If this month had a theme, I think it’d be communication. It’s become clear that little KB knows exactly what’s going on around him, knows what he wants, and knows how to get it. He’s finally started using “words” and is picking up on new signs so quickly.

It’s frustrating when you’re between the place of “I know what I want” and “I know how to tell somebody”. Slowly but surely we’re moving into that second part.

I say “words” because you really need context to know what he’s trying to say. His favorites are doguhh {dog}, dahhhk {duck}, dalll {ball} –are you noticing the “d” theme yet- dah DA {bye bye}, ba {balloon}, ma {milk—and water}, and mm mmmm {thank you}. He also has switched from calling everything “dat” to “diis”.

His favorite signs are “airplane” and “bird”. We stop and look for EVERY airplane and listen to every birdie. He’s also mastered “please” {he knows he can use this to get just about anything- he’s wrapped around mommy’s little finger}, “banana”, “book”, “all done”, “bath”, “thank you” {sometimes}, “eat”, and ”milk”. He has his own version for just about everything.

Please gets me in trouble. When he points at something I can say “ask nicely” and he signs “please”. When he says please on his own it just kills me not to give it to him. I’m working on it. “Later” and “not now” are hard concepts for a toddler.

KB continues to get into {and on} everything. Our little Kynado. He’s a whirlwind of energy and never ever wants to stop. He alternates between 1 and 2 naps depending on whether it’s a school day or not, or whether he’s just being stubborn. They’re usually still 30 minutes but we’ve gotten a handful of better ones, especially when he plays with the big kids. I can still count on one hand the number of times he’s slept past 5:15.

He loves, loves, loves being outside and we go for walks down the street all the time. I’m so glad the weather’s been nicer so we can play outside more. His favorite “trick” of the month is running his fingers across his lips and going “bllblblbbb”. {I’m not sure how you spell that…} He loves clapping his hands like a horse trotting, waving at everyone, and climbing on everything. It’s just a matter of time before he climbs out of his crib.

Kabes still eats like a champ –seriously, alllll the time. He’s not only on the growth chart for weight now, he jumped to the 32%ile {22ish pounds} and has the potbelly to prove it. He’s still <1% for height though. While his food intolerances seem to be minimally bothersome at this point, he’s starting having some skin reactions and seasonal allergies, which the doc thinks are related to his food allergies {there’s a lot of cross reactions}. For now we’re not challenging anything new and will think about testing after he’s 2.

He melts my little heart when he blows kisses or gives real kisses or hugs. He loves to kiss his piggy banks {a pig & giraffe} and humidifier {?} goodnight. Although he can be super sweet when he wants to be, he’s can also be really stubborn and ornery. He throws EVERYthing. HARD. Food, blocks, bottles, phones. Everything. He thinks the word “no” is a joke. I try to use alternatives but it’s not a matter of not understanding, it’s not wanting to listen. Who knew the “parenting” part kicked in this early. {He’ll drag the iron {or whatever} by the plug and take it to the nearest outlet. Now tell me he can’t grasp the concept of “no” or “come here”. Ha. I’m on to you, you little punkster.}

Next week is our last week of school than this momma is on her own for the summer. We love his teachers so much and are really going to miss them.

Now bring on the playdates! {please!}

For a minute there I naively thought we might escape the world of picky eating. Right from the get go, our little guy has been a voracious eater. There was rarely anything he didn’t like and he always wanted more, more, more. Then came toddlerhood, a time notorious for picky eating. I don’t think we have it too bad, but the beginnings are definitely there.

I try to give Kabes something I know he’ll eat, but I also keep giving him things he’s turned away in the past just in case he might want them that given day. Continuing to introduce kids to foods over and over is a great way to expand their repertoire and hopefully put a kibosh on picky eating in the long run.

To make sure he’s eating enough and is exposed to lots of different foods, I give him a mix of things he likes and doesn’t like {the list changes on a day to day basis} and sometimes literally mix foods he likes with ones he may not.

He loves anything carb-based {still}: oatmeal, quinoa, millet, amaranth, rice cakes, corn puffs, fruit, fruit, and fruit. I keep a constant rotation of pancakes, granola bars, and banana bread bars going at all times for quick and easy access. He can’t get enough bananas or mandarin oranges- frequently putting down at least 2 whole bananas and a giant container of oranges in about .5 seconds.

