In 2011...
...I took just over 13,000 photos.
...Little Man travelled over 42,000 miles and visited two different states.
...Little Man put on around 12 pounds and grew about 8 inches.
...His mother put on about the same amount of weight, but did not grow any inches.
...He has gone from laying flat on his back to rolling to crawling to pulling up to walking to running to limping as we try to get him accustomed to walking again without his cast.
...The Georgia Bulldogs, Little Man's favorite team, scored a total of 417 points and scored 51 touchdowns.
...The Harry Potter movies ended, grossing a total of $7,000,000,000+. It will be 2016 before Little man gets to read any of the books. I'm already anticipating that day with excitement.
...Little Man moved, lost an uncle, and made new friends.
...He still does not like carrots.
2011 has been a good year. There has been sadness, frustration and tears. But there has also been happiness, smiles, and baby kisses. And it's very, very hard to feel sad, frustrated or cry when you're getting baby kisses.
Where will life find me 365 days from now? I stopped trying to predict my future long ago. I don't know specifics--I'm not even trying to make any guesses. But as long as I have my family, kisses from my boy and my husband too, I know I'll be happy.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Some Assembly Required
There is a certain happiness Christmas brings you when you're a parent.
Maybe you find it watching your child mesmerized by the lights and decoratins that adorn the houses this time of year.
Maybe it's when you light your family tree for the first time, and your baby claps his hands in delight and sucks in an excited breath.
Maybe you find it in shopping for your Little One, picking out things you know he'll be excited about opening and playing with throughout the year.
Perhaps it's snuggled up on the couch in the evening, all of you squished together, watching a holiday movie or listening to holiday music.
Or maybe you find it in the three and a half hours it takes you to assemble the train table that, from the moment he sees it Christmas morning, will keep your kid busy from sun up to sun down.
Because famililes are like the best presents--the train table, the bicycle, the complicated hot wheels track. It takes a long time to put them together. They don't come prepackaged or all set up. A good life with your family requires some assembly. Sometimes there is grumbling, but the end result is something fantastic. And sometimes pieces break, but there's usually a repair kit. And if there's not, a creative mind can find a fix for almost anything.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May your holiday be happily ever after.
Maybe you find it watching your child mesmerized by the lights and decoratins that adorn the houses this time of year.
Maybe it's when you light your family tree for the first time, and your baby claps his hands in delight and sucks in an excited breath.
Maybe you find it in shopping for your Little One, picking out things you know he'll be excited about opening and playing with throughout the year.
Perhaps it's snuggled up on the couch in the evening, all of you squished together, watching a holiday movie or listening to holiday music.
Or maybe you find it in the three and a half hours it takes you to assemble the train table that, from the moment he sees it Christmas morning, will keep your kid busy from sun up to sun down.
Because famililes are like the best presents--the train table, the bicycle, the complicated hot wheels track. It takes a long time to put them together. They don't come prepackaged or all set up. A good life with your family requires some assembly. Sometimes there is grumbling, but the end result is something fantastic. And sometimes pieces break, but there's usually a repair kit. And if there's not, a creative mind can find a fix for almost anything.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May your holiday be happily ever after.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
With Sprinkles on Top
There is nothing that will bring joy to a one-year-old's face more quickly than being offered a plate full of cookies, a big blob of icing, and his very own container of holiday sprinkles.
After a few suspicious glances at me ("Am I really allowed to do this, Mama? It looks like it might be messy!") and a couple of test-shakes of his sprinkle container, Little Man made short work of his cookies. The real fun, it seems, is not decorating the cookies themselves so much as watching the red and green sprinkles pour out of the container on to the counter, where you can then make interesting designs using your fingers.
And we didn't keep the fun all to ourselves. There wasn't just Little Man sitting at the island, alone is his sprinkle mania. It was a sugar filled holiday play date. There was 2-year-old Miss B right alongside him, although she did focus a little more on decorating the actual cookie and less on decorating the kitchen.
My girlfriend and I were pleasantly surprised, once the kids got bored decorating their creations, how little of a mess they made. Sure, when I took Little Man's diaper off an hour later sprinkles fell out of it, and there is a spot on his leg that is dyed green from where he was sitting on them. But the overall result?
Positively yummy.
After a few suspicious glances at me ("Am I really allowed to do this, Mama? It looks like it might be messy!") and a couple of test-shakes of his sprinkle container, Little Man made short work of his cookies. The real fun, it seems, is not decorating the cookies themselves so much as watching the red and green sprinkles pour out of the container on to the counter, where you can then make interesting designs using your fingers.
And we didn't keep the fun all to ourselves. There wasn't just Little Man sitting at the island, alone is his sprinkle mania. It was a sugar filled holiday play date. There was 2-year-old Miss B right alongside him, although she did focus a little more on decorating the actual cookie and less on decorating the kitchen.
My girlfriend and I were pleasantly surprised, once the kids got bored decorating their creations, how little of a mess they made. Sure, when I took Little Man's diaper off an hour later sprinkles fell out of it, and there is a spot on his leg that is dyed green from where he was sitting on them. But the overall result?
Positively yummy.
Monday, December 19, 2011
A Cast for Christmas
Looks like this will be sticking around until after the holidays.
At least he's color coordinated!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Dear Santa
Dear Santa,
A lot has changed since the last time I wrote to you. I'll be a year and a half old next month. I've put on about 12 pounds since last Christmas, and I wear clothes for 3 and 4 year olds. This time last year I could hardly sit up, and now I'm running all over the place (or at least I will be when I get my cast off).
I live in a new house, with lots of room and cows in the back yard. I know you couldn't leave me a reindeer last year, but we have way more space now--so I wouldn't complain if I found one hanging out with the livestock on Christmas morning. If Mommy asks, I'll just tell her that one cow got a tree branch on her head and then distract her. I'll leave carrots for the reindeer under the tree. They must get really hungry and I still don't like carrots, so I'll leave them all we have.
I'll leave you coke and cookies, too. I just had my very first oreo and I looooved it. Mommy didn't think I would but I proved her wrong! I ate it all up and I was a big mess and it took Mommy three washes to get my shirt clean. She didn't mind though, she's always doing laundry so I think she must like it a lot. I like little sips of coke, too, especially out of Mommy's straw when she's not looking. I'm stealthy like Daddy.
I've been super good this year. I always eat all my green veggies and I don't wake up at night nearly as much as I used to. Sometimes I wake Mommy and Daddy up at night these days, but if I don't, when else will I get to see the stars?
I'm working on learning to pick up my toys and put my books away when I'm through with them. I especially like to put my books back on the shelf and I'm very particluar about where they go. I'm not usually a messy boy (the oreo was a special occasion). In fact, if anything gets on my hands during dinner time I hold them up in the air and tell Mommy that they're dirty (using my loud voice) until she wipes them off.
I have lots of fun toys--I especially love my cars and trains, and books about them. I have this really great book and I know where all the trucks are in it! It must be Daddy's favorite book too, because he's always asking me to show him where the dump truck and the dune buggy are. I'm helping him learn all the names.
I like music too, and I dance all the time. I love to conduct the music with my hands. I know I would love to play music on Mommy's iPod, if I could just get my hands on it. Her reflexes have gotten way better since I came along.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas Santa, and a good vacation when the season is over. I'll write to you again next year and give you the scoop on whats new. Oh, and I'll give the cows a heads up that they might be getting a new friend (wink wink).
Love and babykisses,
Little Man
A lot has changed since the last time I wrote to you. I'll be a year and a half old next month. I've put on about 12 pounds since last Christmas, and I wear clothes for 3 and 4 year olds. This time last year I could hardly sit up, and now I'm running all over the place (or at least I will be when I get my cast off).
I live in a new house, with lots of room and cows in the back yard. I know you couldn't leave me a reindeer last year, but we have way more space now--so I wouldn't complain if I found one hanging out with the livestock on Christmas morning. If Mommy asks, I'll just tell her that one cow got a tree branch on her head and then distract her. I'll leave carrots for the reindeer under the tree. They must get really hungry and I still don't like carrots, so I'll leave them all we have.
I'll leave you coke and cookies, too. I just had my very first oreo and I looooved it. Mommy didn't think I would but I proved her wrong! I ate it all up and I was a big mess and it took Mommy three washes to get my shirt clean. She didn't mind though, she's always doing laundry so I think she must like it a lot. I like little sips of coke, too, especially out of Mommy's straw when she's not looking. I'm stealthy like Daddy.
I've been super good this year. I always eat all my green veggies and I don't wake up at night nearly as much as I used to. Sometimes I wake Mommy and Daddy up at night these days, but if I don't, when else will I get to see the stars?
I'm working on learning to pick up my toys and put my books away when I'm through with them. I especially like to put my books back on the shelf and I'm very particluar about where they go. I'm not usually a messy boy (the oreo was a special occasion). In fact, if anything gets on my hands during dinner time I hold them up in the air and tell Mommy that they're dirty (using my loud voice) until she wipes them off.
I have lots of fun toys--I especially love my cars and trains, and books about them. I have this really great book and I know where all the trucks are in it! It must be Daddy's favorite book too, because he's always asking me to show him where the dump truck and the dune buggy are. I'm helping him learn all the names.
I like music too, and I dance all the time. I love to conduct the music with my hands. I know I would love to play music on Mommy's iPod, if I could just get my hands on it. Her reflexes have gotten way better since I came along.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas Santa, and a good vacation when the season is over. I'll write to you again next year and give you the scoop on whats new. Oh, and I'll give the cows a heads up that they might be getting a new friend (wink wink).
Love and babykisses,
Little Man
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Ways to Keep a Toddler with a Broken Leg Busy
This week has been a lesson in extreme parenting. Today, I share with you my ways to keep a toddler with a broken leg busy:
1. Books. Lots and lots and lots of books.
2. A visit to the car dealership, to wander around the rows of cars from the comfort of a stroller while exclaiming and pointing in excitement.
3. Two dozen or so rides up and down in the mall elevator.
4. Also at the mall: the carousel. It was worth every penny of the $2 ticket to hear Little Man yell "up up up!" every time his horse started to rise.
5. Storytime, at every local library and bookstore I could find.
6. Homemade tracks and ramps for the growing collection of matchbox cars and transformers. Seriously, I think they're breeding while we're alseep.
7. TV. Go ahead and judge me, but during this week of trying to keep our kid entertained nonstop, Husband and I need the occasional break. And that's just what Mickey Mouse does for half an hour. Plus, Little Man is sooo cute when he does the Hot Dog Dance.
8. A spatula and a serving spoon. Who knew that these previously forbidden objects would keep him busy the whole time I cooked dinner?
9. A bowl of bread chunks and a grown-up fork. Do not underestimate the power of sitting at the table and stabbing things with a utensil.
So far we haven't broken out any of the Christmas presents, although the allure of giving him something new to play with is very strong. But really, who needs presents when you can have a spatula?
1. Books. Lots and lots and lots of books.
2. A visit to the car dealership, to wander around the rows of cars from the comfort of a stroller while exclaiming and pointing in excitement.
3. Two dozen or so rides up and down in the mall elevator.
4. Also at the mall: the carousel. It was worth every penny of the $2 ticket to hear Little Man yell "up up up!" every time his horse started to rise.
5. Storytime, at every local library and bookstore I could find.
6. Homemade tracks and ramps for the growing collection of matchbox cars and transformers. Seriously, I think they're breeding while we're alseep.
7. TV. Go ahead and judge me, but during this week of trying to keep our kid entertained nonstop, Husband and I need the occasional break. And that's just what Mickey Mouse does for half an hour. Plus, Little Man is sooo cute when he does the Hot Dog Dance.
8. A spatula and a serving spoon. Who knew that these previously forbidden objects would keep him busy the whole time I cooked dinner?
9. A bowl of bread chunks and a grown-up fork. Do not underestimate the power of sitting at the table and stabbing things with a utensil.
So far we haven't broken out any of the Christmas presents, although the allure of giving him something new to play with is very strong. But really, who needs presents when you can have a spatula?
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sticks and Stones May Break my Bones....
...And apparently, so can tripping over your own two feet.
Add to that little trip up 30 pounds of force landing on chubby little knees and what do you get? A proximal tibial fracture and a bright red cast that goes from toe to thigh.
Our Little Man is a pretty rough and tumble boy, so when he fell two days ago and cried the horrible hurt cry I've only heard a few times in his life, I knew it wasn't a boo boo that could be cured with cuddles and kisses.
Little Man is faring pretty well--he's in good spirits and figuring out how to crawl around with his cast on. He gets frustrated when he can't stand up, but we're keeping him surrounded by all his favorite toys on ground level.
The cast is also an excellent noisemaker. Not only does it make a satisfying scraping noise when dragged along the ground, but it is like a built in drum.
And so with a determined expression our Little Man manuevers around the house, rediscovering nooks and crannies on floor level he hasn't seen in a few months, because he's been too busy running past them. Did you know the chair rung makes an excellent train track? Or that underneath the bookcase is a perfect matchbox car tunnel?
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Add to that little trip up 30 pounds of force landing on chubby little knees and what do you get? A proximal tibial fracture and a bright red cast that goes from toe to thigh.
Our Little Man is a pretty rough and tumble boy, so when he fell two days ago and cried the horrible hurt cry I've only heard a few times in his life, I knew it wasn't a boo boo that could be cured with cuddles and kisses.
Little Man is faring pretty well--he's in good spirits and figuring out how to crawl around with his cast on. He gets frustrated when he can't stand up, but we're keeping him surrounded by all his favorite toys on ground level.
The cast is also an excellent noisemaker. Not only does it make a satisfying scraping noise when dragged along the ground, but it is like a built in drum.
And so with a determined expression our Little Man manuevers around the house, rediscovering nooks and crannies on floor level he hasn't seen in a few months, because he's been too busy running past them. Did you know the chair rung makes an excellent train track? Or that underneath the bookcase is a perfect matchbox car tunnel?
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Director of Communications
At Little Man's 12 month check up, I proudly rattled off all the words he could say: mama, dada, ball, flower, uh-oh. The nurse stared at me a little blankly.
"We don't ask about language until 18 months," she said.
Well, we're at 16 months, and the list has grown longer. Little Man has added words like dog, up, apple, nana, bottle, woof, boobies (yes, you read that correctly) and scissors to his list.
But what really gets me is the non-verbal way Little Man communicates with us--and how much he's capable of understanding even if he can't say it.
When he wants something he doesn't have a word for, he'll lead one of us straight to what he wants and puts our hands on it. Sometimes this works out in his favor, like when he puts my hand on the doorknob of the pantry, looking for a snack. Then there are other times, like when he tries to cram a disc into the PS3 and waves at Husband to get his attention, that we acknowledge his effort but try to distract him with something more his speed.
He understands many directives. He'll bring things to people on request, knows where to go to wash his hands, where to put his dirty socks (he puts them in the dryer, but hey--he's got the right idea), he'll bring us books when we ask and go switch them out when we're done reading. He anticipates a good countdown of "one...two...three...", sending his matchbox cars shooting down their ramp or attacking us with hugs on three.
