Alexander's Adventures

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

Lightning McQueen made it trick or treating this year! For 2 hours he walked around our neighborhood collecting lots of candy...most of which is laden with peanuts or processed on peanut laden manufacturing equipment and thus I had to take a lot away!

Alex's pumpkin - he picked out the face he wanted me to carve

My pumpkin - its been a while since I gave this a shot but I am pretty happy with it.

We got about 200-225 kids at the house. Some of which were too old to be out and some who already know how to ask for extra candy for their "friend" down their...hmm nice kids!

Finished

2010-10-15T07:44:00.000-04:00

I realized today I had never updated the photos to show the finished product. It took about 2 good weekends of work to get this done but in the end its awesome! We all can swing on it and climb the climber and go down the slide.

This picture is just too cute not to share - Alex was measuring away making sure everything was level and good.

Almost finished product - we realized we did not like the door where it is in this picture so we spent part of last Saturday rearraning the door to come off the porch - its much better now.

Our next construction project...

2010-09-24T21:37:00.000-04:00

OUR SWINGSET!

This is going to take a while!

Farm Day 2010

2010-09-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago our town had an open farm day - surpisingly there are at least 6-7 farms in our town - go figure! We went to 3. The first stop was the turkey farm that had LOTS of tractors to climb on.

Then it was off to the dahlia farm. They had about 3000 plants to grow all their beautiful flowers - I need to get some of these different kinds for my garden!

And finally it was off to the farm that still runs like its the 19th century. We got to turn the crank to smoosh the apples that would eventually make cider. We also saw a dowser - Daddy is not a believer.

Overall a fun filled Sunday morning - we made it home again in time for nap!

Apple Picking 2010

2010-09-22T22:34:00.000-04:00

Off to Honey Pot Hill Orchard for apple picking last weekend. Alex enjoyed eating a few bites out of his apple.

Running down the rows of trees and picking the apples that were close to the ground

Mommy's shoulders were a great perch for Alex to reach the apples higher up

And then we found a ladder and Alex climbed right to the top!

Too many pumpkins to choose from!

Snuggling on the hayride!

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-22T22:27:00.000-04:00

My big guy moved up to preschool. Which for the kids at his daycare is a big move - they UPSTAIRS to where the big kids are! What an awesome place it is too! Lots of cool new toys and stations to play and lots of fun new things to do. He is with 5 of his friends - all BOYS - who moved up a few weeks before him. He was just not progressing with the little kids in toddlers. I think he likes to follow along than lead right now. I cant believe we went upstairs! The first trial day his friend Ben took his hand and said come up with me and off he went without looking back. He has no fear of the bigger pre-K kids either - getting right into the mix. Go Alex!

A Day In the Life of a 2 Year Old

2010-08-04T08:04:00.000-04:00

Oh lazy summer days of "nothing" to do. This is what one of our afternoons looked like lately:

Painting on the big paper Grampa got us.

Beautiful Art!

Laying in the sandbox after painting - the sand is a FULL BODY experience always!

After cleaning up the sand mess and changing clothes it was on to riding bikes...

And collecting sticks with the truck so Daddy could mow! This is the only shade we have in our whole yard.

First Family Vacation

2010-07-28T13:43:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago we took our first ever family vacation to Storyland and Santa's Village. This was a short trip meant as a trial to see how things work at a hotel. We did great! Alex LOVED it.

Yes, I let him in the ball pit despite all my years of worrying about how gross they are.

Sitting on Cinderella's throne - she was pretty too but the chair was much more interesting.

Reindeer Merry Go Round

Telling Santa that he shares his special day - I CANNOT believe he went right up and sat down on Santa's lap and talked to him!

Although I think the favorite part was the pool at the hotel. There was a pool just for little kids - 1-2 feet deep with little fountains that would pop up all over the place. He was swimming and splashing away until he was shivering.

Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine

2010-06-29T22:19:00.000-04:00

Sunday we went to Edaville Railroad to see Thomas the Tank Engine

Here he comes down the track

Riding the train...there are lots of things in the woods - many are lit up at Christmas time

We met Sir Topham Hat (poor person - it was 90+ degrees and humid!)

And then it was time to play on all the Alex size stuff....climbing through the wooden engine

Riding like a big kid on the turtle ride

Flying high with Mommy on the "Jumbo" ride (WHY on earth does this ride have the longest line wherever you go?)

We spent about 5 hours riding rides and walking around. We were all pooped from the heat and humidity. Sunday morning was a good time to go - it got busy around lunchtime.

Alex was such a good boy all day - compared to some of the kids melting down. Unfortunately the ice cream at the end of the day became slushes instead as they serve peanuts in their ice cream cart...I could not risk it :(

Hopefully Storyland in a few weeks will be a success!

Parties, Parties, Parties

2010-06-22T13:53:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was full of parties - surprise ones and father's day ones. It was nice to get out of the house and relax both days rather than work on projects.

Carrying his hotdog - he made it all the way across the yard and it fell right as he was going to sit down - he was so upset.

Handsome boy

Playing with Daddy's glasses

First one's in Auntie Jen's Pool - it was "refreshing"

Sprinkler fun at Auntie Jen's - Grampa taught him to move the sprinker

Just Like Me

2010-06-02T21:30:00.000-04:00

This is how Alex does everything lately: bare feet.

Barefoot firetruck riding...

Barefoot golf caddying....

Barefoot putting...it also helps when your face is really close to the ball.

Who thought it was a good idea to give a two year old golf clubs....Gramma! What else are Gramma's for? They are for instigating riding down the driveway on a gardening stool that has wheels - yes there is video and pictures - they are not allowed to be published :(

Sprinkler Fun

2010-05-24T20:39:00.000-04:00

Since it feels more like summer than spring I have been bringing out the sprinkler and letting Alex run around in it. He has a blast when the kids in the neighborhood come over and play too - they taught him if you stomp on the tube the water squirts higher.

Art Show

2010-05-24T20:26:00.000-04:00

Every year daycare does an art show at the end of the school year before "summer camp" starts. Each child has pieces in the art show and the parents get to wander around and find their childs art. Its always fun to see what the kids have been working on during the year. The teachers really are creative.

Hats

2010-05-11T20:33:00.000-04:00

Alex is a very particular child. He does NOT like hats. It has always been a battle to get him to wear a hat even in winter. He needs a hat for the summer. He is so fair and his hair is so light I am afraid the top of his head will get burnt. So I was at the Gap last week using a gift card for a few things for him. I came across a big kid hat and though what the heck. We made a big deal out of the hat - how awesome it was and how all the kids at school would love it - and voila! HE LOVES HIS HAT!

Checking himself out in the mirror admiring his new hat!

Modeling the new hat for me playing with the lens cap to my camera

I also found a few other things on 75% off sale - some big boy underwear! We are approaching 2.5 years old and he has had a potty out in the bathroom for a while and even sits (briefly) on it so it was time to get some. They are dinosaur (for his love of PBS Dinosaur Train) and race cars for the only movie we let him watch - Disney Cars.

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T21:09:00.000-04:00

This was my 3rd Mother's Day and we had a wonderful day. We had lunch to celebrate Mother's Day as well as Grampa's birthday. May is full of birthdays and holidays for us so we have to do our best to celebrate all of them.

Hiding in the tent we got a few weeks ago

Putting candles on the cupcakes Alex and I made.

Spring has sprung

2010-04-27T21:44:00.000-04:00

And with it comes the projects we have planned for the house this year. I do have to say only having one kiddo has given us some freedom and he is quite helpful this year. This past weekend we had several projects going on:

1) We (mostly C) were digging out the pool patio to put in pavers
2) We removed the rocks from around the front plant areas - unfortunately found some termites - YUCK
3) We spread 3 yards of mulch
4) We made 2 new flower beds in back and planted some flowers in them
5) We removed rocks from our new vegetable garden
6) We trimmed the birch tree

During all of this Alex was very cooperative and helpful - I think the new wheel barrow helped a lot! Daddy got one and Alex got one on Friday night at Lowes.

Pool Patio: Day 1 - ugly green felt

Pool Patio: end of day one - about 1/4 done

Pool Patio: end of day 2 - about 1/2 done

Big Truck of mulch

Alex helping with his new wheel barrow

Daddy spreading the mulch

Silly Boots

2010-04-11T20:30:00.001-04:00

Alex update: WOW he is getting verbal - my new favorite things he says:
1. Tri-an-gle-gle - he adds the second gle on there
2. OK - pronounced ohhhh kay - whenever I ask him to do something
3. Its scary - thats a first - that started yesterday and I dont know where it came from

Songs he can sing:
1. ABCs - missing EFG
2. Twinkle Twinkle
3. Hello friends - song from daycare
4. Wheels on the bus

I am sure I am missing some.
He has also discovered the boots Grammie got him at Christmas but they are too big still but he likes to put them on and take them off:

Easter Weekend

2010-04-05T21:30:00.000-04:00

Spring in New England is totally unpredictable - some years its cold and snowing on Easter - others like this year its 80 and sunny. What a gorgeous day. The day before Easter it was so warm in our neighborhood that we got out the little pool - the big one is still covered and jumped in with the girls next door.

