Last year my son was so little that we didn’t get to fully enjoy Christmas. Well- that sounds wrong! But a baby can hardly understand the day let alone have fun with it. We’re going to have a LOT more fun now that he’s older.
His favorite TV show (I know, I know TV is evil 
is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney. We got him the Mickey Mouse Surprise Club House from Amazon already, as well as Elmo Live.
We’re debating the idea of getting him a Kidizoom Digital Camera for when he’s a little bit older. He certainly doesn’t have any issues stealing OUR camera 
The joy of the season certainly isn’t about Christmas toys, but it sure is a lot of fun getting my little guy things I know he’ll love! Ho, Ho, Ho
I’m just amazed all the time about how much my little guy is growing up. He is really turning into an awesome little guy. He’s also getting really good at sharing.
For example, if he’s eating cheerios he and my husband can say, “can we have some cheerios please?” and he’ll feed us.
I know that sounds sort of silly, but it’s just crazy that a year ago this person was so small and helpless, and now he understands sharing and being nice to people. He seems to get such joy out of doing things “right”.
Since I was a teacher before I started to work at home I know a lot about positive reinforcement. While we’re no strangers to saying, “no, don’t touch that!” we focus a lot more on what he does right than what he does wrong.
When he shares, says “dada”, walks long distances, etc. we clap for him and cheer him on. Even though he can’t understand a lot of the things we say, he understands that we’re happy with what he’s doing, which leads him to doing these things more. Plus, it gives us a greate feeling to see his huge smile as we’re cheering him on. Positive reinforcement rocks!
One thing we do need to make sure of is that he learns to interact with other children. Since this is our only child (so far!) and I stay home with him I’m really starting to feel like he is missing something by not being around other kids very much. The problem is that I don’t know of any playgroups or Mommy and Me groups around our area. There are some about an hour away so I’ll have to look into those. Hopefully he’ll be as good at sharing with other kids as he is with us
I wrote a couple of months ago about how excited I was that my baby took a “sort of” step. Well, now he can walk very well! Okay, he’s sort of wobbly, but that’s why they call them toddlers after all. We actually caught his true first steps on video, which was wonderful because now we can cherish it forever.
It’s amazing looking back on this past year. Actually, it’s been just about a year since I’ve started this blog! There have been so many changes with my little guy and I can’t wait to see what he has in store next. Let’s see, I’m going to list some of the amazing things he’s doing since I haven’t updated in a while.
- He likes to share the crumbs he drops with me and his dad
- He said “dada” first, and says it when my husband comes in the door
- He has not said mama :( (lol)
- He likes to hold up his toothbrush to our mouths to pretend to brush our teeth
- He thinks EVERYTHING is funny
- He does not like to go to bed
- He is in the 95th percentile for weight and 92nd for height
- He has 6 teeth, and a gap in between like I used to before braces
I’m sure there is plenty more, and I promise to update more often! I’ve had some great, loyal readers over this year and I have learned so much. Hopefully I’ll be able to start posting helpful things as well since I’m a research nut. I’m determined to learn everything I can about toddlers…because they already seem harder (but more fun) than babies!
So, I was downstairs yesterday and my husband had the baby. I was sitting in an armchair and hubby had the baby’s arms as he was kneeling. The little one had hold of my husband’s knees, then he let go and WALKED over to me. It was literally one step, but he did it so perfectly and effortlessly!
It was almost so tiny that I’m not sure whether we count it or not. I really, really think that if the little guy would stop wiggling and bouncing so much he could be running circles around me :) I was literally in shock and so proud of him.
I think we’ll count it as a novelty, and await the real thing when he really starts to take off!
Hi all, it’s been a few months since I’ve posted, for shame! There have been so many changes here lately, it’s almost unbelievable!
Let’s see…he was in his 9th month before he got his first tooth. He seems to be a slow tooth grower :) He now has 5 teeth, but they are all half in and half out. Of course, that’s made for some very interesting breastfeeding sessions, oi!
The problem is that I’ll try and say a strict, “no!” But he thinks the word no is funny! I have no idea what to do with a 10 month old who thinks no is hilarious. Oh well, he seems to have stopped biting for now. One time I think he really got it that it hurt me.
He is also VERY mobile now. He can whip around here and there without a care in the world. When he stops bouncing so much he can even stand very well. I definitely think he’ll be walking before he’s a year old.
One thing that kind of bothers me is how everyone always comments on how “big” he is. While he certainly is bigger than normal for his size, he’s certainly not fat. It’s just always been his way. It’s like…yeah, I get it, he’s big for his age… 
But boy is he cute! His hair is growing so fast…not quite time to get it cut yet (I’m afraid he’d be whipping all over making for a very tough time for the barber!) But it’s long. He still has my eyes, and his daddy’s hair
He’s also becoming an expert at feeding himself. I don’t mean with a spoon…I wouldn’t quite trust him to handle a spoon yet ;) But my husband will make pancakes and we’ll tear some for him. He’ll pinch the pieces and eat them! He LOVES the Gerber stars and yogurt rounds.
We’re having a few sleeping issues…probably my fault. Well, since he’s teething (Seems like it’s constant) and I stay up late to work, there comes a point where I just bring him into our bed. And since my husband leaves for work so early I kind of like the baby in there for company. Plus, I can nurse him at night if necessary.
