15 months

Oh buddy. You are so big now! And way too busy to sit still for a picture with the damn bear. Although you were willing to give him a hug.

You're walking now. Where before you would refuse to move unless someone was holding your hand, now you push our hands away if we offer. You can do it, you are doing it....I can't believe all the things you can do! You're talking, you have lots of words - tractor, all done, mama, grandpa, daly, dada, ball, tons of animal noises, vroom, car, choo choo, and you'll often repeat something I've just said. I gotta watch myself! Just today you said up, grapes, water, keys, and boo...but tomorrow you probably won't say them. It's weird that way!

You point at everything and say "Da?" You want to know the words for everything around you, so curious. Daycare says that the whole family now says "Da?" all the time to everything because although all kids go through this stage, you are especially inquisitive and say it more than most. I love it!

You are so exciting now, so interactive. Playing and laughing and wrestling. I love this stuff. I love you. We just love hanging out with you.

At your first Twin's game. Just believe me, you're there.

Not so sure of the boat at the cabin.

Not so sure about getting his picture taken.

Oh never mind.

He is willing to play in the sand, especially if he's next to his buddy Summer.

Obsessed with tractors. Seriously.

Second trip to the fair and eating one of Uncle Brian's mini donuts. I think he liked it.

This kid loves playing with the bathroom. Smallest room in the house and we spend a lot of time in there. Strange.

There's so much I want to do with you. So much I want to show you! I am so excited to take you places and show you things that will blow your mind. There's just so little time, you need to slow down so I can savor this age forever and keep you right here full of wonder and innocence and open mouthed slobbery kisses for your mama.

My Typical Day

Saw this on some other blogs, thought I'd try it out:

4:30 AM: Eliot wakes up to nurse. I try to get back to sleep myself. Most days I do, some days I don't. I have early morning insomnia - I have no problem getting to sleep but I'll often find myself awake at 3am for no reason. Waking me up at 4:30 is not cool kid, not cool.

6:15 AM: Eliot wakes up for good. He usually wakes up and starts head butting and kicking everything in sight. Like a kicky rhinoceros. I wake up protecting myself and trying to prevent him from head butting the wall. Contrary to what it sounds like he's usually in a great mood.

6:18 AM: Get up, turn on cartoons long enough to change Eli's diaper (he hates his diaper changed). If Chris is doing this I feed the dog and either start making lunches or breakfasts. And for cartoons? I change the channel immediately if it's "Special Agent Oso," I hate that show. If he sings about three special steps ever again I'll scream.
6:22 AM: Breakfast for all! Eli has been eating more and more of our food. Not quite enough to make an entire breakfast for him, but enough that Chris and I have noticed we're usually starving for the rest of the day.

6:30 AM: On Wednesdays and Fridays Chris and Eli leave to go to my parent's house, and Tuesday Thursday we're still getting ready. Tea is usually made around now. That's my rocket fuel for the day.

6:56 AM: Tuesdays and Thursdays Eli and I take off for daycare. Depending on Eli's mood I'm either singing the entire ride or he's quietly observing the scenery. I know which one I prefer.

7:14 AM: Tues/Thurs - dropoff. I hate dropoff because the little man still screams every time I leave. I'm assured that it's temporary and he stops once I vacate the premises, but it still breaks my heart.

7:30 AM: Arrive at work, fill up my water, check my emails and bank accounts. Get down to work.

7:30 AM - 9AM: Work. 9AM I always have a snack.

9AM - 11:AM: More work. I am an early luncher. I eat at 11 most days. People know me for this, I'm usually the first one at the microwaves, and often I can barely wait until 11. Believe me, I'm watching that clock for my snake eyes!

11AM-11:30AM: Obsessively read blogs on my reader and check out thebump.com if I have any baby questions. Sometimes I go out to lunch. Bun Mi is my current favorite, most days I eat at my desk. AM SO COOL. Sad fact, there was a semester in High School that I ate lunch in the library. None of my friends shared my lunch and I preferred to read anyways. Moving on!

11:30AM - 4PM-ish: Work. Try not to count hours until home.

4:15 PM: Pick up the kid Tues/Thurs. Lately he has not been wanting to leave because there are cars to push around on the deck at daycare. CARS MAMA! I drag him from daycare play screaming, our circle has been closed.

4:30 PM: Arrive home, try and scrounge up enough food for Eli's dinner, pick out tomorrow's outfits and pj's for the evening. Get a little inside or outside playtime in.

5:00 PM: Do not mess with little man's dinnertime. He is like his mama, when he needs to eat, it's time to eat. This is also Daly's favorite portion of the day - food dropped on the floor like it's raining manna from heaven. Sometimes I eat. Sometimes Chris is home, sometimes not! The excitement! The intrigue!

5:30 PM: This is always the time of day I wish Eli stayed up longer. I'd love to head down to the park, but we have to start getting him ready for bed (he usually goes down between 6:30 and 7). Sometimes there's a bath - I think we all love bathtime. Not only is it a blast for all, but he comes out smelling all sweet. Mmmmm....fresh soapy baby head. This is prime playtime with mom and dad.

6:00 PM: Nightime diaper, PJ's, snuggles and books. We usually have to stop ourselves from riling him up because if you tickle him this time of night the belly laughs are so great. We usually fail.

6:30 PM: If you see eye-rubbing bedtime must be started immediately or you pass the point of no return and have crazy baby until 8:30.

7:00 PM: If we haven't eaten Chris and I either start cooking or eat. Depending on the night we walk the dog, try and do dishes, pick up the toys, take showers. I usually crumple onto the couch and wish that I could go to sleep for at least a few minutes. Sometimes I read, I often think about working out but I'm so freaking tired that I count picking up Eli ten million times as my weightlifting and cardio.