The "baby" of the group was the bravest - sitting right down while the others ran in and out and Alex put ALL of his sandbox toys into the water. At this point we are quite limited in shorts and tee shirts and no water clothes!

Yesterday was Alex's third Easter - we talked about the Easter Bunny but I dont think he got it - but let me tell you - he could see his basket from the top of the stairs in the morning and I heard - "Momma toys down there!" Over and over! It was so cute - he loved all of the matchbox cars and animals.

The bunny was quite limited in treat choices for Alex as almost ALL chocolate is processed in the presence of peanut butter. So small things of Fruit Loops and Oreos took the place of candy.

This was also a BUBBLE Easter - lots and lots and lots of bubbles!

I hosted my first ever holiday luncheon at our house - 12 people in all.

I got lots of great flowers to plant in my yard.

Blankets...Lots and Lots of Blankets

2010-04-01T21:09:00.000-04:00

Alex has a blankie. Well two actually - one is blue - that is the favorite one and the other is an exact replicate only green. There is a third blankie that I thought would be a spare but he does not like it - same pattern - different feel - DOES NOT LIKE IT!

As Alex gets bigger his blankies no longer cover him completely so I thought I would make him a no-sew tie blanket. I bought the material a while ago but over my break I was able to finish it.

And here it is - Alex picked out the fabric himself at the store - so cute.

Here he is with all 3 blankets - he now must carry both the smaller ones - no more spare clean blanket.

One happy boy.

Rainbows

2010-03-31T21:07:00.000-04:00

After all this rain in NE a rainbow would have been nice to see - however this was a project Alex and I worked on last week when I was on spring break from work (yes academia rocks!). I found this recipe in a magazine I randomly started getting - Rainbow Cupcakes!

Start with white cake mix

Add food coloring (yes I know its bad for you) and stir.

Layer one on top of each other and....

Voila - rainbow cupcakes!

Very Yummy and kid approved :)

My budding Marine Biologist

2010-03-29T22:21:00.001-04:00

I have loved the NE Aquarium for as long as I can remember. If there was one place I wanted to go as a kid it was there - the fish, the huge tank in the middle that my dad used to sit me on the edge of as the fish swam below, the penguins, the dophin and sea lion show. I was in love. The Aquarium and the beach fueled my desire to be a marine biologist - and technically my college degree is in marine biology however I am now a molecular biologist.

The last time I was at the aquarium Alex was still "in the oven" per se. We took our friend who was visiting on a cold, wet October afternoon. It has been almost 2.5 years since then and I got to take Alex for the first time last Friday. What a blast we had!

When you walk up the seals are swimming out front. As you enter the first thing you see is the penguins - Alex LOVED them. We spent A LOT of time watching them - jump off the rocks, swim, take a shower in the "rain".

This is Alex looking over the glass at the penguins.

His 2nd favorite thing was the tide pool area where you could touch starfish, urchins, crabs and other small animals. He got to hold a starfish and an urchin. There were LOTS of tears when we had to make room for other kids.

We had lunch at the cafe and spent some more time walking around after but Alex was very tired by that point.

Another favorite part was the walkway where his shirt glowed - anything white glows a kind of purple color. He thought it was so funny - we had to go up and down the ramp lots of times just to see the polar bear on his shirt glow.

I love seeing things through his eyes!

Hanging out with the BIG kids

2010-03-22T15:29:00.000-04:00

Over the last weekend we went to cousin B's birthday. Alex loves to hang out with his 2 cousins (B and A). B turned 7 so the party was mostly kids from 5 and up while Alex and his cousin A and one other little girl were the under 3 crowd. Because of the big gym at daycare where we do drop off and pick up every day Alex did great - running around chasing all the balls at the basketball party.

To me Alex is such a big boy now - he is very talkative, very independent and overall a great kid. And then someone passed a comment about how "little" he is. I guess I dont think of him as a baby anymore and in comparison to the BIG kids at the party he really is. Funny how our perceptions are so different.

Peanuts stink big time

2010-03-14T11:59:00.008-04:00

I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to give Alex peanut butter. Here and there he has had TINY bites of a piece of english muffin with it on there or toast but never has he had a larger piece. Deep down I knew we were going to have issues and I was not ready to deal with it. Daddy got sick of waiting and Alex wanted some toast he was eating so we were both home so we went for it and this is the result:

Less than two bites later he was complaining his teeth hurt so I gave him a teether. Less than 5 minutes later his face and hand were covered in hives! I think his tongue was beginning to itch and thus he was telling me his teeth hurt!

And this....

Luckily Benadryl cut the reaction pretty quick and I had some in the house. A trip to the Dr. and we now have Epi Pens and Alex is not allowed to eat ANY NUTS until we figure this out. :(

I feel bad for him - he is now that kid who everyone has to be careful around. I hope he is not ultra sensitive. Daddy LOVES peanut everything. Not anymore!

Daddy's Boy

2010-02-21T08:21:00.001-05:00

Daddy forgot Alex's hat at daycare on Friday so in order for us to go out for a walk in the beautiful weather yesterday we had to improvise with Daddy's hat - how it fits on both their heads I am not sure - after some protesting - he does not like change - he thought he looked very handsome.

Valentine's Day

2010-02-18T20:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day - a little late. What did we do?

Alex got a new playdoh farm set - with a roller and lots of little cookie cutter things. His personal favorite is the tractor - big surprise.

The set came with these three cute little animals on top - you are supposed to put the playdoh in them and then squish it through the holes they have making hair and tails etc. Except in Alex's world this is unacceptable and they must sit on top of the container and watch - they are NOT to be touched or removed from their proper places.

He also got some foam shapes to be used either in the tub or when I get brave enough to bring out the paint.

And what did I get for Valentine's Day? I got chocolate covered strawberries - and boy were they YUMMY - all gone now and I did NOT share!

Snowman

2010-02-16T20:21:00.001-05:00

Say HELLO! to Alex's first ever SNOWMAN! With a little help from Mommy we were able to pack down some snow and make an Alex size snowman. Today's snowstorm gave us about 6 inches of the white stuff and it was kind of heavy - not perfect but we made it work. The girls next door gave us a snowman kit for Christmas so we had all of the perfect decorations. Alex was very excited to help "pat" down the snow - which usually meant pushing the snowman's head off.

Where was Daddy during all of this excitement? Fiddling with the snowblower of course!

I know, I know

2010-01-30T08:48:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. Its been an up and down few weeks. Alex was pretty sick about 2 weeks ago - fever of 102-103 without Tylenol or Motrin - for 5 days. The dr on day 3 said virus, the other dr on day 5 said pneumonia - so antibiotics we got and viola! Better Alex. The 10 days of meds were over on Thursday and yesterday fever - 102.5 came back again!!!! WHAT and of course being winter and a million different things going on the dr does not want to see him unless he does not get better or things change - great - there goes the whole weekend and probably most of next week as well. This was not a problem last time as I was not back at school yet - now the semester has started and I just dont know what to do - I guess we will be shelling out cash for Parents in a Pinch so I can teach my classes as they wont take him at daycare with a fever. Poor kid - he is so snuggly though.

What have we been up to besides this sickness? Playdoh!

And looking super cute in one of the sweaters my grandmother made for all of the cousins kiddos before she died. I was able to bring him home from the hospital in one of those sweaters.

The best words of all....

2010-01-10T21:55:00.000-05:00

Love you! Today Alex said Love you Mumma and Love you Daddy. I asked him if he could say "I love you" and for the first time he did! He is such a sweet boy :)

First week of 2010

2010-01-07T08:33:00.000-05:00

What have we been doing this first week of 2010? The beginning of it left us snowed in for the holiday weekend - we went out to lunch on New Years Day and shopping at Target just to get out of the house because we knew we would be snowed in the rest of the weekend and we were!
Alex is trying out his new shovel he got for Christmas.

Riding on his sled - he likes it much more than last year! He even tried out the snow tubes the girls next door had and LOVED IT!!! He so wants to be a big kid like them!

Marching through the snow in our front yard.
Peaking around the corner of the garage.

And then on Monday we went back to work and daycare and we celebrated Alex's 2nd birthday with his school friends - they all loved the car cupcakes Alex and I made! It was funny watching each kid eat them in their own way - some dove right in - and some licked all the frosting off and then at the cupcake and some just slowly licked all the frosting off. :) Alex dove right in and devoured the whole thing!

2009 in review

2010-01-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

JANUARY 1, 2009

FEBRUARY 2009

MARCH 2009

APRIL 2009

MAY 2009

JUNE 2009 - FIRST WEEKEND IN OUR NEW HOUSE!

