dear Monkey,

so, it's been a smidge over one year since you blessed us with your presence.  there are so many things you've learned in that short time.  at first, sure, you were just a bump on a log.  but now?  NOW??  we can't get you to stop moving!  it's pretty scary and wonderful all at the same time.  especially when you're being "little Hercules".  yes, i know you're strong but you don't have to prove it by picking Daddy's shovel up and almost hitting me in the head.  that's really not necessary. 

you've got the "toddler" thing down, for sure.  you walk around like a little mini Fred Sanford.  hence the other nickname, "little Sanford".  your cousin Kenny thinks we should now teach you to say, "it's the big one, elizabeth!".  but your cousin Kenny's a damn fool.  KIDDING!  but really, we're not teaching you that.  let's get Mama and Dada down before we go into multi-word sentences, shall we?

one thing i absolutely adore about you - you are super loving!  my favorite part of the weekends or days off, is when you're winding down.  you like to crawl into my lap with your sippy or bottle and just chill.   LOVE!  THIS!  it's all good for about 20 minutes and i soak it all in before you realize, "hey, i could be outside playing".

Aunt S1 says you always look like you're mad and you never laugh.  i disagree.  it's not a "mad" look.  i tend to believe it's a look of determination.  you have the wheels turning up there and they won't stop until you find "that thing", whatever it may be.  you're an explorer.  an engineer.  plus, she's just not funny.  =)

your new obsession is cars.  i took you to a birthday party this weekend and all you wanted to do was scoot around the floor, the ground, the concrete (whatever it was and no matter how many holes it was putting in your cute little jumper) and push the cars around.  it was the cutest thing.  your first addiction.  not unlike Daddy's.  i see many days in the garage, with your Daddy, in your future.  your other new obsession, and this goes back to the "being a toddler thing", is running away from Mommy.  not cool.

i'm hoping you will be "reading" soon.  you've shown an interest in books (and not just eating them any more) and we're trying to nourish that.  Nana is showing you dvd's so you can learn words.  i think if you had an attention span longer than two seconds, it just might work.  before you start reading, though, i will give you credit for learning to sign.  this is totes cool!  you now know the sign for "all done".  this is nice and much better than throwing your food on the floor when you're finished eating.  not good, however, when Mommy's trying to change your diaper and you throw up the "all done" like it's a gang sign or something.  never gonna work, 'cause dude... have you smelled your diapers?  they need to be changed.  but i appreciate the effort in using it in the right context.

Love, 
Mamamamamamama

Happy Birthday, Monkey!!

Today was Monkey's birthday!  look at him all growed up in his birthday boy shirt.  ready for a full day of fun!!

 

we started the day off with Daddy.  he took us to Denny's for a big birthday boy breakfast.  they even sang Happy Birthday to my little monkey boy.

 

after breakfast, we went to the Children's Museum for two whole hours!  he played with his new friends from the mommy group - all around his age.  it's so amazing watching Monkey at the museum.  he's figuring out so much!  he wants to know how it works and if he can't figure it out, he gives it me to show him.  of course, he takes it right out of my hand as soon as he sees it's working again.  after he was all played out, we had lunch with our new friends then headed out to see Daddy.  

after our Daddy visit, Monkey had a nap on the way home (he was pooped).  when we pulled up to the house he was still asleep so i sat in the driveway for a little while, checking email and catching up on facebook.  one of the mommies posted a visit to the park so away we go.

 

after the park, a bath was definitely in order.  he LOVES baths!  i hope it stays that way.  oh, and he loves his new "toy".  let's just hope he doesn't rip it off... because, trust me, i think he's trying to.  yikes!

learning skills

he's trying more and more to put things where they fit.  

he doesn't know the sign for "all done" but that doesn't mean he doesn't have his own way of letting us know when he's done.  usually, at the point of him throwing food to the dogs is when he's done eating.  he's got his own signs.  hey, at least he's not throwing up gang signs!

he loves Ringo.  he loves to pet Ringo.  or slap him... whatever.  and now he "snaps" to get Ringo's attention.  he saw me snapping to get Ringo and so now he tries it.  how cute is that??  

he also LOVES baths.  ohmigod, do not get him out of the tub when he's not ready!  total meltdown until you finally get him to his crib. 

he really likes his trampoline.  i'm not sure if it's the jumping or the fact he can crawl right into the bean bag from the trampoline.  either way, it's a winner.

weekend update/recap

let's just talk about Saturday. because Saturday we did the most. we played outside all day. helped Daddy with the lawn. ate some dirt. YUM! after nap, helped Daddy more outside. after we came in, there was bath time then nap. then Mommy forgot to feed me!!! how do you forget to feed your kid??? ask Mommy. *(for S1) you gotta be a special kind o' stupid to forget to feed your kid!

