I swear, in the last two days, Benjamin has lost what remaining babyness he had in him This morning DH was holding him and I just couldn't believe how big he looked. His face is a different shape. He just looks like a little boy. I know I have said this before, but over the past two days it just has really come to a head.
He has his own language now. He is constantly talking, weather or not we can understand him. We understand more everyday. He tries to say everything we ask him to, and gotta say his "I love you" is too adorable.
He is currently obsessed with his stroller. Every time he sees it he wants to go out for a ride.
His sleep has been very good the last three nights (and his naps as well). I hope it keeps up.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Cool Summer
I guess, since its June, that probably makes it summer. I just admitted this recently and asked on facebook for some summer cocktail recipes.
It was easy to "pretend" it wasn't summer, because it has been a very cool year. To me, a nice relief from last years hot temperatures. As of recently (I forget which day exactly), Duluth had had 9 days over 70 degrees in 2013. On the same day in 2012, there had been 23 days over 70 already. Today was the first day that touched 80 in some places in the area. April this year was the snowiest month in recorded Duluth history... not the snowiest April, the SNOWIEST MONTH.
But. It is summer now. It was 80 degrees today. Benjamin and I walked down to the playground three blocks from our house. It was PACKED with kids, and low and behold, Benjamin's best friend from daycare was there. Apparently they live very close to us, a fact that had escaped us over the long winter (or last summer when both boys were too young to be out and about). They were fun to watch, and seeing all the things the other boy could do, who is about a month older than Benjamin, made me let him try to do more, and Benjamin could!! He can climb the steps on his own, go down the slides on his own, get off the slide on his own. He is growing and changing so fast it is incredible to watch and we are having the time of our life. Funny, last weekend a woman told us that the age we are at right now with Benjamin is "the time that is the most fun". I do not know if it is true, but it is pretty damn fun.
It was easy to "pretend" it wasn't summer, because it has been a very cool year. To me, a nice relief from last years hot temperatures. As of recently (I forget which day exactly), Duluth had had 9 days over 70 degrees in 2013. On the same day in 2012, there had been 23 days over 70 already. Today was the first day that touched 80 in some places in the area. April this year was the snowiest month in recorded Duluth history... not the snowiest April, the SNOWIEST MONTH.
But. It is summer now. It was 80 degrees today. Benjamin and I walked down to the playground three blocks from our house. It was PACKED with kids, and low and behold, Benjamin's best friend from daycare was there. Apparently they live very close to us, a fact that had escaped us over the long winter (or last summer when both boys were too young to be out and about). They were fun to watch, and seeing all the things the other boy could do, who is about a month older than Benjamin, made me let him try to do more, and Benjamin could!! He can climb the steps on his own, go down the slides on his own, get off the slide on his own. He is growing and changing so fast it is incredible to watch and we are having the time of our life. Funny, last weekend a woman told us that the age we are at right now with Benjamin is "the time that is the most fun". I do not know if it is true, but it is pretty damn fun.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
17 Months Old
Yesterday Benjamin turned 17 months old!
I did not get any pictures taken yesterday, because he came down with a fever, had to be picked up from daycare, and spent the day sleeping on my dad's lap and watching the tractor channel.
He is changing so fast!
First thing's first. he has now been in the Toddler room for two weeks, and is doing well. He is adjusting nap wise and now is taking 2 hr naps. He loves to be in their and play with all the new toys and do all the bigger kid/more involved activities, and he loves that he can go out in the play yard. The teachers are very impressed with his adjustment and how smooth it went.
He continues to develop his language and tries to say new things all the time. He is working hard to make "Tractor" not sound like Dada. He babbles a ton.. I think in his head he is talking but to us it doesn't make much sense.
Climbing is now old hat. He can get up on the couch and down without thinking about it. He is experimenting with methods for sliding down the stairs. He fell once at my parent's house because he tried to stand on the back of his little chair.
He still loves books. His obvious favorite is "things that go" with pictures of boats, cars, planes, trains, and all sorts of other things. He also likes the "I SPY" books at my parents house. He also likes "The Red Caboose" and a book from the library we got that is called "Truck Duck".