JULY 2009

AUGUST 2009 - AFTER THE GREAT JUMPING INCIDENT

SEPTEMER 2009

OCTOBER 2009

NOVEMBER 2009 - CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO

DECEMBER 27, 2009

For many 2009 was not a good year. We are counting our blessings: Grampa beat CANCER. Auntie J and Uncle M got married on a beautiful Halloween evening. We bought our first house! And there are lots of other little things along the way I am sure I am forgetting but as I look back over these pictures of my greatest joy - Alex - I cant help but be amazed at how much he has changed and look forward to all of our adventures to come.

A late Happy Birthday Alex and Merry Christmas!

2010-01-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

December 25, 2009 - Happy 2nd Birthday Alexander!

Alex eating birthday cupcakes - a day early - after waiting patiently all day after I made them

Our tree all lit up in our first house!!!

Santa's Helper

Helping Mommy make the baclava on Christmas eve

Attacking the presents that Grammie left under the tree
The boxes are much more fun than clothes for both Alex and Sally!!!

We had a great Christmas and Alex got the hang of "PRESENTS!" very quickly although he wanted to open each thing after he unwrapped it and play with it so it took 2 mornings to finish opening what Santa brought! Which is fine by me. Alex was very cute opening not only his gifts but passing out gifts to others.

Edaville Railroad

2009-12-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we took a trip to Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA

Both C and I have fond memories of this freezing cold winter wonderland

Only in NE do people bring their children out in frigid weather to ride trains and amusement rides!

Alex loved riding on the train and seeing all the lights (he did not want to pose for pictures!)

WOW - 2 family pictures in one trip - taken in one shot by two different really nice people!

Alex's first amusement ride - the nice thing about this place is there are rides just for little people! He LOVES the rides and was very upset when he had to get off!

Riding on the little train!

One thing I should have done is brought my "Big" camera - better flash and faster shutter - these pictures are disappointing. I hope the videos are better. Funny Alex is not smiling in any of these - too cold I think - and too shell shocked at all the fun things to do. Since this went so well I think the summer calls for a trip to Story Land and Santa's Village!!!

Big Boy Bed

2009-12-09T20:46:00.001-05:00

Well, as you can see - there is no more crib - Alex is now officially in a big boy bed. We went over to Toys R Us last night to pick one up - because moron's that we are did not think we would use the "toddler bed" part of our convertible crib so did not buy the required parts. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Anyway, he has been in the bed for almost 20 minute - no crashes, no toys that I can hear and no little face at the gate at the top of the stairs. I think the test will be at 4 am when he normally wakes up and tries to climb out of his crib - which is what precipitated this big event in the first place. Wish us luck! And I think its time for some big boy sheets - maybe Thomas or Cars!

Christmas Photo Shoot

2009-11-29T20:19:00.001-05:00

Fireman!

2009-11-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

Go Alex! GO! Speeding around on Gramma and Grampa's new driveway - we had to make sure the gate was shut so he did not end up in the busy street.

Birthday Party Adventures

2009-11-03T22:04:00.001-05:00

To round off the weekend Alex went to a birthday party for one of his friends at daycare. I am really glad we went - the kids had so much fun eating cake and running all over the play rooms together. Each room had a "theme" - one of which was of course - water - and thus the really wet kids who were having a blast spashing about catching plastic fish! It was awesome to watch the boys run around chasing each other - Alex is turning into a real little boy.

He did it!

2009-11-03T21:54:00.001-05:00

I dont have any pictures of it but at Auntie J and Uncle M's wedding he walked down the aisle! A big thank you to the church wedding coordinator who told him to bring the pillow to Daddy - he got right up and down the aisle we went. I was almost in tears I was so happy. There was NO WAY he was putting on the tie or the jacket to his tux - but half is better than nothing!
Here's my handsome boy!

This is what happens after two long days and very little nap. I cant believe he was sleeping through the music!

Halloween Parade

2009-11-03T21:47:00.001-05:00

The busiest weekend ever began with the Halloween parade at daycare. After some struggle we got Superman to sit and eat some yummy bribes, but....
Once the bribes were gone the pulling and crying began, so....

He had on some cute new jeans and a flannel shirt and with the addition of a cowboy hat they had in the classroom...voila - a cowboy! And a happy one at that!

How to make your kid hate Halloween...

2009-10-27T19:39:00.000-04:00

This is "Elmo" - we found him out one day and Alex loved him - loves to carry him around and point to him. Last night we tried to practice putting "Elmo" on to get prepared for the school parade on Friday. No luck - tears and kicking and screaming.

So I figured OK - he really does not like things on his head so buy another costume. I found a cheap Superman costume today and said to Alex that they were pajamas to try on. Here are the results...
Crying while getting the thing on

Crying because of the cape

And crying while trying to rip the costume off.

I also realized that my 22 month old cannot be bribed - even with EO's (Oreos) to keep it on.

Helping Hand

2009-10-27T19:34:00.001-04:00

Loading the trailer
Raking the leaves

Loading his wagon wiht rocks and leaves

This is the first year we have had a yard so its also the first one where we have to rake leaves. This was one of those gorgeous New England fall days where we all came home early from work and school and decided to work outside. Daddy blew the leaves into a big pile and we picked them all up!

And so it begins...

2009-10-21T09:47:00.000-04:00

Alex has been invited to his first - non-family birthday party! It is on the day after Auntie J's and M's wedding so I am not sure if we will be able to go or not - I have to decide that by next week. I am excited - he is becoming a real big kid and yet a bit ho hum about it because here we go with buying gifts etc for everyone in class' birthday party and I am so un-creative when it comes to gifts. What do I get a 2 year old that we dont know all that well?

We have been hanging low lately - working around the house and such. The weekend weather has not cooperated with us for apple picking or pumpkin picking. Oh well - next year I guess.

Look who came to visit!

2009-10-01T20:00:00.001-04:00

A Preying Mantis! It was about 6 inches long and was hanging out on Alex's adirondack chair!

Swinging

2009-10-01T19:52:00.000-04:00

We went to our friends' baby shower this past weekend - it was a gorgeous day and they have a great yard with the perfect view! Alex spent most of his time exploring around the yard. He found their kayaks....
And the tree swing....

That was pretty far off the ground on a slope - so it was not easy for Daddy to hang on!

Ride 'em Cowboy

2009-09-20T18:33:00.000-04:00

Today was our first official outing in our new town. It was the Annual Harvest Fair - small with vendors and food - made me miss Ithaca a lot. I miss the farmer's market and the crazy parades and every weekend in the fall it seemed there was some sort of festival on the common. I miss that.

Anyway....Alex discovered the ride on ponies at daycare the other day and LOVED them. Every morning since discovering it he runs over and gets on. So I thought OK we need one so I go out on Friday and get one. He likes this one too!

Then today there are pony rides. One black one one brown one and there are little kids on them so I figure what the heck - ALEX LOVES THE PONIES! We watched for a while and asked him if he wanted to ride. He says Yes so off he goes with Daddy. He cried - because he had to get OFF! So we walked around a while and decided to go back for one more ride. He rode the smaller brown one first and the bigger black one the second time. He held on to the saddle tight!

Where have we been?

2009-09-07T22:20:00.000-04:00

Back to school and daycare but here are a few pictures of the last few weeks. This weekend we were in sweatshirts feeding the ducks: Here is Alex trying to get the ducks to come over to him.

Here is Alex and Daddy feeding the ducks some bread.

Chilling on Mommy's bed watching Thomas the Train on the TV. Daddy doesnt like how the narrator does all the voices.

Amazingly last weekend we were in the big pool - well everyone but Alex was. He chose to sit on the edge and try and empty the pool one cup at a time in his truck.

But he really likes his little pool and jumps and splashes and "swims" as best he can in it!

What a difference a week makes! Gotta love New England!

Swimming Lessons

2009-08-14T07:50:00.000-04:00

One of our things to do together this summer has been swimming lessons at the YMCA. On Friday mornings we head over to the pool and Alex and I have a lesson. These pictures are from the first lesson where he clung to me like a spider monkey but this was the one lesson Daddy was able to go to and take pictures. Since then Alex is becoming more comfortable with the water and even starting to kick his feet.

I have since learned my hair is short enough NOT to wear the lovely hat if I put in in a ponytail - YAY!

Alex's trip to the ER

2009-08-11T10:26:00.000-04:00

Yup it happened - a trip to the ER. I am sure it was only a matter of time. This past week Alex decided that jumping on the chair in the play area was fun. So he has had a lot of times being told to sit down on the chair and removal from the chair when he does not sit and diversion away from jumping until Saturday night. He thought it was a game and thinks he is funny and as I was doing something at the sink and Chris was the one removing him from the chair - he bounced one mroe time and bounced himself right off the chair and face first into the brick surrounding the fireplace. Luckily he cried right away but when I picked him up he was bleeding and then I realized he had sliced his lip open at least 4 times on his teeth and had a nice abrasion on his chin. After some debate we decided a trip to the ER was in order - just to be sure his teeth and jaw were OK. Luckily when we walked in to the ER - my second time to this particular ER - there was virtually NO ONE THERE - for 730 on a Saturday night and the ER waiting area is EMPTY so they were able to take us right away and the Dr checked him out - no stitches - his cuts on his lips were already sealed and his right front top tooth was a tiny bit pushed up so we went to the Pedi yesterday to have him check it out. As long as its not loose or discolored we are going to let it be for now.

