In other news, we’re expecting another baby! I’m due in March, and we find out the sex of the baby in just 2 days. I can’t decide whether I wish for a boy or a girl. Of course, I’d be happy with any healthy baby. It’s fun to think about our little man having a brother. But he’d make an excellent brother to a little sister, too.

I’m excited about Christmas coming up. It’s definitely time to start listening to Christmas carols!

His favorite TV show (I know, I know TV is evil is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney. We got him the Mickey Mouse Surprise Club House from Amazon already, as well as Elmo Live.

We’re debating the idea of getting him a Kidizoom Digital Camera for when he’s a little bit older. He certainly doesn’t have any issues stealing OUR camera

The joy of the season certainly isn’t about Christmas toys, but it sure is a lot of fun getting my little guy things I know he’ll love! Ho, Ho, Ho

For example, if he’s eating cheerios he and my husband can say, “can we have some cheerios please?” and he’ll feed us.

I know that sounds sort of silly, but it’s just crazy that a year ago this person was so small and helpless, and now he understands sharing and being nice to people. He seems to get such joy out of doing things “right”.

Since I was a teacher before I started to work at home I know a lot about positive reinforcement. While we’re no strangers to saying, “no, don’t touch that!” we focus a lot more on what he does right than what he does wrong.

When he shares, says “dada”, walks long distances, etc. we clap for him and cheer him on. Even though he can’t understand a lot of the things we say, he understands that we’re happy with what he’s doing, which leads him to doing these things more. Plus, it gives us a greate feeling to see his huge smile as we’re cheering him on. Positive reinforcement rocks!

One thing we do need to make sure of is that he learns to interact with other children. Since this is our only child (so far!) and I stay home with him I’m really starting to feel like he is missing something by not being around other kids very much. The problem is that I don’t know of any playgroups or Mommy and Me groups around our area. There are some about an hour away so I’ll have to look into those. Hopefully he’ll be as good at sharing with other kids as he is with us

It’s amazing looking back on this past year. Actually, it’s been just about a year since I’ve started this blog!  There have been so many changes with my little guy and I can’t wait to see what he has in store next.  Let’s see, I’m going to list some of the amazing things he’s doing since I haven’t updated in a while.

• He likes to share the crumbs he drops with me and his dad
• He said “dada” first, and says it when my husband comes in the door
• He has not said mama   (lol)
• He likes to hold up his toothbrush to our mouths to pretend to brush our teeth
• He thinks EVERYTHING is funny
• He does not like to go to bed
• He is in the 95th percentile for weight and 92nd for height
• He has 6 teeth, and a gap in between like I used to before braces

I’m sure there is plenty more, and I promise to update more often!  I’ve had some great, loyal readers over this year and I have learned so much.  Hopefully I’ll be able to start posting helpful things as well since I’m a research nut. I’m determined to learn everything I can about toddlers…because they already seem harder (but more fun) than babies!

It was almost so tiny that I’m not sure whether we count it or not.  I really, really think that if the little guy would stop wiggling and bouncing so much he could be running circles around me   I was literally in shock and so proud of him.

I think we’ll count it as a novelty, and await the real thing when he really starts to take off!

Let’s see…he was in his 9th month before he got his first tooth.  He seems to be a slow tooth grower   He now has 5 teeth, but they are all half in and half out.  Of course, that’s made for some very interesting breastfeeding sessions, oi!

The problem is that I’ll try and say a strict, “no!”  But he thinks the word no is funny!  I have no idea what to do with a 10 month old who thinks no is hilarious.  Oh well, he seems to have stopped biting for now.  One time I think he really got it that it hurt me.

He is also VERY mobile now.  He can whip around here and there without a care in the world.  When he stops bouncing so much he can even stand very well.  I definitely think he’ll be walking before he’s a year old.

One thing that kind of bothers me is how everyone always comments on how “big” he is.  While he certainly is bigger than normal for his size, he’s certainly not fat.  It’s just always been his way.  It’s like…yeah, I get it, he’s big for his age…

But boy is he cute!  His hair is growing so fast…not quite time to get it cut yet (I’m afraid he’d be whipping all over making for a very tough time for the barber!)  But it’s long.  He still has my eyes, and his daddy’s hair

He’s also becoming an expert at feeding himself.  I don’t mean with a spoon…I wouldn’t quite trust him to handle a spoon yet   But my husband will make pancakes and we’ll tear some for him.  He’ll pinch the pieces and eat them!  He LOVES the Gerber stars and yogurt rounds.

We’re having a few sleeping issues…probably my fault.  Well, since he’s teething (Seems like it’s constant) and I stay up late to work, there comes a point where I just bring him into our bed.  And since my husband leaves for work so early I kind of like the baby in there for company.  Plus, I can nurse him at night if necessary.

That brings me to another point…I’ve always planned on nursing him for at least a year…but he doesn’t seem anywhere close to weaning!  I think once he can “name it”…that’s where I draw the line   No words yet…

I’ll definitely start posting more, what a year it’s been!

When they say that time flies by they really do mean it…

That’s really why I keep this blog.  In addition to all of my great readers, this will be something for me to look back on in the years to come and I will remember what’s happened every step of the way

Well, now the little one is able to fully sit up on his own. We had a wobbly time for a bit there, and actually this all started at around 4 months. He finally developed the muscles that are required to sit up and he’s having a good old time! He has always seemed to want to do what the “big people” were doing and tries his best to imitate.

Now that he can sit up we’ve also seen less spitting up. It’ll come occasionally, but far less frequently. Another problem is that he is so active that he doesn’t realize something like kicking his feet will make him fall down. He also has a habit of trying to dart out of people’s arms.

Handing him to someone makes me hold my breath every time. Those who aren’t used to holding him think, “OK, he can sit up on his own so I don’t have to hold onto him.” They just set him in their lap without their hands. I then try and hint that he likes to squirm and has often almost gotten away from us.

It might just be me being overprotective, but it also means people have to use common sense He does look a LOT older than he is so that also factors in to the way people perceive his abilities and the ones he actually has.

He is also doing a great job of almost crawling It helps to have some motivation there in front of him that he’ll scoot to get to

So, I heard that you are supposed to start with rice cereal because it’s so bland.  But, then I read something Dr. Sears wrote (I know, I’m a fanatic!) that said to start with banana if you breastfeed because of the sweetness.

I want to preface this by saying that my son wants to eat everything.  I’m sure it’s the same with a lot of babies…if it is an object it’s going in the mouth.  Not to mention that he wants to nurse all the time

I thought he’d flip out (in a good way!) when he finally got to eat real food.  So, I started feeding him the banana.  The look on his face was priceless!  He wasn’t having it at all…

I tried and tried but he would just close his mouth and turn away.  We did this every night for ALMOST as week.  (I’ve read that you should only do one new food a week to check up on allergies.)  He would only open his mouth once and then it was over, LOL.

On the fifth night I decided that we would switch to applesauce since he didn’t seem to have a problem with the banana.  He still made a terrible face.  On the third night he opened his mouth a few times, scowling all the while.

After dinner I took him downstairs so I could finish some ghostwriting and he bobbed his little head and grabbed at my shirt as if to say, “give me the real stuff Mom!”

I suppose he will have to get used to the fact that food comes in more than one form.  Frankly, I will too.  I love nursing him.  I’m going to do it for at least a year if not longer

Did your kids take to solid food right away?

Yay!  I’m so glad that I found something to recommend.  I might even enter my baby in the cute baby contest.  I love free stuff and I know other frugal moms out there do as well.  Enjoy!

I’m off to check it out some more