He's super at identifying things in books: apples, bananas, dogs, ducks, pumpkins. He can find all his favorite trucks in his truck books on request: dump truck, excavator, big rig, dune buggy (comeplete with a "rumble rumble" tushie wiggle).
He's got body parts covered: hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, fingers, toes and bellybutton. He'll happily identify them on himself or you, honking your nose and yanking up a shirt to gleefully poke a finger in your bellybutton. He likes to compare bellybuttons of any two people standing close by, so beware.
He gives high fives and plays patty cake with me, anticipating the hand gestures. He gives me his toes when he wants to hear "This Little Piggy Went to Market", and moves my fingers up and down his leg in a request for "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".
And--the most recent and possibly my favorite verbal skill--when you ask him to sing a song, he rocks back and forth and sings "row row row boat", then waits for you to sing the rest.
I worried a few months back that I didn't teach Little Man baby signs, and that he would have a hard time letting me know what he wanted. My worrying was obviously pointless, because he has communication down pat.
"We don't ask about language until 18 months," she said.
Well, we're at 16 months, and the list has grown longer. Little Man has added words like dog, up, apple, nana, bottle, woof, boobies (yes, you read that correctly) and scissors to his list.
But what really gets me is the non-verbal way Little Man communicates with us--and how much he's capable of understanding even if he can't say it.
When he wants something he doesn't have a word for, he'll lead one of us straight to what he wants and puts our hands on it. Sometimes this works out in his favor, like when he puts my hand on the doorknob of the pantry, looking for a snack. Then there are other times, like when he tries to cram a disc into the PS3 and waves at Husband to get his attention, that we acknowledge his effort but try to distract him with something more his speed.
He understands many directives. He'll bring things to people on request, knows where to go to wash his hands, where to put his dirty socks (he puts them in the dryer, but hey--he's got the right idea), he'll bring us books when we ask and go switch them out when we're done reading. He anticipates a good countdown of "one...two...three...", sending his matchbox cars shooting down their ramp or attacking us with hugs on three.
He's super at identifying things in books: apples, bananas, dogs, ducks, pumpkins. He can find all his favorite trucks in his truck books on request: dump truck, excavator, big rig, dune buggy (comeplete with a "rumble rumble" tushie wiggle).
He's got body parts covered: hair, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, fingers, toes and bellybutton. He'll happily identify them on himself or you, honking your nose and yanking up a shirt to gleefully poke a finger in your bellybutton. He likes to compare bellybuttons of any two people standing close by, so beware.
He gives high fives and plays patty cake with me, anticipating the hand gestures. He gives me his toes when he wants to hear "This Little Piggy Went to Market", and moves my fingers up and down his leg in a request for "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".
And--the most recent and possibly my favorite verbal skill--when you ask him to sing a song, he rocks back and forth and sings "row row row boat", then waits for you to sing the rest.
I worried a few months back that I didn't teach Little Man baby signs, and that he would have a hard time letting me know what he wanted. My worrying was obviously pointless, because he has communication down pat.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Facing The World Head On
I finally gave in and we turned Little Man's carseat around, so now he is forward facing. It was overdue--his little legs were getting pretty smushed and he could easily reach the mirror that hung on the headrest in front of him, allowing those in the front seat to see him.
There's no need for the mirror now, because all we have to do is glance behind us, and there is he--sitting like a big boy, grinning and pointing at all the trucks on the road that he couldn't see before. It's given him a whole new perspective on life, and he narrates to Husband and I as we drive. He gets very excited about big cars and other vehicles, as well as interesting looking people.
He can also see what Mommy and Daddy are doing in the front seat, like whether they are playing with their phone or drinking from a bottle that he might want to have a turn with as well.
Because sitting forward is only the beginning. Next step: drivers seat.
There's no need for the mirror now, because all we have to do is glance behind us, and there is he--sitting like a big boy, grinning and pointing at all the trucks on the road that he couldn't see before. It's given him a whole new perspective on life, and he narrates to Husband and I as we drive. He gets very excited about big cars and other vehicles, as well as interesting looking people.
He can also see what Mommy and Daddy are doing in the front seat, like whether they are playing with their phone or drinking from a bottle that he might want to have a turn with as well.
Because sitting forward is only the beginning. Next step: drivers seat.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The ABC's of Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! 26 things I'm thankful for this year:
A: Apples, because when Little Man sees the red fruit and says "Aaaaaa-pull" it always makes me smile.
B: My Baby boy, and his beautiful smile and infectious giggle. He is my sunshine.
C: Fat Cat, and the sweet memories I have of him. I miss that kitty every day.
D: My Dad. It can get hard this time of year, because I miss him--but I do my best to keep his spirit alive by being a merry little elf, just like he was during the holidays.
E: The Elephants at the zoo. I really like them. Did you know that elephants mourn when another elephant dies? Pachaderm love.
F: French fries.
G: Godparents, both Little Man's and my own. They're always there.
H: Baby hugs. We've just started getting them and they are the BEST THING EVER.
I: My Inlaws. Today I watched four generations--Great Grandma E, Papaw, Husband and Little Man--watching football with the same expression on their face. LOVE it.
J: The awesome way my Husband can juggle.
K: Kings and queens and fairy tales.
L: Our Living room, which Husband just rearranged for us and is filled with fun toys for Little Man, a comfy couch and lots of love.
M: My Mom. Some days, I would simply be a hot mess if it weren't for her.
N: New friends.
O: Old friends.
P: Pepsi.
Q: Quick drying nail polish. Because what mother of a whirlwind toddler has time to sit still and let her nails dry?
R: Watching Little Man Run on his chubby little legs.
S: My partner in crime, my better half, my GPS and my sense of direction: My Spouse. I love him, and I don't know what I would do without him.
T: Transformers and Trucks, two of Little Man's favorite things.
U: "Up": Little Man's most often used word.
V: Little Man's red vest. Its all puffy and when he wears it he's so cute I just want to attack him with kisses.
W: My writing, and the support I get from my family to pursue my dreams.
X: Extra special surprises that happen during the holidays. I still believe in Santa. Do you?
Y: Yummy holiday food: pumpkin bread, turkey, cinnamon buns...
Z: The zoo. It's been my favorite haunt since I went to the city for college. I used to take kids I baby-sat for there and daydream about the day I would bring my own child. Check!
A: Apples, because when Little Man sees the red fruit and says "Aaaaaa-pull" it always makes me smile.
B: My Baby boy, and his beautiful smile and infectious giggle. He is my sunshine.
C: Fat Cat, and the sweet memories I have of him. I miss that kitty every day.
D: My Dad. It can get hard this time of year, because I miss him--but I do my best to keep his spirit alive by being a merry little elf, just like he was during the holidays.
E: The Elephants at the zoo. I really like them. Did you know that elephants mourn when another elephant dies? Pachaderm love.
F: French fries.
G: Godparents, both Little Man's and my own. They're always there.
H: Baby hugs. We've just started getting them and they are the BEST THING EVER.
I: My Inlaws. Today I watched four generations--Great Grandma E, Papaw, Husband and Little Man--watching football with the same expression on their face. LOVE it.
J: The awesome way my Husband can juggle.
K: Kings and queens and fairy tales.
L: Our Living room, which Husband just rearranged for us and is filled with fun toys for Little Man, a comfy couch and lots of love.
M: My Mom. Some days, I would simply be a hot mess if it weren't for her.
N: New friends.
O: Old friends.
P: Pepsi.
Q: Quick drying nail polish. Because what mother of a whirlwind toddler has time to sit still and let her nails dry?
R: Watching Little Man Run on his chubby little legs.
S: My partner in crime, my better half, my GPS and my sense of direction: My Spouse. I love him, and I don't know what I would do without him.
T: Transformers and Trucks, two of Little Man's favorite things.
U: "Up": Little Man's most often used word.
V: Little Man's red vest. Its all puffy and when he wears it he's so cute I just want to attack him with kisses.
W: My writing, and the support I get from my family to pursue my dreams.
X: Extra special surprises that happen during the holidays. I still believe in Santa. Do you?
Y: Yummy holiday food: pumpkin bread, turkey, cinnamon buns...
Z: The zoo. It's been my favorite haunt since I went to the city for college. I used to take kids I baby-sat for there and daydream about the day I would bring my own child. Check!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Job Perks
I had plans today. I woke up with every intention of being productive: there were errands to run, muffins to bake, a Christmas card to design. Little Man slept in until 8:15 this morning (heaven!) thanks to a little late night party he threw in his crib with Scout the Dog and Glowie the Worm. After his breakfast of mashed banana and yogurt ("O beebee" = a request for YoBaby yogurt), he brought me his favorite truck book. I never say no to a book, so I settled on the floor to read to him for a few minutes before shower time.
One book turned into several, and a few minutes turned into a few hours. Nothing got done this morning except for good, quality playtime--and it was a golden morning.
We read books about colors, the alphabet, and vehicles. Little Man looooves his trucks, and will point out several of his favorites on the pages when asked. Dump truck, excavator, and school bus are some popular ones. He can also identify wheels and doors. We looked at photo albums and exclaimed over seeing pictures of his own family: "Dada!" He yelled with joy each time he saw a pic of Husband.
We played with light sabers and Star War characters (he brought me the wookie and left Darth Vader on his father's desk chair...not so sure that that means). We made music with our homemade instruments and danced to Disney music. And we played his favorite game of Tackle the Mama until we were both laughing so hard we fell over in a heap. And now he's sleeping soundly on the couch, chubby little fist stuffed in his mouth. And I'm left with a happy feeling, because this morning is what it was all about.
Because one day, it'll be his buddies he wants to play light sabers with, and his teammates he'll be tackling on the football field. One day, my homemade shakers and rattles won't be good enough, and he'll want an electric gutair or a set of drums. And it won't be me he dances around the living with room with--fates willing, it will be someone he loves and loves him back, who he can make his own family with. But until then, I'll soak up every little bit of my baby boy that I can.
Having such a sweet, simple morning with my son makes up for the 3 AM wake up calls and the temper tantrums when I won't let him play with Small Dog's water bowl. It makes up for the long hours of the most full-time job I've ever had--sure, I don't get weekends off or paid vacations but I get mornings like today, and that's a job perk I wouldn't give up for anything.
One book turned into several, and a few minutes turned into a few hours. Nothing got done this morning except for good, quality playtime--and it was a golden morning.
We read books about colors, the alphabet, and vehicles. Little Man looooves his trucks, and will point out several of his favorites on the pages when asked. Dump truck, excavator, and school bus are some popular ones. He can also identify wheels and doors. We looked at photo albums and exclaimed over seeing pictures of his own family: "Dada!" He yelled with joy each time he saw a pic of Husband.
We played with light sabers and Star War characters (he brought me the wookie and left Darth Vader on his father's desk chair...not so sure that that means). We made music with our homemade instruments and danced to Disney music. And we played his favorite game of Tackle the Mama until we were both laughing so hard we fell over in a heap. And now he's sleeping soundly on the couch, chubby little fist stuffed in his mouth. And I'm left with a happy feeling, because this morning is what it was all about.
Because one day, it'll be his buddies he wants to play light sabers with, and his teammates he'll be tackling on the football field. One day, my homemade shakers and rattles won't be good enough, and he'll want an electric gutair or a set of drums. And it won't be me he dances around the living with room with--fates willing, it will be someone he loves and loves him back, who he can make his own family with. But until then, I'll soak up every little bit of my baby boy that I can.
Having such a sweet, simple morning with my son makes up for the 3 AM wake up calls and the temper tantrums when I won't let him play with Small Dog's water bowl. It makes up for the long hours of the most full-time job I've ever had--sure, I don't get weekends off or paid vacations but I get mornings like today, and that's a job perk I wouldn't give up for anything.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Trick or Treat
Last Halloween, Little Man was a wee four month old who cried every time someone knocked on our door. We spend the majority of the evening in the bedroom closet at the back of the house, playing with Glowie the Worm and waiting the trick or treaters out.
This year, Husband and I watched with joy and pleasure as our chubby Little Man ran after his older buddies, his little felt Halloween bag clutched in one hand and a bite-sized kit-kat in the other. He was thrilled to be out in the cool, dark air, and bravely stomped up to each house we approached. He got the hang of holding his bag out halfway through the night so people could drop candy in it. And he took great pleasure (and his sweet time) picking out exactly which piece he wanted when someone held a whole bowl of candy out to him. He showed a definite preference in those bitty kit-kats--they seemed just right to fit in his hand, and had the right feel to be chewed on, although as soon as he broke the wrapper with his teeth he would hand them off to me. Apparently even toting a bag of free candy around wasn't enough to envoke a sweet tooth.
It was a busy day for Little Man...not only did he hike around a neighborhood with a black kitty cat and a dragon, but he spent the afternoon traipsing around our town square, collecting candy from the small business owners and checking out all the other kid's costumes.
And what was Little Man dressed up as, you ask?
He made the perfect Charlie Brown, right down to the patch of curly hair on top of his head. I'll always have the sweet image in my head of Little Man squealing with delight as the leaves crunched under his feet, running down hills as fast as his little legs could carry him, and peering into his bag to see what was inside.
I'd say our first "real" Halloween was a success.
This year, Husband and I watched with joy and pleasure as our chubby Little Man ran after his older buddies, his little felt Halloween bag clutched in one hand and a bite-sized kit-kat in the other. He was thrilled to be out in the cool, dark air, and bravely stomped up to each house we approached. He got the hang of holding his bag out halfway through the night so people could drop candy in it. And he took great pleasure (and his sweet time) picking out exactly which piece he wanted when someone held a whole bowl of candy out to him. He showed a definite preference in those bitty kit-kats--they seemed just right to fit in his hand, and had the right feel to be chewed on, although as soon as he broke the wrapper with his teeth he would hand them off to me. Apparently even toting a bag of free candy around wasn't enough to envoke a sweet tooth.
It was a busy day for Little Man...not only did he hike around a neighborhood with a black kitty cat and a dragon, but he spent the afternoon traipsing around our town square, collecting candy from the small business owners and checking out all the other kid's costumes.
And what was Little Man dressed up as, you ask?
He made the perfect Charlie Brown, right down to the patch of curly hair on top of his head. I'll always have the sweet image in my head of Little Man squealing with delight as the leaves crunched under his feet, running down hills as fast as his little legs could carry him, and peering into his bag to see what was inside.
I'd say our first "real" Halloween was a success.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
It's Not Easy Being Green
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.
--Kermit The Frog
I have a problem that most parents dream about.
Little Man has never cared for sweet things--his first birthday cupcake never touched his lips. Pureed peaches and berries had to be coaxed into his mouth with endless rounds of "The Wheels on the Bus". Recently, he turns up his nose to his favorite staples like apple sauce and baby yougurt. What does he want?
Green stuff.
Broccoli, spinach, peas--all things green go down with smiles, clapping of chubby little hands and not even a whisper of what the horn on the bus does. He doesn't mind cauliflower, either. He'll eat those greens three times a day if I let him. He never seems to get tired of them. So I've been branching out, experimenting with edamame, kale, and other obscure green veggies. He eats combos that even most adults would hide in their napkin.