We were in and out of the ER in less than an hour! His lip is still pretty swollen even now but the pedi said it should be healed in 5 days or so - your face heals quick he said. There has been no jumping on the chair or other furniture either - but he has been a bit under the weather - I think his canine teeth are finally coming in.

Popsicles - YUM!

2009-08-02T21:09:00.000-04:00

This is try 2 with the popsicles - he did great - he wore a lot of it but otherwise had a great time

This is attempt 1 - a bit less messy on the face - a bit more using the fingers to get it in his mouth!

Car Washing

2009-07-18T10:28:00.000-04:00

"Helping" Daddy wash the car - Alex washes the soap container and the pads
Where was I? Took 5 minutes to fertilize some of my new plants in the back! This is what happens when Daddy is not looking!

We are drying out his shoes still.

Summertime.....Finally!

2009-07-14T09:47:00.000-04:00

We've been working and working on the house and the pool and Daddy FINALLY says we can swim in the big pool. Alex had his first swimming lesson last Friday and we have a movie - i have to figure that out - but he did great for being in a new environment and such a large, loud area. He clung to me for the first half but did go down the slide and did hang on to the dumb bell floaties on his own - he was very cold and tired when he got out. I was surprised how "cold" an 84 degree pool was! The other parents were nice too.
At home Daddy was the first one in the pool on Saturday! Alex put his toes in but our pool is pretty cold - about 74 in the shallow end - so Alex was content with his toes in sitting with Jaime and Daddy. He was so good. I was afraid he would just jump in.

On Sunday we took out the little pool and put some water in - I got it at the end of the season last year for $3.14 at Target - what a deal - except half of it is deflated because the inflater part keeps leaking - Oh well - I got a new one yesterday and this one better stay inflated - it was more than 3.14! Alex had so much fun playing in the water - he was outside for a while but then he jumped in and was splashing around and "swimming". Grandma taught him to lift the edge of the pool and make waves - she is lucky she did not get wet!

What a difference

2009-07-06T21:13:00.000-04:00

A few swipes with the clippers and WOW - scoll down to the next post to see what he looked like yesterday morning - and then here's what he looked like this afternoon!

He is a bit drooly in this picture - not nearly as bad as the past few days - very nasty virus - sore throat so bad he did not want to swallow! He had little red bumps on his tounge and everything - Thursday and Friday were rough but he was fever free by Saturday so we went to a parade (his first) and cookout and he had a great time with all the other kids - being pulled around in the wagon was his favorite - they were running and he was loving it!

18 Month Appointment

2009-06-27T09:20:00.000-04:00

Where has the time gone - Thursday Alex turned 18 months old and yesterday we had our 18 month doctors appointment! We went to see Dr. B and every time the nurse or Dr touched him he cried. He does not like to be touched in any way when he does not want it.

Here are the stats: 25 lbs - 38th percentile; 32 1/2 inches - 57th percentile; and a 47 cm head - thats a gain of almost 20 lbs since birth, 13.5 inches in height and 5 cm in head circumference!

The Dr. did not seem concerned with any of my concerns - the thing that makes me a bit nervous is his poop - given the family history of Crohn's I am watching him like a hawk. I think we might need to lay off the fruit for a while and see if that helps.

In other news we met with the new EI people this week and I had forgotten one of Alex's goals - eating with a spoon - so I decided to give him a spoon the other morning and some peas and let him have at it - he did great! I guess at school they give them utensils at every meal so he has been getting some practice - no thanks to me.

Also we have had a language explosion over the past few weeks! He now has about 20 words - many of which are distinguisable not only to me but others as well.

Here is our list: hi, bye-bye, row row, all done, please, daddy, mama, sweep, stuck, truck, cracker, binky, grape, bubble, mine, more, uh oh, kitty, outside, sit and I think a few more that I am not thinking of at the moment - he talks non-stop at home - but not much at school - the teachers were amazed at how many I told them he knew. He understands so many more too!

Here is a picture of Alex eating his new favorite food - Honey Graham Crackers sitting on his seat - the nursing stool - at his table - his new step stool to see out the window. He looks just like his father in this picture. I will have to find one upstairs!

Clean POOL!

2009-06-23T21:28:00.000-04:00

AHHH - now we are in business - nice clean pool!
We have had a few unfortunate visitors - two mice (dead), one chipmunk (dead) and two mallards - mom and dad - no babies (alive!) they like to go for a swim!

Sandbox

2009-06-23T21:18:00.001-04:00

Here is Alex's new sandbox - we got 100 lbs of sand - we could probably use another 100
Alex was very patient waiting for Daddy to open the sand and pour it in - he likes to help now too

After a while he decided to get in and sprinkle the sand out!

What we've been up to - part 2!

2009-06-21T08:23:00.000-04:00

And here are before and midpoint shots of the pool - so far we have added on day 1 - 12 lbs of chlorine + 4 gallons of liquid cholorine and a bottle of algecide. Day 2 - another 6 lbs of chlorine. Day 3 - another 4 lbs of chlorine and 4 oz of clarifier. That got us 1 day beyond this picture - we can now see the bottom of the deep end and have scooped out all the leaves and have vaccuumed all the dirt! We have added 25 lbs of alkaline stabilizer so the pH does not go all out of whack and another 4 oz of clarifier to clump all the tiny particles the filter is having a hard time getting out. We have a DE filter so Chris has changed the DE - at least 4-5 times now.

He also has a snake friend that lives near/in the pump - Chris HATES snakes - but seems to tolerate this one.

What have we been up to?

2009-06-21T08:17:00.001-04:00

We have been putting away the new house - and finding our baby chairs!

We've been mowing the lawn - first it was Daddy's turn - then it was Mommy's turn this time.

I've been learning to sit up at the big island - I love sitting like this!

And peeking at the world outside the window

And I LOVE powdered donuts!

Thanksgiving Thursday (well ok Saturday)

2009-06-06T07:05:00.000-04:00

Its been a long haul - lots of good and not so good things happening but I have a lot to be thankful for:

1. Chemo/surgery/doctors (for too many of my family and friends who are fighting this battle)

2. My incredibly supportive family

3. My new HOUSE!

4. Awesome movers who busted their humps to get my heavy furniture moved and unscathed!

5. My job - I participated in my first Commencement at my job as a faculty member and it was one of the nicest ceremonies I have been to. I cant wait for next year when I know many more of the young women graduating!

6. Alex - for being the happy adjustable kid he is - he is changing every day and I love it

7. For speaches by women that empower and teach us that our lives are not that bad - there is always someone out there who has it worse than you do - lighten up - dont take yourself so seriously - you dont know how lucky you are

8. A husband who can take care of his own things without being told

9. My new - first - washer and dryer! Yippee!

10. The wisdom to know how lucky we are!

We did it!

2009-06-01T20:03:00.000-04:00

Finally - the news I have wanted to share for so long but did not want to announce it and have something go wrong:

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE TODAY! FINALLY!!!!

There have been some bumps in the road along the way but we finally got it - all the papers are signed and as soon as the deed is filed tomorrow we will have the keys! WOO HOO!

Pictures later!

Birthday at the zoo

2009-05-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

Ok it was Mommy's birthday at the zoo but still it was so much fun! Here is a picture of Alex last year at the zoo and then this year:The first picture was April 18, 2008 - so almost 4 months old - and the second one is exactly 17 months old - May 25th 2009. He has come such a long way! We walked all around the zoo - sometime Alex rode in the carriage - sometimes he pushed his carriage:

And then Daddy took him into the petting zoo where he "patted - aka hit" some goats and threw individual corn pieces at them.

My favorite part was the giraffe exhibit:

Arent they cute? There is a new baby giraffe but she is not with the others - she was sick after birth and wont be with the other giraffes until she is weaned.

Hair Cut and New Sneakers - Baby to Toddler in 1 hour flat

2009-05-27T18:44:00.000-04:00

Saturday afternoon haircut - Alex did not want to sit in the chair so he sat on Mommy - not really conducive to cutting hair

This was the first attempt to use clippers

All Done! Handsome boy - baby to toddler in 10 minutes!

Then it was over to Stride Rite for the second traumatic event of the day - foot measurement
How she did it I dont know because his feet barely touched the measuring thing

New sneakers! Thank you Gramma!

