4 Months, Round 2

Four months on the Fourth of July!

Likes:

• Hanging out on the playmat. His latest trick is to position himself under this toy and just chew on it hands-free. 

• Bath time and lotion time. He has been sleeping in the Magic Sleepsuit at night since we got home from vacation, but I worried that his feet might get too cold as a result of the AC being especially effective in his bedroom. After a cursory search for baby socks, I realized I pretty much got rid of all of them (they fall off and go missing and then you have 19 unmatched tiny socks) BUT I did find these toddler Santa socks in a bin in the closet. Christmas in July.

• The swing--in which to chill and to nap. I am sure that napping in the swing violates all kind of baby-sleep rules, but I'm putting that on the "deal with it later" pile.

 

Dislikes:

• Pooping his last diaper in the McDonalds in Crossville, TN and having to borrow an overnight diaper from big bro (approximately 3 sizes too big). He also cried any time anyone turned on the hand dryer. 

Milestones and stats:

• Some serious travel in the books
• 14.5+ lbs
• Size 2 diapers (will size up once this pack is gone...he's bustin' out)
• 6 month clothing
• Rolls front to back
• Sits with assistance
• Good head control
• Emerging reaching and grasping

Two Months, Round 2

There's another kid over here now, and he's two months old. There's just no way I'm going to be able to post with any regularity, and I'm trying to be honest with myself on that. However, I do need to do a monthly post (or...close enough) for baby book purposes.

Baby H is, all in all, a lot like his brother. I feel like we came through the dark days much faster this time, though I have no way of really knowing whether that's objectively true. On balance, he may be a wee bit trickier during the day and somewhat more chill at night, but it's not a massive difference. I went back to read C's two month post and I could basically copy and paste almost all of it into this one.

Likes:

• the ergo oh my God always the ergo and only the ergo. Turns out, with subsequent kiddos, you really need your hands. I busted this out one day when I decided the Moby took too much time to wrap, and we haven't looked back. This is where he naps during the day, and generally how we do outings. It's not perfect--I might be ruining the future nap situation and my back kind of hurts--but I'm so grateful that we have a Thing That Always Works and that it's a thing that allows me to have two hands and be mobile. If you are having a second kid and you never got one of these, Amazon it to yourself so fast and don't look back. Remember the infant insert!

• Old Faithful, the Snugabunny swing. Again, like with C, it's no miracle worker, but he'll chill in it for a bit, especially in the morning ("Happy Swing Time") and naps have been known to happen. 
• Bathtime
• Big brother, as well as other familiar faces and voices
• Real white noise, like the hair dryer and vacuum cleaner
• Watching hockey on tv

Dislikes:

• When the car stops moving. He started out as a real car baby--always put him right to sleep--but not so much anymore. Basically I have to brace myself for the crying whenever we have to drive anywhere, and then pop him in the ergo when we arrive. Oddly, he doesn't mind the car seat itself and is happy if someone is carrying it...but pop it into a stationary car and it's game over. I cannot wait to be able to drive again without constant anxiety about hitting a red light.
• Not being held by a human for any significant period of time
• The hours of 8-10:30pm

Stats:

• 11 lbs, 11 oz with an empty belly
• 1 ft 11 inches -- just shy of two feet tall!
• Size 1 diapers, though the next box I've ordered is size 2
• 3 shots and a rotovirus oral vaccine
• 3 Spiderman bandaids

17 Months

What's New

New words/signs:

signs "please" when prompted

signs and says thank you ("na noo") unprompted--this is really sweet and he always seems so genuine

signs and says "seet down!" when he is standing on something he shouldn't be--this is always funny but so naughty

made-up but consistent signs for cement mixer, airplane, helicopter

bubbles

Taggies (his lovey)

NO

crackers

mama (mama mama mama mom. mom. mommmy. maMA. MAMA. momeeeeee mom. mama. mama. mama? mama....)

cheese

sausage

"sshhhhh" with little finger to lips...so stinkin' cute

hi/hey

Abita (Beeeeba!). Also, all dogs are now Beeba. 

cup
hot

SPORTS CATEGORY

tennis ("nennis")

football--applies to futbol and American football...we'll get it sorted out in the fall

baseball ("baybah")

basketball ("baball") -- subtle differences, but he knows what he means and is always correct

golf

animal noises for horse, cow, pig, monkey, dog...helicopter usually sneaks onto Old McDonald's farm, too

I'm also fairly certain I've started to hear some two-word utterances sporadically:

Dada shoes

hi Yaya

tennis ball

good girls (to the dogs)

Points to ears, nose, eyes, teeth, feet, tum-tum, hair...

