Burnin' Time

This is how Jules spent at least a good hour yesterday:

Yes, my boy spent the day trapping himself inside a chair.  Our dining chairs are feather light and he's been pulling them over for as long as he's been crawling.    Now he's figured out how to crawl into them and use them as a walker, but he doesn't know how to get out yet.  He's a weird kid.

Something else new, Jules got a jogging stroller from his bud Ryan for his birthday.  It rocks! Now Papa can take him along with him when he runs.  It's getting colder now, but I stick the BundleMe in it with a extra blanket and that helps keep him warm.  I need to get the toddler size so it comes up farther on his torso.  

He'd refused to nap the day they used it for the first time, and it was nearly dinner time by the time they left.  He was cranky and the best way to deal with that is to get him out of the house. When they got back Pete buzzed up and told me to bring the camera down.  This is how I found him:

Man, I love that kid.

Oh yea, I almost forgot!  Channel 3 came by the house again yesterday.  Juliet Bickford was super sweet, and I think Jules had a fun time playing ball with her.  This time they wanted to talk to me about free formula and diapers given to new parents.  It was cool, I got to tell them about how we cloth diaper and breastfeed,  and how it's a great way to save money - especially in this economy.  I don't know what they'll use, but it's on tonight at 11.  Hopefully I'll get to see Julian's cute face on there.  

I Caved

As long as Jules has had his beautiful blond hair I've sworn up and down we wouldn't cut it, at least not for a long long time.  Then came yesterday.  I finally convinced Pete to get a "real" hair cut, aka not one that I give him in our kitchen with clippers to save money, and made an appointment with my stylist who gives me great cuts.  We brought Jules along on the off chance I would be convinced he needed one too.  His hair on top is gorgeous, but in the back it was heading into serious mullet territory, and that coupled with the weird hair that popped up from the spot all babies go bald as newborns = not such a good look.  Since we're getting his one year pictures taken soon, I figured now was as good a time as ever to get it done, especially since Pete was going to be able to come with us.  

She started with Pete holding him, though every time she came at him with the clippers or the scissors he tried to climb up him to get away!  Eventually I had to hold him for part of it, and then Papa held him again while she did some final touch ups.  It's shorter in the back, but still long on top, and I think as long as it stays healthy we'll let it grow for awhile and see if we can get it long again.  He looks like such a big boy now, it almost hurts to look.  I can't believe how fast this past year has flown.

Before:

Showing off the mullet/fuzz:

Uncertainty:

Finally success:

Adorable:

I'll try to get some better pictures up of the finished product.  I didn't get many pictures at the salon because I was too busy pinning his arms down so he didn't grab at the scissors!

In other update-style news, we had Julian's 1 Year appointment last week.  His new stats are:  25lbs 12 oz and 32 inches long!  He's dropped down to the 75th percentile for weight/head, but he's still in the 95th for height.  Big boy indeed!

Current vocabulary:  Papa, puppy, bite, ball, football, zebra, book, balloon, bath, baby, penguin, woof, diaper, nana's, bushes, a-boo, ba-boom!.

Tricks:  High-fives, plays peek-a-boo, claps, dances to music, gives kisses, retrieves well known items upon request, will say what a dog says when asked (Woof), drinks from sippy cups with the valves in, can drink from a straw, self feeding with a loaded spoon, can identify Papa in pictures around the house, can identify well known items in books and in real life, can throw big and small balls a good distance.

A Walk to the Park

Julian still hasn't shown too much interest in walking.  He will occasionally stand on his own for a few seconds when you put him down and he is cruising up a storm in the living room, but he still seems pretty wary of only being on two feet.  This week he started to figure out how to turn his walker around in the apartment so that he could do more than go in a straight line.  I figured this was the perfect time to take things outdoors.  

We practiced first with a walk around the block while Papa was at work.  4 blocks took us about 45 minutes because we had to stop and look at every bush, tree, leaf, and speck of dirt within grabbing distance!  It was a ton of fun for both of us and I think he really got a kick out of being able to reach out and explore more close up than the stroller allows him.  It was a beautiful fall day with lots of leaves to throw around.  By the end he was exhausted and a nap was in order, and now I have another trick up my sleeve to wear him out!

