55 Weeks!

It is hard to believe that it is the end of February! We had a long month with Logan being gone, but are happy to say that he got home late on the 26th and will be home for a bit (we think)!

Our week has been fairly uneventful!  We have just stayed home alot since the weather has been pretty cool and rainy.  It makes it hard to go out too many places. We did go to our usual music class on Tuesday as well, which is always a good time!  Landon did go back to the Dr. on Tuesday because he is still showing symptoms of being sick! However, the Dr. believes it is allergies since we are coming into that time of year.  He does think that Landon is somewhat allergic to Rusty and suggested keeping Rusty out of his room.  However, I don't know how we can do that since Rusty barely gets enough attention as it is! So we will see how we do here in the coming months and if it gets worse when things to start to bloom, we will have to see about keeping all animals out of his room.

Logan got home late Tuesday so we spent most of the day hanging out with him, except when he was at work.  He is supposed to have at least Friday off of work and possible Monday as well.  I think on Friday we are going to try to go to the sports complex for Friday fun day.  We also need to get serious about looking at areas of town we want to live in, if we plan to buy a house later this year if that works out.  Overall, we are just going to try to spend some good quality time as a family.  Friday night, we are having our first non family baby sitter and are going to go out on a date after we put Landon to bed.  Eventually, we would like to get to the point we are comfortable with the sitter putting him to bed, but we are going for baby steps here!

Other than that our week has been pretty statuesque.  Landon is teething again, so he has been a pretty big fuss bucket.  I try to look in his mouth, but he is so squirmy these days I don't get a great look.  He has been drooling and his hands have been in his mouth again constantly, so I know the teeth are doing SOMETHING.  Just wish they would come through so he isn't miserable anymore!

For the weekly pictures!

Weekly video-Landon learned to blow kisses this week!

Until next week!
  

54 Weeks!

Well for now I have decided to continue with the weekly posts.  It is such a habit now, I figure why stop. 

This was a HUGE week for developmental stuff for Landon.  In the last week he has learned to wave and WALK! Good job buddy!

We have had a pretty laid back week.  The weekend was rather rainy so we stayed in most of the weekend since Landon was still battling the cold that he has had for the better part of two weeks.  I think he is finally on the mend, thankfully.  His cough seems to be going away and his nose is finally slowing down with the constant running. 

On Saturday, I decided to try finger painting with Landon.  So I tapped a few grocery bags to the table and then tapped the paper to the bags so if he smeared the paint all over it wouldn't get on the wood.  It wouldn't have really mattered considering it was a washable paint, but still my OCD couldn't handle that thought!!  I stripped him down to just his onesie, put some paint on the paper, and let him go at it.  The first thing he did was pick up a blue glob of paint and stick it in his mouth. I should have KNOWN that was going to happen.  He really wasn't super impressed with smearing the paint around. He was more concerned with trying to eat it, which I wasn't going to let happen again! I found a recipe online for edible finger paint which may be the way we have to go, if we do it again soon! Here are some pictures!

On Saturday Landon decided he was going to walk! I was doing something on my computer and I looked up just in time to see Landon walk from the couch to the middle of the living room towards a toy! I was so shocked that I got super excited, which then made him super excited. We laughed for several minutes and then I spent the next 10 minutes to try to get him to do it again! He was so funny walking and he was actually really good! Over the past few days he has gotten even better, but he still crawls the majority of places.  I think he still can only take up to 5-10 steps and then either falls or bends down to crawl since it is faster for him.  I expect over the next few weeks that he will get better at walking and walking will eventually replace crawling.

On Monday we went to a make-up music class and then went to Ihop for dinner.  Landon is usually amazing in restaurants so I didn't think much of him being a tiny bit tired and fussy when we went.  We quickly turned into that family with the annoying fussy baby that screeched and cried when he didn't get what he wanted.  After a while, the food finally showed up and I got Landon's all ready....cut up, made sure it wasn't hot, etc.  Lately, he has been in a habit of putting too much in his mouth, so I try to watch him closely.  Well, that is exactly what he did that night and ended up choking and almost needing the Heimlich. I was in the process of  grabbing the bright red flailing child from his seat while patting him on the back to get the food out, when he spit alot out and then threw up the rest! He then proceeded to bawl hysterically for the next 5 minutes because it scared him and me! It will be a while before we go out to eat alone again!

