Christmas 2009

Herbie had a wonderful Christmas. For Christmas Eve's eve Herbie got to spend time with Grandpa Eng and his 94 year old Kong in Modesto. He really made his two Grandpa's pretty happy. We spent the night in Kong's 5 bedroom house where he lives there alone with Grandpa Eng. Herbie got to spend the night with his mommy and daddy in a bed that was harder than a rock! There, he played with his aunties two dogs Lassie and Princess. He really enjoyed himself there and liked climbing up and down the stairs and all over Grandpa Eng.

I was very sick the entire trip. My fever got up to 103 with terrible chills. I was pretty miserable but Herbie managed to somehow avoid the bug. What a strong boy!

Herbie spent Christmas Eve in Benecia where he got to spend some time with Grandma Lucy and Aunti Meggy. We all traveled to San Jose to have Christmas Eve dinner with Ricky's uncle Ruben and auntie Judy, the "Grijalva's", and he got to play with his auntie Mary and Margie. Everyone had gifts for Herbie. He scored new pajama's and outfits for the new year, not to mention plenty of Christmas cash to buy him diapers and formula:) Ricky's aunt Judy made a very nice quilt for Herbie too. It was so soft.

Christmas was spent in Benecia at Ricky's aunt Liney and uncle Greg's house. There everyone had a stocking and lots of gifts to share. There were tasty bagels, lox, and plenty of fresh squeezed Orange juice that Herbie enjoyed munching on. Herbie got to play with Ricky's cousin Hannah and Will and other friends and family.

Herbie was given lot's of stuffed animals and toys. He also got a handmade quilt from Grandma Lucy and a turtle quilt from Grandma Melly. We drove home after Christmas brunch and stopped at Harvey's Ranch. We listened to Christmas music and sang Christmas songs all the way home. It was a long drive.

The last couple of days, we have been recovering from a long Christmas week. Today Grandma Melly flew in town and Herbie went on a toy shopping spree and got all kinds of toys.

Herbie had a very Merry Christmas and he is hoping for a very happy New Year.

The incessant games he plays

In the last few months, Herbie would play and incessantly say hello to everyone and everything. It was really funny. I would wake up on the morning and be greeted with a "Hi" and I would change his diaper and watch him wave hello at me. He would be playing with his toys and whenever he sensed someone was watching him he would begin to wave and say, "Hi". I was very excited! My baby can talk.

During my finals Herbie went to California to visit some of his family, he came back having learned another new trick. The backward bend. He does it all the time and loves it. I would be carrying him and all of a sudden, "weeeee" he would bend his own body back and begin to laugh with joy.

He has not yet learned how to walk yet, but it really looks like he is trying.
He is really good at pulling up and escaping from his chair. Very soon I will have a walking toddler. Oh dear!

Pictures of first week of school

Herbie got the sniffle bug

Herbie enjoys going to school. He has learned to sponge paint, but last week he got bit by the sniffle bug and has been sick for a few days. He came home with a runny nose. Last night we went to Light the night and he really enjoyed the lit balloons and seeing all of Sharon's friends.

6 months and already starting pre-school

Herbie is starting the Sweet Peas Program and UNLV preschool and he's only 6 months old :)
This is very exciting news. We have been on the waiting list for some time and we finally registered him.

The early childhood education program is such an awesome program. Hopefully Herbie will enjoy this program.

Richard and I are both taking full time course loads and it has been a lot of work making time for study, and appropriate play time and learning time for Herbie.

UNLV PRESCHOOL RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

The National Academy of Early Childhood Programs recently awarded national accreditation to the UNLV/CSUN Preschool located on the UNLV campus.

The preschool, which is housed in the College of Education, is only the fifth preschool in Nevada to receive the national accreditation, said Terry Kohlmeier, director of the preschool.

Marilyn Smith, executive director of the national organization that sponsors the accrediting academy, said, "Accreditation helps answer the question, 'What is a quality preschool/childcare program?' Most parents want to find the highest quality program for their young children; however, few parents know how to assess whether a program meets more than just the minimum standards required by state licensing."

The academy's accrediting standards were developed over a three-year period with input from thousands of educators and administrators from across the country.

The UNLV/CSUN Preschool serves 135 children ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 6 years. A full 83 percent of the youngsters are the children of UNLV students, Kohlmeier said. The other youngsters are the children of members of the public, as well as of UNLV faculty and staff.

