November's Grandma Bonus Video

Concentration Danielson

I found my voice!

November Fame

Football and Family...is that what November is always like? If so I'm ready to do another one only Michigan better win this time.

I kicked the month off with a visit from Grandma Crabtree who came with her sister Claud and my great grandparents. We did a lot of hanging out and I can't wait to see them in a few weeks at Christmas. Sassiness runs 4 generations deep with these family females!

Although it was a great month, it was also the first time I had my heartbroken. Michigan got schooled by Ohio state. At the bar I drowned my sorrows in 8oz of domestic...formula. Dad is still drinking from that game. On my car seat I sported some trash talk which you can see here.

I went up to good old New England for Thanksgiving. The last time I was in Connecticut was for Mom's baby shower...looks a lot different than mom's uterus. Here is my Uncle Rich, Uncle John, my dad, and of course me...aka 3 men and a baby!

While in Connecticut I made my debut on the local news. You can see it here by selecting the story about the lights in Hubbard Park. Even though there was a light the size of the sun on the camera, I was able to keep sleeping.

Finally, I just wanted to brag a bit. I can hold my

head up like no body's business as you can see from this picture below. I'm trying to reach for things too, but figuring out how a hand works takes some getting used to. Feel free to email me with any tips, but no one seems to remember how they figured this part out.

That's it for now. Can't wait to see what the big deal is with the fat guy in the red and white outfit.

Grandma Bonus Video II

Tickling is Crazy!

So yesterday my Dad did something to me called tickling. I don't know why, but he rubbed behind my neck and I just couldn't stop laughing. Whoever invented this must be a genius because it sure feels good to smile and laugh so much over something so simple. What will they think of next? Maybe they will create some type of funny sensation that makes babies laugh when they get tossed up in the air.

I got stripes for Halloween!

As if life weren't already difficult enough as an 8
week old, my parents decided to dress me up in this ridiculous zebra costume for Halloween. Guess who got to keep the chocolate candy and who still has to stick to the strict diet of milk and more milk. I was going to go as a pumpkin like most new babies, but well....... I was just way too big for the darn thing already. Funny how my parents were surprised to see I didn't fit into "infant size" stuff anymore (please see my prior references to my parents rookie mistakes in the Maria Bobble Head blog). The good part about the costume is that I could still spit up on it just fine. Come to think of it, I don't think there is anything I won't spit up on if I feel like it.

Let's see what I'll be next year! Ciao -Maria

Snoozing in the Pumpkin Patch

I went to go get my very first pumpkin today, but I'll tell you what, the whole thing tired me out so I just decided to take a nap and let Mom and Dad worry about the whole pumpkin ordeal. I don't get the big fuss anyway. They only had cider and I didn't spot milk anywhere!

Maria's Top 10 List -October 2007

1) Mommy's breasts or anything else that that I think I might be able to get milk out of such as necks, arms, pacifiers, fingers....you name it, I've tried. (Last month: 1, Months on the chart: 1)
2) Chugging anything out of a bottle...including prune juice (Last month: NR, Months on the chart: 0)
3) Mom, boy she really loves me! (Last month: 3, Months on the chart: 1)
4) The baby swing (Last month: NR, Months on the chart: 0)
5) Being out and about (Last month: 8, Months on the chart: 1)
6) Baths. (Last month: 9, Months on the chart: 1)
7) Tooting louder than any grown man. I'll challenge anyone out there! (Last Month: 6, Months on the chart 1)
8) Grabbing things with my talons (Last Month: NR, Months on the chart 0)
9) Sleeping during the day (Last Month: 7, Months on the chart: 1)
10) Leg aerobics (Last Month: NR, Months on the chart 0)

Things that dropped out of the top 10 list:
Pooping in clean diapers right after I get changed, Gouging my eyes out, Life (got it all figured out now :))

My first flight and farewell

I decided to celebrate my 6 week birthday by heading down to Florida for warmer weather and to see my Great Grandmother Gloria Rivera, who was in the hospital. I liked flying on the plane as you can see and I got so much attention from the Rivera clan. The place was crawling with family! Only Wilt Chamberlain has more family than I do.

Babies weren't really allowed in the hospital room, but I snuck in with my old man to meet my Great Grandmother. I also wanted to show her that I was wearing a dress she bought me shortly before she was hospitalized. I'm happy that I got to meet my Mama Gloria, but sad that it will be our last meeting since she passed a week later. My Dad tells me she was so loving, affectionate and a wonderful grandmother and person. In some ways she will aways be with me because she instilled that same love in our family. We will all miss her. Te quiero Mami!

The apple never falls far from the Crabtree

Well it was a short visit, but it was long enough to get some more clothes out of the whole deal:-) Again. I got to meet my Uncle Elliot and Aunt Sandy for the first time which was great. I'll be seeing both of them again soon as well as the rest of the Crabtree crew over Christmas in Michigan! Grandma Crabtree brought pictures of my Mom when she was my age and you wouldn't believe how similar we look. I'll try and post those pictures up as soon as I can. I guess it is true what they say about the apple falling not too far from the Crabtree!

