Off we go again...

*Mateo more facinated with the paper, than the gifts*

Below *Someone asked if the bear is special. Yes! It is, it was given to me from my grandpa for MY first Christmas.*

I just finished unpacking and here I need to do it again (as in NOW, what am I doing on here?!?!). BUT I am NOT complaining. This time we are taking Mateo to meet an oma, great-great uncle, his only great-great-grandparent, cousins of my mom's I've never met, plus he gets to see grandma and auntie again! What a spoiled guy.

Today I was in amazement at how much he is changing. I know it sounds cliche, but he is growing so fast! Today I stuck him on his play mat and in a few minutes he was off of it by scooting, rolling and pushing. I kind of thought I was silly when I set up the play corner last week, but it was just in time! I would prefer he roll around on the foam tiles, than on the hard, cold ones.

He is a very

active guy, who is starting to talk all the time. So many happy gurgles and conversations. He laughs and smiles at everyone, really the charmer.

His 3rd tooth came in on his cousin's birthday last week; I think #4 will be here soon and #5 not long after!

Finally this month we will have something new to write on his calendar for the "Food" line. He started with carrots :) Yes, a healthy little fellow.

I have said it before, but I know about baby stuff in 'Belgian' and 'Dutch' terms. Here they start the babies on vegatable puree between 4 and 6 months. Eventually they add in fruits or cereals. My conclusion of why they introduce veggies here first is 'worst first.' Also I have heard that a lot of the baby food in America has unhealthy addatives (salt, sugar, lalala), but here it seems healthier, so I think that is why they are easier about starting them earlier. *Doesn't he seem to be enjoying them?*

I had planned to EBF till 6 months, but after having 2 nights of him up 5x to

eat, I wanted to try AND the first day he had carrots was the first day he slept through (in Belgium, in America he figured it out without the carrots). I don't know if it was coincidence, but every day he has had carrots, he has slept like 5-8 hours! A few days were too busy to spend the time to give them (wow, that sounds so selfish of me!)

I am going to try to make my own baby food. It seems easy enough with this babycook (steams and blends veggies). I am borrowing in from my SIL (story of my life).

*I just love this, yesterday I looked and he had fallen asleep holding on to his toy. BTW, these are his Baby's First Christmas pajamas. He has worn them since Thanksgiving, because I was afraid they wouldn't fit at Christmas. They are 9m.

4 months

Looks who turned 4 months in America! Thankfully the monkey was with us for some fun shots. I will try to do the calendar ones tomorrow. Monkey was accidentally left, but he will be returned in time for 5 month photos.

This was a month full of firsts for our little guy! Before our long journey, he ended up going to the doctor again for an ear infection. We go on Thursday for his check-up and shots. I think he weighs 20 lbs and is 68 cm. He is wearing 6-9M.

Mateo really changed on our trip. He is became more talkative and interactive. His first tooth popped out October 31 and his 2nd November 4. His hair started to grow and he is almost rolling over.

Book Shower

Mom wanted to have me a shower when I visited with Mateo. I thought that sounded fun, because it would be a great way to see many people. My friend had suggested a book shower, so I sent the idea to mom and off we went. It was such a success! I was so glad we did it that way. We asked people to instead of a gift, bring a book and write in it, instead of a card.

I received so many amazing books. So many cool books I never new existed. I have textured books, hologram books, chubby board, coloring, the full Beatrix Potter series, Bible, recordable, and many more! Thank you everyone! It is also very special all the personalized messages in them.

We did a Curious George theme, which worked out perfectly because he received quite a few Curious George books. I, unfortunately, did not take many photos of the little-man-of-honor.

My friend, K, made the cupcakes. I keep dreaming about them. I have never tried the ones at Safeway for $2, but I am sure these are 10x better! She made Reeses (chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing, covered in hard chocolate), Red Velvet and Carmel Apple (one of the yummiest things I have ever had in my entire life!)

3 months

I am wondering if my little guy is teething. I thought I was imaging 'seeing' the 2 front teeth under the skin, but my SIL and MIL both told me they see them. Of course we do not know how long it will be until they come through, but it seems that Mateo has all the symptoms (or just has a cold, hence the grumpiness, lack of sleep, drooling, eating everything...)

I am going to try to do his monthly photos with the calendar and monkey.

Mateo is a great baby. He seems to have become a bit more sensitive this month, but nothing to complain about.

He has had a few really good nights. This week he has been up once in the night, then again around 7. Pretty much in a routine, but I would prefer if he woke up about an hour or so later. BUT I am not going to obsess about it, because he is going to experience an 8 hour time change this week!

We LOVE our happy, smiley, laughing baby. We are convinced he can say, "Mama." It sure sounds like it when he is having a screaming fit.

He was a healthy 7.070kg (15.5lbs) and 63cm (25in) at his appointment last week. Right now we are dealing with some eczema issues.

The precious one had to go to the doctor this month. He had a cough for a while and it sounded like it was going to his lungs. We got a syrup that really helped. This week it seems that he has the same cough, so we are using the

syrup again.

This is going to be a big month for Mateo. We are travelling to America to introduce (show him off) to my family and frie

nd

s.

Petition

I am sure most of my friends are aware of the situation with Pastor Yosef in Iran. He is a Christian pastor who is sentenced to death just for being a Christian. Please take one minute to sign thispetition!

12 Weeks

Ugg...

The lovely post-partum hair loss has begun! I am sure no one wants to see phones of my white, tile floor COVERED in meter-long brown hairs...