Happy New Year, everyone!

2010 was a good year for me - how was it for you? See you all next year!

Apples

I have what you might call a love-hate relationship with apples.


Applesauce...shudder.


Apple chunks I can gnaw away at, however...yes.

Christmas

After weeks of having to stare at all those deliciously wrapped gifts on the windowsill, I finally got to open them on Christmas.


Grandma and grandpa came to visit me for my first Christmas too.


I got lots of nice new toys, including this great big box.


What a fun day Christmas is!

O Christmas tree

A few weeks ago Daddy brought home a tree. Then him and Mama decorated it with some delicious-looking shiny balls.


Then they put presents under it. So the first chance I got I charged over to one especially tempting bag and tried to rip it open.


Mama and Daddy laughed and said I had to wait until Christmas to open my presents. Oooooh...now I get it.

A swing and a bounce

In a rather futile attempt to keep me entertained and from knocking over the Christmas tree or climbing up on the sofa to eat the remotes, Mama and Daddy have tried many different contraptions.


They say I'm supposed to bounce on this but I'm not really sure yet what I'm doing.


I don't know, but this one seemed a bit weird.


My monster chair is super fun, but I don't ever use it to sit.

I don't know why they try all these things. I'm pretty satisfied with a closet full of diapers to dismantle.

Bal'more, hon

So it seems that we are leaving Amsterdam next month and moving to Baltimore. I don't know much about this new place - only that Mama and Daddy went to college there. Which I guess makes it a great place, because if they hadn't met there, I wouldn't be here writing to you today.

I am pretty excited about living in a new city, having a new room and being closer to a whole bunch of people who want nothing more than to give me hugs all day, every day. I think this is going to be good!

Reunited

This past weekend I met up with my old friend Edgar, remember him?

He's a good guy. He let me destroy his play area and slobber on all of his toys. He objected slightly to my pulling his hair - but that tuft of hair he's got is so tantalizing, I couldn't help myself.

Apple bottom

Solids

Ever since my half birthday, Mama and Daddy have been trying to give me some solid food every day. Sometimes I accept it, sometimes not.

Bananas are a-okay in my book.


Peas are not welcome here.


Oatmeal I am undecided on.

Daddy don't go

Last weekend Daddy went away. I tried to stop him from going but my plan didn't work. Mama reassured me that he'd be back in just a few days.

Here comes trouble

First Snow

Last weekend we had the first snow of the season - and the first of my life! Luckily I was prepared.

Half-birthday!

I turned 6 months yesterday! These months have been a whirlwind of new experiences. I can roll over, crawl, sit up and stand. I have eaten a little bit of banana, pear, sweet potato and avocado. I can smile, laugh, babble and scream really loud. I have chubby legs and two teeth! I have ridden on planes, trains, automobiles, trams and a bike. I have been to Italy and the United States. I can only imagine what the next six months will have in store for me!

Yesterday I also went for my 6-month check-up. I weigh 17 and 1/2 pounds and am 25 and 1/2 inches. The doctor was impressed with my strong muscles and my happy smiles, and said I was a perfect baby. I strive to be the best.

First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on all that we are thankful for. I am thankful for Mama and Daddy, breast milk, my toys and my binky.



To celebrate we enjoyed a turkey dinner with some friends. I am looking forward to next year when all of my family will be around to shower me with hugs and kisses and attention - and then I may actually get to try some of this food instead of just watching my parents stuff their faces!

Hated it!

My high chair

I have a new chair! It's a high chair, so I can sit at the table with Mama and Daddy. Just in time, because my other chairs were starting to annoy me.



I like to slam my toys on the table and drop them on the floor. I don't do too much eating on here yet, but I will soon!

Getting into stuff

Now that I am crawling, I can go investigate all the things around the house that have intrigued me.

Like my toy box.


Daddy's closet drawers.


Various furniture pieces.


Etc.


Mama has to chase me around the house, because it seems I am always getting into stuff I shouldn't be. What is so wrong with licking boot heels? Or stuffing the TV remote into my mouth?

Touch the sky

I love being tossed up in the air. I laugh and laugh when Daddy does this. Mama thinks I'm a dare-devil. Maybe I'll grow up to be a stunt-man, or an X-gamer.

New wheels

This past weekend my parents got a new set of wheels. It's called a bakfiets, and it's a bike with a big box in front. I can sit in it in my car seat. And when I'm older there is a bench with a seatbelt that I can sit on.



This morning Mama and I took the bakfiets for its maiden voyage to the Vondelpark. Mama kept the rain guard up but left the window up for me to enjoy the scenery. The cool autumn air felt nice, and I was bundled up in my snowsuit, cozy under a blanket. Before long I dozed off. I guess I can say it's a very smooth ride!

Jam session

I love playing guitar with Daddy.


All that jamming makes me hungry though.

Evil Robot

I heard some loud noises coming from the kitchen the other day. I knew Mama was in there so I had to go check out the situation.


I was faced with the evilest looking and sounding robot I had ever seen.


Stand down, evil robot. Leave my Mama alone.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

On the move

There is no stopping me now. I am a mobile babe.

A tooth!

Can you believe it, I have a tooth! All things considered, I think I handled that pretty well. No fever, no red cheeks, no screaming and no trouble eating. Only lots or drooling, no sleeping and some furniture-nibbling. Not bad at all, if you ask me! Mama and Daddy may have a different opinion, but who asked them?

This is bananas

Also on Halloween, I had my first taste of solid food - some mashed banana mixed with my favorite - breast milk. It was a strange feeling in my mouth - a completely new taste and texture. Mama and Daddy were all smiles and laughs afterwards, so I guess I passed this test.

My first Halloween!

Of course I was going to be a pirate for Halloween. Have you met my parents?

We went trick-or-treating with some friends around town. The weather was perfect for Halloween and there were lots of kids in costume.



All the activity tired me out.



I know I'm too young for candy, but that didn't stop me from trying to eat a whole bowl full when we got home.



I'm already looking forward to next Halloween!

Baby ghost

It's almost Halloween! Let's start getting into the spirit of things...

Modesty

Because if you don't have class, what DO you have?

I love goooooouuuurrrrrddddd....

I also enjoy a good end table.



And a head of hair.



So many delicious things to gnaw on, so little time...