UNsupervised

This one loves to cause mischief. Primarily, deliberately pouring cups of water on the floor (thank goodness it's wood!), scribbling on walls, tossing toys behind the couch or down into the heater and painting his toenails--yes with nail polish.  Of course this always happens in the blink of an eye, often while I am standing *right next to him*. Other times, it's obvious he is not being properly supervised.  Pure selfishness on my part.

I need to train him better. No, I need to train *me* better, I think.  I'd like to figure out how to get him to slow down and sit still. He's so active....it's tiring. Really tiring.

I love him to pieces and bunches and every time I look at him I am over whelmed with love and joy...but he sure does wear me out & keep me on my toes. There's no letting my guard down w/ this little fella....ever, apparently.

Chocolate ice cream facial hair!

This kid!

IS hilarious! In less than 2 weeks he is going to be 2 YEARS OLD! I can't believe it but it's true!

He is the biggest HAM of all. Today he RAN into the middle of the street (yah, more training is definitely in order!).  I brought him right in, w/ my heart about to beat right out of my chest--in fear, & gave him a good swat on his tushie--he pretended to cry a bit until I told him he could NOT go back outside, then broke into hysterics! (eyeroll) See what I mean?

I knew he needed to go outside though.  He really should be outside running around at least once a day. SO I took him out & chased him and had him chase me and Birdy to make sure he used those large muscle groups and all that toddler energy. As soon as he stopped crying about not going outside, he calmly SAT on the couch very nicely.  Something he rarely does: sit! But it proved to me how much he needed that run around time.

He actually loves to "perform", much more than his siblings ever did at his age. And he's certainly NOT shy. oh no--not this one.  I didn't even have to convince him of this like the others either. ;-)

He's been climbing OUT of his bed every night, numerous times. I don't know what happened to that sleep-trained toddler I used to have. I think it might be time to move him into a big boy bed soon.....and into his siblings room. 

He such a doll baby! I look at him and can't help but be filled with JOY in my heart. I simply CAN'T imagine my life with out him in it. I don't know what we're going to do for his birthday...maybe I should just turn on the music and let him have the stage.

potty training toddlers

Perhaps this is common? I've never run into it before.  This brilliant little toddler of mine, has the power to need to use the restroom, every.5.minutes!  Seriously.  This does not happen at home, of course.

But this happened today, both times we were at church, morning and evening.  Apparently he was bored or had had enough and simply wanted to go for a walk.  So he says he needs to go...even though I took him as soon as we arrived. But who's gonna doubt a toilet training toddler, right?

So I take him again--calling his bluff--and sure enough he goes...just  afew drops, but he goes.  Five minutes later, same thing. Then all the children go outside for their lessons and he's fine.

Tonight at church I think we had to take him at least 4x if not 5!  So I don't know if he rationing his output (lol) so he can go back if he wants, or WHAT!

Officially potty training

Well, I'd had it with diapers!  My washer broke so I could not wash the cloth as I like.  I didn't want to spend $$$ on disposables anymore, plus they were giving him a rash AND he was regressing with the EC.

So I decided to be brave and dive right in to "diaper free".  No turning back!  Good thing we have wood floors.  It took a few days for him to get back into the swing of things as far as EC, recognizing and being aware of his body again.

Then it took a few more days for me to balance my expectations with his level of comprehension about the whole process.  He simply did not want to *stop* and go potty...he wanted to keep playing or doing whatever *he* wanted to do.

Now we are on a pretty good track.  It's just like EC mainly.  I keep at him to go on the potty...often! Accidents usually only happen if he is not being watched properly.  Basically we continue on like EC...take him potty upon waking, before we leave, when we arrive somewhere and then whenever we think about it.

I never believed you truly could potty train one so young.  I do believe cloth diapers help and the EC--of course! But to see his actual comprehension of it--is VERY exciting to me. I feel so much more competent as a mother to realize how much we underestimate our little ones. He's not even 2 yet! Although it is right around the corner. whew!

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

Forget Diapers!

