Just when I thought my heart couldn't melt anymore than it already has, Little Man has entered a whole new world of cuteness. I promise to capture some of this cuteness on video, but until then you'll have to take my word for it.
*Blowing kisses. He has started blowing kisses all the time, which is cute all by itself. But, he also makes this kissing/smacking sound on his hand as he blows his kisses. Too cute for words!
*Speaking of words, the Little Man's vocabulary is growing! We have been sounding out words for him and making letter sounds and to hear him repeat them is adorable. Today, he said f-f-f-f-an and pointed at our ceiling fan.
*Feeding himself and using his spoon. He's finally (mostly) mastered using his spoon. Tonight, he ate sweet potatoes and corn using only his spoon. He doesn't quite get a lot of food on his spoon, but he licks every bit off! Occasionally, he also uses his hands to help out. Because, really, who doesn't like smearing potatoes all over their face?
Showing posts with label milestones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label milestones. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Dude, Where's My ...
I haven't been able to blog in a while, because I've been so busy ... making sure our house doesn't turn into a toxic dump and get swallowed whole by the earth.
So. How old is old enough to pick up your own toys? I'm wondering because that's a LARGE part of our house cleaning issue. Little Man has turned into a whirling dervish and anything that's not nailed down is fair game. The Smartest Man Alive thinks he's too young to learn to put away his own toys, but I think we should start teaching him now. He's 16 months and if we could contain the clutter in some specific part of the house, that would be immensely helpful.
Right now, he has a playroom. But, he brings all of his toys out into the living room and promptly ignores them so that he can dismantle my baker's rack filled with cookbooks, opens cabinets and removes various bakeware and then scatter it all over the house ... you get the picture.
I hate clutter and the sooner we can resolve this problem, the better for all of us.
So. How old is old enough to pick up your own toys? I'm wondering because that's a LARGE part of our house cleaning issue. Little Man has turned into a whirling dervish and anything that's not nailed down is fair game. The Smartest Man Alive thinks he's too young to learn to put away his own toys, but I think we should start teaching him now. He's 16 months and if we could contain the clutter in some specific part of the house, that would be immensely helpful.
Right now, he has a playroom. But, he brings all of his toys out into the living room and promptly ignores them so that he can dismantle my baker's rack filled with cookbooks, opens cabinets and removes various bakeware and then scatter it all over the house ... you get the picture.
I hate clutter and the sooner we can resolve this problem, the better for all of us.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Bad to the Bone
Things my dear, sweet son has accomplished this week:
1. He grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator. Seriously. Thankfully, it was one of the plastic bottle kinds (we are classy people) and I was standing there to intercept the contraband.
2. While we were in a toy store with my dad, he grabbed a few toys that were sitting out as displays and headed straight for the door. My dad caught the little shoplifter as he was making his getaway.
Isn't this enough to make a mama's heart swell with pride?
1. He grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator. Seriously. Thankfully, it was one of the plastic bottle kinds (we are classy people) and I was standing there to intercept the contraband.
2. While we were in a toy store with my dad, he grabbed a few toys that were sitting out as displays and headed straight for the door. My dad caught the little shoplifter as he was making his getaway.
Isn't this enough to make a mama's heart swell with pride?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Brain Food
Before Little Man was born, I devoured dozens of child-rearing and baby development books. They preached, advised, and recommended the best ways to raise a well-adjusted, intelligent child.
*This is not a paid endorsement. I bought the book on Amazon and am only expressing my personal opinion.
I thought I was well-prepared, but we all know you can never be truly prepared for motherhood. When Little Man was an infant, I worried about SIDS, tummy time, feeding him formula, and finding a good day care.
As he's grown, my worries have changed to motor-skill and language development. It's brought out a side of me that I'm not really proud of. As I listen to other parents speak about their children, I'm mentally ticking off how Little Man compares. It's brought out a lot of unneccessary worry on my part, and I've recognized this in myself, but it's been hard to stop.
I just started reading Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn -- and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less* by a pair of child psychologists.
