Spring Update

I haven't posted since February? The last time I posted, Ida wasn't walking yet. Now she is full-on running. She cannot be contained. She cannot be stopped. One day, we were at the airport, waiting out a delay, and she took off. From our arms to some stranger's lap. And she has not stopped since.

irx runs from on Vimeo.

Going out to eat has gotten tricky since all she wants to do is explore. And she is a terror at Target and the grocery store (I lost her for about 5 seconds at a computer store, which seemed like 5 days). But everything else is more fun. Going to the park, going for walks, her music/dance class.




She's a daredevil, not scared of anything (except trees, for some reason). She loves dogs and cats and going down the slide. Her new thing is going down the slide head first.



Probably the biggest change is her ability to communicate. She has about 25-30 words, 3 signs (more, milk, please), and she is very resourceful in the way she communicates. She can say "book" but if she wants you to read to her she takes your hand and puts the book in it.

She knows how to fake laugh, which she will do when a group of adults is laughing, but she's recently learned how to fake cry, telenovela style (hmmm...I wonder where she picked that up). She's very affectionate, always doling out kisses and hugs, for her mama, her toys, and picture of babies.

February Update

When IRX was 4 months old and starting on solid foods, we tried to teach her the sign for "more" to no avail. We kept using it until we gave up, maybe 4-5 months later. Well, all of a sudden, a few weeks ago, she learned that she could get things if she asked for them and now signs "more" all the time (I think she thinks it means "eat"). Unfortunately for CP, it's always for more breastmilk. We've been trying to teach her the sign for milk and please, but she just stares at us blankly and furiously signs "more."

Not much going on otherwise. Lots of snow, but now as much as our east coast friends. Ida is somewhat interested in snow, but being a Chicago January baby, she just loves being in the cold. The first step out the door always produces a gasp and a smile.



She's also been sick off and on for the past 3 weeks. First it was a cold, which everyone in the house caught and then a stomach thing that has been going around. CP dubbed Feb 14th St. Vomitines's Day. Now she has an eye infection, which prevented her from going to her friend Harold's pool party.

Even though she took her first steps almost a month ago, she's still not interested in walking. Although we've been taking her to a music and movement class and most of the kids are mobile and more and more she's standing up by herself for long periods of time. She's just too scared to move her feet. We've been encouraging her to walk holding only one of our hands (and not two) which has been going well. Although, if we're both holding on to her hands, she runs. So my prediction is she will go from crawling to running.





Having some formatting issues. Here are some miscellaneous pics: hanging out with Sabina, kicking back with a bagel.

Our Little Tiny

IRX had her 1 year check up today and she continues to be our tiny (with a big head): 17 lbs, 7 oz and 29 inches with a head size of 45.5 cm. Small but with a double chin and big belly.

Baby's Got a New Pair of Shoes!

IRX's new shoes, on deep deep discount. To paraphrase AshmanLisAshman, I could die. Baby shoes are definitely my weakness.

Ida Turns 1!

IRX's first birthday and we couldn't be more proud of the little person she is at this moment: loving, caring, silly, and fun. A wild child. Full of life.

Her birthday proper was almost derailed when CP tried to bake a cake and then ran out of time, so they scooped me up from work on Friday and we went to WF and picked up a cake. I was tempted by the mini tarts, mini pies, and mini eclairs, but we were there to pick up a cake. You only turn 1 once.
What's going on?

Hesitant. Memories of Mamas shouting "Ida, no!" running through her head.

Okay, no one is stopping me...


Going for it!



Can't eat anymore. I've loosened my diaper. Maybe if I move around a little...



All that exercise has made me hungry.


They don't call it a "smash" cake for nothing.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from Robobebe! Ida's first Xmas was great. She got to see (either in person or over the internet) all of her grandparents and almost all of her many aunts and uncles. And she got to spend lots of time with her cousin P-lo, which was great.

Getting ready to go see Grandpa Ed and have Christmas Eve Pad Thai! And then off to see the James family at their annual Christmas Eve open house.


Watching her mama get ready.

Ready!

With Grandpa Michael and Aunt Molly.

Aunt Casey and Uncle Cadien

Marveling at the miracle of crackers.

A present from Aunt Molly!


Christmas Day and IRX has presents to open. Kind of. This was a box with an old blanket in it. Yes, for Christmas, Ida got the joy of unwrapping. Don't worry, we're not scrooges. Ida got lots of presents from her family this year.



After presents IRX had her first Skype experience with her Grandmere and Uncle T.

And then off again to the James' house to retrieve a lost boot and to hang out with her aunts and uncles.

IRX gets her hair braided by Molly while eating a cracker and playing guitar with Uncle Cadien. That's multi-tasking.


And then later, Jewish-Buddhist Christmas Chinatown dinner with her Zadie and her aunts, uncles, and P-lo.


Wiping P-lo's face.


Out in the snow.


Boxing day and reading the book her Pawpaw and Grammy bought her.


Time for Jewish Boxing Day Salad Bar Buffet (creating new traditions all the time) and Ida caps off her huge lunch of pasta, peas, potatoes, and beans with a fro yo.



Ida really likes fro yo.



Relaxing at home and a lady always crosses her legs when checking her iphone, pantless.

11 Months, 2 Weeks

Another mini update about our little Mini.

Two weeks from her first birthday and here are a few highlight:

-She LOVES Beyonce. She starts dancing when she hears "Single Ladies" and can sing along to the "oh oh oh oh oh oh" part.

-Her first word might be "Ida", "huh?!?" or that part of "Single Ladies". Or "uh-oh". She is a chatterbox, but those are the only words she uses in the right context.

-Her mullet goes down to about mid-back, still no hair on the sides, but the back is growing in more.

-She loves to eat. French fries are her favorite, followed by guacamole, rice, cheese, and beans. Oh, and ice cream. She doesn't get a lot of it and doesn't get it often, but you should see the look on her face when she does.

-She's really good a crawling, she's a very fast crawler, but still doesn't show any signs of wanting to walk.

-In the past few weeks, she's learned to share, always offering part of her dinner to people, sometimes she's nice enough to start chewing on the food before offering.

-Our little mini is getting bigger. She's finally outgrown about 95% of her 3-6 month clothes and now wears mostly 6-12 and 12-18.

-She has eight teeth.

-She understands simple commands, like "give me..." and "kiss the baby". She also understands "no" but chooses to pretend that she doesn't understand.

-Her nickname is Ida the Destroyer or Godzilla. She is much more interested in tearing things apart than putting them together.

-She is a joy. A happy baby with a mischievous gleam in her eye.