Dear Pumpkin,
I’m changing the format of these monthly updates back to what they were when I was pregnant with you. They are much easier to write when I’m writing to you. Hopefully, the next month won’t be so late…
Blowing Bubbles
Your fourth month was quite busy, starting with an international move from Belgium to the US. Welcome to California! You were awesome on the 15-hour flight. We spent this month in a temporary apartment in the swanky Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, complete with cable cars outside ding-ding-dinging all day (and night) long. We quickly narrowed in on our favorite neighborhood (Inner Sunset) and started searching for an apartment. I’m sorry for how much time you spent trekking around with us in the stroller, but we did find a place!
Black & White
One of the first orders of business when we arrived was to get you scheduled with a pediatrician. We found a doctor here that we’re pretty happy with, and got you all checked out. At the beginning of the month, you weighed 12 lbs. You did not start your vaccines in Belgium (they start there at 2-3 months), and while it didn’t bother me there, I felt much more uncomfortable in San Fran. In Belgium, strangers hardly ever acknowledged you, but here, random people ask about and try to touch you. I’m not a particulary germaphobic person, but I feel like I’m around coughing, sniffling people a lot more here. We started your vaccines, and honestly, I’ll rate that day as the toughest day of parenting yet. You were a sleepy, cranky mess the rest of the day, and to make things worse, your dad was home sick too – two fussy babies.
Napping with Panda
The other goal after moving here was to find some playgroups. I joined the Golden Gate Mother’s Group and attended their playgroup formation meeting at the end of the month. Stay at Home Moms don’t seem real common here (nannies are), but I did find a playgroup to meet some others through. Unfortunately, about 2/3rd will be returning to work in a couple months.
In the Park with Papa
When we lived in Atlanta, we attended the local Unitarian Universalist church, which had a wonderful group of parents from which I hoped to learn. We checked out the local UU church here hoping to find a like-minded community. This was also the first time we left you without either of us — in the nursery. We were nearby and I had my cell phone on vibrate just in case, but it was a big step for us. They said you hardly cried. Unfortunately, our first impression of the church wasn’t the same vibe as we had in Atlanta, so we haven’t been back yet, but we’ll be sure to give it another try sometime.
Smile!
So what else? You now consistently can pull the loop on your bouncer to play music. You received a Bumbo chair where you’ve been practicing sitting up straight. We also went to Houston for a few days where you got to meet your great grandmother and my aunt and uncle. The month was packed full, but if it’s a hint of what living here will be like, I think we’re going to enjoy it.
Love and Kisses,
Mama
P.S. I’ve posted more photos and videos on PicasaWeb:
- Pumpkin’s 4th Month (32 photos, 4 videos)
