This is the face.
(Mom, don't kill me!!)
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Tiny post of big laughs...
My mom is known in our family (and some friends) for this horrendous face she makes. Only she can look like a peacock/ostrich.
This is the face.
(Mom, don't kill me!!)
And guess what....she taught it to Weston. Kinda of. Here are his attempts at it. And then I posted the footage on Youtube so the hilarity can continue in "real" time. :)
This is the face.
(Mom, don't kill me!!)
Monday, March 4, 2013
Into the 2nd year of life....
I find myself saying "Ohmigosh, you're so cute" way too many times these days. I thought I said it too much before. But Weston is truly getting cuter. His expressions have a wide range and I seem to be driven to capture all of them. I apologize to him for always taking pics of him, but I can't bear to not document these antics that I will soon miss so much. '
From staring agape with Weston-wonder, to drumming with a ferocious concentration on anything that suffices, to squinting and smiling when we enter the cold winter air... I want it all preserved so I can continue to look back while I simmer down each night in bed and reminisce about all the darling mannerisms Neil and I have somehow created in this tiny human, who toddles with drunkenness--his persistent curiosity his poison.
I think most of the note-worthy news consists of not so much developments as personality-based quirks. (And yes, I know many kids will do similar things, but all together, Weston is unique and special and the best son I could ever ask for. Ever.)
AFFECTION
Clearly I stake my own worth as a mom on the ability to teach Weston how to show affection. From giving open-mouthed, sloppy kisses on my cheek to lying his head in my lap for cuddles...I couldn't be more proud when he doe something new that shows he loves me (or someone else, for that matter.) On his birthday, I dropped him off at daycare and was headed out the door...stalling as I do everytime I have to leave him. And I am so glad I did because he BLEW ME A KISS before I headed out the door. The caregivers were just as thrilled as he'd never done it before. And I literally cried all the way out to my car. Because of the significance of the day, I couldn't have been happier.
CHATTY
He now doles out the "uh-oh" whenever something drops. Though his "oh" sounds is more like "uh" so it's "uh-uhhhhh".... He really does talk A LOT. Now if only he said real words. I've been around a lot of 1-year-olds, and I can safely say that he's one of the chattiest kids ever. His daycare confirms that and says he's always yammering away...and with gusto too. His faces he makes and gestures....I just know he's going to someday have something really important to say. LIke, "I ate something off the floor and I liked it!"
We've been trying to teach him animal noises. Mostly for DUCK, DOG, CAT, COW, PIG and MONKEY. I don't know why we do this as humans, but apparently, it's super important for us to know which domesticated animals we hear....rarely if ever. haha Now this would make sense back in the day with cavepeople...teaching our young when they hear a certain growl to high tail it out of there...or a chirp means food is nigh, etc. But anyway.... it's entertainment I guess. So of all the animals, the one Weston has learned the best is COW. (For dog, if I 'arf arf" a bunch, he'll chime in with his version, which is a monotone, "ahh ahhh"... and for duck, he'll say "ca ca" every now and again...) but check out his MOOOO, and the first night he learned it.
HYGIENE
He loves to brush his teeth still. And after his bath, he has started this darling routine, which we of course have only egged on after ONE night he did it all on his own. I finally got a video of it, though missing from this recording is what usually happens.....him dropping a sock or his pants, bending to pick them up, dropping his shirt in the process. This won't be nearly as cute when he's over 2. So enjoy it while's he's little.
PLAY TIME & PERSONALITY
He's also on a "look at me lift this" kick. Meaning, anything that is big and awkward, but just small enough for him to put his arms around, he lifts it up and walks...and then usually falls or drops it. His ANYWHERE chair, his Rocktivity table, the ottoman, the changing pad.... they are no match for our lil' Hulk.