Every now and then I'll slip in a fruit--a spoonful of applesauce or pear into his beloved greens. As long as the ratio is tipped in the veggie's favor, he doesn't seem to notice. But if the sweet taste breaks through? Baby food everywhere. He is not easily tricked.
And who am I to complain, really? I'll ride the green wave as long as I can. Because, as Kermit wisely said: "I'm green and it'll do fine."
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?
I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.
--Kermit The Frog
I have a problem that most parents dream about.
Little Man has never cared for sweet things--his first birthday cupcake never touched his lips. Pureed peaches and berries had to be coaxed into his mouth with endless rounds of "The Wheels on the Bus". Recently, he turns up his nose to his favorite staples like apple sauce and baby yougurt. What does he want?
Green stuff.
Broccoli, spinach, peas--all things green go down with smiles, clapping of chubby little hands and not even a whisper of what the horn on the bus does. He doesn't mind cauliflower, either. He'll eat those greens three times a day if I let him. He never seems to get tired of them. So I've been branching out, experimenting with edamame, kale, and other obscure green veggies. He eats combos that even most adults would hide in their napkin.
Every now and then I'll slip in a fruit--a spoonful of applesauce or pear into his beloved greens. As long as the ratio is tipped in the veggie's favor, he doesn't seem to notice. But if the sweet taste breaks through? Baby food everywhere. He is not easily tricked.
And who am I to complain, really? I'll ride the green wave as long as I can. Because, as Kermit wisely said: "I'm green and it'll do fine."
Monday, October 17, 2011
Having a Baby Changes Everything: Travel Edition
You'd think that by now, 15 months into parenthood, I would completely understand how utterly your life changes when you have a baby. And yet, I am still reminded often that having a baby really does change everything.
Our family is wrapping up our vacation season--we always travel in the fall before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and we just returned from a trip to the beach to visit Godmother Doctor. It was Baby's First Beach Trip, and our first time traveling without Husband.
I have always loved the beach--I love the smell of the air, walking in the tide, and the relaxed atmosphere. And, as I'd hoped, Little Man loved all these things as well--only we replaced relaxed atmosphere with a non-stop energy that started before 5 AM ("Mama! Mama! Football!") and didn't end until Little Man was so tired he literally fell asleep sitting up.
In past years, one of my favorite things to do was to stroll the beach at night. There's nothing like a moonlit beach. I would sit on the balcony and write, letting my imagination spread out in all the room that the sea offers. I woke early and read books and watched the sun come up, and took long afternoon naps while the sun was at its peak.
This year? One night, I was in bed before 9 PM. Oh, I was still up before the sun--but I was dozing sitting up on the couch while my son drank milk from his sippy cup and sat riveted in front of The Mike & Mike Show on ESPN (his morning routine at home with Husband). I read approximately 1/4 of a magazine during the trip.
I find myself in need of a vacation to recover from my first travel season as a parent. If I thought finding time for myself at home difficult, I found it practically impossible to do so on vacation.
But traveling with my kid has a lot of perks, too. Like watching my fearless kid go running into the surf (and fractically running after him). Or sitting in the sand and building a castle and not worrying about getting dirty. Or crouching down way low to examine the shells that wash up on the beach. Everything is an adventure to him--exploring a hotel room, taking a bath in a different bathroom, being allowed to eat sitting on a grown-up chair (this was a particular thrill to him, as he is already trying to grow up too fast).
Some changes I anticipated, some I did not. But I wouldn't want it any other way. After all, I got my money's worth on this beach trip--and I had a really good excuse to play in the sand.
Our family is wrapping up our vacation season--we always travel in the fall before the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and we just returned from a trip to the beach to visit Godmother Doctor. It was Baby's First Beach Trip, and our first time traveling without Husband.
I have always loved the beach--I love the smell of the air, walking in the tide, and the relaxed atmosphere. And, as I'd hoped, Little Man loved all these things as well--only we replaced relaxed atmosphere with a non-stop energy that started before 5 AM ("Mama! Mama! Football!") and didn't end until Little Man was so tired he literally fell asleep sitting up.
In past years, one of my favorite things to do was to stroll the beach at night. There's nothing like a moonlit beach. I would sit on the balcony and write, letting my imagination spread out in all the room that the sea offers. I woke early and read books and watched the sun come up, and took long afternoon naps while the sun was at its peak.
This year? One night, I was in bed before 9 PM. Oh, I was still up before the sun--but I was dozing sitting up on the couch while my son drank milk from his sippy cup and sat riveted in front of The Mike & Mike Show on ESPN (his morning routine at home with Husband). I read approximately 1/4 of a magazine during the trip.
I find myself in need of a vacation to recover from my first travel season as a parent. If I thought finding time for myself at home difficult, I found it practically impossible to do so on vacation.
But traveling with my kid has a lot of perks, too. Like watching my fearless kid go running into the surf (and fractically running after him). Or sitting in the sand and building a castle and not worrying about getting dirty. Or crouching down way low to examine the shells that wash up on the beach. Everything is an adventure to him--exploring a hotel room, taking a bath in a different bathroom, being allowed to eat sitting on a grown-up chair (this was a particular thrill to him, as he is already trying to grow up too fast).
Some changes I anticipated, some I did not. But I wouldn't want it any other way. After all, I got my money's worth on this beach trip--and I had a really good excuse to play in the sand.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Growing Teeth is Nasty Business
To the casual observer, it looks like our home has been attacked by a ferocious new puppy. There are toys everywhere, bits of fluff hiding in the corners, and teeth marks in the strangest places--on the corner of the entertainment center, on the rung of the chair, on the window ledges.
But all our dogs are far past the chewing stage. No, it's not a puppy--it's our very own Captain Teether, armed with 7 teeth and three or four more on the way. He's got about a 35 inch range if he streches up on his tiptoes, which means nothing is safe from the drool factory that is his mouth. It means most things on our desks, dressers and the edge of the table are fair game to be tested on those teeth, and if he finds something that is satisfying to chew on--just the right size, yields just the right amount--woe be the person who has to get it back from him.
He chews on his crib bars, he chews on wash cloths, he chews on car keys, he chews on toes (his and ours). He'll give anything a try--he's an equal opportunity teether. He especially likes to sink his teeth into the soft spot between my shoulder and my neck, prompting the never-ending chorus of "give kisses, not bites!". I try not to react when he bites me--because then it becomes a game--but I had to admit I've given a squeal or two when he sinks those chompers into my leg.
But who can blame him? I'd want to chew on something too, if I were him. He can be downright pitiful. He walks up to me, his little feet thump-thumping on the floor, and points to his mouth.
"Uh!" He says, then takes my finger and leads me to where his baby tylenol is kept, sits and opens his mouth.
So I'm patient with him, because growing teeth is nasty business. Patient even when he leaves teeth marks on the bedroom door. Or one of his books.
Or, you know, me.
But all our dogs are far past the chewing stage. No, it's not a puppy--it's our very own Captain Teether, armed with 7 teeth and three or four more on the way. He's got about a 35 inch range if he streches up on his tiptoes, which means nothing is safe from the drool factory that is his mouth. It means most things on our desks, dressers and the edge of the table are fair game to be tested on those teeth, and if he finds something that is satisfying to chew on--just the right size, yields just the right amount--woe be the person who has to get it back from him.
He chews on his crib bars, he chews on wash cloths, he chews on car keys, he chews on toes (his and ours). He'll give anything a try--he's an equal opportunity teether. He especially likes to sink his teeth into the soft spot between my shoulder and my neck, prompting the never-ending chorus of "give kisses, not bites!". I try not to react when he bites me--because then it becomes a game--but I had to admit I've given a squeal or two when he sinks those chompers into my leg.
But who can blame him? I'd want to chew on something too, if I were him. He can be downright pitiful. He walks up to me, his little feet thump-thumping on the floor, and points to his mouth.
"Uh!" He says, then takes my finger and leads me to where his baby tylenol is kept, sits and opens his mouth.
So I'm patient with him, because growing teeth is nasty business. Patient even when he leaves teeth marks on the bedroom door. Or one of his books.
Or, you know, me.
Friday, September 30, 2011
First Family Vacation: Things I'll Remember
Finally--finally! The day I had been dreaming about ever since that first blurry heartbeat on the ultrasound had arrived. After much planning and anticipation, we loaded up the car and headed to Disney World on our first family vacation.
When I was pregnant, Husband and I daydreamed about taking our boy to Disney--showing him where we got married, visiting all of our favorite spots, and watching his face light up as he took in the magic for the first time. We figured he'd be 2, maybe 3, before we made the trip.
We didn't make it that long. Around his first birthday, we started talking about taking our first family vacation. Little Man handled crowds and loud noises like a pro, and bounced back from a change in his schedule like a champ. So at the ripe old age of 14 months, Little Man experienced Disney for the first time. And his parents lived to tell the tale.
"He won't remember it!" People told me. "Why are you spending all the money?"
Why? Because Husband and I will remember it. I'll never forget taking my son on Dumbo the Flying Elephant for the first time and hearing him shout "up up UP!" as we soared through the sky. I'll never forget the way he splashed in the pirate-themed kid-pool at our resort, keeping up with kids twice his age and squealing with delight. I'll remember the look of joy on my husband's face watching Little Man enjoy the Country Bear Jamboree show.
I'll remember how my boy grew in just a week when given the opportunity to try new things and explore new places. Little Man loved having his parent's undivided attention for a whole week, and we loved it too. At this age, Little Man is changing a little every day, and our Disney vacation gave us the chance to slow down and watch him do it.
Okay, so maybe "slow down" isn't the correct term to use. Little Man slept surprising well in his pack n' play in the hotel room, but was wide awake by 6 AM every morning. He'd go right to his stroller and attempt to climb in, giving pointed looks towards the door and saying "go! go!". He loved the resort buses and the monorail, and he charmed other guests wherever we went. He made friends from all over the world when we hit the World Showcase in Epcot, and especially loved the women in the Chinese giftshop.
Did he have a meltdown or two? Sure. But for the most part he was all smiles and grins. Did I learn a lot about traveling with a baby? Sure. Would I do it again? Absolutely. For anyone with a little one considering taking a trip to the happiest place on earth even though they won't remember it--I say go for it. Because for every giggle, every squeal of happiness, every new experience, you'll have a memory that is priceless.
When I was pregnant, Husband and I daydreamed about taking our boy to Disney--showing him where we got married, visiting all of our favorite spots, and watching his face light up as he took in the magic for the first time. We figured he'd be 2, maybe 3, before we made the trip.
We didn't make it that long. Around his first birthday, we started talking about taking our first family vacation. Little Man handled crowds and loud noises like a pro, and bounced back from a change in his schedule like a champ. So at the ripe old age of 14 months, Little Man experienced Disney for the first time. And his parents lived to tell the tale.
"He won't remember it!" People told me. "Why are you spending all the money?"
Why? Because Husband and I will remember it. I'll never forget taking my son on Dumbo the Flying Elephant for the first time and hearing him shout "up up UP!" as we soared through the sky. I'll never forget the way he splashed in the pirate-themed kid-pool at our resort, keeping up with kids twice his age and squealing with delight. I'll remember the look of joy on my husband's face watching Little Man enjoy the Country Bear Jamboree show.
I'll remember how my boy grew in just a week when given the opportunity to try new things and explore new places. Little Man loved having his parent's undivided attention for a whole week, and we loved it too. At this age, Little Man is changing a little every day, and our Disney vacation gave us the chance to slow down and watch him do it.
Okay, so maybe "slow down" isn't the correct term to use. Little Man slept surprising well in his pack n' play in the hotel room, but was wide awake by 6 AM every morning. He'd go right to his stroller and attempt to climb in, giving pointed looks towards the door and saying "go! go!". He loved the resort buses and the monorail, and he charmed other guests wherever we went. He made friends from all over the world when we hit the World Showcase in Epcot, and especially loved the women in the Chinese giftshop.
Did he have a meltdown or two? Sure. But for the most part he was all smiles and grins. Did I learn a lot about traveling with a baby? Sure. Would I do it again? Absolutely. For anyone with a little one considering taking a trip to the happiest place on earth even though they won't remember it--I say go for it. Because for every giggle, every squeal of happiness, every new experience, you'll have a memory that is priceless.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The Real Way Boys Play
When I was pregnant, I was afraid I would have a hard time with boy things. The rows of trucks and cars and superheroes in Target overwhelmed me. I had a hard time transforming even the smallest level one Transformer. My tugboat noise sounded like a Mac Truck drowning, and I kept slipping up and calling light sabers "light savers".
A year into parenting a critter who is 110% boy, I am starting to see that my fears were slightly misguided. Sure, I'm still working on my vehicle noises and converting robots into miniature Camaros, but these are things I SHOULD have been thinking about:
--My skills as a catcher. Not because my kid is a baseball prodigy, but because he likes to fling everything with a surprisingly accurate overhand swing. Pillows, remotes, shoes...
--Working on my car braking noise, not just the zooming noise. For awhile, I would make all the vehicles I was pushing around the floor with my boy go "zooooooooooooooooom crash!" and run into something. Then he started to mimic me. I am a little afraid about when he starts driving for real.
--My reaction time. The reflexes of a Mama have to be like lightning. Sweep that ball up before he trips on it. Block the bathroom cabinet with a knee while brushing your teeth and drying your hair. Stand up and get the toliet lid down before the baby can throw something in there. Quick like a fox, quick like a fox.
--Distractionary tactics to avert a meltdown when hiding the cellphone/blackberry/iPod.
--The ability to spot something attractive to a small boy and remove it from view before he notices it. Think long sticks, computer mice, cords, anything pointy, anything pointy, anything pointy.
And while I'm sure there will be a day when Little Man will sit and actively play with the toys he's amassed over his short life, right now he's too busy discovering the nooks and crannies of his world to be distracted by things like puzzles and blocks. After all, rocks can be thrown just as well as a ball, tupperware is very satisfying to knock down, and emptying and filling a box full of magnets and Nana's office supplies helps with fine motor skills.
A year into parenting a critter who is 110% boy, I am starting to see that my fears were slightly misguided. Sure, I'm still working on my vehicle noises and converting robots into miniature Camaros, but these are things I SHOULD have been thinking about:
--My skills as a catcher. Not because my kid is a baseball prodigy, but because he likes to fling everything with a surprisingly accurate overhand swing. Pillows, remotes, shoes...
--Working on my car braking noise, not just the zooming noise. For awhile, I would make all the vehicles I was pushing around the floor with my boy go "zooooooooooooooooom crash!" and run into something. Then he started to mimic me. I am a little afraid about when he starts driving for real.
--My reaction time. The reflexes of a Mama have to be like lightning. Sweep that ball up before he trips on it. Block the bathroom cabinet with a knee while brushing your teeth and drying your hair. Stand up and get the toliet lid down before the baby can throw something in there. Quick like a fox, quick like a fox.