He is a bit obsessed with the computer. He now knows that it plays ELMO videos, and he loves those. But we still limit time a lot. He also likes to watch trains and ships videos, or google picture any number of things.
When I read last months update, I think "wow, that was all only a month ago? He is SO much bigger now!"
In the less ideal department, he has started throwing food when he is done eating at meals, and has become a fussier eater. He wants what is on my plate, even if its the same as his.
He points and points and points and then when you offer him something he says no and gets upset. We also have had some rough bedtimes and night times lately. In general, he has become more demanding, which is part of toddlerhood.
He now has a bike (like a big wheel), his own hockey stick and pucks, and lots of balls to play with outside. He likes to take walks around the neighborhood.
Time flies when you are having fun :)
I did not get any pictures taken yesterday, because he came down with a fever, had to be picked up from daycare, and spent the day sleeping on my dad's lap and watching the tractor channel.
He is changing so fast!
First thing's first. he has now been in the Toddler room for two weeks, and is doing well. He is adjusting nap wise and now is taking 2 hr naps. He loves to be in their and play with all the new toys and do all the bigger kid/more involved activities, and he loves that he can go out in the play yard. The teachers are very impressed with his adjustment and how smooth it went.
He continues to develop his language and tries to say new things all the time. He is working hard to make "Tractor" not sound like Dada. He babbles a ton.. I think in his head he is talking but to us it doesn't make much sense.
Climbing is now old hat. He can get up on the couch and down without thinking about it. He is experimenting with methods for sliding down the stairs. He fell once at my parent's house because he tried to stand on the back of his little chair.
He still loves books. His obvious favorite is "things that go" with pictures of boats, cars, planes, trains, and all sorts of other things. He also likes the "I SPY" books at my parents house. He also likes "The Red Caboose" and a book from the library we got that is called "Truck Duck".
He is a bit obsessed with the computer. He now knows that it plays ELMO videos, and he loves those. But we still limit time a lot. He also likes to watch trains and ships videos, or google picture any number of things.
When I read last months update, I think "wow, that was all only a month ago? He is SO much bigger now!"
In the less ideal department, he has started throwing food when he is done eating at meals, and has become a fussier eater. He wants what is on my plate, even if its the same as his.
He points and points and points and then when you offer him something he says no and gets upset. We also have had some rough bedtimes and night times lately. In general, he has become more demanding, which is part of toddlerhood.
He now has a bike (like a big wheel), his own hockey stick and pucks, and lots of balls to play with outside. He likes to take walks around the neighborhood.
Time flies when you are having fun :)
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Happy Birthday to Me!
I have now been 29 for approximately 12 hours!!
Happy birthday to me!
One year left on my 30x30 goals. I have not knocked out many so far.. hopefully I can make some progress this summer (especially on the outdoor ones).
Do you know what the best thing about this birthday? I got to celebrate it with my wonderful husband, and beautiful son.
I feel like brain has a million things to say, but its running in circles and can't actually get anything to come out.
So I guess I will go have a slice of cheesecake to end the night with!!
Happy birthday to me!
One year left on my 30x30 goals. I have not knocked out many so far.. hopefully I can make some progress this summer (especially on the outdoor ones).
Do you know what the best thing about this birthday? I got to celebrate it with my wonderful husband, and beautiful son.
I feel like brain has a million things to say, but its running in circles and can't actually get anything to come out.
So I guess I will go have a slice of cheesecake to end the night with!!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Fall Off
Sometimes I just kinda... fall off...
Fall off blogging.
Its been weeks since I posted on either of my blogs (this or Nameaholics). Oops.
In the meantime, I have been really enjoying life. Life is good. I am not saying I stopped blogging because I don't have time or because I am doing better things or anything like that. It is two separate things.
We unfortunately had to say goodbye this morning to DH's parents, they headed home to St Louis. My MIL stayed with us for over a week, with my FIL also visiting one night on each end (on his way to and from a Canadian fishing trip.