He's getting so much better with diaper changes. I now play a "where's your foot" game with him when putting on his pants. That seems to get him interested...and always seems so surprised when I once again find his foot in the very pant leg I put it into. :)
A favorite song for him to listen to is one of my mom's faves. It's "I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee." This link has it at the bottom, but there are missing verses...ones I can totally understand were cut out by an idealist....(about licking up the baby bumble bee off the hands, and then puking becuase it doesn't make us feel good...hahah) But Weston LOVES the licking and puking parts. So we shall continue with our own way.
Overall, I just am so happy to report that he's such a playful, joyful lil' guy. He loves to giggle....and to play "psyche" (where he gives you something, and then takes it back and runs off...). He likes to go after my feet now because he wants to be attacked by them. Proof:
And more gleeful moments, brought to you by a very tired Weston.
The dancing continues. He'll now go to the computer in the den and point to it when he wants to dance as he knows that is how daddy plays music. And the other night, (and this has happened several since...) Neil was excited thatthe Penguins were going to be on TV here in town....so he jumped up and down and cheered. Weston immediately joined in...and I luckily got some of it on video though it's really dark. You'll also witness how very clumsy he gets before bedtime. It's how we know it's time for bed.
EATING
Our pediatrician wants him completely bottle-weaned by 14 months. The 3 daytime bottles have been totally obsolete since the end of January YAY. Was much easier than I thought it'd be.
But the night one....eeek. I was so nervous to take this away. Plus I love to hold his lil' warmness as he relaxes. This weekend, with my sister in town, we went out to eat on SAturday night and didn't get home till 730. Weston fell asleep on the way to our house, so we just changed him and put him in his crib. Voila. No nighttime bottle needed. Last night, we read him a book and played with him and then put him in his crib and voila again! no bottle needed.
Then I took a bath. I seem to have my emotional breakdown/epiphanies in the bathtub. And this time, I started crying because I realized I didn't take note of the last time I got to hold him as he sucked his way to slumber. I was heartbroken. How could I so nonchalantly get rid of the last bit of 'baby-dom' that seems to be left? So I've decided, I am going to backtrack selfishly. Tonight, he gets his last bottle. I might cry...I might sob. But one thing is for sure. I am going to intentionally savor every moment of it. And then we'll move on. ;)
Meal time has a few things going on that I want to remember.
I might have mentioned this before, but he still wants a piece of food in each fist before he'll start eating. So we have to give him two big pieces of bread. banana, or crackers or he's asking for "mo mo mo mo."
When he's tired of eating whatever it is that is on his tray, and usually this is a sign he's teething, he will start crying and pointing toward the cupboards where we store his crackers. It's his way of asking for dessert. And I think the hardness of the crax feels good on his gums.
He's getting better with a spoon, though not quite where he needs to be if we want to be hands off. He sometimes throws a fit if we don't give him food in a tiny bowl or a spoon to stir it all. In fact, Saturday night when we were out to eat, he threw a FIT and kept pointing to my food. I tried to give him a bite of my risotto, but he refused it. He screamed louder. Surely, he didn't just want my fork, did he? FINALLY, I put my HUGE HUNK OF A BOWL in front of him, and if i could have had his expression on video, I would be a happy mom. He literally shivered with delight. He was soooo excited to have such a large bowl. He took his little spoon and stirred it up, tasted it...didn't care for it, but he was content that he was such a big boy. So we're going to be pushing the dishes now with him in hopes dinner time is a bit more happy.
He apparently loves vinegar. He saw Neil dip his bread in balsamic vinegar and begged for some. So we tried it. And he wanted it again. So finally I got some of it on video.
After dinner, we want to teach him about cleaning up. Of course, he's too young to help, but rather than just release him from the table because HE's done, we have him watch us do the dishes and wipe everything down. We say, "You wanna go BEEP BEEP?" And then we scoot his high chair to the other side of the kitchen where he has a better view, all the while, he's waving and saying 'Buh Bye" to the kitchen table. Then we either give him dessert (a graham crax) or something to play with like measuring spoons. He's usually fine to watch us.
More drumming!
This is one of my favorite videos yet. He is a thief when we open the fridge... watch what he runs off with.
And then he wants to give his loot a ride.
