Saturday, March 26, 2011
Squeaky toy
My son has started trying to communicate and he sounds like a squeaky toy. I have no idea where he learned this or what it is supposed to mean. I had just gotten used to the goo's and gah's now I have to try and learn what all the squeals, shrieks, squeaks, and screams mean. This is so much fun! I am surprised at how quickly he's learning and growing. He can support his head for longer periods of time, and he rolled over for the first time last week. I haven't witnessed this yet, but my husband has. I am excited for my son and all the things he's learning now. I will hold him sitting in my lap and talk to him and ask him questions. he responds with giant smiles and squeals that only dogs can hear! I just recently bought a jogging stroller and cannot wait to take him running with me. I wonder if he will sleep or squeal at all the new things he sees. I wish the wind would die down so we could go.....
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Bloggity Blog Blog: New Stuff
I wanted to let you all know that we have a new page: The Wish List. I started it when I realized there were things I wish I'd had, and I figured some soon-to-be's or current mommies might like my take. Please feel free to leave comments regarding your experiences or fantasized experiences with any products I mention or ones I didn't!
I would also like to start a page dedicated to mommy care. Too often mom's focus doesn't rest on herself during the day, and she forgets that there are things she should do for herself. If you have any input please leave me some comments!
I would also like to start a page dedicated to mommy care. Too often mom's focus doesn't rest on herself during the day, and she forgets that there are things she should do for herself. If you have any input please leave me some comments!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Steppin' Out
As I remarked at the end of my last post, I can't seem to get over how quickly MLO has gone from a starfish to a person. Everyday brings new surprises and drives home the reality that he is leaving babyhood and entering his life as a toddler. The most obvious example of this came today. For the first time he walked with controlled steps, stopped when he felt himself losing control, squatted to give himself a break, then stood back up again (unaided) and walked a few steps more until he reached what I suppose was his intended target. He hasn't abandoned the wild feet-flinging gait, but seems to grasp that there is a less risky way to get from one place to another on two feet. He still doesn't use walking as his main mode of transportation, but he seems to prefer it now over crawling. It looks to me that he knows walking is slower for him, but that he is determined to become proficient.
In addition to his development of our species's most trademark motor skill, he has discovered how to groove. I realize that parrots with a particular love of a certain song will dance when it's played, but to see my son rocking out to Beck or MGMT was down right kick ass. I keep Pandora on fairly often during the day so MLO gets exposure to everything from Ray Charles to The Clash. He hasn't expressed a dislike of anything as far as I can tell, but certain songs get him bobbing and swaying like crazy. It absolutely kills me.
Speaking of things that blow me away, there have been a couple of instances in which I prompted MLO to show me the ________. Colors, food items and animals of interest make up the items that fill in the blank. His initial attempt is always right, though if I prompt him later he rarely identifies it correctly. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when he flipped through his book and showed me the banana on command, or correctly identified three different colors in a row when prompted.
Yeah, that little sucker's just full of surprises.
In addition to his development of our species's most trademark motor skill, he has discovered how to groove. I realize that parrots with a particular love of a certain song will dance when it's played, but to see my son rocking out to Beck or MGMT was down right kick ass. I keep Pandora on fairly often during the day so MLO gets exposure to everything from Ray Charles to The Clash. He hasn't expressed a dislike of anything as far as I can tell, but certain songs get him bobbing and swaying like crazy. It absolutely kills me.
Speaking of things that blow me away, there have been a couple of instances in which I prompted MLO to show me the ________. Colors, food items and animals of interest make up the items that fill in the blank. His initial attempt is always right, though if I prompt him later he rarely identifies it correctly. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when he flipped through his book and showed me the banana on command, or correctly identified three different colors in a row when prompted.
Yeah, that little sucker's just full of surprises.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Catching Up
I have taken far too long to check in with you guys so I apologize.
MLO has begun to explore speech. At 11 or so months old he started to refer specifically to Mama and Dada and he knew certain words like Numma (food), Dog, and his name. It seemed that in the weeks following his first birthday he has really grasped the concept of spoken language. He points at things and says Adada and Dana emphatically. He has started pointing at things he wants and then pointing at himself. He is exploring all sorts of sounds, some of them derived from the alphabet, and some of them clicks, slurps and raspberry sounds. He enjoys participating in adult conversation, making eye contact and noise while grown-ups are speaking to each other.
He has also begun the transition to walking. He has worked himself up to four feet of travel on his two feet, sometimes ending in a thump to the ground and less often ending in a deliberate stop and sit. He uses all manner of props to help him stand, though every day he gets better at moving from a squatting to standing position sans help. Watching him try to walk is incredibly amusing. He giggles with a huge grin on his face while teetering along. His steps are a repetition of barely controlled mayhem: his nerves firing and muscles moving in ways he hasn't experienced before. I can see when he has decided to walk from point 'A' to point 'B', as a look of determination and excitement comes across his face and he pauses to take stalk of the situation. Then he launches himself with a squeal and giggles until he either falls or reaches his destination. Seriously, watching the little monkey try to walk is great entertainment.
