First Tooth!!!

Breaking news (pun intended): Zachary's first tooth has finally surfaced! There's not a lot there, yet, just the very tip of the lower, center-right tooth (and the center-left one is not too far behind), but we're pretty jazzed. Our little baby is growing up! Though we're going to miss that toothless grin, we're looking forward to the big toothy smile that's going to take its place. Here's a glimpse of what's to come:

So far there have only been a couple of nights that he's woken up (and therefore, we've woken up) b/c of teething. We're leaving a pacifier at each end of his crib so he can find it at night (and he often does!) and sooth himself. Hopefully that trend will continue.

Look, Ma ... one hand!

Zachary has sort of been able to help hold his own bottle for awhile now, but just yesterday he drank the final ounce or so of his formula without any help from Daddy. Amazing in and of itself, no doubt. So today I thought I'd give it another try, this time with about three ounces left. Not only was he able to hold the bottle himself, as evidenced by the photo below ...

... he took it a step further, completely on his own, and finished off his meal with one hand!!!

And we didn't even have to send him to finishing school to teach him how to be so genteel (note extended pinky) :

Grandparents Ingersoll & Ankeny Visit

Two of Zach's three sets of grandparents visited him in the last month - what a lucky guy!

My folks, Liz and Bob (aka Nanna and Grandpa Bob) came to SF for a visit for the last two weeks of August. Considering that most of our time was spent watching Zach do the baby thing, we somehow managed to get out every now and then. One of our trips was to Stern Grove, an outdoor music venue in the city. We enjoyed a picnic lunch, listened to the SF Opera, and had an impromptu "play date" with some families of little ones who happened to set up camp in the vicinity.

It was great to have my parents here for such an extended stay, and not just because they did the dishes and were more than happy to babysit so Amy and I could get chores done or (gasp) have our "date night". No, the best part was that they got to see a bunch of "firsts". First solid food ... first time sitting up on his own ... and every grandparents' dream: the first cold, complete with runny nose.

Best of all, the end of their trip overlapped with the beginning of Grandma B and Grandpa J's visit, so they got to meet each other and Zach got to bask in the love of four ga-ga grandparents.

Jay and Barbara were here for Labor Day weekend. We mostly watched the Baby Channel... actually, Zach's getting to the point where he is very interactive and playful, so it's not so much watching as it is participating, which is so much more fun!!!

Lots of photos for your viewing pleasure:

Hangin' out with Grandpa Bob and Pachy the
Elephant in our back "yard".




"Whatchootalkinbout, Nanna?"




Playing out in the back "yard" with mommy.








Bundled up at Stern Grove.




Bought these mittens and the moose
hat in Jackson - soooooo CUTE!




Grandpa Bob talking to Zachary about all the
fun things they're going to do in the city.




Nanna demonstrating to Zach how to open wide.
She's obviously done this before.




Zachary always gets a kick out of seeing
that handsome baby in the mirror.




What? Is there something wrong with
documenting my son's first snotty nose?




Proud grandparents Ankeny and Ingersoll.




I think they're enjoying themselves.




Another proud grandparents shot.




Sweetest. Baby. Ever.




Monkey see, monkey do. Can't say which is which in this case.




Did I mention that Zachary is the Sweetest. Baby. Ever.




Grandma B and Grandpa Jay brought some presents
for Zachary. Here he is, sitting up all by himself,
not quite knowing what to do with the wrapping
paper... "you mean it's OK to rip this up and tear
it apart? You're kidding, right?"




In case I forgot to mention it: Sweetest. Baby. Ever.

goin' for a walk

father and son ready for a walk through the neighborhood!

First Solid Food!!!

Here it is, the long awaited video of Zachary's first meal of solid food:




The little guy is a fast learner, as you can see on this video of meals three, four and beyond:





I'll be adding photos of these meals soon for your continued viewing pleasure.