Gus Sez: Merry Christmas and scroll way down for lotsa holiday posts!

Presents!

Gus' First Lefse Dinner (Dad's so proud)

And Gus thought it was DELICIOUS.

Bah Humbug!

This very nice Santy came to Mary Ann's office party. He was very taken with Gus, despite Gus' opinion.

Holiday Family Photos

Thanks to Shawnee Hathaway-Ochs the gifted photographer who was willing to come to us, at our home, and spared two awkward nerds and a very squirmy and EXCITED baby too much posing, time, or effort and still got lovely pictures.

Eight Months!

Gus Can:
Locomote sort of backwards like a crab. It's some kind of proto-crawling, we think.
Make the one and only sign we've ever taught him (it's for "nurse" so it was easily conditioned behavior).
Give hugs and pats.
Pull up if he's in his highchair using the table or on his own using your fingers.
Find objects and people (and our dog) around the room if you ask "where is_____?"
Use a pincher grasp (he loves 'O' cereal, so also an easily conditioned behavior).
Turn pages in books.
Hold attention for longer and longer periods of time--he's actually seeming much like Matt in this respect (focusing and obsessing).
Get excited over familiar books, places, songs, and favorite routines and "ask" for them.
Follow points and have a little back-and-forth with the babbling, etc.--like proto-conversation.
Whine (not all milestones are fun).
Gus Loves:
Nursing
Cheese (the stronger and stinkier, the better)
Garlic crackers
Salmon
Whole wheat pasta with veggies and cheese
Eating off of our plates
Books
Picking up tiny things
Other babies and children
Dogs
Mirrors
Adventure
Gus does not love:
The Carseat (sigh)
Bumping his head (more common with increased mobility)
Anything that resembles "baby" food
Teething (working on the top two)
Being bored

First Snow

Still enjoys a juicy pear

Playdate

It looks more like a wrestling date with his buddy, Ben. Believe me, Ben had the upperhand.

Christmas Tree Farm

Just a couple of free-range turkeys

Zoo

Would do this all day

Hand-me-downs!

BTW--through WWII, pink was considered a color for baby boys and blue was for baby girls. This is just to say that fashion is an expressive and arbitrary artistic medium that is connected to gender only for those who lack imagination. And Gus totally rocks this pink coat and purple hat. Thanks Sibbie!

Seven Months!

Gus Can:
Sit and play for long periods
Scoot and pivot
Clap in response to something fun or funny
Pass objects back and forth between his hands, turn them around and carefully manipulate them
Remember where something he wants is and fuss for it
Help with simple tasks like straightening his arms through shirt sleeves, reaching up to be picked up, pulling a spoon toward his mouth
Say combinations of different phonemes (like Ah-Dee instead of just Dee-Dee)
A little simple cause and effect (his favorite is smearing his hand with food and holding it out so the dog will come over)
Splash in the tub
Just starting to follow a point
Respond to his name and look for "Mama" and "Daddy" and "Louise" when the names are said
Flash TWO teeth (yay! The two bottom ones)

Gus loves:
Nursing
Our dog Louise
Walks and hikes in his carrier
Anchovies (it's true), chicken, anything with garlic, lamb, peas, sweet potatoes, beans, soup, barley
Swimming and baths
The Johnny Jump Up
Tom Waits (especially the "Orphans, Brawlers, and Bastards" album)
Other kids and babies--or looking at pictures of them
Blocks
"Forbidden" items like cell phones, important papers, the computer mouse, etc.
Adventures (zoo, grocery store, beach, etc.)

Gus does not love:
The careseat (a major and ongoing nemesis. Any suggestions?)
The snot sucker
Being hungry
Having something taken away (see cellphone, above)

Spooky

Gus the Gnome had a cold for his first Halloween, so he hung out at home and was haunted by his friend Sibbie the Ghost. Boo!

Yuck! Feels like guts.

Garden Gnome at the Pumpkin Patch

This marks Mama's first of many future nights staying up later than she should sewing a costume. I love you Gus the Gnome.