It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas: Decorations and Preparations for Christmas Dec 2-8

Decorating!

With the addition of Connor to our family, we have to start getting "serious" about some holiday traditions. Since we're moving into December, that means we have to get serious with decisions for Christmas traditions. The first one being when to put up the Christmas tree and decorate for Christmas -- which we decided should be the first weekend in December.

Christian sporting his 北大 University (Peking
University) hoodie while showing off a
Christmas tree branch! Dec 2

And since it was going to be Connor's first Christmas, we wanted it to be ultra special!

One decision we don't have to face right now is whether or not to use a real or artificial Christmas tree because the only option in China is artificial. Being a bit thrifty, we used a Christmas tree left here by the previous foreign teachers.

Summer helps construct
the tree. Dec 2

On Dec. 2nd, "Summer", a girl that Christian tutors in English on Sunday mornings, helped us decorate. She'd never decorated a Christmas tree before and was a bit excited to help out.





After a bit of work we ended up with a -mostly- decorated room!

Our living room in the middle of decorating for Christmas. Dec 3

Our partially lit tree. Dec 4

But of course there were some flaws we'd need to work out! The tree was much taller than we had anticipated so we'd need to buy an extra string of lights.

Shopping was on schedule anyway because we needed to hit up "Auchan", a supermarket in town, to get some butter to make some test batches of Christmas cookies! Not every supermarket in town carries butter and / or cheese, but Auchan carries both. They are pricey because they are imported, but they are available.

Shopping!

More from outside Auchan. Also shows
some details of the winter coats. Dec 3

Kim and Connor at Auchan. Connor sound
asleep! We love the plaid interior of his hood. Dec 3

Connor is conked after shopping! Dec 4

After some amazing shopping trips, Connor arrives home sound asleep. Luckily we are able to easily take him out of the baby carrier without waking him up! Too bad getting his coat off without waking him up is out of the question!

Being able to shop at places like Auchan that offer cheese and butter make life in Wuhu very different from life in Jiaozuo. This city is more modernized and in part that means more creature comforts we are used to in life.

Cooking!

When we got home we got to work making cookies...

Christian working on a batch of cookies
Dec 3

 Christian was the primary chef for the cookie making task.
Kim was the primary taster for the cookie tasting task.
Yum!

Later, Christian was rewarded with a nice grilled cheese sandwich!

You've become better at eating grilled cheese (79).
Dec 4

Connor 

3 Month Updates!

Dec 7

December 6th was going to mark an important day in Connor's infant life. His 3 month birthday! We knew that along with the normal check ups, the doctors would be looking at Connor's progress with lifting his head so we'd been working on that skill with him a lot.

He'd really been making great progress, but sometimes when he couldn't hold his head up anymore, he'd get too frustrated to continue any kind of exercise and need to be calmed down. (See last post's photo captioned "Tummy Time Uh-oh")

Practicing Holding Up his Head: Dec 3

We were very happy when, at his appointment he was able to show off his head lifting skills in full effect.

Connor at the doctor's office on his 3
month birthday! Dec 6

We actually got a photo of him at the check up doing a great job!

Stats at 3 month look great!
Weight: 6.6kg - 14.55pounds - between 50th and 75th percentile
Height: 63.6cm - 25inches - in 75th percentile

Right on target, just a little bit long!

Massage!

A few posts ago we mentioned that we give Connor a massage every morning. For completion sake, here are some awesome shots of a massage in action!

Massage time! Dec 5

Distracted by the Camera. Dec 5

Connor really likes massage time!

Sad Face. Dec 8

Finally, Connor uses his special language to tell Mommy that he's had enough pictures today.

Poor little guy. 

Christian thinks he got Kim's frown.

Outings, New Coats and Cuteness: Nov 26-Dec1

It's almost December, but winter weather hasn't quite reached Wuhu which is great because Connor loves being outside! 

Often, we walk in the downtown shopping area called "Walking Street" (a pedestrian only area), around an adjacent lake, or we'll take a short stroll around our campus. 

Christian holding Connor on Walking Street. Nov 29
Also check out Connor sporting some nice winter booties.

We've found some fun treats on Walking Street. For example, the cup Christian is holding comes from a shop called "Come Wonka" a drink shop which started in the capital of Anhui province, Hefei. Come Wonka is known for making really great milk tea drinks. They also give suckers to kids - including Connor a few times.

On campus:
Photos of Kim and Connor smiling at the same
time while he's in the Bjorn aren't easy to snap.
If only Kim would be more cooperative! Nov 29

Since Connor is starting to become more alert and aware of his surroundings - and because he's getting stronger (especially with his neck!) we decided we should try him in the Bjorn carrier in a forward facing position. As you can see Connor loved this new experience!

People who saw us out also loved this experience. We heard a lot of people say "好可爱!" as they passed us which basically means "cute!" He tends to draw some attention here because most people here haven't seen a foreign baby in real life before.
Since we are his parents, we are a bit biased, but we think he's pretty darn cute too! If proof is needed, check out this adorable triptych below. Nov 27

< More about the photo: We placed his "I <3 Daddy" bib (thanks Katrina!) on him because he's really into biting things and we didn't necessarily want him biting the front of the Bjorn.]

Unfortunately, good weather can't last forever. On hearing news that winter weather is on the way to Wuhu, we set out to buy some winter coats. The first person to get a new coat was Kim who bought a hooded long

Dec 1

red knit coat with tan faux fur trim and black frog buttons. More pictures of this coat will follow in subsequent blog posts.
Here you can see Connor is back to facing inward... since he was completely conked out, we turned him inward. Poor guy.
Also, because he's forward facing, we've attached some links the Bjorn straps for him to chomp on in case he wakes up.