Last Weekend

2009-05-23T08:09:00.000-04:00

Alex pushing the wagon up Grampy's hill - Daddy doing is normal videotaping

Riding along after a long hard time pushing the wagon across the yard

1st School Pictures

2009-05-18T20:36:00.000-04:00

Here they are - they said he did good that day - he is such a ham! - #1 above is my favorite but the other two are cute too. The only thing I wish is that they left his top button undone - but hey - they changed him for me and he looks cute!

So what have we been up to? Not too much and a lot at the same time... the big news is... Alex now walks! It has been a really gradual process over the last month or so - gaining confidence little by little. Then 2 weeks in the toddler room and its poof - walking! Last night he spent 20 minutes or so walking back and forth between Chris and the chair and then all of a sudden he pushed himself to standing from the floor! I guess there is something to be said for positive peer pressure! We have a good video of it.

Then it was off to the bath - the one animal noise Alex knows is the ducky - his tub is a duck and it quacks - and after I thought it would be fun to have him walk to his room to get a diaper and jammies - well I guess he was a bit excited because he walked over to his bed and when he walked away there was a puddle - he peed on the floor next to his crib! He has not peed after his bath in I dont know how long!

In not so good news Alex bit a friend at daycare the other day. They were both trying to get to the same spot in the outside treehouse and if I had to guess the other kid was not heeding Alex's shoves of get out of my space and so he bit the other kid :( Not good - luckily the other kid is OK. He tried to do it to Daddy on Saturday when he was not heeding Alex's warnings of get away you are too close right now. I spoke with the teacher about it today and hopefully she will watch it.

2009-05-14T20:58:00.000-04:00

Tonight was the annual art show at daycare. All of the kids worked very hard on their pieces. Each one had 3 or 4 pieces of art hanging all around the gym. It was great - the kids were so proud! Alex held my hand as we walked around eating cookies looking at everyones art. He had 3 of his own pieces and there was one group project but it was hard to get a picture of - the paint on the black background did not stand out that well.

Piece #1 - my favorite - a turtle! The turtle's feet are Alex's feet! The girl ones have eyelashes on the eyes - the boy ones don't!

Piece #2 - orange paint on a yellow circle

Piece #3: bubble wrap painting!

It was a great night - Alex held my hand while we walked around and had cookies and looked at all the artwork. His big accomplishment this week is making huge progress with walking - he is letting go of my hand and going for what he wants - he came 1/2 way across the classroom to me today without falling! GO ALEX!

Jumping on the couch is getting old (for me at least). He fell off twice the other day. Luckily he puts the pillows on the floor before he jumps so he did not get hurt!

Last day of classes

2009-05-13T15:15:00.000-04:00

This post has nothing to do with Alex - I made it through my first year of teaching! Today was the last day of classes for the W women and as such the senior class decorates the Science Center and one other building in their class colors - Class of 2009 is Green so upon walking into the science center today there is green everywhere - little green aliens, frogs etc etc. Here is a picture of my office door - I am bringing C. elegans (microscopic soil worms) to the Genetics lab for the fall and my office mate did shark research before coming here - so hence our door:

The focus of the science center - the streamers begin on the 5th floor and flow down to the 2nd and 3rd floors

I think they were up all night decorating the building - even the stuffed Coyote is decorated - and very hard to get to!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T20:59:00.000-04:00

Another week flies by! My Mother's Day gift was a Friday night out to dinner with my girlfriends - after two months of planning a date - we all made it out! It was great - the 5 of us had a great dinner an conversation without our 10 kids!

We spent Saturday with Gramma and Grampa for Mother's Dad - Daddy waxed a car and we helped clean the outside furniture. Alex got out the bubbles and the balls and Grampa put together the fire engine that Auntie A got for Alex - its awesome - we just need the fire hat. By the time we went inside he was covered head to toe in dirt and wet from the water we were cleaning the furniture with. He had a bath in the sink and then a nap!

Baby in a bucket!

Today we went to IKEA! I have never been there before and one opened here not that long ago so we went over to see what we could find - it was so much fun! I can see myself going back there and spending lots of money!

Busy Busy

2009-05-03T08:53:00.000-04:00

Toddler Room keeps Alex very busy - in the gym, outside on the playground - body painting - he was some different color every day this week - including when Auntie A came to have dinner with us this week - he had GREEN hair and legs and arms! The cashier at the grocery store asked if I dyed his hair - UM NO! Why on earth would I dye my 16 month olds hair?

Moving on up

2009-04-29T13:40:00.001-04:00

To the toddler room that is. Where has my baby gone? This is a question I have asked so many times this week. I guess I am thankful that he has done so well and that he is moving on to bigger and better things but over the past few weeks it has become more and more evident that he is NOT A BABY anymore :(

This week has been transition week - each day he spends more and more time with the new classroom. Most of the kids in there he has interacted with before for varying amounts of time. Monday went really well - they were outside most of the morning and he loves being outside at the playground - he was SO dirty - something I will have to get used to - but he was so happy when I picked him up! Tuesday was a longer time - some outside and some in the gym with the new class - he just waved bye to his teacher when it was time to go and off he went. Today we had a busy day with Early Intervention - both the OT and the educator were there so he was very busy. I hope he is ok long enough to have pizza lunch with the toddlers!

There are some great pictures from this past weekend but they are on my parents camera and I did not get them off before we left - it was so hot - July in April this weekend that we were outside as much as possible and Alex was playing basketball with just his shorts on - too cute!

Time is just flying by...

2009-04-20T20:34:00.000-04:00

Its been another week - where did the time go? I am about 3 weeks away from being done with classes for the semester and then it is 3 months without students! Two of those off completely.

I have been bad about blogging lately - mostly because we have a lot going on right now. One of the things I will be able to share soon (I hope) and NO I am not pregnant. The second is not my story to tell but most of you know already anyway. And the third is we are getting ready to move Alex to the toddler room at daycare!

Alex is sick again - at least 1 ear infection and another lung thing - the Dr said two dreaded words to me today - 1 possible RSV and 2 asthma. We have to go back tomorrow for another visit. He had a nebulizer treatment today - NOT FUN - which did not really help his breathing. But he is on amoxicillan so that should help. I knew being born so early would have some lasting lung effects - looks like that and his gag reflex are going to be his weaknesses. I was so terrified of RSV last year that we pretty much were hermits from the day he came home in January until April. Everyone pretty much gets it at some point in their life.

Here are some pictures from this past week:

Alex's finger nails after being outside playing at daycare!

I have more of this to look forward to - the toddlers are outside every day

Alex "mowing" Gramma and Grampa's lawn - he was really pushing it around this time!

And last but not least - cooking breakfast! He ended up taking out ALL of my pans.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T21:31:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter Everyone! The bunny was very good to Alex this year - his first pail and shovel to take to the beach - or the sandbox and Clipo - Yes that Clipo - sing the song - I know you know it. He LOVES it - he got the little bench one that spins some of the pieces around and he loves pushing the button.

We had a very busy day today - walking all around - pushing his new Bubble Mower from Gramma and Grampa. He also got lots of clothes - thank goodness - he is growing like a weed - from Grammie and Grampie and Carol and Auntie J and Great Auntie L!

Naps were completely off today and thus he was up until 9 but he was so funny - really practicing his standing and then "jumping" over the back of his futon to fall on the pull out part for about 30 minutes! I think walking around all day and going up - and down - the stairs at my Mom's really made a difference today - he had a lot of confidence tonight. Of course this second wind somes when he is supposed to be getting in his PJs - he loves being just in his diaper!

Here are some pictures from today...

Signing

2009-04-08T20:47:00.000-04:00

Alex has two new signs - please and thank you - its so cute! Go Daddy for teaching him those signs so diligently!

Hair Cut

2009-04-08T20:41:00.000-04:00

Eating the bath toys
Handsome baby (or should I say big boy!)

Pictures

2009-04-02T19:33:00.001-04:00

Grading papers with a baby napping on my lap!

Dunkin's Munchkin after 2 shots at the doctor!

Tearing up the kitchen - removing all the food from the pantry!

Steps

2009-04-02T19:25:00.000-04:00

I am Very Excited - Alex took 3 independent steps at daycare today! I was spending some time practicing with him before I left for work - I set him about 4 steps away from me and let go and he would stand nicely and then he took a few steps towards me before flinging himself forwards an hoping I would catch him. Before I know it he will be running around the house.

Over the past few weeks he has gained a lot of confidence and when he is doing different things - I see him practicing - letting go when he is standing at the table or moving between furniture. Last night he was practicing falling on his bum from a few inches off the ground - on his own but you could see he was judging if it hurts or not. I think we will see him take off soon!

15 month update

2009-03-31T20:56:00.000-04:00

Off to the Dr we went yesterday for Alex's 15 month Dr appt. He is beginning to know now that he really does not like going there and gets all upset when he sits on the scale - its the least invasive thing they do but he freaks out! Still 22 lbs 7 oz - on two scales - so no weight gain since his Jan appt - but up a bit since his loss when he was sick so thats good. He is 31" tall - up an inch since last time as well and 47 cm head circumference - no change there either which is good - he has my wide head. Daddy has the same size around as me but his is deep rather than wide - pretty funny since he has spent the last 10 years making fun of my big head!