Baby K absolutely, totally, completely, will NOT sit still for diaper changes. I am seriously considering going all in w/ the EC & going diaper free. It's too frustrating to wrestle w/ a near 9 month old just to change a diaper.

I procrastinate changing him cause it's so exasperating. Not sure if it's a discipline/obedience/training issue. He just wants to be moving, pretty much, @ ALL times. He only sits to eat or in his stroller--IF the stroller is moving. lol

Forget trying to dress him either. Unfortunately the weather is still cool. He needs to have some clothes on while crawling the hard wood floors. I give him a toy and it distracts him from the task @ hand for about thirty seconds before he's flipping over and attempting to shimmy down the side of the couch. I am not even exaggerating.



{sigh} I LOVE this child.

O Baby!

You climb, you crawl, you don't sit still!!!!  Seriously.


If I put you down on the floor---you will flip over & crawl away, anywhere.
We just celebrated your first Christmas. I can't imagine it with out you.  You are such a joy, a busy joy but a joy still.  You didn't bother the tree or the ornaments.  You did rip my curtains to shreds--biting them & pulling.  A favorite past time of yours. heehee.


You got a lot of clothes (size 12 mos & up) for Christmas and some toys.  I wanted you to have all natural toys...so which one is your favorite? This hard plastic electronic gizmo! {eyeroll} lol


Next year you will be so excited for Christmas. (not that I'm in a rush)  This year was no big deal to you, really.  I took you with me today for some after Christmas shopping.  Just a few things like some yummy yarn and your first Christmas ornament. It's adorable, I must say.


Why has my blog suddenly switched like I'm writing a letter directly to *you*? I have no idea. haha.

Busy Baby

Rolling over at lightening speed, another tooth before I even know you're teething, your first Halloween, a few days shy of 7 mos.

I want to cry. Why? Because I know the time is flying by faster than I can keep the memories in my head. Even though I long for a full night of sleep, I know I will miss the day you are no longer in my bed. In the middle of a hectic day (which is very often lately) I look at your sweet face, those cheeks that are beginning to fill out and I can't help but swell up inside, to over flowing, with love.

Love beyond description.

You help me stop.

Stop feeling overwhelmed. Stop worrying. Stop rushing. Stop and give you kisses. Stop and tell you what a joy you are to my life. What a blessing you are. I stop and smile at you and you smile back with that beautiful toothy grin with drool dripping down your chin. I repeat what a joy you are to my life. What a joy your sister is and your two brothers.

I know that tomorrow will come quickly. Today is a mere blink. So I stop, I open my eyes and I *love* you. I take a deep breathe. I enjoy you.

There is no rush. You will grow up, for sure. You will sleep through the night. You will have your own bed. Your own room.

And you will no longer cry for me...

Thank you my love.
Thank you for reminding me...of every moment.

I missed him

Last night lil fella slept in his own bed for the first time...only for the first half of the night though.

Then I think he was punishing me for it the rest of the night because although I took him back into bed w/ me, he did not sleep well @ all.  I don't even know why I put him in his bed...guess cause it was in our room staring @ me for the past 6 mos? Or maybe it's cause baby rolls all over the bed & ends up sideways & I am afraid he will get smothered by a blanket? Or maybe it's simply cause *I* feel so squished on the end (ahem *edge*) of the bed.

I must admit I really could not get to sleep w/o him near me, wierd I know. Sometimes he has woken up and I see him simply put his hand on me and go back to sleep.

I have not been ECing any more during the night...which may or may not contribute to him waking up more. I am not sure. I have just been too tired so I just nurse him...but somehow I think he sleeps better (less restlessness)  if I *do* take him potty.

O! and hey! I finally got him to eat avacado today...I simply had to cut it into chunks NOT mash it up. He took quite a few bites that way. Yay.

Hell Week!

You know, that week for football players right before the season officially starts? That's pretty much how it was last week. My poor babe! He screamed & cried & kicked *every* time I would put him down, even if just to change his diaper.