His like or dislike of veggies varies day to day. Some days he loves broccoli and other days he hates. Same goes for green beans, corn, and just about everything. He rarely will eat any kind of meat, with exceptions being leftover ham from Easter & shredded chicken if it’s disguised in boatloads of hummus.

Hummus and guacamole are two things he can’t get enough of- sometimes eating them plain by the bowlful- so we use that to our advantage, mixing them with rice, beans, and anything that sounds semi-good.

He mostly likes eating whatever YOU are eating, even if he already has both his hands full with the exact same thing.

Even though it appears by the state of my floor, his chair, and the food scraps in the sink that he’s throwing more food than he’s eating {which he is}, he’s eating plenty. He drinks almond, coconut, and hemp milk, breast milk, and water. All that combined has boosted him up to the 32%ile in weight.

Check out Brittany’s Munchkin Meals for all ages & stages of baby meals. Here are some of my previous munchkin meals posts:

What a 1 Year Old Eats

Baby Bites: A Solid Start

Baby Feeding Essentials

Baby Pancakes

I’m done. Over it. Kaput. Finis.

Breastfeeding, that is.

For the first time in almost 16 months, I didn’t feel the need to linger over my sleepy, smiling baby as I reluctantly put him down in his crib. I didn’t hold him in my arms a little longer; I didn’t read an extra story; I didn’t have trouble tearing myself away from his crib and his adorable, happy face.

I couldn’t get out of his nursery fast enough. I couldn’t stay long enough to put him down in his crib; to say goodnight to his humidifier and his ceramic pig; to give his lovey hugs; to blow kisses from the side of his crib and then again from the doorway.

Nope, instead I called for the husband and tapped out. For the first time in 67 1/2 weeks, I said,

“I can’t.”

Continue reading my desperate plea for sanity and sudden desire to wean my toddler over on Babble.

I’m pretty sure the date on my calendar is wrong.

There is just no way my baby is 15 months old already.

You know, before I had my own child, I thought babies stayed babies for at least a couple years. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I feel like my tiny toddler is already so much “boy”. He runs, he asks for things, he understands me {or chooses not to }. I’m surprised every day with something new I realize he comprehends, like the cord in the wall goes into my phone or the plug in the tub needs to go down before we turn the water on.

As sweet as my little boy is most of the time, I think we’re going to have a real tyrant on our hands. He understands you put on your shoes to go outside or you push the button on the wall to open the garage, but he doesn’t understand not to throw food at me or not to push other kids? Uh huh, sure.

Troublemaking-foreshadowing aside, this kid is a total goofball that lights up my life even though sometimes the days feel a little long. He’s happiest when naked or eating. He finds pure delight in eating his oatmeal like a big boy with his own spoon and bowl {and a fist full of oats}. He runs up and down the hall screaming and squealing in unrivaled joy when I take his diaper off before bath time or pretend to chase him and “tackle” him.

He’s picked up some pretty darn cute little habits this month too. Like blowing kisses. Ah my heart just melts.

He kisses with his forehead and hugs by leaning into you. He shuffles backwards and nestles into your lap, then hops up and repeats it over and over again. He loves clapping his hands, stomping his feet, and spinning in circles. He can hear and spot a plane or a bird a mile away and points at the sky even if we’re inside.

He loves escaping from the driveway and running down the street. He thinks high fives and tens are the funniest thing in the world and he could read the same book 100 times and still want to hear it again. He also loves to vacuum and sweep, a habit I hope he intends to keep up.

He points to his nose and sniffs to say “pig” {because I squish my nose and say oink}. He can say dog and duck, although you need a little context to figure out which one he’s talking about. He started signing please and it’s quite likely the absolute cutest thing in the world. I have a hard time saying no when he asks please. I know, I’m so in for it.

I don’t know what it is about 15 months that feels significant. Maybe it’s because it comes along with a doctor’s well-visit, or maybe because he’s learned so many “big boy” things lately. Our 15 month check up isn’t until the end of the month, so we have a little extra time for him to get a few more words and couple extra ounces under his belt. {Apparently they’re supposed to be able to say 5 words besides mama and dada by 15 months. So not there yet. But he can walk backwards and put a straw in a cup, so there.}

Last month: 14 months

In case you don’t read my other blog, I’ve recently written a couple things about taking time for myself as a mom over on Babble. Some of you might be able to relate.

