Sixteen Months: A Letter

Dear Nicholas,

You are sixteen months old. The past month was a relaxed one, although we did enjoy a visit from Gammy and Grandpa in mid-May. During their visit, you showed off your growing vocabulary, made your first visit to the pool this year, and got your first haircut.

I use the term "hair cut" lightly. You were just growing a tiny bit of a baby mullet in the back and we trimmed you up. I was concerned that you would would wiggle and squirm too much, but Grandpa held your head and you did great as I made a few quick snips. We saved your baby fine blond hair in a little baggie to remember your first hair cut.

Since Gammy and Grandpa's visit in May, we have been back to the pool several times, and you just love it. You are a bona fide water baby, and I'm looking forward to getting you into swim lessons next summer. Until then, we will let you wade in the baby pool and roam around the splash pad at one of our neighborhood pools.

During your 16th month, you also got several new teeth. It's hard to get a good look in your mouth these days, but I think you have four new molars, and your lower incisors both appear to be coming in any day. All of this teething may have contributed to some increased clinginess this past month. You want to be held or carried all of the time, and you are experiencing some increased stranger anxiety. You've always handled daycare drop offs like a champ, but lately you don't want to see us leave. You will cling fiercely to us, and then cry inconsolably when we leave. (Although I always stay in the hallway after I leave and peek in the window of your classroom, and I can tell you calm down within a few minutes.)

We've also seen an increase in the dreaded tantrums. Tantrums are par for the course at this age, so we usually just ignore you for a few minutes and let you get all those emotions out of your system. Sometimes, you lie on the floor with your face on your hands, wailing, and then I catch you taking little peeks to see if we are watching you. This is pretty funny, but I try not to laugh. Afterward, you always want a cuddle, and then you are back to your cheerful self within a few minutes.



























You are also beginning to show some empathy and more affection. Early in the month, Daddy and I both got sick with a nasty stomach virus. When you saw us lying down, you came over and gave us a snuggle or lied down with us quietly. You could sense that we didn't feel well. You also now like to give us hugs and lay your head on our shoulder when we're holding you.

You have finally become an excellent napper. You are on a good schedule at school, which fortunately carries over to the weekend. You will usually go down around 12:30 or 1pm and sleep for two hours (or sometimes longer.) We did end up pushing your bedtime back a little because you just weren't tired enough at 7pm. Now, you're going down for the night around 7:30pm and will sleep until anywhere from 6:45-7:30am.

You continue to pick up new words by the day, and it has been so much fun to interact with you as you become able to share more and more of your thoughts with us. Favorite new words include truck ("tuck, tuck, tuck" -- always said in multiples), apple, night-night ("ny-ny"), and rawr (the sound a lion makes.) You now also say "no" in response to us doing or asking certain things. You've mimicked our "no-nos" for a while, but now I can tell that you are actually sharing your opinion or desires with us. Sometimes your "no" is overruled (such as when you don't want me to wash your face), but it's good to know where you stand on things-- such as whether you want me to read you a particular book or if you want a certain stuffed animal in your bed. I love getting to know you.

Walking in our backyard to check out the "fowas."

At this age, I want to remember you excitedly pointing out the window in the car and saying, "Tuck, tuck, tuck! Oooo-oo-oooo-oo-ooooh!" I also want to remember you contentedly turning around in my lap to hug me and say "ny-ny" after you finish your sippy cup of milk before bed each night. Daddy and I regularly discuss how you are the best part of each of our days, and we marvel at how you manage to keep getting cuter, smarter, and funnier each month. 

Lots of love,

Mommy

Five on Friday

Time to get this blog jump started again! I'm linking up with a few fun bloggers today for Five on Friday to share some of things I'm been loving lately.

