13.5 months old

 

Milestones:
Sleeping: Well, things were great till about 10 days ago. I think some teething, a stuffy nose, and fluid in the ears is throwing you off a bit.  We're now pushing 7:15ish bedtime (at which point you are just zonked out tired), but you're waking up earrrrrllllyyyy.....not like the usual 7am of months past.  This morning you woke up just shy of 6am.  There is a big difference between 6 and 7 in my book, and I am really hoping you'll go back to 7am wake-ups when you are feeling better!! (pretty please!)
Eating:  You love to eat.  You can sign "all done" and "eat," and most of the time you are signing "eat."  (admittedly, sometimes you are doing "eat" with one hand and "all done" with the other, so we have to work on that some more!)  I need to step up my cooking game this month to give you a wider variety of foods.
Clothing Size: Totally depends on the brand.....usually in the 18 month range.
Diapers: Size 4
Teeth:  4!  2 top teeth, 2 bottom teeth.....but plenty more starting to think about popping up!
Language:  You still love to say "Dada," "Mama," and "Dog."  We've also heard "All Done," "Yea," "Hi, " and "Daisy" -- and lots of gibberish that we don't understand quite yet!  This month you started saying "Ball" and something that seems to be "Lilly."  You snort when the dogs bark -- as if snorting and barking means you and the dogs are communicating.  I think if you could be a dog you would.  You love chasing balls, you lay in their dog beds, you love playing in water (though we do our best to keep you from their dog bowls), and you just love to cuddle and lay on the dogs whenever you can.  Lilly thinks it's awesome, Daisy is not so sure.
Etc: We traveled to WI this month.  You went to your first professional baseball game (Cardinals v. Braves).  You really enjoy playing with all of the neighbor kids.  Summer weather has started here, and the sprinkler has been running for the kids, and we've set up the water table that your Uncle Donnie and Aunt Leslie sent us for your birthday.  You think it's tons of fun!

Peony Season

Peony season has brought us a real bounty of beautiful platter-sized blooms this year!  We have vases and vases of flowers in our kitchen, our bathrooms, and on the front hall.  Our house smells peony-licious, and I love having fresh flowers from our garden everywhere!  The hydrangeas are up next :)

Celebrating Moms

We celebrated today by going to the Cardinals vs. Braves game.  It was my first Cards game (and Logan's first too!).  He was a real trooper....and we were pretty adventurous ourselves as it was right during his naptime.  Fortunately, we were in a big suite so he was able to run around and there was plenty of food too, which was nice.  

I feel like I really earned my "Mom stripes" this past week.  Scott was out of town for four days, and in that time I had a horrible stomach flu, Logan threw up all night one night (poor baby - I hate when he is sick - it just hurts my heart), and even one of the dogs managed to have some stomach issues.  Being a mom is a role that I am honored and blessed to have, and I put every ounce of energy I have into making every day a great one for my sweet baby.  It is rewarding, fun, fulfilling, and all-encompassing.  It is also exhausting -- especially in those rare instances when I've been sick but still need to care for Logan.  It does take a village -- and I am so grateful for SB and how wonderful a father and husband he is. 

I feel like my thoughts here are scattered, but the message I want to share is that I have so much respect for all moms out there.  Being a mom is one of the toughest jobs around -- tougher than I ever thought prior to becoming a mom.  There is no "off" moment.  You are on 24/7 - and your performance matters 24/7.  I am lucky to have lots of wonderful moms in my life -- my own mom, my sister, my friends who are moms, our great neighbors who are moms (and help to answer so many of my mom questions!).  So here's to moms everywhere -- wishing you a very happy Mother's Day 2012!!

Wisco Weekend

We enjoyed a long weekend at my parents' house in Wisconsin this past weekend.  We drove up Friday morning, and returned Sunday afternoon.  I am loving the fact that we are driving distance from my family.  It's about a 5.5-6 hour drive, but it is the closest I have lived to my family since I went away to college.  One of my good friends from high school got married, and we had a great time at the wedding festivities.  Here's a little pre-ceremony shot right before we left Logan in my parents' care for the evening:

It was drizzly, and my hair frizzed up the second that I stepped outside.  I think I need to learn how to "do" my hair for special events.  Maybe a set of big curlers is in my future?