We had so much fun while they were here. Funny how having guests will make you enjoy things available in your town you don't normally take advantage of. This week we went to the aquarium, and children's museum, and the Depot (and from there, on a scenic train ride). We played at the mall (Barnes&Noble has a Lego table AND a train table). We took LOTS of walks (even in the rain). We tried some new (to us) restaurants (like Amazing Grace), and some old favorites (like Duluth Grill). We (of course), did some shopping. My MIL brought me a cute fun little orange coach Clutch for a birthday present, and plenty of clothing for Benjamin. We found a couple garage sale treasures - like a $5 "big wheel" style trike. Benjamin is too little for it still, but maybe he will zoom around on it by the end of the summer.We watched some good movies - Parental Guidance, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Gangster Squad. Wasted some time laying around. Got some house projects done (thanks MIL for the help w the new pillows!) and just generally had a great time, as we always do when they visit.
Fall off blogging.
Its been weeks since I posted on either of my blogs (this or Nameaholics). Oops.
In the meantime, I have been really enjoying life. Life is good. I am not saying I stopped blogging because I don't have time or because I am doing better things or anything like that. It is two separate things.
We unfortunately had to say goodbye this morning to DH's parents, they headed home to St Louis. My MIL stayed with us for over a week, with my FIL also visiting one night on each end (on his way to and from a Canadian fishing trip.
We had so much fun while they were here. Funny how having guests will make you enjoy things available in your town you don't normally take advantage of. This week we went to the aquarium, and children's museum, and the Depot (and from there, on a scenic train ride). We played at the mall (Barnes&Noble has a Lego table AND a train table). We took LOTS of walks (even in the rain). We tried some new (to us) restaurants (like Amazing Grace), and some old favorites (like Duluth Grill). We (of course), did some shopping. My MIL brought me a cute fun little orange coach Clutch for a birthday present, and plenty of clothing for Benjamin. We found a couple garage sale treasures - like a $5 "big wheel" style trike. Benjamin is too little for it still, but maybe he will zoom around on it by the end of the summer.We watched some good movies - Parental Guidance, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Gangster Squad. Wasted some time laying around. Got some house projects done (thanks MIL for the help w the new pillows!) and just generally had a great time, as we always do when they visit.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
16 Months Old
It is Cinco de Mayo and Benjamin is 16 months old! Per the state of Minnesota, he is legally a toddler.
In order to figure out what has been the changes in the last month I went back and read my 15m update. WOW! Is it really only a month since he started nodding and waving?
The last month has brought an explosion of language and climbing. Over the past two weeks it has been a new word every day practically. Some that have stuck in his rotation - bird (buh), cereal (sounds surprisingly like Kitty), rock (ot), water (wawa), uh oh, bye bye, Dada, and many other I am forgetting. He wants to try lots of new words and I am sure there are many he feels like he is saying that we do not know what he means by them yet. One day at daycare he said "Peekaboo!!" .. all three syllables! That was a one time deal thought.
He continues to love animals and animal noises. And anything we can give a sound or hand motion. The things that he makes sounds or motions for (that I can think of right now) - dog, horse, sheep, goat, cow, pig, rooster, turkey, duck, elephant, monkey, bear, dinosaur, lion (sometimes), moose, fish, truck/car (vroom), tractor/motorcycle/construction (ruh buh buh buh), and new today - FIRE TRUCK (siren sound). We are working on alligator, octopus, and airplane and I am sure he will catch onto these any day (or minute...).
The sleep post a couple of days ago seemed to do the trick. His sleep is improved again. The last two nights he only woke up once (around 1am). This is good/fine. It means he is sleeping 6 hrs chunks. He has been a bit harder at bedtime, but we are working on it. Last night he "uh ohed" himself to bed - he was laying down and had been laying awake awhile, fussing occasionally. His seahorse stopped singing. A few minutes later he started saying "uh oh" (accept w his pacifier in his mouth). He said it about 10-15 times at various volumes, then stopped and was asleep.
The last month has brought more climbing. He can get up on our window seat, and when up there puts his hands on the top of the bottom pain and his feet on the windowsill. He loves when he figures out a piece of furniture is low enough to get on. Yesterday he started climbing on top of his book crate, and if it is positioned right, using that to get on top of the coffee table. He once climbed up on his stool, to the piano bench to the keyboard, etc. He luckily for us has not yet realized he can use that stool for lots of mischief. He does not move it on his own yet!
