Flickr Update

Flickr has been updated with July pictures. Lots from our 4th of July weekend at the cabin and Oscar eating. Enjoy!

more summer adventures

More exciting adventures in food and eating. Carrots are another food that can now be added to Oscar's list. They were homemade and he really liked them, of course. Matt actually had to stop him from finishing all of them, so he wouldn't over do it. He enjoyed those carrots while sitting in his highchair for the first time. He thought that was pretty cool. It was really nice to have him sitting at the table (instead of on it, in the bumbo) to feed him... but he also sat there during our meals this week. It felt like he was part of the family, having dinner together and contributing to the conversation.

We went to a pool party last week, hosted by Curt and Timm. I found him a floaty with a canopy on it. He happily floated around, chillin' and watching all the other kiddos splash around.

Oscar is still working hard at moving around. He has quickly figured out how to turn around to reach toys that he wants. He will even turn himself around to see where all the action is... Maggie walking by, Matt or I talking or leaving the room. He is really trying to figure out the crawling thing... soon enough.

Next week Oscar is going to be 6 months old! We will be celebrating in St. Louis. See you then.

sit and spin

He keeps getting cuter every day... but I guess I would think that.

(That is a head of lettuce in his mouth. I stepped out of the room for a moment - when I came back he was just hangin' out with that in his mouth. He was smiling behind it, like he knew it was funny.)


More food this last week. Sweet potatoes, bananas, peas, and apples... I purchased some jars of baby food and he loved them all. This past weekend our neighbors lent us a book about making your own baby food - which will be my project today. So glad that I have that food mill (never been used before - I knew I would eventually have a use for it!).


















Oscar is doing great sitting up! He can even catch himself when he starts to tip over. His newest trick (yesterday) ... he will do big push-ups to rotate his body. He's not very fast but I have a feeling that he is soon going to realize that if he pulls his knees up under his body he is really going to get somewhere.

Videos are a little slow and long, sorry... but he's so cute, right?

BELLY SPIN

SITTING

We heart summer!

So, this week's exciting adventure was the introduction of a few new foods. First was avocado. It was a hit! We couldn't get it into his mouth fast enough, and he didn't let much of it go to waste. Second, was bananas. He seemed very interested but had a sour face after trying to swallow it. As soon as he got it down or spit it out he would then open his mouth like he wanted more. We will have to keep trying... I think the delicious sweetness was just a little surprising to those virgin taste buds. I think for now we will stick to these few items as well as the rice cereal. Maybe in a few more weeks we will experiment with some veggies.

Oscar is currently fascinated and thoroughly entertained by Maggie. He is always watching her, if he hears her walking by he will look to see where she's going, and if she's with in arms length he will try to reach out to touch her. She as well seems just as interested in him - smelling him, trying to lick his face and hands, and she always has to be in his room or just outside the door for diaper changes and feedings. So, she was feeling playful the other night and came running into the room with a toy, squeaking away - he has apparently never seen anything funnier! He was laughing and watching her, and every time I threw the toy he would laugh even more. It was very cute. I think she liked the attention from him also... it was almost like she was trying to show off for him. They are sure to become good friends as time goes by.

He is getting very strong. The back to belly roll has been perfected but the belly back roll is still apparently for crib time only... and usually while trying to fall asleep. He has been practicing sitting up! He is good for a few minutes and eventually tips over. It almost looks like he's trying to scoot too. I think he knows there is more too all this sitting and rolling over, he just can't quite figure out what's next. I'm in no hurry for all that. He's going to be all over the place soon enough. (I'll try to catch some sitting on video for next week)

Here are a few more pics from our weekend. On Saturday we had our Bradley class over for a BBQ... so fun to see the babies growing together. Sunday we went over to Laura and Levi's for a Paella party. On both occasions we had absolutely perfect weather, Oscar was his usual mellow self and the food was delicious!

Happy 4th of July!

Oscar is now 5 months old!

We went to the Northwoods to celebrate the 4th of July holiday. Oz enjoyed his first boat ride! Amazingly enough he didn't even mind the life-vest. He was very interested and happy to observe it all. He dipped his toes in the lake and got to see his daddy do some wakeboarding!

On the 4th the whole family went to see the Land 'O Lakes 4th of July parade. A good time was had by all... watching the "floats" (very amusing) and catching candy, it's a Northwoods experience and tradition .
































Oscar, like his parents, sees food as a highlight of any event. He has continued to do great with eating cereal... but this weekend he got his first taste of watermelon!

mmmmm, watermelon

first boat ride

dip in the lake

Flicker Update

Flickr has been updated with June pictures. Enjoy!

good weekend

We have had another good week. Oscar has been practicing sitting up on his own... and is making some good progress. On Thursday we had a play date with some of the other mom's and babies from our Bradley class. They are all growing up so fast! Oscar was only mildly interested in the other kiddos... he was too busy sucking on his hands, toys, or anything he can get in his mouth and rolling over.


Oscar attended another fancy art event this weekend. Osgood Dogood, hosted by Springboard for the Arts. Matt's sister, Laura, is the executive director of this wonderful arts non-profit... so we went to show our support! Ron and Lori were in attendance as well as the rest of the Zabel clan (minus the little girls), so Oscar got all the attention. He was a party animal and stayed awake for most of the evening... and didn't make a peep the whole night! He's such a good little guy.




Oscar also had his first visit the pool at Nana and Papa's this weekend. As usual, he was very mellow and seemed to enjoy it. Irene and Laura were there also... Irene was happy to show him how it goes. We were not there very long but he was tuckered out afterward.








Next weekend is 4th of July and we will be heading to the cabin in the Northwoods. It's sure to be another weekend of firsts!