Some additional highlights from the weekend:

• Spaghetti dinner on Friday night with my parents and 4/5 of my sister's family
• 5 mile run with my sister (she logged a total of 10 miles as she is preparing for a Memorial Day 1/2 marathon!!)
• An early Mother's Day celebration/Sunday breakfast with my parents, and my sister's whole family
• Seeing all of my old high school friends!  We are spread across the country, so it is always a treat to hang out with them :)

Random bullets....

• I bought 2 bathing suits from Land's End for our upcoming vacation -- actually 2 tankinis.  (and I'm not afraid to say that I love them and their built-in, soft-molded cups!  Can I get an Amen from any other former breastfeeders?  Yes, I realize that this may mean I'm officially old!)
• We bit the bullet and will be getting a water-softening system next week.  I am excited about having normal hair again (seriously -- hard water does a major number on hair...especially colored hair!).....but I'm not excited that water softeners aren't exactly the cheapest things around.
• The Rams hosted an awesome NFL Draft Party last night.  Logan and I went with 3 of the families in our cul-de-sac (SB had to work).  We felt like we were living large -- hanging in the VIP room, and then playing all the games inside and outside.  A photographer from ESPN's radio station took this picture.....honestly, the boy is not without a ball in his arms for very long at any point during the day!

  

 

• I am so excited it's Friday!!  SB will continue to be wrapped up with the Draft - so it's just me and the little guy.  I'm hoping to fit in a long run tomorrow morning before SB heads to the practice facility, and then maybe we'll hit up the children's museum in the afternoon.  We have a birthday party for a 4 year-old neighbor on Sunday at a bounce-house place.  Should be fun :)

My week in iphone pictures

It's been another eventful week here in the B* household!  We've experienced a couple of really fun "firsts."

On Saturday we visited The Hairy Elephant -- a local kids' salon for Logan's first haircut!  Admittedly, this was the second time I'd booked an appointment.  I chickened out the first time (just before LB's 1st birthday) -- I loved his cute long 'do, and was worried that he'd lose his baby "look."  But it was getting a little extra shaggy.  The experience was just perfect.  Logan sat still, and only had one short crying episode.  I was really nervous about whether he would be able to sit still long enough for her to do it - but he really did a great job!  Here he is post-cut:

 He wanted to do a little yardwork that afternoon:

 He has been loving his basketball and basketball hoop lately.  He likes to dunk it, and then run over for lots of high-5's.  It's really cute!

 Some smiles during lunch. Cheeeeeese!!!

 And here is our second "first."  Logan visited the St. Louis Zoo for the first time this afternoon.  It was a glorious 73-degree, sunny day, and there were no crowds whatsoever.  We saw the bears, penguins, puffins, lions, gorillas, zebras, camels, prairie dogs, and obviously we had a very up-close and personal interaction with a chimpanzee!  Surprisingly, Logan wasn't all that excited about any of the animals.  We'll definitely give it another visit soon!

Wall Decor...Bathroom Style

Our children's/guest bath has lovely soft yellow walls...and not much else going for it!  Or rather, it didn't until now!!  I etsy'd them up just recently with a couple of new buys that we framed.  I have yet to get the finished products back, but I am just so excited!  Here are the new cheerful prints I ordered:

 SOURCE

SOURCE

Both of the sellers were awesome, and so easy to work with.  I love everything about etsy, and can't wait to get these up on our walls!!

Speaking of walls, we had some DIY artwork hanging above Logan's changing table - but he tried to pull it down every single time he was up there.  I bought new command-strips and now he can't pull it down anymore!  Hooray!  Such an easy little fix, but it took me months to get around to doing it.

Hard Water?

Have any of you experienced hard water in your homes?  How did you handle it?

