This is how I roll

Our little lion had his three month check-up this week.  The doctor confirmed that he's a big boy - especially his head - which is off the charts.  I'm hoping that means a ginormous brain is growing in there, and not that he's full of himself.  During the appointment, Judah's pediatrician was asking me about his developmental milestones - using hands at midline - check, imitating sounds - check, rolling over - not yet, and on down the line.  She then flipped him on his tummy to examine his back but got distracted chatting to me.   The lion must not have liked being left there because he promptly rolled right over.  Rolling over - check!

We've been having fun with guests in town this week - our close friends Jim and Linda Sexton.  Judah's been enjoying all of the extra loving.  Linda was holding him the first night she got here and I left the room.  I heard a loud noise coming from the baby and came back thinking he was crying, but to my surprise Linda had him belly laughing out of control.  She was doing kissy faces at him and he loved it.  He's also been mesmerized by Jim singing to him.

Judah has made his first two trips to the large, outdoor, mainly Tibetan "Dirt Market" this week.  It's been quite an adventure feeding and changing his diaper in any available space.  Yesterday he drew a crowd of about thirty while I was changing his diaper - all admonishing me for not dressing him warmly enough.  (I'm not sure how he's supposed to be warm and have his diaper changed at the same time.)  One ninety-year-old man had his wagging finger so close to my face I could have bit it off...and was tempted to.  China is most definitely the land of unsolicited advice.

Our fantastic sleeper is either growing and needs more food, or has just decided he likes our company at night, because he's woken up a few times during the night this week.  I'm hoping that he goes back to sleeping through the night again soon - I miss my sleep!

Three months!

Hard to believe our little lion is already three months old!  It's been a busy time for us and it's flying by.  He's growing like crazy - weighing in at 16 pounds (90th percentile) and measuring 26 inches (100th percentile).  Thankfully, he loves sleeping, and makes it from 7pm to 7am most nights without waking up.  Yay, Judah!

It's so fun to watch the lion develop.  Judah has always loved to smile and passes grins out generously to anyone that looks kindly his way, but this week we had the joy of hearing his first real laugh.  We're looking forward to more!  He's starting to get a little less fragile, and already enjoys more rough, boyish playing.  Justin's having fun with that.

We've been getting out even more this month - on days when the pollution reading is justifiable.  Trying to get Beijing taxi drivers to stop for a woman with a stroller isn't the easiest feat in the world.  Most of them have never seen a car seat before, and more than once I've had an argument with a cabbie that tried to convince me it needed to go - with Judah - into the trunk.  As far as I know, there are no laws regarding car seats or even seat belts, for children in China.  When I go to strap on my seat belt the driver tries to convince me that it's unnecessary because he's so experienced.  I tell him my mom would yell at me if she knew I'd been in a car without my seat belt - and that's the truth.

In an attempt to be fun and festive, and because we had a pumpkin hat given to us by my friend Debbie, I attempted a photo session with Mr. Judah in a pumpkin.  The inspiration came from an adorable image I saw on Pinterest.  Unfortunately, it's cold in Beijing, and apparently really cold inside of a pumpkin.  Needless to say the shoot didn't go very well.  It took me thirty minutes to calm the freezing lion and probably a lifetime to live down the photos and what a mean mother the little cub has.  Our helper/housekeeper/nanny - Xiao Liu - thought I had gone completely mad.  I was tempted to lie and tell her that it's a Halloween custom for all new babies in America - that they have to sit in a pumpkin and scream bloody murder to scare away the evil spirits.  This is something that a Chinese person would believe, but I just went with the truth, and her judging looks.

Since that attempt was a complete disaster, I tried a second time with Judah in a bucket, and that went much better.  His expressions are really starting to be very animated, which is so much fun to watch.

We had a fun time with Judah this year for Halloween.  A few of our friends with kids invited us to a brunch at one of the Hilton hotels.  The hotel did an amazing job of creating a spooky Halloween experience for the kids - including trick-or-treating to various hotel rooms.  Before Judah was born Nana Knapp gave him a football outfit - complete with "Lil' 45" on the front (Justin's number when he played) and "KNAPP" on the back.  So Justin dressed up as a football player and I was a cheerleader - Team Knapp.  Luckily no one fumbled!