Stubborn + Smart = Trouble

We've got a stinker on our hands...just kidding...Curious George is just too smart for us though. He can watch you do something once and then he's got it down!

Snow Day with Mom!

He's very stubborn...tonight (and most other mornings and evenings) he was insisting on playing in the cat's water bowl. When I came home, Barry was holding a half dressed boy and finally explained the puddles on the floor. Our son decided to stick his feet in the water bowl and kick and splash!!! Too bad I wasn't home then, I'd have gotten a video of that! When he wants something, he knows it and there's no diverting him lately.

Yesterday was the first time he fell down the stairs...he rolled like a little log down 4 stairs and then bonk upside down on the floor. I can't believe it's taken this long. He was fine after his daddy snuggled him.

He's loving his bathtimes...I can't keep him on his bottom though and he insists on standing. It's terrifying having a baby who thinks he's so big. Not that he isn't .... I weighed him and he somehow gained 2 lbs without me looking...he's 22 lbs now.

I'm pretty sure he's taller too b/c he reached my dresser and pulled off the Vick's Vaposteam liquid. I woke up smelling it and he was licking the bottle. I immedietely called poison control...fyi: 1.5 tsp of vicks or camphor can cause seizures in kids his size! Who knew. He didn't get much but the bottle was obviously leaking and he smelled like vicks enough to wake me up. ScArY!!!

Now he's safe and sound asleep...and I need to get off the computer b/c my shoulders now have a burning sensation...that can't be good.

Winter Wonderland

I worked from home today. Snow day yesterday for all county workers and schools. And today all my client canceled b/c of the weather. That was nice. I actually got a lot of work done and Adrian crawled around and kept himself entertained and took 2 nice naps!
YAY...G'ma and G'pa in Maui have an answering machine. Now Adrian can leave messages for them since he's always calling them when they're not home.
Adrian no longer looks like a baby. He's a little boy now. I have no idea how that happened.
He's a trickster too...he's starting to feed the dogs when he's eating in his high chair by dropping food and watching them eat it. He likes to pull mommy's earings and laugh when she says 'OUCH'! He starts laughing even before he gets them b/c he knows whats going to happen. He loves patting (Banging on them really) cats around and laughing out loud. He chases the dogs and says 'gog'. He's got the hang of chase and hide and seek. He snuck right around G'pa Tim the other day and then started cracking up knowing he had fooled him. HAHA!
He LOVES bread! And just finished his dinner of asparagus and butter beans with bread on the side.
Anyways...we're excited for a weekend...not that we didn't just have a snow day and mom worked from home all day today! Adrian got to play with snow but I think he's like his mom and enjoys the warm weather better!

A Walk in the Park

Saturdays are turning into park days! Adrian and Cavyn took a walk and played at the park in the sandbox and swinging (together in the same swing) today. Then friend Lexi joined them. Cavyn had to leave since he had errands to run but Adrian and Lexi ran around and played.

Mom has lost her camera :( It's probably somewhere at the house but she hasn't seen it since last Sunday at Ashley's baby shower. She's missing some awefully cute moments.

10 Months + 19 Days

Long time...no write. I've been busy.

