Thursday, August 14, 2008

Harry Joseph, Thirteen Months Old


Dear Harry,

You are officially a walker now. Does this mean you are a toddler instead of a baby? I hate to think that your babyhood went by so quickly! You took your first steps at around 11.5 months, but it took you a good month to use walking as your main mode of transport. Now you think crawling is for chumps. Even if something is a foot away from you, you'll get up and walk to it. You are trying to run, but you don't have enough balance to keep you going. I'm sure that will happen soon enough. It's funny pretty to see you drunkenly walking around the yard. You (and all babies) are so top heavy, that if you look in a certain direction when you're walking, your whole body starts to go that way. When you fall, you just get yourself back up and keep going. We're teaching you to brush off your hands when that happens outside. Otherwise, you'll have dirt and pebbles stuck to them all the time.

The big recurring hurdle around here is still sleep. Oh, Harry. Why won't you sleep? You know that feeling? When you are just mad at the world and you have to rub your eyes every 30 seconds and you start falling down a lot? That means you are tired. That means you should lie down and close your eyes and go to sleep. Sleep is really nice! If you sleep, you'll be able to have more energy (!) for all those things you want to do. You don't seem to be able to stop your body from moving, even when I'm nursing you down on the bed. You have these crazy baby legs that just won't stay still. Plus, you now try to do a headstand while nursing.

I really just don't understand why you fight it so much. It's worse lately and I'm really at the end of my rope. Last night, I had to leave you to cry for 2 minutes so I could get myself together after fighting you for 3 hours. When I went back to you, I got you to sleep in under 5 minutes. I don't like doing that, but I felt I had run out of options. I had been holding out hope that this would let up as your teeth came in, but you still have none and it's been months and months. I don't know how much more of this we have in store or how much more of this I can take. Let's work on it, shall we?

You understand so much now that it is getting easier to communicate with you. You use signs, sounds and pointing to let us know what you want. You say "k-k-k" for kitty, "oof oof" for doggie and "shhh" for fish. Daddy and I are still both "Dada" even though you can say Mama" perfectly well. You just prefer not to say it. You sign "more" for everything you like or want. If you don't get what you want, you protest very loudly. Often, you can be found by following the shrieks. When you get what you want, you are full of happy nonsense sounds. I hope we can record those before you stop making them.

I hope I haven't made you sound too awful. It has been a rough summer. Lots of rain, sleep set-backs and schedule upheaval. You are a challenge sometimes, but the good kind of challenge. The kind that makes you a better person for having met it. I'm kind of looking forward to getting back to our fall routine. I think some structure will be good for all of us. Until then, let's enjoy the last of your second summer by spending lots of time running barefoot through the grass.

Love,
Mama

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

10 Things I've Learned This Year

1. All the words to "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?"
2. Even though the book,"Charlie Bird" says "Eight excited Eagles play electric bass" both in the text of the story and on the back cover CD listing, the CD says "Eight excited Emus play electric bass."
3. When destroying block towers, explosion sound effects are hilarious. And you must do them Every. Single. Time.
4. Babies know the difference when you remove batteries from cell phones, remotes, laptops, etc.
5. If you wait until after the closing credits on Baby Neptune, you will see the lobster dance.
6. Baby shoes are over priced and overrated.
7. So is jarred baby food - especially when your baby won't eat it.
8. Cloth diapers stink less than the litter box.
9. Three little words - Dye Free Tylenol.
10. What works today may not work tomorrow, or even later today.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Cabin Fever

I feel like this whole summer has either been blazing hot so we can't go outside or pouring rain so we can't go outside. My inner three year old is having a tantrum and yelling at the top of her voice, "I WANNA GO TO THE PARK!!" Seriously, there is only so much we can do inside. I've built elaborate houses made out of blocks, played basketball with our toy bins, read all his books a million times and on and on. Harry is too young for arts and crafts or pretend games, so I'm going crazy. If he's awake and I'm home, he won't let me do anything alone without crying for me. I think we've watched more Baby Neptune than a sane person can stand in one week.

All I can say is that it had better clear up this weekend.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Baby Customer Service


You'll have to speak up. I'm wearing a diaper.
(See this image for cultural reference.)