I wrote most of this last week but didn't get to finish it and post.
There are certain milestones that have been favorites of mine. 6 months and 10 months are ages that stick out as being extra fun. This last month takes the cake though for most favorite so far. Barrett has been an absolute joy. I'm sure it helps that he was almost completely sickness free but everything he does is extra fun. He is learning everything and surprises us daily by the things he can do.
Sleep: I don't have anything exciting to add here. B has been waking a bit earlier lately (6:15am some days) but he still goes down at 6:30pm. During the week, it's usually apparent that he wants to sleep and will grab his blanket on his own and lay down on the floor. No arguing here! Bed time, it is! It will be interesting to see how the time change this weekend will change things. I'm ready for it because a perfect day would mean a 7am wake up and 7pm bed time. Bubs is still taking 2 naps on weekends as well. He has no problem only doing one if we have plans. I've been thinking lately how we are probably screwed in the sleep department whenever kid#2 comes around.
Food: Ugh, our great eater as a baby has flown the coop. I mentioned last month that Barrett is in a picky stage. Well now, he's just not eating (at least, that's what I feel like). He has his favorites that I know he'll eat and I'll try to incorporate that into a meal but if he doesn't eat, he doesn't eat. And one day he has a favorite, the next day, it's like you have fed him poison. (Example: pizza. Currently, in the poison category.) Breakfast is pretty easy usually. He switches off between scrambled eggs and oatmeal every day with a mixture of fruit and greek yogurt. Weekend breakfasts are special which usually mean pancakes, maybe some sausage or bacon. For dinner he eats (or doesn't eat) whatever we fix for us. It is mandatory that we all sit at the table together for dinners. Bubs still sits in his booster with the tray and I think we'll stick to that until he forces us to change because it's easier to keep him corralled that way. He does really good with utensils and prefers straw cups (and even moreso, real cups).
Size: I'm not sure where Buddy stands with height and weight but it appears to me that he is getting taller and skinnier and definitely losing his baby fat. He still has his little gut though. He just looks so much like a full on kid, recently. He's holding strong at some 18 month clothes but mostly 2T. I can tell that he is leveling off on all his growth. He's been in 18 months sizes for almost 6 months now so hopefully this means we won't be flying through his clothes anymore.
Talking: This month, B steadily added a few more words. Joe and I admit to using the word "Ready" probably more than we realize. Put your coat on….Ready? Done with bath time…..Ready? Unbuckle car seat….Ready? We use it a lot which translates to it being a dominate word of Barrett's. It's actually pretty cute. He uses it every time he stands up on the fireplace (which usually follows a jump off ::sigh::). An addition to this is that he's started to add "1-2" onto of his "Ready". I know they count all the time at school and I also try to count to 10 every morning on our way to daycare so I'd like to think that he's learning his numbers. He has "Yes" and "No" down pat and will use them correctly to answer our questions. This is insane to me. I realize it's completely average and normal but to partake in the learning is mind-blowing. Along with the numbers, he can say "ABC". He only says it as a repeat of me saying it but still cool. I try to sing the ABCs every morning as well so hopefully that will start to sink in. If you follow me on youtube, you may have seen the "I love you". This is probably a stretch to count as one of his words but the fact that he tries so hard to repeat us, makes me want to document it, regardless. Barrett also says "Awww" when he gives hugs, "brrrr" when we go outside. He also uses "All done".
As you can see in the video, he's not the best at following directions. He likes to be difficult.
Some general information on B this month: He is ALL boy. Seriously, kid is obsessed with sports. There is rarely a day that goes by that he doesn't play catch with his dad. He will use his golf club to whack at balls or use his bat to hit stuff off the tee. Throwing is a blessing and a curse. He wants nothing more than to play but that also translates into him thinking that everything is meant to be thrown. He does have a fantastic throwing arm though and can grip his football almost perfect (which makes his past-quarterback father very happy!). Along the All boy thing we've got going on, I need to document the accidents we've encountered this month. We know he's exactly like his father. I don't deny this and it appears his, shall we say…clumsiness, has been an inherited trait as well. He had a nice big bruise on his forehead from the coffee table one week and then a week later, a face plant into the door hinge that created another huge forehead gash. The kid likes to bash his head into things, I guess. It's sorta funny though because Joe does not do well with seeing him get hurt which I find so funny since I blame him for 50% of them.
Little man has developed into a bit of a…well…little man, this month. He likes to be responsible for things. He gets a huge kick out of throwing his diaper in the garbage after getting changed. He also loves to go and get things when we ask for them. I've mentioned, maybe 100 times now, that B loves his books. He loves getting read to and loves to just sit and flip pages. Big Red Barn was the easy favorite last month and this month is strongly "Llama Llama Red Pajama." It's a good thing I love it too because I read it at least twice a day. There is a part where the Baby Llama yells downstairs to his Mama and before I even turn the page, Barrett will yell as if he is the Baby Llama. There is nothing better. Because of this, I'll read it 100 times a day if he wanted.
We have to document Month 16 as the month that B finally became interested in TV. Only a very few shows will keep his attention for a full 20 minutes but it's way better than the 2 minutes it used to be. I try to make it a point to not turn the tv on during the week because I can already see that the switch has been flipped and he is sucked into the vortex if we let him watch too much. Maybe I'm brainwashing him but Disney Jr is about all that he's been exposed to. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates are the ultimate for him. The hotdog dance from MMC, without a doubt, brings out Barrett's best dance move, the fist pump. He channels his inner Jersey Shore.
We didn't travel much during this month but one thing I have to comment on is his knack for playing people to get what he wants. If we visit family, "Up" is used non-stop. He knows that everyone will hold him, especially if he asks, and he takes FULL advantage.
He had his first real taste of snow this month as well as some sickness. Teething is not a fun experience but his molars have just popped through so hopefully he will get some relief. His poor cheeks are so red from teething. No matter how much ointment we use, they are still there.
Reflections and playing peekaboo are big interests this month. It's the funniest thing to see him run around a corner and literally poke just his eye around to see if we are watching him. He gets that it's a game and wants to do it all the time. He is also a rockstar at giving kisses. No more open mouth ones either. If you ask for a kiss, he will give you one. He even bends his lips in a bit, thinking that he's puckering, when really he's making it harder to kiss him. It's hilarious. Lastly, I have to mention…the blankie. I plan to write a full post on this but we are in the thick of it. I fear trying to do bedtime without it. He is very attached.
Next up, a year and a half!!
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