My two front teeth

Herbie has two teeth. He is learning how to crawl. He has been working on getting on all fours.
We were really tempted to get him a walker but Ricky said it would get in the way with his development so we decided against it. But he looked so cute and happy in the jeep walker!

Photoshoot at UNLV

Today we took a walk through campus to do a mini photo shoot.

Look his chubby cheeks and feet!

Herbie loves smiling at me.

Herbies shopping adventure

Adventures at Whole foods. Herbie's first foods are Organic.

Herbie Milestones:

He is able to do everything below...

What to Watch for: 0-3 Months

• next

Motor Development

• Opens and shuts his hands. More...
• Raises his head and chest while lying on his stomach More...
• Stretches her legs out and kicks when lying on stomach or back. More...
• Supports her upper body with her arms when lying on stomach. More...
• Swats at dangling toys placed near him. More...
• Mouths objects brought to her face. More...
• Reaches and grasps for things with both hands. More...
• Pushes down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface. More...
• Can hold a rattle. More...

Visual Development

• Watches faces intently. More...
• Turns head toward direction of sound. More...
• Follows moving objects with his eyes. More...
• Recognizes familiar objects and people at a distance. More...

Language Development

• Begins to imitate some sounds. More...
• Begin to babble. More...

Social/Emotional Development

• Reacts when you sing, call his name, or attempt to play. More...
• Imitates you when you stick out your tongue. More...
• Enjoys playing with other people; may cry when playing stops. More...
• Becomes more communicative with face and body. More...
• Imitates your movements. More...
• Smiles! Grins! More...

Cognitive Development

• Stares at her hands and fingers. More...
• Plays with her fingers. More...
• Brings his hands to his mouth. More...
• Has accustomed to regular eating and sleeping patterns. More...

Adventures of the Herbivore Stage 5 months...

Herbie has officially started his solids. Today he had a whole jar of peas. After many
failed attempts to get him to swallow, he is now an official Herbivore :)

He still has not learned how to crawl or hasn't said any words yet.
He laughs and smiles all the time.

I have been a bit too busy to detail his adventures, but I uploaded some clips to keep you
entertained.

Herbie went to visit his family in June. His great grandmother Doris celebrated her 80th birthday as a family reunion in Benecia, California. It was his first time on an airplane and he was a very good passenger. He did not cry or fuss. He was very interested in what was going on around him and enjoyed his trip. He got to meet a lot of people and we had a feeding frenzy. Herbie is 4 months old now, and loves to smile at everything. He wakes up in the morning to flash big happy smiles at me. It is so adorable. His neck is stronger now and he uses it to follow me around with his head and eyes so big and wide. I have been so busy with school and haven't had much time, but I will post some more photos soon.

What a fuss!

Well, just as the nurse practitioner warned, Herbie is a fuss today. He has been inconsolable and really needy. The dose of DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus & Pertussis), Hepatitis B, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), Pneumococcal, and Rotavirus (swallowed)... was a lot of stuff to take all at once! Most of the reactions he is experiencing right now seems normal. He is a lot more fussy than usual and drowsy, but he isn't having seizures or swelling so I think he is fine...

Herbie takes the shots...

like a trooper! The way the nurse practitioner poked him seemed to be so intense, that if I were Herbie, I would be screaming for at least a few minutes! My poor Herbie, made one small shout each time he was poked, and immediately composed his self right away! Most of the time you would see babies crying all the way out the door, not Herbie! I am so proud of him. After that he passed out for a long time. The nurse said he would be fussy all night, but I just put him down to bed, and he looks very peaceful.

His Pediatrician 2 locations

5751 S. Ft. Apache Rd. Suite A
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Telephone: 702.939.0480
Fax: 702.939.0482

Bond Pediatrics ltd
Dmitry Bond, M.D
3201 S. Maryland Pkwy. Suite #607
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone: 702.309.9900
Fax: 702.309.9909

1st day at the pool

I don't think it was a good idea to take Herbie to the pool.

He had fun for a little while, until Richard asked me to hold him as he went down the slide. I decided to take Herbie on an adventure passing the aquarium and under the waterfall. It wasn't a good idea. He was exhausted.

Herbie and Ricky passed out on a pool side chair at the Golden Nugget pool.

Ooops!

Well, Herbie rolled off of the couch today. I wasn't there to see it. But Ricky said he was sleeping next to him on the couch. He was falling in and out of sleep while watching Chuck. He then heard a thump and Herbie crying. He seems to be ok. By the time I got home Ricky looked ashamed of himself and said Herbie rolled off the couch.