Taste of Winter in October

"Forget about Fall colors.  Maryland sees white in October!"

I'm on my fourth winter this year.  I must say I'm one of those who doesn't look forward to snow season anymore.  The splendor of snow-covered pine trees and rooftops is such a beauty.  Breathtaking, I have to say.  But the thrill, the excitement-- I lost them at some point. 

Maryland rarely get snow even in November, so imagine our surprise when we learned yesterday's forecast of 2-4 inches of snow before October ends.

Today.

Well, we woke up to a pretty white canvas outside our window.  Contrary to my claim, I was so thrilled to see shower of snowflakes that fell faster and sized bigger by the minute.  Of course the excitement was for the little guy-- having his first snow ever, this year.  Never had this place see white in October since 1979.  And it just did today, on Geb's first winter.

Baby boy, at six months, amazingly unfurled excitement over the white showers. We watched his eyes sparkle in awe, his arms up in the air as he trace every trickle of snowflakes down to the ground. 

The trade between fall colors and white today is a big treat.  We are making memories. More to come. 

Note: I accidentally deleted all precious photos for this blogpost-- banging my head now.  I'm in the process of recovering them through Snapfiles.  I shall update this  entry with photos once recovered. Wish me all the luck in the world!

Six

Half a year.

My six-month old prides himself with hands that can "close-open" a gazillion times. He does it real fast, enough for you to turn blue if you dare sing along.  

Close-open, close-open, close-open, close-open ~

It takes me back to the many babies I gazed with delight when hands, so tiny and plump, does the routine.  With Little Geb, it is the same feeling that flutters my heart.  Only my eyes light up a lot brighter and my smiles many many many times wider.  Geez, I saw him all through. When all he does is sleep, cry, eat, pee/poop-- not too long ago.  And most of all, I am the mother. Who else can be happier, ei?

We are progressing on solid food.  From rice cereal to oats.  Pureed vegetables and some fruits.  Oh, no baby jar food in our household.  Only homemade, preservative-free meals for the little man.

sweet potato+squash combo

pureed to perfection :)

Geb's third vaccine appointment this month was remarkable. No more wailing-on-top-of-his-lungs, even after three shots.  He got sick after his first vaccination.  While it's normal for babies to get some allergic reaction from vaccines, it is also but normal for parents to worry still.  I ran around like a headless chicken, calling Brian from work ever so often.  Geb had rash and fever then, and would cry non-stop.  Mama cried longer.  And uh, louder.

Sweet treats don't appeal to him at all, few months previously.

Today, I obviously need extra hands to keep his fingers off this cake.

Like those mighty hands dancing to the "close-open" tune, watching him on his high-chair is another milestone to beam about.

We are blessed with generous friends who send baby gears our way. Salamat, Ate Jane and Ate Joy for the awesome gift :)

Meanwhile, this pulling socks off his feet is another favorite to-do.

Walk baby, walk!

Aah. The many crazy, little things Geb can do.

Happy, happy six months Palangga!

We are truly, madly, deeply CRAAZY about you.

A Fall Tradition

Coming from a country where apples don't come cheap and bountiful, you would guess I'll go nutty over trips to an orchard come apple season.  Truth is, I have never been to actual picking until today. 

Apples here have been cultivated so they'd be in season all year round.  But the best time to go pick one is in the Fall, starting September.    

Geb is three days shy of six months.  I reckon he could now enjoy outings for as long as we keep it short and nicely apt for his age.

So, I giddily picked a beautiful October day, beat up sister Fritzie's van and off we went to Larriland Farm.

Our fun-packed apple picking experience, in photos.

 

 

Farewell Summer

Summer went by rather too quickly.  I have never got around to worshipping the sun, even a day or two at a pool or beach .  Although I purposely spurn summer this year as Mr. Sun is not quite friendly with infants.  No more THIS kind of episode please.  I'd literally die of heart attack, if ever.

But this post isn't really about summer.  

.. nor camels, monkeys and parrots; creatively suspended for amusement.  

I just like to point out how Little Geb takes naptime and bedtime oh-so-seriously.  Just yesterday, he dozed off about 5pm.  Woke up past 6am the following day.  No kidding.  That's freakin' 13 hours total!  I reckon it's impressively long sleep, it made me miss him.  Hee.

He sleeps through the night since third month. No tricks or specific slumber routine.  It just happened.  We woke up one day and realized neither me nor Brian got up in the middle of the night to feed him.  

Before you roll your eyes in disbelief,  he also does a great job sleeping on his own at any time, or anywhere he may be.

Of course I have proof.  Ha!

I set him down on a baby gym for tummy time (a must for babies!) while I cleaned some milk-bottles.  He's not loving tummy time anymore, as much as he used to.  And it seems baby gym loses its appeal after ten minutes of arm stretching and rolling.  Hence, the second time I turn around to check on him~ 

Voila! My chickee-dee in deep slumber.

***********

My gazillion photo uploads over Facebook bothers me in a manner that it may appear torture to some. Truth is, it's one of the very few means I can stay connected to my family overseas.  This blog exist for them as well.

So, the next time I flood y'all with all-Geb-portraits~

Pasensya na, request man ni Lolo ug Lola :)

note: all photos taken during Month 4.