What's new with the babo:
Adrian says 'ga' and 'gog' for cat and dog and 'mama' and 'dada'. He waves bye bye and says 'da'. He climbs to standing on everything especially mommy's legs when she's busy or when he's in the bathtub. He's crying from separation anxiety more when mommy drops him off. But he's great with strangers/others as long as he knows mom and dad are near and warms up to them quickly. He won't take bottles from most people: only g'ma, mom, and dad. Otherwise he won't drink anything. He's still a picky eater but is getting much better for mom! He eats just about anything, only when he feels like it though. He LOVES other babies and kids. He LOVES playing outside and going on walks and playing at the park! He loves playing 'chase' by either crawling after and then being chased or by mommy holding him and chasing the neighbor boys or the dogs and cats! He loves crawling around on the neighbor's trampoline. He's great at sitting and playing by himself with his toys. He is mimicing the correct use of objects, like stirring the spoon in the toy bowl at his toy kitchen or pushing his trucks back and forth or banging on his drum and shaking his musical instruments. He loves watching and listening to daddy play instruments. Everything still goes in his mouth including sand and rocks and pennies. Adrian's good at sharing. He shares his food and his toys and his toothbrush! He shares showers and baths and even tries to share sand at the playground!
He doesn't like that mommy is trying to get him to stay in bed all night long, especially since he still wakes up at least twice a night: still going to bed at 9, waking at 11 and again at 4, then awake at about 7/8. He still takes 2-3 naps a day, depending on who is watching him. With mom, he sleeps from 9:30-11, then 2-3/3:30, then 6-7 if he's really worn out and to bed by 9pm. If we sleep in on the weekend he only takes 2 naps. He's been getting more diaper rashes lately but his hives are gone.

(A 1st) He just figured out how to turn himself around on the stairs tonight for daddy. Mommy was so surprised when he came down and no one had turned him around! Less worries of tumbling onto his head now! Although what does that matter since he always bonks his head into the wall on his own accord anyway. He's a head banger but thankfully doesn't do it out of anger. He has started to show when he is 'mad' by screaming and his face turns red and you can tell it's an mad/upset 'I want my own way' look! I just ignore it and talk to him about his other options like crawling his little butt to find his mom the other way and not by means of playing with the toilet since that is not an option for a recent example, as he sat by the closed door and banged on it screaming. He finally realized his options and crawled around and climbed on me instead of the toilet and was over it.

I want to say that (he's not sick anymore and hasn't been since before the rash) but I'm afraid it will come back if I say that. Hopefully he's over it all.

On April 16 and 17th I am spending the whole 2 days and a night away from my baby! I will seriously have to take it hour by hour. I am doing it b/c I have training required for work and I think Adrian's old enough to handle it and it's good for me to let Barry do this and to know that I can do it. I hope he's sleeping through the night by then....hhmmm....we'll see! I am dreading the day it comes since I signed up the other day :( My other potential option is to spend the night in Longmont with family and to drive to S. Denver early in the AM. I figure it's a good chance for me to hang out with my coworkers though and drive/stress less.

Lately we are busy planning his b-day! It's going to be a BBQ in the back yard. We're grilling, probably asking people to bring a side dishes, providing frisbee and other outdoor games in the green belt, thinking about live music, and there will most likely be a keg. 1 year olds sure like to party it up! Hopefully it doesn't snow 5 feet the night before.

Tomorrow I am finally going to get my post-natal massage (a gift from my thoughtful hubby ummm...2 xmas' ago). Does anyone know I am a procrastinator? or maybe I just treasure things for the right moment. And right now my back is in need! Hence the reason I am highly encouraging my baby to stay in his bed all night, even if I do have to go feed him in the middle of the night. I may have even just ignored him last night since I was so tired. Seriously, he only sleeps 2 hours and then decides he's famished. What is that? Maybe it's b/c I work all day and he just wants to be near me all the time I'm home. He's a mama's boy and I love it!
Then at 2 we're meeting cousins and friends at the park to play!

We're so excited for cousin Ashley and her BF Eddie and our new family member Aiden River! He's growing so big and strong and we can't wait to go meet him. He was born 12 weeks early but he's a fighter and is proving that he was ready to be here! We had a baby shower BBQ last sunday and got to meet Eddie and see Jennifer and Ashley! And they got to meet all the babos!!

Busy Baby Boy

7 Teeth

Adrian has 7 teeth now. He had a fever over the weekend and seems to get one every time he gets some new teeth popping through the gums. Poor guy...it's tough to be a baby.
This didn't stop him from having fun though...we went for a walk with cousin Cavyn anyway. Yes...mom forgot my hat and made me wear a sweat shirt on my head. Don't laugh at me.

