Nap Strike

If you're here looking for new material, I apologize. About a week ago, Mr. C decided that naps were for babies. All of the naps, in all forms. I happen to disagree, but there's not really a (legal) way to force someone to sleep. [For what it's worth, I don't think it's that he's moving to one nap--just an overall disturbance in the Force. We'll power through.]

Anyway, what I'm saying is that without nap time, there's no blog time (or shower time, or work time, or email time, or lunch time. There are 6 baskets of clean-but-unfolded laundry on the bedroom floor). We will return to our regularly scheduled programming soon. I hope.

I would also like to give a shoutout to Miss Helen, the first member of the February Babies Club to hit the one-year mark. Having a January birthday gave her a head start, but we're all looking to her for reports from the other side. Whenever she's not too busy driving her car to the voting booth or whatever.

In the mean time, here's a picture of the Southern Sophisticate in his basket with magazines and coasters.

Just Doin' My Puzzles

Drunk Shopper, Aisle 9

11 Month Faves

Grown-ups' Faves:

Mini Cuisinart

 Seriously, don't bother with all the specialty "make your own baby food" machines. I mean, if you have enough counter space for one more appliance, good for you. But you don't need it. Mr. C is past the puree stage (or, more accurately, maybe never had one), but this little guy is perfect for taking some of what we're having for dinner and making it a texture that's just a little more accessible for him. It also saves me from having to spend MY entire dinner time cutting food into bite-sized pieces. Plus, he seems to be more interested in foods that have multiple flavors, so I can just throw everything in there and make a little melange for him.

BabyGanics Bye Bye Dry

I have definitely noticed that his skin has been more dry as it has gotten colder (especially what with the Polar Vortex and all). This was another winner from a Citrus Lane box, and I've since ordered more. I use it as body wash for him or just squirt some in the bath water, and it does really make a difference. He also loves carrying the bottle around maybe more than any toy, so there's that.

Little Man's Faves:

For his faves this month, I'm spotlighting the items from Christmas that were an instant hit (as opposed to the things we got that are for older babies intentionally). And I mean items beyond cups, laundry baskets, the vacuum cleaner, and spatulas. The point of this is to give you some guidance if you happen to be shopping for a 10-12ish month old.

Fisher Price Crocodile Thing

 

 This was an impulse buy at Costco, but I had a feeling he'd like it. Indeed he does. I like that it can be played with in different ways--stack the people, open and close the croc's mouth to play songs, put things in his mouth, open his back, and so on. It also has a handle that flips out from underneath so that it can be a pull toy, but I haven't shown him this part yet. Preserving some novelty.

(BTW, that Amazon price seems outrageous. I am certain I did not pay that much at Costco). 

Touch & Feel Books


such as this one, from our friend Jack
  

Until they become Bite & Eat Books. 

Little Tikes Get Out N' Grill

I think maybe this is more manageable than the whole kitchen set (though he does like the kitchen). It has clicky knobs and cabinet doors that open and close (and open and close and open and close), so that's a huge hit. Obviously we're not at the level of pretend play yet, but let me tell you this: you haven't laughed until you've seen a baby crawling around with a plastic hot dog in his mouth. 

Shopping Cart

Supports current interest of putting things in to things and then taking things out of things. Also helps him practice walking (NOOOOOOOO).

Melissa & Doug wooden puzzles

with, ahem, jumbo knobs

Does he actually do the puzzles? No. More like uses the pieces as cymbals and/or crawls around with the knob part in his mouth. Weird, but whatever blows your hair back.

Caveat: dogs also like wooden toys (and I have confirmation that this isn't just our dogs).

11 Months

#cooldude

Also, a little rug burn from a tumble at school yesterday...so it goes.

Eleven months is almost twelve months which means we're almost at a YEAR. What the what? You are cruisin', kiddo.

I am sure to ruin things with this, but we're in a good sleep groove at the moment (realizing it's all ups and downs has been helpful, though). It has also helped that we've been relatively illness-free for a few weeks, apart from some garden-variety colds. KNOCK ON WOOD. You're at a solid 2 naps a day, with about 3 hours of wake time in between. Naps are usually an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. You're usually asleep or very nearly there by the time I put you down, but you can put yourself to sleep with minimal drama now.