1.) Blogging. I've been a serious blog slacker for the last few eight months. And I think I have some legitimate excuses-- juggling a baby and a full-time job (along with managing a household and finding a little time to spend with Jason-- or alone) is no joke. But, I'm not the first woman to do it, and I certainly won't be the last. I've missed keeping up with my blog and documenting our family's life. I love looking back on previous posts to see what we were up to and I think it's such a great way to document Nicholas' milestones. I've been feeling re-energized lately and I'm ready to start making time for the things I enjoy, including blogging.

2.) Pool time. We took Nicholas to our neighborhood pool for the first time a few weeks ago, and he loved it! Even as a little 5 and 6 month old last summer, he loved the pool. I think it's safe to say we've got a water baby on our hands. I'm looking forward to taking him back to the pool this weekend. And we have to snag him some water wings so I don't need to hover quite so closely as he toddles around the baby pool.

3.) Brunch. Nicholas has proven to us several times over the past couple months that taking him out to dinner with us is just no longer an option (at least for a while). At 16 months old, he is just not OK with sitting still (or sitting quietly) for any length of time. And that is OK. But we've missed getting out of the house for the occasional restaurant meal. Lunches out interfere with nap time, but brunch is perfect. Nicholas is rested and happy in the morning, he's content to sit in a high chair for a little while, and we're home in time for his nap. And we get to enjoy tasty omelets, waffles, and other treats (cough, mimosa, cough), while catching up with friends. Plus, we can always find something that our picky, carb-loving boy will eat. We've been out to eat at the 1886 Cafe & Bakery at the Driskill Hotel twice in the past month, and we're meeting some friends this weekend for brunch at Chez Zee. I'm looking forward to it!

4.) The Killing. We finished season 2 on Amazon Prime a few weeks ago, and loved it. It's set in Seattle, which is fun, despite the excessive use of the seriously industrial-sized rain machine they must have on the set. (Stereotype, much?) Although-- fun fact-- it was actually filmed in Vancouver, BC. Maybe they get more rain?? Anyway, last week season 3 started up on AMC. It's darker and creepier than seasons 1 and 2, but we're already hooked-- inordinate rain and all.

5.) It's Friday. It's been a long week and I'm ready for some R&R. Jason is bringing home take-out tonight and I'm looking forward to catching up with last week's episode of Mad Men. Have a great weekend!

Fifteen Months: A Letter

Dear Nicholas,

You turned 15 months a few weeks ago. As usual, it's been an eventful month. But first: your stats. We went back to the doctor for your 15 month check-up, and you are officially tipping the scales at 25 lbs., 2 oz. (50th percentile.) You are 31.5" tall (70th percentile) and your head is 49.5 cm (still rocking the 98th percentile.)

We unfortunately had another trip to the doctor earlier in the month for your 5th or 6th double ear infection (I can't even keep track) since starting daycare last fall. It's been a long winter full of illness, and we've considered tubes, but we're hoping this will be the last of it through the summer and perhaps we can delay tubes a bit longer. Regardless, you've been a trooper. Despite the frequency of your ear infections, I'm still never sure if you have one or not. You don't get too fussy, and only occasionally tug at your ear (which I think is also a sign that you're tired.) If the ear infections are painful, you certainly don't show it. Here's to hoping for fewer illnesses next fall.

On to the fun stuff! Your 15th month began with a visit from Daddy's family, including Dzia Dzia, Grandmama, and Aunt Kristin and Uncle Dan, and ended with a visit from Aunt Laura and Uncle Mike. They all loved playing with you and watching as you began to master walking. You also celebrated your second Easter, but enjoyed your first neighborhood egg hunt and visit to the petting zoo. You weren't quite stable enough to walk around on your own, but you did great when we held your hand. And you couldn't get enough of the colorful, plastic Easter eggs!

While you took your official first steps last month, you really mastered walking this month. You now cruise around the house constantly. You still wobble and lose your balance periodically, but it's pretty cute. It never seems to faze you. You just get right back up and continue on your merry way. Daddy calls you a drunken sailor. You also love walking around in the backyard. The uneven ground is a little tougher to navigate, and you topple over regularly, but each day I can tell you're getting stronger and more stable.

