10 months old

Everybody warned me.  I should have listened better.  Everyone said it (more than once).  I should have paid attention harder.  I’m here to tell you today, that it’s true.  Everyone was right.  Nobody lied.  Boys are soooooo different than girls!!

At only 10 months old there is so much evidence of this.  D is crawling all over the place, up the stairs, has conquered the one step down into the living room, face first.  We’ve had more bumps to the head than both girls combined times three, did at this age.  He discovered the drawer under the oven, something that I don’t think the girls knew existed until HE showed them last week!

This kid is truly a boy.  One hundred percent B.O.Y. 

Here are a few pictures of my (not so) little dude from the last month.

Almost a month ago D needed to get tubes for his ears.  After 6 infections in 9 months we knew it was time.  The picture above is him in his surgical gear waiting for the doctors to come get him.  He was his happy, charming self – completely unaware of what was to come.  He didn’t mind when the anesthesiologist carried him away, he just gave me a cute smile and went with the doctor.

The procedure was quick.  We were called back to see him when he was awake and in recovery about 30 minutes later.  This pic is him after having a bottle, just before we got dressed to leave.  He never cried a bit.  He was a total tough guy, the whole time.  He even let us go out to lunch afterward!

Enjoying an apple slice. 

We visited Santa early this year, before Thanksgiving even.  I like getting to go on a weekday, and since K was out of school for conferences we took advantage of that and went to the mall.  There were no lines and K even went back to sit on Santa’s lap a 2nd time!

On Friday we put up our Tree.  So far D hasn’t bothered it too much.  But we still have to keep an eagle eye on him.  My biggest fear is that he’ll try to pull himself up on it and bring down the whole tree!

Chowing down on some ribs at Dickey’s!

My little helper.  He can be on the other side of the living room, I’ll open the dishwasher as quiet as humanly possible and he’ll still hear it and be in the kitchen before I can blink!  So if you stop over and wonder why the dishes aren’t done, it’s probably because I have too much “help.”

9 months old

It is unreal that Baby D is 9 months old.  He is so active and getting tougher and tougher to keep up with. He’s crawling all over the place (including up the stairs), he’s getting into everything and I’ve already had to break out the baby locks for the kitchen cupboards.

This kid has a smile you can’t resist and a contagious laugh to match. He knows how to clap and wave, only when it suits him, of course.  He makes kissy noises, but we are still working on blowing a kiss and he’s most recently learned how to stick out his tongue and blow raspberries.

Now that he has his tubes and should be able to hear properly – I’m hoping to hear him say “Mama” in the very near future.  At this point, he babbles incoherently and we all just eat it up.

In addition to crawling, he’s pulling up everywhere and has even started to cruise the furniture.  I have a hunch that he could walk by Christmas.  (I’m open to any and all ideas for how to protect my Christmas tree this year).

He rejected baby food so long ago that I gave up and don’t even bother with that anymore.  He eats what we eat, and then some.  His favorites include a wide array of veggies (peas, carrots, corn, green beans, broccoli), fruits (apples and bananas), meats (beef, chicken, and turkey).  He loves his toddler snacks – those melt in your mouth puffs and freeze dried yogurt melts, we take those everywhere we go. 

The biggest hit in the last couple of days has been mashed potatoes, like his Daddy, he couldn’t get enough of those!

Even with all of that eating he still weighs in on the small side at 18lbs 3oz putting him in the 13th percentile.

His sisters still adore him and they continue to fight over who he likes best, who he thinks is funnier, and who’s name he will say first.  (I still think it will be Mama). Don’t ask me why but I really didn’t think that they would still be so enamored with him at this point.  I thought that would have worn off after a few months and/or one he was mobile.  While they have learned to keep most of their toys away from him, I still have to pry his little mouth open and fish out a shirt for Polly Pocket or a shoe for Barbie from time to time.

I can’t wait to see what the next 3 months bring!  Like I said, I’m sure he’ll be walking soon and then the real fun begins!

All photos in this post were shot by Heather at Heather Reese Photography.  Check her out at http://www.hreesephotography.com/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/hreesephotography.