--

He has been taking swim lessons and is making solid progress toward our goals of a) being able to flip over and float on his back and b) being able to get to and grab the side of the pool. I don't need him rockin' out like a 50 butterfly, but we want him to be able to make himself rescuable should he ever fall in a pool. For better or for worse, he has no fear around the water and zero understanding of the fact that he cannot swim.

We are solidly on one daily nap. The transition occurred for good around 15 months. There are definitely pros and cons to having made the switch, and I did like lots of things about two naps, but it is what it is. As long as he takes a long enough nap, it works. We started with nap around 11 and have successfully pushed it back to about 12/12:15 after lunch. Ideally he sleeps for 2 hours or more, but it varies.

We are also working on making some changes at our house to give him more safe space to play (just rearranging things; no remodeling or fund expenditure). In other words, I am now fully becoming the person I didn't want to become whose house is totally given over to toys and kid things. My hope is that he will play independently more often in a space where I can see him, which will allow me to get more things done (e.g., work, folding laundry, making some food...). Because....

...also starting around 15 months, he seems to have entered a MAJOR mommy phase. He is clingy in general and much more wary of strangers, but is glued to mommy in a particularly intense way (Daddy's turn will come...mwa ha ha). Even at home, I can't really be out of sight for more than a second. We're working with it, and I recognize it's a typical phase, but ideally some house re-arranging will allow me to reclaim a sliver of productivity. Also, his play needs are just changing as he gets bigger. We're bringing a play table out of the attic, rotating out some toys that have lost their appeal, and giving him a little more dedicated room to explore safely. And to play "nennis."

What We're Loving

me:

Vitamix, baby.

This was BA's Father's Day present, and it is already getting serious use by all members of the household (well, C can't quite operate it alone yet). We haven't branched out and made anything wild--although judging by the included cookbook there are plenty of things you never knew you could make in a blender--but we are diggin' our smoothies. Recently I'd been unable to get any breakfast for myself by the time I made a toddler breakfast and poured a cup of coffee. After C finishes his sausage and toast, he is ready to P-L-A-Y. Like now. I knew I really needed a breakfast solution for the purposes of feeling better and not making disgusting food choices later in the day in an attempt to stave off extreme crashes. 

I'll never be cool with kale, but spinach for breakfast is pretty good, right?

him:

All mommy all the time.

Saying no, which he says with his whole body. Multiple times, just so you're really sure. 

All the sports, but talks about nennis the most. 

Animals, especially Beeba (even when "Beeba" is Mabel) and elephants. 

silly Beeba.

Still with the machines. Crackers. Chicken.

Spinning in circles with Daddy in the pool (and they both get so dizzy I laugh a lot). 

HATES a diaper change. 

Imitating what grown-ups say or do...I think we are officially in watch-your-language territory.

Naming friends and family members, either from memory or while looking at photos. I made a book on Shutterfly with people's pictures and names, and I hope it's a hit. 

Next up: a year and a half!

14 Months

I thought I'd do a hybrid post every so often...sort of a mashup of the ol' monthly updates and the Favorite Things. Let's try it on for size.

What's New

The Easter Bunny is very, very scary.

Still on 2 naps but some days it's just 1, depending on schedule and the general flow. Not pushing it either way.

Words and Tricks
dada (usually with extreme excitement and often like "daDAAAA!!"
mamamamamama (less reliable than daDAAA)
ball (though it's often "dall")
dog
hi!
bye-bye!
Yaya [Sara]
All done
shoes [?]
disclaimer here is that really only family members would understand these words at present, so don't go being too awed...

knows what a monkey and piggy say and what a camel does...
understands simple directions and questions (e.g., "find your cup," "bring me that book," "where's Taggies?")
answers the phone when it rings
"Cheers!"

When he can't say a word, still imitates inflection, such as when I said yesterday that there were "piles and piles and PILES!" of stuff on the counter

New signs: Help/help me; please

We are very, VERY excited about the arrival of our newest little friend and addition to the group--Miss Baby Nancy. Her big brother is four days older than Mr. C. Yes, you read that right. I'm in awe. All are happy and healthy.

What We're Loving

me:

Inglesina Fast Baby Chair

 

(pic is link)

Just a travel highchair, basically, but a good addition to our ever-growing collection of kid gear. We have it on the counter right now, which I like because he can just sit up there with us. We can also use it for activities ("art," etc.) that would have been more difficult in the high chair. He also seems less likely to intentionally throw food around when he is in it. Would also be good for travel (it folds up into its own little bag that is stored under the seat), but has been good in restaurants too--lately we've been at a couple places that are so crowded they're out of high chairs, or often the straps are broken and Wild Man needs serious containment. 

You can also purchase a tray separately, which I recommend. 