We have been trying to work on transitioning to one nap per day...but some days we just need a long nap and a snooze.  We usually get up around 7:30-8 AM and from what I have read, they say to try to keep him up 5.5 hours before putting him down, so that way it is about the same time to bed time when he gets up from his nap.  So I have been trying to keep him up until 12:30-1.  The last few days have been going pretty well, but he is rather fussy by the time dinner comes around.  They say dropping the morning nap is a hard transition, but he seems ready since his other naps just keep getting shorter and he keeps pushing them back.  This will eventually make it easier for us to go do stuff in the morning and on the weekends.

Landon has become EXTRA picky lately with food.  His newest (and most frustrating) trick is he puts something in his mouth and if he doesn't like it, he will take it out and throw it on the floor with disgust! So annoying, but also pretty funny. It has been an absolute battle to get him to eat any veggies or meat lately...no matter how bland or flavored, he just won't do it! All the kid wants is fruit, bread, more carbs, and starches! Logan is going to kill me ha ha....at least I can get Landon to eat a pouch just so I know he is eating some veggies, but geez...I want my little boy back who ate anything and everything put in front of him!

SO as you can see we have had alot of changes in the past week.  I also think he is starting to get more teeth since he has been rather fussy the past few days...which is unfortunate. Hopefully, they are in by the time we come to Colorado next month!

Here are just some pictures through out the week!

Relaxing at Aroma's with Danielle and Wyatt

Ready for our brisk morning walk!

Landon's first piece of art! It is hanging on the fridge =)

We had to drop more balloons off for his one year pictures this weekend and I saved one to blow up for him to play with.  What an inexpensive toy =). 

 

Finally, the weekly videos!

1 year old!

Our little man turned one year old last Saturday! I can't believe the past year went so fast, but slow at the same time.  The days were long, but the months were fast! Now that I have a TODDLER (I still call him my baby ha ha), things seem to be moving fast.  Just in the past week he has turned into quite the monkey and independent little dude!

For his actual birthday, Landon and I hung out and opened presents in the morning at home.  We had another birthday party for 5 other 1 year old February babies that we have met over the time that we lived here.  All of the Mom's did prenatal yoga together and had babies all in February.  It was held at a club house in one of the neighborhoods in town and they had snacks, drinks, and cupcakes.  They had blankets down with toys for the babies, walkers, activity tables, etc! It was fun, even though it was a little chaotic!  It is funny to see how different the crazy boys are from the girls even at this young of an age!  The boys were running (several could already walk) around like crazies and the girls sat nicely and played in one spot on the blanket! After the birthday party and a nap, Landon and I hung out and played at home.  After dinner, I sang him happy birthday and he had a cup cake.  We also skyped with family that day! I think when it was over and done with we saw 4 different families that day! It was a fun day, just wishing Logan could have been home with us to celebrate such a great milestone!  Hopefully next year =).

Birthday boy!

A good picture with his birthday shirt on!

Last sticky month picture!

Oh hey Mom....

Devouring his cupcake!

This week has been pretty normal.  We went to music, had a play date on Tuesday, and went to the doctor yesterday for Landon's 12 month appointment.  Today we have another play date and errands and tomorrow we may try going to the indoor play gym place again. 