When Cailin and Weston hang out, things get CRAZY. The first is of their neverending amusement with one another. The 2nd is Cailin literally putting Weston to sleep.
MISCELLANEOUS
Despite us opting for the tubes, he got another ear infection 2 weeks ago. So that's awesome. We're dealing with it as we can, but I do hope it's not going to be more of the same or that will have been a waste of money.
The pic on the left... he found his long-lost Sleep Giraffe...and immediately laid down with it. Of course, it only lasted 2 minutes. The one on the right...how cute is he...and innocent..holding his baby carrots??
Just trying to make friends with "kiiiiiii"......
Got a cheerio stuck to his snot. Yummy. and he LOVES getting his hands washed. It's a ritual after meals!
Cailin is his favorite person besides me. :)
Just some sleepy pics. The one on the far right makes me feel like a warm, fuzzy blanket.
Oh yes, always wanting to get into things....or on things....
It was high 50s so we went outside for a bit. His first interaction with a soccer ball.
The range of his orneriness. He loves unrolling toilet paper etc. He defied my demand for him to NOT climb on the stroller. A snap of him finishing off his laundry routine. And then the far right is the result of me giving up on getting him to only sit in his chair.
A day at the park. He drove us. (jk)
Evan's his buddy. Even though sometimes when they hug, it ends with Weston on the floor.
Wearing grandpa's glasses... then at the doc's office... and just cuddling with daddy before bed.
Taking daddy's temperature. And at the park. And then watching Super Why with daddy.
HIs favorite thing about going to the park is seeing dogs. He got so excited when he saw one, he fell. hahahaha
My lil' Valentine......
He loves to play with tupperwear... chat during meals.... catch streamers and lanterns. Though those days are over as I'm taking down decs FINALLY.
He LOVEs his gift from Evan. I can't wait till we can go outside to use it!
Yummy! the 2nd from the left is him sucking down the yummy risotto we made. and on the end, he was making us laugh with silly antics during snack time.
Just being him in my arms....
Super happy to be let loose in a shoe store. And loves going up stairs!!!
As always, I am sure I'm forgetting things that are soooo worth noting (for grandma! ha) but for now, this will do!!! We are headed to Omaha this weekend, so hoping we get to do something fun...and WEston is excited to have more Cailin time. I will try to post another blog soon with soe pics from my REAL camera. ;)
From staring agape with Weston-wonder, to drumming with a ferocious concentration on anything that suffices, to squinting and smiling when we enter the cold winter air... I want it all preserved so I can continue to look back while I simmer down each night in bed and reminisce about all the darling mannerisms Neil and I have somehow created in this tiny human, who toddles with drunkenness--his persistent curiosity his poison.
I think most of the note-worthy news consists of not so much developments as personality-based quirks. (And yes, I know many kids will do similar things, but all together, Weston is unique and special and the best son I could ever ask for. Ever.)
AFFECTION
Clearly I stake my own worth as a mom on the ability to teach Weston how to show affection. From giving open-mouthed, sloppy kisses on my cheek to lying his head in my lap for cuddles...I couldn't be more proud when he doe something new that shows he loves me (or someone else, for that matter.) On his birthday, I dropped him off at daycare and was headed out the door...stalling as I do everytime I have to leave him. And I am so glad I did because he BLEW ME A KISS before I headed out the door. The caregivers were just as thrilled as he'd never done it before. And I literally cried all the way out to my car. Because of the significance of the day, I couldn't have been happier.
CHATTY
He now doles out the "uh-oh" whenever something drops. Though his "oh" sounds is more like "uh" so it's "uh-uhhhhh".... He really does talk A LOT. Now if only he said real words. I've been around a lot of 1-year-olds, and I can safely say that he's one of the chattiest kids ever. His daycare confirms that and says he's always yammering away...and with gusto too. His faces he makes and gestures....I just know he's going to someday have something really important to say. LIke, "I ate something off the floor and I liked it!"