 Dyson Animal Digital Slim

 If you were really wanting to spend an entire month's paycheck on a vacuum cleaner (a second vacuum, no less), then this is the one for you. Yes, totally outrageous. But I've had it for about a month and it is worth it so far. Basically it's quick to grab for everyday cleanup, as it doesn't need to be lugged out and plugged in. So it's easier to quickly rid the floors of Cheerios and dog hair, which is a bonus as we just had them (the floors) cleaned and re-sealed, and I want to try to keep them in better shape. Plus, the attachments mean it's also a handheld Dustbuster-type tool, which I can use when Maddie sneaks onto the couch or whatever else. All I can say is this: if you've got a kid, and you've got a dog (or two), you might reallllly consider the splurge.

him:
wooden name puzzle stool (for lack of a better term?) - pretty sustained entertainment, and he might actually be learning...

books, especially those with balloons (Spot's Balloon, Please Bring Balloons), as well as Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, Dear Zoo, Octopus Opposites, and--of course--Goodnight Moon.

phone (B Toys hiPhone) - this one was finally a hit (there's no substitute for mommy's iPhone, and the kid is hip to my tricks). This is a great brand all around. We also love the super cool symphony toy and the FunKeys.

Taggies - As close to a lovey as we've got. Which means I buy a duplicate one whenever they're in stock at Target (NB: one of the few items I do not recommend buying on Amazon; they're pricier AND you can't pick your pattern--tragic when you're looking for an identical backup for a child's beloved).

(not our actual preferred Taggies)

fruit pouches - until some unfortunate poops indicated we should dial it back a bit...

yogurt - praise the genius that thought to put YoBaby in pouches so he can do it himself

That's it for now, folks! I could literally add something new every day, but I'm cutting it off here and will update again when it makes sense. xo

12 Months

Well. We made it. The baby is a year old and also, I suppose, a toddler now. I will save the reflections for the birthday post and just do pretty much another monthly update here.

However...I haven't done a photo shoot yet and am still sorting through the birthday pics, so you'll just have to slog through words here. I'll add photos later but wanted to get this up as it has been 49 years since my last post.

Eating is more or less unchanged. You eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus or minus a snack later on the day depending on timing. People always ask if you're a "good eater"...while I'm not exactly sure what that means, I always say that you are. You definitely have preferences, but they change frequently--things fall in and out of favor. We just make sure we offer choices and there's pretty much always something you'll go for (even if there was a three-day stretch where it was just Goldfish...). You seem to eat enough, and just let us know when you're finished. You're neither picky nor piggy.

Now sleep...sleep is a different story. I knew our good groove at 11 months was too sweet to last. In a twist, the challenge lately has been nap time. First (as posted), there was a general nap strike. That was terrible and we'll just leave it at that. I adjusted the interval between naps to about 3 hours before first nap and 3.5 hours between the naps. With a little time, this seems to have helped, but is tricky. If you sleep in ("sleep in") or otherwise stretch the interval, there isn't enough time in the day to get the second nap in without it getting too close to bedtime--and I am not about to mess with nighttime sleep. So, these days, sometimes the second nap happens but sometimes it doesn't. A lot of people ask whether you need to move to one nap, but I think it's not time yet--your one nap isn't long enough and still needs to be too early in the day. Plus, I really do not want to go to one nap yet. I do see some up side to it, but I also really like the two-nap deal.

Bottom line: naps get messed up at this point and apparently it's common (Google 12 month sleep regression). HOWEVVVERRRRR...one night, the weekend of your birthday, you slept straight through until 6:50am. And then did it again the next night. The day after that, at your 12-month checkup, the pediatrician said if it happened three nights in a row, then it was the new normal and to stick with it. You did, so a big HUGE gold medal to you! Depending on if I am good and go to bed at a decent hour, I can now get a normal, human-caliber stretch of sleep. You usually start stirring around 6 and wake up at 6:30 or later. The flip side to this development is that you're then usually up for the day, but I'll take it. I know there will be hiccups in the future (just with general development, teething, illness, etc.) but I know they are temporary and we really don't go backwards from here. So...we made it. Some of your little friends have been doing this for a while, but some aren't there yet, so it's really individual depending on baby, your needs, your setup, and so on. Do not despair, friends. It will happen for you, too. Champagne all around.

Likes:

• dogs
• balloons (I mean, like...LOVES)
• Goodnight Moon. Although I have a sneaking suspicion it's because a balloon is featured prominently
• flags
• push toys

• the vacuum and the dustbuster

Dislikes:

• changing diapers or clothes. Rolls around like a greased pig and screams.
• really anything if I don't figure out the problem fast enough (e.g., a few days ago, the cereal bar was too hard. Waterworks.)
• not being allowed to play with the iPhone

Milestones:

reliably signs "more" -- though he kind of expands it just to mean "give me that"

this.

