Flipping over

News flash -- T is flipping like a madman these days. Just a few weeks ago, I was wondering when T would officially flip (more than once). During the two months C's mom was here, she spent hours trying to get him to practice flipping. Then, boom, one day he learns how to flip and from them on, it's been a non-stop activity. In fact, just tonight, right before he went to bed, he flipped about 8 times. He flips so much, he'll awaken himself in the middle of night and find himself on his back instead of his tummy. And then poor mommy has to rise from her slumber to flip him back onto his tummy. These days, when he's not ready to go to bed, he'll just keep flipping in his crib. Mommy will flip him over, walk out and 5 seconds later, he'll flip back onto his back. He's like a little flipping fish.

Who knew that there was an art to flipping? Yes, believe it or not. And it took T to show me what that is. The art is the following -- you rub your face into the mattress (as you make some "I'm irritated" cries), you lift your butt as high as you can, arching your back as though you are doing a yoga pose, wiggle it around and then drop it to one side. The hope is the force of swaying it as farthest as possible to one side will move the entire body over. And voila, there you have a flip. T has mastered the art of flipping as he can now do it gracefully in a matter of seconds and can do it on both sides. And these days, thanks to the flips, he wakes up every 5-6 hours because he unknowingly flips over in his sleep and can't flip back onto his back. I can't wait until he learns how to flip back onto his tummy....

Oh, and more thing before I sign off. C and my favorite thing to do these days is to play with T when he's naked with only his diapers on. Now that the weather is getting a bit warmer, C and I are thoroughly enjoying playing with him naked (with and without diapers) and witnessing how cute he is when his belly is sticking out and his thunder thighs are jiggying with his a-normous arms. It's T for totally terrific!!

T is for Tristin

Tummy time on mommy's tummy!

I love mommy's tummy

I love daddy's tummy, too!

Mommy and me on a weekend morning

Daddy, I swear I don't know where mommy is...

...oh oops, I guess she's right behind me!

Mommy, what did you say we had to do with the laundry? How do you fold these sheets again?

When not flipping, jump'n

Sticking fingers into my mouth

Hanging out

Leaning back

Ha ha ha ha

Har har har har

With grandma outside

What's that over there?

Can I go on the swings?

Mr. Chubbs

I wanna go play

In the stroller

Blooming spring flowers

Beautiful trees

Mommy, I'm strooong...

Dancing naked with mommy

Mommy, can you focus on the dancing please?

Bare naked me

Getting jiggy with it

Tired of dancing (and getting ready for bathtime)

Totally naked

In the nude

Mommy loves to kiss me

Seepie time

Fab at Five

This week, T turned 5 months. One more month and he's half way to the big 1 year mark! Hooray! I remember at 5 weeks how C and I thought he was just the cutest thing and wanted him to remain 5 weeks forever. Well, it's been 5 months and I have to say, the feeling is even stronger. He may not always smile directly at us or respond to our silly gestures, but C and I find him to be just the cutest little dumpling in the universe of dumplings, pumpkins and cutie bears! As for things he is doing as of now --

• He is a curious george. Whenever he is up and alert, he can't stop looking up, down, side to side. He hardly pauses to stare at anything for more than a minute. It's like the world is his oyster and he's on a mission to explore every nook and cranny of what's out there.


• He drools so much we put a permanent bib on him at all times. For a month or so, we thought he was teething but there's no teeth in sight so am assuming this is all just part of their normal development (?)


• He loves Shakira. Whenever he's cranky or whiney, we put on Shakira's song "Estoy Aqui " and he calms down, smiles and then starts to jump in the jumperoo to the rhythm of the song. He's a man of good taste!


• He likes to stand a lot. His legs are pretty strong and instead of sitting, C and I can usually hold his little fingers and he'll stand right on his own. Of course, he can't keep standing without us but he likes the support. His favorite place to stand is in front of the mirror where he can do his soliloquy, a couple jumping moves (he forgets that he's no longer in the jumperoo) and sport big dimple smiles!!


• I have to say his smiles are the best. They just melt our hearts. His eyes disappear, his dimples come out and his mouth widens upward. And then sometimes, he'll let out an adorable high-pitched chuckle and an occasional squeal. These are the moments we live for and I can't even begin to tell you how hard C and I work to get those little noises out of him!!


• Tristie likes to stick fingers in his mouth. Hardly does he stick just one into his mouth. Usually it's two. Sometimes three and occasionally his whole hand.


• At his four month appointment, he was in the 90th percentile in weight and 25th percentile in height. Given that he doesn't seem like he's growth lengthwise, he's probably looking/feeling a bit similar in terms of percentile..?


• During his 4 month visit, T's doctor harmlessly asked if we had any history of "cross-eyedness" in our families. Of course, when C's parents looked alarmed, the doctor told them that it was nothing to worry about but proceeded to ask again (what the $^#%&!!!). You can imagine how paranoid C's parents were when they heard and came home. And then of course, how paranoid C and I were (well, I was probably more paranoid than C). I think my little brother was once a bit cross-eyed when he was a little kid but I always thought that was cute so maybe this is part of little T's charm? (he he). Needless to say, my mom is taking away all the mobiles in his crib for fear of exacerbating his eyes and we are on the lookout for any symptoms of googlie eyes!!..
  

That's all for now. I went a bit crazy taking pictures of him this weekend with the new little cap my mom brought for T. I've posted quite a lot of pictures in this entry but just think of it as an opportunity to almost feel like you were there in person. I'm sure if you scroll fast enough, you'll be able to witness the movement. Happy 5 months little T. We love you our little hunni bunches of chocolate covered oats! xoxooxox.

Guess how old I am?


How many fingers can I stick in my mouth?

Sticking my fingers in and smiling at the camera

Teddy likes to hang out with my on my birthdays

Teddy, why are you still wearing that silly hat?

I am still 5 months old!

Hanging out with blue baaaaaa

On the couch

Looking up

Ha ha ha ha

Ahhhh....

Whatcha looking at?

Getting tired so I'm holding on..

Getting up again. Whats over there?

Mommy, why are you down there?

Can't keep my head up

Ok, got it up again. Look at my puckered lips.

What's over there?

Wow, that's cool...

Wowee

My michelin cheeks

Now, I'm officially tired

My second wind..

Done for the day. Hasta pronto, amigo!

Thunder thighs!!

Resting after a jumping session on my jumperoo

Playing

What's over there again?

What's that? (Tristie and friends looking at the mini desserts)

Elmo looking down, T looking up

Elmo, stop staring at my pie & fruit tart!

You guys...make some room.

Daddy and the birthday boy

Family picture

Tristie's friends hanging out at the party

T, grandma Cho and Auntie S

Grandma Cho and me

Auntie S is the best

Getting more kissies!!

Big, crazy par-teh!!

Hanging out with T's friends

How mommy, daddy, grandma and auntie celebrated *gobble gobble* (T is starting to wonder whether these monthly parties are for him or for the adults..)