Julian Ridley: Month 8
Julian, sunshine of my life, the love in my heart...will you please stop falling?? Seriously my goodness kid you are out of control! I was blaming myself for all of your injuries but I've finally come to the conclusion you are a mad man. With no fear. Not a very safe combination. Do you see this little bump on your forehead? That has been one of many.
I must say I think this past month has been one of my favorites. OK they are all my favorite but you have been so happy! You smile constantly and have just been such a joy to be around. I really think learning to crawl eased a lot of your previous frustrations so now that you can wander aimlessly you no longer have a care in the world. Now WE have all the cares. Although you've generally been so pleasant, the last couple days you seem to be working something out. It seems your top teeth are starting to come in as your gums are bulging, the ear pulling and drool is returning and sleep is once again at an all time low. Plus the biting, you are so desperate to chomp down on whatever you can. Or maybe you are trying to figure out this walking thing. You have recently been brave enough to stand unassisted on a few occasions. Once I had a phone in one hand and an apple we were sharing in the other when you decided that would be a good time to let go of my arm. I was unable to grab on to you but you managed to stand for a few seconds. You are really starting to cruise too, walking along while holding on to the couch or whatever you can. You have even learned to slowly lower yourself into a seating position instead of plopping down abruptly.
You are also really starting to test us. I see it in your sneaky little eyes. There have been plenty of legitimate injuries but every now and then you want to see just how we'll react. You will bump into something so gently and break out into a cry that almost seems real. I'll stand there and just look at you with your eyes shut tight as you cry because you are that hurt. Then when I don't react I see you peek from one of your eyes just the tiniest bit for you to make sure that I am still watching. You see I am watching yet I'm still not coming to your rescue so you kick your "cry" into high gear. But I'm on to you, I can tell when you are trying to pull a fast one. Once you realize it ain't gonna work, you turn off your "crying" like a switch and move on to something more interesting. It's the funiest thing. There are also the times when you are crawling down the hall to me in the kitchen and you hang your head and do the slowest, most pitiful crawl and whine as if to say "it's soooo far, I can't make it. I just can't crawl another inch." But all I have to do is put something on the ground you shouldn't have, like a dog food bowl, and suddenly you begin to crawl at warp speed. It's amazing the things we can do with the proper motivation. Just the other day the nightlight in the hall caught your attention. I saw you eyeing it up but knew if I tried to deter you it would only tempt you more. You crawled over to it, put your hand on it and I responded with a firm NO! You immediately took your hand off and looked at me as though you couldn't figure out who replaced your accomodating Mama with this strict evil woman using words you have never heard before. You then put your hand BACK onto the light and very slowly your mouth turned up into a smirk.
You knew you were testing the limits and so did I. It was at that moment I had to quickly pick you up and hold you tightly against my chest so I could silently laugh behind your back.
But you are catching on too. The other morning when I neglected to pick up the dog food you saw your opportunity to make a run for it. You beat me there and reached out your hand to take a handful but you paused and looked at me as if you knew this is when I usually interrupt and take it away. You KNEW you weren't supposed to be able to get to it but I have a feeling you think it's a little game we are playing. You also seem to be catching on to the signing. Nana had babysat you and when we came to pick you up, you crawled into my lap and did the milky sign. You are starting to do it now more but we aren't that great at picking up on it. And for the record you have been saying Mama as well. Although it's only when you are either desperate for food or sleep and it's more of a whiney "Mamamamamamama." Hey as long as you know you can come to me when in need, I'm happy.
You love to explore now more than ever. This has led to locks on almost everything that can be opened from the refrigerator, to the oven, doors and toilets.
It's your father's worst nightmare. He used to get mad if I would hang something decorative from a doorknob because it would hinder his ability to get to what he needed. Imagine how happy he is having to actually unlock the toilet. I have since had to replace our fancy red dishes that were on display with something a little more baby friendly.
Not quite as asthetically appealing but much more stress free. This has become one of your favorite play areas in the house. We call it your "work shop." Our KitchenAid mixer attachments are some of your favorites. I now can't seem to find the splatter guard and the only conclusion I was able to come to is that you ate it. Now that would be mighty impressive since it's about the same size as you.
