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