Embracing the Small Things

Girls’ Night Out

Stop Being a Martyr Mom

I love the little Instagram roundups people are doing these days. Let’s be honest, the majority of my Instagram feed is taken up by pictures of a certain adorable baby. Wait, do I sound like a biased mom? I am. For those of you who don’t have Instagram and are missing out on the cuteness, here you go:

See? Told you he was cute.

By wrangling, I mean baby gate. By baby, now I mean toddler on the run.

Seriously, this kid doesn’t stop moving. While it’s a blast chasing after him, it’s hard to always be one step ahead of him- literally. He gravitates towards our steps, like he knows they’re dangerous and he just can’t wait to find out why.

I bought baby gates a long time ago. It seems like a simple thing, right? Well it’d be simple if we had standard size doorways or stairs that had walls on either side. But we have awkward sized doorways and railings on one side of our stairs that don’t line up with the wall across from them.

For a long time I just chased KB around, making certain he was never unsupervised by the stairs. When his first birthday party rolled around, I knew I couldn’t just leave the stairs open and inviting to all his little rugrat friends- what kind of host would that make me?

I scrambled for a solution. It’s not the best and not completely childproof, but it certainly slows Kabes down. Please note: I’m not telling you to do this. It’s just what we have going on in our house.

I searched Pinterest for inspiration and got the idea from this gate, then just made my own version as I went along. The key was using these cable organizing cords, as they easily come on and off one handed to put the gate up and down. The other side of the gate is tied to the stair railing, and there’s a hook on the back wall to hang the gate when it’s not barricading the stairs. Now this is obviously a fabric gate so it’s not entirely babyproof, but it’s working for us so far. And it’s cute. Always a plus.

The upstairs was a different story. For awhile we used one of the cheap-o old fashioned gates, but it only fit halfway down the hall, not giving our on-the-go toddler much room to run around. After nagging the husband about it relentlessly, he came up with a solution and gave me a sturdy baby gate at the top of the stairs. He used industrial strength double stick tape and some wood blocks to make the gate fit on the stairs.

Life is much easier now that I know the pitter patter of little feet running down the hall won’t end in catastrophe.

We’re a cloth diapering family. Oh that reminds me- I owe you a post on that, huh?

I never understood why people would use a combination of cloth and disposable until I was doing just that. After the initial newborn phase, we switched over to cloth and loved it. I didn’t mind doing the laundry and they were just as cute as could be.

Then KB started daycare. Cloth diapers weren’t allowed, understandably. So we bought disposables for the first time. The cost reinforced my love of cloth. I prefer the one time cost approach, but slowly, I crossed over to the dark side- I actually liked using the disposables. They’re just so easy to clean up when things are particularly, um, gross. {Especially after a failed food intolerance trial-yuck, to say the least}. Then we started tossing a disposable on at night. While it didn’t magically help Kabes sleep better, it made for easy clean up of that nasty first morning poop.

So that’s how we ended being a cloth-disposable combo family. I think we still come out ahead financially, but there’s really no getting around it. Babies’ bottoms need covered!

Since we already invested in cloth diapers, it’s important to us that we get the cheapest diapers we can find. The cheapest diapers that aren’t cheap that is- they need to be absorbent and stay put.

A little while into our disposable diaper adventure, I got the opportunity to try out Sam’s Club brand of diapers, Simply Right. When I first felt them I thought they’d be too thin and there would be no way they would hold up to my crazy toddler, but they surprised me. We haven’t had a leak yet and they seem comfortable- no red marks or rashes so far. They’re pretty cute too. The best part to me is that they don’t have any odor. I don’t particularly love the smell of disposables straight out of the package.

We’ve been testing out the wipes too- I’m impressed by how thick and sturdy they are. They’re quilted, soft, and hold up to a heck of a lot.

For comparison’s sake, the size 3 diapers are less than 16 cents a diaper and the wipes are just under 2 cents each. According to Sam’s, members who used Simply Right diapers and wipes saved $392 a year. It’d be a little less for us since we use cloth too, but that’s not too shabby. I could buy a lot of consignment baby clothes with that cash.