Baby D gets new ears

November 4th

After enduring 6 ear infections in 8 and a half short months, Baby D was a great candidate for tubes.  Last week we got to take him in for the surgery.

Little Mama had tubes put in her ears around her first birthday so I wasn’t nearly as nervous this time around.

Baby D was a champ.  We handed him over to the anesthesiologist and he didn’t complain a bit. 

Here he is just before we sent him into surgery.

Luckily the surgery is very short and within about 20 minutes they called us back to see him in recovery.  He was excited to see us and they said he never cried a bit.

 
Here he is in recovery after having a bottle.

If only all trips to surgery could be so simple.

(Sorry about the photo quality, my phone is good but not exactly great)

Meanest Mommy Ever

In an effort to catalog and complie all of the events in which I am dubbed "The Meanest Mommy Ever," I'll be sharing these stories on the blog.  Feel free to chime in and let me know if you are Team Mommy or Team Kids.

Bed time battles are never fun. 

I left the girls in their room at roughly 8:30, with all the usual instructions about no talking, fighting, etc etc blah blah blah. By 9:15 I had already endured 2 visits from the girls (1 each) and M's visit included crocodile tears about how K hurt her.  (I'll never understand how they manage to get hurt all the time when they each swear they were just laying in their own bed quietly trying to sleep).

After sending M upstairs with an ice pack, a hug, and promises to check on her 27 times (no more, no less) K was back.  She didn't like it when I immediately told her to turn around and I pointed to the stairs.  She grabbed my hand and turned on the water works, while jumping up and down - probably for some sort of emphasis.

Then the worst happened: she spilled my drink (my favorite drink!) all over the carpet, the side of the couch, and herself.  I lost it.  I had nothing to say but a loud Momma Bear style "GO!" 

She went upstairs in full tantrum mode and that's when I got it...."YOU'RE THE MEANSEST MOMMY EVER!"

I might be the meanest but at least I got to finish watching my show in peace, even if I didn't refill my drink.

Fall Fun & Halloween 2011

A few weeks ago, on one of our unseasonably warm fall days, we went out to the pumpkin patch for the corn maze, some fun rides, pumpkins and the major highlight…The Corn Pit.

The potato slinger

The potato shooter

The girls absolutely love the corn pit!  We even went back a second time just to play in the corn.

Last week the girls had their Halloween parties at dance class.  They had a great time dressing up, playing games and sharing candy with their dance friends.

Tonight, the girls had a blast out trick or treating.

My Baby Buzz Light Year,  Tinkerbell, and Princess Aurora

Just before they went out, Rapunzel (A), Aurora (M), Tinkerbell (K), Buzz Lightyear (D), and Heinz Ketchup packet (Baby B).

 
Official candy taste tester.

We hope you had a great Halloween too!

7 years old

September 2011

Last month Princess K turned 7.  She chose a “Hip Hop Party” at the dance studio.  She invited about 20 friends.  They learned a short routine, had cupcakes and then performed for all the parents at the end.

 

With Ms. Katie after the party.  (Thanks for a great party Ms.Katie!!)

 

My crew before K got on the bus on her Birthday Morning.

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

I’ve got it.  I’m in it.  However you want to phrase it, TROUBLE has come to live with us for. 

Sweet Baby D will be 8 months old this weekend and while he’s not crawling with his tummy off the floor yet, he can do this:

this:

and most disturbing of all…

THIS!

I’m not ready for this.  I wanted a little more time with the baby who stayed in the spot I put him in. 
Oh well, I guess I better lace up my running shoes and break out the baby gates because the chase is on!  I’m sure I’ll be running after him for the next several years.  (help.)

This boy also refuses traditional baby food.  He prefers to feed himself toddler food or actual food.

This was him when he first tried rice cereal. I get the same face every time I try to feed him baby food coupled with most of it spit back at me.

Instead he prefers:

steak

carrots and peas

I can’t say that I’m upset he want to eat real food.  It is quite helpful to let him serve himself.  He also enjoys cheerios, yogurt melts, toddler puffs, lasagna, apples, green beans, bananas, chicken, zucchini and I’m hoping for much, much more! I’d love for him to be a better eater than the girls are.