• says "dog" and "balloon." Of course. If I'm being honest, though, they'd really only be understood by me and BA, so I'm not sure when things count as first words. 

Stats:

• Weight: at least 20lbs. He freaked out on the scale at the doctor's office and that was the best we could get. I think he weighs more. 
• Height: 28 inches. About 85th percentile or higher, if I am remembering correctly. 
• Diapers: size 4
• Clothing: 12 month

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

10 Months

These pics are terrible but I'm opting to just jam some in here and get on with it. 

AND I took them on the actual day he turned 10 months.

Will add more later!

Photo shoot cut short when I realized he was getting chalk all over his pants as we were due to be walking out the door to a Christmas party...

If the 9th month had a theme, it would most definitely be snot. As was expected, starting school meant a constant cold and runny nose. However, a few days after we returned from Florida, the cold worsened. It seemed to move down into your chest and caused a really cruddy cough. You also started running a fever that ranged from low grade to pretty high (it always seemed highest in the middle of the night, when it wasn't ideal to whip out the thermometer to get an exact read, so I don't know quite how high it went). We managed symptoms and waited it out until it was clear that something else was going on, and then off to the pediatrician we went. She diagnosed pneumonia (explaining the cough and worrisome breathing), and we started some good ol' Amox.

This stuff works. High fives to science and all those penicillin discoverers. We kicked the pneumonia, but then ended up with another garden-variety cold not long after. You have been such a trouper, but it is just a tough road.

On top of all this, there have been at least 2 but I think 4 teeth coming through up top, and they seemed to get right up to the point of breaking through and then hang out right there for a while. I'm sure that was not comfortable, and also has its own symptoms and disruptions.

All of that is a detailed and technical way of saying that you have been uncomfortable if not fully miserable for a large part of this month, and we'll be glad to get it behind us. It disrupts eating, sleeping, moods (everyones') and general life.

Likes:

• wooden spoon + spatula
• picking up tiny pieces of lint off the floor and eating them
• the Christmas tree (I say "tree," you say "DAH")
• throwing all the toys out of the pen

Dislikes:

• taking the medicine (even delicious Amoxicillin) (this did get somewhat better, though)
• going in the car seat
• nose wiping

Milestones:

• more plane rides and beach trip with grandparents!
• first antibiotics
• Baby's First Thanksgiving!

• imitates some actions
• signs "All Done!" (prompted)
• waves bye-bye

This was supposed to be a video of "all done," except he stopped doing it the second I started the camera. But watch it anyway.

Stats:

oh, who knows. Some pounds. Size 4 diapers. Generally 12-month clothing but the 9-month stuff still works (probably wouldn't buy any new ones though).

9 Months

Well, we're actually closer to 10 months at this point, but the baby has been sick for at least the past 2-3 weeks. Getting photos (and time to write a post) has been a challenge to say the least. I'll do my best to remember what goes with which month. 

I also think this photo shoot is more aptly titled "I'm 9 Months Old...(And I Hate You, Mom)"

Things in the sleep department are pretty unchanged. Naps are much, much better than they used to be (1hr 15 min is pretty standard). There's a pretty predictable 2.5-3 hour window between naps, and it's a good rhythm for the day. Nighttime is still variable. I don't know if it's developmental or teething or what. It's not terrible--probably 1-2 wakeups per night--but it's certainly not perfect. I'm wondering if you'll do better as you start to take in more solid food, as your intake is still really unpredictable at this point.

Starting at 9 months, the goal is to get 3 food meals per day. This is sometimes manageable and sometimes difficult, particularly if we're trying to get out the door quickly in the morning. Sometimes you like food; sometimes you do not. Sometimes you like certain foods; other times you do not. You pretty reliably eat Cheerios and puffs. Of course, your favorite puffs are the non-organic sugar bomb ones I bought one time accidentally that are basically Lucky Charms marshmallows. You no longer eat the Super Green Apple + Kale ones, preferring to hold out for the "sweet potato" mallows. But...so it goes. There's basically zero nutrition in them, but they'll keep you busy.



Likes:

• wooden spoon + spatula
• dogs
• tickles
• anything dangerous to life-threatening: stairs, sockets, chokeables, dogs' water bowls
• cups + containers

Dislikes:

• the hairdryer (terrifying)
• having his nose wiped or suctioned. Can't say that I blame him, but this has become a common pastime around here
• being buckled in to the car seat

Milestones:

• started school!
• crawls on hands and knees
• claps hands

Stats:

• weight: about 19 lbs
• unable to get accurate length measurement (...)
• diapers: size 4
• clothing: 9 month