--Distractionary tactics to avert a meltdown when hiding the cellphone/blackberry/iPod.
--The ability to spot something attractive to a small boy and remove it from view before he notices it. Think long sticks, computer mice, cords, anything pointy, anything pointy, anything pointy.
And while I'm sure there will be a day when Little Man will sit and actively play with the toys he's amassed over his short life, right now he's too busy discovering the nooks and crannies of his world to be distracted by things like puzzles and blocks. After all, rocks can be thrown just as well as a ball, tupperware is very satisfying to knock down, and emptying and filling a box full of magnets and Nana's office supplies helps with fine motor skills.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Judge Me: I Bought a Harness for My Kid
I am beginning to discover a topic that ignites as much drama and opinion as breastfeeding: putting your kid in a harness.
Also called reins (or leashes, depending on who you're talking to), most of them consist of a furry animal back-pack that has a strap that crosses the child's front as well, and a strap that a parent can hold on to. The one I found was even less obvious than that--just a simple chest harness with a strap that fits securely on my wrist.
Oh, the looks I have gotten from some people when I mention this. I've heard everything from, "why don't you get a dog if you want to walk something?" to "don't you trust your parenting skills enough to make your child listen to you?"
As a matter of fact, I do trust my parenting skills. Husband and I are raising an inquisitive, independent little boy who is learning to listen and follow directions. Does a one-year-old have the capability of always understanding and following directions? No. Does he have the capability of understanding the consequences if he doesn't stand where Mommy tells him? No. Is he strong? Yes. And so when we go out in public into a crowded place where I want Little Man to have the freedom to explore, the harness will be on.
But far more important than trusting my skills as a parent is my fear of my beautiful baby boy being scooped up by another person. It's not something I like to think about a lot, but its a sad and true fact: there are a lot of weird people out there.
Will I keeep my child in a harness until he's 12, like one harness-cynic asked me? No. It's merely a tool to use in those crowded, hectic places until Little Man can truly understand what it means to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand or to only go so far.
Until then, I'll be doing everything in my power to keep him safe and sound.
Also called reins (or leashes, depending on who you're talking to), most of them consist of a furry animal back-pack that has a strap that crosses the child's front as well, and a strap that a parent can hold on to. The one I found was even less obvious than that--just a simple chest harness with a strap that fits securely on my wrist.
Oh, the looks I have gotten from some people when I mention this. I've heard everything from, "why don't you get a dog if you want to walk something?" to "don't you trust your parenting skills enough to make your child listen to you?"
As a matter of fact, I do trust my parenting skills. Husband and I are raising an inquisitive, independent little boy who is learning to listen and follow directions. Does a one-year-old have the capability of always understanding and following directions? No. Does he have the capability of understanding the consequences if he doesn't stand where Mommy tells him? No. Is he strong? Yes. And so when we go out in public into a crowded place where I want Little Man to have the freedom to explore, the harness will be on.
But far more important than trusting my skills as a parent is my fear of my beautiful baby boy being scooped up by another person. It's not something I like to think about a lot, but its a sad and true fact: there are a lot of weird people out there.
Will I keeep my child in a harness until he's 12, like one harness-cynic asked me? No. It's merely a tool to use in those crowded, hectic places until Little Man can truly understand what it means to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand or to only go so far.
Until then, I'll be doing everything in my power to keep him safe and sound.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
This, Not That
I've come to an interesting hurdle in Little Man's development. How do I explain to a one-year-old to do this, not that?
For example: one of his favorite things to do is to throw the little stuffed reindeer that is Small Dog's favorite toy. Small Dog goes scampering after it and drops it at his feet, eliciting giggles from him (and, in all honesty, from me). We praise him when he plays nicely with Small Dog, and for about a week this game of fetch goes on at every opportunity.
Until yesterday, when Little Man took a plastic jug out of the cupboard and hurled it at Small Dog's head, then waited expectantly for her to bring it back. When she didn't come out from the under the table where she had (rightly so) darted, he looked crestfallen.
We think he's terribly clever when he walks around picking up items and putting them in his blue bucket, then emptying it out at another location. He is very methodical about this process, and I love to watch him.
What I don't love is when he puts things in the garbage can. Today he took several of his letter magnets and, with great gusto, tossed them into the garbage. He then looked at me and clapped his hands.
I obviously did not praise him for putting his magnets in the garbage--or his shoes, or my shoes, or his nana's computer mouse. I told him no and moved him away from the garbage. When he continued completely ignoring me, I realized that to him, the garbage can is just a really big bucket. I guess I'm lucky he didn't try to push the garbage can to another location and empty it.
Same goes for playing with Small Dog. She likes to chase her reindeer--why wouldn't she like to chase a 2-liter jug?
And so begins the teaching of uses: we throw balls, not apples--even though they're round. We put toys in our bucket, and trash in the garbage. We toss Small Dog gentle toys, not toys that could knock her unconscious.
No one ever said learning was easy.
For example: one of his favorite things to do is to throw the little stuffed reindeer that is Small Dog's favorite toy. Small Dog goes scampering after it and drops it at his feet, eliciting giggles from him (and, in all honesty, from me). We praise him when he plays nicely with Small Dog, and for about a week this game of fetch goes on at every opportunity.
Until yesterday, when Little Man took a plastic jug out of the cupboard and hurled it at Small Dog's head, then waited expectantly for her to bring it back. When she didn't come out from the under the table where she had (rightly so) darted, he looked crestfallen.
We think he's terribly clever when he walks around picking up items and putting them in his blue bucket, then emptying it out at another location. He is very methodical about this process, and I love to watch him.
What I don't love is when he puts things in the garbage can. Today he took several of his letter magnets and, with great gusto, tossed them into the garbage. He then looked at me and clapped his hands.
I obviously did not praise him for putting his magnets in the garbage--or his shoes, or my shoes, or his nana's computer mouse. I told him no and moved him away from the garbage. When he continued completely ignoring me, I realized that to him, the garbage can is just a really big bucket. I guess I'm lucky he didn't try to push the garbage can to another location and empty it.
Same goes for playing with Small Dog. She likes to chase her reindeer--why wouldn't she like to chase a 2-liter jug?
And so begins the teaching of uses: we throw balls, not apples--even though they're round. We put toys in our bucket, and trash in the garbage. We toss Small Dog gentle toys, not toys that could knock her unconscious.
No one ever said learning was easy.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Home Entertainment
Who needs fancy, expensive toys when you have a milk carton and a Daddy who is a professionally trained clown?
Little Man has recently been allowed to explore the kitchen when a grown-up is in there with him. This explains the influx of tupperware, magnets and empty bottles that have found their way into our living room.
Today Little Man got ahold of an empty milk jug. When Husband dropped a few pieces of uncooked pasta to it, it became THE BEST TOY EVER. He shook it, chewed on it, carried it around, and tried to stuff it in the hidey-hole of his fire truck. Then he "shared" it with his Dad.
That's when the real fun began. From his front row seat on the couch next to me, Little Man squealed and giggled as his father tossed the jug around, danced with it, bounced it off his head and elbows, and put on a show. It was obviously the highlight of his morning, and to be honest, it was mine, too.
I love those little moments--its nothing you can plan, nothing you can arrange. When the strangest thing in the world suddenly makes your heart smile. I hugged my Little Man, grinned at my husband, and thought to myself, there's nothing in the world better than this.
Little Man has recently been allowed to explore the kitchen when a grown-up is in there with him. This explains the influx of tupperware, magnets and empty bottles that have found their way into our living room.
Today Little Man got ahold of an empty milk jug. When Husband dropped a few pieces of uncooked pasta to it, it became THE BEST TOY EVER. He shook it, chewed on it, carried it around, and tried to stuff it in the hidey-hole of his fire truck. Then he "shared" it with his Dad.
That's when the real fun began. From his front row seat on the couch next to me, Little Man squealed and giggled as his father tossed the jug around, danced with it, bounced it off his head and elbows, and put on a show. It was obviously the highlight of his morning, and to be honest, it was mine, too.
I love those little moments--its nothing you can plan, nothing you can arrange. When the strangest thing in the world suddenly makes your heart smile. I hugged my Little Man, grinned at my husband, and thought to myself, there's nothing in the world better than this.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
99th: A Moment to Brag, Please
At Little Man's 12 month doctor visit, we confirmed what we already know: he's huge.
At nearly 27 pounds and 31 inches tall, our little bulldozer is in the 99th percentile for weight and height. Some of his 2T size clothes are starting to get a little tight.
He did all his tricks for his doctor--he walked, he shared, he clapped, he talked. He stole her pen when she wasn't looking.
Some of the words we're hearing:
--Ball: this is the one we hear most clearly, all though he says it with a distinctly southern accent. "Baaawwwwlllll...."
--Da-Da: His favorite person in the whole world.
--Ba-da: Bottle.
--Beeb: He doesn't call me Mama, he repeats what he hears his father call me. And that's Babe.
We're also starting to hear him imitate syllables and intonations of longer sentences. He reponds verbally to certain situations, and even though the words aren't clear, we know what he's "saying". When the dogs bark, we hear "big dogs bark". When Daddy turns on the PS3, we hear "play foot ball". He understands simple directions like "bring that to Nana" and knows to follow when we sing "following the leader, the leader, the leader..." And when I sing "where oh where oh where is baby...?" he comes running towards me. He points to family members in photos and will show you where your nose is--the squeeze it and laugh hysterically.
He is curious and takes time to figure things out. I love watching him encounter something new. And I know that nobody is perfect, but he sure is pretty perfect to me.
At nearly 27 pounds and 31 inches tall, our little bulldozer is in the 99th percentile for weight and height. Some of his 2T size clothes are starting to get a little tight.
He did all his tricks for his doctor--he walked, he shared, he clapped, he talked. He stole her pen when she wasn't looking.
Some of the words we're hearing:
--Ball: this is the one we hear most clearly, all though he says it with a distinctly southern accent. "Baaawwwwlllll...."
--Da-Da: His favorite person in the whole world.
--Ba-da: Bottle.
--Beeb: He doesn't call me Mama, he repeats what he hears his father call me. And that's Babe.
We're also starting to hear him imitate syllables and intonations of longer sentences. He reponds verbally to certain situations, and even though the words aren't clear, we know what he's "saying". When the dogs bark, we hear "big dogs bark". When Daddy turns on the PS3, we hear "play foot ball". He understands simple directions like "bring that to Nana" and knows to follow when we sing "following the leader, the leader, the leader..." And when I sing "where oh where oh where is baby...?" he comes running towards me. He points to family members in photos and will show you where your nose is--the squeeze it and laugh hysterically.
He is curious and takes time to figure things out. I love watching him encounter something new. And I know that nobody is perfect, but he sure is pretty perfect to me.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Splashing, Smoothies, and Songs: All the Things a 1-Year-Old Could Want for a Birthday
Birthdays are a big deal in our family, so of course, we had to do it up right for our Little Man's very first one.
His birthday fell on a Thursday and his party on a Saturday, so we had a whole long weekend of celebration. On his real birthday, we had a family portrait and a special birthday lunch. Well, Mommy and Daddy had a special lunch--Little Man stuck with his yougurt and applesauce, his favorite foods at the moment. Our little walker trekked all over the mall, holding tightly to his Daddy's finger. He's really getting the hang of being on his feet and prefers it to crawling in almost every situation. We visited the Disney Store, where he picked out his very own Rabbit from the Winnie The Pooh stories, who now resides in his crib.
At dinner we presented him with a chocolate cupcake with a big blue "1" candle stuck in it and waited anxiously with the camera on to see what he would do. The candle was tossed aside and he stared critically at the cupcake, then gave me a look that clearly said, what, you want me to touch this thing? Little Man is not a big fan of getting his hands dirty, and we've never been able to get him to eat cake. So we gave him a spoon and let him smush the cupcake to pieces with that, which he happily did for almost 20 minutes. He did not eat a bit of it, although he mimed eating it off his spoon.
Friday's festivities included time with his Nana and Great Grandma while Mommy and Daddy snuck out to see the final Harry Potter movie--I am a hardcore fan of the books and the movies, so it was a really big treat for me. And...it was the first movie I had seen in a theater since I was 6 months pregnant. It was a well-earned three hours.
We had a visit to the "splash ground", where Little Man explored the fountains and we both got soaking wet. When we came home, we turned on music and laughed ourselves silly watching Little Man dance--he stands in the center of the room and waves him arms and wiggles his little tushie.
Saturday was the big party day, hosted by his Godparents. Since he's obviously not a fan of cake, the theme of the party was "smoothies and snacks". His whole family and some special friends gathered to help us celebrate. He had so much fun he passed out sitting up halfway through the party and we had to wake him up to open his gifts. All the people in his life spoiled him rotten, and our living room now resembles a Toys-R-Us. He loves his new fire engine with real fire-engine noises--he hasn't quite mastered climbing on it and riding it himself, but he loves to push it and goes careening around the room with it as fast as his legs will go. He has new music DVDs that we groove to almost every day, and a fancy new wagon that we explore the outdoors in.
He won't remember his first birthday, but Husband and I sure will. And so will the rest of our family. And that's what birthdays are all about, right? Not the gifts (although they are pretty cool), but remembering and celebrating the past year and all that has hapened. Little Man will see it through pictures and stories, and know that he is the most loved Little Man in all the land.
His birthday fell on a Thursday and his party on a Saturday, so we had a whole long weekend of celebration. On his real birthday, we had a family portrait and a special birthday lunch. Well, Mommy and Daddy had a special lunch--Little Man stuck with his yougurt and applesauce, his favorite foods at the moment. Our little walker trekked all over the mall, holding tightly to his Daddy's finger. He's really getting the hang of being on his feet and prefers it to crawling in almost every situation. We visited the Disney Store, where he picked out his very own Rabbit from the Winnie The Pooh stories, who now resides in his crib.
At dinner we presented him with a chocolate cupcake with a big blue "1" candle stuck in it and waited anxiously with the camera on to see what he would do. The candle was tossed aside and he stared critically at the cupcake, then gave me a look that clearly said, what, you want me to touch this thing? Little Man is not a big fan of getting his hands dirty, and we've never been able to get him to eat cake. So we gave him a spoon and let him smush the cupcake to pieces with that, which he happily did for almost 20 minutes. He did not eat a bit of it, although he mimed eating it off his spoon.
Friday's festivities included time with his Nana and Great Grandma while Mommy and Daddy snuck out to see the final Harry Potter movie--I am a hardcore fan of the books and the movies, so it was a really big treat for me. And...it was the first movie I had seen in a theater since I was 6 months pregnant. It was a well-earned three hours.
We had a visit to the "splash ground", where Little Man explored the fountains and we both got soaking wet. When we came home, we turned on music and laughed ourselves silly watching Little Man dance--he stands in the center of the room and waves him arms and wiggles his little tushie.
