Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Tantrums

List of Top Things to make Luke throw a temper tantrum
(in no particular order)

won't let him play with stove
stop him from changing the time on the clock
take away cell phone from him
take away car keys from him
stop him from pulling out bottles of wine from the wine rack
stop him from pulling dog's tail
putting him down after carrying him
stop him from playing in the dog's water
won't let him eat dog food
won't let him go down the stairs
eating
not eating
not letting him eat all the food on my plate
changing his diaper
won't let him play with remote
leaving the room
taking him out of the swing outside
if I don't throw the ball for him

He's not even two yet!

He has the best, most dramatic temper tantrums ever.
He literally throws himself on the ground, arms and legs extended and cries.
We ignore him and he usually gets over it.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Catching Up

It’s been way too long since I’ve written anything. I was considering stopping the blog but I decided that when I was trying to fill out Luke’s baby book that I found myself using this blog to look up events that happened and I think I’ll continue (even if they are more random postings) just for my own record of how Luke’s growing. And because I think Grandpa Rakshys likes reading it sometimes too. :)

My last post was about switching nannies and as many people may already know, well, that didn’t go so well. We started with our new nanny, L. The first day we were so happy and she seemed so full of energy and the boys loved her and we both thought this was a great switch. Then… we were less than happy. I won’t give too many details but it just wasn’t a good fit and she is probably better suited for older kids who don’t get into as much – or have as many specific needs right now. For example (ok, I have to give a few examples) the first week she was watching him he got a huge, I mean HUGE goose egg bump on his forehead. Now, I know boys fall and I’m not upset about the accident. (well, ok, maybe a little) but she never called us to tell us it happened and this HUGE goose egg is still apparent almost three months after the incident. Three weeks after the incident (on his first birthday party) he still had a huge red raised bump which had then drained and given him two black eyes. Awesome. My poor baby. And I won’t even begin to describe the stares I received from strangers who probably think I beat my baby. Ok, so that’s strike one. Then the next week we had told her we have not introduced Luke to peanuts yet (that includes peanut butter in case you’re wondering) and one morning, the other mom even reminded L that we have not given Luke peanut butter yet. Yes, he was a year old but Pete is sensitive to peanut butter so we wanted to wait until we were prepared in case something happened. Well, I picked up Luke and L told me he loves peanut butter. I told her we hadn’t given it to him yet and she nodded and said he liked it. (obviously a communication breakdown here because she didn’t see anything wrong with this) I think I must have looked at her rather quizzically because she then told me she knew what to do if he was allergic. And I thought…oh, really? You know what to do if a one year old experiences anaphylaxis? If he has swelling of the mouth or throat, hives, vomiting, loss of consciousness….? And you’re going to somehow manage to take two one year olds to the emergency room? So, I told her I wasn’t happy she did it, but it was done. So that was strike two. Then the rest was just a multitude of various small issues and if one of these things happened in isolation, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But when you combine everything together all four parents were feeling quite anxious having L as our caregiver. There was no doubt that she cared for the boys but we had issues with what she was feeding them (totally separate from the peanut thing), how often she was feeding them, their safety and general care as well as the fact that things seemed more chaotic when she was around – which was the opposite result of what we were looking for in a caregiver. It was a difficult decision but we had to let her go. We had started the new nanny search while she was still working for us and that was also stressful but we all got through it. Our new nanny is working out great and we are very happy with her!

Finding the right care for Luke was hanging over our heads for awhile and I didn’t feel comfortable writing about it on the blog but now that it’s in the past and the new nanny has been with us for several weeks, I feel ok writing about it.

In the last few months Luke has been growing and changing like crazy!

He got his first teeth…and then four more and it seems like they all came in at once. He was pretty cranky and I don’t blame him. So he has 6 teeth now and we think some of his back molars are coming in. At least that’s what I’m blaming the excessive drooling and super crankiness the past week (plus he’s had a little cold too).

He’s been toddling around and walking around furniture and using his little Lion walker toy and his Bumper Car toy (which he uses to walk instead of ride) and basically turn any toy into a walker toy. Then I got the best Mother’s Day gift ever and he took his first unassisted steps to me. Seriously, is that kid good or what??? He’s born on my birthday and takes his first steps on Mother’s Day. My guess is he will say “Love you Mama” on June 23 (our anniversary). Ha ha. So now he’s Super Walker. Or Walker, Baby Ranger.

