Leo 10-month pics

Recent photos of all three Napolitanos.

Growing fast!

Leo's growing so fast now that its hard to keep up. His latest accomplishments include:

• Last checkup earlier this month revealed that Leo is 29.75 inches long (89th percentile), 18 lbs 10 oz (12th percentile, but healthy), and has a head circumference of 45.5 inches (50th percentile). Other than his eczema, which we usually manage to keep under control, he's a perfectly healthy baby. The doctor noted that his skin was a bit yellow, but determined that it was due to Leo's love of sweet potatoes and squash and nothing to be worried about.
  
• Is still "army crawling", but has started to pull himself up to a kneeling and standing position (which is more like downward-dog pose in yoga). We're in for it now!
  
• Starting to feed himself some finger foods, but doesn't show a lot of enthusiasm for it yet.
• Loves to play peek a boo and patty cake, but doesn't really seem to "get" the So Big game. He doesn't clap either, although he loves it when we clap for him.
• Has learned how to hug--he throws his arms around my neck, squeezes, and I turn to mush. He also "kisses" occasionally, although its more like he's just putting his partially-open mouth against my cheek.
• Chatters a lot, and uses some syllables and sounds repeatedly, but no discernable words are coming yet. He seems to use "da" interchangeably for both Mike and me. He also clicks, raspberries, and makes other "mouth noises" often.
  
• Has both center bottom teeth, and we're expecting more soon since he appears to be teething like crazy right now.
• Although we generally don't let Leo watch TV, he loves the Disney cartoon Phineas and Ferb (which is hysterically funny for grownups too).
• Loves to be outside, especially when we go to the park to feed the ducks (and ducklings!).
• Loves books and being read to. Pat the Bunny is a new favorite, but Goodnight Moon is still the best.
  

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!