Week 39

Gideon is now closer towards the 12 month milestone. I knew that he is getting older every day but now he is able to do more than just sit and be cute. He can return a smile when you smile at him. He laughs at funny faces. He loves to play peek-a-boo. He is practicing his wave goodbye when someone leaves. He is feeding himself more foods with his hands. He currently loves fish sticks. He loves feeding himself. He would stuff one half in his mouth and continue with the other half with a full mouth. We hope that he learns to wait and "gum" the food first before adding more.

This weekend, Garrett and I went to a marriage retreat in Seattle. Christine Nakano invited us to attend since it was hosted by the church that she ministers to. We appreciated the helping hands to take care of Gideon while we were learning more tips and strategies to strengthening our marriage. Thank you to Grandma Chan for Friday evening fun! Thank you to Auntie Kimmie and Uncle Jonathan for watching Gideon all day on Saturday!

We took Gideon's weekly picture after giving him a bath. So his hair looks slicked back but it's just wet. He looks very different when his hair is swept away from his face. He was also really into holding the transformer's cup in the bath. He would not let it go. When we tried to switch it with another toy, he would make a yelp. So that is why he is holding a cup in his weekly picture.

9 months! (Week 38)

I cannot believe that Gideon is now 9 months old. He went to see the pediatrician this week. Due to a mommy memory lapse, we did not see Dr. Kumasaka. Since Gideon is moving around a lot, he did not gain as much weight. He is now 18 lbs. 4 oz. He is 27.75 inches tall. The pediatrician was impressed by Gideon's ability to pull himself up and crawling all over the place. She also predicts that he might be an earlier walker.

This week Gideon met Ayano for the first time. She played volleyball with us when she was living in Seattle. She was visiting from Japan this past week. She liked holding Gideon and Gideon liked her too.



Gideon also played with Camille. Well, side by side play. He doesn't know his own strength.





So his weekly picture was fun to take this week. He was awake, happy and alert. I love the picture where he looks like he is doing soulja boy. =) Gideon, happy 9 month birthday! We love you!

Week 37

This week has been a busy week for garrett and me. We are preparing our students for the state standardized test. It's happening next week and many students are super stressed out because of how important it is. We just pray and believe that our students will do well. It has been an amazing year.

So this week, Gideon has been learning to pull himself up and stand. He also practices downward dog. He would push on a toy, a book, a lap or the ground to stand on his feet. He is also really good at the b-boy pose. We have not caught it on camera, but he would be in downward dog and he would reach out with one hand. We also need to lower the crib once again. We thought we had time in between his sitting up and crawling phase. It was not a phase; it was a week. He may be walking a lot sooner than we would like.

Gideon has been working on picking up food with his finger and thumb. He has not mastered it yet, but he is trying his best. We found out that he likes to do it more when he is not hungry. The need to eat does not increase his motivation but increases his level of frustration.

We received a hand-me-down train table that has two drawers. Thanks Yoon and Vinny! Mr. Darcy was able to bring it to the house. Now we have to put it together and put foam bumpers for Gideon to pull himself up.

Here was the funny picture of the week. Now that Gideon has short hair, he does not have knots but now bedhead. This picture was taken after a nap. =)











Video of him standing while holding the couch. Sorry the video is landscape instead of portrait. Just turn your head or turn your monitor. Enjoy!

Standing up! from Gar on Vimeo.

Week 36

This week was defined by the six teeth coming out on the top gums. Gideon was not sleeping well so that meant we were not sleeping well. Thanks to Garrett, he was able to rock Gideon back to sleep when he first woke up so that I can sleep more for the next wake up call. I believe that Gideon is sleeping better now that the teeth have cut through and the poopie diaper already happened on Friday, five days after the previous one. Gideon tried seaweed this week. He likes to eat it but he doesn't know how to get it off his fingers when it becomes sticky. He gets frustrated with it. He continues to love mum-mum rice crackers. I give it to him while I am getting his meal ready. Lately, Gideon has been finishing the mum-mum faster than me making his meal.

Ginger came over last Sunday to see Gideon before her bball game. We tried to put him down for his afternoon nap earlier and we did, but Gideon decided to sleep for 2.5 hours. Here was the position that I found him in. Do you see his right hand up?



Grandma Chan bought Gideon some awesome Tiger clothes with bright orange pants to match. I love the lounging pose and the bedhead hair. It makes me laugh.









Gideon loves holding the "donuts" as Garrett likes to call them. Here is a video of him playing with them.

Holding donuts from Gar on Vimeo.

Week 35

So after a week off from work, it was hard to get back into the swing of things. We enjoyed our time with Gideon and each other, but the days went by too quickly. Now we are at work, getting our students ready for the state standardized test that will happen in May.

Gideon is becoming a great reader. He loves books and he loves being read to. He can turn the pages while Garrett reads to him. It's amazing! Gideon also loves to push down/destroy stacks of cups that I make for him. I usually make them across the play mat so that he would have to crawl over. He would use one hand to balance and one hand to move the cups. Then he looks over at me with a big smile after the cups go down.

Gideon is also learning to pull himself up and to also try to put weight on his legs. He is becoming more familiar with the downward dog. =) I am trying to get it on video but he is too quick for me. He is learning to "pose" for the camera or just stare off into space. I did not know that I was still recording the video. So the best part is the last 5 seconds.

Playing with laundry basket from Gar on Vimeo.

Gideon is also getting his top teeth. We think that all four are coming out at the same time. Yesterday when I looked at his gums, it looks like six teeth are coming out. That is why he has not been sleeping well and his runny nose.

Gideon is so much more responsive. He smiles at us when he sees us, especially when we pick him at daycare. He also slams his hands on the tray to tell us he wants more food. We are trying to teach him the sign language for more, but he resorts to slamming the tray again.

8 months! Week 34

We have been enjoying our time with Gideon since we have been on spring break. We have been going out a lot and enjoying the city of Seattle. Gideon tried blueberries for the first time. Gideon got his first haircut. He tried Trophy cupcake frosting. He has mastered crawling and is cruising around the house a lot. Enjoy the pictures!

My boys

From Shannon's wedding this past weekend. Don't you like their matching ties?