9:30 PM: I am in bed by this time most nights. I need my sleep. Chris is usually up for another couple hours - I don't know how he does it. Yes, I get almost 9 hours of sleep a night and it usually doesn't feel like enough.

Seriously - what did I do with my evenings before the kid? We had so much time and we didn't even know it!

Not much to say this month

We've had a good month, a little on the expensive side:

as this was the view out of our front door for a day. It was almost worth the $2000 price tag - Eliot has never been so excited. It was our sewer - again. We've now had that side of the yard ripped up twice, and we got out cheap at $2000 because it wasn't done correctly 4 years ago. You live and you learn. But, we keep on smiling even when we have egg on our face.

Our house goes on the market tomorrow - TOMORROW! It's crazy. I'm nervous and excited and anxious. I'm worried it won't sell, I'm worried it will sell fast. I'm worried about emptying my bank account to get out of here. Sigh. But we're doing it!

Eliot is still not officially walking. But he is doing this

and this

and lots of this

The kid is part fish, and all about wheels. Wonder where he came from. I'm still enjoying keeping him close to me

And I think he enjoys it too. He's a mess, this guy

But we're loving every minute. Wish us luck on house selling, I know I've got my fingers crossed!

From a baby to a toddler

Yesterday, on his father's birthday, and in his own time, my baby took his first steps. All ten of them.

I've never been so proud. And never seen someone so proud of himself. Congratulations Eli!

Also, this kid loves brooms. It's on the internet, he'll never escape this picture!

Today

Oh my god. You guys. Today he said mama for the first time. Over and over again.

Heart asploded.

Mid-July recap

I just don't know how to NOT post today. I am, however, sick of labelling my post in months but I will sneak it in rightherehe's13monthsok?

This last month has been great! Stressful! Crazy! But super great! Eliot has continued to blind everyone with his cuteness. He loves to play in the water, which is great because we suddenly live in the jungle up here in Minne-snow-ta. 117 heat index today and humidity so thick you could cut it with a knife - I think this is the hottest weather I've ever seen. Wait, there was that insanely hot vacation we took to Florida 2 years ago this June. I actually walked around all day in heat like this - I think that still wins.

 His birthday party was a hit - although it rained the whole day, and he ate his cake like nobody's business. The cake eating prompted a mini-crisis in my head because I work so damn hard trying to fill this kid up with good foods and then we set an entire cake in front of him. Customs are weird. Chris got to open up his gifts, and Eliot threw a bit of a fit towards the beginning so Chris got to open up his gifts while Eliot wasn't even there. Ha! Awkward!

We had planned to stay up for fireworks for the 4th, but Eliot's grandma watched him for the day and he was so excited that he decided to forego napping for the entire day! Which meant he went to bed even earlier than usually and no fireworks for us. But that's ok. Next year he's going to love it.

We're still working on selling our house. We have 2 projects left to finish and we're ready. Early August there should be a for sale sign up in front of this beast. That is just part of the crazy that I'm feeling right now. Changes! They are a-brewing!

So Extreme!

So....are you still?

When will you stop?

Isn't he getting too old for that?

It's just for comfort, right?

I guess 12 months is the magical age for weaning here in the US. People have been asking me when I'm going to stop doing THAT (nursing, breastfeeding, AHHHH...why are breasts so sexualized - I'm feeding my baby!). When are we going to stop doing that. This is so much more complicated than I imagined. Just like I thought that my baby would WANT to sleep in a crib, that's what babies do, right? Also, nursing a toddler is different than nursing a newborn, and Eliot wants/needs to nurse a lot less than he used to, which is great! I am enjoying having my body back more of the time, enjoying not pumping at work. Sometimes it's like holding a distracted squirrel. He's twitching and grabbing and climbing and twirling and hitting, and often driving me crazy. But when he wants to nurse - that is all he wants. Sometimes there are no sippy cups or distractions that work otherwise. And I don't mind. I love the cuddle time with my increasingly mobile little boy, and I feel like it's a bit of nutritional insurance if he hasn't eaten the best that day....just because he's 1 doesn't mean my milk suddenly has no nutritional value.

Did you know that the World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until at least 2 years of age?

Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding until 1, and then as long as mutually desireable between the mother and child?

Former Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello: "It's the lucky baby, I feel, who continues to nurse until he's two."

I have grandmas and mothers admitting to me that they breastfed until their child was 2, even 3. They concede their confessions to me in low voices. They miss it. They loved it. They hid it. They don't regret it.

I remember before I had Eliot that I was one of those people who thought "extended" breastfeeding was weird. I would whisper to my friend behing my hand, "They're walking and talking - what are they doing still breastfeeding?" Here I am eating my words.

The other day I locked Eli and myself out of the house for 3 hours and I was so thankful that he was still nursing because it was lunch time and he was hungry. I always have a snack with me.

I sometimes feel uncomfortable nursing in public though, and I'm sad I feel like that. I wish it was more accepted....I hope if Eliot ever has children his wife never has to think twice. And if she ends up feeding her child formula that nobody judges them for that either. While nursing he no longer tolerates a blanket over his head and he unlatches about every 2 seconds from some distraction - I'm sure I've flashed people. He rarely wants to nurse in public anymore though - that's too distracting for him too - but I wouldn't deny him in an emergency. I've had to grow a backbone, put up with stares of people who think it's weird or unnecessary. I'm an inactive activist - "It's normal! It's society who's wrong!" I want to shout. But I don't.

I guess I'm growing my mama backbone. I will put up with anyone's judgement/crap to do what I believe is in the best interest of my child. And if anyone EVER makes Eliot feel like what he's doing is wrong or weird they will be sorry. Mama bear says ROAR!