training

K is 19 mos old and it's always bitter sweet to watch them grow.  One thing that I think I am doing differently with him than I did with the others is really including him in our daily chores.  He can follow simple commands now and one day I realized he understood what the trash was.....I was waiting for a fresh cloth diaper order to arrive and was using disposables for the mean time. (ugh! gross!!!) After I changed his diaper, before I could get to it, he picked up the used diaper & proceeded to take it to the trash with out me ever saying anything.

We were all so surprised.  From that moment on I knew I did not want to miss that training opportunity.  Whenever we are cleaning, I make sure he is included.  I have the other children be sure to give him *trash* to throw away.  We've even upped the ante by teaching him the difference between the *trash* & the *recycle bin*.  (most of our paper trash can actually go into the recycle bin)  Of course every completed task is followed by comments of what a great helper & smart boy he is.

You would think, this being my 4th, this would not surprise me, right?  I think I was in a foggy haze with #2 &3. LOL I am definitely stepping up the chore training with this one.  I missed the boat on some things w/ the others but I have learned my lesson.  It's all done cheerfully too. 

16 months!

And K has already traveled the country.  He was so good.  As long as I made sure to give him ample opportunity to stretch his legs, he was great.

He LOVES and I mean LOVES to be outside.  If he doesn't get to go outside, he gets fussy. He will be in the house playing but it's obvious he is bored and will begin to get fussy for no apparent reason.  Then I let him outside and he is so calm.  

Sometimes now he even points to his stroller and makes it obvious he wants us to put him in it.

last week I began to actually take a walk with him around the block. I have to walk really slow and he wants to walk up to every neighbors porch...for some reason.  I am trying to train him to stay on the sidewalk at least.  he aslo wants to walk on the short brick fences...which is interesting because I LOVE walking on curbs.  He seems too young to have notices so I wonder if it is just a natural affinity he has for it or what. LOL

Sometimes he will see something on the ground that interests him will bend down to grab it and then plunk himself right down on the sidewalk to examine it.  I have introduced him to the joy and sensation of crunching leaves while you walk.  He really likes that.

I got him the most darling rocking horse (in mint condition) last month from the thrift store. He loves it except he's such a daredevil.  I have to constantly make sure he doesn't stand up on it.  He tempts fate by rocking on it with his feet up near the handles. 

He is growing up so incredibly fast...well no maybe not, it's the normal rate...one day at a time. ;-)  He has a mouthful of teeth though.  None of the other children had that many teeth at that age. It's such a joy watching him discover new things. That's why I can tolerate taking 33 minutes to walk around our .2 mi block! Seriously. That was after I carried him 3/4 of the way home because he would not hold my hand and stay off neighbors lawns. haha! 8-D

15 months old!

Well, I was *forced* to cut his curls last week. FORCED, I tell ya! Boohoo, wahwahwah!

DH felt it was time....he looks SO different now. Very round faced. haha.

A recent EC development....last week or so he began to *initiate* and tell me when he had to *go*.  I didn't even believe him at first but it was true. I was so amazed and so excited.  Things have slowed down a bit now, on that end.  I think it's simply because he does not want to stop exploring and running and getting into mischief.

I found the cutest white rocking horse at the thrift store the other day.  He really likes it except he keeps trying STAND on it. Yes, he's one of *those* children. sigh.  If he can't stand on it, because I am on him like a hawk!, he sits on it with his feet all the way up on the handles. No really, he really does this.

Last week he was getting into so much mischief, doing things he hadn't done in months because he KNOWS he is not supposed too...like messing w/ the dog's food.

I trained him not to touch the dog's food bowl or to eat the dog's food. (gross, I know!) Well, last week he kept going into the kitchen and turning the entire bowl over, spilling the dogs water all over the floor. sigh. again.  He really keeps me on my toes. I can't turn my back for even a moment. It's tiring but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Every time I turn around he's got a marker in his mouth and is writing all over himself.  I don't know whether to be upset w/ my olders for leaving markers out or myself for him getting them so quickly.  I can't rest w/ him at all. It's a good thing is is so stinking CUTE! ;-)

I don't even believe in the terrible twos but if I did...I'd say he's started them, @ 15 mos.

