Time Change

Just ahead of the time change we completed our Autumn fun list.  It was a full season of excitement.  Making these lists has kept us busy and interested in the different opportunities each season offers.  Plus, checking the items off the list is enjoyable all by itself.

We are already thinking of items for our Winter list.  If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Leo - 10 Months

Oh Leo.  You of the recent nap strikes and the waking up to nurse sometimes only an hour after being put to bed.  At 10 months old you are have surprised us by seemingly suddenly being your own little person rather than the content baby who could be carted around.  You're crawling all over and nothing much slows you down.  You set your sights on something - the stuffed snake, stack of DVDs or laptop cord - and you are off to get it at a quick pace.  Once at your destination your giggles and happy grunts give away whatever mischief you are getting into.  And mischief does seem to find you.  You've knocked over plants, emptied Kleenex boxes and opened low drawers to the empty the contents.  All of this and you've only been crawling for a month.  It also seems like you are ready for the next thing.  You do a version of down dog while crawling that makes it clear what you really want to be doing is standing.  If you are next to a person or a piece of furniture you just go ahead and pull to stand.  I'm afraid walking isn't going to be far behind.

It's been a busy past month with not as much sleep as you probably need.  Plus you've been fighting off back to back colds and I suspect you have a few more teeth coming in.  All this to say you've been a little fussy lately.  Even the fussy version of you though is somewhat delightful.  You have grins and giggles I can't get enough of.  You love to have simple songs sung for you and you like to be entertained by the people around you.  While you don't have quite as much time for cuddling lately, you still love to be held and give hugs.

In the past few days you have debuted a full arm wave to say bye bye or hello.  Today at the grocery store you were showing this off quite nicely to all the other people shopping.  Your smiles and paitence in line earned you a bright yellow balloon from the cashier.  I'm not sure when I have seen you so excited as you were holding onto that string as we walked to car.  Your chubby little hand was closed tightly around the string and you would excitedly pull the balloon up and down to watch it move.  I hope the excitement for the little things never leaves you, buddy.  At the end of the day it is what counts.  And you are reminding me of that often as we go through your early days together.

Halloween

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.  Kids in costumes, candy and the fun decorations make it my kind of fun.  This year Milo also was looking forward to the season - we had a good time decorating with pumpkin and ghostie lights.  We also made our house look haunted by putting friendly ghosts in the windows.  Milo also helped carve our pumpkins and did a great job at making cuts with a safe knife.

Prior to Halloween there were three days of parties - one at Milo's school, one with our playgroup and one at a neighbors to attend.  Our little zookeeper and monkey were a hit at each one.

Trick or treating was a bit of a bust due to cold and rain.  That worked out fine though because we all had a wonderful time inside our house eating chili, chatting, playing and watching The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

Ready, Set. Goal

I've been neglecting this blog. Partly because I am busy with my two little men and partly because it's easier to just talk to the few people who actually read it.  Either way I haven't been writing and I miss it.  I miss the writing, the reflecting and just the putting the thoughts into words.

So I'll be posting each day in November.  We'll see what I come up.

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In other goal setting news, I announced today on Facebook that I'll be running a 5k to celebrate my birthday.  In exactly two months.  Let the training begin!

Leo - 9 Months

My little bubby has now been out in the world roughly as long as he was inside me.  Which is crazy because I am sure he was just born like two weeks ago and I was pregnant for months and months.  Some theories of evolution I've been reading suggest that a human baby is still more like a fetus than other animal species.  Human babies are totally incapable of doing much until about the 9 month mark and are totally dependent on others until that age.

Now that Leo is at that special 9 month mark, I see how this can be true.   Leo can now scooch around and get the things he wants (like car keys, remote controls, or the battery powered Percy the train).  He can pick up foods to eat them.  Favorite foods are pears, graham crackers and anything Milo hands him (crusts of bread, small pieces of chicken and most cooked vegetables).   Leo is around 21 pounds and 29 inches.  A solid little bundle of opinions and love.

Leo gives the best hugs and has the most amazing baby giggles.  I so love hearing this little man laugh. Luckily for me he is a ticklish little monster and giggles come easily.  He is at the smiley baby stage where everything enchants him - people, flowers, leaves falling from the trees.  Everything around him is cause for a huge grin.  I get taken in by it each time he flashes his smile with his five little teeth.  Even in the middle of the night when he is waking me up to eat again, he smiles and wraps his chubby arms around my neck and all is forgiven (mostly).



Each night when Chris gets home from work, Leo whines and whimpers until Chris picks him up and gives him a hug.  He loves the people around him so much.  Whether it's crying right along with Milo because Milo's hurt, hugging Daddy or sucking on Mommy's hair, Leo is right there as an important part of our little family.

(Pre)School Days

Milo started preschool about a month ago and we are settling into this new rhythm of life.  He goes twice per week for 2.5 hours each time. It's just long enough for him to get his feet wet with this whole school thing.  His classroom is a wonderful environment of stations, toys and textures to explore.  It is totally play based and there is no set curriculum.  Actually, I have no clue what he does there.  The most he usually tells me is that he played outside and saw some people.  A couple of times I have seen him be the line leader for when his class comes back from the playground - he is so proud of himself for doing that task.

On the first day of school, he cried and fell to the floor as Chris and I left him with his teacher.  He had been repeating bye bye as we were getting ready to leave and then his face crumpled and he lost it.  Our little guy was being so brave.  He quickly recovered after we left and has had no problems since that time.  I am so proud of him for assimilating to school and enjoying the process of meeting new friends, listening to his teachers and enjoying the time away from me.  I can tell he is learning, doing better socially and taking in the whole experience.

In the next month or so he'll go on his first field trip and we'll meet the teachers for conferences.  It's so official!

Leo - 8 Months

For several months we thought Leo was going to be the serious one.  We mistook his studying us as a sign of contemplation when, now it seems, he was just plotting and biding his time.  He has suddenly exploded into a silly baby.  One who thinks it is super funny to make loud shrieks and drop sippy cups.  One who loves to be sung Isty Bitsy Spider.  And, most of all, one who puts everything into his little mouth and then either tries to hide it or laugh about it.  Sometimes both which leads to a little coughing fit.


Leo is sitting up like a champ and spends most of his floor playtime sitting, playing with toys and reaching for objects that Milo prefers he not have.  When on his tummy he will try to crawl and can pivot well in both directions as well as move backwards, but full on crawling alludes him at this point.  He is super proud of himself when he is assisted into a standing position and then maintains it on his own.

See?  Silly.

This past month we took a long family road trip.  Leo did pretty well although he was definitely over his car seat (we moved him out his infant carrier and into a convertible seat).  We stopped often to nurse and talk with him.  For a baby as cuddly as Leo is, it wasn't pleasant for him to be on his own and not held for several hours a time.  This boy is a lover and enjoys the human connection of being held.

Leo continues to eat more and more food.  He'll eat small finger foods as well as pureed foods.  Lately he's really been reaching for our food and wanting to taste more things. He still nurses countless times per day (and night).

Actually we've had ups and downs with sleep.  Currently, as we recover from our trip and adjust back to the routine, we've been a down phase.  I have high hopes we move past that soon and back to our sleeping boy who is happy because he is well-rested.