Saturday, July 20, 2013

Two Little Words

When Toby and I returned back home yesterday afternoon, I changed him, said “all clean” like I’ve been doing for weeks now, and then placed him back on the floor so he could play.  Not less than 10 minutes later I hear him grunting under the kitchen table.  “UGH, I JUST CHANGED YOU!” I exclaimed.

Back to the changing table we went, repeating the process of getting a new diaper on.  After I snapped his onesie, I said “all clean” again and picked him up from the table.  Before I set him back down, he looked right at me and repeated “aww cwean”.  It was clear as day to me, however to someone else, he or she may have not agreed.  I said “all clean” again and heard a little parrot repeat “awwww cwean”.  I said the phrase again and hear Toby giggle after he says the two words, even though this time it sounded more like “aa keen”.  I teared up instantly because for some reason I felt like this was the first time I was hearing him say words.  Actual words.  Hearing him yell “go, go, go” is funny but most of the time I still feel like he’s just practicing “g” syllables.  But to hear him repeat me and have it be so obvious in what he was expressing…well, let’s just say it made up for a whole week’s worth of meltdowns.  Maybe this age isn’t so tough after all.

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And of course I tried to take a video of him saying it and he got camera shy.  I’ll have to be sneaky about it and try again this weekend :)

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Toby: 13 Months!

Feels like we were just celebrating his first birthday yesterday…which reminds me I need to write up his birthday recap posts soon before I forget more details!

This month has been exciting to see him interact differently with his toys.  Instead of just touching things and shoving stuff in his mouth, he actually tries to figure out what each toy does now.  For instance, he knows how to put the plastic CD’s in his music player, though he does need a little assistance sometimes.  And if he doesn’t get help right away, he gets frustrated.  The lack of patience definitely comes from me.  He also understands that he can puts his blocks through the shape sorter top and that other toys in his play kitchen go through certain slots.  His hand coordination just isn’t there all the way yet.  He can stack his rings now, which I was so proud of when I saw him do that the first time.  He loves the positive reinforcement – each time he does something on his own, I exclaim “yay!!!” and clap my hands, and then he gives a huge smile. 

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Other big milestone has been the first words!  “Go, go, go” is what we finally realized he was saying, so I think “Go” is the first official word.  Other than that, we think he also tries to say “good” but not much else is comprehendible at this point.  Although, I swear he tells me “okay” sometimes.

Moving on to the not so fun stuff.  People keep telling me this age is the best, but the attitude and temper tantrums are really getting to me.  I feel like the bulk of my day is now spent cleaning up messes and thinking of new ways to avoid meltdowns instead of enjoying time with my son.  I never thought I would love the baby stage so much, but oh my gosh can we please rewind back to the 7 month old days?  Sigh.  Maybe things will get a little better when he can communicate more but right now my stress levels are at an ultimate high.

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I’ve been desperate to meet other parents in the area so we signed up for a Gymboree class.  We did the free trial a few weeks ago and Toby seemed to have a good time.  It’s a big, open area with tons of things for him to climb on and explore.  The class is very laid-back and not structured, which is nice, since Toby would rather do things on his own than participate in singing songs on the floor.  The instructor will introduce a few new activities each week but isn’t forceful about making the kids try them.  Our membership includes open gym time so we will definitely take advantage of that to get out of the house.  I would like to take him outside more but it seems like his eczema is acting up again so we’ve been staying indoors on hot days.

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Weight: Guessing he’s around 23 pounds?

Height: Probably still around 30 inches.

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Medical Issues:  Well, his eczema really only cleared up for the spring months and now it’s back, mostly on the inside of his elbows and knees.  Using the Aveeno Eczema lotion and hydrocortisone cream again.

Sleep: Back to normal with sleeping til 6:30ish in the morning.  First nap from 9:30-11, second nap from 2:30-4, but some days those times are off by 15-30 minutes.  He hasn’t been fighting naps as much, so I guess all the walking and running around makes him tired.  In bed by 7:45pm, but some nights he does cry for 10 minutes and needs us to go back in.  Very rare when we have to wait another 10 minutes and go back in.

