Happy Halloween!

I'm a very stealthy tiger... Thank you Nancy, Gene and Kim for my cozy costume this year!

My Nickname: "Bug"

Mom & Dad call me "Bug." Not because I've shown any particular early interest in bugs: but because, sometimes, I just wriggle around and look like one, especially after I eat or when I'm waking up:

G'ma Debbie & Great G'pa's Cradle

Grandma Debbie was here this weekend for a long weekend to check up on my rapid development. She was excited by my lack of umbilical cord, my cooing and 'talking', my increased awareness, and my first smile. Next time I see her at Christmas I wonder what new skills I'll have to show off!

After we dropped her off at the airport this morning, I went to my friend Zoe's "Bek-il". She's 1/4 Korean and therefore, by tradition, celebrated the end of the difficult first 100 days. Who said difficult? I still have 62 days left!

Exhausted by the thought, when I got home I took a nap in the cradle that my great Grandpa Bernie first made (yes, turned the posts on a lathe and everything) for my Mom back in 1973 and has since been handed down through the family. I have so many beautiful handmade gifts that I even kept snugly with a blanket our family friend Clare Baldwin knit for me.

Pat for D2, My Costume, & a SMILE!

Today I tabled for Pat Kernighan for City Council District 2 in my adorable pumpkin Halloween costume and gave out literature to fellow Farmer's-Market-goers. Pat's been an active member of my neighborhood for over 25 years and deserves credit for passing Measure DD to improve Lake Merritt, creating Splash Pad Park, establishing the Farmer's Market every Saturday just down the street from home, and, just this past Thursday, successfully amending the terms of the lease to bring Trader Joe's to the vacated Albertson's site on Lakeshore. Basically, she's played a major role in making my neighborhood as great as it is today. Giving her my enthusiastic endorsement makes me smile.
SMILE! My first photographed smile!

I Survived the Berkeley Bowl!

I narrowly survived my first trip to the Berkeley Bowl today. It's a great grocery store and all (possibly the best there is) but you definitely have to be in the mood for it as it's frequently overcrowded. As you can see I wasn't exactly "feeling it" in the bulk aisle so had to cool down with Mom and Grandma Debbie in the flower section.

The Family Bassinet

As I briefly mentioned, I've officially been added to the long list of Van de Waters who've used the family bassinet, which dates back to 1937. Now it's immortalized in ink. That's me right there on the bottom, 24th overall and 14 after my Dad! I'm relaxed about the whole thing, but it's cool.

The 24 Hrs of Momma

Dad has been sick all day so can't touch me for fear of getting me sick. That leaves Mom to do all the "change-the-baby,-feed-the-baby,-let-the-baby-sleep-on-you" work today.

The Finger.

In my world, "giving me the finger" is a good thing. I'd happily suck your pinkie half the day if you'd let me. Calms me and gives me a chance to exercise my sucking muscles. I can make your finger tingle if you let me have it long enough. I'm not such a fan of the pacifier: too big, too plastic, falls out when I fall asleep. I'm a connoissuer of the flesh, no artificial ingredients on my palate. Just pure, organic, 100% fresh pinkie. Suck, suck, suck...

Back To Work

Dad went back to work today. Bummer.

Product Review: My Sling

Hands down, my favorite vehicle is the sling. I feel like a little white peapod, snuggled up against Dad or Mom's belly. I can go for miles comfortably asleep like this. The so-called experts say this reproduces "womb-like" sensations during my "fourth trimester" but I like to think of it as a hammock on the go. With the weather the way it has been, it's like swinging between two palm trees in the tropics while someone else does the walking. Much more relaxing than the car-seat-torture-chamber or the still-awkwardly-bouncy-Baby-Bjorn. I even occasionally run in to friends like Frannie and Sadie Lahey-Teare, here in Splashpad Park.

Happy 1-Mth-Birthday To Me!

I was born one month ago today. Cause for celebration. We bought some southern Red Velvet Cake* at the farmer's market this morning and had visiting cousins Duncan and Vanessa dress appropriately for the occasion (they CLAIM to be dressed this way for a wedding, but we all know better). I can't wait to taste it through the breast milk.* In CA fashion, ours was "all natural" and contained strawberry extract instead of the more common red food coloring.

My 1st ENJOYABLE Bath

I've had countless sponge baths but only two full baths prior to today. I was under the impression that all baths were cold, miserable, lonely opportunities to cry (er, exercise). Until today. I was wide-eyed in amazement at how warm and relaxing it was once Mom joined me in the tub.

Happy 30th Birthday Corey!

Another beautiful day in Oakland. We celebrated Corey's 30th by literally fixing the roof over our heads. A small leak soon became a total replacement (the old one WAS put in when my parents were in middle school!) but the banging and nailing never seemed to stir me from all of my naps. When it was all over I took my parents out to the front porch to play with my neighbor Fiona and watch the sunset.