Saturday was the big party day, hosted by his Godparents. Since he's obviously not a fan of cake, the theme of the party was "smoothies and snacks". His whole family and some special friends gathered to help us celebrate. He had so much fun he passed out sitting up halfway through the party and we had to wake him up to open his gifts. All the people in his life spoiled him rotten, and our living room now resembles a Toys-R-Us. He loves his new fire engine with real fire-engine noises--he hasn't quite mastered climbing on it and riding it himself, but he loves to push it and goes careening around the room with it as fast as his legs will go. He has new music DVDs that we groove to almost every day, and a fancy new wagon that we explore the outdoors in.
He won't remember his first birthday, but Husband and I sure will. And so will the rest of our family. And that's what birthdays are all about, right? Not the gifts (although they are pretty cool), but remembering and celebrating the past year and all that has hapened. Little Man will see it through pictures and stories, and know that he is the most loved Little Man in all the land.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A Year Ago, Right This Second...
I was tired, and it hurt, and I was ready for it to be over.
And just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I heard the doctor say: "Look down! Look at your son."
And there he was, so familiar, and I collapsed back onto the pillows and thought to myself, of course he looks like that. What else would he look like? It was so obviously our son that I couldn't fathom ever wondering what he would look like. He was himself, all 8 pounds of him. And he was getting cleaned up, and I was getting cleaned up, and there he was wrapped tighly in a little blanket, in Husband's arms. I watched as the man I married became a father, felt my heart get a little bigger as I became a mother, as we became a family of three.
Happy Birthday Little Man. May you always feel the love we had for you then and have for you now.
And just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I heard the doctor say: "Look down! Look at your son."
And there he was, so familiar, and I collapsed back onto the pillows and thought to myself, of course he looks like that. What else would he look like? It was so obviously our son that I couldn't fathom ever wondering what he would look like. He was himself, all 8 pounds of him. And he was getting cleaned up, and I was getting cleaned up, and there he was wrapped tighly in a little blanket, in Husband's arms. I watched as the man I married became a father, felt my heart get a little bigger as I became a mother, as we became a family of three.
Happy Birthday Little Man. May you always feel the love we had for you then and have for you now.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Kissy Face
Some babies get weirded out when their parents are affectionate with each other. Not Little Man.
When he spots Husband and I giving each other a kiss, he rushes forwad, climbs in our lap and pushes our faces together for more kisses. Then he joins in, offering open-mouthed, drooly, baby kisses.
I've had a lot of good kisses in my life time, but nothing beats that kind.
When he spots Husband and I giving each other a kiss, he rushes forwad, climbs in our lap and pushes our faces together for more kisses. Then he joins in, offering open-mouthed, drooly, baby kisses.
I've had a lot of good kisses in my life time, but nothing beats that kind.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
One Small Step For (Little) Man...
What do you do when you're a little man, and you're in Mommy's lap all cozy and hanging out...but then Daddy comes into the living room and sits on the couch?
And then Daddy picks up his video game controller, and you think you'd really like to go sit with Daddy, so you hold your hands out to him, but he doesn't come and pick you up?
And so you stand up, and you do a little bounce to distract him, but he still doesn't come and pick you up?
So you stand for a moment longer, then you move one chubby little foot forward, then another, then again...
And soon you're so close that you can let out a giggle and lunge at Daddy, who catches you--because that's what daddies do, after all. And then you decide to head back to Mommy...then back to Daddy, and back to Mommy...and everyone is laughing and clapping.
The whole world looks different when you're walking. Its a whole new way to explore.
And life is good.
And then Daddy picks up his video game controller, and you think you'd really like to go sit with Daddy, so you hold your hands out to him, but he doesn't come and pick you up?
And so you stand up, and you do a little bounce to distract him, but he still doesn't come and pick you up?
So you stand for a moment longer, then you move one chubby little foot forward, then another, then again...
And soon you're so close that you can let out a giggle and lunge at Daddy, who catches you--because that's what daddies do, after all. And then you decide to head back to Mommy...then back to Daddy, and back to Mommy...and everyone is laughing and clapping.
The whole world looks different when you're walking. Its a whole new way to explore.
And life is good.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Small Victories
When you're a baby, small victories are big victories.
Like when you don't fall flat on your face when Mama lets go of your hands, and you manage to stand all by yourself for a few seconds before lowering yourself to your knees.
And then when you figure out that you can take a few steps on your own before you start to teeter and fall into Daddy's arms.
Or when you manange to climb all the way through the tunnel at the playground that curves up and down. This particular victory has been some time coming--each time we visit the playground, Little Man has tried and tried to get over that last bump, getting so annoyed that he would sit in the middle of the tunnel and ball up his fists and squeal in frustration.
But today was different. I could see it in his eyes when he climbed in the tunnel. Over the first hump like a champ. The middle bump took only a moment, and then he faced the last, steep climb to the end of the tunnel. I sat at the end, watching, as he searched for a foothold to get a leg up. I held my breath when he slipped, waiting for the cry that meant he'd had enough and it was time to go rescue him.
But he didn't cry, and with one final "Ooo!" from him, his tiny shoe found just the right place and there he was, on the other end of the tunnel, all three climbs behind him. He looked so surprised that I had to laugh, and then he looked so pleased with himself that I wanted to cry. I wrapped him up in a big bear hug until he wiggled to get down, then he proceeded to climb back and forth through the tunnel, yelling with excitement whenever he made it to the end. When you're a baby, small victories are big victories.
Same goes for when you're a grown-up, too.
Like when you don't fall flat on your face when Mama lets go of your hands, and you manage to stand all by yourself for a few seconds before lowering yourself to your knees.
And then when you figure out that you can take a few steps on your own before you start to teeter and fall into Daddy's arms.
Or when you manange to climb all the way through the tunnel at the playground that curves up and down. This particular victory has been some time coming--each time we visit the playground, Little Man has tried and tried to get over that last bump, getting so annoyed that he would sit in the middle of the tunnel and ball up his fists and squeal in frustration.
But today was different. I could see it in his eyes when he climbed in the tunnel. Over the first hump like a champ. The middle bump took only a moment, and then he faced the last, steep climb to the end of the tunnel. I sat at the end, watching, as he searched for a foothold to get a leg up. I held my breath when he slipped, waiting for the cry that meant he'd had enough and it was time to go rescue him.
But he didn't cry, and with one final "Ooo!" from him, his tiny shoe found just the right place and there he was, on the other end of the tunnel, all three climbs behind him. He looked so surprised that I had to laugh, and then he looked so pleased with himself that I wanted to cry. I wrapped him up in a big bear hug until he wiggled to get down, then he proceeded to climb back and forth through the tunnel, yelling with excitement whenever he made it to the end. When you're a baby, small victories are big victories.
Same goes for when you're a grown-up, too.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Who Rides YOUR Bus?
The Wheels on the bus go 'round and round....
All through the town!
This has been Little Man's favorite song since the first time he heard it in story time. It is my go-to song to distract him, and I often find myself singing it during meal times or to make it through the end of a long car ride. Since it's pretty easy to blow through all th verses in just a few minutes, I've had to get creative about who rides our bus.
All of Little Man's family members ride our bus, and they all say their own special thing that goes along with their personality. Nana says "hi hi hi", MaMaw says "quilt quilt quilt", and Daddy says "Party Party Boogie", in honor of a song he made up for Little Man. We have football fans on our bus ("lets go dawgs!"), librarians ("indoor voice") and actors ("to be or not to be"). There's a whole array of animals on the bus, too, and he especially likes the chicken and mouse noises. The Wheels On The Bus has taken on a mind of it's own in our house, and I can't wait for Little Man to be old enough to help decide who rides his bus.
All through the town!
This has been Little Man's favorite song since the first time he heard it in story time. It is my go-to song to distract him, and I often find myself singing it during meal times or to make it through the end of a long car ride. Since it's pretty easy to blow through all th verses in just a few minutes, I've had to get creative about who rides our bus.
All of Little Man's family members ride our bus, and they all say their own special thing that goes along with their personality. Nana says "hi hi hi", MaMaw says "quilt quilt quilt", and Daddy says "Party Party Boogie", in honor of a song he made up for Little Man. We have football fans on our bus ("lets go dawgs!"), librarians ("indoor voice") and actors ("to be or not to be"). There's a whole array of animals on the bus, too, and he especially likes the chicken and mouse noises. The Wheels On The Bus has taken on a mind of it's own in our house, and I can't wait for Little Man to be old enough to help decide who rides his bus.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Something Fishy Going on Here...
Even though our home is no longer in the big city, Little Man and I have "city days" often. One of his favorite places to adventure on those days is the aquarium.
We spend most of our time in one of several large rooms with floor to ceiling tanks. Little Man presses his nose against the glass as all sorts of sea creatures swim right past him. He doesn't know to be scared or overwhelmed when a fish twice his size or--gulp--a shark goes passing by, eyeing him from the water. He just grins and waves at them and looks at me as if to say, "Mama! They come to see me!"
But his favorite by far are the sea otters, and we visit them multiple times on each of our visits. I park the stroller against the wall and lift my squirmy little boy up, where he grasps the railing and squeals with delight as the otters glide through the water, playing tag with each other. The mama otter, who is bigger than all the others, seems to love Little Man as much as he loves them--she always comes to visit him at the window and does flips and spins while he watches. It's a sweet little crush that occurs every time we visit, and while I can't explain it, I love watching it.
We visit th penguins and the beluga whales (my favorites) and we peer at the rays, starfish and crabs in the touch pools. We are not brave enough to dip our hands in the water for the "two finger touch" of the animals yet, but I'm sure one day this will be my intrepid little explorer's favorite exhibit.
Until then, I'm content to watch the otters.
We spend most of our time in one of several large rooms with floor to ceiling tanks. Little Man presses his nose against the glass as all sorts of sea creatures swim right past him. He doesn't know to be scared or overwhelmed when a fish twice his size or--gulp--a shark goes passing by, eyeing him from the water. He just grins and waves at them and looks at me as if to say, "Mama! They come to see me!"
But his favorite by far are the sea otters, and we visit them multiple times on each of our visits. I park the stroller against the wall and lift my squirmy little boy up, where he grasps the railing and squeals with delight as the otters glide through the water, playing tag with each other. The mama otter, who is bigger than all the others, seems to love Little Man as much as he loves them--she always comes to visit him at the window and does flips and spins while he watches. It's a sweet little crush that occurs every time we visit, and while I can't explain it, I love watching it.
We visit th penguins and the beluga whales (my favorites) and we peer at the rays, starfish and crabs in the touch pools. We are not brave enough to dip our hands in the water for the "two finger touch" of the animals yet, but I'm sure one day this will be my intrepid little explorer's favorite exhibit.
Until then, I'm content to watch the otters.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
I Like to Move It, Move It
Today, our city boy becomes a small town boy.
Much to Little Man's excitement, nice people with a big truck and lots of crinkly packing tape and bubble wrap arrived at our apartment this morning. As he watched and babbled excitedly to them, the nice people put allllllll his things into the big truck and then we all went on a big adventure down a long highway. At the end of the long highway was a new house, where the nice people then unpacked all his things into a lovely new nursery with blue walls and were even kind enough to leave him some bubble wrap to play with.
There's no tall buildings around his new house, and there's no big parking lot. But there's cows in the backyard and dogs that bark and Nana's big garden. There's lots of room to play and things to touch and explore. So much to explore, in fact, that Little Man went easily to sleep in his crib in his new nursery, his Glow Worm in the corner watching over him.
I'd say that Baby's First Move was a success.
Much to Little Man's excitement, nice people with a big truck and lots of crinkly packing tape and bubble wrap arrived at our apartment this morning. As he watched and babbled excitedly to them, the nice people put allllllll his things into the big truck and then we all went on a big adventure down a long highway. At the end of the long highway was a new house, where the nice people then unpacked all his things into a lovely new nursery with blue walls and were even kind enough to leave him some bubble wrap to play with.
There's no tall buildings around his new house, and there's no big parking lot. But there's cows in the backyard and dogs that bark and Nana's big garden. There's lots of room to play and things to touch and explore. So much to explore, in fact, that Little Man went easily to sleep in his crib in his new nursery, his Glow Worm in the corner watching over him.
I'd say that Baby's First Move was a success.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Uh-Ooooooooh!
We've heard "Mama" from our Little Man--he hollers it down the hallway in the morning when he knows I'm asleep in the bedroom. We've heard "Dada" a few times, usually when Husband is at work and his son goes looking for him in all the rooms.
But the most consistent bit of language we've heard out of our baby so far?
"Uh-ooooooooh." It is usually preceded by a loud crash, or (even more alarming), followed by a giggle.
But the most consistent bit of language we've heard out of our baby so far?
"Uh-ooooooooh." It is usually preceded by a loud crash, or (even more alarming), followed by a giggle.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Nine Months and Growing
Little Man had his 9 month check-up today and it just confirmed what we already knew: we've got a happy, healthy, BIG Little Man.
Weighing in at a little over 27 pounds and 31 inches long, he is fitting comfortably into 2T clothes. He is pushing the 95th percentile for both weight and height. He is crawling at warp speed and climbing everything he can get a leg up on. He will plow over things on the ground--toys, our legs, pillows--and has developed a recent interest in going under things. This makes life interesting, because being the big boy that he is, he often gets stuck.
He is a "people person", and by people I mean adult women and a few select adult men. He doesn't have a whole lot of interest in other babies, but occasionally he approaches a "big kid" on the playground. Especially if that big kid has a ball, the most cherished of baby toys. Little Man has a surprising amount of patience when it comes to waiting for another child to drop a ball and move on to something else, at which point he speed crawls over to it and claims it as his own. He's not one to take another kid's toy, and he doesn't put up much of a fuss if something is taken from him on a playdate. He just gets a really hurt expression on his face, which makes me sad.
Overall he is a happy little chunker, and his parents are happy too--especially because he FINALLY is consistently sleeping through the night.
Weighing in at a little over 27 pounds and 31 inches long, he is fitting comfortably into 2T clothes. He is pushing the 95th percentile for both weight and height. He is crawling at warp speed and climbing everything he can get a leg up on. He will plow over things on the ground--toys, our legs, pillows--and has developed a recent interest in going under things. This makes life interesting, because being the big boy that he is, he often gets stuck.
He is a "people person", and by people I mean adult women and a few select adult men. He doesn't have a whole lot of interest in other babies, but occasionally he approaches a "big kid" on the playground. Especially if that big kid has a ball, the most cherished of baby toys. Little Man has a surprising amount of patience when it comes to waiting for another child to drop a ball and move on to something else, at which point he speed crawls over to it and claims it as his own. He's not one to take another kid's toy, and he doesn't put up much of a fuss if something is taken from him on a playdate. He just gets a really hurt expression on his face, which makes me sad.
Overall he is a happy little chunker, and his parents are happy too--especially because he FINALLY is consistently sleeping through the night.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Royalty, Indeed
Where were you at 5 AM this morning?
My very own little prince and I were sitting bleary-eyed on our couch, watching British Royalty arrive at Westminster Abbey for the wedding of William and Kate. Little Man even had his very own construction paper crown for the occasion.