Your vocabulary has also started to really take off. One day we were reading one of your books and you kept saying "fava." I knew you were trying to say a specific word, but it took me a minute to figure out. I finally noticed there was a flower on the page, and from then on you have pointed out a "fava" or "fowa" (depending on the day) every time you see one. I am amazed at how you are able to recognize flowers in different contexts. You will point out a black and white flower in your story book, a painting of a flower over our mantle or on our kitchen wall, and real flowers (and shrubs) growing outside. We also told you to be gentle when touching our house plant (and we've been saying "gentle" for months whenever you swipe at our faces), and you started saying "den-dul." Now you regularly say "fava, den-dul." We're glad you are learning what gentle means, although we'd love it if you started applying it when you're being rough with us, too!

You are also very fascinated with dogs. Two dogs live next door to us and although you have yet to meet them in person, you always notice and pause what you're doing when they bark. The first time you heard them barking, you were eating dinner and you became very concerned. I explained that the doggies live next door and that doggies say "ruff ruff!" Now, every time we put you in your high chair, you point next door and inform me: "Dah. Fuff fuff." I will agree, and we will banter back and forth at length about the dogs who say fuff fuff.

I'm beginning to lose track of all the words you can say, but other favorites include buh-bye, hiiiie, tsahts (socks), shuhs (shoes), ow-siiih (outside - your favorite place), nana (banana), and no-no. In addition to all your new words, you are really starting to take an interest in books. You've always loved to flip through the pages, but now you will sit and actually listen to the story (although your attention span ranges from about 15 seconds to three minutes.) Your two favorite books are Goodnight Moon and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. You have loved Goodnight Moon from infancy (likely resulting in your early enthusiasm for socks), but I think it's so funny that you love Alexander, too. Don't get me wrong-- it's a great book! But it's long and it has black and white pictures, and I'm pretty sure you have no idea what's going on when I read it. But even though I will occasionally bury it behind your other books sometimes (just to get a little break), you will diligently dig it out, bring it over to me, plop down in my lap, and sit still to listen to about 90 seconds of the story.

This month you also got your first two molars on the bottom-- one on each side. You had a very runny nose and drooled quite a bit, but handled it well overall. However, we think the pain of your molars coming in probably helped to ratchet up your pickiness a little bit. You continue to be a real carb lover, but you aren't a fan of much else. You will happily chow down on mandarin oranges or applesauce, but you've decided that bananas (formerly your favorite fruit) are out. And you still love roasted asparagus and broccoli, but that's about it for veggies. You frequently eat meals that consist of nothing more than Greek yogurt and multi grain Cheerios, but we're working on it. Any time you try a new food, I consider it a victory.

And, last but not least, bed time. You are still a good sleeper and still sleep from about 7pm - 7am everyday. You've started waking up crying a few times a week around 10 or 11pm, but it's nothing that a few minutes of rocking and snuggling can't cure. We can thank those pesky molars for that. The cutest bedtime development is that you have become attached to your dad's early 1980s Burt and Ernie dolls. Burt's sweater has a hole in it, and Ernie regularly loses his eye, but you love them! Every night you ask for "Buht" (you call them both Burt), and watching you snuggle them in your bed is adorable.

You are just so much fun everyday and we are loving this stage!

All my love,

Mommy

Fourteen Months: A Letter

Dear Nicholas,

You turned 14 months about two weeks ago. What an exciting time! Your 14th month was been an eventful one in terms of milestones and new development. Most notably, you took your first independent steps on March 18th, just a few days before you turned 14 months. You and I were hanging out in the living room and you were standing up next to the couch. On a whim, I held my arms out and said, "walk to Mama," and sure enough you did, with two or three bobbly, adorable steps. You then collapsed on the floor in a fit of giggles and rolled around like a little, excited puppy who was so proud of himself. I pulled you back up to a standing position next to the couch, and you repeated your new trick once again, complete with the giggly rolling on the floor afterward. In the few remaining days of your 14th month, you practiced your new skill daily, taking 2-3 steps at a time. And, you can now easily walk across a room (or down the hall of your school as your teachers tell me-- a trip outside is a particularly good incentive) if someone is holding just one of your arms.