This weekend we decided to walk down to the park that is just around the corner before dinner.   Jules walked all the way there and back using his walker.  He seemed a little freaked by the swings so we'll have to go more often so he can get used to them.  The slides took a minute to warm up to but once Papa went down with him it was much more exciting.  In the last video you can seem him shake his head nononono as Pete is about to let him go, but by the end of our excursion he was going down the tube slide all by himself kicking up a storm with his feet.  We're going to try to make a nightly trip to the park before dinner part of our routine when the weather is nice.  An added bonus are all the other babies, big kids, and dogs from the neighborhood that we get to see and talk about with him.

Babies Gone Wild Part 2

More super cute videos of Jules and Jackson!

The boys checking out the new blocks Papa picked out:


Blowing Kisses:


Jackson and Pete goofing around (Jackson called him Peep all weekend!):

Babies Gone Wild Part 1

Here is the first installment of videos from Julians birthday weekend.  

The balloons arrive:

Cupcakes!:

More cupcakes!:

Party time:

Julians Big Birthday Weekend

I'm sorry that this has taken so long to get up! We've been so busy since last week, I'm just not getting time to sit down and put my thoughts down. WE had a fabulous birthday weekend for the boy, it was definitely a success. Be sure to check out the slide show at the bottom of this post. I will also be getting 5 or 6 videos up as soon as Blogger will let me.

It all started Thursday night when I picked up Jackson and Stefanie from the airport. We got home, put Jackson to bed, and hung out chatting for awhile. The next morning Stefanie and I headed out for some adult time, leaving the boys with Pete for the morning. Once Jules was up from his morning nap, Pete took them down to the Hague to feed the ducks and to the park to play , keeping them occupied for several hours. Once they were down for their afternoon nap we finished baking cupcakes for Julian's party. We made Chocolate Chocolate Chip with Orange Flavored Icing and Pumpkin Spice with Cream Cheese frosting. Stefanie and I went on a Costco run for the last minute food items we needed, and the proceeded to decorate the entire living room in crepe paper, cobwebs, and spooky Halloween decorations I got at the Dollar Store. That night we headed over to the Mather's for Trick-or-Treating. Jackson and Jules rolled in a double stroller while all the boys raced from porch to porch through the neighborhood. By the time we got home that night, after leaving Pete behind to wear a scary mask and scare the bejeezus out of people, the boys were exhausted. We laid them down in the nursery together, and they went right to sleep! It was amazing!

On Saturday morning Pete got up and took Jules to the grocery store to get balloons and doughnuts, the boy came home very happy. We put him down for a nap right after he ate breakfast, in hopes he would sleep right up until the party and be in a great mood. He woke up minutes before guests arrived, had a quick lunch, and we popped him into his costume - an adorable little candy corn! After everyone arrived and had an opportunity to grab some food and mingle we brought out the cupcakes. Papa thought it would be a great idea to give him two! He picked them right up and went to town, all the while holding on to his precious balloon. By the time he was nearly done it had began sinking to the floor from the weight of all the icing! At that time we realized that a mid party bath was going to be necessary. Stefanie scrubbed him down while I grabbed some new clothes, and took a few pictures to memorialize.

Once he was dressed again we headed back out to the party and began opening presents. He got some really wonderful gifts from everyone, lots of things with wheels which seems to be a huge hit these days. He also received some wonderful books, and a basketball to add to his ball collection. We were so lucky that the majority of the families from our Moms Group were able to make it, along with the Mather family, and Stefanie and Jackson who came all the way from Indiana. All the babies had a blast playing with the new toys, getting into the wrapping paper, and generally being crazy. By then it was nearly 3 and we were starting round down on nap time for the little ones so people started heading out. All in all it was a great party, and I think Jules had a fabulous time.

Jules and Jackson crashed for over two hours, Jackson barely stayed awake for dinner, and they both went immediately back to bed. It had been a long day!

Sunday we hung out and opened family presents in the morning, took the boys to lunch at Tijuana Flats and then to check out Toys R Us. By the time we were done with that it was nap time again. We got the boys up for dinner, and then down to bed for the night. Then it was time for moms to go out because it was Stefanie's birthday! We headed out to The Wine House, had 3 delicious glasses of wine, amazing dinner, and excellent company.