So that’s my exciting spiel about the exciting topic of poopy pants. Do you have a favorite brand of disposables or cloth?

For a FREE sample of SIMPLY RIGHT™ diapers or wipes, visit Simply Right Samples today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SIMPLY RIGHT™ Baby Care Products.

We’re a week into 14 months and I feel like we’ve truly hit toddlerhood.

The Kynado is living up to his household nickname, leaving a wake of chaos and insanity in his path as he tears through room after room. He knows what he wants and when he wants it, and he knows how to let you know if he doesn’t get it. The kid never, ever stops. He’s so much fun.

It’s been truly amazing watching him these last few weeks. I’m finally catching on that he really is a tiny human being- he can do things and understand things and is completely clued in to what’s going on around him.

He’s completely and utterly obsessed with bananas; he’s even come up with his own version of the sign language for banana and he does it all day long. I feel terrible when I have to cut him off or –heaven forbid- we run out.

We were so proud when he learned to throw a ball well- now he throws everything. Food. Cups. Phones. Shoes. He’s stopped hating shoes and now brings them to us so we can put them on him. He knows that cell phones plug into chargers and that lids go on jars. He can build block towers with the best of them and he wants you to read ALL the books to him, even if it’s only one page before moving on to the next. He raises his arms and busts into a fit of laughter when you ask him how big he is…which is hysterically considering we didn’t try to teach him that.

KB continues to be temperamental with food- he’s always hungry, but is picky about what he wants at any given moment. It’s usually guaranteed that he wants whatever you’re eating- he regularly steals my oranges, granola bars, enchiladas, and cereal. He seems to be thisclose to outgrowing his food sensitivities. Phew. He’s doing better and better with drinking almond milk, and most days he’s down to nursing 3x a day. I don’t pump while he’s at daycare anymore which is awesome.

Kabes loves his school teachers and has even started crying when I pick him up- he just doesn’t want to leave! It’s funny to think I used to carry him in as a little bundle of baby chub and now he runs into all the classrooms to explore on the way out.

When went through a period of really rough sleep and then it magically ended. Nighttime sleep is pretty good. Of course he still gets up at the crack of dawn and thinks naps are the lamest thing ever, but at least he sleeps at night. He had his first ear infection this month and was a complete trooper about it- we didn’t even know until we took him to the doctor for a bad-sounding cough. Then he had a reaction to the antibiotics, which was scary but no biggie. He’s such a good sport.

I can’t possibly tell you how much this kid lights up my world. To imagine that the crying, cranky, colicky newborn we had has grown into this happy-go-lucky goofball during this second year! I feel beyond lucky that he gets to call me mama. {And he does- sort of. And says dada. And dadadadadada. And nana. And uhoh uhoh uhoh & heh hehh hehhh.}

Stats: 20 lbs, 27.5 inches, 7 teeth

Before I had my own child, I’d see kids running around with snot dripping out of their nose or crusted on their cheek in a trail as they used the back of their hand to smear it across their face.

Why didn’t parents just wipe these kids’ noses?!

Well, I’ll tell you. Have you ever tried to wipe a kid’s nose? It’s like trying to Cirque de Soleil level acrobatics.

So sometimes the only options is to let the snot be. They’ll wipe it off eventually: on their hand, their sleeve, your shoulder, someone else’s sleeve…

And sometimes you have to come in for the sneak attack with whatever you have available. Yup, that’s usually my sleeve. I’ve noticed a dried smear of snot crusted on my sleeve and the most in opportune times. It’s never at home before I’ve left the house with a chance to change. It’s usually as I’m handing my precious cargo over the half-door at school, to his teachers that are actually competent enough to use a tissue.

But really that’s not the worst of it. You know what the worst part is? Their snot becomes your snot.

Pre-baby I could count the number of times I’d been sick in the last decade on one hand. This year alone I’d need to borrow a few extra hands just to even scratch the surfaces of the number of colds we’ve had. There’s something about the ubiquitous daycare germs combined with lack of sleep that just get you.

Sick babies are no fun. Sick babies while you’re sick are even less fun. Sick husbands are the absolute least fun.

So this morning when the babe and I woke up sick and snotty for the umpteenth time, I decided to throw everything I had at the oncoming cold. I’ve got the baby cold routine down. Time to work on the grown up version.