You can't quite pull yourself to a standing position without holding on to something else for support, and you're definitely not off an running, but you are just so proud of yourself when you take a few steps from a standing position over to an ottoman or someone's outstretched arms. It's pretty cute. We have no doubt you'll be cruising around on your own in no time.

During your 14th month, your language skills also started to really take off. You've been saying a few words for several months now, but in the past month you've added this/that (dhis/dhat -- accompanied by a pointed finger, usually as a request for us to name the object for you), cheese (cheessss), dog (da), moo (boooooof-- the sound a cow, or, according to you, any large mammal makes), and, surprisingly, socks (tsahts). One day I was sorting laundry and you crawled up to me very excitedly and grabbed one of your baby socks in each hand started waving them around saying "tsahts! tsahts!" I couldn't believe it. But, yes, those were your "tsahts." It took me a little while to figure out why "socks" had made the list of your top 20 first words, but I think it's because I always talk to you about putting on your shoes and socks before we leave for school, and of course a pair of socks play a prominent role in your favorite book, Goodnight Moon. I just love watching as your brain develops and makes connections, and you begin to communicate. It's one of my favorite parts of parenthood so far.

At 14 months, you are really starting to play with your toys. You love playing with your toy cars, you're fascinated by the Sing-A-Ma-Jigs you received from Aunt Kristin and Uncle Dan for Christmas, and you've started trying to ride your orange dinosaur or your Rodi for brief moments at a time. But, hands down, your favorite toy is a ball of any kind. You are obsessed! "Ba" is typically the very first thing you utter when we come get you out of your crib each morning, and we hear it no less than 30 times a day. You've got a good arm on you and love you to throw any ball you can get your hands on. However, your favorite ball is definitely the soccer ball. You haven't ventured into the world of kicking yet, but you love to roll it back and forth with us on the lawn (or inside on the tile if it's wet or cold out.)   We may have a little soccer star on our hands, which would make your Daddy thrilled!

A header? Not quite yet...

Each month, I'm a little sad as your babyhood recedes a little further. But, each month, I'm pleasantly surprised to find that I'm enjoying every new stage even more than the last one. Walking and talking are big milestones, buddy! It's so much fun to see you grow and change, and to discover a little bit more about who you are each day. You just keep getting cuter!

Much love,
Mommy

Thirteen Months: A Letter

Dear Nicholas,

You are 13 months! I feel like we just cleaned up from your birthday party (in truth, I did just take down the last two tissue paper poms hanging in the dining room last week), and now here you are-- another month older and wiser. After all the excitement of month 12, month 13 has been relatively quiet. And that's just fine with me.

You'll notice we're no longer taking your picture with Babar. You are just too wiggly and want to be on the go at all times. Over this past month, you did take a quick step from the ottoman in your room once each to both Daddy and I, but other than that you aren't walking quite yet. However, you love to stand up and walk while pushing anything you can get your hands on-- kitchen chairs, your music table, your rolling dinosaur toy, your lawn mower toy (a favorite birthday present)... even that jumbo size package of paper towels from Costco.

When you're not walking while pushing something, you still happily crawl anywhere you need to go. And you have discovered the joy of opening and digging through the cabinets. This is one of your favorite new hobbies, much to your mother's and father's dismay. I'm happy to let you dig through my bathroom cabinets and drawers because it keeps you occupied while I'm getting ready in the morning (and all dangerous materials have been moved to higher surfaces), but we're less enthused when you dig through the trash or recycling. We've purchased cabinet locks, and we're going to have to get around to installing them one of these days.