Yucky Rash/Hives

Our poor baby beluga has a rash. We think it's probably from Burt's Bees Bubble Bath...which we've never tried before. It does have the same ingredients as the shampoo/wash but maybe in different combination or something....Everything else has been the same. I can't explain it but benadryl is supposed to help and if it doesn't in a few days the dr. said to make an appt. We'll see :( It makes him itchy and irritable. He did better today than yesterday and it looks like it might be going away.

Video: Chasing My Daddy

Press Play!

Pictures 3-1-09

The First Haircut: Mommy and daddy decided to cut my hair before the age of one only because it hangs across my eyes and gets food and boogers in it. Also it is difficult to see through since it is so thick. Aunt Christie cut it of course. Mommy had to distract me and feed me water from the spray bottle. I kept shaking my head 'no no no' when Christie held my hair up out of my face.

Mom's Group # 2 At Rachel's House

Playing with Collette at Mom's Group

Please don't leave....

What do you expect me to do with them?

Cousins Maddox, Cavyn, & Adrian

Weekend Update

Our little baby boy has been through lots these past weeks!

I turned 10 months old AND got my first haircut last Sunday by cousin Christie of course AND found out that my new cousin has arrived in this world AND attended mom's group in Estes with cousins and friends. On Monday we went to dinner at Uncle Chris' for his birthday! Then that night cousin Cavyn got to come to my house so Aunt Julie and Uncle Chris could go out with friends. My grandma and auntie Laurie took me on nice walks this week too since it was so nice out! Then on Thursday and Friday, our babysitter moved and I got to go to her new house to play AND I have a cold and cough AGAIN. :(
I'm becoming more and more coordinated and still haven't fallen down the stairs. However, mommy and daddy are still working on me turning around before going down. At lease I wait for them to turn me while peering head first over the edge to taunt them..hehe...
I'm starting to grow out of 9 month clothes, am teetering between size 3 and 4 diapers, and I'm still the cutest baby in the whole wide world!
My haircut makes me look like a big boy... everyone says so.. and mommy wakes up sometimes wondering where that little baby went. I just smile at her and climb over her to visit the kitty.

His games and 'talking' are so cute and happening more and more. Adrian knows 'uhuh' and 'no' and will shake his head 'no' and stop what he's doing when you say either one. Then of course, not understanding the full concept, will reach again for the cord or outlet or whatever. We still have to redirect and physically move him but he's getting the idea.

Mama and Dada don't bubble wrap my little world though so I've probably eaten some onion skins off the floor in the pantry and swallowed some grass already, maybe licked the dog or cat one too many times...GROSS! Don't tell them though.

His favorite conversational topic is "gak gak" and when he needs something he calls "mama" and when he's just rambling it's all about "dada" or "bababa". He sure has a lot to say. He loves his play room and in the morning climbs down the stairs and plays until breakfast time. Mom hears cars and musical instruments going while she gets dressed. Actually right now, he's hiding his sticks from himself under the couch. Ok...I'll have to post some pics later. Tomorrow we are going to see our cousin Ashley and her new baby Aiden River in Denver. He was born early and will have to stay at Children's for awhile but he's doing well. I can't wait to see him.

Pictures

Standing...

Sharing...

Just watching...never know...he could make a move any minute...

Guess I'll have to investigate...

Does it have any buttons to turn it off or on?

Standing...

Daily Workout! Tough life...

Hugs for dad!

Ta Da!

Just playin'

Trying to get clean is all...

Our little family....

Check out those teeth...and that big old space...yikes!

Trying to share with cousin Cavyn...so nice

AH!!! Mom has too much fun with my hair!

My baby stood up in the bathtub this evening, grabbed the drain thingy and let go and stood there...for about 1 second...until I grabbed him! Um..I really don't know what he's thinking...but he's too little to be trying to be so big these days.