By Monday morning we were all exhausted and it was time to get Stefanie and Jackson ready to fly home. It was so wonderful to have them here for such a special weekend, it wouldn't have been nearly as awesome without her help and their prescence. Jackson was so big! He is 17 months old now and talking and walking, doing all kinds of amazing things. The boys were so cute together, I really hope we can get them together again soon.

There were a lot of laughs, tons of fun, baby love all around. I'm so glad we were able to have such a great 1st birthday for Jules. I know he won't remember it, but we will have a ton of great stories to tell.

Create a Free Slideshow

Vote!

Today Pete and I walked down to Starbucks for some coffee and then headed over to the Chrysler museum so that I could vote.  Pete had already sent his absentee ballot down to Florida a few weeks ago, but he was coming along for support since I wanted to take Julian for such a historic election.

We waited in line for about an hour.  Julians smiled at tons of little old ladies and other babies, snacked a bit, and just as he was getting really antsy it was our turn at the voting booth.  I took him right up, pushed the screen button for Obama, and got out I Voted sticker.  

Now I'll be sitting in front of CNN for the next 12 hours waiting for the results!

Letter to My One Year Old

Dear Julian,

My dear sweet little boy how fast this year has flown.  I have waited until after your birthday to write this letter because I wanted it to be official so I could capture all my feelings about your new big boy status.  You are officially a toddler, but still my baby, and yet seem so different from the tiny newborn we brought home from the hospital.  I loved you from the moment I saw you on the warming table, and when your Papa brought you over for me to see all I could exclaim was how perfect you were.  From that day forward you have been the center of our universe, and now I cannot imagine this world without you in it.  You are a special little guy, so lively and gregarious.  You are loud, funny, silly, smiley, happy, excited, and not easily contained.  You want to explore the whole world, and you rarely see limitations in your abilities.  Even at this young age you are determined to do everything yourself.  You have much of your Papa and I in you, and we can see that more and more everyday.  You have inherited his wild energy and my smiley eyes, you are stubborn like both of us, but you are loving through and through from all the love you get every day.

Every day there are more words that you understand or can say, and it is so much fun to see how your brain is working in overdrive all the time.  Each day is a new day for you to learn, and you soak it up as fast as I can dish it out You love to read books all the time now, and play with trucks and things with wheels more than ever.  Luckily you got many of each for your birthday so I think that will keep you quite busy. 

Bath time is still big, especially since Papa lets you splash with wild abandon wrecking havoc in the bathroom.   You love to race all over the house chasing Papa or being chased by him while your laughter and squeals echo through our apartment.  Peek-a-boo is a new favorite, it always entices a big smile and you are even able to hide your eyes and say "a-boo" to play along.  It is so cute!  You love to snuggle in the crook of my arm in the morning, nursing as the sun comes up and rock in the glider as we read together before bed.  

I love your huge sloppy kisses, your crazy head shaking, the way you wake up and go to sleep happy as a clam nearly every day.  I love your happy crawl when you are excited about something. I love to run my hands through your beautiful blond hair and snuggle close to your soft cheeks, inhaling your wonderful baby scent.  I love to hear you say Mama and Papa, and can't believe it's really true that you are ours forever. 

Cruising is mastered, and I can often see you tempted to make the leap between two objects, or between me and a piece of furniture, but it seems you are still too cautious to give it a whirl.  You are faster on your hands and knees and that seems to appeal to you more. Sometimes when I set you down on your feet you hold there, standing on your own for a few seconds, but inevitably you dash straight to the floor.  I think you will be so thrilled when you are finally walking because you want down no matter where we are or what we are doing.  I can't wait to put you down and set you free on your two little feet, I know you will love it.

This past year has been a crash course in baby care and parenting.  It's been a lot of ups and downs, but as we round out this year we're definitely coming out on top.  Sleep is better and that definitely helps:)  You have brought so much love and happiness to our little family, and for that I will always be thankful.  I know your Papa loves you more and more everyday, and revels in the time he gets to spend playing with you.  We both look forward to this next year with excitement and anticipation of many many more good things to come.  

I love you Minkie, and I always will.  You are our world, our hearts, and the most amazing little boy I have ever known.  I hope you never lose your loving ways, your giants smiles, or your ecstatic demeanor, you are perfect in every way.

Love,

Mama

xoxoxo