Alex did really well when the Dr came in and was perfect while he was listening to his lungs and heart and his lungs are clear - considering the hacking cough he has (an now I have too!) He even did really well with looking in his ears - something that has made him throw up in the past! No crying - the crying began for the shots - one in each leg - dTap and a pneumococcal one, the Hib has to wait because there is a shortage and he has already had 3 - one more and he is done - maybe at 18 months - and then no more shots until he is 4! WOO HOO.

Unfortunately the appt was during nap time so he was none too happy when we got home so he laid down for a bit - well I woke him up for dinner and then right back to sleep - until about 7 (his normal bedtime) and he was crazy naked baby until about 9! He was so funny bouncing of off his futon and me.

Dinner has not been the great experience it has been in the past - he is just not eating much - could be the cough - could be tired - who knows but I need to let it go and not push.

Special Care Nursery Reunion

2009-03-28T19:56:00.000-04:00

Today we had a fun outing - we were invited to the Special Care Nursery Reunion - the hospital where Alex was born and spent the second week of his life at - invited all the Special Care kids for a morning of magic, snacks, free bike helmets and more. We got there about 11 and watched some magic and ran into some of the nurses who took care of alex and one of the babies that was there the same time as Alex!

I have to say that the nurses at both Childrens and in Special Care are amazing wonderful people who made the two weeks we were with them bearable. They were loving and warm and bright people who loved the babies. I was so happy to see one of the nurses especially - she took care of me right after Alex was born and he was taken to Childrens and held my hand as I cried. She taught me how to give Alex a bath and wash is hair when we came back a week later. I also saw the nurse who gave our breastfeeding class - about 2 weeks before Alex was born - although of all the people in the room I was due last - she was shocked to see me Christmas morning. She even recognized me from class that morning - she knew it was way to early to see us. They all remember Alex as "Rocky" - his first nickname - because he looked like Rocky Balboa after he lost the fight.

It was also such a nice day out today here that we went for lunch and ate outside - Alex has a fever again this afternoon and really did not eat much today. I think its teeth - I can see them coming and I cant imagine how painful it is!

Updates Updates

2009-03-25T20:41:00.000-04:00

I think "Spring Break" has been busier than a normal week - I am exhausted! We started looking at houses again - one Saturday, one Sunday and 8 tomorrow. I met with someone at the bank and updated our finances to figure out what we can afford - scares the poop out of me buying a house. Yesterday I got my hair cut and Alex got to hang out with Auntie L - "the Great" - pretty funny being a great aunt in your 40's! He was a good boy and practiced his walking - I think that has been the biggest improvement over the past few weeks - he went from "Jello legs" to standing on his own for a few seconds - until he realizes you are not hanging on and then he laughs and falls over. He is letting us help him walk now too - which is a huge change from a few weeks ago where he wanted no help at all and did not want to even try walking. The OT and the "educator" were very excited today when they came to work with him. Sue, the OT, has not seen Alex in a month and between his hair cut and his new skills - cruising, squatting etc - she was very impressed!

In the toy bin is way better than out!

I love Eggos!

Tonight was pretty funny - he went from being a baby to a toddler in a moment. We were playing with some throw pillows and he grabbed one off the couch and threw it on the floor and "jumped"/flung himself on it and thought it was the funniest thing ever. So he kept picking it up and jumping on it - it was so cute but my baby was gone and a little boy was in his place!

Baby Yoga - downward facing dog pose

Angry that I wont pick him up and let him play with the camera - and he looks just like me, furrowed brow and all.

Not sure why I look medicated but Alex looks cute!

We're still here

2009-03-21T13:03:00.000-04:00

Just been really busy this week. Parties last weekend and lots to do this week before my spring break - papers to grade - 23 of them to be exact and takes about 2 hours a piece! Alex is sick - again with some sort of virus causing a nasty cough and to top it off - I think he is teething again! He is MISERABLE!

I will update more later.

Big Boy Haircut

2009-03-13T20:35:00.000-04:00

So I broke down today and took Alex for a big boy haircut. I could not handle the back and the weird lengths on top so off we went to a professional - paid way too much but honestly it was done in 5 minutes - good thing too he was not overly happy to be in the chair - but he was not screaming - mildly and sadly protesting was more like it. He woke up unhappy from his nap at daycare and looked none too happy when he and Daddy came into the shop.

As you can see some Cheerios and some rest time in the car on the way home made his day better. He looks like such a big boy! It could be shorter but for the first one it was enough!

What a fun weekend

2009-03-09T21:21:00.001-04:00

Well the weekend went by too fast as usual but we were able to go outside and enjoy the warm weather both days. I did not have any grading to do this weekend (unlike next weekend when I will have 23 15 pages papers to grade :( ) so we decided to get out and about. On Saturday we headed down to the outlets - with an entire parkinglot full of other people and Chris put Alex in the backpack and we shopped for a few hours enjoying the fresh air while walking store to store. I got Alex some cute spring/summer stuff and then we headed to the mall to get Alex his first pair of big boy shoes! They are so cute! We stopped and got something to eat first as it was obvious we all had low blood sugar so we got a snack and then got NEW SHOES! What a big boy!

On Sunday we decided to go out to our favorite breakfast place down the road and get our favorite Apple Crisp Belgian waffle! YUM YUM. Alex was really good and enjoyed looking out the window at the pond while we ate. Then we walked over and fed the ducks our stale bread from the last week. Alex was really excited to see the ducks and they were pretty much on top of us. The geese were patient surprisingly and I am happy that the swans (there are at least 5) stayed behind the fence - they were picking up the other ducks and moving them to get the food - I am afraid of swans.

Then it was off to the grocery store - Alex loves the grocery store and smiles and waves at everyone. He was checking out a little girl who was riding in the cozy coupe model carriage but he is not big enough for that yet.

We spent some time playing with the blocks I put together that Auntie L and family got Alex for Christmas/bday! He loves the tube ones and loves knocking over the stacks. He is beginning to build his own towers out of things so I thought it was time we got the blocks out - and its a toy that does not make noise!!!!

Then it was out for a walk and I carried him around in the backpack - #1 I am out of shape and #2 an extra 30 lbs of kid and backpack really makes a difference with stamina but it was too nice out to stay inside.

Then Auntie J and Uncle M came for dinner! It was so nice to have company and other adult conversation. Alex loves to have new people to play with!

Milestones

2009-03-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

Its Friday again - these short weeks throw me off schedule completely (not like I am complaining!) but once again it is Friday and Alex seems to have made some leaps this week - still no walking but he seems to have given up his baby cereal - he is a big boy now and feeds himself about 95% of the time finger foods. This week he has blown my mind with the volume of food he has eaten! He is well on his way to being moved up to the toddler room in daycare - 1) he eats finger foods independently, 2) this whole week - no bottle at daycare! He has used his cup to drink at least 10 oz of milk at daycare a day! 3) the one we have the most problems with is WALKING! He loves to walk around with his cart and the push toys at school but will NOT walk with me holding his hands - he turns into Jello! Or at daycare now he will stand but then thinks its too funny and falls over - small steps I guess.

Other things he started doing well this week - stacking things! We spent about 15 minutes tonight stacking all his jars of baby food that he took out of the butcher block. He did a good job too as long as I kept the lower ones from falling over.

Luckily he is babbling more and more and we are practicing in the car and at home. Our new EI educator starts next week and I am in the process of scheduling a hearing evaluation as well just to be sure he did not suffer hearing loss. Mine was not diagnosed until I was 5 but I seemed to do just fine. Sometimes I wonder if this whole EI thing is worth it. Alex does things in his own time and manner.

Yesterday was one of the other baby's birthdays - so today they had angel food cake and cantelope at daycare - Alex LOVED the cantelope - it was gone before they knew it and wondered if he just threw it on the floor - NOPE - ate it all as usual.

Last night he had some tortellini's for dinner with sauce - this was the result:

Sauce in on the face, hair, hands and clothes!

He may be blonde and blue eyed but he has Italian blood - He loves any kind of pasta - ravioli, tortellini, and he LOVES bread!

Drinking from the sippy cup after dinner - he now definitely prefers his milk over water!

Blog Love

2009-03-05T15:43:00.000-05:00

the rules:1. admit that ONE thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. get it off your shoulders. once you've written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. it's over with, it's in the past. remember, you're a good mom!

Thanks Jen! You made my day!

I feel bad that I was unable to go full term with Alex. I have so much guilt about him being born early and not forcing my doctor to look me over when I thought things were going wrong. I think he could have avoided the breathing issues and the severe bruising he had.

2. to remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. these are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY that you rock!