He still loves to spin things but he’s also a big fan of bubbles and playing ball. He’s got a great arm (but he’s not great at catching yet…I’ll give him some time). Some of his favorite toys right now are still the rotary dial pull toy phone and his baby cell phone and his baby camera. Also his bead maze (those wooden based toys with the swirly metal and the wooden beads of different sizes) and baby basketball and he loves to beat up the penguin. The shape sorter toy seems to never ever get old with him. He gets frustrated when he can’t get the yellow lid on just right and he’ll bang it a few times, get frustrated and throw it. He now has a little scratch on his face from one of these incidents. He does pretty good getting the circle, triangle and square in the holes but that cross and star really throw him and his solution to this is to calmly open the lid, put the shape inside and close the lid quickly. He also likes to collect as many toys as possible and just put them in the bucket. I’d like to try to get him to start picking up his toys but I don’t know how successful that will be.

Bob is still his favorite stuffed animal (other than the lullaby ones he goes to sleep with) and he loves his doggy toy too. One of my favorite pictures of Luke with Bob the monkey is when we visited Arizona and we have Luke with Uncle Bob and Bob the monkey.

Luke is getting curiouser and curiouser. We put cabinet locks up months ago but he still tries to open them. He wants to play with the stove knobs and the oven timer. The toilet looks fascinating to him. He would empty out an entire box of Kleenex if I let him. The dog’s water and food are the most interesting thing ever. (I hope poor Samson doesn’t get dehydrated as we try to remember to put his water back when Luke’s not around.)

He’s been a great eater but lately he’s been fussy. I’m going to try to blame it on his cold and teething. Lunch is always his best meal but dinner time has been so difficult. He used to eat his whole dinner in like 15-20 minutes. He’d eat a protein, some vegetable, some grain and fruit. It was great. Now it takes about 20 minutes for him to stop crying over whatever it is I’m trying to feed him (even if he’s eaten it before and loved it). We’ll get through it. He’s definitely testing his limits and will throw food on the floor after we tell him No. He’ll look at us and do it again. And when I try to take the food out of his hand as he’s dangling it over the edge of the tray he screams like I’ve just ripped off his toe. He’s been hitting Pete lately. We tell him No and he cries. Then he looks at each of us and then does it again. And he just started hitting me this week.

I don’t want to end this post on a negative note and I don’t want him hitting me to be the last thing I write!

He’s gotten more snuggly lately with both Pete and I. I love when he snuggles – maybe more than ever because he looks like a little boy now and not just a baby. Pete and I comment on how he looks like a baby when he wears footie fleece pajamas but he’s a little boy when he has on the two piece pajamas. I’m going to keep putting overalls on him too because a) they’re cute and b) he looks like he’s still my baby.

He’s still a great sleeper and we are lucky that 90% of the time he wakes up babbling to himself – not crying. And he knows when it’s the weekend and usually sleeps in until 7:00!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Nanny Switch

Grace, is leaving us. Grace started watching Luke when he was 3 months old and she made my transition back to work so much easier because of how much I trusted her and relied on her. Our nanny share situation gave Luke a big brother, Tommy (older by 3 days) and I never had any doubts regarding Luke’s care while he was with Grace. She has been so nurturing and diligent in the care for the babies. I worried about how I would find a new caregiver and although we have found a wonderful new nanny, I wonder how she can replace Grace.

When Grace told us she was pregnant several months ago I was so happy for her but also sad that I knew she’d be leaving sooner than we planned. I was naively convinced that she’d work up until her due date (in June) and we’d have her as long as possible. So I guess I was surprised when she said her last day would be March 25. She and her husband purchased a house and it’s too far away for her to watch the babies every day and I know how tired she’s been getting as her pregnancy can be so draining.

She says she still wants to see Luke and Tommy when she can and I hope they know how much she cares for them. It was truly wonderful for a first time mom to have one major worry lessened as I went back to work but felt secure that my baby was being taken care of in a nurturing and safe environment.