Here’s my scientifically and methodically tested methods of fighting a cold the minute it starts. {Let’s be clear: when I say scientifically and methodically, I mean the exact opposite. I mean, let’s do ALL THE THINGS all at once.}

Natural Ways to Kick a Cold

1. Gargling with salt water. It’s like Windex- it’s supposed to cure everything.

2. Coconut oil. It has natural antimicrobial properties, which can only be good news when there are cold bugs crawling all over the place. I be sure to load up on it a few times a day, starting with a tablespoon in my morning coffee {plus cinnamon- mmmm!}

3. Apple Cider Vinegar. It tastes kind of like your drinking a cup of Easter egg dye, but it’s not too bad. I do a mug of warm water, a tablespoon of ACV, and a tablespoon or more of local honey.

4. Tissues. Duh. But seriously, don’t suck that stuff back into your head. A neti pot would probably be a good option but I’ve never made it past using some saline spray.

5. Soap. We all know you’re supposed to wash your hands, but do you? Yeah, that’s what I thought. But when the cold germs are running rampant there’s no reason to keep passing them back and forth. Sharing is caring but not when it comes to germs.

6. Liquids/vitamins/herbs. This list could get long. Really long. I just grabbed what I had that tasted good and was good for me- mostly to force me to hydrate. Green Super Food drink.

7. Sleep. Ha, good one. This is a baby blog, remember?

What are your cold-fighting secrets?!

Psst obviously I’m not a doctor and I’m not suggesting you do this things. Just sharing here, folks.

Psst again… if you’re looking for some fashionable fitness gear, check out today’s post on SoS about Ellie workout gear!

How you choose to feed & nourish your child is a completely personal {and sometimes difficult} choice.

From the very beginning decisions can be tough and often criticized.

Formula or breastmilk?

Purees or baby led weaning?

Weaning at 1 or extended nursing?

Cow’s milk or not?’

It’s hard to find the right answer. But the thing is, there is no one right answer. You’d think the food part would be easy for me given I’m a dietitian, but feeding a child –especially YOUR child- is one of the biggest responsibilities we have as parents and it is not easy.

This is absolutely most definitely not me telling you what to do or suggesting your choices are better or worse if they’re different than mine- I hope they’re different than mine since we’re raising different kids! Instead, this is what we’re doing right now. And it’s an ongoing process full of constant wondering and questioning. What we’re doing today may change tomorrow. But here’s where we’re at:

Breast milk + almond milk + coconut milk + hemp milk.

Yup, that’s lots-o-milks.

Whether you nursed or formula feed your baby, the 1-year mark is a typical time to transition to milk. But what kind?!

Most people choose whole cow’s milk. I’m not into cow’s milk. Plus, KB is allergic to milk and soy, so it’s not an option regardless of my opinion. Next people turn to almond milk. Maybe rice. Maybe hemp. Each one has it’s downfall. So why choose just one?!

I like almond milk for the flavor.

Hemp milk for the protein.

Coconut milk for the fat.

Luckily, we have it pretty easy right now: Kabes is still breastfeeding, so I don’t have to worry so much about the particulars and nutrients. I’m only giving him milk now so it’s not a big transition when he’s ready to wean. Plus, I wanted to take my time introducing each of these new foods because of his allergies. {We started with coconut, then almond, then hemp. Luckily he doesn’t seem to be allergic to nuts- phew!}

He likes the taste of all the milks just fine, but he prefers not to drink them out of sippy cups or straws- we’re having trouble transitioning off the bottle. Ironically, most of the time he will slurp it down through a straw if there’s some blended banana in the mix. He’ll also drink water out of a sippy cup, but he’s usually not very thirsty.

I choose to make the alternative milks KB drinks. I don’t care to give him the additives that are in most store-bought milks, especially carrageenan. When I don’t have a homemade batch on hand, I turn to Whole Foods Unsweetened Almond Milk {carrageenan free}. I frequently use canned coconut {despite potential BPA contamination} because it’s just easier, and I skip the hemp milk if it’s not homemade. Again, I don’t have to worry about these homemade plant-milks not being fortified because he’s still nursing {and he eats solids like a champ}.

Next up we’ll try cashew milk!

For more reading, check out Nutrition for the Breastfeeding Toddler