11 months old

*Army crawls like a flash.  Likes to complete a loop around the house stopping to look at things along with the way.

*Loves to play with the “boing, boing” door stoppers that look like springs

* loves to stand on your lap and get pulled back and forth with his arms.

* Follows mama around the house and waits outside the door to the garage, the bathroom, and the shower.  You have to check carefully when you open doors.

* Has only pulled up to a stand once.  Not sure why he hasn’t done more of that.

* Not interested in walking behind the walk with help.

* Will not self feed, or East Stage 3 foods, or cheerios or puffs.  Will gag and throw up. (bit worried about this….)

* Will not put a sippy cup spout or straw past his lips

* Very, very clingy to mama when she is around.  Regards new people suspiciously before he decides he likes them or not.

* LOVES knocking down block towers that mama builds.

* Doing better sleeping (shhh), but still wakes up in the night or early in the morning (too early)

* Likes to squeal back and forth at his sister when she screetches at him.

* Does not really like riding in the jogging stroller

*Finally gave up the morning nap

* Has two bottom teeth and two front silly looking teeth coming in.

* Does not like to chew on toys (BIG surprise).  Does not put much in his mouth.

* Been out of the baby carrier carseat for around a month (thank goodness, my arm was shot).

Soapbox

Can I get on my soapbox for a little bit?  There are quite a few things annoying or bothering me or are things that I want to say.

1.        “Hipster glasses” – what is up with these big clunky plastic frames from the 1980’s.  They didn’t look so great then, and I think they are only marginally more fashionable now. 

2.       Cirumcision – oops. Biggie.   Since the birth of my son and the research I’ve done, I developed an anti-circumcism view.  I just don’t think it is necessary to electively operate on an itty bitty baby so soon after birth for in most cases, non-religious or purely cosmetic reasons.  I don’t judge those that do it, I just don’t believe it myself and I don’t like my tax dollars going to pay for it for patients born on Medicaid and I don’t think insurance companies should pay for it either.  That will decrease the practice in this country quickly.

3.       Gluten-free.   This does not pertain to the people that have gluten intolerance, or celiac.  It’s the people that think it is the “cool” “healthy” thing to do.  It is not a fun way of eating, it is highly inconvenient and socially crippling at times, especially for children.  It requires a lot of advance planning and feeling left out.  It angers me to no end that people say they are trying it because it “sounds interesting”.  GAH!

4.       Bright white tennis shoes.  With dress pants.  And bright white socks.  Especially on senior ladies.  It looks so silly.  Buy A colored pair of sneakers or one good pair of all around leather shoes like the Europeans do.  You will look so much better.  I even got my mom wearing black or gray shoes with black or gray socks.  It looks so much better.

5.       Other moms – We are our own worst enemies.  People thinking my baby should be walking by now or talking more by now or reading out loud or something.  He is a baby.  That the woman at daycare with the very chubby baby is doing something wrong.  She’s not.  He’s just a chubby baby.  He’ll probably outgrow it.  All kids are different.  Mind your own business. Don’t judge so much.

Had to be said.  Whew…..

House update

How are you?

Things again are crazy.  We are still trying to unpack from moving houses.  It’s difficult to get ahead without taking time off because there are all the normal things to do – laundry, baths, dishes, cooking, shopping, sweeping.  It leaves little time to cut into the bulk of moving chores.

We did finally sell out new house.  It wasn’t on the market very long, but we had to lower the price quite a bit.  We are supposed to close in a few weeks.  We’re really not making any money on the sale, but not losing any either, so I should be glad about that.  Oh and even though they new buyers don’t actually own the house yet – the tested paint samples in the kitchen.  Can you believe that? 

 I don’t quite feel like I belong at the new neighborhood yet.   I miss the schoolyard to walk down to with the kids or the park.  I miss chatting with neighbors in the evenings when we are outside and P works late.  Those are things about the neighborhood I miss, rather than the house.  I liked my old dishwasher better.  The front door is faded purple and I need to take care of that ASAP. 

The new house is very nice.  Laundry is so easy with the laundry room off of the garage.  No more racing up and down two flights of stairs.  The pantry is great – I can see what we have and keep the counters less uncluttered.  There are so many windows and we get so much more natural light.  The kids having their own bathroom with their bath toys is wonderful.  No more slipping on toys in the shower.  The linen closet is huge and I don’t have to stuff towels and sheet in there haphazardly to make them fit.  It’s great to have a kitchen island.  I don’t have to make a left turn at a crazy no-light intersection to get to daycare. 

Things are coming along.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to live in such a nice house.  This summer I hope I can meet some little friends for V.  IT’s difficult to break into established social groups.