This book was the Aha! moment that I needed. Being a teacher, I know how children learn. It just reinforced what I already know, but it was exactly the reassurance that I needed. Little Man is learning plenty just by playing. He doesn't need special classes or flashcards to learn about the world around him.
It's also helped me appreciate his own interests. Little Man loves books and puzzles. He jabbers and gestures. He has buddies at day care and eats and sleeps well. In short, he's a perfectly normal 15-month old boy.
*This is not a paid endorsement. I bought the book on Amazon and am only expressing my personal opinion.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Walking
The past few weeks have been full of pulling on pant legs, whining, and tentatively sticking our feet out to take a step or two. In the past few days, we've progressed into taking five or six steps toward mommy or daddy.
Today, we let go.
We have a stumbly, trippy, not-so-balanced walker. He steps carefully, spreading his arms wide, looking down, and then grinning up at us. He stops to clap for himself with a huge grin that advertises his pride.
It's bittersweet for me. I can remember when he was two weeks old, snuggling him against me after a nursing session and crying. The Smartest Man Alive asked why I was crying and I told him it was because I never wanted Little Man to grow up. I wanted him to stay this small forever. Small enough to fit in his mama's arms and cuddle. I still feel that way. I imagine it will be this way on his first day of school, when he learns to ride his bike, and drive a car.
But, I'll always have these memories to replay in my mind. His first nursing session, the first time he crawled, his first steps.
It's a beautiful life.
Today, we let go.
We have a stumbly, trippy, not-so-balanced walker. He steps carefully, spreading his arms wide, looking down, and then grinning up at us. He stops to clap for himself with a huge grin that advertises his pride.
It's bittersweet for me. I can remember when he was two weeks old, snuggling him against me after a nursing session and crying. The Smartest Man Alive asked why I was crying and I told him it was because I never wanted Little Man to grow up. I wanted him to stay this small forever. Small enough to fit in his mama's arms and cuddle. I still feel that way. I imagine it will be this way on his first day of school, when he learns to ride his bike, and drive a car.
But, I'll always have these memories to replay in my mind. His first nursing session, the first time he crawled, his first steps.
It's a beautiful life.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Good News/Bad News
Good news: Little Man just took his first "real" steps tonight -- live! on Skype -- for his grammie and grampie to see. Grammie and grampie are getting buried in MORE SNOW and this infinitely cheered them up.
Bad news: I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. Why am I such a baby about these things?
Bad news: I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. Why am I such a baby about these things?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Happy Birthday!
Little Man,
One year ago today, you entered our lives. We've survived on less sleep, less money, and less free-time, but you've given us more love than we could have ever imagined. There is no greater feeling in the world than seeing you smile, giggle, and grow.
We love you.
Mommy & Daddy
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Grass is Always Greener....
Little Man might need another moniker for this site. I'm thinking maybe Tornado Toddler or Baby Bruiser...something more fitting for his destructive nature.
As he cruises through our living room, he snatches magazines, books, random toys, shoes and precedes to DESTROY them. Or at least attempt to. The magazines and books succumb fairly easy to his crawling, grabbing, eating, ripping attack. Shoes and toys are a bit tougher, but it won't be long until he manages to destroy a big-ticket item.
This afternoon, I looked over at The Smartest Man Alive and said, "I really liked the stage where he was just sitting. Old enough to do some stuff, but not mobile." Truth be told, everyone with kids had warned us our relatively easy lifestyle was about to be shattered once Little Man got moving. The Smartest Man Alive scoffed at my statement, because I was really PUSHING to get Little Man crawling. Because of his torticollis, he needed to crawl to build up his neck, arms, and hand muscles. I was very concerned about this -- probably annoyingly so.
But, now I wish for the days we he sat happily in the living room and played with his toys, using his Boppy to support him. I've loved all of his stages, but I'm missing some of the babyness that he used to have. He's looking more and more like a little boy and he'll be walking soon -- needing his mama less and less.
What stage do you miss?
As he cruises through our living room, he snatches magazines, books, random toys, shoes and precedes to DESTROY them. Or at least attempt to. The magazines and books succumb fairly easy to his crawling, grabbing, eating, ripping attack. Shoes and toys are a bit tougher, but it won't be long until he manages to destroy a big-ticket item.