His 12 month appointment went well.  Landon is either on track or advanced in most of the areas.  He is advanced in fine motor skills and movement areas.  He is right on track for language development, but I worry that even though he is average, he isn't where he should be with speaking. The dr. and I said we would watch him closely between now and 15 months to make sure he has 3-5 words by that point.  He suggested alot of reading, pointing and saying simple words like dog, cat, ball, etc. He said eventually he would just pick it up and isn't worried that he only has one real word.  Speaking of his one real word, he now says all done.  He doesn't say it in the correct context all the time, but he does it enough that I think he understands.  Landon weighs in at 22 lbs 15 oz. and is 29.75 inches tall.  He is in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference! Surprisingly, he isn't as big as we all think, just an average little guy =).  The little patches on his belly, back, and diaper area are eczema patches.  They are going away currently and don't seem to be irritating him.  The dr. is pretty sure he will out grow it the older he gets!  He also got shots yesterday-boo.  He received the MMR, Chicken pox, and Hepatitis A vaccine.  He could have received two more booster shots yesterday, but I decided to delay though until 15 months.  The shots yesterday burned when they went in more than the other shots he has received so far and he let us know he wasn't pleased! He seems fine today though which I am thankful for!  

Landon has started standing alone for a few seconds this week.  He has been doing it more and more.  I think he is scared to do it, so when he does he automatically sits down.  We will see if he is walking by the time we come home in March! 

Landon is now 90% of the time sleeping through the night.  There has only been one time in the past 3 weeks he has been up before 6 AM.  I am sure now that I say that he will be up several times tonight, but oh well.  It feels nice finally getting a full nights sleep! My body is adjusting to not automatically waking up at 4 AM knowing he would be up soon to eat.  Now it is closer to 6:30-7 or not at all.  Even though he gets up early, I put him back in bed after nursing and he goes back to sleep until 8-8:30.  A few times he has even slept from 7:30 pm-8 AM! Amazing!

He is still nursing 4 times per day and eating 3 meals.  We have started doing a bit of whole cows milk during dinner.  He doesn't seem to be too terribly impressed by it.  He does best if I mix it with a bit of my frozen milk.  The Dr. said if I find that he has a sensitivity we will discuss at his 15 month appointment what some alternatives are for him to drink that gets all the fats he needs that he would receive with the dairy milk. 

Ok here are some pictures I took throughout the week!

He climbs on everything! This chair is the beginning of his monkey stage!

While baby sitting they had a jam session.

He took a few spills this week that cut his eye! Just like a newborn with cuts on the same eye.  I hope he doesn't plan to make that a yearly thing.

Practicing with our utensils!

He is finally growing some hair!

A comparison from newborn to one year old =). Love him!

Until next week =)

52 weeks!

Yep, that is right...52 weeks....almost one year old! Where has the time gone!??!

Landon is the sweetest little boy, but packs a big attitude! He is such a split between his Daddy and I, it always amazes me which personality traits I can pick out from the both of us....then which traits seem to be unique to just Landon.  He is so smart and sharp, that sometimes he does something that just flat out baffles me and I wonder how he even came up with that idea.  He now tries to put everything into something. As I was sitting here writing this, he is currently trying to jam the remote into his elephants ears!  He does get rather frustrated when something doesn't go the way he wants-a trait he gets from both Logan and I!  Landon is still the BIGGEST flirt.  He likes to scan the room for victims and then reals them in with his smiles, clapping, and so big.  Added to his repertoire of tricks is now putting his head shyly on the table or on his shoulder and batting his eyes ha ha....he kills me!

This week Landon finally learned to drink out of a straw! We have only been trying to learn this for several months, so a major accomplishment for him! He now will drink whole milk and water out of his straw cup which has helped me make sure he is getting enough fluids into his little body.  He drinks about 3 oz. of cows milk at dinner which is the most he has ever taken! So steps in the right direction.

This week Landon has also started balancing alone a bit more.  Once he realizes he is standing alone, he freaks out and either sits down or will grab on to something, but the fact that he is doing it is a step in the right direction!   I also found that if I am helping him walk, I can just hold the back of his shirt and he will waddle along with no problem....again the walking is in the near future.  I am hoping he holds out until Logan gets home to become a full time walker!

I am fairly certain he has started understanding what a banana is...he yells nana nana nana whenever he see's it.  He won't do this with any other food.  That may be his first actual word!  He still babbles away, but I think he may be a bit slow on the verbal area of development! We will see here in the next few months since words should start coming soon!

