Sleep: This last month is going to be labeled by crappy sleep. It wasn't the worst in the world but we probably had our worst night to date. Until he was almost 6 months old, Barrett woke up 5 times a night. While that wasn't pleasant, I managed to survive because he would wake up, eat and go back to sleep. I would feed him side lying so I barely had to get out of bed. A few weeks back, B decided to wake up at 1:50am and not go back to sleep until 4:45am. It happened to be a Thursday so that next day at work was awwwwwesome. It wasn't just that he was awake for 3 hours. It was that he was whining and thrashing and screaming and crying for a majority of it. We tried to rock, he laid in bed with us, we let him walk around our room, I laid on his floor with him, we let him cry in his bed. It was painful. He had a few similar nights as well but nothing near as bad as this. He also woke for the day at 5:45 a few mornings this past week. Thankfully, most of these nights are the exception to the rule so for that I'm still grateful.
Food: We've reached the real picky phase of toddlerhood this past month. Bubs went 5 nights in a row this week where he basically refused to eat dinner. He will have 1 large meal each day that he eats really well and then kind of picks at everything else. He has his favorites that are guarenteed eats so I try to give at least 1 of those every meal. He had a ridiculous amount of Christmas cookies this month thanks to other family members. He also only drinks water or milk but Dad decided to give him some of Grandpa Bobs protein soy milk for dinner one night when we hadn't stocked up on whole. He didn't realize that it was strawberry-kiwi. B chugged that stuff like crazy. Rachel tried it and said it tasted like jolly ranchers. No wonder Barrett liked it! He sure loves the sweet stuff. Along with food, we had our first real puking incident this month. The morning that Joe and I were leaving him for a few days, we woke up like normal and he had a banana, oatmeal and milk for breakfast. He ate it great. Shoveled it in, I'd say. When he finished, I got him cleaned up and he was not really acting himself. He was cranky and ended up wanting to sit with me. Now, he never sits down for more than maybe 3 minutes at a time so I thought it was odd. I actually thought to myself that it was timely as we were leaving that afternoon. Maybe he knew something was up and was trying to get some extra time with me. (ha!) Joe left to go to Walmart to get some supplies for the grandparents while we were gone and B and I spent 30 minutes sitting on the couch. All of the sudden, he spewed ALL over us, myself included since he was sitting on my lap. Chunky bananas and watered down oatmeal came flooding out. As I began cleaning us up, he spewed some more. The volume that came out of him was insane. It was real people throw up, not the baby kind. Usually when I see people puke, I get sick myself, but I didn't even have time to get queazy. I went into mom mode. You do what you gotta do, I guess. After a bath, it was like nothing happened. He had a fine rest of the morning. It was weird.
I mentioned that this month, we left Barrett with the grandparents. Linds and Troy got married on NYE and we had 2 nights in Effingham for the rehearsal and wedding. We had left him overnight before but only for 1 night so this would be the first time that he woke up and went to sleep without seeing at least one of us. The first night he stayed with Grandma and Grandpa E and then for NYE, he spent the night with Grandma Rita. Joe and I really enjoyed the time away (it feels so weird to not have to be on someone else's schedule) but we sure missed him.
This month has been a huge influx in speaking for the little man. He now says hot, mine, mama, dada, hi, go, uh oh, and ohhh very consistently. We think he is trying to say Don't or No when he doesn't want something because he will emphasize "doh" very sternly while slamming his arm down. I can't wait till he can speak more because he sure does get frustrated and it would be nice if he could tell us why. Along with that, the whining has been pretty bad this month unless we are holding him. We walk away from him and it's like the end of the world. He's never been an independent kid and wants everyones attention 98% of the time.
Just this week, daycare taught him how to fist bump which he thinks is cool. He's been a high fiver for a while but loves the bump. He also loves patty cake and a game called "Walkin through the garden" that Grandma Rita taught him where you walk your fingers up his stomach and then tickle his neck. He knows exactly whats coming! He will also give us a big grin when we ask him to show us his teeth!
He was incredibly spoiled at Christmas this year. He got a ton of clothes (which he really needed) and probably even more toys. Lots of Little People stuff, some movies, flashcards, sidewalk caulk, sports equipment, a play tent and tunnel, and some puzzles. A big favorite is the basketball hoop. He's played with it in some capacity every day since we put it up. However, his very favorite gift was the slide from Santa (and I'm not just saying that). It is probably the first thing he goes to when he wakes up or when we get home from daycare. He really really loves to climb up the two steps and just stand there clapping and squealing. He has found ways to play with it other then just sliding. Sending any toy down it is exciting to him!
Barrett still doesn't seem to have a real favorite between Mom and Dad. I know he will prefer one of us eventually but for now he will go to either of us at any time. Either one of us can put him to bed or give him a bath or read him a book or whatever. I think he just wants one of our attention and he's happy. It was so fun when we picked him up from being away for a few days. He ran to Joe first (as he was the first in the door) and then giggled as he held him. Then he wanted down and ran to me, then giggled while I held him. Then it started over and again and again. That was really fun!
We've had our longest sickness free streak for a long time. (Ever?). It's been 6 weeks since we've been to the doctor for an ear check. We go next week for his well visit and shots so we'll see how long the streak continues. I'm pretty positive we won't make it the entire winter without something.
A bad trait that he has developed recently is hitting. I wouldn't call him "a hitter" but he seems to like the act itself. He won't go up to people and hit them, thankfully. In frustration, the one move he makes is to slam his arm down on something. Also, if he has something in his hand, he wants to hit it on something. Sometimes it's just a tap, others it's much harder. If he gets ahold of the remote, it is sure to be bounced off the coffee table until someone reprimands him to not hit. Of course, he loves his hammer toy so we've been keeping that put away to not encourage him. There is such a fine line between what is correct behavior (the toy) and what isn't.
He is also starting to show some defiance. If we tell him No, it only makes him want to do something more. In one regard, he's still learning so you can't knock him but on the other hand, I don't want him to think he can walk all over us and get whatever he wants. Admittedly, it's hard not to laugh at him because he's such a stinker! At home, there are very few things that he can't have/get into so it's easier but when we are other places, he tries to test our boundaries. So far, redirecting him to something else will work.
What's he into right now? Putting things together like stacking cup or placing blocks into a bucket. Also every single ball we own goes into his basketball hoop. Small, medium, large, whatever. If it's a ball, he thinks it should go in the hoop. Still loves climbing, the toilet, the dishwasher, and being able to walk places himself. If we're out and he can freely walk around, he's in heaven! But don't tell him he has to walk when we're at home...that is like the end of the world! When I pick him up at school, we get his coat on and he walks to the door and points up, saying Go, because he knows it's time to walk down the hall and outside. The infant room usually has the door open and he loves stopping in and checking them out before we leave.
Lastly, my favorite thing he has started doing is with his "blankie." He doesn't have a designated one (although he has a favorite), any will do. Right before bed, he grabs it, puts his left pointer and middle fingers in his mouth and then with his right hand, he runs his blanket on his left ring and pinky finger. It's definitely his calming/winding down routine.
He is such a joy!
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