You continue to become more and more adventurous, and as you find new ways to test your limits you are beginning to hear the word "no" more often. I try not to overuse it, but sometimes it's necessary. ("No, you can't play with the knife." Said recently.) No makes you incredibly angry, incredibly sad, or both. Upon hearing the word, you will burst into tears and lie face down on the ground with your face on your hands, as though your world is ending. I try not to laugh, but sometimes it's hard to stifle my giggles because you are just so dramatic. It's cute. Sort of. ; )

During your 13th month, you celebrated your second Valentine's Day. We opened cards together as a family. You got the lion's share of Valentines, along with a card from Mommy and Daddy and a stuffed monkey-- because you are our little monkey. You also attended your first birthday party, for your buddy Doss.

On to the stats... you are 24 lbs., 8 oz. You got your 7th tooth (to the left of your bottom center teeth) during the first week in February, and you are gradually branching out and trying new foods. During a recent trip to Costco, you were watching me longingly as I tried several free samples. I felt kind of guilty for not sharing, so I decided to let you try the next one we encountered. Lo and behold, it was for Amy's frozen Indian entrees. You looked eager to try it, and I was a little skeptical, but I let you and you loved it! You ate the entire sample and so we had to purchase a package of the Indian entrees, and now you eat them several times a month. I'm glad you've inherited both of your parents' love for Indian food. You've also tried both ribs and brisket from Daddy's smoker, and roasted asparagus. Overall, carbs are your favorite, and waffles, peanut butter toast, pasta, crackers, and puffs are in heavy rotation. You also eat a lot of yogurt, apple sauce, bananas, satsuma oranges, and string cheese.

Your favorite source of nutrition is still your "bot" and you love drinking your milk every night in the glider before bed. Feeding you, rocking you, and putting you to sleep each night is our special time together.

At this age, I want to remember you doing your crazy head floppies in your high chair with your eyes open wide; handing me a "buh" and crawling into my lap for a story; stacking rolls of toilet paper or putting your wooden balls inside your bath cups-- such concentration!; and saying "uh oh" every time something falls from your high chair tray (or when you throw it.) You are so funny and smart, and coming home to you each evening is the highlight of my day. Keep growing and shining, buddy.

Love,
Mommy

Birthday Boy Bash

I'm over a month late in posting this (about par for the course these days), but wanted to share some photos from Nicholas' first birthday. On the actual day of his birthday, I took the day off work to spend some extra time with him and take him to his one year check-up. After his shots (yuck), we came home, ate lunch, and he napped. Later in the afternoon we hit up the park for one of his favorite activities-- the swings!

When Daddy got home, we opened cards and gifts, ate a Nicholas-approved birthday dinner of chicken artichoke spinach casserole and steamed broccoli with shallot butter, and then we sang "Happy Birthday" and presented him with his first cupcake. It turns out he may not be a huge fan of sweets (yet, anyway) because he puckered up and convulsed a little bit at his first taste of frosting. In all fairness, it was a little past his bedtime and he was a little cranky due to his earlier shots, but it definitely wasn't quite the response we expected! (We didn't capture photos of the first cupcake, but recorded a video instead.)

I spent the next few days in Houston for a big work event, and then made it back to Austin on Saturday afternoon to prep for his birthday party on Sunday. We hosted about 12 adults and 4 kids for a small, but festive circus-themed party to celebrate Mr. Nicholas' first year. He tried a second cupcake (still not quite sure about all the frosting and sweet taste) and had fun opening gifts and playing with his buddies.

Birthday boy waiting for the guests to arrive (or just checking out the balloons on the front porch...) 

 Caramel corn, cupcakes, animal crackers, fruit salad, sausage cups, and chips and guac (some items weren't out on the table yet)

Happy birthday to you!

What is this stuff??

Hmmm... not quite sure about this frosting...

...and I'm ready for a bath.

Post-bath outfit change (into a Manchester City soccer jersey-- dad's choice, of course) and playtime

With Pete, Jarren, and his favorite new toy... if only it really cut grass!

I think he had a good day!