That skill was very useful for nighttime, as we've eliminated the wakeups that are definitely not for eating. On occasion, you'll still wake and fuss at about 2:30 or so, but I am now confident that you're not starving at that time. I wait a bit (and honestly, sometimes turn off the monitor for a stretch) and you fall back asleep within 10 minutes. You do still need to eat between 4 and 5 (sometimes just past 5, and once--fabulously--at 5:45) but generally go back to sleep easily after that. Then it's an every-2-hour game and wakeup is usually between 7:30 and 8:30. Early if it's a school day.

epic bedhead

So I feel like a) you're getting what you need, b) you have good sleep skills and aren't totally dependent on terrible sleep crutches and c) it's manageable for me at present, so...pretty good all around. If you are reading this and have a littler baby, just know that it gets better. I think it's a myth or old advice that they definitely sleep through the night by a year (especially if not formula feeding), but it DOES get better.

The eating front is certainly related to the sleeping front. I would say that around 8 months, you started to figure out eating (i.e., picking food up and putting it in your mouth). From 9-10 months or so, you really started eating to eat. Like, not just playing anymore. Now you eat for real, have likes and dislikes, and have a definite eating schedule with actual meals. We eat breakfast before first nap, wake up and have lunch, have a snack after second nap (this is usually your feast extraordinaire), and you also usually do a solid job on dinner. Relatedly, you are definitely starting to self-wean but are not totally off the milk truck yet. I'm glad you're doing it on your own, though, because I did not want to be mean mommy in yet another way. Again, if you're reading this and have a littler baby: eating more solids during the day has got to be connected to sleeping longer stretches at night. But here's the rub: you can't force it, because they really can't take in that much food--and the kind of food that isn't quickly digested--until they are ready for it.



Likes

• the vacuum cleaner
• flags -- we say hello and goodbye to the one in the school parking lot every time
• plastic bottles
• putting things into other things
• wooden puzzle pieces
• drawers + knobs
• opening and closing doors

 

 

• favorite foods: hummus, Ritz-type crackers, toast, spinach, soups mixed with rice (so you can do it yourself), ice cream (I mean no I do not give the baby ice cream)

Dislikes

Nothing truly horrific at this juncture, I don't think...except when I am the meanest mommy and the baby is not allowed to play with whatever dangerous thing has been discovered.



Milestones

No major words yet, but always "talking"...and excited!

• cruises
• signs "all done" and "more"
• imitates actions and sounds (including a non-specific "mamamamamama"...so close)
• First Christmas!
• First New Year
• waves bye-bye
• blows kisses
• hides and plays peek-a-boo
• drinks from an open cup (with extreme assistance and fabulous mess)
• moved to the "older infant" classroom at school
• dances to music

Stats

• weight:
• diapers: size 4
• clothing: 12 month, generally

Deep Freeze

Yes, the Polar Vortex invaded TN, too. I realize it wasn't as cold as some other parts of the country (and BA was in Chicago, which I can't even comprehend). But any time the real temps are down near zero, that's pretty cold no matter who you are or where you're from. 

Five.

And A Happy New Year!

We stumbled upon a winning event this year...a kids' dinner with a 6pm start time and an 8pm balloon drop. We got to get a little dressy, go out, see some friends, and feel festive, but we were home and in bed at a good time.

Obviously this setup was a huge hit.

Until the bigger kids started popping the balloons after they dropped.

Quick getaway was necessary.

Ice cream...aunts...friends...

And a little bubbly after bedtime. 

Cheers to 2014. We hope it's the best yet. 

xoxo

Merriest Christmas!

Sending love from our home to yours.

It's just a lot of photos. The videos have pajama'ed parents in them and will not be posted, but can be shared upon request. Thanks for understanding.

Stocking stuffers

Santa came!

(He was also watching Love Actually)

Lemme just whisk these blocks right up...

And spatula this cup...

It was THIS BIG!

This thing was a hit (Costco).

I play my drum for DAH

pa rum pum pum DAH

Finishing up with a little redneck no-pants Christmas hangout

(I have more photos to drop in, but it's time to go ahead and get this posted. Check back if you want more.)