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My little monkey is growing up

Posted on December 2, 2008 2:57 pm by TheAngelForever

I believe denial is healthy from time to time. For the last two weeks I have been trying to forget that JSL is now 18 months old. It is hard for me to believe that my baby has been here for a year and a half already. The time has gone by way too quickly.

Today I took JSL for his 18 month well baby visit. His stats for this visit: 26 pounds (50th percentile), 30 3/4 inches (10th percentile), and head was 51 cm (95th percentile). So basically as the doctor put it he’s a little short in stature with a good sized head! Clearly the poor kid got my short genes. Mommy is the classic recessive short gene in action. I am only 5’3" with two parents that were 6′.

The doctor is not concerned, although I wonder about the small amount of height growth. I guess we will see what happens over the next six months. I have a feeling we are due for a growth spurt since he’s been really restless and tired lately. Developmentally he is right on track with motor and fine motor skills, and talking more than a typical 18 month old.

We discussed the ear wax issue and how it seems to alter the way he hears. Her theory is it may not have been the wax and could very well have been the fluid from the infection. I have been told what to do to try to help that. For now we just have to watch the ears, especially the one that was just infected and still has some fluid in it. Since he is just getting over antibiotics and a high fever less than ten days ago, the doctor opted to only give him one of the three immunizations that he is due for. Today he had the DTaP and will go back in a month for the Hib and HepA.

I also asked the doctor about milk and how we should approach introducing it to him given big brother’s allergy at this age. She said it was completely up to us. JSL is still nursing and shows no interest in stopping yet (this shocks me, but I am perfectly fine with it). We may try some little sips of pure cows milk here and there to see how it goes. The main concern is making sure JSL is getting enough protein. We are practically vegetarians (thanks to the obscene price of kosher meat) and she is worried that we do not know how much milk JSL is getting when he nurses. She is fine with him still nursing, but wants to increase meat/fish in his diet. Of course since I am back home I found that the grams of protein in the fake burger patties is almost identical to the chicken nuggets that she suggested. Thanks to that I am not too worried.

The poor little guy was tired after his shot and a quick trip to Target. We went there to get a new part of our family. Here it is with an explanation on JL’s blog.

We shall see how it goes when we try it out later, perhaps when I go sneaker shopping. For now I shall let the little monkey rest after a stressful morning that included a rough immunization.

Our next well visit is not until May when the little guy will be two. On that note I am going back to my own little world away from the reality of my baby growing up.

Categories:
doctor jsl milestone photos

Letting part of my baby go

Posted on November 20, 2008 12:05 am by TheAngelForever

Way back in July hubby and I started to have a disagreement about something with JSL. Hubby wanted to get his hair cut and I was against it. I blogged about it and told him that perhaps after the summer I would consider it since his scalp would not be as vulnerable to the sun. The summer left and JL started to harass me about the hair cut again. Note to others, do not tick off the Mama! When I am pressured into something I will usually dig in my heels and stand my ground.

Back when JSL turned one I figured that we would likely be able to last another six months IF we were lucky. Of course, I am never going to admit that it really needed to be done.

Nope, not going to do it. I still loved the soft baby hair. It was so sweet to watch the little guy twist and play with his own hair as he soothed himself. That is something I actually still do to this day when my hair is partly down.

Against my better judgment, I finally agreed to get JSL’s first haircut Wednesday night. I cringed at the thought, but decided that I was getting sick of listening to JL and other family members that were getting way too vocal about it.

During the afternoon, JSL refused to nap. After we dropped big brother off to Nana and Papa’s house we went to the hair salon. Of course, on the way there JSL fell asleep. He was so exhausted we managed to get him out of the car and into the salon without him stirring.

When we walked in we were surprised to see our favorite stylist there. She had left to have a baby six months ago and decided to come back part time. We were thrilled! She told us to just try to take the little guy out and if he slept so be it. We managed to get his hat off successfully. Please note the major hat hair!

I almost managed to get his winter coat off, but he woke up. I sat down with him and he was so snuggly. I think he knew it would pull at my heart.

Right after this I became the photographer because JSL was crying for JL to hold him. This worked out nicely. The little guy was not thrilled about being up. He just snuggled on Daddy and eventually settled enough for K to cut his hair. These photos still seem so surreal to me, but I know it is reality.

Soon after this we were headed to pick up a wheat pizza and go back to Nana and Papa’s house. For some odd reason, JSL was not in the mood to eat and just wanted to curl up with people. Eventually he started to run around again and we captured a few shots of his new hair cut.

We left it a little bit longer so ~~Mommy would not cry as much~~ JSL can still run his little fingers through it. He seems a little confused since he has to move his hands up higher to find it. Of course, I know that I will likely cry soon. Tonight after his tub his hair was not behaving and was standing up. I growled at hubby and told him it was HIS fault!

Categories:
decisions jsl milestone NaBloPoMo photos vent

Thanks to Joe the Photographer

Posted on October 26, 2008 10:11 pm by TheAngelForever

Sunday afternoon we went on an adventure. It was finally time to do NHL’s five year portraits. For those counting, that would make it over two months since his fifth birthday. We decided to head back to the popular portrait studio that we used in the past. JL and I just were not impressed with the other place that we had his four year portraits done at and JSL’s first birthday.