1) I love that Alex chooses me over anyone else

2) I love his beautiful smiling blue eyes

3) I love the fact that he is so outgoing and generally happy that he is OK at daycare

4) I love that he is the "happy" baby at daycare

5) I love that Alex now feeds me instead of the other way around - he loves to share (germs included!)

6) I love slobbery baby kisses!

7) I love making him laugh by doing silly things - if only life stayed this simple!

New Link

2009-03-04T13:56:00.000-05:00

If you look to the right you will see an new button added to my page - for Paperback Book Swap.com - I found the link on someone elses blog and thought - what a great way to cut my book budget - so I have been unloading all my books and getting some new ones for the cost of media mail shipping! I LOVE it - I have swapped 5 or 6 books so far and already received 2 I requested in the mail! Give it a try with the link!

Picture Day

2009-02-27T19:58:00.000-05:00

Wow once again another week has gone by and I dont really know where it went. Alex was sick all last weekend and we kept him out of daycare Monday and Tuesday. I think he was done with the bug part but Sunday but he has had instances of vomiting all week - the doctor thinks its his generally sensitive stomach being even more sensitive since the bug. We are diluting his soy milk in Pedialyte (YUCK) but he drinks it and it keeps him from loosing everything. Every day I try to make it a little less dilute.

Generally he has been clingy and crabby and will SCREAM bloody murder if I even consider putting him down. He has had great days at daycare though which is good. He really needed a change of scenery this week after being cooped up for 5 days at home. We all did.

So here are some recent pictures - he has just turned 14 months old (on the 25th!) Where has the time gone?

Having a popsicle while he was sick - his first one!

Napping on the futon when he was sick - I let him sleep wherever he was comfortable

Snuggles on the couch with Mommy

Having a snack before school after he decided he was big enough to sit on the chair to eat his puffs

And here is one I took tonight - I thinks its great! He is turning into a little boy - gone is the baby face :( ;)

Oh one more thing - I am so excited - we were invited to a Special Care Nursery reunion at the end of March at the hospital where he was born and spent the second part of his hospital stay. The nurses there have not seen him since he left - I cant wait to go.

Sick....again

2009-02-21T20:52:00.000-05:00

Oh Boy we are sick again - yet another stomach bug going around EVERYWHERE especially daycare and we were not spared. Alex got it yesterday at school. Luckily he is not constantly puking but he is not really drinking. I called the doctor a little after 8 tonight because I am worried about dehydration and she said to call again in the morning if he has a dry diaper. To try and give him clear liquids. He was doing fine eating crackers and cheerios and puffs but as soon as we tried cereal and a little banana he got sick and lost all my BM he nursed as well :(. I feel bad I dont have much of a supply anymore to nurse him more.

I am feeling really guilty and really hating daycare lately. I wish I could stay home and take care of my baby so he would not be constantly sick. By Thurday (Friday this week because of the holiday) we are sick with something - cough, fever, stomach bug. This SUCKS! I just dont think I would be a very good or very happy stay at home mom. Maybe if we had a house it would be different.

EI 6 Month Evaluation

2009-02-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

Today was our 6 month EI evaluation. Alex did great! He has made a lot of progress in a lot of areas and yet they still found a way to keep him in the program. I am a bit annoyed and yet deep down I knew he would qualify for speech. If he would have mimicked some of what they were doing I dont think he would have qualified and he has been mimicking me all night! But of course he was getting tired towards the end and would just not cooperate with what they were asking him - to blow raspberries or click his tongue. He scored way above his age for his social skills (20 months) but his expressive language scored at 9 months. He had to be at least above 10 months not to receive services. Also his gross motor skills are a bit on the low side - 11 months which did not surprise me either. He does not have the best balance and they dont like the fact that he W sits - even though we move his legs all the time. It is just poor muscle tone. So we decided to have an educator come and do speech stuff with him once a week and then have consultations with our OT once a month or so to see how he is doing with his gross motor skills and eating issues he has had. I could not commit to two mornings a week of EI unless one could be a weekend but I knew that would not fly. I think Sue our OT is a bit disappointed she wont be coming anymore on a regular basis but I think there are many more kids out there that will need her services more than us.

TGIF

2009-02-13T20:53:00.001-05:00

Ahhhh its Friday evening, the dishes are done, the house is vaccuumed, the bathroom is clean, the laundry (1/2 of it anyway) is in the dryer, my longest week of the semester is over, and I got flowers!

I think I have seen Alex for less than 30 minutes every night this week if I have seen him at all because lab has run late all week by at least an hour and with a 45 minute ride home the earliest I have gotten home has been 6:30 and Alex has been in bed around 7.

Unfortunately we did not remain unscathed virus wise this week either - last night he had a fever that has continued into today - and by the sounds of it hit some of the other kids with colds and fevers as well.

We really need to work on Alex walking as well - he is one of the ONLY kids in his class that does not walk. There are 4 babies younger than him and only one of them does not walk - she is the littlest. I know all in his own time but we could still get some practice in.

We have a busy weekend ahead of us and I have 23 papers to grade!

Pictures

2009-02-09T19:14:00.001-05:00

Looking cute for school today!

Sledding yesterday in the 50 degree weather - still not liking the sled - made it about 3 minutes and he was DONE!

The outfit made him look so tall and skinny - "Don't you take my picture!"

Playing with his cars

Watching "Bob the Builder" when he was home with Daddy last week. I know there are a lot of toys.

Politically Correct

2009-02-06T21:19:00.000-05:00

The best line I have heard at daycare when you ask how Alex's day went today I got "He was very sensitive today." In other words he cried A LOT today and we are putting it nicely. I almost laughed out loud. Between that and the note of "really stinky gas" on his diaper sheet I just had to laugh. Its been one of those weeks.

Update

2009-02-06T20:08:00.000-05:00

So our streak was broken - another dinnertime cut short by Alex and his puking. I just dont get it -WHY is this happening? I am so frustrated and sad and worried that something is really wrong with him. Do I have a bulemic child? Is that possible? Is this the Crohn's rearing its head higher up in his digestive tract? Is there something going on at daycare that is making him this way? And then once again my MIL throws in that hubby threw up 3x per week until he was 3! WONDERFUL - and when asked why? she has no recollection. Was it the force feeding? Was something wrong? Milk allergy? HELP! And to top things off he wakes up at 430-5 starving!

Can it be spring already?

2009-02-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

Good news - our two days off whole milk - Wed - BM only - the end of my stash - and Thurs pumped BM and soy milk have resulted in NO PUKING. I talked with my good friend who is a nutritionist who said trying a week of soy or rice milk is a good thing and if it works then we can add some good oils to his food to make up for the lower fat content in the soy milk. I am also going to consult with the pediatrician.

Bad news - we are sick - AGAIN. Looks like we caught the newest bug going around daycare - poor kid - Wed night he was in so much pain he could not get comfy. I think he and I had the same thing - sharp digestive pains and probably nausea. He spent all of yesterday either sitting with or laying on his blanket awake or asleep. He had a slight temp but not bad. Today he seems better and I sent him to germ central - AKA daycare - I really have no choice. I am very jealous of those of you that dont have to send your kids there!

Milk Intolerance?

2009-02-04T13:34:00.000-05:00

I need help/suggestions from any of you who have dealt with milk allergy/intolerance. I think we have an issue.

Alex has been drinking whole milk mixed with BM for a few weeks now and up until about a week ago has been doing fine. Then he started throwing up (NOT spitting up) once a day. Originally I thought OK his cough is making him gag and he has a very senstive gag reflex. Monday last week - cough, puke at daycare. Tuesday last week, cough, puke at daycare. Wednesday - home no issues. Thursday - puke - no warning in afternoon at daycare. Friday puke middle of the night. Saturday fine, Sunday fine. Monday no dinner - puke evening. Tuesday puke afternoon. Now my thing is he should be digesting the milk he has about 230 at daycare in the afternoon before his nap. But it was obvious over the last few days he is not based on volume. His OT thinks its a milk intolerance so I got some Soy milk today (although many milk allergy kids have soy allergy as well). His casein blood test came back negative at about 5 months old - but that was pre-drinking milk.

I just dont want him throwing up every day. It is miserable for him and us. Also I cant have him not eating dinner - he wakes up STARVING at 530. Also there is a bug going around daycare but most kids get a 24-48 hour thing - not a week and a half long thing.

Any suggestions?

Playing

2009-02-02T21:16:00.001-05:00

Signing

2009-01-30T14:44:00.000-05:00

During my pregnancy I read lots of different articles on lots of different things having to do with raising kids and one of the topics I was really interested in was signing. At our first daycare I asked the teacher if she signed with the kids and her opinion was it was a waste of time - they got their point across one way or another. OK. But ever since we started Early Intervention and the daycare he is in now both highly suggested signing as a mode of communication. I figured what the heck we can give it a shot and started with a few signs for "all done" and "more". Alex was about 9 months old when we started this and for months we got nothing - he just thought we were funny. But over the last month or so Alex has started to sign - now most kids do the basics - blow kisses and wave hi or bye bye. Alex loves waving! But I am so impressed - he signs all done and more now (especially when we have pizza) and the other day I was talking with the OT about his frustration and independence and she suggested teaching him the sign for "help". She showed me what it was and then showed Alex. Then 10 minutes later he was really frustrated and she signed to him and asked him if he wanted help and he did it back! Now I am sure he did not learn that from one observation so I asked the teacher if they taught it to him and she was SO excited - all their repetitions paid off too! So far here are his signs:

Waving hi or bye bye
all done
more
help
eat - this one he made up himself - he clicks his tongue and pretends to chew when he wants a snack

We are working on Mommy, Daddy, please and thank you right now.

