14 Months Old!!

October 5 - November 4

So here we are, 14 months old. I'm a little late to writing this post, as I have been lately. But you'll have to understand that. We've been packing up what we can, and preparing to move on the 19th. Not to mention the tons of phone calls I've had to make between HR, moving companies, apartments, etc.

So anyway, back to Cael. I feel like he's started doing so much the last month. Here are some key achievements/accomplishments/milestones from over the last month:

• Cael has cut both top 1 year molars, and finally his bottom left lateral incisor. This brings the total teeth count to 10!
• Starting to run. Or at least gain speed while walking. The boy is quick.
• Dancing! More like alternating which foot he stomps, but he will do it if you tell him to dance.
• Clapping! FINALLY! I couldn't wait for him to start doing this. And he understands when you tell him to clap too, so he knows what it means.
• Temper tantrums. Oi veh. Consisting of throwing himself on the floor and screaming.
• Learning how to use a spoon. He knows what he has to do, and the concept of how a spoon works, but hasn't mastered how to scoop the food onto the spoon.
• Walks backwards.
• Further breast weaning. He's down to 2 times a day - once when he wakes up, and again right before he goes to sleep.
• Gives "high-fives" and "low-fives".
• Shakes his head side to side, which Matt taught him. However, he doesn't yet know that also means "no". Which is good for me.

Cael babbles A LOT, and talks his own language, which mostly consists of similar syllables, but he hasn't really started saying anymore words. I guess I'm a little concerned, because I hear of lots of babies close to his age talking sentences, and Cael isn't anywhere near that. But at the same time, there are also babies that are doing what Cael is doing. So I know I shouldn't be too worried. He will constantly babble "dada", even when Matt isn't around. He still doesn't really say "mama" or "mom", but he will say "yum" whenever he eats or drinks something. I just have to keep reminding myself that babies all develop at different rates. AND once he starts talking, I'll probably wish he didn't talk..Haha.

Using a spoon

Milk dribble!

Helping mommy pack!

Big belly!!

Little Man fell off the couch, and onto a roll of parchment paper he was playing with earlier

November 6th - Election day!

13 Months Old!

September 5, 2012 - October 4, 2012
Instead of counting weeks, I'm now going to just count months. Until Cael is 2, that is. Which makes it easier on me, too, because it's getting difficult to blog as often as I was, with an active and needy "toddler". Yes. Yes, I just used the word "toddler". I don't like the sound of it, but maybe I'm getting used to it more.


The last month went by in a flash! I can't believe I have a 13 month old now. And just last month, I was saying I can't believe I have a 1 year old already! Something tells me that this second year is going to fly by much faster than the first year. And that thought makes me sad. But it is what it is, I guess.

Cael is in the process of cutting his 1 year molars. I was wondering why he was going through a phase of crankiness and clingyness. Then I looked in his mouth a week ago on the 27th, and noticed that part of the upper left molar was already cut through his gums. On his upper right side, I could see the molar just under the gums. That explained everything! And also explained why he was waking during the night. I think it's funny that he's cutting his molars before there are even any signs of his bottom left lateral incisor coming in.

I'm so big!!

I finally went through all of the new clothes that Cael got for his birthday. I had to make room in his drawers, so I went through them and sorted almost everything. There was still a ton of 3-6 month clothes (mostly onesies) in the dresser. Yes, he can still fit into Carter's 6 month onesies. The pants that size are too short, but the onesies still fit. However, they're a little snug. He's been fitting in them for a while now, but the season is changing, so it was time for them to be packed away. He fits in 6-9 month clothes more comfortably now, with size 9-12 months being a bit baggy on him. Most of the new [winter] clothes we got for him are a size 12-18 months. Lots of cute clothes. But since he's not really wearing his 12 month clothes yet because they're too big, I'm a little concerned that he won't be able to fit in them by the time winter is over, and he'll have all these clothes that he never got to wear. But I'm sure he'll go through some sort of growth spurt during the winter at some point.

