~December 2008 Mamas: Welcome~

[terrainthailand]

Is it appropriate for me to welcome myself?

I have to admit that I have been lurking in the toddler forum for several months now and am so happy to start this thread!! I actually have one more week to go before DD officially turns one, but today she took her first real steps and I think that counts for crossing over into toddlerdom!!

I can't wait to hear how everyone is doing.. here are some questions to help get us started - please add to them!!

What did you do to celebrate your LO's birthday?
What is your LO up to these days?
and finally... how are YOU?

[terrainthailand]

What did you do to celebrate your LO's birthday? Sadly we are far away from our families, but will be having a small get together with some friends on Saturday, there will be kids and adults and we're going with a polka dots and balls theme... inspired by an adorable dress that my MIL bought for DD when she was only a few months old. I've been going a little crazy with the planning. I've already practiced the cake and the entire brunch menu. I also pretty much finished my decorating today. We had a photo blown up from each month of Hazel's life and posted them around the apartment... they're really cute!!

What is your LO up to these days? As I said, she just took her first steps TODAY!! I totally went nuts.. it was so much fun. I would stand her up a few feet in front of me and then she would get this huge grin on her face and sort of run at me then giggle and give me one of those full-body hug/pick me up moves. DH had the day off so we both got to witness it... it was perfect. We also just taught her to hold up her index finger when you ask how old she is... so cute. In other news, she is working on her 5th tooth and I swear that NOBODY gets teeth this slow. Her front two teeth broke through the surface almost two months ago and still look to me to be only a quarter of the way descended.. crazy.

and finally... how are YOU? Really really good. We are staying one more year in Thailand, so that means one more year of being a SAHM. I am really excited to get back to work when the time comes, but it is nice that the pressure is off. I have gotten back into a yoga routine and am feeling really good physically. AND I am super excited to be going to the states for a month to see friends and family!! Oh and also, it is FINALLY the cool season in Bangkok, which means I am enjoying 70-80 degree days rather than 90+... yay!

[hotharmony]

What did you do to celebrate your LO's birthday?
I am having an open house style birthday party and it seems as if about 25 people are going to show up. Which will be a LOT of people for our little house. But I am really excited we are doing a blue monkey theme, althought at first I didn't think I would do anything big it's turning into something. Since Xanders birthday is Christmas eve we are going to have the party Jan 9th.
What is your LO up to these days?
We have had our first steps for about 6 weeks now and he is starting to do it every day and walking longer and longer distances which is fun but he is going to be trouble. Yesterday we had our first lay on the floor and cry tanturm, because he was nursing and biting I put him on the floor and he had a full out breakdown. I just think he is to small for this kind of behavior. He even will go up to something he is not supposed to have like the outlet, yes they are covered, and he will look at me to see if i'm looking then reach for it as if to say "ha ha look what i'm getting into" Then when I tell him " not for Xander" he laughs and laughs. He is working on his 5th and 6th toothers and that is adding to it not to mention we have the never ending cold at our house.
and finally... how are YOU?
I am doing really well, I have started doing the South Beach Diet and I'm loosing weight like crazy and I feel really good! I got my first PPAF and my sex drive has returned. I am really starting to feel like myself again.

[applecider]

Just found this thread so I'm bumping!

All is good here. DS2 was one on Dec 14 and has been walking since October 1. Whew, he's a handful! But a happy one.

Sad story to share (but also sweet) last night I had to leave him with Daddy while I went to a meeting for two hours. Apparently, toward the end, he really wanted to go outside to find me (watched me leave) and was crying and clawing at the door. He even went and got his coat and was waving by-bye. Broke my heart to hear that. What a little sweetie.

Anyhoo, it is nice being able to leave him for several hours, though he's not usually like that. He's fine when I leave him during the day, just at night he generally wants his mommy.

Sleeps ok, wakes several times a night, sometimes more, sometimes less, but it's working fine for now. Nurses a ton during the day and when he wakes at night...no sign of slowing down! I'm trying to teach him the sign for milk but when I do it when he wants to nurse he gets mad and swipes my hand away!