Do I think this is going to slow down language? NO because he is quite vocal as it is and we always use the words and the signs together - its amazing the signs and words some of the bigger toddlers have at daycare. Unfortunately after starting to say Mum and Daddy we have given those words up and now just say uh oh and his version of kitty. Uh oh is his favorite and he says it constantly. I guess I should be happy its not NO! (yet).

Oh Kitty!

2009-01-27T20:05:00.001-05:00

Over the past 13 months our two fur babies have been nothing but patient with Alex - patient beyond our wildest dreams. Syd our fluffy white male furball is by far the most patient. He loves being pet so much that he tolerates Alex "patting" him and I use that in the most general of terms! Usually it is pat and then grab a fistful of fur - but he deals. Not once has he hissed or swatted and for that I am grateful. I was truly worried about him.

Sally on the other hand has had NOTHING to do with Alex. From day one she has stayed out of the way and out of his reach - she is almost 11 and set in her ways. She just keeps to herself until he is in bed and then comes around for her love. Recently though I think she has decided she is going to stand her ground and not put up with him trying to poke and hit her. It started as her swatting his hand (no claws!) and he did not like that one bit! But today he pushed her too far - he was banging on the couch trying to reach her and she swatted him and the claw was out - she just grazed him on the back of the hand - and he did not even know it! I saw her catch his PJs so I knew she scratched him. A tiny little scratch on the back of his hand. I cleaned it out and put some medicine on it. He has to learn and I guess there are going to be some scratches along the way - as long as its not his face!

What a fast weekend

2009-01-26T21:23:00.000-05:00

Whoa this weekend flew by! Alex was officially over his fever on Friday so we were able to go to our "holiday" party on Saturday - what my girlfriends and I have tried to do once a year - get all of us and all of our kids/husbands - significant others together in one place once a year. Last year we did not have our party - with Alex just being born and being in the hospital (and my fear of every germ imaginable) and Fay due around now we just gave up. So this year we have added 6! kids to the clan - we now have a total of 10 kids between the 5 of us with 1 more on the way! It was a great and relatively calm afternoon - I think next year with 6 kids between the ages of 1 and 3 it will be a mad house. But we had a great time with and even got a picture of all the girls with all the kids with Alex being the only one not sitting still and crying. Oh well.

Peeking between the banisters on Grammy's stairs

Sunday it was off to NH to visit the grandparents and to finish putting Alex's wagon together after Grampy had to do some emergency fixing. This time Alex was able to go for a ride - and Grammy's house is big enough that we could go for a ride inside too!

Yes he looks totally miserable outside but it was cold and he was tired so we were only out there for about 10 minutes tops! Grammy and Grampy and Carol stayed inside and watched from the window - they did not want to brave the cold!

Nothing like a 4 hour nap (and my Dr rant)

2009-01-23T16:02:00.000-05:00

to cure what ails you! Since Wednesday night Alex has had a fever of 102 or so. We think its because of the MMR vaccine that he got 10 days ago - perfect timing for side effects. Good thing the doctor had me write on the calendar when 10 days out would be. Unfortunately Alex has been unable to go to daycare because of his fever so Chris has been working from home.

We went to the doctor yesterday to rule out ear infections - I always think he has an ear infection - and what an awful trip - we NEVER should have gone. I hate seeing doctors other than Alex's pedi - so far I have only liked maybe one of them. This guy was the WORST.

In walks doctor to Alex who was already crying because we were changing his diaper and he did not want it changed. Doctor proceeds to listen to Alex's chest while he is SCREAMING at what I thought was the top of his lungs - HOW can you hear anything with that racket? Strike 1. Doctor then proceeds to look in Alex's ears - with me holding him down and him still screaming - now at what is the top of his lungs. Incompetent doctor decides that there is ear wax and he cant see and thus needs to clean out his ears. Lovely. Strike 2. Now Alex ramps himself up to a whole new level of SCREAMING. So after cleaning and looking and cleaning and looking and cleaning and looking (and not really getting much out) he GIVES UP!!! At this point I am holding Alex and he starts to gag from all of his crying and luckily I knew what was coming so we went over to the sink where Alex proceeded to throw up - cleanly in the sink - YOUR WELCOME Dr. because what I should have done is let him puke on YOU! Then dumb Dr. says "Well maybe now he feels better" - Gee thanks we all feel better after crying so hard we throw up! Now because he cant see in Alex's right ear - his problem ear anyway - we have to go down the hall to this machine that will tell us if there is fluid in his ear! So all along there was a machine and you made my kid this upset with your incompetence!!!! Strike 3. I would rather see no one than this guy again! All he can come up with is maybe its the vaccine, maybe its a virus. THANKS.

Changes, Changes

2009-01-21T20:12:00.000-05:00

Everywhere we go lately there are big changes! At daycare today Alex slept on a mat like the big kids! He took both of his naps on the mat today and the teachers got pictures! He looked so cute!

Alex got tooth #5 today - upper left next to his front tooth!

Here are some pictures from last night in the tub - he looked so cute with his we hair. He was having so much fun in the tub we let him play in there for quite a while. He had pruny fingers and toes he was in there so long!

Back at daycare

2009-01-21T11:24:00.000-05:00

Back to reality today - work and daycare! Sue the OT came this morning and is really impressed by all the progress Alex is making with eating and his development. We set our appointment for the 6 month Early Intervention evaluation and she really does not think he will need her help anymore. My concern is speech but who knows - maybe let it go for a while and see how he does. We can always have them come re-evaluate at a later date!

When I left daycare this morning Alex was sitting at the big boy table with two of his friends eating Cheerios, crackers and banana thinking it was the best thing ever. He waved bye bye and continued on with his day!

We had a great day yesterday playing with Auntie Laurie and Nicole and going out to lunch even though Alex really wanted nothing to do with sitting in his own chair and eating - but as long as someone was holding him he was fine and he ate his first DD Munchkin - YUM!

We are getting excited for our party with our friends this weekend - lets keep our fingers crossed everyone stays healthy!

The beginning of the end?

2009-01-19T11:20:00.000-05:00

On of the things I am most proud of as a first time Mom is nursing Alex for the last 13 months! The only time he has ever had formula is during the few weeks he was in the hospital and the first week at home because we had to supplement my breastmilk with some extra calories to help maintain his weight. Normal BM is 20 calories/ounce and he was taking 22 calories/ounce. We are introducing milk in his sippy cup and he is doing very well as you can see from previous posts - I figured the two hardest to switch would be first thing in the morning and before bed. Well this morning I was totally rejected - Alex kept biting me! The biting thing has been getting more and more consistent over the last week or so and harder and harder - and he thinks its funny - like everything else in life. So I made him a sippy cup of milk and he sat with Chris and drank the whole thing! I am sad yet happy that he is choosing to make this transition on his own. He is a VERY independent kid!

Leaps and Bounds

2009-01-18T16:53:00.000-05:00

We never seem to do things one at a time or slowly - with Alex its pretty much all or nothing. I think he waits until he is really ready to do something and then just does it. So far this weekend we have:

1. Moved the car seats from rear-facing to front-facing and had our first car ride that way! I think he likes being able to see us and its really weird to turn around and have him look back at you. At least I can check on him now.

2. We are trying REALLY HARD to break the bottle habit during the day. So Alex is drinking his milk from his sippy cups. We are still working on finding the best one but at daycare on Friday he drank about 3 oz of milk from his cup COLD! Woo Hoo. He has been having it slightly warmed at home but not above room temp in a cup.

3. Walking - Alex has really shown no interest in walking - he stands up and sits down, he cruises around the furniture but nothing else. We have been "practicing" a bit with his shopping cart which is nice and stable with a wide wheel base but really it is a challenge - keeping the cart moving slow and prodding him to move his feet and picking him up off his knees every 2 steps. Quite frustrating and back breaking - this was Saturday. Sunday morning we decided to practice some more - Chris put Alex in front of the cart and was getting ready to help him along and he just took off with it across the room. One foot in front of the other walking right along and LOVING it! He was so proud of himself. We thought - OK its a fluke - so we turned him around and he has been doing it all day! He has no idea how to turn the cart around or maneuver obstacles but from one day nothing to the next almost running with the cart - its pretty funny! He thinks its so funny! I will try and figure out the video thing and post one!