We are still nursing, even after a bit of a supply issue and biting issue a few months back.  Landon still seems interested in nursing and now even demands that I nurse him which he does by resting his face on my chest or trying to pull my shirt down! Since I don't have a job, we are just going to keep going until he decides he is done or I decide I am done.  I am so happy we met our goal of nursing for one year! It has been such a great bond and still certainly my favorite times of the day with him!

Landon also has started to mimic me in certain instances.  He will cough after I cough and fake sneeze as well.  I also read that he will start learning how to use certain objects correctly like hair brushes, tooth brushes, cell phones, etc!

Ok here are the weekly pictures:

These big boy shoes are SO CUTE! Still love baseball things for him =)

Hanging out at the WISC family fun day last Friday.

Big boy!

I am not sure what Landon and I will do for his birthday on Saturday. We do have another party to go to if he is over his upper respiratory infection.  He already seems better than yesterday, which is great news for both of us! I also want to take him to the aquarium in Norfolk so maybe that is something we will do this next week since it is supposed to be rainy.  I have two cupcakes for us to share on his birthday and he has several gifts from family and friends waiting to be opened as well.  I can't believe he is one, what an amazing year!!

Finally, here is me trying to get him to fake sneeze on the video...of course he wouldn't do it the same as he was, but he still tries to make the sound ha ha.

Until next week =)   
 

51 Weeks!

The little dude is 51 weeks old! We had his birthday party this past weekend, which means he is getting EXTRA close to be a year old. I haven't really put much thought into what I will do after we get through 52 weeks?  I will most likely continue posting, but just not count the weeks? Or maybe I will?  I still plan on taking monthly pictures and using little wooden blocks to count.  That idea probably sounds better in my head....because who am I kidding, Landon won't leave those wooden blocks alone for me to take pictures! I can barely get him to sit still to take a picture, let alone put something so enticing in front of him to wan to grab!

Our week has been pretty good so far.  We spent the first few days cleaning up and winding down from birthday party madness.  It took me a few days to take all the decorations down.  We still have the streamers up in the kitchen.  I figure I will leave those up until his real birthday since it is just Landon and I at the house for a bit!

Landon's birthday party was on Saturday, January 26th at 3:30-whenever. We had three families come, one that we invited wasn't able to come since they were on block leave in England.  That was too bad since Wyatt is just a week older than Landon and they are great friends! We spent the first hour or so socializing and watching the kiddos play.  There was a 9, 8, 5, 18 month and almost 1 year old at his party! They all found things to play with.  Landon mostly just crawled back and forth between the living room and kitchen to make sure we were all still 100% focused on him.  Occasionally, he would come through and entertain us with his clapping, booms, or attempts at walking! He LOVES attention.  We sang him happy birthday and let him have his first cupcake with a 1st birthday candle.  He clearly didn't blow it out, but he did seem rather mesmerized by the flame! After watching him eat, I cut his big monster cake! It had three layers: orange, green, and blue cake with butter cream frosting in between and then butter cream frosting on the outside that I colored blue!  I am pretty impressed with his cake since I have never made a cake like that before! I am still eating his cake all by myself...I may gain 20 lbs before it is all gone!  We didn't open gifts at the party, but Landon got some great gifts.  He got an activity table, a new monster blanket, a Pottery Barn anywhere chair from my parents, a Elephant that blows balls in the air, a few clothes, other little toys, and books! Overall we had a great party and I am so happy it turned out so well! 

Landon's Monster Bash!

Monster blanket!

We have just been getting back to our usual routine this week.  Logan is gone for a month, so L and I are trying to get back into our usual routine now that we are done traveling.  We went back to music this week.  Landon really does enjoy that class.  It has been fun watching all the babies in his class grow and develop over the last 5 months! We have so many January/February babies in that class, that they are all very close to walking! It will be a crazy class here in a few months with all the new walkers and crawlers.  Landon finally claps in class when Mrs. C asks him too and we are still working on waving!