O this lil' fella!

He has been waking up EARLY!!! Like 6:30am-I'm-not-exaggerating-early!  I really think it's another new tooth, but you just never really know.  He's been running a bit of a fever today & whiny.  He's not usually whiny.

Last two nights when I put him to bed, he woke up about an hour later. Frustrating for sure. Last night he did not even want to go to bed...he cried A LOT which is totally unusual behavior for him.

He's been chewing on his fingers and this morning he didn't want to eat a thing! Nothing! He cried when I put him in his seat. Poor guy.  He wont let me look into his mouth but I think I saw the pointer teeth buds on one gum. My poor guy. :(

20lbs!

K had a check up today.  He weighed 20lb 14 oz actually but they kept his diaper on this time, so I say 20lbs. lol  It took forever for some reason.  We waited a very long time, which is unusual.  And then we had to go to the lab to take a mandatory blood test to check for lead.


He only received 3 shots. Yes, I know about vaccinations and the risks.  I did discuss it w/ his pediatrician--whom I really adore.  He was understanding.  I do get my chillers vaccinated but later than recommended and I am comfortable with that.  He was 'behind'---as planned & would have received 8 vaccinations today.  I asked the doc if we could cut that & he immediately agreed.  He recommended he only get the 'new' shots he hadn't received yet & wait on the 'boosters'.  That would bring today's total to only 3 shots.  I was comfortable with that.


I was uncomfortable having him get the chicken pox vaccine....& discussed it w/ him but he made me feel more comfortable about it so I agreed.  Perhaps I should have been stronger about declining....{sigh}  It's hard making these decisions, as a parent.


Poor little guy---it's sad when they get shots & they are crying so hard.  I wish they would just let you hold the babies and nurse them while they get the shots...or at least home them in your lap so they can easily nurse right after.  Later, after waiting forever in the lab....they needed to draw blood and I think he was actually *scared*.  When the tech put that rubber strip on his arm he immediately started crying so hard and he was all red and *shaking*.  I felt so bad because that made me think he was scared.  He calmed down during the process--she needed 2 vials but when she replaced the 2nd vial he began crying again.  It probably didn't help that she stuck the needle in and nothing came out & she had to keep moving it around--I can only imagine how that must've felt. arg.


He doesn't appear to be permanently scarred or anything now though. ;-)


He got his first flu bug last week. He was asleep then suddenly began vomiting in his bed.  I think he would have went right back to sleep, had i not got him up.  We showered him off and then put him in my bed to nurse...after rolling back and forth a few times (like always) he vomited again.  Then he went right back to sleep.  He was fine the next day as if nothing ever happen.  It went through everyone else in the family but he seemed the least affected.


Thank goodness for strong baby immunities. ;-)

CIO isn't SO bad...right?

That means 'Cry (or crying) It Out'. I am normally so *not* a CIO parent.  I'm usually more of an AP (that means Attachment Parenting) style of parent. Baby K is getting harder & harder to get to sleep....he nurses, pulls off, nurses, pulls off, rolls around, flips over, fusses....until eventually he falls asleep, with me by his side.  It's obvious he's tired but he doesn't seem to be able to fall asleep.

SO tonight, I put him in his bed and decided to let him CIO for a little while.  I did feel a little bad but @ the same time I felt he was old enough now, at 1 yo to be ok--or @ least not *permanently* damaged from it, right?  It was only 10 minutes before he was out.

I tried it a little the other night but daddy came in soon to 'rescue' him.  Daddy is not here tonight.  I think I will go lay down and read now.  I wonder what tomorrow night will bring?

ONE!!!