On a whole, Little Man was fairly unimpressed and not nearly as interested in the commentary on Kate's dress as his Mama was. He decided the more practical route would be to sleep on my chest during the ceremony while I dabbed at my eyes with a tissue.
After all, why would he be impressed with the horse drawn carriages The Royals arrived in? He gets in an open air carriage every day, and while the Mama that pushes it is no thoroughbred, it does have toys attached.
Why would be blink an eye at the long, beautiful aisle Kate walked down? He has a long, beautiful hallway to crawl down whenever he wants,complete with doors to open and shut at the end.
Who needs long-drawn out speeches when there are books to be read aloud? And what is up with all those funky hats everyone was wearing? They would be totally impractical at keeping the sun out of your eyes at the playground. And why does The Queen give that funny wave? Little Man knows how to wave hi, and it doesn't look anything like that.
Who needs a palace with guards when you have a home full of soft blankies, cupboards to explore, and a little porch where a brazen, chubby cardinal comes right up to the glass door to check you out?
Royalty, indeed.
My very own little prince and I were sitting bleary-eyed on our couch, watching British Royalty arrive at Westminster Abbey for the wedding of William and Kate. Little Man even had his very own construction paper crown for the occasion.
On a whole, Little Man was fairly unimpressed and not nearly as interested in the commentary on Kate's dress as his Mama was. He decided the more practical route would be to sleep on my chest during the ceremony while I dabbed at my eyes with a tissue.
After all, why would he be impressed with the horse drawn carriages The Royals arrived in? He gets in an open air carriage every day, and while the Mama that pushes it is no thoroughbred, it does have toys attached.
Why would be blink an eye at the long, beautiful aisle Kate walked down? He has a long, beautiful hallway to crawl down whenever he wants,complete with doors to open and shut at the end.
Who needs long-drawn out speeches when there are books to be read aloud? And what is up with all those funky hats everyone was wearing? They would be totally impractical at keeping the sun out of your eyes at the playground. And why does The Queen give that funny wave? Little Man knows how to wave hi, and it doesn't look anything like that.
Who needs a palace with guards when you have a home full of soft blankies, cupboards to explore, and a little porch where a brazen, chubby cardinal comes right up to the glass door to check you out?
Royalty, indeed.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A Sense of Humor and Adventure
Now that he is getting a little older, we are starting to see more of Little Man's personality appear every day. He is a willful little guy (I imagine I'm going to be hearing "I do it myself!" quite a bit when he finds his words) but he is developing a sense of humor and adventure that is reminding me about all the really fun things in life.
He is starting to remember patterns. When I sing the bath time song each evening, he drops whatever he's doing and crawls at full speed down the hallway to the bathroom, where he stands up at the tub, knocks all his toys in and waits expectantly for me to put him in. While we put his PJs on, he "combs" my hair with his baby comb.
He's starting to crack himself up, laughing when he does something he finds pleasing. He plays games with Husband--whenever he sees his Daddy's bare feet he tickles then and then laughs hysterically when Husband laughs. He does things to make us laugh, especially in the evening during his wild hour before bath and bedtime.
About a week ago, he added cruising to his repertoire of movement. Now he's pulling up and moving along everything. His favorite place to do this is along the kitchen cabinets, when he orbits around me every night while I make dinner.
Most afternoons, I load him up in his new, big-boy carseat and we head off on an adventure. He is lord of the library, where he zooms up and down the rows of books, stopping every now and then to choose a book to read before starting off again. He is prince of the playground, where he recently discovered how to climb the stairs despite having no stairs at home. My days of relaxing in a sunny spot at the park are over as we now spend our time going up and down the playground equipment.
And today he became czar of the zoo on his very first trip to our city zoo. I have been going to the zoo regularly since college, and it has always been one of my favorite places in the city. He seemed to find it just as exciting, leaning out of his stroller to grab at plant life passing by and talking loudly to the lemurs in the monkey exhibit.
I have been to all these places before, on my own or with children I cared for in the past. But nothing is better than going with my own little one, watching his sense of self and adventure grow. As his world grows by leaps and bounds, so does my mine.
He is starting to remember patterns. When I sing the bath time song each evening, he drops whatever he's doing and crawls at full speed down the hallway to the bathroom, where he stands up at the tub, knocks all his toys in and waits expectantly for me to put him in. While we put his PJs on, he "combs" my hair with his baby comb.
He's starting to crack himself up, laughing when he does something he finds pleasing. He plays games with Husband--whenever he sees his Daddy's bare feet he tickles then and then laughs hysterically when Husband laughs. He does things to make us laugh, especially in the evening during his wild hour before bath and bedtime.
About a week ago, he added cruising to his repertoire of movement. Now he's pulling up and moving along everything. His favorite place to do this is along the kitchen cabinets, when he orbits around me every night while I make dinner.
Most afternoons, I load him up in his new, big-boy carseat and we head off on an adventure. He is lord of the library, where he zooms up and down the rows of books, stopping every now and then to choose a book to read before starting off again. He is prince of the playground, where he recently discovered how to climb the stairs despite having no stairs at home. My days of relaxing in a sunny spot at the park are over as we now spend our time going up and down the playground equipment.
And today he became czar of the zoo on his very first trip to our city zoo. I have been going to the zoo regularly since college, and it has always been one of my favorite places in the city. He seemed to find it just as exciting, leaning out of his stroller to grab at plant life passing by and talking loudly to the lemurs in the monkey exhibit.
I have been to all these places before, on my own or with children I cared for in the past. But nothing is better than going with my own little one, watching his sense of self and adventure grow. As his world grows by leaps and bounds, so does my mine.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
A Baby Knows No Sadness
Sometimes life is so unfair it is almost unbearable.
My uncle died today, after suffering from a brain aneurysm a week ago. It was sudden, so sudden my head is still reeling from it, and I can't even begin to grasp the unfairness of it all.
I am heartbroken for my Grandmother, my Mom and my other uncle--how do you cope with the loss of son and brother? I am heartbroken for his friends, for my husband, and for myself--what do you do when your "go-to" guy for everything suddenly leaves? But most of all, I am heartbroken for my child. My Uncle was so excited when I got pregnant, following this blog religiously and keeping up with every change. Every time he went out, he came home with something for the baby: a bouncing tigger, a train tent, a giant 6 foot dragon....and all these arrived before I was even showing. Since my Dad, who passed away in 2008, couldn't be here, he took it upon himself to be the Grandpa my son didn't have from my side of the family. He was full of things he was going to do with him.
And now my son won't know him. And that is the most unfair part of all of this.
Luckily, Little Man has a PaPaw, his grandfather on Husband's side, who loves him more than I can fathom. If my little boy is only going to get one grandpa, I couldn't ask for a better man for the job.
Dealing with the past week and the decisions we had to make has been a different experience for me because of Little Man. Grief has not been able to take me over, there has been no chance to fall apart. There has been a happy Little Man who doesn't realize a part of our world is crumbling, who still wants to play and has to be fed on time and rocked to sleep and snuggled. Our Little Man didn't know he was supposed to be sad when we all gathered in the ICU waiting room--all he knew is that his entire family was there, along with a dozen other people, all of whom found him charming and sweet. To him it was a party, and he was happy to see everyone and he made all his noises and did all his tricks and made all of us smile even though we felt like crying.
A baby knows no sadness, and that is the true blessing of an otherwise horrible situation.
My uncle died today, after suffering from a brain aneurysm a week ago. It was sudden, so sudden my head is still reeling from it, and I can't even begin to grasp the unfairness of it all.
I am heartbroken for my Grandmother, my Mom and my other uncle--how do you cope with the loss of son and brother? I am heartbroken for his friends, for my husband, and for myself--what do you do when your "go-to" guy for everything suddenly leaves? But most of all, I am heartbroken for my child. My Uncle was so excited when I got pregnant, following this blog religiously and keeping up with every change. Every time he went out, he came home with something for the baby: a bouncing tigger, a train tent, a giant 6 foot dragon....and all these arrived before I was even showing. Since my Dad, who passed away in 2008, couldn't be here, he took it upon himself to be the Grandpa my son didn't have from my side of the family. He was full of things he was going to do with him.
And now my son won't know him. And that is the most unfair part of all of this.
Luckily, Little Man has a PaPaw, his grandfather on Husband's side, who loves him more than I can fathom. If my little boy is only going to get one grandpa, I couldn't ask for a better man for the job.
Dealing with the past week and the decisions we had to make has been a different experience for me because of Little Man. Grief has not been able to take me over, there has been no chance to fall apart. There has been a happy Little Man who doesn't realize a part of our world is crumbling, who still wants to play and has to be fed on time and rocked to sleep and snuggled. Our Little Man didn't know he was supposed to be sad when we all gathered in the ICU waiting room--all he knew is that his entire family was there, along with a dozen other people, all of whom found him charming and sweet. To him it was a party, and he was happy to see everyone and he made all his noises and did all his tricks and made all of us smile even though we felt like crying.
A baby knows no sadness, and that is the true blessing of an otherwise horrible situation.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Tried It, Liked It
It's no surprise that our growing boy is getting tired of his formula-heavy diet. He's starting to branch out into the world of edible wonder, although he still prefers things in their pureed or soupy form.
Little Man's favorite non-baby food by far is orange sherbet. He knows what the container looks like, and the minute I pull it from the freezer he tries to climb my legs up to the counter. He eats it right off a grown-up spoon every night, sitting on the floor with me, watching Wheel of Fortune. In his excitement he climbs all over me trying to get to the bowl, but understands when I say "sit on your bottom", flopping dramatically onto his tush with a sigh and mouth open wide.
In the same vein, he's crazy over smoothies and loves to visit the smoothie shop where he's a fan of all sorts of flavors: pineapple, strawberry, raspberry and tangerine, to name a few.
The sight of a yo-baby yougurt container is enough to send him into frenzied excitement. I have to keep it tucked away until he's eaten the rest of his food, or the meal turns into a match of wills as he stresches and contorts himself in his high chair to get to the container.
He likes cheese, and last night devoured most of my cheese-covered mashed potatos. He is still rebelling against feeding himself--the only self-feeding we see is with his little puffs--but he likes to try things off the grown-up spoon.
Especially if it's on Daddy's plate.
Little Man's favorite non-baby food by far is orange sherbet. He knows what the container looks like, and the minute I pull it from the freezer he tries to climb my legs up to the counter. He eats it right off a grown-up spoon every night, sitting on the floor with me, watching Wheel of Fortune. In his excitement he climbs all over me trying to get to the bowl, but understands when I say "sit on your bottom", flopping dramatically onto his tush with a sigh and mouth open wide.
In the same vein, he's crazy over smoothies and loves to visit the smoothie shop where he's a fan of all sorts of flavors: pineapple, strawberry, raspberry and tangerine, to name a few.
The sight of a yo-baby yougurt container is enough to send him into frenzied excitement. I have to keep it tucked away until he's eaten the rest of his food, or the meal turns into a match of wills as he stresches and contorts himself in his high chair to get to the container.
He likes cheese, and last night devoured most of my cheese-covered mashed potatos. He is still rebelling against feeding himself--the only self-feeding we see is with his little puffs--but he likes to try things off the grown-up spoon.
Especially if it's on Daddy's plate.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Boys will be B-B-B-Boys
Boys will be B-B-B-Boys.
As in Bumps, Bruises, and Black Eyes.
Mobility can be a rough road.
As in Bumps, Bruises, and Black Eyes.
Mobility can be a rough road.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The 8 Month Check-In
Little Man's 8-month statistics:
--He weighs in at a whopping 25.4 pounds and 27.6 inches. He has tripled his birth weight and added nearly a foot to his length. He wears size 24 month clothes.
--He is, as you've previously read, crawling and pulling up on everything he can get his little hands on. He hasn't mastered sitting down yet, which is especially fun at 4 AM when he stands up in his crib and then freaks out because he's stuck.
--He loves to eat, chowing down on nearly everything we give him. A new favorite? His Dad's mango and pineapple smoothies. Yum.
--Despite his love for most things in mush form, he's not into finger feeding yet.
--He plays peek-a-boo with us, rocks to music and has started giving us high fives. He "gives us hands" when he wants to be picked up and will kick, kick, kick his football and cheer for himself when it rolls away.
--He's a confident, outgoing little boy, but he doesn't rush into things. He prefers to observe new situations from a distance for a bit before joining in.
A lot can happen in 8 months!
--He weighs in at a whopping 25.4 pounds and 27.6 inches. He has tripled his birth weight and added nearly a foot to his length. He wears size 24 month clothes.
--He is, as you've previously read, crawling and pulling up on everything he can get his little hands on. He hasn't mastered sitting down yet, which is especially fun at 4 AM when he stands up in his crib and then freaks out because he's stuck.
--He loves to eat, chowing down on nearly everything we give him. A new favorite? His Dad's mango and pineapple smoothies. Yum.
--Despite his love for most things in mush form, he's not into finger feeding yet.
--He plays peek-a-boo with us, rocks to music and has started giving us high fives. He "gives us hands" when he wants to be picked up and will kick, kick, kick his football and cheer for himself when it rolls away.
--He's a confident, outgoing little boy, but he doesn't rush into things. He prefers to observe new situations from a distance for a bit before joining in.
A lot can happen in 8 months!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A Room of One's Own
During the first few months of his life, Little Man's room was really just a placeholder where we occasionally changed his diaper. It was all set up when we brought him home: crib made up with cute Pooh Bear sheets, basket full of soft stuffed animals, books lined up neatly on the bookshelf that my Dad made for me when I was little. As he grew, we began to spend more and more time in his room, and the pretty little nursery I put together while he was still on the inside was becoming less and less practical for our growing boy.
Now that he is crawling at full speed and pulling up on everything that will hold still long enough, his room needed to be re-vamped in a bad way. Does he want to sit quietly and read books or cuddle the stuffed animals? Nope. He wants to pull all the books off the shelf then zoom towards the bulletin board full of pictures of his family, previously safe sitting propped up against a wall. When I redirect him away from the tiny thumbtacks of doom, he goes directly for the windowsill where he attempts to climb up the wall using only the pull string for the blinds, then darts on his chubby hands and knees to the double bed, where he slides himself underneath to pull out the who-knows-what I've been shoving there to get out of the way.
And so the baby-proofing begins. Since we spend most of our time in the living room and his bedroom, I have been focusing on those rooms first. When it comes to his bedroom, I really wanted it to be the safest and most baby-friendly room in the house. I wanted him to have a place that he could be free to explore without me having to follow him around saying no and re-directed him to something else.
A very good idea in theory, yes. Practically speaking, there is no way I can make the room 100% safe for Little Man. He is a master at finding the one thing in the area that he shouldn't be playing with, then zoning in on it with a focus that an 8-month-old should not be allowed to have. But since it will be awhile until he's allowed to roam free in any room, I rolled up my sleeves to make his room as baby-proof as possible.