A Picture is worth a thousand words

Ok, not much to say here. I just wanted to show you how cute I can sometimes look...

The Maria Bobble Head Doll

Jake, my buddy across the street, and I decided to hang out at the Fells Point Festival. We had a great time, but man these parents of mine are such rookies. Glad Dad decided to go with the stroller on cobble stoned streets...nice thinking numb skull.

How the heck am I suppose to get my beauty sleep so I can terrorize you late at night when my head is bobbing up and down like a bobble head doll? Jake got the easy ride in the Baby Bjorn (after Dad and Jake's Dad, Josh, figured the darn thing out) while I got treated like a pinata for the whole day. I'll just take it all out on my diapers!

Grandpa Wolverine

Well, not only was it nice to meet my Grandpa Crabrtree, but it was also a huge relief to find out he is such a big Michigan fan. Not to say that my Dad, Uncle Rich, Uncle El, Mom, Grandpa (Oh heck the whole fam for crying out loud) are bandwagon jumpers, but I've been a Michigan fan since the day I was born (if you don't believe me click here to check out the UofM gear I was sporting on my first day). Anyway, I'm looking forward to hanging out with Grandpa next time around Christmas. Hopefully Michigan will be in a bowl game. I'll bring my 6oz flask of milk and you bring the chips and salsa Grandpa!

Maria's Top 10 List -September

1) Mommy's breasts or anything else that that I think I might be able to get milk out of such as necks, arms, pacifiers, fingers....you name it, I've tried.
2) Chugging breast milk from the bottle....does a body good!
3) Mom, boy she really loves me!
4) Pooping in a nice clean diaper right as Dad finishes changing me.
5) Trying to gouge my eye out and scratching my face up as much as possible (check out my boxing mitts in my photos).
6) Tooting louder than any grown man. I'll challenge anyone out there!
7) Sleeping.
8) Car rides and walks in the stroller....lovely time to knock out.
9) Baths. I'm still trying to figure out what this water stuff is, but I think I like it.
10) Life. It sure beats the cramped quarters I had to deal with for 9 months! Now I'm living large with a nice crib, drinks every 3 hours and limo service everywhere I go. Heck this place even does my laundry and that isn't even to mention what it is like when the grandmas are in town.

Life is a piece of cake (or in my case... a drop of milk)

Well, I think I'm finally getting a hang of this thing they call life. People constantly kiss and breathe in your face with their bad breath (Dad is the main offender here). Pretty simple if you ask me. I just eat, dirty my diapers and sleep....not much to it really.

Meeting my namesakes (the last name that is)

Grammy Rivera stayed for the entire week. Of course she brought lots of food for Mom and Dad. Too bad they don't sell breast milk at Costco because God knows Grammy would have hooked that up! Papi joined us later in the week and he brought some beautiful outfits from my great grandmother in Florida. Thanks Mama Gloria! Here is your silly son John (my grandfather) talking Spanish to me. Doesn't he know I can understand him just fine without the baby acento? It must run in the family because Dad does the same stuff.

Holla at Me!

Wow, I just got into this world and already I've met my Grandma Crabtree, Grammy Rivera, Papi Rivera, Uncle Rich and lots of Mom and Dad's friends and neighbors. Doesn't anyone know all I care about right now is breast milk. Daddy who? It's all about mom and the 3:00AM feedings...now that's what I'm talking about!

I decided to come a little early since it was getting a bit too snug in there for me. I usually sleep with my arms up by my head...little did I know this would be such a problem come delivery time. Guess a head and two arms don't make for an easy delivery...sorry for the scar Mom:) But some habits die hard and I still like to stick my hands up by my head when I sleep.

Grandma Crabtree and Brooke where the first visitors to be at the Hospital. I was still nice and slimy so I'm sure I scared Brooke, but she managed to look happy holding me in this picture. Grammy and Papi arrived the next day.

For the rest of the week I got to hang out in my new crib, literally, while Mom recovered and Grandma Crabtree spoiled me rotten!

Later in the week I also got to meet my uncle Richie. He was so worried about breaking me....glad he seems to have forgiven Dad for the multiple stitches and fractures he suffered as the result of being a younger brother:) I also got to meet Kevin, Erik and Lynn who all had flown in for my Dad's surprise 30th (which mom had to cancel since I busted my why out of that stupid embryonic sac 2 weeks early).

I was sad to see my Grandma Crabtree go, but I'll see her again in a few weeks! Love you Grandma.

My first blog

Hola! Thanks for checking out my blog! After joining my Mom and Dad on Sept 7, 2007, I thought it would be a great idea to share all of my new experiences with all of you. Actually, my buddy Lucinda next door has a blog too so I'm ripping the idea off her...hey I'm only 3 weeks old so you can't expect me to be too original yet! You can check out Lucinda's blog at http://lucindasheinin.blogspot.com/