We will miss you, Grace.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Eleven Months already???

Dear Luke,
One month away from being a year old already. I can’t believe it. I seriously can’t believe it. I still remember how it felt to hold you as a newborn in the hospital. I’ve been looking through your newborn pictures as I put together the invitation for your first birthday party and I can’t believe how much you’ve changed. Of course you’ve changed – that’s what happens. You are such a sweet, smart beautiful boy. You started taking your first steps while holding someone’s hands while we were visiting your great-grandparents and your great-aunts in Arizona. Your first tooth is finally starting to come in. And you’re beginning to eat more beyond general baby food. Your new favorite food is waffles and toast. You were not a fan of French toast and you still aren’t crazy about pasta. Your favorite toy is still that little telephone on wheels and you monkey, Bob. Although you can be occupied for about 30 minutes playing with a coaster and you love to knock down the blocks your dad builds up. You’re having fun with the little shape sorters and rather than just bang the shapes together to make noise I’ve noticed you trying (with limited success) to put the right shapes in the right holes. You still have a limited vocabulary of mama, dada and baba. But you know who Mama and Dada are. And I swore I heard you say doggy the other day. You and Tommy are such good friends and it’s so cute to see you play together.
When we were in Arizona you insisted on sleeping in bed with me and we won’t make it a habit but it was wonderful to have you snuggled with us in bed. You have habitually not been much of a snuggler from about 6 months on but ever since we got back from AZ you’ve been giving me better and longer hugs and I love it. You give the best little fishface kisses too!
You have had Grace as your nanny since you were three months old and it is so sad to write that she will be leaving us soon and by the time I write you your one year letter, she will probably be gone. She is pregnant and going to have her own little baby soon. She would be lucky to have a little boy as good natured as you are.

Being your mom keeps getting better and better. I think every phase you’re in is the best and then the next one is even better!

Love,
Mama

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Wordless Wednesday


One of the few pictures that Luke looks more like a Rakshys than a DiVerde

Friday, January 14, 2011

Guest blogger - non baby related

This is the post that was supposed to appear on Thursday.

In response to reading the following link about how 'epic' should not be used:
http://thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=epic

Here is my husband's list of crap he hates on the internet:
1) lol as punctuation
2) epic when not talking about a poem
3) comic sans
4) petulant repeating of characterrrrs
5) people who say "my Internet" or "I have the Internet"
6) just sayin'
7) too much emoting: I hate that but I love (((you)))
8) chain emails from the 90s
9) using fake swears from scifi shows: frell, frack, dren, feldercarb, drek
11) top ten lists with more or less items

*these are his opinions, not mine. I found them amusing even if I don't consider this an epic top ten listttt lol
just sayin' it's my internet too ya know
I don't give a frack if people don't like my (((hugs)))

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

wordless Wednesday...now with more words

I'm beginning my first annual Wordless Wednesday post but it's too weird to not add a description. I had the idea of taking pictures of Luke as Baby New Year. But 57, yes 57 pictures later and none of them were what I envisioned. There were some GREAT out-takes. Then I saw a baby new year picture today and decided to initiate Luke into my sad sad world of Photoshops. Here you go, baby!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Operation Sleep

I feel like the last year my mind has been obsessed with sleep. I used a Facebook app to show the most used words in my status updates and some of the top words were Sleep, Night and Morning. Once again I had another status update today about sleep - or lack of sleep. First off I had insomnia. It may just be a coincidence or maybe I set myself up for sleep failure by watching the movie Insomnia (with Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams) which was a pretty good movie. I was a little stressed/ preoccupied about things so I think that's the main culprit for my insomnia but the preventable cause of my insomnia is the baby monitor. I think I need to make the executive decision and change the settings on the baby monitor. When Luke was born I raved about my baby monitor - the best baby monitor in the world. It's a monitor AND a SIDS detection thing. There's a sensor that goes under the mattress and if it senses nonmovement a quick alarm goes off and if there is continued nonmovement (as in lack of breathing) a big scary alarm goes off. It was great because as a new mom I worried about him breathing and feared something could happen to him. Having my monitor prevented me from sneaking into his room to hear him breathe because I just had to look at my monitor and if the little pendulum graphic was moving, I knew he was breathing. Well, last night the alarm kept going off. I snuck in his room twice to move him. He was squeezed into a corner with his blanket both times. The first time he heard me and moved himself but the second time I had to move him and he promptly moved right back to where he was. The rational, logical side of me KNOWS that he is old enough to be past any SIDS related incidents. Since he is able to stand up in his crib, surely if he had an issue breathing, he would be able to move his head away from the blanket or bumper pad (even though it's a breathable bumper, it still worries me). But don't try to tell a mom that when the alarm goes off at 3:00 am. I think I should just turn off the SIDS monitor portion of the alarm. But I am so comforted by that dang pendulum swinging which reassures me that he's breathing.
Turning off the alarm may have the opposite effect and give me more insomnia from worrying if he's breathing.