First things first: the bulletin board and those tantalizing thumbtacks went up on the wall. All the lamps and his monitor got rearranged so the cords would be hidden behind furniture. The window that he loves stand up against and gaze out of got surrounded by some of those stuffed animals so that when the inevitable tumble occurs he has something soft to land on. Baby books found a place on the bottom shelf of his bookshelf (the only shelf he can reach...at the moment) for him to pull out to his heart's content. Diaper supplies that had a home on the bottom level of his changing table got replaced with toys. Now, for the most part, he is able to climb and pull and explore all he wants in his very own room.
The only thing that has me stumped is the door to his room. It won't stay open by itself, and Little Man's current favorite thing is to remove the doorstop and play with the door. We haven't had any smushed fingers yet, but if anyone has a suggestion of how to keep the door open and secure, I'd love to hear it.
Next up for baby-proofing: the living room.
Now that he is crawling at full speed and pulling up on everything that will hold still long enough, his room needed to be re-vamped in a bad way. Does he want to sit quietly and read books or cuddle the stuffed animals? Nope. He wants to pull all the books off the shelf then zoom towards the bulletin board full of pictures of his family, previously safe sitting propped up against a wall. When I redirect him away from the tiny thumbtacks of doom, he goes directly for the windowsill where he attempts to climb up the wall using only the pull string for the blinds, then darts on his chubby hands and knees to the double bed, where he slides himself underneath to pull out the who-knows-what I've been shoving there to get out of the way.
And so the baby-proofing begins. Since we spend most of our time in the living room and his bedroom, I have been focusing on those rooms first. When it comes to his bedroom, I really wanted it to be the safest and most baby-friendly room in the house. I wanted him to have a place that he could be free to explore without me having to follow him around saying no and re-directed him to something else.
A very good idea in theory, yes. Practically speaking, there is no way I can make the room 100% safe for Little Man. He is a master at finding the one thing in the area that he shouldn't be playing with, then zoning in on it with a focus that an 8-month-old should not be allowed to have. But since it will be awhile until he's allowed to roam free in any room, I rolled up my sleeves to make his room as baby-proof as possible.
First things first: the bulletin board and those tantalizing thumbtacks went up on the wall. All the lamps and his monitor got rearranged so the cords would be hidden behind furniture. The window that he loves stand up against and gaze out of got surrounded by some of those stuffed animals so that when the inevitable tumble occurs he has something soft to land on. Baby books found a place on the bottom shelf of his bookshelf (the only shelf he can reach...at the moment) for him to pull out to his heart's content. Diaper supplies that had a home on the bottom level of his changing table got replaced with toys. Now, for the most part, he is able to climb and pull and explore all he wants in his very own room.
The only thing that has me stumped is the door to his room. It won't stay open by itself, and Little Man's current favorite thing is to remove the doorstop and play with the door. We haven't had any smushed fingers yet, but if anyone has a suggestion of how to keep the door open and secure, I'd love to hear it.
Next up for baby-proofing: the living room.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
From Zero to Sixty
It didn't take long for Little Man's first tentative crawls to turn into full-throttle motion--especially if there is something in his sight that he wants. Usually, the things that make him go zoom zoom zoom are items he is not allowed to have. When he spots these things unattended on the floor, he can get from point A to point B more quickly than I thought possible. These items include:
--Remotes and game controllers
--Any electronic, including but not limited to phones, cameras and iPods
--Bags and purses
--Cords and plugs
--Grown up food and drinks
Crawling means freedom to follow Mommy and Daddy from spot to spot as well as being able to get to his toy basket and pick out his OWN toys. Crawling means the ability to get to things in which he can work on his pulling-up skills, which are developing at a rapid pace. Crawling means, until the baby-proofing is complete (and is that even possible?), that I spend the majority of my days jumping up to "re-set" the Little Man back to a neutral space so he has to start over in his endeavor to get to the blinds, the printer, or the entertainment center with it's sharp and pointy edges. And even though it's exhausting, it's amazing to watch Little Man develop all these new skills.
--Remotes and game controllers
--Any electronic, including but not limited to phones, cameras and iPods
--Bags and purses
--Cords and plugs
--Grown up food and drinks
Crawling means freedom to follow Mommy and Daddy from spot to spot as well as being able to get to his toy basket and pick out his OWN toys. Crawling means the ability to get to things in which he can work on his pulling-up skills, which are developing at a rapid pace. Crawling means, until the baby-proofing is complete (and is that even possible?), that I spend the majority of my days jumping up to "re-set" the Little Man back to a neutral space so he has to start over in his endeavor to get to the blinds, the printer, or the entertainment center with it's sharp and pointy edges. And even though it's exhausting, it's amazing to watch Little Man develop all these new skills.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
We Have Lift Off
Little Man has been sooo close to crawling these past few weeks that we knew it would happen any moment. We had tempted him with everything we could think of to get him to inch forward on his hands and knees: favorite toys, remotes, Mommy's milkshake...
But none of these compare to the thing that finally got him mobile: his Godmummy, who had flown in from The Big Apple just to see him. Apparently having her a few feet away was just not acceptable, and it didn't take him long to close the gap.
While his movements are still a little jerky, mobility has definitely arrived for our baby boy. And watching him scootch around the room and gaze adoringly up at his Godmummy, I think crawling is not the only first we're experiencing this weekend--I'm pretty sure Little Man has his very first crush, too.
But none of these compare to the thing that finally got him mobile: his Godmummy, who had flown in from The Big Apple just to see him. Apparently having her a few feet away was just not acceptable, and it didn't take him long to close the gap.
While his movements are still a little jerky, mobility has definitely arrived for our baby boy. And watching him scootch around the room and gaze adoringly up at his Godmummy, I think crawling is not the only first we're experiencing this weekend--I'm pretty sure Little Man has his very first crush, too.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Lunge and Grab
Little Man has added a new skill to his repertoire of abilities: the lunge and grab.
Little Man has been reaching for objects for quite some time now but has recently discovered that even though he can't crawl or walk, there are ways of getting himself to objects he desires. And that way is to propel himself at the object with all his force.
For example: Husband and I were eating dinner on the floor and playing with Little Man. Husband was helping the baby stand and supporting him around the waist. Little Man bent those knees and pushed with all his might, surprising both his Dad and myself--and launching himself into my plate of tacos. Floor, meet my dinner.
Since Husband and I have gotten wise to the launch attempts when we're helping Little Man stand, he has had to figure out alternate ways to try to abscond with objects he isn't supposed to have (like my taco). He scootches inch by inch while sitting on his bum towards his desired target, then flops himself onto his stomach and streeeeeches out his hands until he gets what he wants. He has gotten many a magazine and game controller that way, and last night he got his hands in the bowl of M&M's for a brief moment.
This new-found freedom of being able to reach and grab things has led to placemats being pulled off the table, items found in the shopping cart that I didn't put there, and the discovery of the "ring this if you've had good service" bell at Kroger. You should have seen the look of pure joy on his face when he found that.
Since the discovery of the Lunge and Grab and the fact that crawling is going to happen any minute now, baby proofing is no longer imminent--it's downright necessary.
Little Man has been reaching for objects for quite some time now but has recently discovered that even though he can't crawl or walk, there are ways of getting himself to objects he desires. And that way is to propel himself at the object with all his force.
For example: Husband and I were eating dinner on the floor and playing with Little Man. Husband was helping the baby stand and supporting him around the waist. Little Man bent those knees and pushed with all his might, surprising both his Dad and myself--and launching himself into my plate of tacos. Floor, meet my dinner.
Since Husband and I have gotten wise to the launch attempts when we're helping Little Man stand, he has had to figure out alternate ways to try to abscond with objects he isn't supposed to have (like my taco). He scootches inch by inch while sitting on his bum towards his desired target, then flops himself onto his stomach and streeeeeches out his hands until he gets what he wants. He has gotten many a magazine and game controller that way, and last night he got his hands in the bowl of M&M's for a brief moment.
This new-found freedom of being able to reach and grab things has led to placemats being pulled off the table, items found in the shopping cart that I didn't put there, and the discovery of the "ring this if you've had good service" bell at Kroger. You should have seen the look of pure joy on his face when he found that.
Since the discovery of the Lunge and Grab and the fact that crawling is going to happen any minute now, baby proofing is no longer imminent--it's downright necessary.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Baby Loves
Happy Hearts Day! In honor of Little Man's first Valentine's Day, a few things...
...He loves:
--Bananas and squash
--Waking up to find both his parents at home
--Story time at the library
--His jungle floor gym
--Mommy and Daddy's bed
--His Fisher Price telephone
--Playing with clean laundry
...He gives coveted baby kisses to:
--Daddy
--Mommy
--The baby in the mirror
--The giraffe on his floor gym
(kisses occured in that order)
...That make him laugh:
--Daddy's sneak-attack kisses
--Getting Mommy's glasses off her face
--Being the person on the bus that gets to go "up and down"
--Having his hands washed
...And a few things he doesn't love:
--carrots. Still.
--Getting his diaper put on
--Being on his back. Still.
--Having his face cleaned
--Having anything near his nose (tissue, etc.)
And his most favorite thing in the world? Watching ESPN with his Dad in the mornings. Still.
And it always makes me smile.
...He loves:
--Bananas and squash
--Waking up to find both his parents at home
--Story time at the library
--His jungle floor gym
--Mommy and Daddy's bed
--His Fisher Price telephone
--Playing with clean laundry
...He gives coveted baby kisses to:
--Daddy
--Mommy
--The baby in the mirror
--The giraffe on his floor gym
(kisses occured in that order)
...That make him laugh:
--Daddy's sneak-attack kisses
--Getting Mommy's glasses off her face
--Being the person on the bus that gets to go "up and down"
--Having his hands washed
...And a few things he doesn't love:
--carrots. Still.
--Getting his diaper put on
--Being on his back. Still.
--Having his face cleaned
--Having anything near his nose (tissue, etc.)
And his most favorite thing in the world? Watching ESPN with his Dad in the mornings. Still.
And it always makes me smile.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
I Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident, Volume Two
As the mother of a 6-month old boy, I hold these truths to be self-evident:
--Drool happens.
--You will get peed on.
--When sitting in the highchair and playing with a toy, the toy will eventually be dropped over the side that is the furthest away from you.
--Taking an item away is the best way to make said item desirable.
--The most fascinating toy in the house is the remote control. FYI, this is a truth whether your son is 6 months or sixty.
--You will do laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. You have no idea how much laundry you'll do.
--You will begin to add "-ums" to the end of everything: "it's time for lunch-ums! What are we having today? Squash-ums!"
--Hair is no longer a beauty accessory for you. It is a mobile that hangs off your head for your baby.
--You will treasure every single moment of sleep you can get. Some days, you will get a lot of sleep. Do not let this lull you in a false sense of security that the baby is finally on a pattern. It will change. Enjoy it while you have it.
--The biggest compliment you can receive is not about an outfit, your hair, or a raise at work. It is "what a beautiful baby!"
--When your baby tries to make eye contact with someone at the grocery store, smiles at them, and gets ignored, you will have the incredible urge to punch the person.
--You will have discovered that your heart no longer beats inside your chest--it now resides on the outside, in the form of giggles, teeny tiny toes and fingers, and baby kisses. Be good to your heart.
--Drool happens.
--You will get peed on.
--When sitting in the highchair and playing with a toy, the toy will eventually be dropped over the side that is the furthest away from you.
--Taking an item away is the best way to make said item desirable.
--The most fascinating toy in the house is the remote control. FYI, this is a truth whether your son is 6 months or sixty.
--You will do laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. You have no idea how much laundry you'll do.
--You will begin to add "-ums" to the end of everything: "it's time for lunch-ums! What are we having today? Squash-ums!"
--Hair is no longer a beauty accessory for you. It is a mobile that hangs off your head for your baby.
--You will treasure every single moment of sleep you can get. Some days, you will get a lot of sleep. Do not let this lull you in a false sense of security that the baby is finally on a pattern. It will change. Enjoy it while you have it.
--The biggest compliment you can receive is not about an outfit, your hair, or a raise at work. It is "what a beautiful baby!"
--When your baby tries to make eye contact with someone at the grocery store, smiles at them, and gets ignored, you will have the incredible urge to punch the person.
--You will have discovered that your heart no longer beats inside your chest--it now resides on the outside, in the form of giggles, teeny tiny toes and fingers, and baby kisses. Be good to your heart.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
7 Hours
It's raining, it's pouring
The baby is snoring
Went to bed
At 9 PM
And slept until 4 in the morning
The baby is snoring
Went to bed
At 9 PM
And slept until 4 in the morning
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Soon Enough
Little Man seems to think he's a very Big little man, and occasionally does not want to be reminded that he cannot run around with the toddlers at the library or launch himself across the living room at his toy basket. We just have to let him go and be there to catch him--literally and figuratively--when he falls.
Mommy! He looks at me with big eyes when we're at the children's section of the bookstore and there's big kids running around before story time starts. Do you see all these kids!?!
"I see them," I tell him, out loud. I am one of those mothers who rambles to my child in public.
Can I play with them? Sitting up, his little legs start kicking and toes start wiggling. His fingers open and close and his wrists wiggle--a sure sign that he has words to say and just can't figure out how to get them out.
"Not yet," I say. "Soon."
But...but...I know I could! If I could just walk!
"You'll be mobile soon enough," I tell him, and I stand him up, holding him firmly. He bounces where he stands and makes his "ooo ooo ooo" noise. He reaches up for a little boy that runs past.
Mommy! His eyes say. I can do it! I can play with them! And he attempts to push himself out of my arms with a jump, but I'm ready for it.
"Soon enough," I repeat to him, smiling at the other mothers who are now watching my baby make his words and wiggle around in excitement. I scoop him up and head out of the children's section. His little hand finds a handful of my hair and he squishes his fingers in it and lays his head on my shoulder. All those thoughts and attempts at independence have worn him out.
"Soon enough," I say one last time, and kiss his drooping eyelids.
He looks up at me one more time. Okay Mommy. And he drifts off to sleep.
Mommy! He looks at me with big eyes when we're at the children's section of the bookstore and there's big kids running around before story time starts. Do you see all these kids!?!
"I see them," I tell him, out loud. I am one of those mothers who rambles to my child in public.
Can I play with them? Sitting up, his little legs start kicking and toes start wiggling. His fingers open and close and his wrists wiggle--a sure sign that he has words to say and just can't figure out how to get them out.
"Not yet," I say. "Soon."
But...but...I know I could! If I could just walk!
"You'll be mobile soon enough," I tell him, and I stand him up, holding him firmly. He bounces where he stands and makes his "ooo ooo ooo" noise. He reaches up for a little boy that runs past.
Mommy! His eyes say. I can do it! I can play with them! And he attempts to push himself out of my arms with a jump, but I'm ready for it.
"Soon enough," I repeat to him, smiling at the other mothers who are now watching my baby make his words and wiggle around in excitement. I scoop him up and head out of the children's section. His little hand finds a handful of my hair and he squishes his fingers in it and lays his head on my shoulder. All those thoughts and attempts at independence have worn him out.