He still LOVES books and this is one of our main activities. His favorites this month have been a library book called "To Market to Market", as well as our books "fuzzy yellow duckling", "selected poems for the very young" (for the pictures"), Pride and Prejudice counting book, baby bears adventure, and "things that go". When we went to the library this month he had a ball playing with the toy kitchen, little slide, puppets and all the other toys. He also was fascinated by the water fountain and took several very nice drinks w no mess or drama.
We also introduced him to the computer this month. We have started using Google Images to show him his favorite things (moose, elephants, cars, etc). We occasionally show him a video - elephants, firetrucks, airplanes. This (the videos) is kind of a "special treat" though as we still want to limit his screen time. We typically don't watch TV with him still (with him in the room that is) unless it is a live event we do not want to miss, or maybe if he is homesick. We did watch his first movie this month. He was very sick and lethargic and fussy, we rented Wreck It Ralph thinking he might go to sleep to it, and he did. It is the very first time we have put on something on TV with the intention of letting him watch it. (of course he did not get it at all, but its a very funny movie).
Grandma K bought him puddle boots and taught him to splash in puddles. In general, he likes being outside, he likes the playground, he likes running up and down the porch and picking up rocks. We have a specific place we set the rocks he picks up (they all come out of our gravel walkway LOL). He likes to walk on the sidewalk. I am sure as the weather gets nicer we will spend more and more time outside.
He had his 15m doctors appt about a week ago. He is 2'7" and 23 lbs 5 oz. Both of these numbers are in the thirties as far as percentile. His head is huge. LOL.
I think that's it! I might add more later if I think of it...
In order to figure out what has been the changes in the last month I went back and read my 15m update. WOW! Is it really only a month since he started nodding and waving?
The last month has brought an explosion of language and climbing. Over the past two weeks it has been a new word every day practically. Some that have stuck in his rotation - bird (buh), cereal (sounds surprisingly like Kitty), rock (ot), water (wawa), uh oh, bye bye, Dada, and many other I am forgetting. He wants to try lots of new words and I am sure there are many he feels like he is saying that we do not know what he means by them yet. One day at daycare he said "Peekaboo!!" .. all three syllables! That was a one time deal thought.
He continues to love animals and animal noises. And anything we can give a sound or hand motion. The things that he makes sounds or motions for (that I can think of right now) - dog, horse, sheep, goat, cow, pig, rooster, turkey, duck, elephant, monkey, bear, dinosaur, lion (sometimes), moose, fish, truck/car (vroom), tractor/motorcycle/construction (ruh buh buh buh), and new today - FIRE TRUCK (siren sound). We are working on alligator, octopus, and airplane and I am sure he will catch onto these any day (or minute...).
The sleep post a couple of days ago seemed to do the trick. His sleep is improved again. The last two nights he only woke up once (around 1am). This is good/fine. It means he is sleeping 6 hrs chunks. He has been a bit harder at bedtime, but we are working on it. Last night he "uh ohed" himself to bed - he was laying down and had been laying awake awhile, fussing occasionally. His seahorse stopped singing. A few minutes later he started saying "uh oh" (accept w his pacifier in his mouth). He said it about 10-15 times at various volumes, then stopped and was asleep.
The last month has brought more climbing. He can get up on our window seat, and when up there puts his hands on the top of the bottom pain and his feet on the windowsill. He loves when he figures out a piece of furniture is low enough to get on. Yesterday he started climbing on top of his book crate, and if it is positioned right, using that to get on top of the coffee table. He once climbed up on his stool, to the piano bench to the keyboard, etc. He luckily for us has not yet realized he can use that stool for lots of mischief. He does not move it on his own yet!
He still LOVES books and this is one of our main activities. His favorites this month have been a library book called "To Market to Market", as well as our books "fuzzy yellow duckling", "selected poems for the very young" (for the pictures"), Pride and Prejudice counting book, baby bears adventure, and "things that go". When we went to the library this month he had a ball playing with the toy kitchen, little slide, puppets and all the other toys. He also was fascinated by the water fountain and took several very nice drinks w no mess or drama.