Meals have become a real fight between Cael and I. Or rather, I should say between Cael and the food. He used to love eating anything and everything I would put in front of him. But now, specifically at breakfast time, he is refusing to eat what I offer him. Unless it's Kix, he'll refuse it. He used to love yogurt, and basically inhale the entire container. Now, he'll eat anywhere from a few bites to only half a container. Even the mini pancakes he'll refuse. Or he'll eat only one or two. I have to search to figure out some new things for him to try. I hate how it's become a constant battle for him to eat real food.

Cael is now a master walker. I've even put him down a few times in stores to let him walk around and have some freedom. I have to get him a good pair of walking shoes. He's been wearing the pair that my mom gave me for him. They were actually my now 15 year old brothers first pair of walking shoes, when he was a baby. It's really cute and special, and I was shocked that my mom kept them. And even more surprised that they fit him perfectly. I'm sure he'll be running soon, as he's picking up speed when he walks excitedly.

Cael is getting quite the personality. He has his father's temper, that's for sure. Which means I'm royally screwed. He gets frustrated if he's trying to do something, such as fitting a block into its' shaped hole, and he can't get it in. He screeches, flails his arms, and sometimes throws the block across the room. Or if he's pushing a toy across the room, and it gets stuck on another toy, he starts getting frustrated and banging the toy. It's funny, and I can't help but giggle to myself. But boy, and I screwed.

Cael-tantrum

Along those lines, is that Cael can throw a temper-tantrum like a 2 year old. According to an article I read online, "one is the new two". And Cael is living proof of that! If you tell him no, or don't do something that he wants (and most times I have NO IDEA what he wants, because he can't tell me), he'll start screaming, and lay down on the floor. A few times, he's thrown himself down on the floor. The first few times it happened, I couldn't believe it. He's only 1, and he's tantruming like a 2-year old. But apparently, it's normal.

Snuggles for his sock monkey.

He does have some favorite toys. For one, he loves his Aden & Anais muslin lightweight blanket. I got a pack of 4 of them before he was born. They're thin, breathable and lightweight, and ever since he was about 5 months old, he's been sleeping with one. He has to pull it up to his face, and I would definitely call it a security blanket. I bring it everywhere for him, and he can't sleep without it. I love how he cuddles right up to it. Secondly, he got a purple sock monkey from my cousin for his birthday. He loves that sock monkey, and it's the first and only stuffed animal that he will hug. He gives it such a big hug, and cuddles with it.

Cael fell asleep on mommy

Blurry, but he's sitting in a new chair he got for his birthday./

Lunch time with grandma and mommy

Pulling apart Aunt Lindsay's cabinet

Nomming on some pizza!

Who is this big boy!?

On top of the world!

In the big-boy cart at Kohl's

He loves that sock monkey!

Happy 1st Birthday, Cael!!!

I cannot believe that it has been a year since Cael was born. I know this day has been coming for the last few months, but I feel like it crept up rather quickly. But the most shocking fact, is that I didn't have a breakdown like I thought I would today. Even while singing Happy Birthday to him upstairs with the family. I thought, if anything, that would be the time I would have a cry-fest. But no. It was all happy. Don't get me wrong, I had a couple of moments during the day today where my eyes got a little teary, and I felt like crying, but I just couldn't. I'm sad I don't have my squishy, tiny newborn baby anymore, but at the same time, I'm happy and excited at this incredible milestone. I'm excited to see all the new things that Cael will learn and discover.

The past year has been a complete and utter whirlwind. We've had ups and downs; highs and lows. More highs and ups, though, which I'm grateful for. We've had breastfeeding problems, weight issues, fussy days and nights, screaming fits, health scares, doctor visits and complete chaos. But at the same time, we've had nothing but joy and love. There are parts of my heart that I feel filled with love, that I never knew existed until September 4, 2011. Being a mother has completely changed me, for the better. Over the last year, I've learned to become an extremely patient person. I can deal with Cael's crying and fussing much more easily, more than I was ever able to deal with before. Maybe it's because he's my son, or because I'm home with him all day, but nonetheless, I can deal with it. Matt can't handle even Cael's playful screeches. They're loud and hurt, but don't bother me. I guess men's ears are more sensitive.

