mishmash

The snow is falling.  The most significant snowfall we've had, well, all season!  My kitchen is stocked and the Jeep is full of gas and tucked safely away in the garage.  I'm happy to stay inside and have nowhere to go.  Except for taking JJ out to play, which happened just a little while ago.  I layered him up and pulled him around the yard in a laundry basket.  He loved it, Zoe chased us around, then it was naptime.

We're all over the sickness that descended upon our house last week.  Everyone is happy and healthy right now.  And speaking of happy, our little boy is the happiest little boy ever!  And one of the messiest!

He also must be in the throws of a growth spurt.  Lots of eating and lots of sleeping!  This morning, the breakfast that JJ and I usually split, went solely to him.  If this is a sign of things to come, I think he's going to eat us into the poor house!  Seriously, between last night and this morning, it's like he can't get enough to eat!  We'll see how he likes the enchiladas for dinner tonight!

I'm pondering the dilemma of wanting to get some 'snow' pictures with my new camera yet not wanting to get my new camera wet.  Hmmm...

JJ and I did a huge grocery day on Monday.  Lots of coupons and sales.  Between ShopRite and Price Chopper I spent $128.10 and saved $137.88.  I have meals for probably about a month, as well as breakfast, snack and lunch stuff.  It was an awesome day and JJ was a real trooper.  One and a half hours out at ShopRite, home for a nap, then an hour out at Price Chopper!  Won't have to do that again for awhile!  It's nice to have tons of food in the house, and to have my menu made up.  The worst part of cooking is trying to figure out what to make.  This way, it's already decided for me ahead of time.  Love doing that.

Now I need to finish up some laundry and dishes.  But I'm so tired, I just feel like taking a little nap while JJ takes his nap.  Isn't that what they say to do?  Sleep when the baby sleeps?  He still qualifies as a baby, right?  At least for a few more weeks...

Eleven (?!?!) Months

Eating

Food is not going quite as well as before; and I don't really know why!  One day he'll love something, the next day it's on the floor.  (Literally.  Something we're working on.)  So every day is hit or miss.  Some new things that he's had and really usually loves are kiwi, watermelon, peaches, apple butter, toast and NutriGrain bars.  He still gets formula 4 times a day, and I cannot wait until we can switch to milk!!

Sleeping

Not much to say here.  Amazing sleeper, that boy is.  Even when he's sick he's a great sleeper.  The mysterious 'sleeping cough' he had at the time of his last update evolved into an 'all the time' cough and required a trip to the doctor...his first ever sick child visit.  He got an antibiotic and after a few days, it cleared up.

There is something funny he does at nap time now.  I lay him down and cover him, and before I'm even out of the room he's standing up and pulling on his mobile.  He loves it and thinks it's so funny.  It usually takes about 15 minutes before he gives up and falls asleep. 

Playing & Developing

He is all over the place.  I know I've said that before, but now I really mean it!  The bathroom door and our bedroom door are always closed.  We have a gate we occasionally put up blocking the laundry room so he won't go play in Zoe's water dish.  He crawls like a pro, pulls up on everything, including walls and Zoe, and he cruises along furniture all the time now.  He'll even stand for a second or so at a time.  I can't believe how much he's changed in a month.  We bought him a new toy that he can push and walk behind.  He loves it!  He still likes lots of his other toys, as well as lots of our stuff.  The phone, remote, they're still favorites, as well as empty boxes, utensils, etc.  He loves to clap and talk. 

We're definitely starting to see JJ's determination and stubbornness!  Now the real work begins: trying to guide him while not breaking that drive that we see.  It can be frustrating at times.  Like when he touches the floor lamp that he's not supposed to touch for the tenth time in a row, then looks at me to see what I'm going to do about it.  He's a little stinker.  He also gets into these phases where he pulls on Zoe's fur and does not want to stop.  So we're just trying to be consistent with him and show him the right way to do things.  Sometimes he gets a little hand slap, but that doesn't seem to phase him in the least. 

Stats

No well child visit until one year, but when we had his sick visit, he was actually down a little bit for weight.  I'm pretty sure that's because of his non-stop activity level!  To be expected.  Unfortunately, JJ had the stomach bug this week.  He threw up twice.  Even more unfortunately, Mommy & Daddy both got it as well, and were laid up much longer than JJ.  (I still am not fully recovered.)  It was his first time throwing up, and it wasn't too bad.  Except that he threw up all over me.  I'm hoping that's the worst of the sickness for this season. 

I said to John today, can you believe in only one month he's going to be One?!  I honestly can't believe we've had him in our lives for almost a full year now.  He really makes our lives worthwhile, and we both just can't get enough of him.  I started crying today just thinking about it.  He's the best thing ever, and he makes everyday better, even sick days.

...still here...

I'm still here.  I've just been busy.

My little man is on the move, and he never stops!  I've been so busy just chasing after him and trying to keep the house clean!  He's more and more fun everyday; I can't believe how much I love him.  He keeps us laughing, as well as sighing, and there's lots of "no!" coming out of our mouths these days!