We also introduced him to the computer this month. We have started using Google Images to show him his favorite things (moose, elephants, cars, etc). We occasionally show him a video - elephants, firetrucks, airplanes. This (the videos) is kind of a "special treat" though as we still want to limit his screen time. We typically don't watch TV with him still (with him in the room that is) unless it is a live event we do not want to miss, or maybe if he is homesick. We did watch his first movie this month. He was very sick and lethargic and fussy, we rented Wreck It Ralph thinking he might go to sleep to it, and he did. It is the very first time we have put on something on TV with the intention of letting him watch it. (of course he did not get it at all, but its a very funny movie).
Grandma K bought him puddle boots and taught him to splash in puddles. In general, he likes being outside, he likes the playground, he likes running up and down the porch and picking up rocks. We have a specific place we set the rocks he picks up (they all come out of our gravel walkway LOL). He likes to walk on the sidewalk. I am sure as the weather gets nicer we will spend more and more time outside.
He had his 15m doctors appt about a week ago. He is 2'7" and 23 lbs 5 oz. Both of these numbers are in the thirties as far as percentile. His head is huge. LOL.
I think that's it! I might add more later if I think of it...
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Sleep Diaries An Update (The Cycle Continues)
Its been a long time since I posted a sleep update, over a month actually. That is because things were going pretty well. Benjamin would wake up 1-2 times a night and go back down easily. I left for a weekend and DH managed night time with no major catastrophe. We would even occasionally have a night where he slept great, like 11p-5:30 am.
But, all good things come to an end, and as with many things, his sleep is cyclical. We are in a downswing again, as of four nights ago. Sunday night, after a great weekend, he slept horribly. Really awful. Up every 2 hours, didn't want to go back down. It was ugly. Once again I am reminded how much sleep deprivation stinks in a way you don't realize when you are in the throws of it. Or in a way I didn't realize. I guess the real story is "its amazing what a person can get used to". And I am not used to it anymore. At all.
Monday night his sleep improved SOME. He got up 3 times. And was difficult to put back down. Tuesday and Wednesday night he got up twice - 1am, 4:30am... that is a bit close together and he did not go back down easily. Wednesday he also had a horrible bedtime. DH basically had to do a second bedtime after I did the first one, and stay up there quite some time. I did two bedtimes tonight too. The normal one at 7, a second one at 7:30. When I say two bedtimes I don't mean I repeat everything, just that he requires extensive attention a second time. His napping at daycare has also been shifted the last two days. He has taken late naps and arrived home half asleep.
For now, I am waiting this out. I am not really trying anything. I give him what he wants at night to get him back to sleep (usually breastfeeding). If it keeps up for a few more nights, we will have to try sleep training again or something, but for now I am assuming this is part of his developmental spurt (language mainly) and I should just ride it out.
But, all good things come to an end, and as with many things, his sleep is cyclical. We are in a downswing again, as of four nights ago. Sunday night, after a great weekend, he slept horribly. Really awful. Up every 2 hours, didn't want to go back down. It was ugly. Once again I am reminded how much sleep deprivation stinks in a way you don't realize when you are in the throws of it. Or in a way I didn't realize. I guess the real story is "its amazing what a person can get used to". And I am not used to it anymore. At all.
Monday night his sleep improved SOME. He got up 3 times. And was difficult to put back down. Tuesday and Wednesday night he got up twice - 1am, 4:30am... that is a bit close together and he did not go back down easily. Wednesday he also had a horrible bedtime. DH basically had to do a second bedtime after I did the first one, and stay up there quite some time. I did two bedtimes tonight too. The normal one at 7, a second one at 7:30. When I say two bedtimes I don't mean I repeat everything, just that he requires extensive attention a second time. His napping at daycare has also been shifted the last two days. He has taken late naps and arrived home half asleep.
For now, I am waiting this out. I am not really trying anything. I give him what he wants at night to get him back to sleep (usually breastfeeding). If it keeps up for a few more nights, we will have to try sleep training again or something, but for now I am assuming this is part of his developmental spurt (language mainly) and I should just ride it out.
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