We've been trying to teach him animal noises. Mostly for DUCK, DOG, CAT, COW, PIG and MONKEY. I don't know why we do this as humans, but apparently, it's super important for us to know which domesticated animals we hear....rarely if ever. haha Now this would make sense back in the day with cavepeople...teaching our young when they hear a certain growl to high tail it out of there...or a chirp means food is nigh, etc. But anyway.... it's entertainment I guess. So of all the animals, the one Weston has learned the best is COW. (For dog, if I 'arf arf" a bunch, he'll chime in with his version, which is a monotone, "ahh ahhh"... and for duck, he'll say "ca ca" every now and again...) but check out his MOOOO, and the first night he learned it.
HYGIENE
He loves to brush his teeth still. And after his bath, he has started this darling routine, which we of course have only egged on after ONE night he did it all on his own. I finally got a video of it, though missing from this recording is what usually happens.....him dropping a sock or his pants, bending to pick them up, dropping his shirt in the process. This won't be nearly as cute when he's over 2. So enjoy it while's he's little.
PLAY TIME & PERSONALITY
He's also on a "look at me lift this" kick. Meaning, anything that is big and awkward, but just small enough for him to put his arms around, he lifts it up and walks...and then usually falls or drops it. His ANYWHERE chair, his Rocktivity table, the ottoman, the changing pad.... they are no match for our lil' Hulk.
He's getting so much better with diaper changes. I now play a "where's your foot" game with him when putting on his pants. That seems to get him interested...and always seems so surprised when I once again find his foot in the very pant leg I put it into. :)
A favorite song for him to listen to is one of my mom's faves. It's "I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee." This link has it at the bottom, but there are missing verses...ones I can totally understand were cut out by an idealist....(about licking up the baby bumble bee off the hands, and then puking becuase it doesn't make us feel good...hahah) But Weston LOVES the licking and puking parts. So we shall continue with our own way.
Overall, I just am so happy to report that he's such a playful, joyful lil' guy. He loves to giggle....and to play "psyche" (where he gives you something, and then takes it back and runs off...). He likes to go after my feet now because he wants to be attacked by them. Proof:
And more gleeful moments, brought to you by a very tired Weston.
The dancing continues. He'll now go to the computer in the den and point to it when he wants to dance as he knows that is how daddy plays music. And the other night, (and this has happened several since...) Neil was excited thatthe Penguins were going to be on TV here in town....so he jumped up and down and cheered. Weston immediately joined in...and I luckily got some of it on video though it's really dark. You'll also witness how very clumsy he gets before bedtime. It's how we know it's time for bed.
PEEK.
EATING
Our pediatrician wants him completely bottle-weaned by 14 months. The 3 daytime bottles have been totally obsolete since the end of January YAY. Was much easier than I thought it'd be.
But the night one....eeek. I was so nervous to take this away. Plus I love to hold his lil' warmness as he relaxes. This weekend, with my sister in town, we went out to eat on SAturday night and didn't get home till 730. Weston fell asleep on the way to our house, so we just changed him and put him in his crib. Voila. No nighttime bottle needed. Last night, we read him a book and played with him and then put him in his crib and voila again! no bottle needed.
Then I took a bath. I seem to have my emotional breakdown/epiphanies in the bathtub. And this time, I started crying because I realized I didn't take note of the last time I got to hold him as he sucked his way to slumber. I was heartbroken. How could I so nonchalantly get rid of the last bit of 'baby-dom' that seems to be left? So I've decided, I am going to backtrack selfishly. Tonight, he gets his last bottle. I might cry...I might sob. But one thing is for sure. I am going to intentionally savor every moment of it. And then we'll move on. ;)
Meal time has a few things going on that I want to remember.
I might have mentioned this before, but he still wants a piece of food in each fist before he'll start eating. So we have to give him two big pieces of bread. banana, or crackers or he's asking for "mo mo mo mo."
When he's tired of eating whatever it is that is on his tray, and usually this is a sign he's teething, he will start crying and pointing toward the cupboards where we store his crackers. It's his way of asking for dessert. And I think the hardness of the crax feels good on his gums.