Hope you and your LOs are doing well!

[Biscuits & Gravy]

What did you do to celebrate your LO's birthday? We traveled back to St. Louis to visit family and friends for Christmas, so we had a small party at my mom's house. Immediate family and a few close friends. We had tacos and cupcakes, and he was way more into the black beans that I made especially for him than he was the cake. That is so typical of him. He is a meat, beans, veggies and fruit kid. He can take or leave carbs, and really doesn't care about sweets. Total opposite of his brother! He got some gifts, but was more excited about the gift bags. He carried them around putting random things in and out of them. Same with Christmas, he just did not care.

What is your LO up to these days? What is he NOT up to is more appropriate. He is the most active, hilarious, mischievous, sweet thing ever. He is doing his best to figure out how to run, climbs anything he can, gets into everything he is not supposed to, and makes me laugh constantly. He learned how to give kisses this weekend, so now when he is nursing he keeps popping off to give me a smooch, complete with sound effects "Mmmmm-MA". He also learned the word "duck" a few days ago and gets so excited when he finds pictures, toys, anything duck. He has figured out that pointing and grunting can get him what he wants, but throws himself on the ground when it does not. Here we go, right into toddlerhood!

and finally... how are YOU? I'm awesome. I have found a fantastic group of friends here, and feel like I am really home. Last year at this time my life was insane. Newborn, toddler, living at my mom's temporarily while my DH moved out of state. Going back to St. Louis made me really realize that I am so happy with my life now. I am really, really happy that we took a gigantic risk and moved to NC.

[Swandira]

I just spotted this thread. Thanks for starting it, Terra.

What did you do to celebrate your LO's birthday?

We didn't have a party for him because I was completely absorbed in planning and executing his brother's party. (O is 12/12/08 and big bro is 12/9/02) On Odin's day, which was a Saturday, we just stayed home and played with him and did what we figured he'd like to do. We also made him a chocolate birthday cake, which he devoured a large piece of. He's a fan of all food.

What is your LO up to these days?

The usual toddler stuff, I suppose. He's a pretty good walker; he doesn't really crawl at all anymore since he figured out how to stand up in the middle of the floor. He talks less at this age than the previous two did. I read somewhere that boys with older sisters talk later than any other baby demographic, so I guess he bears that out. He just says "hi" and "ba" (ball), and everything else is "dadadada," except that he signs "milk" for nursing. He's been having some separation anxiety lately, but otherwise is just so sweet-natured. Even the anxiety is kind of sweet, I think, because he's so attached. When he sees his dad putting his shoes on in the morning he starts to cry and walks up to him holding his arms out. *sniff* It's even worse on my workday at the (co-op) preschool. He stays with a friend with whom I trade babysitting, and he gives her merry hell the whole time I'm gone.

and finally... how are YOU?

I'm trying to be OK and just relax and enjoy this little-kid time. It's so hard, though. I hate not working, but can't afford daycare. I've explored a lot of options, and it's just not workable for me right now. I know it's the best thing for my very sensitive children, but I don't actually love homeschooling them. I love my babies, but I'm not really a natural kid person. We're thinking of moving out of state, and I think it would be good in the long run, but I've got friends here now and I'm scared to leave 10 years of connections and hope it won't take another 10 years to get to a good circle of friends. It would be so nice to be able to afford a bigger house, though. The house we have now is too small and too far away from everything. I have to drive 20 minutes for pretty much everything but the grocery store right now, and all of us hate that.

Nealy
mama to T, 12/02; L, 2/06; and O, 12/12/08

[hotharmony]

I just wanted to add that today Xander went pee in the potty for the first time ever!!!

We bought a potty for him on Monday just to have around and I thought I would let him sit on it when I go potty and when we wake up in the morning just for fun and for somewhere for him to sit in the bathroom. Well this morning he made his first pee in there. I'm looking forward to many more.

[applecider]

Awesome Harmony! I should try doing that with Ethan...