49 Weeks

Only New Orleanians have clothing with images of food on it, my Lil Shrimp Poboy.

Communication is reaching new levels but I'm still working to understand.  I am ready for you to talk, baby boy.  You gesture and fuss to try to get your desires across but it can be frustrating for both of us when I am not sure what it is that you're wanting.  

I LOVE when I finally get the right food item on your tray and you put your lips together, say "MMMMM" pat your belly, and smile.  Makes for lots of dinnertime giggles.

Freddie has also taught you to take a swig of milk and then let out a big "Ahhhhhhh."  That's a Papi goofball original, in case you are wondering where Freddie learned it.

You understand a lot, even the word "No."  You flex your muscles and disregard it, and it's obvious you're making a stand.  Makes us smile.  You do listen to my "no"s quite often as well as my requests to hand me specific things.  The best is when you follow through with my request for kisses and lean in for some.  It's actually even better when you initiate those kisses and lean in for some love unprompted. 

Your hair is lightening up in the sun and your skin is tanning. I also think you're slimming down and getting longer, although your thighs are still pretty beefy.

You're taking imitation to a new level:  You're helping me change your diapers.  You reach for a baby wipe and then try to clean yourself up.  Not exactly helpful, but very cute.  

Still no independent steps, and you are still not happy using the walker.  You do cruise around on the furniture and use your slither to speed around the house after Freddie.  You're also getting brave and climbing up on the small chairs as well as climbing up on the trundle and then onto the bed.

We love you, Hansie Monster!

Niagara Falls

Gammie and Pudge were in town last week.  They rented a van to experience a road trip with this krewe!

Niagara Falls is one of those things I've always wanted to see, and living so close it felt like it had to be on the list of things we do while we're here.

The car ride was long, but painless.  It made us want a minivan more than ever.  It just feels as though there's ample air for everyone to breath in there, which is much needed as when Freddie's talking a mile a minute in our sedan it feels as though he's using up all of the oxygen!

The stops along the way were nice.  Freddie gets excited over picnic lunches and there was a kite to fly.

Niagara Falls was an interesting place, with lots of interesting people watching.  The number of international tourists there was astounding.  The falls are amazingly beautiful and powerful.  But after looking at the falls and riding The Maid of the Mist to get an idea of just how powerful they are, there's not much else to do, but the town has been built up to look something like a carnival. 

We enjoyed the sunshine and meals together and the hotel swimming pool.

And it wouldn't be a vacation for Freddie if he didn't have a Shirley Temple with every meal.  He's quite the connoisseur. 

He's on to us

Freddie:  Mom, will you hand me the P-O-Y?


Me:  What's P-O-Y?


Freddie:  I don't know but I need you to get that P-O-Y.



I suppose our days of spelling out entire conversations are limited. 

Memorial Day Fun

Playing in the surf.  It's COLD!

Things didn't exactly look like they were lining up to make for a perfect Sunday at the beach, but we reasoned our way out of the house, into the car, and off to the beach.

Lunch

It was raining....Do you want to be stuck in the house all day with them?

The boys had been running fever the night before....They aren't contagious and we don't know these people anyway.

No one got great sleep....We must get these cranky kids out of here. 

 The crowds were going to be thick....Stellar people watching!

We packed the umbrellas along with all of the beach gear.  At the very least, we figured we could do a walk on the beach in the rain and hunt for treasures. 

Water was cold enough to get Hans off his belly!

It turned out to be a beautiful day after the clouds passed, and beach parking was limited, to prevent big crowds and erosion, so the crowds weren't as bad as they could have been, but we got in our dose of people watching. 

Time out of the city is good for all of us.

The art of imitation

I am not yet potty training Hans, but Freddie is trying his darndest.  He asks to get Hans onto the potty with him at every opportunity.  I usually oblige because the kid just might be onto something.

48 Weeks

11 Months!

We are officially counting down to ONE!  And I am dragging my heels a bit. 

 

It's been a long 11 months in many ways when I really think about it.  I'm sure there's been some whining here to prove just how long of an 11 months it has been.  Somehow at the same time it seems that just last week you were a teeny weeny screaming mimi. 

And your development keeps trucking along.  You let go of my hands this week and amazed us, yourself included, by standing for a good 10 seconds before reaching to hold on.  You're still generally uninterested in anything that has you on your feet away from a stable support like the couch.

 
You are imitating more and more.  I like the phone up to your ear best.  You've begun exploring in the cabinets and examining hinges to see just how they work.  I love this phase where those small details hold your attention.  It is so interesting to see you make sense of the world.

I know there's lots more change ahead of us, and I cannot wait to see what you've got in store. 

Just an average night before bed

47 Weeks

• Wearing the outfits Freddie was in just 10 months ago
• Cruising on the furniture
• Squatting down to pick things up

 

• Following your brother's lead
• Getting more hair
• Getting longer and slimmer
• Hit a growth spurt, tried three outfits from the drawer before I found one that fit

No matter how sweetly it begins, someone always get irritated.  Sigh.

• Observant
• Cautious
• Master at shaking your head "No!" 

• Chipped front tooth, perhaps from emphatically shaking your head "no"?
• Enjoys books and pointing to pictures
• Says Mama, Dada, Banana
• Slithers rather than crawls

 

• Many chins and layered thighs
• Opening and shutting, filling and dumping
• "Sings" Itsy Bitsy Spider with hand motions

• Stubby toes
• Dancer and shaker
• Points to request

Lovin'

Animal cracker bin turned aquarium courtesy of Freddie and Dada

• Mother's Day crafts
• Swim lessons on Saturdays
• Beach trips on Sundays
• Sand pedicures
• Nutella
• Swimsuit coverups
• Summer trips
• Sandals
• Popsicle stained lips
• Little fingers and the Itsy Bitsy Spider
  

I'm a mama

One day everyone will look at the camera.

Who would have ever guessed I had this waiting for me in this life? 

What could be better than standing in a hole with Cheetoh bits lingering on your face?

It amazes me to look at them.  I'm not sure that feeling will ever wear off.

I'm a lucky girl.

46 Weeks

You're up to 8 teeth this week!  Your finger in your right ear seems to be an indicator of discomfort.  I can feel a molar on its way up.  Those teeth coming fast and furious must mean you're ready for a big poboy.

You certainly act like you're ready for a poboy at the supper table.  You eat anything and everything.  You gnaw of the best bites, or do things like suck off the cream cheese and hand back the bagel. We've also dropped to one nursing this week with only the evening nursing remaining.  I hadn't planned that to happen for a couple weeks but with your throat hurting and wanting get going with whatever Freddie is doing in the morning it just kind of happened. 

You've started saying "Dada" this week, calling to him as he comes home or as we walk to the elevator to greet him.  Love this.

You're using your walker more and using it to help you string together five or six steps across the living room floor.  You're also interested in holding my hands and walking around the house.

I continue to see you on your knees and was feeling like you were going to take off with crawling but instead you pushed yourself up to sit.  Freddie was very excited.  He's your biggest cheerleader, even if he's the first to clobber you sometimes.

I feel like we are in the countdown to ONE and your development is fast and furious.  It's fun and exciting, but I'm still not sure I'm really ready.