this picture was taken I looked at Mommy and said, “whoa, this ice-cream is LITERALLY melting everywhere.”  It was, indeed.

My school has switched over to “summer camp,” which means they sent home a portfolio of all my artwork over the past year, and as you can see, I’m in full boy-mode.  Most of my waking hours are spent impersonating a dinosaur.  Sometimes it’s because I love them (“velociraptors are the fastest!”), and sometimes it’s inadvertent, because I’m having a toddler meltdown and growling uncontrollably.  Mommy and Daddy are going to switch tactics and try a sticker chart for positive reinforcement.  When I use my nice words to tell them calmly how I’m feeling I’ll get a sticker, and then I can trade stickers in for rewards.  It’s worth a shot, right?

Current likes: Vanilla (sometimes “manilla”) ice cream

Current dislikes: Actually being left alone after I tell someone to leave me alone

I’ve been brushing my own teeth for a while (well, mostly sucking the toothpaste off the toothbrush, but sometimes I let Mommy get in there for a more thorough cleaning).  But now that I’m a big three-year-old it’s time to start going to the pediatric dentist.  I made my first visit on July 15, 2016 and it was “sports day” in the office, so I got to wear my Giants jersey.  Everybody was really nice to me and I even liked the dentist … until he tried to look in my mouth.  Tears were shed, but I made it out unscathed and without any apparent cavities or issues.  Then I saw a really cool beetle in the parking lot and forgot all about the trauma I’d just endured.  Somedays it’s great to have a the attention span of a gnat!

Jack here, everybody!  Now that Lena’s very mobile, Mommy and Daddy have to find a way to keep her safe and contained while she plays.  The intent of the Baby Zone is to keep her away from my many toys with tiny pieces, but I love playing with her so much that I wind up bringing some of my toys inside her gate to play together.  Sometimes I’ll even share my favorites with her.