That brings me to another point…I’ve always planned on nursing him for at least a year…but he doesn’t seem anywhere close to weaning! I think once he can “name it”…that’s where I draw the line ;) No words yet…
I’ll definitely start posting more, what a year it’s been!
The baby crawled forward today for the very first time :) He had himself going backwards and sideways, but he’s finally got it down pat! This is an amazing age and I can’t believe how much has changed in such a short amount of time. He seems like such a little boy now instead of a baby.
When they say that time flies by they really do mean it…
That’s really why I keep this blog. In addition to all of my great readers, this will be something for me to look back on in the years to come and I will remember what’s happened every step of the way
It is so amazing that this little guy is growing up so fast. It seems like it was just the other day that I set this blog up to chronicle my journey as a first time mom
Well, now the little one is able to fully sit up on his own. We had a wobbly time for a bit there, and actually this all started at around 4 months. He finally developed the muscles that are required to sit up and he’s having a good old time! He has always seemed to want to do what the “big people” were doing and tries his best to imitate.
Now that he can sit up we’ve also seen less spitting up. It’ll come occasionally, but far less frequently. Another problem is that he is so active that he doesn’t realize something like kicking his feet will make him fall down. He also has a habit of trying to dart out of people’s arms.
Handing him to someone makes me hold my breath every time. Those who aren’t used to holding him think, “OK, he can sit up on his own so I don’t have to hold onto him.” They just set him in their lap without their hands. I then try and hint that he likes to squirm and has often almost gotten away from us.
It might just be me being overprotective, but it also means people have to use common sense He does look a LOT older than he is so that also factors in to the way people perceive his abilities and the ones he actually has.
He is also doing a great job of almost crawling It helps to have some motivation there in front of him that he’ll scoot to get to
Well, we made it! I vowed that I would breastfeed exclusively until my baby was 6 months old. They’ve done studies that show starting earlier than that can cause obesity! And here we are. Of course, I bought boring old rice cereal, but I got fun things like banana, applesauce and green beans too.
So, I heard that you are supposed to start with rice cereal because it’s so bland. But, then I read something Dr. Sears wrote (I know, I’m a fanatic!) that said to start with banana if you breastfeed because of the sweetness.
I want to preface this by saying that my son wants to eat everything. I’m sure it’s the same with a lot of babies…if it is an object it’s going in the mouth. Not to mention that he wants to nurse all the time
I thought he’d flip out (in a good way!) when he finally got to eat real food. So, I started feeding him the banana. The look on his face was priceless! He wasn’t having it at all…
I tried and tried but he would just close his mouth and turn away. We did this every night for ALMOST as week. (I’ve read that you should only do one new food a week to check up on allergies.) He would only open his mouth once and then it was over, LOL.
On the fifth night I decided that we would switch to applesauce since he didn’t seem to have a problem with the banana. He still made a terrible face. On the third night he opened his mouth a few times, scowling all the while.
After dinner I took him downstairs so I could finish some ghostwriting and he bobbed his little head and grabbed at my shirt as if to say, “give me the real stuff Mom!”
I suppose he will have to get used to the fact that food comes in more than one form. Frankly, I will too. I love nursing him. I’m going to do it for at least a year if not longer
Did your kids take to solid food right away?
Hey guys, I stumbled on this free site where you can get free birth announcements made and more. I wish I had seen this earlier Check it out, it’s definitely worth it!
Yay! I’m so glad that I found something to recommend. I might even enter my baby in the cute baby contest. I love free stuff and I know other frugal moms out there do as well. Enjoy!
I’m off to check it out some more
When I was pregnant I will admit that whenever I read about someone sharing a family bed I turned my nose up and said “how awful! How could you do that with the risk of SIDS!!!” I had read pamphlet after pamphlet about the dangers of co-sleeping. I never considered that I would do it.
As the baby gets older his sleeping pattern is getting worse. His daddy and I think it’s because he’s teething. Anyway, after his dad would go to work I would guiltily sneak the baby into bed with me in order to get some sleep. I threw the comforter and extra pillows off of the bed and put my hand on the baby’s belly as we slept in peace…finally!
I broke down crying one day and admitted to my husband that I had been doing this. He said he wasn’t so sure it was a good idea since he ‘d read about the dangers as well. Me being the researcher that I am set out to learn more about the actual risks.
You see, I’d really come to love and look forward to sharing a bed with the baby because it’s such a sweet and intimate time.
As many of you know, I am a Dr. Sears advocate. He recommends Co-Sleeping! I breathed a sigh of relief that I’m not a bad mother after all. In fact, if you look at the number of babies who die from SIDS in their cribs and the number from co-sleeping, the crib number is higher even when you weight the numbers
Here is a link to what Dr. Sears has to say about it: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T071000.asp#T071006
Of course, I learned that there is a right and a wrong way. After doing my research I made further changes in order to make it safer. Now, the baby starts out in his crib (hates it!) or Amby Baby Hammock (adores it and thinks it’s fun to bounce himself…which is good and bad, lol). When he just won’t go to sleep I bring him into the bed.
This arrangement is working well for us, and I no longer turn my nose up at the thought of it. I do realize that some babie have passed away with this arrangement, and that is in the back of my mind. However, Dr. Sear’s studies and the statistics put my mind to rest. After all, this is the norm in countries where SIDS is unheard of!
