July 22, 2008
Day 150: Getting tired at the Château de Versailles. (Happier here.)
Day 150: Getting tired at the Château de Versailles. (Happier here.)
July 21, 2008
Since you’re getting so big, Dad finally hooked up the tray on your Bloom Highchair.
Since you’re getting so big, Dad finally hooked up the tray on your Bloom Highchair.
Your Grandma Mike and Grandma Lois have come to visit you from Florida at the exact time you seem to have seriously started teething. You are now very into Sophie.

Your Grandma Mike and Grandma Lois have come to visit you from Florida at the exact time you seem to have seriously started teething.

You are now very into Sophie.

July 19, 2008
Meeting Grandpa Mike and Grandma Lois for the very first time.
July 18, 2008

Plane Crèche*: Oh, Dante. We had 3 out of 4 wonderful flights… but that fourth one. Gah. On the last leg, from Porto to Paris, we managed to be on a flight with 3 other small babies and 3 toddlers.

I would have really hated to have been any businessmen on that flight. — Mom

* A French “crèche” is basically a preschool for toddlers.

Your last nap in Madeira before we head out to the airport.
Your last nap in Madeira before we head out to the airport.
July 17, 2008

It’s been happening partially or by accident for a few weeks, but as of our trip to Madeira, I think we’ve got a pro on our hands.

Music: You! Me! Dancing! by Los Campesinos (off their album, Hold on Now, Youngster). More from Day 145. — Mom

ps. Remember March 17th?

July 16, 2008
Thirsty!
Thirsty!
July 15, 2008
We’re taking day 2 of the Madeira vacation a bit easier… got some pool time in, and did some walking around, but we kept your nap and bed times intact to help you rest up after the last two big days. The big fun was actually at lunch, where you showed us all the new big things you’ve been learning, like being into everything we’re holding, grabbing (and eating) your teething fish with both hands, and sitting up in a high chair (for about 4 minutes before trying to put your mouth all over it). You’ve also been mommommomming and bhabhabhabbing when you get tired. Big changes.

We’re taking day 2 of the Madeira vacation a bit easier… got some pool time in, and did some walking around, but we kept your nap and bed times intact to help you rest up after the last two big days.

The big fun was actually at lunch, where you showed us all the new big things you’ve been learning, like being into everything we’re holding, grabbing (and eating) your teething fish with both hands, and sitting up in a high chair (for about 4 minutes before trying to put your mouth all over it). You’ve also been mommommomming and bhabhabhabbing when you get tired. Big changes.

July 14, 2008
Practice. More from our first day in Madeira here.

Practice.

More from our first day in Madeira here.

Monday morning: happy our luggage arrived during the night.
Monday morning: happy our luggage arrived during the night.
July 13, 2008
Dante, with the exception of our trips to Japan and California, today might have been one of the longer trips we’ve ever taken — from 9:30am when we left the house to 11pm at our hotel (midnight Paris-time) — ridiculous, since Portugal’s island of Madeira is really not that far from Paris. But the first flight was delayed, causing us to miss the second flight… and when we finally caught another flight and arrived, our checked in bags (prepared carry-ons that TAP Portugal required to be checked instead) didn’t make it to the island. Your Dad, patient but fuming, had to wait in line to claim they were missing, and by the time we got to the rental car counter, it was getting dark. We had to hook up your slightly-too-big car seat up in the dark. (I was not happy about either of those details.) We couldn’t believe how good you were through the entire trip, being so quiet and observant, smiling at people, nursing, and then taking naps. We got complements from strangers on each leg of the trip. But understandably, you cried from exhaustion as soon as we started driving, flustering us both with guilt(!) and causing your Dad to get turned around… we drove for 20 minutes in the wrong direction on the highway before finding a gas station and turning the right direction. You passed out soon after, with me in the backseat with you, holding your heavy little head up from flopping around in the rented big-boy carseat. We finally got to the hotel around 11pm, without toothbrushes, but safe, and thankfully with all your stuff in the backpack, our fingers crossed that our luggage would arrive in the morning. — Mom

Dante, with the exception of our trips to Japan and California, today might have been one of the longer trips we’ve ever taken — from 9:30am when we left the house to 11pm at our hotel (midnight Paris-time) — ridiculous, since Portugal’s island of Madeira is really not that far from Paris.

But the first flight was delayed, causing us to miss the second flight… and when we finally caught another flight and arrived, our checked in bags (prepared carry-ons that TAP Portugal required to be checked instead) didn’t make it to the island.

Your Dad, patient but fuming, had to wait in line to claim they were missing, and by the time we got to the rental car counter, it was getting dark.

We had to hook up your slightly-too-big car seat up in the dark. (I was not happy about either of those details.)

We couldn’t believe how good you were through the entire trip, being so quiet and observant, smiling at people, nursing, and then taking naps. We got complements from strangers on each leg of the trip.

But understandably, you cried from exhaustion as soon as we started driving, flustering us both with guilt(!) and causing your Dad to get turned around… we drove for 20 minutes in the wrong direction on the highway before finding a gas station and turning the right direction. You passed out soon after, with me in the backseat with you, holding your heavy little head up from flopping around in the rented big-boy carseat.

We finally got to the hotel around 11pm, without toothbrushes, but safe, and thankfully with all your stuff in the backpack, our fingers crossed that our luggage would arrive in the morning. — Mom

July 12, 2008
Caught in the moment: just when mom was showing off her new ‘do, you decided to puke and steal the attention.
Caught in the moment: just when mom was showing off her new ‘do, you decided to puke and steal the attention.