No pictures of Christian's coat this post, but look for them in subsequent posts! He bought a lovely black leather coat - a huge departure from the style in what he usually buys with great results!

Buying a coat for Connor was going to prove to be more of a challenge for us since we know nothing about buying coats for babies and what would actually be warm enough for him. We wanted something he'd be comfortable in, warm in,  and wouldn't outgrow in a week.  We also wanted avoid hearing passerby's telling us "太少了"  meaning "too little" as in the baby isn't wearing enough. So, we enlisted the help of Song, one of the 阿姨's (aunties, or caretakers) of the building to help us.

Unfortunately, it was raining when we went out and it did get a little cold. But following Song's advice we were able to buy Connor a great winter coat. His coat is mostly blue with white faux fur arms - apparently this kind of trimming is a popular fashion in China right now. The coat also has two adorable dog head shaped pockets, a detachable hood, and in accordance to Chinese baby clothes style the pants are bottomless. More pictures of this coat in subsequent posts.

Christian, Song and Connor showing off
Connor's new coat. Dec 1

Song, Kim and Connor crossing the road.
Check out Song's beautiful umbrella! Dec 1

Play Time = Time to Learn
Back at home, Connor has his now normal play time in the activity gym.
Right now he spends a lot of time staring at the toys in the gym. What is he thinking about as he studies these toys?

Connor staring at the musical bear. A favorite in part because
of it's flashing lights. Nov 29

This photo also shows off another of Connor's favorite new activities - pulling on his shirt collar.

< More about the photo: We've added the puzzle piece foam mat under the activity center to add a little more padding and to keep the mat off the floor. Besides that, we like the color it adds to the room!]

Close up of Connor studying the toys in his gym. Nov 26

Nap Time:

Connor drifting off Nov 26

Connor yawning Nov 26

Having a baby has made us realize that a babies' yawn is the most adorable, precious, and welcome thing in the world.



We love Connor-nap-time. It is always great to have him rest, not just so we get a break, but because he's always refreshed and ready to explore again when he wakes up!





Expressions:
A montage of some fun facial expressions we caught on Nov 26

.

Daily Activities Nov 20-25th

Connor Growing and Learning through Play

Connor has started to grab stuff on his own. He doesn't always know when to let go, which isn't too much fun when he has decided to grab locks of hair.

Connor grabbing  the bars of his crib for the first time. Nov 20

Its so amazing to witness a baby's hands evolve from tiny little clutched fists to something that can reach out, swipe up and grab!

We love seeing Connor grow stronger through play.

Connor distracted by the camera
while playing with his link.
"Huh, what'd I miss?" Nov 20

The kicking play sometimes leads to
 hilarious poses. Nov 20

Connor grabs a hold of the hanging penguin toy. Nov 21

Connor seems to get stronger each day. We have a morning routine we do with him: after getting a massage and a clean outfit, we give him time to play in the gym followed by some tummy time.

Connor hasn't figured out that the handsome
baby staring back at him from the mirror
is actually his own reflection.  Nov 24

Connor studies his links... "Which one is missing?" Nov 24

Connor hasn't shown much interest in this star shaped
 teething blanket, but he loves the star shaped link! Nov 23

Connor shows off this links to Dad.
"Look Dad, two hands!" Nov 24

Connor playing on his mat... rolling onto his side!  Nov 24

Most of this play time is actually "cleverly" disguised activities designed to promote developmental growth... the best example of this may be "Tummy Time." We continuously bill this as a game, but it's really difficult physical exercise and while it can be fun, sometimes it just leads to frustration...

Connor propped on his Boppy pillow to
promote more lifting of his neck. Nov 24

Connor in a dreaded Tummy-Time-Uh-Oh moment.
Frustration has set in! Nov 20

Connor also likes to be read to...

Connor swiping around at The Going to Bed Book Nov 23

To Chew or not to Chew... That is the Question

Connor has started to become interested in putting toys in his mouth. Here's a small triptych of him trying to decide which he likes to chew on more... his pacifier (He likes to chew pacifiers, not suck them...) or his Sophie the giraffe teether. Nov 23

Nov 20

 Connor finds his hand is a tasty chomping option... 

though it's not always a pleasant one!

Nov 23

Connor Sleeping

Generally speaking, we feel very lucky with Connor's sleeping habits. He sleeps really well at night and takes really great naps in the day time. 

Connor sleeping peacefully. Nov 23

Connor chilling out with his Magic Seahorse.
The little ear tug has become his way of telling us
he really needs to go to sleep (like 10 minutes ago).
Nov 24

Connor falls asleep on Dad. Nov 22

Connor snuggling with his knit blanket. Nov 21

Baby's First Red Eye!

Nov 21

You'll probably notice that some of the photos we put up are pretty dark. Its because we've been trying to keep flash away from Connor... Also because natural lighting is pretty awesome and because our apartment is pretty great for natural lighting since it is filled with huge windows. 

Sometimes though, we make mistakes and snap a photo using flash usually resulting in terribly washed out photos or red eyes.
Unfortunately, the non-natural lighting in our apartment is terrible,
so it sometimes seems like we live in a cave.

Thanksgiving Day - Nov 22

Since it was just going to be us three, and Connor isn't even eating solid foods yet, we decided not to do anything special to celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional way. Instead, we bought an amazing - though expensive - Dairy Queen Blizzard. 

Besides, there are no turkeys in China! 

"Know what I mean, Verne?" Nov 25