Landon learns something new and fun every week.  This week he has learned roll them, for the part in Patty cake.  He still does so big! He claps for everything he does.  He still doesn't technically wave, but will put his arm up in the general direction of the person.  We call it his Hitler wave, which is rather funny now-but won't be so much in the future ha ha.  He is getting close to pointing, but again just puts his hand in the general direction.  I feel real pointing will be coming along soon.  He is getting SO CLOSE to walking.   He will take 4-5 unassisted steps and then crash into whatever he is aiming for....usually Rusty.  He has awful balance, so I suspect until he learns to stand alone, we won't be making much progress in walking any further! He is currently obsessed with a Baby Einstein video that Rere gave him for Christmas.  We have to watch it EVERY DAY, which is good because it gives me a few minutes of time to get things done while he is awake!

His separation anxiety is getting a bit better.   He will go to almost anyone as long as he isn't already upset or tired.  He also does better when I leave the room for a few minutes. He was very comfortable with Logan before he left, so I hope we don't lose all the progress we made with him since he will be gone so much in the coming months. 

Finally, here are just a few pictures from the week!

Until next week! =)

50 Weeks!

Hola everyone! See that is about the only bit of Spanish I spoke and understood in Costa Rica!!  We are clearly back state side after a fabulous whirlwind of a vacation!

Landon is now a world travler.  He did amazing on all the flights, considering both traveling days were well over 12 hours.  When we got in to Costa Rica we had to go buy a car seat at Walmart since the one the rental company tried to give us was a giant safety hazard.  I think he would have been better off riding just with a seat belt in the car! We ended up buying one of two infant car seats in the store and at the end of the trip donated it to the rental car company! I hope some family will be able to use it if they choose to rent a car from that company.  After all those escapades we got to the resort around 10 pm only to find out we didn't have a crib! The owner of the property rental company came over with food, beer, and vodka and called the manager to find us a pack n play! So we finally got Landon to bed around 11:45!

On Friday I woke up super early and headed out for a morning of bachelorette activities with the girls and horseback riding! We rode up a steep mountain for about an hour.  The horses were slipping and galloping...I held on for dear life! We finally reached a point where we had to get off and walk down to a waterfall.  We were able to swim in the pools and go down the rock slide.  We also played some bachelorette party games and even had a Costa Rican Rum! We the rode back to the stables and headed back to the resort.  It was a fun day!

Heading out!

Bridal party!

This is my super stubborn horse WALTER!

Rock slide!

Saturday was a fun day of zip lining and rehearsal activities.  My parents had Landon the majority of this day with the exception of mid day.  He was a hit at the rehearsal dinner.  He flirted with all the girls and gave high fives to all the guys! He is a social little dude. 

Zip lining! So much fun!!

Sunset at the rehearsal!

Sunday was an all day wedding festivities! I got my hair done around 12 and then spent the rest of the afternoon doing pictures, getting dressed, and hanging out with the girls.  The wedding started around 4:30.  My Mom had Landon off to the side during the ceremony since everyone was directly in the sun.  I had a perfect view of them was was sweet to watch!  The ceremony was nice and short and then we had more pictures with the sunset! The reception was inside and was beautiful as well! It was a wonderful wedding and a great way to spend time with friends!

The beautiful bride!

At the reception!

Eating his own ice cream they brought him ha ha!

Monday we made the long drive down to Manuel Antonio National Park where we had planned on seeing monkeys, parrots, etc.   Come to find out the national park is closed on Mondays! Instead we ended up across the street at a picture perfect white sand beach. Landon LOVED the beach.  He loved splashing in the water, sitting in the waves, and crawling along the beach.  I tried hard to not let him eat the sand, but that was a losing battle.  He did learn how to make a funny face every time he tried to eat the sand since his Gigi would make a similar one and say yuck when he tried to eat the sand. 

The yuck face...he does this now while eating all the time!

Happy boy after the beach!

On Tuesday we headed back to the airport to head home! We had a delay coming out of San Jose, but we made our connecting flight to land in Richmond around 11 pm! We got home at 12 AM and were so happy to be able to be back in our own beds and see Logan! We missed him and wished he could have been in Costa Rica with us!

Until next week!