He does well with solid foods. There are a couple of things he still prefers in a puree and the evening remains the worst time to introduce anything new. We have cut down on nursing to only once a day, so he gets whole cows milk to drink and to moisten his oat meal. He essentially feeds himself lunch. I made some whole wheat low sugar muffins for him that I crumble and he enjoys that with some shredded apple, cheerios and cheese sticks. That has opened up much welcomed time for me to get some work done in the kitchen.
The thing that strikes me the most lately is how incredibly different things are now compared to a year ago. So short a time has passed for so much growth and development to occur.
MLO has begun to explore speech. At 11 or so months old he started to refer specifically to Mama and Dada and he knew certain words like Numma (food), Dog, and his name. It seemed that in the weeks following his first birthday he has really grasped the concept of spoken language. He points at things and says Adada and Dana emphatically. He has started pointing at things he wants and then pointing at himself. He is exploring all sorts of sounds, some of them derived from the alphabet, and some of them clicks, slurps and raspberry sounds. He enjoys participating in adult conversation, making eye contact and noise while grown-ups are speaking to each other.
He has also begun the transition to walking. He has worked himself up to four feet of travel on his two feet, sometimes ending in a thump to the ground and less often ending in a deliberate stop and sit. He uses all manner of props to help him stand, though every day he gets better at moving from a squatting to standing position sans help. Watching him try to walk is incredibly amusing. He giggles with a huge grin on his face while teetering along. His steps are a repetition of barely controlled mayhem: his nerves firing and muscles moving in ways he hasn't experienced before. I can see when he has decided to walk from point 'A' to point 'B', as a look of determination and excitement comes across his face and he pauses to take stalk of the situation. Then he launches himself with a squeal and giggles until he either falls or reaches his destination. Seriously, watching the little monkey try to walk is great entertainment.
He does well with solid foods. There are a couple of things he still prefers in a puree and the evening remains the worst time to introduce anything new. We have cut down on nursing to only once a day, so he gets whole cows milk to drink and to moisten his oat meal. He essentially feeds himself lunch. I made some whole wheat low sugar muffins for him that I crumble and he enjoys that with some shredded apple, cheerios and cheese sticks. That has opened up much welcomed time for me to get some work done in the kitchen.
The thing that strikes me the most lately is how incredibly different things are now compared to a year ago. So short a time has passed for so much growth and development to occur.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Last Twelve Months
MLO-
At 8:55 this morning I sang Happy Birthday to you for the first time. A year ago I delivered you into this world, tiny and lively. I listened to your distinctive cries and I held you to me and felt your still warmth after you fell asleep. Today we went to the doctor. You held my hands and walked around the exam room. You played peek-a-boo with your physician and flirted with the nurse. I can hardly believe how far we've come in so short a time.
The last twelve months hold for me the most challenging, rewarding, beautiful, disgusting, hilarious, frustrating and joyful moments of my life. Without question, this has been the most exciting year your dad and I have on record. When you made me a mother, you made me a better person. I didn't realize that something was missing before, but now that you're here, I see that the world is a better place for it. Thank you. Thank you for your infectious smile. Thank you for being cute, even when throwing a fit. Thank you for smiling at strangers and helping them to smile, too. Thank you for teaching me what it feels like to love unconditionally. Thank you for teaching us patience. Thank you for coming to us and making us a family. Thank you for bringing to me a joy beyond description or measure. Thank you for helping me find my strength. Thank you for being you.
I love you, MLO, more than I ever knew a person could love. Happy birthday, little boy; thanks for the best year yet.
-Mom
At 8:55 this morning I sang Happy Birthday to you for the first time. A year ago I delivered you into this world, tiny and lively. I listened to your distinctive cries and I held you to me and felt your still warmth after you fell asleep. Today we went to the doctor. You held my hands and walked around the exam room. You played peek-a-boo with your physician and flirted with the nurse. I can hardly believe how far we've come in so short a time.
The last twelve months hold for me the most challenging, rewarding, beautiful, disgusting, hilarious, frustrating and joyful moments of my life. Without question, this has been the most exciting year your dad and I have on record. When you made me a mother, you made me a better person. I didn't realize that something was missing before, but now that you're here, I see that the world is a better place for it. Thank you. Thank you for your infectious smile. Thank you for being cute, even when throwing a fit. Thank you for smiling at strangers and helping them to smile, too. Thank you for teaching me what it feels like to love unconditionally. Thank you for teaching us patience. Thank you for coming to us and making us a family. Thank you for bringing to me a joy beyond description or measure. Thank you for helping me find my strength. Thank you for being you.
I love you, MLO, more than I ever knew a person could love. Happy birthday, little boy; thanks for the best year yet.
-Mom
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