Mommy here: get off my case, kid. you ate some stars in the car!

saturday nite - we went to Senior Serve. Senior Serve is where you get hardly anything to eat and are expected to "tip" the seniors serving you. it was a fundraiser for Project Graduation and it was fun because my kid was an angel during the whole thing! i know i'm totally jinxing myself here, but i have to say it. he was GOOD! the whole time we were there! even starving! j/k! i fed him. eventually.

i can't even tell you how excited i was. it was his first night time outing, after bed time (excluding Christmas Eve and that didn't count really cuz he was getting sick). needless to say, first outing: a success.

you tell me... does this look like a cranky baby to you?


i think not.

one trick pony

okay, so he took a few steps. he's done. no more. Nana brought him home last nite and though we didn't really try to get him to walk, he sure as heck wasn't doing it on his own!

at one point, right before dinner, he was standing in front of the island and i was by the sink. i asked him to come to me but he clung to Daddy's legs instead. his safe zone of sorts. any time we play peek-a-boo in the kitchen, it's Daddy's legs he hides behind.

i'm sure he doesn't understand the concept of "hiding" just yet. it's so cute, though. he thinks if you can't see his eyes, he's hidden. his whole body is gone. like, "poof", it's magic. you can't see me. when in all actuality, he's just right inside the doorway, blocking my way to the restroom.

communication breakdown

so we're now into the "eh eh EHHHHHH" stage. he won't sign and he refuses to talk. i can't help him. KIDDING! i'm still working on the signing (AND the talking, S1) but he's really just content to scream and throw a fit if he doesn't get what he wants. lucky me, right?

in other baby news, he took his first steps last night! did i see them? NO! he was at his Nana's. i was so upset i missed it. she did get it on video, though, and sent it to me promptly.

i'm not gonna mention any names... but somebody needs a new phone that takes better quality video. just sayin.

if at first you don't succeed...

might as well give up 'cause he's never gonna sit and watch the damn thing!

i tried sitting with Monkey last nite to play with his little vtech toy he got for Christmas. it says "9mos+" but, COME ON. who are they even kidding with that?? my kid would not sit still for more than two seconds. it doesn't help, the toy has this bright blue on/off button that he'd rather be playing with. or the fact there are new wires coming out of the tv and "ohmigod, where did THOSE wires come from? i haven't seen THOSE wires. i wanna play with THOSE wires!". because partially pulling the dvd player out with the other wires isn't enough for him.

one step beyond

he took a step! okay, he took two steps with the same foot and he was kinda going in a circle... does that count?

my Monkey wants to walk really bad. he's standing for longer periods of time now. he's even squatting and getting back up without holding on to anything. he'll be walking by next month, i'm sure. for a while there, i wasn't so sure. he was cruising along like he wanted to walk but then decided he would get there faster if he crawled. my kid's smart like that.

he's still not signing, but then again we're not being real diligent about teaching him. we really need to be. i'm going to see if he'll sit with me after dinner and watch the little "learn and sign" thing Uncle Psycho and Aunt F gave him. because now it's just pissing me off, reading other "mommy" blogs and their kids are signing at 10.5 months. that should be my kid! =)

first haircut

countdown to next Thursday

i'm going to Mamalane's for Thanksgiving.. and i'm gonna wear my Thanksgiving pj's!

