Elodie: Maybe you should have adopted someone different from Korea.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
10/22/11: C new car seat
Since C is now 29 inches, we changed him into a big boy car seat today (still rear-facing).
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
our 13-month-old: Week 2
from b@bycenter.com:
our 13-month-old's social and emotional development: Me first!
New this month: Me first!
Do you feel as if your whole world still revolves around your baby? So does he! In fact, for much of his second year, your toddler will be self-absorbed. Sharing toys, snacks, and especially your attention may be very difficult. Watch him playing alongside another child, and you'll probably notice that he isn't very interested in actually interacting with her.
You're still the most important person in your 13-month-old's life, and he's likely to demand a lot of your attention. But you'll start to see glimpses of his growing independence and confidence. As long as he can keep an eye on you, he may entertain himself in the family room for several minutes while you prepare dinner, interrupt you for a quick reassuring cuddle, and then venture out on his own again.
At 13 months, children start to recognize that they have power, and they're learning how to use it. Your toddler may demand that you read to him, push him on a swing, take him for a walk. Even if he doesn't use words, he can make clear, by tugging on you and pointing, exactly what he wants.
What you can do
Whether he's already a social butterfly or a little on the shy side, you can help your child develop social skills with these fun activities:
Hide and seek. Chasing you and hiding from you are probably among your 13-month-old's favorite activities. He'll be happy hiding behind a chair, a book, or even a dishtowel, and giggling endlessly as you pretend you can't find him.
Fetch. Your 13-month-old will adore this one, though you may find it less than entertaining. Throwing toys out of his crib or playpen or food off his highchair and watching you retrieve the objects and hand them back to him is big-time fun. He may also enjoy handing you toys, books, and other objects, expecting that you will hand them back. This kind of give, take, and give again is actually a social game, a way of keeping your attention. You may also notice that he loves an audience, and will repeat any "performance" that elicits a positive response, especially applause.
The "face-naming" game. Point to your eyes, nose, etc., and name them, and he'll soon get the hang of it. Ask him where your mouth is and soon enough he'll put his fingers right in it. Psychologists think this may be a precursor to the separation process (when your toddler figures out that you and he are separate people) that begins during the second year.
Other developments: Stranger anxiety and more fears
At around 13 months, many toddlers develop stranger anxiety. Yours may become upset when you leave him, even with friends or family members he sees often. A toddler who cries or whimpers, trembles, hides, or tries to run away from "strangers" is simply demonstrating that he can distinguish the difference between people he knows well — his parents and caregivers — and those he doesn't.
Even toddlers who are at ease with unfamiliar people will encounter situations that overwhelm them. A 13-month-old has a budding imagination, and things that never seemed to bother him before, such as the vacuum cleaner, bathtime, or a neighbor's pet, may suddenly be very scary.
What you can do
Remember that trust cannot be forced, so if your child is especially anxious around new faces, be patient and let him keep his distance until he's ready to interact. He'll look to you for guidance, so if you seem at ease around a new babysitter, for instance, he'll take that cue. It may help him become more comfortable around new people if you include him on excursions to the grocery store, or other places where he can watch how you behave around people you don't know.
**Someone right around C's first birthday, C developed stranger anxiety...bad. He really didn't want my sister Jenn anywhere near him when she came to visit for 4 days and he didn't want grandma to hold him either. He even prefers me to daddy. I've had to leave him in childcare for the first time in his life for BSF. He cried so hard the first time that they had to come get me. The second time they had me stay in with him. The past three times, I've dropped him off crying, but he stayed in the whole time and even took a nap, although they had to hold him the whole time.
He follows me around more and will pull himself up holding on to my pant legs and stay there so I can't move. He'll even start to whine, meaning he wants up. He's also started holding onto my arm when I'm holding him so I can't put him down if he doesn't want to be put down. Callen likes playing peek-a-boo and will even play it with the shower curtain in the bathroom on his own. He will play "fetch" with a ball and loves handing me things so I can hand them back to him. He also loves throwing his stuffed animals out of his crib onto the floor. He also very much knows the name "tongue" and knows that it means that thing that he can stick out of his mouth. :) **
our 13-month-old's social and emotional development: Me first!
New this month: Me first!
Do you feel as if your whole world still revolves around your baby? So does he! In fact, for much of his second year, your toddler will be self-absorbed. Sharing toys, snacks, and especially your attention may be very difficult. Watch him playing alongside another child, and you'll probably notice that he isn't very interested in actually interacting with her.
You're still the most important person in your 13-month-old's life, and he's likely to demand a lot of your attention. But you'll start to see glimpses of his growing independence and confidence. As long as he can keep an eye on you, he may entertain himself in the family room for several minutes while you prepare dinner, interrupt you for a quick reassuring cuddle, and then venture out on his own again.
At 13 months, children start to recognize that they have power, and they're learning how to use it. Your toddler may demand that you read to him, push him on a swing, take him for a walk. Even if he doesn't use words, he can make clear, by tugging on you and pointing, exactly what he wants.
What you can do
Whether he's already a social butterfly or a little on the shy side, you can help your child develop social skills with these fun activities:
Hide and seek. Chasing you and hiding from you are probably among your 13-month-old's favorite activities. He'll be happy hiding behind a chair, a book, or even a dishtowel, and giggling endlessly as you pretend you can't find him.
Fetch. Your 13-month-old will adore this one, though you may find it less than entertaining. Throwing toys out of his crib or playpen or food off his highchair and watching you retrieve the objects and hand them back to him is big-time fun. He may also enjoy handing you toys, books, and other objects, expecting that you will hand them back. This kind of give, take, and give again is actually a social game, a way of keeping your attention. You may also notice that he loves an audience, and will repeat any "performance" that elicits a positive response, especially applause.