When we arrived we were all dressed in red with our jeans on. Talk about getting looks from people later on in the day – LOL!

We were told to head into the first studio as soon as we arrived. When we went in a very friendly photographer came into the room. We learned his name thanks to NHL. He asked and Joe told him. NHL quickly told him that he knew another Joe, you know, the one in Blues Clues. Of course all that went through my mind . . . . Joe the Plumber!

We decided to start with family photos since JSL had not napped earlier in the day (our session time was 2:00). Needless to say, it is quite tricky to get a decent shot with all four family members looking at the camera at the same time. I kept blinking, NHL kept talking/smiling funny, and JSL wanted to walk away. If you have done family portraits you know exactly what happened. We managed to get one that was not too bad.

Then it was time to get the much anticipated photos of NHL with the giant number five, dinosaurs and his camera. Joe did a great job working with NHL. NHL definitely played it up. As you can see we switched his red shirt and I really like the ones with the short sleeved blue on more.

October '08 Portraits - 16 October '08 Portraits - 14

Once NHL was done Joe asked to try some with both of the boys alone. That did not work out too well. The overtired 17 month old kept walking out of the frame. We did manage to get one cute one before we switched gears.

Before calling it quits I asked Joe to try one of all of my boys. This time both of the little guys were getting tired.

We bought a package that included the portraid CD so we own the photos and can print them whenever we want. JL was quite happy about this. That would be why I was able to post this so quickly.

The rest of the photos from the photo shoot by Joe can be seen on my Flickr photostream.

Categories:
birthday jl jsl milestone my boys nhl photos weekend

Fall, where are you?

Posted on October 21, 2008 5:15 pm by TheAngelForever

Depending on where you live you may have noticed that fall seems to be quickly slipping away. The signs here are all there:

Leaves almost all off the trees

Frost outside in the morning – sometimes enough that you have to scrape it off the windshield

Temperatures barely making it to the 40’s or 50’s during the day

Temperatures below 30 in the night

Frozen fingers

Toescicles on the bottom of your feet

When all of this begins you start to think about heat. Will it kick on when you test it out? And, of course, the biggest question of all. . . . when do you finally give in to the numb feeling in your feet and hands and turn on the heat?

For us the answer was checking things out a few weeks ago when the temperatures started to dip. Thankfully everything went on with no trouble. Our thermostat is set at 62. The heat will only turn on when it goes below that, or when one of the kids has a tub and we turn it up slightly.

Yesterday morning it was below 30 outside. I had to take NHL into school to bring his antibiotic eye drops in. It was bone chilling outside and I know it is just the start of things. When JSL and I arrived back into our 62 degree house it seemed toasty warm. Goes to show it is all a matter of perspective. Right after JSL went for a nap it was time to put the all important flannel sheets onto our bed.

Let me tell you those were quite welcomed last night when I put my purple and blue toes into bed. Silly me, I was working on something in the living room and did not wear any socks. I think I learned my lesson. Now I just need to convince another little someone that going sans socks is not a smart thing to do for at least another 5-6 months.

While I am at it, I suppose I should tell him that includes stripping his socks and shoes while out and about in the car, restaurant, mall . . . . or anywhere these days!

BTW – Quick update on the potty kid. Yesterday our #2 did a #2 while sitting on our throne!

Categories:
house jsl milestone sarcasm weather winter

Tinkle Tinkle . . . my little star

Posted on October 20, 2008 9:31 am by TheAngelForever

Last Sunday JSL walked into the bathroom while Daddy was in there. He pointed to his rear end and said "poop!" JL called to tell me and the little guy waddled to the changing table take me there. I checked and there was nothing inside.

We asked JSL if he would like to be like big brother and sit on the potty. The little guy got very excited and ran to the bathroom. We found the potty seat that goes on the big throne and cleaned it off for him. One slight problem happened, the pee guard (pretty crucial in the beginning for little boys) was missing. JL said that he would assist JSL while sitting on the potty.

Much to our surprise JSL was very at ease on the potty. He happily sat there and chatted. Of course NHL, JL and I were all there cheering him on. He gave me some funny looks for snapping photos, but it was a milestone that had to be documented.

Then he was telling us where poop comes from:

After about 7-10 minutes he was antsy so we took him off the potty. He did not do any business while sitting there, but it was a great experience for a 17 month old. Since that time he has probably sat on the potty seat 2-3 more times. Usually he asks. He will just sit there and chat and look around the bathroom. Of course he also understand the importance of good dental hygiene.

Last night we decided to plunk him onto the potty before a tub. I was manning the pee guard duty when all of the sudden I heard a tinkle sound! We all cheered for JSL and he was quite impressed with the noise we made. So just a few days after he turned 17 months old he peed in the potty.

We are not even close to real potty training. Still these little accomplishments are a step in the right direction. It was especially fitting given he just used his last size four diaper this morning. We shall see how things go, but thanks to big brother NHL we may be inspired a lot sooner than I may be ready for. Of course who am I to complain about the possibility of no more diapers!