Don't Judge

Number Three

Kate has been pregnant or nursing for 45 of the last 57 months. Up to and including the baby human in her belly at this very moment.

Cute

Creepy

Invisible T-Shirt

Adrian still can't speak.

He definitely manages to make a lot of noise, but he's yet to enunciate any actual words. And I've never seen him use any of the sign language we've tried to teach him over the past year.

The only thing he's started doing is to raise both hands above his head while pinching his pointer finger and thumb together.

Like he's holding up an invisible t-shirt.

I feel like he's trying to tell us something. Most likely something very important ... only I have no clue what it means.

Belly Status (20 Weeks)

There'll be no belly pictures this time. It was never a topic of conversation, just kinda went without saying I guess. (In other words, I was too afraid to ask.)

So try and imagine Kate as if she were attempting to smuggle an eggplant out of the grocery store in her shirt. Or maybe a family-sized package of summer sausages.

Yeah, something like that.

Sugar and Spice

We decided to find out the sex of the baby this time. Let's just say we'd already had enough surprises with this one.

I wasn't able to be at the ultrasound appointment, so the doctor wrote down the sex of the baby without revealing it to Kate. Then folded the paper, taped it shut and sealed it in an envelope so no one could peek. We held an unveiling ceremony in the living room.

And looks like Adrian is gonna be having a baby sister soon!

The doctor even dotted the letter 'I' with an itty bitty heart ... foreshadowing of many pink and frilly things to come.

I'm One

This Happened

It's a picture of a picture taken from a sonogram of the fetus that's currently residing in Kate's belly. Here we go again ...

How to Make Morning Coffee

Step 1) Place Adrian down on the far side of the living room with his back to the kitchen. Surround him with toys and crank the music dial on his Fisher-Price Two Tune TV as far as it will go.

Step 2) Line the path to the kitchen with additional toys. These will work as both obstacles and potential diversions once he realizes you're gone.

Step 3) Sneak into kitchen without making any noise. Be sure to avoid the creak in the floor by the front hallway. (If spotted, return to step one.)

Step 4) Start making coffee. If you were smart you would've set everything up the night before. But you weren't, so you'd better hurry.

Step 5) Listen for grunting. This means Adrian's discovered you're missing and he's on his way to find you. Every second counts now.

Step 6) Wait for inevitable crying. Immediately set down coffee and soothe tear-soaked baby before his mother wakes up asking questions.

Step 7) Once you finally manage to get Adrian to stop crying, return to kitchen and enjoy your lukewarm beverage.

Update

Age: Nine Months.
Weight: 23 pounds.
Head size: 99th percentile.
Teeth: Six.
Thumbs: Undetermined.
Crawling: Military style.
Walking: With help.
Talking: Not even close.
Hobbies: Squirming. Drooling.
Skills: None.
Best friend: Marina.
Only friend: Marina.
Favorite food: Cheese. Dirt.
Favorite toy: Marina's water bowl.
Favorite quote: Aaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Outfits with sayings on them: Worn.
Outfits with animal ears: Worn.
Sailor outfit: Worn.
Comments from strangers on his size: Daily.
Comments from strangers on his cuteness: Daily.
Comments from parents on his cuteness: Every five minutes.

Hello Again

Christmas Tree

Vocal Chord Test

There's happy screaming and then there's unhappy screaming. This is the good stuff. It's a subtle difference, but a significant one.

Teething

Not really sure, but it seems like every one of Adrian's teeth may be coming in at the exact same time. At least that's what I think he's trying to tell us with his constant moaning and incessant drooling.

Tough Guy

I guess when you wear a hat with monkey skulls on it, you have no choice but to cop an attitude. May have to keep an eye on him and make sure he's not sneaking smokes between feedings.

Holy Rollers

Adrian got baptized on Sunday. I was very impressed that he didn't cry once during the church service, the actual christening or even during the reception afterwards. (Think he was equally impressed that I didn't either.)

On a side note, this is the outfit my brother wore when he was baptized. My mom saved mine too, but we couldn't squeeze Adrian's bulk into it. Not by a long shot. I'm kinda glad though, because my outfit didn't come with the swanky baby beret.

Au Naturale

Adrian loves getting naked. As soon as we lay him down on the changing table or get him ready for a bath, his face lights up. Smiling and giggling as we start unbuttoning his onesie.

I know as parents we're supposed to nurture his curiosities and interests, but pretty sure supporting this one can only lead him towards a career as a male stripper or a professional streaker.

Halloween

Here's Adrian's costume. In case you can't tell, he was a penguin.

To make it even more authentic, we tried to teach him how to catch sardines in his mouth from across the room, but he wasn't cooperating ... very penguin of him.

We didn't take him trick or treating either. It was raining. (And he doesn't eat candy.) But, we did parade him around to a few of the neighbors anyway.

Just in case he ever asks what he did for his first Halloween, now we don't have to tell him he dressed up like a penguin and sat around the living room all day.

We'll Keep Him

Even though he's starting to look less and less like me and more and more like Kate. Damn diluted gene pool.