Matt is such a wonderful father. I know that, over the past year, he's learned things about himself from being a father, that he never knew before. It was rough in the beginning for Matt, because a newborn isn't very interesting, and only eats, sleeps, cries and poops. So he wasn't really "interested" in everything; or, rather, didn't really know what to do, since Cael was so dependent on me. But once he started getting older, and sitting up, crawling, and interacting with us, Matt blossomed as a father. I love seeing the joy in his eyes when Cael greets him when he gets home from work. And it melts my heart hearing and watching him oogle Cael and play with him when he gets him undressed for his bath at night.

So, we don't have any new stats on Cael as of now. He goes on Monday for his 1 year well-visit, so I'll update then. But I'll break down where Cael currently stands as far as his development and everything.

Mobility

Everything! Basically, the only thing that Cael isn't doing, is running. But he tries. He walks everywhere, crawls, stands, squats, kneels, rolls, does a "downward facing dog", and CLIMBS!! He climbs everywhere he possibly can. He has mastered climbing onto the couch by using his walker as a stepping stone. He can get his leg up pretty high, so he has no problem getting up onto the walker. He'll also use his toy table. One day, he got up on top of his toy table, and just sat there. I am just in awe of what he can do. And I now absolutely CANNOT leave him unattended. He gets up onto the couch with ease now, that I can't trust him anymore. He doesn't know how to properly get off the couch yet, so I would hate for him to fall and get hurt.

Cognition

Cael is really starting to understand what we tell him. You can tell by the way he looks at you when you talk to him, or his reaction to what you say (i.e. - "No" triggers a tantrum). He is also starting to figure out how to put things together. For example, he knows that a bottle cap goes on top of the bottle, and he will put it on the correct way. Of course, he can't screw it on, but he knows where it goes. Same thing with the lotion tub. After his bath, I always put lotion on him, and he always tries to put the lid back on the lotion.

He's also started pointing at things with his index finger, and trying to say (or at least, trying to say) "What's this/that?" And of course, we'll tell him what it is he's pointing to.

Personality

Cael is a little flirt. He's also shy when new people talk to him, or say hi. He'll smile at them, but then put his head on my shoulder and burrow into my neck. He's also just like his father. He's a dare devil, who is stubborn and does what he wants, no matter what you say. He has a tendency to ignore you when you're trying to reprimand him, or he'll turn and look at you for a second, and then turn back around and continue what he was doing. Basically, he's "scary". Scary, because it seems as though he's turning into his father. Attitude and personality entirely.

Food

I know that a lot of babies are picky eaters or fussy when it comes to food. Luckily for me, Cael isn't one of those babies. He'll eat basically anything I put in front of him. His favorite food is probably chicken and ground beef. He loves Shepherd's Pie, sloppy Joe's and taco's. He definitely loves eating 3 meals a day, with snacks in between.

As far as breast feeding goes, Cael has definitely cut back. He's down to a nursing session every 4-6 hours or so. Usually, it's when he first wakes up, around 7, then again before his nap at around 11:30, then in the afternoon, maybe around 4 or so, and then finally after dinner, right before he goes to bed. He's been good with sleeping through the night, but every so often, he may wake at either 1am or 4am to nurse, but go right back to sleep. I'm surprisingly ok with the start of this weaning process. I know making it to 1 year of breast feeding is a major accomplishment, and I'm so happy about that. But I would really like to get to 18 months. That's my long term goal. If I go beyond that, it's just a plus. Even if he's nursing only once or twice by 18 months, I'd still be happy.

I think that's pretty much everything I wanted to post an update on. Now for some pictures of the birthday boy on his birthday!

Cake time!

A tradition in our family - put letters on our heads from the cake.

Diving in!