The "face-naming" game. Point to your eyes, nose, etc., and name them, and he'll soon get the hang of it. Ask him where your mouth is and soon enough he'll put his fingers right in it. Psychologists think this may be a precursor to the separation process (when your toddler figures out that you and he are separate people) that begins during the second year.
Other developments: Stranger anxiety and more fears
At around 13 months, many toddlers develop stranger anxiety. Yours may become upset when you leave him, even with friends or family members he sees often. A toddler who cries or whimpers, trembles, hides, or tries to run away from "strangers" is simply demonstrating that he can distinguish the difference between people he knows well — his parents and caregivers — and those he doesn't.
Even toddlers who are at ease with unfamiliar people will encounter situations that overwhelm them. A 13-month-old has a budding imagination, and things that never seemed to bother him before, such as the vacuum cleaner, bathtime, or a neighbor's pet, may suddenly be very scary.
What you can do
Remember that trust cannot be forced, so if your child is especially anxious around new faces, be patient and let him keep his distance until he's ready to interact. He'll look to you for guidance, so if you seem at ease around a new babysitter, for instance, he'll take that cue. It may help him become more comfortable around new people if you include him on excursions to the grocery store, or other places where he can watch how you behave around people you don't know.
**Someone right around C's first birthday, C developed stranger anxiety...bad. He really didn't want my sister Jenn anywhere near him when she came to visit for 4 days and he didn't want grandma to hold him either. He even prefers me to daddy. I've had to leave him in childcare for the first time in his life for BSF. He cried so hard the first time that they had to come get me. The second time they had me stay in with him. The past three times, I've dropped him off crying, but he stayed in the whole time and even took a nap, although they had to hold him the whole time.
He follows me around more and will pull himself up holding on to my pant legs and stay there so I can't move. He'll even start to whine, meaning he wants up. He's also started holding onto my arm when I'm holding him so I can't put him down if he doesn't want to be put down. Callen likes playing peek-a-boo and will even play it with the shower curtain in the bathroom on his own. He will play "fetch" with a ball and loves handing me things so I can hand them back to him. He also loves throwing his stuffed animals out of his crib onto the floor. He also very much knows the name "tongue" and knows that it means that thing that he can stick out of his mouth. :) **
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Cute photo of L :)
I LOVE this shot I got of little miss sass today. Such a beauty.
She's wearing her cousin Kenzie's shirt and skirt. :)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
C's weight re-check
It's been four weeks since C's 12 month old doctor's visit where they informed us that he hadn't gained any weight in the past 3 months. Not good. He was 19lbs, 2 oz. (5th percentile), 28.5" (10th percentile), and 18 5/8" head circumference. So we added as much fat to his diet as we could in the past four weeks. We added either grapeseed oil or olive oil to his veggies and meals. We'd give him little spoonfuls of coconut oil. We gave him peanut butter or almond butter on banana slices, veggie straws, or whole wheat bread at least once per day. We also discovered almond yogurt in about four different flavors and coconut milk yogurt too. And then just a couple days ago, we started giving him coconut milk (more fat than others) because he loves to drink water, but water has no fat in it and fills him up. The doctor today confirmed my intuition and said that he should only be drinking breast milk or coconut milk and no water.
So today C was measured and weighed. He is 28 3/4" long and weighs 20lbs exactly. He gained a pound in four weeks so operation fatten Callen was successful! The doctor said to continue doing everything that we've been doing and we'll recheck his weight at his 15 month old appointment, which is in two months.
Although I'm glad that he's capable of gaining weight and that he has gained weight, it is not without work. We have take off his clothes at every meal b/c otherwise, there would be oil and peanut butter all over his clothes. As it is, he can be one shiny baby because he likes to put his hands down by his side and get oil & food on his legs/knees and put food behind him. He'll also get food and oil in his hair and of course all over his face. So when we're on the go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, he really doesn't get any added fat to his meal because it's just too messy.
One added perk of more fat in his diet is that he's been sleeping through the night. There have still been a handful of nights where he woke up and I nursed him and put him right back down, but for the most part, he's sleeping through the night. I think that is fabulous after six months of him waking up once every night. Although I nursed him every time, it makes me feel bad that he might have just been hungry this whole time!
We're going to keep praying he outgrows his milk allergy so he can eat and drink dairy and get fat from dairy because that is just so much easier (and cheaper).
10/12/11: L typing, drawing, & C's tongue
Elodie typed "bed" on the computer all by herself. She also drew a picture of Jesus on the cross with nails in his hands and feet.
For the past week or so, Callen likes to stick his tongue out back at you.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Lunch out with Daddy
Elodie was part of a summer reading program this summer, in which, the participants got certain perks if they red a certain number of books. One of those perks was a free kids size pizza coupon for Martinos pizza. The coupon allowed one topping so I asked Elodie what kind of topping she wanted; I gave her the options of pepperoni or pineapple since those were the ones she was used to. She said "Hmmm, let me think about it" and proceeded to put her finger on her lower lip and assume her thinking face position. Once she was done "thinking" she excitedly exclaimed "macaroni." Macaroni, where did that come from?
Dave: No, we are not having mac and cheese your coupon is for a free pizza
Elodie (starting to pout): But I want macaroni on the pizza
Dave: Macroni is a pasta and its not something you put on a pizza
Elodie: You said I could have macaroni
Dave: Umm, no I didn't I said you were having a pizza
Elodie (fully on whine and pout now): Yeah, with the little spicy meat things on it
Dave (light bulb finally goes off): Oh, you mean you want pepperoni on it?
Elodie (a little loud): Thats what I said!!! Macaroni!!!!
So she ate her entire kids sized pizza with pepp...errr, macaroni on it :)
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