He'll grow into it

You got to start them early. Training wheels, shmaining wheels.

He'll grow into it
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

These are my toys and I'm not giving them up

His favorite by far is the library lion on the right. Greenbean, dragonfly and bug on a flower are close seconds.

These are my toys and I'm not giving them up
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Talking

Talking
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Enough said.

Holding Rattle

Grammy Dixie asked for at least a photo a week, so here are some more.

I started work this week, so Xander went to daycare for a full day on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. It's pretty exhausting for me, but I'll get used to it. It is very nice to get things done at work though. At home, I get stuff done based on baby time--ten minutes here, ten minutes there.

Xander is beginning to grab and hold things now. He also tries to lift his head when he's on his back. He enjoys flying with daddy and is starting to laugh. He smiles when he sees us.

Holding Rattle
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Xander's First Beach Trip

Today was a big day for Xander. After waking up at 6:30 am, he spent the morning playing with his parents.

At noon, the whole family went to the gym. Xander slept while mommy and daddy took turns bouldering and stretching. Mommy weighed Xander on the gym scale and discovered that he weighs fourteen pounds now--almost double his birth weight.

It was an unusually warm day, about 70 degrees, so the family spent the afternoon at Stinson Beach. During his first trip to the beach Xander managed to get sand on his head and in his ear. (Just a few windblown grains.) Though daddy threatened to dip Xander's little baby feet in the freezing cold ocean, mommy intervened.

In the evening, Xander reached out with both hands to grab a toy hanging in front of him. This is the first time he has been able to do that.

Xander is now sleeping peacefully, clean after a bath, full after a meal, and ready to go to daycare tomorrow.

Xander's First Beach Trip
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Even More Nicknames

It just keeps getting more ridiculous:

• Mr. Moop
• Wonderbug
• Grumplestiltskins
  
• Cutie-cutes
• Mr. Kicks-a-lot
• Mr. Burps-a-lot
• Sweetie-bert
• Boo-boo (also the nickname of Jen & Steve's dog Gear)
• Mr. Fuss-bert
• Sir Fuss-a-lot
• Xander Bander
• Mr. Poops-a-lot
• Mr. Farts-a-lot

Will he know his real name?

Xander Gets a Bath

I just had to post this photo, because Xander is so cute when he gets his bath. He usually enjoys it a lot.

Xander Gets a Bath
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Xander's Big Trip

Keri & her boy Michael visited from New York this week and spent lots of time holding Xander. Baby loves to sleep on Keri's shoulder.

Keri, Xander and I went on BART and Muni to see the Urban Garden for the Environment (Keri's friend Blair gave us a tour) and the California Academy of Sciences (Keri's friend Rachel gave us a tour). It was a big day, and Xander did really well.

We had a trial run of daycare yesterday, which went well. It will be difficult to pump enough milk for him to drink during the day, though. I'm trying to build up a several-day supply.

He starts daycare three days a week on January 19th. I'm looking forward to being back at work, but concerned about by ability to ballance everything.

Click on the photo for more photos of Xander's trip

Keri and Xander
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland

Smiley Guy

Xander is eight weeks old now, and seems like a little man. He smiles and goos and coos and is a sweet charmer.

We spent Christmas at Grandma Dixie's in Massachusetts. Xander met his great aunts, uncles and first cousins once removed. He also met Great-grandma Connie.

Xander did really well on the flights--he didn't fuss too much, and it was easy to soothe him when he did. The only snag is that our stroller and car seat that we checked at the gate didn't make it to San Francisco. They left all the strollers and car seats in Boston, so there were eight families from the flight dealing with baggage claim at 11:30 pm after a nearly 7 hour flight. They lent us all car seats. We were supposed to get our stuff today, but they haven't dropped it off yet.

Click on the photo to see more from Christmas.

Smiley Guy
Originally uploaded by lauren buckland