"Soon enough," I say one last time, and kiss his drooping eyelids.
He looks up at me one more time. Okay Mommy. And he drifts off to sleep.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
No Such Thing as "Over Tired"? Another Mommy Myth Busted
You hear parents say it all the time when their child gets fussy: "Oh, he's over tired!" or, "she's just over excited". Meanwhile, their kid is on the floor screaming bloody murder and you want to shake the parents for whatever act of bad parenting has led to that heinous noise.
I'm here to tell you: don't judge the parent too harshly. I now experience, almost on a daily basis, the phenomenon known in parenting circles as Over Stimulation. Yes folks, "over-tired" and "over-excited" do exist--and sometimes, as a parent, you don't know it is happening until it's too late.
Our first real experience with over stimulation came at Christmas, when Husband's parents arrived late in the evening. Little Man was THRILLED at being the center of attention and showed off all his skills--sitting up, babbling, and tearing at the wrapping paper of each new holiday gift that was offered to him well past his bedtime. He had a blast. That is, until he had a total and epic tantrum in which there was no comforting him. I'm sure my in-laws thought he was a complete hellion while I frantically tried to assure them, over his screams, that he wasn't always like this.
Since then, we've seen over-excited several times--usually when new friends arrive between dinner and bedtime. But I have started to notice that when we do something fun and exciting early in the day, like story time or a puppet show, there needs to be a significant amount of quiet time at home that afternoon. No TV, no new friends--just some quiet play time on the floor with mom and dad.
Our Little Man thinks he's a little bigger than his age bracket, and he loves the noise and attention he gets in the outside world brings. But Mommy knows best--even the biggest Little Man needs his quiet time to avoid an over-tired melt down.
I'm here to tell you: don't judge the parent too harshly. I now experience, almost on a daily basis, the phenomenon known in parenting circles as Over Stimulation. Yes folks, "over-tired" and "over-excited" do exist--and sometimes, as a parent, you don't know it is happening until it's too late.
Our first real experience with over stimulation came at Christmas, when Husband's parents arrived late in the evening. Little Man was THRILLED at being the center of attention and showed off all his skills--sitting up, babbling, and tearing at the wrapping paper of each new holiday gift that was offered to him well past his bedtime. He had a blast. That is, until he had a total and epic tantrum in which there was no comforting him. I'm sure my in-laws thought he was a complete hellion while I frantically tried to assure them, over his screams, that he wasn't always like this.
Since then, we've seen over-excited several times--usually when new friends arrive between dinner and bedtime. But I have started to notice that when we do something fun and exciting early in the day, like story time or a puppet show, there needs to be a significant amount of quiet time at home that afternoon. No TV, no new friends--just some quiet play time on the floor with mom and dad.
Our Little Man thinks he's a little bigger than his age bracket, and he loves the noise and attention he gets in the outside world brings. But Mommy knows best--even the biggest Little Man needs his quiet time to avoid an over-tired melt down.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Happy Half Birthday!
A lot can happen in six months. It seems like just yesterday we were strapping Little Man in his car seat for his very first ride home...and now those same car seat straps are straining as we wrestle him in before going on an adventure.
Some stats on our baby boy on his sixth month birthday:
--He weighs 23.6 pounds and is 27.5 inches long. That's the 99th percentile for weight, and 90th for height. And for those of you who miss the days of produce comparisons, he weighs the equivalent of 2 average size pumpkins.
--He wears size 18-24 month clothes. That is, when he wears clothes. His favorite state of being is naked.
--His favorite toys include a play rotary phone, an elephant that makes a crinkle sound, and anything that has buttons and Daddy plays with, too.
--He's still working on the sleeping thing, although it has gotten better. He's averaging 9 hours a night, waking up to eat after about 6 hours. We finally got the boppy out of the crib, and now Little Man sleeps most happily on his tummy.
--Speaking of tummy, he can get there from his back, but is still perfecting the tummy to back roll. I know he can do it, because occasionally I'll look down at him and he'll be in a different position than where he was a moment before. He's just very stealthy about it. Another one of his stealth moves: he manages to pull himself into a sitting position when he wakes up from a nap. I've never seen it, but I know when he does it because I hear him on the monitor, snuffling around and then making his happy noises.
--He's a great eater. He loves his mealtimes, and eats all different types of baby cereals, apples, bananas, peas, sweet potato, and squash. Squash is his favorite. He hates carrots, and removes them from his mouth with his hands when I feed them to him.
--He loves music. His two current favorites are Prince's "1999" and the classic "Wheels on the Bus". He's obviously very well rounded.
--He has an uncanny ability to mimic his father's expressions and mannerisms. He's a little clown in training.
--He's genuinely a happy baby. He's a confident, inquisitive little creature and he changes every day. It is so wonderful to see him so healthy and advancing in his life, but all those changes are a little bittersweet too. So we're trying to enjoy every little moment--even the ones that happen at 3 AM.
Happy Half Birthday, Little Man.
Some stats on our baby boy on his sixth month birthday:
--He weighs 23.6 pounds and is 27.5 inches long. That's the 99th percentile for weight, and 90th for height. And for those of you who miss the days of produce comparisons, he weighs the equivalent of 2 average size pumpkins.
--He wears size 18-24 month clothes. That is, when he wears clothes. His favorite state of being is naked.
--His favorite toys include a play rotary phone, an elephant that makes a crinkle sound, and anything that has buttons and Daddy plays with, too.
--He's still working on the sleeping thing, although it has gotten better. He's averaging 9 hours a night, waking up to eat after about 6 hours. We finally got the boppy out of the crib, and now Little Man sleeps most happily on his tummy.
--Speaking of tummy, he can get there from his back, but is still perfecting the tummy to back roll. I know he can do it, because occasionally I'll look down at him and he'll be in a different position than where he was a moment before. He's just very stealthy about it. Another one of his stealth moves: he manages to pull himself into a sitting position when he wakes up from a nap. I've never seen it, but I know when he does it because I hear him on the monitor, snuffling around and then making his happy noises.
--He's a great eater. He loves his mealtimes, and eats all different types of baby cereals, apples, bananas, peas, sweet potato, and squash. Squash is his favorite. He hates carrots, and removes them from his mouth with his hands when I feed them to him.
--He loves music. His two current favorites are Prince's "1999" and the classic "Wheels on the Bus". He's obviously very well rounded.
--He has an uncanny ability to mimic his father's expressions and mannerisms. He's a little clown in training.
--He's genuinely a happy baby. He's a confident, inquisitive little creature and he changes every day. It is so wonderful to see him so healthy and advancing in his life, but all those changes are a little bittersweet too. So we're trying to enjoy every little moment--even the ones that happen at 3 AM.
Happy Half Birthday, Little Man.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sometimes, Motherhood Ain't Pretty
Today I experienced the phenomenon I have previously only heard about: pooping up the back.
Usually Little Man gives us plenty of reason to believe he is filling up his diaper. The faces, the noises--all surefire signs that a visit to the changing table is inevitable. Today, however, he was a very stealthy pooper. I didn't notice anything amiss until after he'd eaten his lunch of pureed sweet potato and I was lifting him up out of his high chair.
Poop. Everywhere. Um, ew.
I ask you, what good is a diaper if it doesn't contain that stuff? The kid might as well have been wearing a tissue tied around his tushie. We had a mess on the changing pad. On his pants. On his onesie. On me. And all the way up his back.
The result? An impromptu bath in the sink, a new shirt for Mommy, a whole new outfit for Little Man, and a big load of laundry that had been practically soaked in stain spray.
To be fair, I have never been peed on.
Usually Little Man gives us plenty of reason to believe he is filling up his diaper. The faces, the noises--all surefire signs that a visit to the changing table is inevitable. Today, however, he was a very stealthy pooper. I didn't notice anything amiss until after he'd eaten his lunch of pureed sweet potato and I was lifting him up out of his high chair.
Poop. Everywhere. Um, ew.
I ask you, what good is a diaper if it doesn't contain that stuff? The kid might as well have been wearing a tissue tied around his tushie. We had a mess on the changing pad. On his pants. On his onesie. On me. And all the way up his back.
The result? An impromptu bath in the sink, a new shirt for Mommy, a whole new outfit for Little Man, and a big load of laundry that had been practically soaked in stain spray.
To be fair, I have never been peed on.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Snow Baby
For the second time in Little Man's short life our city is experiencing winter weather. We had a white Christmas with just a little snow, but this morning we woke up to 3 or inches covering the ground outside. Everything is closed, and we are enjoying the rare snowstorm from the warm and snugly comfort of our home.
We bundled up Little Man this morning and took him outside to experience the snow--believe it or not, we had a snow suit someone had given us before he was born that I had stowed away in the back of his closet just in case. Zipped up and hood on, he was so snugged up that he toppled over whenever he tried to sit up.
On the whole, Little Man was pretty unimpressed with the snow--although he did like the snowball his Daddy made for him. I think the idea of propelling balls of frozen stuff across the parking lot appealed to his manliness on some level, even as a 5-month-old. We showed him our cars, all covered in snow, and Husband built him a little snowman on the hood of his car. All the excitement wore him out, and he is now sleeping in his swing.
He won't remember it, but we took lots of pictures so we can show Little Man what he was like when Mama pulled out the unlikely snow suit and made him a Snow Baby.
We bundled up Little Man this morning and took him outside to experience the snow--believe it or not, we had a snow suit someone had given us before he was born that I had stowed away in the back of his closet just in case. Zipped up and hood on, he was so snugged up that he toppled over whenever he tried to sit up.
On the whole, Little Man was pretty unimpressed with the snow--although he did like the snowball his Daddy made for him. I think the idea of propelling balls of frozen stuff across the parking lot appealed to his manliness on some level, even as a 5-month-old. We showed him our cars, all covered in snow, and Husband built him a little snowman on the hood of his car. All the excitement wore him out, and he is now sleeping in his swing.
He won't remember it, but we took lots of pictures so we can show Little Man what he was like when Mama pulled out the unlikely snow suit and made him a Snow Baby.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
King of the Shopping Cart
Since the advent of Little Man sitting up, I decided it was time he move out of the car seat and into the front of the cart on shopping trips. Nana got him a handy cover that goes over shopping carts and restaurant high chairs, so on our last trip to Whole Foods, we left the car seat in the car and I plopped him into the front of the cart. I wasn't sure how he was going to react, so I had a very short list and was prepared to fly out of the store in the event of a meltdown.
I had nothing to worry about. Little Man adored sitting up in the cart and looking around at everything. He enjoyed it so much that I took another couple of laps around the store. He flirted with everyone who came near us, and made his words at all the pretty colors, shapes and smells. Since then we have taken several trips in the cart, and each time he has seemed to enjoy it more.
The only downside of our new shopping arrangement is that it is now easier for other people to touch him. When he was strapped in his car seat, people had to really work to get their germy hands on him. Now--much like his small town Mama--he makes eye contact and grins at everyone. And people find his mop top of curls absolutely irresistible. I imagine I'll be having the "stranger danger" talk with him sooner rather than later.
Another step to independence. Before long he'll be sitting in those shopping carts shaped like a car, and then he'll be running up and down the aisles ahead of me, helping his Mama pick out groceries. It's funny how the little changes make you think of the big picture.
I had nothing to worry about. Little Man adored sitting up in the cart and looking around at everything. He enjoyed it so much that I took another couple of laps around the store. He flirted with everyone who came near us, and made his words at all the pretty colors, shapes and smells. Since then we have taken several trips in the cart, and each time he has seemed to enjoy it more.
The only downside of our new shopping arrangement is that it is now easier for other people to touch him. When he was strapped in his car seat, people had to really work to get their germy hands on him. Now--much like his small town Mama--he makes eye contact and grins at everyone. And people find his mop top of curls absolutely irresistible. I imagine I'll be having the "stranger danger" talk with him sooner rather than later.
Another step to independence. Before long he'll be sitting in those shopping carts shaped like a car, and then he'll be running up and down the aisles ahead of me, helping his Mama pick out groceries. It's funny how the little changes make you think of the big picture.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Holidaze
Happy New Year! This time last year, Little Man was the size of some teeny-tiny seed, floating around on the inside. Now, he is a 24 pound tank of a baby, a little over 5 months old and an absolute joy to spend time with. Isn't it funny the difference a year can make?!?
I completely fell off the blogging bandwagon during the holidays. It never ceases to amaze me how busy one can get doing nothing but taking care of a baby. As the song goes, there were parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow. There was also a nasty bout of RSV that hit the whole family just before Thanksgiving and stuck with us right through Christmas.
Baby's first holiday was a success. There were loud, boisterous moments, like dinner with my husband's large family, where Little Man sat up in my lap and "read" the menu. Husband's company Christmas party was especially fun, because last year, that's when we broke the news to everyone that we were expecting. He was the center of attention, feeding off all the noise and energy and flirting with all the ladies. My mom and I took him to a large mall in the area and watched his eyes get bigger and bigger with each decoration he saw.
And then there were the quiet, sweet moments: Christmas eve, when we opened presents as a little family of three for the first time. Putting out Oreos and Coke for Santa, and letting the baby "stand" by the tree to get a good look at the ornaments before going to bed that night. On New Years eve, Husband and I were so wiped out by the season's festivities that we went to bed long before midnight. But Little Man woke up for his middle of the night feeding just minutes before the clock turned over, and I welcomed the new year in watching my beautiful little boy doze in my arms. New Years Day was spent at home in pajamas, quiet and peaceful and full of family play time. It was, all in all, everything I expected and more.
Happy Holidays, everyone, from myself, Husband, and the biggest Little Man around. What will 2011 hold for my own little fairy tale? Stay tuned for the next chapter.
I completely fell off the blogging bandwagon during the holidays. It never ceases to amaze me how busy one can get doing nothing but taking care of a baby. As the song goes, there were parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow. There was also a nasty bout of RSV that hit the whole family just before Thanksgiving and stuck with us right through Christmas.
Baby's first holiday was a success. There were loud, boisterous moments, like dinner with my husband's large family, where Little Man sat up in my lap and "read" the menu. Husband's company Christmas party was especially fun, because last year, that's when we broke the news to everyone that we were expecting. He was the center of attention, feeding off all the noise and energy and flirting with all the ladies. My mom and I took him to a large mall in the area and watched his eyes get bigger and bigger with each decoration he saw.
And then there were the quiet, sweet moments: Christmas eve, when we opened presents as a little family of three for the first time. Putting out Oreos and Coke for Santa, and letting the baby "stand" by the tree to get a good look at the ornaments before going to bed that night. On New Years eve, Husband and I were so wiped out by the season's festivities that we went to bed long before midnight. But Little Man woke up for his middle of the night feeding just minutes before the clock turned over, and I welcomed the new year in watching my beautiful little boy doze in my arms. New Years Day was spent at home in pajamas, quiet and peaceful and full of family play time. It was, all in all, everything I expected and more.
Happy Holidays, everyone, from myself, Husband, and the biggest Little Man around. What will 2011 hold for my own little fairy tale? Stay tuned for the next chapter.
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