He's getting better with a spoon, though not quite where he needs to be if we want to be hands off. He sometimes throws a fit if we don't give him food in a tiny bowl or a spoon to stir it all. In fact, Saturday night when we were out to eat, he threw a FIT and kept pointing to my food. I tried to give him a bite of my risotto, but he refused it. He screamed louder. Surely, he didn't just want my fork, did he? FINALLY, I put my HUGE HUNK OF A BOWL in front of him, and if i could have had his expression on video, I would be a happy mom. He literally shivered with delight. He was soooo excited to have such a large bowl. He took his little spoon and stirred it up, tasted it...didn't care for it, but he was content that he was such a big boy. So we're going to be pushing the dishes now with him in hopes dinner time is a bit more happy.
He apparently loves vinegar. He saw Neil dip his bread in balsamic vinegar and begged for some. So we tried it. And he wanted it again. So finally I got some of it on video.
After dinner, we want to teach him about cleaning up. Of course, he's too young to help, but rather than just release him from the table because HE's done, we have him watch us do the dishes and wipe everything down. We say, "You wanna go BEEP BEEP?" And then we scoot his high chair to the other side of the kitchen where he has a better view, all the while, he's waving and saying 'Buh Bye" to the kitchen table. Then we either give him dessert (a graham crax) or something to play with like measuring spoons. He's usually fine to watch us.
Apparently, he as a LOT to say when the toy speaks Spanish.
More drumming!
This is one of my favorite videos yet. He is a thief when we open the fridge... watch what he runs off with.
And then he wants to give his loot a ride.
When Cailin and Weston hang out, things get CRAZY. The first is of their neverending amusement with one another. The 2nd is Cailin literally putting Weston to sleep.
MISCELLANEOUS
Despite us opting for the tubes, he got another ear infection 2 weeks ago. So that's awesome. We're dealing with it as we can, but I do hope it's not going to be more of the same or that will have been a waste of money.
The pic on the left... he found his long-lost Sleep Giraffe...and immediately laid down with it. Of course, it only lasted 2 minutes. The one on the right...how cute is he...and innocent..holding his baby carrots??
Just trying to make friends with "kiiiiiii"......
Got a cheerio stuck to his snot. Yummy. and he LOVES getting his hands washed. It's a ritual after meals!
Cailin is his favorite person besides me. :)
Just some sleepy pics. The one on the far right makes me feel like a warm, fuzzy blanket.
Oh yes, always wanting to get into things....or on things....
It was high 50s so we went outside for a bit. His first interaction with a soccer ball.
The range of his orneriness. He loves unrolling toilet paper etc. He defied my demand for him to NOT climb on the stroller. A snap of him finishing off his laundry routine. And then the far right is the result of me giving up on getting him to only sit in his chair.
A day at the park. He drove us. (jk)
Evan's his buddy. Even though sometimes when they hug, it ends with Weston on the floor.
Wearing grandpa's glasses... then at the doc's office... and just cuddling with daddy before bed.
Taking daddy's temperature. And at the park. And then watching Super Why with daddy.
HIs favorite thing about going to the park is seeing dogs. He got so excited when he saw one, he fell. hahahaha
My lil' Valentine......
He loves to play with tupperwear... chat during meals.... catch streamers and lanterns. Though those days are over as I'm taking down decs FINALLY.
He LOVEs his gift from Evan. I can't wait till we can go outside to use it!
Yummy! the 2nd from the left is him sucking down the yummy risotto we made. and on the end, he was making us laugh with silly antics during snack time.
Just being him in my arms....
Super happy to be let loose in a shoe store. And loves going up stairs!!!
As always, I am sure I'm forgetting things that are soooo worth noting (for grandma! ha) but for now, this will do!!! We are headed to Omaha this weekend, so hoping we get to do something fun...and WEston is excited to have more Cailin time. I will try to post another blog soon with soe pics from my REAL camera. ;)
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