Mr B sitting up

Baby Wilder became Mr Baby, became Mr B, and that's what we tend to call him (or, on occasion, baby Wilds). He is now 3 months old and has begun to sit up (with a little help). It makes him very happy as there is more to see. He is also now responding to the direction voices come from, and likes to smile, especially if he thinks he is about to eat or have his nappy changed. The big kids are also enjoying playing with him, with Bluet desperate to lend him her (very old and ragged) blanket at any opportunity

Progress

In the last few weeks Ilona has been getting better and better at sitting up by herself. While we are out at one of the myriad Zurich parks, it is nice to let her sit in the grass. This can only last so long, as eventually Bluet tires of whatever she is playing with nearby, and start to disappear off into the distance. Ilona has also become very adept at picking things up (she is particularly fond of trying to pick up Bluet's blanket, or pulling Bluet's hair, neither of which are very popular. Still, Bluet is becoming more and more interested in Ilona, asking to help feed her, or talking about how they will play together when Ilona is big. And of course she likes to push Ilona gently on the baby swing.

Bluet plays hide and seek

Bluet got a new Stylewild

The end of a tough day at the playground

Spot the difference

The other day after Emily had been running, she was lying stretching on the floor, and Ilona did her best to do the same. See if you can spot the difference.

Also, here is Ilona enjoying the sofa

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7 Month Birthday

well the week surrounding Bluet's 7 month birthday was a big one family wise, with the first chance to meet her British Grandfather followed by Thanksgiving with her Missouri family - more on both later.

In the meantime, here is a video of a 7 month-old in action. As you can see she can sit up, eat stuff, and use her hands. She can almost crawl, so hopefully that will be in her next vid.

So what's new?

Hiya! I am home alone as Emily is watching the Cardinals try and reach the post-season via the wild-card. This is clearly a big event as it has even made the front page of the Guardian, back in the old country. As Bluet is a New Yorker she has no interest, and is asleep.

Since your last update, Bluet has added non-sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and water to her diet. She has spent much time practising sitting up, though about crawling, tried walking, started to recognise strangers (rather than smile at everyone) and discovered the joys of Dr Seuss (or at least I like to think she has as they are more fun to read than 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear').

Bluet took time out from her hectic schedule to star in the following movie:

5 Month Birthday

 

Yellow is a nice stone*

Last weekend was a long one, so we took advantage by flying to Wyoming and visiting some of Emily's friends (Greg and Kara and their 2 small childs, Ben* (confusion ahoy!) and Teo). Ben is very talkative and interested in tractors, whilst Teo is around a month younger than Bluet. Both are very sweet.

The trip out was uneventful, and Bluet was able to catch up on her reading.

It was pretty cool to be in the Wyoming-Montana area for the first time - apparently (unbelievably) Wyoming is bigger than the Old Country.

But with many fewer people, and more bears.

What were the skies like when you were young? They ran on forever

It was wonderfully not humid compared to New York, and full of enormous mountains. Our first excursion was to Red Lodge, a mountain town with a restaurant selling vegetarian sausages for breakfast, and a small brewery selling delicious local beer and food. I approve of this behaviour.

NB Bluet had to borrow clothes because it was colder than we expected! Loaned shirt features Bucky the Badger of the University of Wisconsin American Football team

This is the only photo I have of Ben facing the right way

Then on Sunday we visited Yellowstone.

This was my first National Park in 31 years, and Bluet's first ever. You will probably have heard of Yellowstone either because it is the home of Yogi bear or because it is the home of Old Faithful, a giant geyser (which is, I am reliably informed, pronounced geezer - old faithful - old man, makes sense to me). I was expecting to see Lions and Tigers and Bears (Oh my) but sadly there were none. I suspect it was because it was the labour day weekend and they were staying out of the way of all the people (there were a lot of people). We did see some buffalo, elk and birds. And some cool natural features - e.g. stinky bubbling mud pits and an enormous waterfall, as well as some spectacular mountains on the way in.

O give me a home where the Buffalo roam

Waterfall (and the yellow stone of Yellowstone)

be thankful this isn't smelly vision

We had a tedious flight back with a 5 hour layover in Minneapolis airport (although this allows me to check another state off the list), and an hour wait for a taxi home. Throughout this all, Bluet behaved herself.