Who needs toys?

Leo is proving the old adage that kids can turn any regular thing into a toy. Here's a list of some of his fun, favorite non-toy things:

• Baby wipes packages: they crinkle and have a baby's picture on them
  
• Wooden spoon: fun to gnaw and bang on things
• "Jingle ball" cat toy: Leo stole it from the cats and won't give it up
• Any strap, cord, or string: the drawstring on Daddy's pajama bottoms is a favorite.
  
• Anything round (buttons, screws, etc.)
• Our cats: Leo adores the cats and has a special squeal he uses when he spots them. He enjoys chasing, tackling, and giving "loves" by rubbing his face in their fur.
• "Squishy" pillows (see pic at right): Leo tackles them and uses them as a "roller" under his belly to move faster when he crawls. I think they're also cat-capturing practice.
• Any tiny object on the floor: There's no problem with Leo's eyesight--he can spot minuscule items on the floor from yards away and usually hustles himself over to whatever catches his eye.
• Cardboard boxes: I got something in a Priority Mail box the other day and Leo immediately commandeered it.
• Magazines: Leo loves to turn the pages--and eat them.
  

Candids

These pics are from the last couple of months (7-9 months).

Easter with Rachel

My sister Christina and niece Rachel came to visit for Easter. Here are the late-coming but still adorable pics.

Leo's 9-month portraits

New stuff

It seems like Leo's acquiring new skills and fascinations by the week. Here's a rundown of the latest:

• Favorite new "toys" are his exersaucer (a circular baby seat with toys attached), his Laugh and Learn Puppy (see picture), and baby wipe packages (which make a "crunchy" noise and have a baby's picture on them, which is doubly awesome in his book).
• Learned how to turn the pages of books while I'm reading to him, and usually waits until I say "turn the page" to do so.
• Has mastered putting his binky into his mouth by himself. Has also started sucking his thumb when a binky isn't available.
  
• Moved into his room and loves his new crib. He somehow manages to work his way across every inch of it during the night.
  
• Mastered the "army crawl". He acquires a target (like a baby wipes package, or one of the cats) and scoots his way to it in record time.
  
• Gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth, sometimes scooting both knees forward. Might not be long until he figures out how to crawl.
• Can sit up unassisted for a few minutes at at time.
  
• Now that its spring, we re-introduced Leo to the outdoors. He loves playing in the grass.

On the health front:

• Weight at the doctor's office this week was 17 lbs 5.5 oz.
  
• Leo is getting his first tooth: the front left lower central incisor.
• Had an abscess on the back of his head that lasted for a couple of weeks. It was quite a medical mystery to the doctors, and we ended up going to the pediatrician's office several times, but it resolved itself this week and he's back to normal.

At the Children's Museum

We had a wonderful time over the Easter weekend with my sister Christina and our niece Rachel. One of the highlights was this visit to the Discovery Gateway, Salt Lake's children's museum.

Leo's "tricks"

This video from when Leo was 6 months old contains many of his "tricks":

• Happy hands: when Leo is happy or excited, he turns his wrists in circles
• "Stevie Wonder": Leo's soothing/happy movement is to move his head in a figure-eight pattern (hence the name)
• Glasses grab: Leo loves to grab Daddy's glasses.

Bouncing and babbling

Here is a video from January. These days, Leo tends to babble more in "ba ba ba" sounds than the squeals he emits here. Enjoy!

Catching up

I am finally getting my act together enough to post an update on the last couple of months with the Napolitano clan.

January:

• It snowed. A lot.
• Leo started daycare and absolutely loves it. He is the youngest child there and most days when I go to pick him up there are 2-3 new friends among the older kids hanging out and playing with him.
  
• Leo turned 6 months old on January 28. Its so hard to believe that it's been only half a year since he came into our lives--we can't imagine life without him.

February:

• Still snowing.
• Leo started really "talking", offering babbled commentary on most of his activities during the day.
• We went to visit our wonderful friends the Kelleys in Berkeley. Leo did very well on both flights and handled traveling and new surroundings like a champ. We got to see lots of our friends and Leo's "cousins" Eli, Yael, and Ari Kelley had a great time playing with him. Mike and I enjoyed having some downtime and seeing the color green on trees, grass, etc.
  
• Everybody got sick: Leo got a cold, Daddy got the flu, and Mommy got pneumonia. Fun times.
• Leo moved to formula and starter solid foods. He's generally open minded and will try almost anything once, although peas were his first (and so far, only) "instant reject" food. Fruits and oatmeal are favorites. Veggies other than carrots are less enthusiastically received.
  

March so far:

• Still freaking snowing, after a taunting warm spell.
• Leo had his 6-month checkup. He is now 16 lbs 5.5 oz (20th percentile) and 27.75 inches long (75th percentile). His head measurement is 17.25" (50th percentile). He is doing very well developmentally.
• Leo got his first ear infections--both ears at once. They're clearing up now and he's mostly back to his normal self.
• Leo has learned how to: stick out his tongue (and mimic others who are doing so); "sidewinder" crawl on his belly; and sit up very briefly on his own. "Peekaboo" and "This is the way the Lady/Gentleman/Farmer rides" are his favorite games.
  
• We had one of our "hootenany" sessions at our friends, the Holts, home. Leo enjoyed singing along, in his own special way.
  

Leo's 6-month portraits

I know I am a month late getting these posted--bad Mommy!