9 Months & 3 Weeks

Adrian is such a good baby! He has been crawling around all day, entertaining himself with his toys, or banging on the window and yelling at the dogs. Of course, he has a new scratch on his cheek, tried going down the stairs head first, put caulk in his mouth as well as tried to put a dirty rag when barry was cleaning the bathroom in his mouth. At one point I couldn't find him and he was inside the magazine coffee table and another time, he slyly and quickly made it to the top step before I noticed. Anyways, he's a pretty good baby!

Today he's drooling a lot...I wonder if he's teething again. Maybe he's just so excited about everything and forgets to close his mouth...leaky faucet.

He's so much more talkative these days. Barry says he sounds like the aliens on 'Mars Attacks'. He is waving a lot these days as well. We are encouraging clapping as well but he hasn't done it himself yet. Barry and I are using sign language for eat, water, bottle, play, wait, up, more, and all done. So far he hasn't started using them but he does stop whining when I sign and say 'all done' and 'wait' or 'up'. He just wants to be acknowedged I guess.

He's a tough baby, he doesn't cry when he bumps and bangs himself up unless he is actually hurt which isn't often suprisingly. Some babies cry at every bump but luckily he's not as dramatic. I recognize when he's bumped himself and acknowledge it (luckily I've had lots of experience and can hide my surprise usually) but Barry doesn't and when I asked him why he doesn't say 'uhoh or something' he said 'he's fine'-the differences in mom's and dad's I guess.

So I love making his food! Recently to our overstuffed freezer of baby food, I have added rice pilaf ground into texturous pieces, cooked shredded chicken, ground cooked butter beans, along with his lentils and all his vegies and fruits. He loves mango these days, feeding himself banana, and still loves his yogurt and avocado as well as chicken noodle soup.
Speaking of food, it's time for a snack of mango! He's stuffing his mouth.
Recently he's tried some new foods: orange juice, rasberries, and squash!!! I waited on squash since Barry's allergic/sensitive to it and I didn't want Adrian to have a reaction to it. I can't tell you how excited I am that he isn't allergic and that he also loves it. It's so good for you.
He also loves ummm....how should I say this?...chocolate...yes, the bad mother I am has given him tastes of chocolate. He likes dark chocolate the best. This mother of his has also given him peanut butter in the form of a chocolate peanut butter cookie. So he's not allergic to pb either!! He's tried tomato sauce but not a lot since this could also result in a sensitivity this young. Anyways...he love big boy food and feeding himself and is sometimes stubborn and doesn't want to try food since he's not doing it even if he's hungry and likes the food once he tries it. I see his Taurus tendencies coming out...just like his dad. Laid back but very stubborn when it comes down to certain things. I can live with two of them I guess.

His favorite game right now is 'I'm gonna get you'! He gets so excited he throws his toys into the air or his arms and practically hops away. Then he'll turn and chase you but if you look at him he'll turn around and try to get away as fast as his little crawlers will take him! It's so fun and his mouth hangs wide open the whole time! Hide and seek is fun also and he likes to cover himself with his blanket or crawl after me to find where I've gone.

He knows 'uh uh' means 'not allowed' and has listened by leaving whatever it was alone when I say this, such as the outlet and cell phone chargers and trash cans and dogs water bowls. He stops and looks at me like I caught him and then if he's in a listening mood crawls away. He sometimes is ornery and looks at me and then goes back to the outlet or whatever and I have to move him away. He's only 9 months but so smart!

I'm trying to get him on a nap schedule...or to have everyone keep his nap schedule. He naps from 9:30am to 11/11:30am and then again in the afternoon anywhere from from 1:30 to 3 for up to a couple of hours. He's in so many different settings that it's hard to keep everyone on the same page.

On other notes, work is busy, dogs are annoying me, Barry is out playing with his friends as usual and I'm still in my pj's. It's the weekend, don't judge! At least my house is clean, that makes me feel good and it's not even Sunday evening. We are going to rent a movie on pay per view tonight and I have a bottle of pinot noir and I'm making surprise wontons! Go me!