I wonder what's happening up north tonight at Muddy's Hot Cup of North Town?

1st Trip to the Beach

Wow, was it ever a beautiful day in the Bay Area today! We took advantage of the sunshine and visited China Beach in San Francisco this afternoon. We thought the typically cool ocean breezes would only allow us to stay a few minutes but it was one of those rare calm days at the beach. The few people there were were swimming, sunbathing, and fishing. I soaked up some Vitamin D through my sun hat but I especially loved the sound of the waves breaking and the rumbling of the smooth stones as they were dragged in and out by the tides. The combination was hypnotic and lulled me (and Mom, on a rare break) right to sleep. Ahhhh, the Golden Gate Bridge.... ZZzzzzz.......

WOW, More Beautiful Hand-Knits!

My Great Grandmother Sally lives in Canton, NY. She sent me a beautiful card made by my cousin CJ and included two unexpected gifts handmade by her neighbors: a sweater knit by Ms. Mildred Muhs in #103 and a pair of pink booties knit by Frances Dickson in #223. They're beautiful! It's nice to have so many people thinking about me and taking the time to make such lovely things. See how well they fit? These are great for dancin'...

Thank you Frances and Mildred!

The Belly Flop & the Ninja Hold

It's amazing how peaceful and simple
life can be.

And then...


...just moments later...


I-break-down-

and-need-the -ninja-hold.

Sometimes I wonder if I have the power to thin Daddy's hair.

My 1st Bluegrass Show

Whew, what a day! After brunch at Molly, Suzanna, Maisy and Jack's, I went to the first annual Bluegrass for the Greenbelt concert at Coventry Grove in Kensington. A benefit for Mom's office, Greenbelt Alliance, it was a three hour concert with local bluegrass stalwarts the Backyard Party Boys, Eric and Suzy Thompson (one of their bands, the Bluegrass Intentions, played at Mom and Dad's wedding) and Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum.

They played original and traditional bluegrass tunes including my favorites: Laurie and Suzy singing the "Wood Thrush Song", the always inspirational "I'm Gonna be the Wind" and, after I had the pleasure of meeting both Laurie Lewis

(she touched my finger! Remember this if I ever become a great singer/ songwriter/ fiddler...) and Eric & Suzy Thompson,

I was honored to have them play my theme song "Lil Liza Jane" as their final encore song, dedicated specially to me! Wow, I've never had Grammy-winning artists call me out of the crowd and then sing for me! Thanks guys for a great day, I can hardly wipe the smile off my tired little face!

Welcome Grandpa Mike!

Today was mostly a quiet day after yesterday's excitement (though I did explore my new Gymini this afternoon. My big brother Oliver also found it worth a look).The big excitement came when Grandpa Mike arrived tonight:

Congratulations Kiran and EH!

Today, I went to a whole 'nother City for the first time ever for Kiran and EH's wedding at San Francisco City Hall. I wore my first dress and everyone drank champagne.After the bride and groom, I was the third most important person there.

3 Weeks + Further Afield!

Now that I'm 3 weeks old, I'm starting to get out and see the world. Yesterday I went to Oakland's Estuary Park (map) and watched the boats go by.
It was a beautiful sunny day and we walked along the Bay Trail from Jack London Square to the proposed, and locally controversial, Oak to 9th project. Right now it's an industrial dump. Someday I hope to play in the parks there, run along the trails, and even kayak by all the way from Lake Merritt near home.

Umpy

One of my Dad's favorite toys as a baby was a Humpty Dumpty pillow, he called "Umpy." He used to crawl out of his crib and onto Umpy on top of his dresser where he could fall asleep while peeking out the bedroom door at all the action in the next room. Yesterday, my great Aunt Lindy sent me an Umpy too. I'll have to figure out an equally creative use for him...

19 days and a-Growin'!

First visit to the pediatrician today. Dr. Fischoff said I was "perfect", "very talkative", and a pretty "calm baby" (my parents agreed heartily with the first two assessments but rolled their eyes a bit at the third). They also tested my laser quick reflexes and weighed me. Guess how much I weigh now? Not just this much above my birth weight
but almost a whole 'nother pound since my birthday (from 7 lbs, 14 oz to 8 lbs, 12 oz). That's 11.5 % of my bodyweight in just over two weeks! Maybe I'll start sleeping better now that I officially have some heft.
Now if only the A's could hit with RISP (runners in scoring position) as well as I eat...

After Work Comes Sleep

Sleepy day here after a restless night -- on top of my usual feeding, grunting, etc. throughout the night, our house alarm went off at midnight and 3:00am to tell us that the system's battery was low! Said goodbye to Omma and Pop at dawn (who we hope slept better than we did)and I took a long nap on the couch, first with Dadand then with Mom