Mini Milestone

The baby is still refusing to walk as a main mode of transportation though he has demonstrated that he has the ability, just not the desire.  That's fine.  Little Miss walked at 14-15 months.

That out of the way, I've been working with him on using a cup for 6 months now.  He never holds his bottle so it's been a challenge to get him to hold a cup.  He'll drink from a sippy cup if I hold it for him, but I'm not going to hold his cup for him. I had a hard spout and a flexible spout. He greeted with the same level of enthusiasm - none. He got pretty good at throwing the cups, too. So, a week ago, a friend suggested these cups. I purchased, and they delivered yesterday. This morning, I gave him some water, and he picked up the cup and drank. Just like that! It'll take awhile before I'll take him off the bottle completely only because it's day one with the cup. I'll keep his milk in a bottle until he starts to really intake liquids from the cup and then make the switch.

He's great at eating any and all food.  He's just bad at figuring out when to chew and swallow so, with meats in particular, he chokes and vomits which is lovely.  My thought is that's the only way he's going to learn to shove less food in his mouth.  In the meantime, we're limiting how much food is on his tray so he can't overstuff.  There's not much food he won't eat though he loves Cheerios (as do all kids).  Shortly, I'll be able to cook him up some toddler food, but I don't think he's there yet.  I do roast him veggies and give those to him.  He likes the sweet potatoes and black bean mix, but he just really enjoys any food that we're eating.  Makes him feel like a big boy and so proud of himself.

Conversations with Little Miss

Little Miss, Captain, and I were walking home yesterday.  Little Miss is literally poking her brother.  He hates it.  He's pushing her away and fussing.  So, I tell her to stop.  He's telling her he doesn't like it.  She says, "But I'm the big sister.  I'm supposed to bug him."  I told her, as a big sister, I understood, but as the mom, I have to tell her to stop.  

And that began an entire evening where she acted like my sole purpose was to ruin her life.

Husband often asks how the two of us will be when she turns a teenager.  I told him it won't be a problem.  One of us won't last that long.  

Baby Turns 1!

Baby turned 1.  Ridiculous, right?  As planned prior to his birth, his birthday theme was The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Yes, I have planned next year's theme, too.  Don't judge.  I didn't go all out, and it was super low-key and relaxing.  It was the easiest birthday party I've ever planned.  Here are the goody bags...

More goody bags and the hat my mom made him when he was born.  It still fits him, but his motor skills are developed enough to rip it off his head immediately.  Better picture of the book and hat.

Thanks to a friend, we had caterpillars, signs and butterflies to post everywhere.  I stuck close to the fruits and chose some of the Saturday foods.  I also made some salads to keep the adults filled.   It was a 2PM party so we didn't have the pressure of serving an actual meal.

I printed out all of the weekly photos and placed them around the center column as a giant caterpillar.  It came out better than I imagined.  

We bought an ice cream cake.  Luckily, Coldstone Creamery had one because I waited too long to order one anywhere else.  The smallest Coldstone size was cheaper than the similar size at Baskin Robbins, too, so we all lucked out.  I made the number one and caterpillar out of clay because I'm too cheap to buy it off of Etsy for $40+.  I think they came out cute and came out to be like $3.

It was a great party.  I like to keep them small at this age so it was really just best friends and immediate family.

On his actual birthday, as tradition dictates, I got him an overpriced cupcake.  He was hesitant to eat it at first until Husband put a piece of frosting in his mouth.  After that, he inhaled the entire thing.  He was done very quickly.  While he was eating, he also went to work on the other end and was a giant stinky mess at the end.  Husband chose the diaper end, and I chose to clean up the high chair.  It took us both about 20 minutes to get everything and everyone back to their original shape.

Also, as with Little Miss, Baby has outgrown the nickname Baby.  We've thought about it, and his nickname is going to be Captain.  Husband calls him Commander.  Technically, I call him Captain Crankypants, but that won't keep his dignity intact as he gets older.  It will be appropriate from time to time though.  He'll always be my little baby.

April 2015 Weekend Update

April was the beginning of a very busy time for us.  If we get through to Memorial Day, we can tackle anything.  The first weekend was Easter and the end of Spring Break.  Little Miss had a great Spring Break.  It started with a little bit of sickness, but she rallied and got to enjoy 2 days down in Williamsburg and Busch Gardens.  The next day, she went to Mount Vernon which she has been asking to visit for months now.  That night, we had dinner with friends of mine.  Little Miss hit it off with her kids and asks about them constantly.

For the Saturday before Easter, we went over to Brother-in-Law and Sister-in-Law's for dinner.  We had an early dinner and had a relaxing evening playing video games and watching the babies play.  On Easter Sunday, we hung out at my parents' house for a bit.  We had a relaxing dinner and I brought some cupcakes for dessert.

The second weekend of April was the Masters.  We had hockey that morning and then went to my sister and future Brother-in-Law's for a housewarming party.  My aunt and uncle were in town.  My uncle had yet to meet the baby.  It was a lot of fun.  On Sunday, we (and a billion people) went to see the Cherry Blossoms in their peak.  It was a beautiful, unseasonably warm day.  Little Miss really had a blast though.  Baby was less than impressed, but he was very well-behaved.

The third weekend in April was ridiculously hot.  I went to the Nats/Phillies game for my friend's birthday.  Then, we went to dinner and out on the town.  I'm still recovering, I think.  It was a blast though.  That Sunday, Little Miss had a birthday party for one of her good friends.  

The third weekend was the baby's birthday party.  I'm in denial that he is 1.  That will be a separate post.  That Sunday, Little Miss had ANOTHER birthday party for a friend.  Afterwards, Little Miss and I went to The Melting Pot for dinner together.  I had a Living Social deal that expired so I took her as a treat.  She was great at the restaurant and eating, but next time, I'm thinking we'll just do the chocolate.  

Movies Watched in April 2015

1. Muppets Most Wanted
2. Maleficient

To be honest, I have a little of Maleficient left, but I plan on watching it tonight. I'm glad we rented Muppets Most Wanted. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't as fun as the previous. Slow movie month, but it's the beginning of a very busy Spring. Hopefully, with a few good ones in May, I can pick that up. I have a few on DVR waiting to be watched, too.