Last night we went to Boulder to surprise Melissa for her birthday. Tom got her friends and family together for dinner at the Walnut Brewery! Adrian was a trooper and didn't officially make it to bed until 11:30pm but did nap in the car.

Video: Climbing Down Stairs

Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!!!

Happy V Day All!

And now a word from Adrian: ';/.6ggf

Ok and now you know.

Dad is working today, mom is off and feeling semi-motivated but may soon lose that as she realizes how much there is to do on the weekends. Dinner at 6:30 at @ Enzios!

I often realize that A is growing out of his clothes and make a deal with myself: only 1 more time. Really he doesn't get to wear clothes enough before he grows out. If anyone would like to borrow clothes from me (Julie, Christie, Rachel) than call me and we can go through the boxes. I'll label what I want back but I don't mind sharing.

Adrian is feeling much better and is at the tail end of his month+ long sickness. Daddy stayed home with him Wed, Thur, and Fri. He wasn't feeling well, some sort of stomach thing, and 'I' (and by I, I do mean 'we') wasn't paying for child care if he was home.

A is a full time crawling and can book it up the stairs in less than a minute! Right now he's meandered into the hall and it's only days before he decides to go down by himself (hopefully the right way with all the practice we've been doing.) I hate gates. Hopefully we'll never have to use them.

Yay for Weekends!

Adrian was playing downstairs yesterday while mom was upstairs cooking and cleaning and he decided to come upstairs instead of whining for mom! Yay for newfound mobility and freedom! (Of course mom runs and gets the camera instead of worrying about Adrian falling backwards down the stairs and what to do about that. Mom says that the kid has to learn about gravity one way or another.)

Today was fun! Mom and Adrian got to hang out with Cousin Cavyn and Aunt Julie. We went to the park, a coffee shop, and Target. Then Adrian napped while mom ran errands to the bank, gas station to fill a leaky tire, and the library book drop.

Spring Canyon Park is awesome! It is an interactive playground for children with all needs. Wheel chairs even fit on most of the playground equipment. It has a special baby section too. Who loves to swing? Adrian! He also tried sand for the 1st time today sitting in the sand bowl. He posed as an Indian, wait he doesn't have to pose, he is Cherokee. He loves Cavyn and smiled a lot at him but didn't want to touch him since he still has a cold :( And that hat: How cool! Grandma Biss made that for Adrian for his first St. Patrick's Day coming up! And yes...mom cut herself some bangs as she is bored to death with her hair these days and doesn't have time to style it.

Mobile Munchkin

My baby climbed up 7 steps this evening! He's so big! He was so proud of himself as he climbed and I cheered him on.

Last night Barry and I went to a Baby Sign Language class. I didn't really learn anything new however Barry is psyched about it now! Goal accomplished...and the teacher was hilarious.

My childcare provider has decided to continue to watch Adrian on Th and F!!! She is also moving to a house with a backyard next month!!!

So happy it's the weekend!

Creeping..Crawling... All Around...

Well, we have mobile baby! He creeps he, he crawls (once in awhile), he gets into EVERYTHING, he pulls up, he chases cats and dogs, and he also dives off of beds! And his mom works for child protection....no one's perfect. Right now he's emptying the trash can in the office.

Did I mention he still puts everything in his mouth? Oh no! his butt is inside the trash can. He can't figure out what is going on. But it makes him laugh nevertheless.

I'm interviewing for a new childcare provider today and into next week. It's such a hard thing, especially b/c I have no time and I'd rather be home with him.

Barry's nervous about the stability of his job right now.

Grandma's b-day is on Wed! Big 5-0!!!

New Babysitter

I have to find a new babysitter. My babysitter isn't licensed and doesn't want to risk anything so she is taking a break until she gets licensed as an in home daycare. It's a smart move but it sucks for me.

