Twenty Months Old

Whew! It sure has been a while. I've been meaning to come back and post a little more regularly, but between the end of the school year craziness, getting custom orders done, making items for the upcoming craft show and taking care of Little Bub, I just can't find the time or the energy. Even my household chores have been a little neglected. And definitely my time in the kitchen has been almost nonexistent. Salad for dinner again, dear? Oh well, it's good for us, right?

I'm definitely enjoying my time home this summer. Mostly. We have our days where Little Bub pushes my patience, but overall we are having fun and I've been getting a lot of stuff done for the craft show. It helps when Little Bub takes a 2-3 hour nap. :)

This is how we are spending our time this morning. 

Trying to get away from the TV. Little Bub has been on a Cars kick this past week and brings the DVD case over so we can watch it. Again and again and again.

I just can't believe he is 20 months old today. He is turning into such a little man. He still loves a lot of the same food (he had a whole large slice of pizza to himself last night!) And blueberries are a new favorite. He goes to the fridge and pulls them out for lunch everyday.

He has learned quite a few signs now and regularly signs thank you, even without being prompted most times! We're still working on please. ;) He is talking a little more too. Still words and not phrases, but he does well with the "oo" sound like blue, balloon, shoe, moo, boo, etc. They mostly sound the same and we have to look at what he's pointing at before we can figure out what he means.

He loves Mickey Mouse and Chuggington, and of course Cars. He still likes to be read to and look at books. And magazines like This Old House. Ha. His absolute favorite books are Wake Up, Little One and Why I Love My Daddy. Those often travel up and down the stairs with us throughout the day. He just got his first trike this week and he's already figured it out even though he can't quite get going on his own. He loves to go for bike rides in the pull behind trailer though! And his very best friend is Teddy. 

I am not ready for him to be two years old yet. It's only 4 months away now. Eek!

Sixteen Months

Today Little Bub is sixteen months old. It seems like we just had his birthday! During Little Bub's first year, I took a picture each month as he grew. I thought I would continue that as he grew, at least until his second birthday, but it's hard to find the time. Also, his baby book doesn't have entries for those months, yet I feel like they should because he is still learning so much each month and growing so fast that I feel like I won't remember all of it!

 

 

So this is going to be my baby book entry for 16 months of new things since his last entry.

 

Sleeping patterns: 7/8 PM-7 AM; 1 nap per day about 1.5-2 hours

Eating habits: Breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner; will try just about anything; often eats whole grilled cheese sandwiches, slices of pizza and pancakes

 

 

Favorite foods: peaches, pears, string cheese, yogurt, pizza, pancakes, bananas, lunch meat, grilled cheese, and BREAD (especially garlic bread)

New foods: hot dogs, Chinese food, pulled pork, Chef Boyardee Ravioli

New skills: walking, riding the tricycle, using the potty, shape sorting, following directions, swimming without any adult help, climbing into little rocking chair, flushing the toilet, feeding self with a fork

New words/signs: Nap, bath, blowing kisses, eat, more, drink, mama, milk, uh-oh, hot, brrr, yuck

Favorite activities: playing with Frankie (the dog), helping wash the dishes, reading books, looking out the window, coloring (read hoarding crayons), playing kitchen, throwing balls

 

 

And we can't forget his first haircut!!!



I'm Back!

It's been a little over a month since my last post. Whew! I hadn't planned on such a long break, but I've been so busy launching my little business through Facebook. In the last month and a half I have made over 30 hats and 5 banners. That's just an estimate, I'm sure it's more!!

I'm so incredibly grateful to be able to put a smile on people's faces by making cute hats and other items for their families. I started this to be able to give people an affordable option for quality items that are personal and homemade.

The orders are slowing down a little now, which gives me a chance to start some other projects I have been eyeing up. I have some hat patterns I haven't even tried yet! I can't wait to see how the bonnets and the sun hats turn out.

Little Bub has grown so much since my last post. He is walking up a storm and learning all sorts of new words. He has even been swimming at lessons without parental assistance. He has a "bubble" floaty around his waist and a noodle under his arms and he can swim across the pool!! It's totally amazing and sad at the same time.

 

We were able to play outside a little bit the other day and now that Little Bub is walking, he loves it!! I have to say it was the funniest thing to see him trying to stand back up while bundled up in his gear. He looked like an orange marshmallow! His hair is getting so long. I want to cut it, but Daddy says no. Can you believe it? Actually he says to wait until it's warmer, so it keeps his head warm. As long as he's not mistaken for a girl, I don't care.

 



Happy New Year

Long time, no new posts! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and end of 2012. I spent a lot of time working on Christmas gift projects and enjoying time with Little Bub on my break from school.

Today was my first day back at work and I can say without feeling guilty that I enjoy getting out of the house and wearing makeup so I couldn't be a full-time-stay-at-home mom. I love Little Bub to pieces but I start to feel a little stir-crazy after about 10 days at home with him; at least in the middle of winter and in a small town there are not many options besides holing up at home.

Plus, Little Bub is not quite old enough to spend long amounts of time doing activities. His favorite thing to do right now is climb up and down off the couch. Especially with a book! And then he will bounce on his bottom and flip through the pages. But don't try to read to him, he wants to flip through at his own pace! Unless it's his very favorite Brown Bear, Brown Bear book.

When he's done that a few times he will slide down (a skill I'm proud to say he mastered in just a day or two, so I don't have a heart attack when I find him on the couch by himself) and crawl over to the other couch and bang on it until I help him up. Then he'll yank on the curtains and look out the window. That is actually most of our day, besides eating and sleeping.

Yesterday we tried some coloring, but Little Bub was more interested in putting the crayons in and out of the box. Someday he'll get it!

 

Mommy Brain

Anyone who has ever had children knows what I'm talking about. In fact, there was just an episode of Modern Family that covered the topic.

While I was pregnant, "mommy brain" didn't really rear it's ugly head. However, as soon as I came home with Little Bub, it really kicked in. In the beginning it was pretty harmless: leaving the house for Little Bub's first peds appointment with slippers on, forgetting why I went into a room or if I brushed my teeth.

And guess what? It's not getting any better. Just within the past week I took Little Bub to swim lessons without bringing towels, forgot to take my lunch to work, and left the house without my glasses.

Recently, I even drove 20 minutes to the grocery store, only to have to drive all the way back home because I had forgotten my purse. Of course, I had to drive back to the store because I hadn't gotten any groceries!

This article on Discovery News claims that in actuality mothers don't lose brain function, but instead their brains rewire based on a whole new set of priorities linked to the care of their children. That's all well and good, but what about the time I left the house for the first major shopping trip (read a 45 minute drive away from home) and I forgot to bring the bottle of pumped milk my 4 month old son needed, which I had left on the counter in an insulated bag. Let me tell you, nothing makes you feel worse! Luckily I was able to solve the problem by buying a new bottle and some formula at Wal-Mart.

Whatever the case, I sure wouldn't trade in Little Bub for anything in the world, including some lost brain power!