Today is K's FIRST birthday! I can't believe it.  I know all mothers say how quickly the time flies--but it doesn't even *feel* like it's been a YEAR already.  Maybe it will at his party on Saturday.  The theme is frog prince with blue and green colors.  I am excited for the decorations I am making.

We went to Rain Forest Cafe to celebrate.  He was a bit scared of the big gorilla they have and the rain storm sounds and effects in the restaurant. Afterward we went to Build-A-Bear and let him choose a bear.  He was so sweet, cuddling it.  I didn't think he would even care but he seemed too.

He has 4 molars growing in that I can see.  He won't really let me look too much but I saw them.  Still 4 across the top and the saem 3 across the bottom.  Last month (or so) he fell and busted and bruised the inside of his lip a bit and I *think* it made one of his bottom teeth crooked. I'm not exactly sure but it is crooked now and I had not noticed it being crooked before. {sigh}  Good thing it's just a baby tooth.

what a sweetie!

Baby K has a new sweet little habit.

He knows how to make kissing sounds.  He sucks his lips in on the sides, like a fish face and produces that kiss sound.  Well, the other day, daddy was walkin gby & gave me a kiss on the back of my neck as he passed.  I wouldn't have really noticed that it made the 'smacking' sound kisses make when he did it except from teh floor i hear K making the sound.

Then another time when daddy was leaving he kissed me goodbye and again Baby K noticed and imitated, again making his own kissing noises.

How cute is that?

I am so touched that love and affection are what he sees and imitates. Makes me want to fill my home even more with acts of love like kisses!!!

Oh! and he has a new tooth too! He won't really let me check his mouth anymore but I finally saw it.  It's a molar too, up top.  The one right past the eye tooth space.  I guess they get the fangs after the molar?

I can't believe he is really 11 month old!

How he's grown!

K had a check up today. He's almost 10 mos old.

He weighed in @ 18 lbs 14 oz. 29.25 inches long.

Our pediatrician is wonderful. He did most of K's exam with K sitting on daddy's lap. He's so gentle. K wasn't scared or anything. Hesitant, sure but not scared. It probably helped that he was able to stay in the security of daddy's lap for most of the visit.

K only needed to receive 3 shots. I am purposely having him receive them later than recommended. This has eliminated @ least 2 shots so far because he's been too old for them.

He's finally figured out how to get down from a standing position while holding on to furniture. He's also started to cruise, just a wee bit, along the couch. Sleep is still elusive, sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't. It looks like his daytime naps are becoming less and less but for longer time periods. He can wave byebye a little bit and says momma much more clearly now. It's adorable.

I don't mind the loss of slumber too much....it's hard but I continue to remind myself what a short season this will be. I know I will long for these short cuddly days. ;-)

#7!

Finally another tooth has broken through.  So many sleepless nights.  He was working on this one for about  a month now.  Last night was finally a more restful night of sleep, hope tonight is even better.

Daddy wanted to get him a 'walker' to use, so we found one @ the thrift store.  We left for use @ Nana's house.  He absolutely loved it!!!  He figured out how to roll around the house pretty quickly.

We also founda practically brand new pack-n-play too.  It was half the price of the cheapest brand new one with all the features.  The crib simply takes up way too much space for the amount of use it's hardly getting.  I think a pack-n-play will serve our purposes better, besides saving space that the crib takes up.

Delicious Child o' Mine

Tonight Baby K rubbed his chicken into his hair. I do not know why? Now he smells absolutely yummy though. ;-)  I tried introducing him to using a cup, he likes to drink  water from my cup, when I have some.  He refused to hold it himself.  He just wanted me to hold it up for him.  Silly baby.

A small update on the diaper changing challenge....he is a lovely still baby now.  All it took was 1--ok maybe 2--'training changes'.  You know, training! Now He stays still and it's no longer a problem or issue. I don't know why I didn't realize it was a 'training' issue.  You'd think I'd never had a child before. sheesh! lol