Adrian has a cough and runny nose, I have a bad cough, Barry might have pink eye. EEWWWW! I hate being sick!

Adrian got up on his knees and did a few knee hops towards me today! I think he's going to start crawling soon!

Scooting

Still all sick around here. I feel like I have the stomach flu however that usually only lasts a couple days. Barry feels the same. Coughing and runny noses still all around as well. I made it through the week of work at least. I've been getting rest, drinking water and eating so why hasn't this gone away yet? I hate being sick. My babysitter and all her kids are sick also. My coworkers are getting sick one by one as well. Blah!



Adrian's shots gave him huge welts on his legs. I feel bad for him. Today is the first day that they aren't bothering him as much. The doctor said it is normal for the welts to last up to 4 weeks! He had a great day at childcare as well. I think he's starting to feel much better altogether.



He's doing great scooting on his tummy and now says 'mama' repeateadly when he wants something. Barry says when he doesn't want something or is upset he pushes you away. He's very stubborn and knows exactly what he wants and cries if he doesn't get it. He's starting to wave and to 'share'. He tries to put his spoon in your mouth, or hand over his toys. He laughs when you get it but usually wants it back or else cries.

New Doctor

So everyone is sick in our house. I think I have a stomach bug, Barry has a stuffy head and bad cough, baby has a stuffy/runny nose. I made it through most of work...right before Children's group I started feeling like I was going to throw up...luckily most of the kids didn't come and a coworker who does Children's group with me, stayed and watched the one kid that showed. I'm hungry but it hurts when I eat...my intestines feel like they are twisted.

Adrian went to a new doctor this morning (probably how I got sick) because we haven't been in awhile...er...since he was 2 & 1/2 months old. His new doctor is Dr. Craig Widness at Med Peds. He weighs 19 lbs which is the 40th percentile, is 28.75" long which is the 70th percentile, and has a 17.5" head circumference which puts him at 30th percentile for head growth. He also has a slight heart murmer which is hereditary on Barry's side. The doctor is not worried and says he will just keep a watch on it. He said that sometimes the heart and body grow at different rates since babies grow so fast. Barry's went away but his brother's didn't (well maybe it has now).
Doctors are all the same. I let him know up front how bad I am about going to doctors and how I am wary of shots, medicine, etc. He listened and gave his opinion and stated that I had a choice. Adrian got his second round of shots: 2 shots-all combos of shots. He did great! He only cried when he was getting them but settled right down when I picked him up. He was a little fussy today for G'ma and G'pa but got tylenol for pain and lots of attention. He has not had a flu shot...dr. said that he's only seen 1 case so far all season but last 2 years were bad. Any time I've gotten the flu shot, I've also gotten the flu. Anyways....next appt is in 6 weeks so he can get caught up on his immunizations. I guess we don't live in a bubble and I can't treat him like we do.

Adrian is consistently saying "mamamama" and "mababamaba". He also says "dadada" sometimes. FYI: this is called cannonical babbling and C-V (consonant-vowel babble). Next will be C-V-C and V-C-V babbling. I think the way children acquire language, speech, and communication is amazing. We are working on sign language with him still: eat, water, please, thank you, milk, and whatever else we think of. We should be more consistent but it's hard when we're so busy. Adrian is moving across the floor by scooting on his tummy, pulling with his arms, and pushing with his toes. He will soon be more efficient at moving. He can move from sitting to laying, laying to sitting, rolling both ways, sitting to pulling up to standing, he has also been seen 'cruising' from one end of the couch to the other. He can get into crawling position but just rocks until he falls on his tummy. He may not do the traditional 'crawl'. When we practice with him, he just wants to crawl on his feet and hands like a chimpanzee. He loves playing with his toys, playing peek-a-boo, chewing on everything especially bottles of lotion or tubes of diaper creme and phones or remotes.