This afternoon, I looked over at The Smartest Man Alive and said, "I really liked the stage where he was just sitting. Old enough to do some stuff, but not mobile." Truth be told, everyone with kids had warned us our relatively easy lifestyle was about to be shattered once Little Man got moving. The Smartest Man Alive scoffed at my statement, because I was really PUSHING to get Little Man crawling. Because of his torticollis, he needed to crawl to build up his neck, arms, and hand muscles. I was very concerned about this -- probably annoyingly so.
But, now I wish for the days we he sat happily in the living room and played with his toys, using his Boppy to support him. I've loved all of his stages, but I'm missing some of the babyness that he used to have. He's looking more and more like a little boy and he'll be walking soon -- needing his mama less and less.
What stage do you miss?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Nine-Month Report Card
This is long over-due. We've finally returned from St. Louis and gotten settled. Grandma's service was beautiful and I truly appreciate all the condolences we have received.
Now, onto my favorite topic: Little Man.
*We went for his nine-month well-baby check-up and he weighs 20 pounds, 1 oz. He feels heavier than this, but that's what the scales at the doctor's office say.
*He's crawling like a mad-man now and is fascinated by the toilet, pantry, and garbage. In other words, he's a boy.
*He's pulling up on furniture and can even take a step while holding onto our hands.
*He knows the word "No," but hardly ever obeys it.
*His favorite food is blueberries.
*He feeds himself some finger foods, like wagon wheels, arrowroot cookies, and cheese puffs. The other foods he smears, drops, or randomly flings all over my kitchen.
*He is destructive -- seriously. He rips apart magazines, throws things, and is constantly "unpacking" anything that is neatly put away. Our living room looks like a war zone.
*His favorite activity is clapping.
*We have finished physical therapy and only need to go once more for a check-up. Yay!
Now, onto my favorite topic: Little Man.
*We went for his nine-month well-baby check-up and he weighs 20 pounds, 1 oz. He feels heavier than this, but that's what the scales at the doctor's office say.
*He's crawling like a mad-man now and is fascinated by the toilet, pantry, and garbage. In other words, he's a boy.
*He's pulling up on furniture and can even take a step while holding onto our hands.
*He knows the word "No," but hardly ever obeys it.
*His favorite food is blueberries.
*He feeds himself some finger foods, like wagon wheels, arrowroot cookies, and cheese puffs. The other foods he smears, drops, or randomly flings all over my kitchen.
*He is destructive -- seriously. He rips apart magazines, throws things, and is constantly "unpacking" anything that is neatly put away. Our living room looks like a war zone.
*His favorite activity is clapping.
*We have finished physical therapy and only need to go once more for a check-up. Yay!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Cr-Cr-Crawling...
Woo hoo! We've had a busy week. Little Man finally mustered the moves to start crawling and he's now systematically dismantling our house! First up: The bookshelf. Next: The entertainment center.
He's doing an army crawl, which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. He's gotten his chunky little legs underneath him in, but hasn't worked up the courage to move those hands and knees on his own.
He's especially interested in the bookshelf and The Smartest Man Alive's Carl Hiaasen books. He's started up pulling up on furniture and it won't be long before he's cruising.
We're headed to Babies R Us today to get some babyproofing supplies. We know that we will get cabinet locks and outlet plugs, but I was wondering if any you had advice on other can't-live-without babyproofing supplies.
What did you need and what was a waste of money?
He's doing an army crawl, which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. He's gotten his chunky little legs underneath him in, but hasn't worked up the courage to move those hands and knees on his own.
He's especially interested in the bookshelf and The Smartest Man Alive's Carl Hiaasen books. He's started up pulling up on furniture and it won't be long before he's cruising.
We're headed to Babies R Us today to get some babyproofing supplies. We know that we will get cabinet locks and outlet plugs, but I was wondering if any you had advice on other can't-live-without babyproofing supplies.
What did you need and what was a waste of money?
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