Find 10 differences...

This is Elena when she was about 5 months old, held by her mom.


This is Sam at about about 5 months, held by his mom.

Library book

Recently we went to check out the local library. Sam was there too, and the librarian suggested that he get a library card too, because as she said, "it's never to early to get them started"! He has some kiddie books of his own but he was more interested in reading some of his parent's books. Or, more like, licking them and crumbling the pages.


Sam: "Wow, that mystery novel had a completely unexpected twist to it!"


That book had a happy ending!

Kicking back

This is a video of Sam kicking in the bath tub. He just figured out how to splash with his legs and is having fun doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQqN-FPl7Dc

Sam goes for a hike

Stopping to smell the roses

There was a little zoo in the park - Sam enjoyed the feeding of the turtles in the acquarium.

Hiker-in-training

Hiking is hard work! Sam is resting after doing all the trails in the park.

Booooooooooo! Getting ready for Sam's first Halloween

Sam sat up today by himself for the firs time. That stroller handle seems to be really tasty. Yum!


Grandma Galina is starting Sam on piano lessons. He already knows how to play the easy stuff, like Mozart sonatas.

Sam is getting some "air"

Dining outdoors in Jersey City on a warm October evening.

Liberty Science Center Museum in New Jersey

Looking down into the microscope.


Sam is deciding who to vote for.


Getting a head start on studying nuclear physics and molecular biology.


"Who is this baby looking at me?"

Sweet dreams...

Zzz....zzz...ZZZZZZ...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

ZZZZZZ....zzzzzzzzzz....ZZZZZZZZ

ZZZZZZ....zzzzzzzzzz....ZZZZZZZZ

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Turning over

Sam is now flipping over to his stomach all the time.


Saturday-morning walk with mom.


Taking a rest after all that activity!

Sam is concerned with the crisis in the financial markets

Sam is really concerned about the turmoil in the financial markets this week, especially the fall of Lehman and AIG. He keeps on top of his Wall Street Journal readings and doesn't approve of the goernment's bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He is working on forming some trade ideas (perhaps buying some mortgage-backed securities on the cheap?)


When he's not busy following the Dow, he unwinds from all the stresses of the current events in the markets by sucking on his fist. He gets really frustrated when it doesn't fit into his mouth.


He loves to go for "walks" in the stroller but, hehe, at 4 months, he doesn't really fit into it anymore (see above :) ).


Instead, he loves being held by all the relatives and looking around.




This is us on the deck by the pool at our apartment building.







Sam learned how to flip from back to front (but is still working on the front to back).

Sam's first visit to the beach

Sam enjoyed a day on Jersey Shore. Aunt Julia and cousin Nikki also came especially to see him. He also got to try his new Baby Bjorn carrier.


Sam: "Nice view from up here!"


Sam also tried out a new "Jumperoo" toy. It lets him jump up and down and swing.


Here, he's sitting in his favorite bouncy chair and "singing". He is making lots of singing and cooing noises these days. He also LOVES sucking on his fingers and is constantly trying to put his whole fist in his mouth. So far unsuccessfully, thankfully!

3-Months Birthday on August 18th

Sam received this letter from Julia, Nikki and Jake:

Hello there, members of Sam's family...We wanted to say Happy 3d month Birthday, but couldn't reach him on the phone he doesnt pick up. Also you can create an email address for Sam so in a year or two he can see who never forgot his little birthdays and always wrote to him, hehehe. Now he is 3 month OLD MAN. Happy Birthday malen'ki Sam and keep on smiling :) ( did you buy him a bright ballon? he enjoyed it a lot last birthday!) Love, Julia, Nikki and Jake.P.S. We got couple of little presents for him,hope he's gonna like it.

Sam's reply:

Dear aunt Julia, and cousins Nikki and Jake -

Thank you for wishing me a happy birthday. Sorry I could not pick up the phone when you called - I was busy shopping for watches with my daddy (see picture on the blog). I am becoming very proficient with the internet (I even chat every day on Skype with my grandfather in Russia) so there is no need for my parents to open an e-mail address for me, as you proposed. E-mail is too 20th century, which is, like, ancient history! That's before I was even born. Instead, I am going with the new age thing - my blog, so if you want to write me a message or congratulate me on my birthday, you can leave a comment on my blog. :)

My birthday was fun. I woke up, smiled, sang, ate, burped, ate, burped, played, cooed, slept, woke up, smiled, sang, ate, burped, ate, burped, played, cooed, slept, woke up, smiled, sang, ate, burped, ate, burped, played, cooed, slept, woke up, smiled, sang, ate, burped, ate, burped, played, cooed, slept, woke up, smiled, sang, ate, burped, ate, burped, played, cooed, slept. Talk about a busy body that I am!

I will definitely keep on smiling - in fact I learned how to laugh a couple of weeks ago. I don't really understand the jokes yet (especially the financial derivatives jokes my mother makes) but I understand when my parents laugh and start giggling too.

Looking forward to seeing all of you, hopefully at the beach this coming weekend!
- Sam

Out and about

Sam tries on a hat his mom had knit for him when she was expecting.


These hip clothes (including the Ralph Lauren shoes!) were given to Sam by aunt Julia and cousin Nikki, who came to visit.

Grandpa Yuri spoils Sam by playing with him and lifting him in the air. Sam likes it a lot - he smiles and giggles.

Our friends Sarah, Nathan and Noa gave us this teething toy. Although Sam isn't teething yet (and won't be for a few months), he loves grabbing it and sucking on it.

We took Sam on another day trip. This one was to the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. Here Sam is sleeping in grandpa's arms in the gardens.

Grandpa visits from Russia

Grandpa Yuri (Elena's dad) is visiting from Russia. This means that Elena and her mom get extra help, and Sam gets an extra person to play with him. Sam is getting spoiled!

Sam is so excited to see grandpa!

We are traveling more on weekends so grandpa Yuri has a chance to see more of the US. Sam had so many new impressions and got so excited that he fell asleep on grandpa's shoulder :)

Web shopping

Sam: "Wow, internet shopping is fun! Look at all those cool diapers and onesies I can get for myself! And the baby wipes are 50% off!"


Sam: "I don't need that much for happiness. Just feed me and play with me!"
Sam also went to the doctor this week with dad, grandma Vera and grandpa Yura, who is visiting from Russia for 3 weeks. He got his first round of vaccinations at the doctor's, and was measured and weighed in. He is now 13 lb 4 oz (about 6 kg) and 24 inches tall (about 60.5 cm).