Monkey Music

Free Little Bird - Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell

the song above is one that i just love and was playing over and over in my head while we were at the Children's Museum a couple of weeks ago, watching my big boy crawl all over the place exploring everything he could. since then, my internet BFF got me the cd so we can listen to it all the time. that is, as soon as i put it on the ipod.

the lyrics below belong to a song HM sings to Monkey every nite before he goes to bed. he tells me it's an old WWII song his mom sang to him. "a song for your sweetheart back home" is how he describes it. i found a video of one version on YouTube. trust me, you do NOT want to hear that one. there is a version i kinda like (it's just not as good as HM's voice singing it) and you can hear that if you click on the imeem playlist in the sidebar.

also included in that playlist are songs i like to think i can sing to my Monkey and other songs we listen to during the day.

I See The Moon

Over the mountain over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

I see the moon the moon sees me
Down through the leaves of the old oak tree
(Please)
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

Over the mountain over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

I kissed the rose the rose kissed me
Fragrant as only a rose can be
(Sing a little louder miss)
Please take the kiss that comforts me
Back to the one I love

(Everybody altogether)
Over the mountain over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me
Shine on the one I love

(Everybody once again)
Over the mountain over the sea
Back where my heart is longing to be
Please let the light that shines on me 
Shine on the one I love.

update:  some of the songs in the playlist are only 30 second
clips because some artists are greedy and don't even want
you to enjoy STREAMING music.

punk rock bather

not his first bath, but definitely his cutest!

he's getting so big and his hair is so long. i don't want him to grow up anymore. =(
these pictures were taken just mere hours before my sweet little monkey turned into son of satan!

we're going thru a phase right now. and it's not a good one. are there ever any good phases? really? anyway, we believe he's gone into his "i'm gonna see if i can keep Mommy and Daddy up all nite and play... or listen to me cry... whatever". it was not a good nite. you'll get more on that when i get more sleep and can type in complete sentences again.

who's gonna drive ya home?

so my boy's got a thing for steering wheels. we took him to Mr Gatti's after a day at the pumpkin patch and he loved the coin-operated boat with steering wheel. it swayed from side to side. ah, i can only imagine the temper tantrums he'll throw, in the future, when it's time to go home. can't wait!

we went to Shaggy's bday party this weekend and he found another steering wheel. he sat with Aunt S1 and Uncle BIL2 for a while before he was ready to leave. here's some video of that.

my big boy

my monkey - 6 mos

signs, signs, everywhere there's signs

so we've been learning how to sign... as in sign language. i was a proud mommy last week when Monkey showed me the sign for "milk". unfortunately, we worked on that one so much he's using it for everything now. HM thinks it's how he says he's happy. i say he wants something but i'm not sure what. he's using it for when he wants milk but still does it a LOT more than what i'm sure is allowable milk consumption per day.

we're now focusing on signs for Mommy, Daddy, Eat, More, and All Done. in the near future, we'll work on Please, Thank You, Play, and Friend (when he gets one).

in other news, things are still working out with bringing him to work 2-3 days a week. don't get me wrong, it's definitely trying some days, but it works out. i love being able to see him all day and not miss anything new he does. once he starts walking and all the newness wears out, we'll re-visit. KIDDING!

Monkey got to see his Grandpa & Grandma this weekend along with other cousins he'll hopefully see again. S1 and i have decided we need to take over planning the "C" family reunion. i think we'll send out surveys first to see what everybody would enjoy; games, activities, etc. something appropriate for all ages. don't get me wrong - it's great listening to the guitars and Psycho Brother's really bad singing, but there could be more.

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patch
Originally uploaded by islebehere

i can stare at this picture all day long and still not believe this kid is MY son. i still can't get over it. ... doesn't help that he still looks nothing like me.

testing

beach weekend

Monkey at work

at first i thot he was scared of the snail... turns out, he was just taking a poo
Originally uploaded by islebehere

2 month update

Monkey had his first round of shots yesterday. i cried. the nurse actually checked on me before we left. he weighs 11 lbs 6oz, which puts him in the 50th percentile for his weight and 22" long, which puts him in the 15th percentile for height. i'm gonna have a short kid.

he's holding up his neck really well but he still needs practice. he's getting more stubborn about his naps. he's talking a LOT more. and he's completely fascinated with his hands. he hasn't quite figured out how to use them yet but when he hits his toys in his bouncer, his face is one of wonder... like, it's moving... how did that happen?