When he woke up one day w/ tons of mucous running out of his nose & no longer fussing, I realized, he must've been having a sinus headache all that time!  Sheesh! Finally I had my babe back! I was worried there for a minute.

He's got 4 teeth now too. How fast huh? He's got his upper two & his lower front two. I can't believe it myself. I was looking forward to getting a few shots w/ just his first front two. Before they were all the way in, the top two were coming through.  He's such a cutie though, I won't mind too much.

He doesn't want to eat baby food! Then it dawned on me, maybe he wants real *feeling* chunky soft food, right? I gave him a small spoon tip worth of rice & beans. O! The look on his face! He did not like the texture of the rice & he stuck his tongue out & spit it out immediately.  I've been letting him gnaw & chew on chewy breads like bagels..but I read that grains aren't really too good for them at this age...so I don't know what to feed him besides continued nursing.

All he will really take is bananas!

First illness...

My poor babe!  He's had quite a fever now for the past few days. Today I noticed a rash too so it could be Roseola. Poor little guy is obviously not feeling good.  He's not really crying just making whiny noises and it's just so sad.

I've been giving him tylenol and it seems to help for awhile.  Otherwise, today, all he wants to do is 'pretend' to nurse.  The good thing is that he is sleeping a bit better.  Of course all I want to do is hold and snuggle him and make it all better...but alas, there are so many things to do plus I'm not feeling too great myself. {sigh}

It's unusal but I've been able to just lay him down in the bed and he will sort of roll over half way and go to sleep. I know the rest is good for him. The nursing is also the best thing too so I've cut back all 'real' foods for now.

3? Are you kidding me?

Baby has 3, count them, 3 teeth! I thought it would take longer. whew! For cutting in so many, he certainly hasn't been very fussy.

Last night though he broke out in a fever and slept very fitfully. I do not know why. The digital ear thermometer we have was of no use either. It wouldn't read his temp as anything over 96 degrees and it kept reading *my* temp as 94!!!

I've been giving him a few foods here an there. He loves bananas but they seem to give him a stomach ache. He refuses to open his mouth for hard boiled egg yolk. I even mixed it with lots of coconut oil and sweet potatoes once. Yesterday he had pomegranate applesauce. High in antioxidants low on baby friendliness. It was a crack up. He'd take it in but then make these sour faces that were so funny.

I steamed and mashed carrots for him. Except for being mush, I thought they tasted delicious. Apparently he does not agree. I am trying to start him off healthy but he seems to not be having any of it. I know breastmilk is the most nutritious thing for him right now anyway so I guess there really is no rush.

I have  a group I meet with every other Thursday night, so even though I don't want to rush him, I want him to have something available to hold him off when I am not here for those few hours.

And even though I am enjoying the bit of 'freedom' (which really isn't an accurate word), I am saddened by how quickly he is growing. I think I normally do a good job of savoring the moments...but this time has flew by.

I guess NOT!

Pomegranite Applesauce going *in*....

...but not so well received!

It's fascinating, really

how much my baby is developing and how. The other day I was speaking to him in a happy tone BUT he was *not* looking at me. He could not see my face but he smiled and got excited. I realized he was processing what I was saying and his brain was recognizing it as a positive tone with out him even needing to see my face! I find that pretty amazing.

I never realized before how their brain processing is also developing auditorily. You would think that by child #4, nothing would be 'new' or exciting any more right? but NO! I'm seeing even more fine details that I never noticed before. We are such fascinating creatures. The way we learn, develop and take in the world around us. each aspect more fascinating than the previous.

Baby K is practically sitting up now. He can for a few seconds before slightly leaning over and then falling over. O! We visited a friend the other day who's youngest is 1 year old and also loves to scream. So guess who has picked up this *adorable* ear piercing habit? yikes! Another fascinating part of development--imitation? I guess he's a fast learner. :-)

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, oh Mother,

come shake out your cloth,

empty the dustpan,

poison the moth,

hang out the washing

and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house

is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery,

blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little

Boy Blue (lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done

and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing

will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up,

as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.

Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep'

~Ruth Hulburt Hamilton~