I just recently diagnosed the issue behind my many, many bad hair days!!  We're talking years of bad hair days - and it's all due to the water in our house!  It wasn't the shampoo (or rather shampooS as I've tried many), it wasn't my head-scrubbing techniques -- it's the water, and it took me nearly 3 years to realize it!  I always felt like my hair had some extra residue on it, color wouldn't last that long, it wouldn't blow-dry straight very well -- and it just never felt the same kind of clean as when I would get it washed at a salon or even at my parents' house.  And on a semi-related note -- our dishes weren't getting squeaky clean either (and supposedly it can affect your washing machine too - but I hadn't seen it that much myself).

SO yesterday (on Easter Sunday, of all days) - I went over to Lowes and bought a shower head water filter.  One shower in, and I've already noticed amazing changes!  I have a Culligan rep coming out here next week to learn more about our water, and whether a water softener is in our future.  They can get a little pricey - but this could be worth it.  I'll keep ya posted :)

Now if I can just figure out why I'm getting tiny little holes in my cotton t-shirts in our washer!! (anybody have an answer for that one??)

The last sticker...

Easter 2011 was one for the record books.  We had a 22 day old little baby who didn't sleep well the night before, and didn't nap all day.  It may have been in the top 5 most difficult days of 2011.  Today has already started off on a better foot!  We had a full night's sleep, SB, LB, the dogs and I went for a run this morning, and oh! the Easter bunny made a visit and brought Logan an Easter basket :)  But for now, I'll continue reflecting on the past 12 months!! 

We have gone from learning how to care for the tiniest little creature, to learning how to teach and engage an energetic, excitable, curious walking, talking toddler!  All in one year.  It is mind-blowing.

Stats:
Weight:  24 lb, 2 oz:  75%
Height:  31" - 80%

Milestones:
Sleeping: You are a sleep champion!  We are still doing 7pm-7am every day.  You are still taking 2 naps a day really well (knock on wood!!!)
Eating:  Welcome to the world of cow's milk!!  YAY!!  We've also been able to introduce you to eggs and strawberries - and you've liked them both.  You're eating well, and we'll start working on using a fork and spoon as soon as we buy a couple that are appropriate for this age.
Clothing Size: Totally depends on the brand.....some 12-18 month, some 18-24's.
 Diapers: Size 4 -- moving into 5's soon
Teeth:  4!  Your top 2 teeth broke through this month - so you have two little buds up top, and 2 big teeth on the bottom.  So cute!
Language:  You still love to say "Dada," "Mama," and we still hear "Dog" every once in a while.  We've also heard "All Done," "Yea," "Hi, " and "Daisy" -- and lots of gibberish that we don't understand quite yet!
Etc: We had a terrific 12-month visit with Dr. Graham.  She was impressed with your gross motor skills, and your verbal skills to date.  She says that usually kids who excel in one department take a little longer in the other -- but you will certainly keep our hands full as she witnessed how you like to get into everything!!  She said that your screeching habit is developmentally normal -- and will likely pass in the next 6-12 months as you learn to communicate in some other, less ear-piercing, ways!  This is the last month for which we have a sticker.  It's hard to believe that 12 whole months have passed since you joined our family.  We're having a blast, and we can't wait for more!  Love you to the moon and back!! xoxoxo

Easter Basket for Logan

Last year Logan was just 3 weeks old on Easter.  I had bought him some cute bunny ears for pictures, but hadn't gotten my act together for a basket.  This is his first year with an Easter basket!  I bought this cute liner from PBK, and a white basket from Target.

 

It seems there are a couple schools of thought when it comes to filling baskets.  When I was a kid, I remember waking up to a basket on my nightstand, filled with a couple of little presents.  We would then hunt for eggs around our house to fill it even more.  Our cul-de-sac will be doing a little outdoor Easter egg hunt on Good Friday evening (the forecast is gorgeous, which is great.  You may remember a serious tornado came through our area last year on Good Friday.  Logan was fast asleep - but the storm really started when our little neighbor kids were running around, hunting for eggs)  Here are a few things that will fill Logan's basket for Easter morning:

(from Carter's)

 

  

(2 Dr. Seuss books from Target during their $5 sale)

 (filled with puffs, yogurt melts, or goldfish)

What do you put in your little ones' baskets?