Look Ma, no hands!

Standing up and showing off.

Clapping too!

Monkeying around.

We took Avinash to his first trip to the Zoo last weekend. It was SUPER hot outside and most of animals were pretty lethargic because of that. We did see this one baby orangatan who was showing off for everybody. Of course I got a video of it. I think my favorite part is Avinash screaming playfully in the background.

Nine Month Update

Crawling all over. Pulling himself up. Pincer grasp. Walking with his truck. Getting into the second shelf. Clapping. Waving good-bye purposefully. Flirting. Clicking his tongue, smacking his lips. Stranger anxiety. Babbling mama and dada. Blackberry and cell phone expert-they really do start young!

Aww Mom, I can eat it myself!

A bit blurry, but the only picture I got of him clapping.

Trying to get a picture of his two teeth.

The other day we went to Ruggles Green for dinner. Second day in a row. The girls sitting next to us mentioned that he was a cute baby and waved at him. He started waving back and babbling happily. They liked that, so he figured that they would love to see him clapping too, so he started showing off. He is a total flirt.

He also started doing this thing where he flicks his lips with his fingers to make silly noises. He also tries to grab our lips and do it to us. Of course whenever I try to get it on film, he only tries to go for the camera and forgets all else. I caught a few seconds of it at least.



The best part is he is such a happy baby. He still squeals when I get home and proceeds to follow me all around the house. He laughs when we toss him in the air, tickle him or surprise him.

He had his nine-month check up today. All is well. He is in the 45%-ile for head, 10%-ile height, 5%-ile weight and has two teeth. A bit small, but growing at a very good rate according to the pediatrician. It seems that he is indeed our child with our genes, including height. He is developmentally on track.
He is probably going to start walking unsupported soon too. And we still need to babyproof most of the apartment.

Bella Baby

We took Avinash for a photo shoot when he was only a few days old. We used most of the photos for his birth announcements, but we also ordered some portraits as well. A mere nine months later I finally remembered to go by there and pick up the photos. Turns out they also added some of our photos to their online portfolio too!

Title Town, baby!

When was the last time Pittsburgh had two championships in a row??


Avinash of course is starting to think this is the norm.



I sent Anuj a picture of him after the game, his response:



We have such a lucky baby!! At least he didn't get too startled and cry this time. Well, not for too long anyway.

Keep on trucking!

Avinash has been working hard on learning how to walk. His Naniji brought him a ride-a-long toy truck on her last visit. He loves grabbing the handle at the back and cruising around the living room. He is getting pretty good, but those landings can be a doozy!

I hope this isn't arresting his development..

Ok, so I am not posting the video, but I did feel inspired to make a scrapbook page with this installment of our Roomba story.

And, no! We don't really want him to be like Buster.

Though I guess I should be worried about what this says about me as a Mom. Especially since it was my idea to let him ride Roomba.

He's too big to actually ride it anymore, but he is fascinated with it now. He crawls after it and cries when he can't catch up! He even learned how to turn it on while it is in the dock.

Of course Ryan was complaining about the lack of robot features on the page, as if I have a huge stock of robot accessories. But! turns out I did have this really adorable card (sent to be my actual Robotics PhD friend Rachel when Avi was born along with a beautiful hand crocheted blankie and booties set). So, it worked out. I actually made three layouts tonight, but this was definitely the best.

Not Me Monday, post-call edition.

Another Not Me! post in the style of my favorite blog, MyCharmingKids, by MckMama.

I would never say that staying at home with your baby instead of operating all day is hard work. It does not seem like two hours of nap time is way too short.

I would never, for example, resort to using household robots to entertain my child.

Ahem.

Photographs notwithstanding.

The video I will not not post.

I did not meet a whole host of other surprises. Last night, I was not way too proud of myself for making a healthy dinner and letting Avinash try endamame!

I did not come to regret this decision today. Not once this morning, twice by noon and three times total and counting...

Even though I could probably not do this every day I'm glad I get the chance every now and then (seriously, I do.)

Is this normal?

Water park or waterboarding?

We went to Galveston on Memorial Day weekend for our friends' engagment party. We decided to spend the weekend at Moody Gardens there.

Despite our recent shark sightings in Houston...

We all decided to check out the aquarium at Moody Garden too (ie, I dragged Ryan there because I heard they have a million gallon shark tank).

Avi quietly posed for pictures...

under minor protest only,



Withstood imprisonment,



watched penguins dive,




And survived being fed to the sharks.

He even liked the boat cruise around Galveston and dancing to Hindi music.

But, he had no idea what was in store for him Sunday morning...

Strapped in a bulky red life vest, out in the blaring sun, he was forced to ride every single scary water slide torture device in the whole park!

I guess things haven't changed.