Oh, what's a neurotic mama to do?

Monday, January 10, 2011

The haircut

Before


With Auntie Jamie


Eating a cookie for distraction




After


Such a little man!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

1st haircut

It's amazing how one thing - a haircut - can totally change the way someone looks. My little baby doesn't look like a baby anymore - he's a little boy! I got teary eyed when it was done. He looks so much better but he doesn't look like a baby.

I'm really glad I had somebody do it for me. Auntie Jamie came over and it was so much nicer having her do it in our kitchen while he played with some toys and we munched on appetizers than if we took him to a hair salon place. It's also way better than if I attempted to do it myself (my poor dog was my last victim in grooming when I decided to "trim" him without the guard. he was scalped) so it's wonderful that someone was able to do it who loves him and doesn't want him to look like a weirdo. He looks great and I'll post pictures soon.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Happy Nine Months, Luke

Yes, I know I’m late. But better late than…oh please don’t nag me for being late.

Dear Luke,
Nine months. It’s official – you’ve spent more time outside of me than inside of me. My pregnancy had more negatives than positives but life with you has most definitely been more positives than negatives.
You went to your nine month doctor’s appointment and you’re doing all the things developmentally that you’re supposed to. You use your little fingers to feed yourself Cheerios, Baby Mum Mum crackers and your little cereal puffs. You’re crawling and babbling and at the 50% on the growth chart. Your doctor says you’re perfect and I am in complete agreement with her. Well, your ear was less than perfect and you had your second ear infection. This time it was a double ear infection. You were on stronger antibiotics and hopefully feeling all better.

You had mashed potatoes for the first time at Thanksgiving you made your very first kid craft. I took your little hand and we stamped it with gold ink and then I scanned it in and changed the colors and turned it into a turkey hand. We sent some Thanksgiving Day cards to a few family members and I proudly kept that print on our fridge for quite awhile.

I can’t believe you’re almost a year old and I’d better start planning that first birthday party for you!

Love,
Mama

2010 - Where did you go????

Not just 2010 but where did the last month go? Seriously. I thought I was doing ok updating my blog but it’s been an entire month since I posted anything. Bad, bad, bad. This site started as a way to share what’s going on with my pregnancy and then I kept it up (somewhat sporadically) after Luke was born to share what was going on with him. I’m really glad I started it and glad I’ve continued it because it’s served a few purposes. I’m able to share what’s going on with family and friends (and anyone else who may have stumbled upon the site) but it’s also been a great place for me to record my thoughts and read back and reminisce, smile and hopefully share with Luke one day when he’s older. I hope to continue this site but I may write more than just what’s going on with Luke. I’m not a big fan of making New Year’s resolutions (except for the NY resolutions from www.theBloggess.com and her resolution for kittens to do less heroin…or more heroin depending on your stance.) but I will try to make some resolutions regarding my blog.

1. I want to write more often. I am happy when I post a new entry and I feel frustrated with myself when there is a big lull and I feel the need to write a catch up post (I now have several catch up posts to write) so I should just write more often.
2. If I have nothing to say, I will still try to post something.
3. Wordless Wednesdays are a great idea that I’ve seen on other sites and they may force me to post pictures at least once a week.

I think a list of 3 is good. For someone who doesn’t like any resolutions, three mini-resolutions related to one thing is quite impressive.