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Clothes/Diapers: Wearing 12 month shorts and some 12 month onesies still fit.  Moved up to 12-18 month rompers, one-pieces, and pj’s this past month.  Sneakers are a size 4, sandals are a size 3.  Still wearing 4’s in regular and overnight diapers.

Diet: Drinking all whole milk now – 5oz when he wakes up, 4oz after he wakes up from each nap, then 6oz right before bed.  Still doing bottles…sigh, that’s a battle I’m just not ready to fight yet.  He will drink water out of a sippy or straw cup with each meal, though.  Hasn’t been too picky this past month, except with fruit.  I’ve cut raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon all into little pieces and he refuses to put one piece in his mouth or let me feed him a piece.  However, he will eat watermelon if I hold it in a big slice for him and he will bite off small chunks.  So we’re still doing purees for fruits that way he at least gets a couple servings a day.  New favorites are hummus with pita bread and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Baby Gear Love: Sing-With-Me CD Player, Laugh & Learn Kitchen, blocks, ring stack.

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Milestones: Can run without tripping or stumbling (most of the time).  Learned how to take rings off and stack them back on.  First official word: Go!

Likes: Wheels.  Particularly on his stroller or other strollers.  Still loves reading and going through books.  Pushing the ottoman around the living room.  Playing with swaddle blankets (likes them draped over his head and playing peek-a-boo).  Going through all the kitchen cabinets and taking stuff out.  Playing with my cookbooks.  Pushing the kitties’ water dish around.  Helping me vacuum.  Watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (but usually only the introduction song and the first five minutes, then he gets bored and will play until he hears the ending song come on).

Dislikes: When Daddy leaves in the morning.  Shutting the bathroom or basement door.  Or the dishwasher door.  Or the fridge door.  Diaper changes.  Putting pj’s on.  Being picked up after being allowed to roam around. 

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Things I don’t want to forget: How he started giggling when he realized he could push the foot rest up on his stroller (he was out of the stroller, touching the front wheels, and figured out he could do this when me and Auntie took him to the town beach).  How hard he laughed when he realized he could rip paper towels apart (that left a fun mess in the bathroom).  How he will chase Ellie around the living room and then look for her when she hides under the couch.  How he snuggles more now, especially when he’s tired.  How he knows it’s time to go to the gate or be picked up when you say “is it naptime?  is it bedtime?  is is time for a bath?”.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

12 Months of Milestones

I was looking back through Toby’s monthly updates and realized it’s difficult going through each one to look up his milestones, so I thought it would be best to include them all in one post.  It really is a miracle how much “stuff” happens the first year.    Now we’re just waiting for all the baby talk and babbles to become words we actually understand :)

Months One-Four:

  • Started to find fingers/hands – 1 month
  • Smiling – close to 2 months
  • Putting weight on legs while standing – 2 months
  • Grabbing toys – 2.5/3 months
  • Giggling/laughing – 3 months
  • Rolling from tummy to back – 3 months (9/19/12)
  • Cooing/Babbling – 3.5 months
  • Rolling from back to tummy – 3.5 months (10/10/12)
  • Grabbing feet – almost 4 months
  • Bringing toys to mouth – 4 months

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Months Five-Eight:

  • Tried first food – pears – 4.5 months (11/3/12)
  • Sitting with assistance – 4.5 months
  • Making “k” noises – 4.5 months
  • First tooth – bottom front left – 5.5 months (12/3 or 12/4/12)
  • Slept straight through the night – 5.5 months (12/4/12)
  • Scooting – 5.5 months
  • Sitting on own without assistance – right before 6 months
  • Sitting in shopping carts and restaurant high chairs – 6.5 months
  • Started to get up on knees and rock back and forth – 7 months
  • Stopped using a pacifier – 7 months
  • Sitting up in crib – 7.5 months (1/27/13)
  • Army crawling – 7.5 months (1/28/13)
  • Crawling on knees with belly off the ground – 7.5 months (few days after army crawling started)
  • Pulling himself up using couch, ottoman, etc – close to 8 months
  • Standing in crib – close to 8 months (2/13/13)
  • Babbling more - 8 months
  • Cruising – 8.5 months
  • Climbing up stairs – 8.5 months
  • Using pincher grasp to bring puffs to mouth - close to 9 months

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Months Nine-Twelve:

  • Using push walker to take steps – 9.5 months
  • Waving – 10 months
  • Clapping – 10.5 months (5/1/13)
  • Took first steps – right before 11 months (5/13/13)
  • Walking long distances – 11.5 months
  • Learned how to stand himself up in the middle of the room by pushing up on the ground – 12 months

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Wow, looking at this list, I can’t believe how much happened during his middle months!  Makes sense, though, as that time frame was most definitely my favorite.  Seeing him interact more with toys, sit on his own, and then start to become mobile (without getting into too much stuff yet) was so much fun.  Do things slow down at all the second year or just keep flying by as fast?!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Lately

Lately we have been playing with our new three little pigs toy

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and having crazy hair days…thanks to the heat and humidity

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and giggling with Daddy

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and transitioning on to big boy pajamas…Mommy is a little sad about this, but someone runs too fast for footie jammies now.

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With the heat wave, we’ve been stuck inside so we ventured out to a nearby museum and ecotarium over the weekend.  There was an inside playground to explore.

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And last by not least there’s been some hanging out in the jumper for a bit.  Still good for 10 minutes of entertainment before demanding to be let out and wreck havoc in the kitchen.

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Monday, July 1, 2013

Currently

Laughing…at Toby walking around in little circles until he gets dizzy and falls down.  He think it’s hilarious and so do we.  Also laughing at the fact he cracks himself up every time he hears himself toot!  It’s like he’s thinking “who did that?  Oh, I did!”.  I am such a 7 year old boy with farts so I die every time he does it.

Grateful for…family helping us out while Hubby had to get his appendix out last Thursday.  It was SO stressful and worrisome being stuck home while he was in the hospital overnight and we had no idea what was wrong.  I didn’t know if I should call people at that point or what to do for Toby’s care.  I haven’t found it too hard to balance the roles of mom and wife until last week, and boy, it was tough to say the least.  If anything, we have learned we need a better emergency plan put into place!

Loving…my Scentsy business!  Seriously, it’s nice to say I actually like what I’m doing for once for a “job”.  I say job in quotations because it really doesn’t feel like I’m working.  Selling Scentsy gives me something to do besides just housework and mom stuff and I’ve really enjoyed doing the home parties.  And I’ve been to do some crafts, as well, and use up some of my old scrapbooking supplies.  Bringing home a paycheck has been really important to me and I’m glad I found something that can be so flexible.

Wishing…it wasn’t July 1st already.  How is this summer flying by so fast?  Not ready for July 4th this week.

Thinking about…how lucky I am to have a healthy kid.  Some people don’t have it as easy and I have to remind myself of that each day.

Struggling with…getting Toby to wean off the bottles.  He’s just about transitioned fully onto whole milk but he does not like drinking it out of a sippy or straw cup.  Only wants water out of a sippy.  I don’t think we’re ready to get rid of bottles cold turkey yet as I want to make sure he does actually drink some milk each day.  He’s such a big kid with everything else but the bottles!  No pacifiers, no blankies or loveys…just loves his bottles.

Working on…getting more mom friends in the area.  We tried out a Gymboree class last week and we have another trial class at a different gym next week.  Both gyms offer a 12:30 class that works well with the 2 nap schedule or else I would have just gone back to yoga again.  Here’s hoping we meet new people and can start some playdates soon!

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picture taken 6/12/13