You like to cruise up and down these shelves and see how fast you can pull everything off. Not so you can play with it, no your only objective is total destruction.
Solids have been a pretty slow process for us. So far you've had sweet potato, avocado, carrots, broccoli, green beans, pears, apple and banana. You still aren't overly gung ho about any of it but we have noticed if we let you feed yourself the food in their natural form you are more likely to enjoy it. You are too mature for that mashed up baby food you want to manhandle it yourself.
I'm convinced apple and/or carrots are the cause of your excessive spit up days so we're laying off of those. Including me. Aside from that I am now able to eat whatever I want! Can I thank you enough for outgrowing this especially before a year? Let's hope you will be able to eat pretty much anything as well.
We've been going to Mother Goose story time and it has been amazing to watch you come out of your shell and interact with other kids. Today they had a special Saturday event and Papa was able to attend. He had so much fun being a part of one of your favorite activities. After the storytime today they had open play and there were so many kids close to your age, you really enjoyed the playtime. One little boy even gave you a kiss and shared his shoe with you. You were all to happy to immediately stuff it into your mouth.
Each day is better than the last with how fast you are growing and learning. I look forward to each new day with you, I can't wait to see what you will master next or how you will continue to improve our lives yet I never want today to end. I constantly wish I could press the play and pause buttons on your life simultaneously. But some days it feels like it's on fast foward.
to 
I must say I think this past month has been one of my favorites. OK they are all my favorite but you have been so happy! You smile constantly and have just been such a joy to be around. I really think learning to crawl eased a lot of your previous frustrations so now that you can wander aimlessly you no longer have a care in the world. Now WE have all the cares. Although you've generally been so pleasant, the last couple days you seem to be working something out. It seems your top teeth are starting to come in as your gums are bulging, the ear pulling and drool is returning and sleep is once again at an all time low. Plus the biting, you are so desperate to chomp down on whatever you can. Or maybe you are trying to figure out this walking thing. You have recently been brave enough to stand unassisted on a few occasions. Once I had a phone in one hand and an apple we were sharing in the other when you decided that would be a good time to let go of my arm. I was unable to grab on to you but you managed to stand for a few seconds. You are really starting to cruise too, walking along while holding on to the couch or whatever you can. You have even learned to slowly lower yourself into a seating position instead of plopping down abruptly.
You are also really starting to test us. I see it in your sneaky little eyes. There have been plenty of legitimate injuries but every now and then you want to see just how we'll react. You will bump into something so gently and break out into a cry that almost seems real. I'll stand there and just look at you with your eyes shut tight as you cry because you are that hurt. Then when I don't react I see you peek from one of your eyes just the tiniest bit for you to make sure that I am still watching. You see I am watching yet I'm still not coming to your rescue so you kick your "cry" into high gear. But I'm on to you, I can tell when you are trying to pull a fast one. Once you realize it ain't gonna work, you turn off your "crying" like a switch and move on to something more interesting. It's the funiest thing. There are also the times when you are crawling down the hall to me in the kitchen and you hang your head and do the slowest, most pitiful crawl and whine as if to say "it's soooo far, I can't make it. I just can't crawl another inch." But all I have to do is put something on the ground you shouldn't have, like a dog food bowl, and suddenly you begin to crawl at warp speed. It's amazing the things we can do with the proper motivation. Just the other day the nightlight in the hall caught your attention. I saw you eyeing it up but knew if I tried to deter you it would only tempt you more. You crawled over to it, put your hand on it and I responded with a firm NO! You immediately took your hand off and looked at me as though you couldn't figure out who replaced your accomodating Mama with this strict evil woman using words you have never heard before. You then put your hand BACK onto the light and very slowly your mouth turned up into a smirk.
You knew you were testing the limits and so did I. It was at that moment I had to quickly pick you up and hold you tightly against my chest so I could silently laugh behind your back.
But you are catching on too. The other morning when I neglected to pick up the dog food you saw your opportunity to make a run for it. You beat me there and reached out your hand to take a handful but you paused and looked at me as if you knew this is when I usually interrupt and take it away. You KNEW you weren't supposed to be able to get to it but I have a feeling you think it's a little game we are playing. You also seem to be catching on to the signing. Nana had babysat you and when we came to pick you up, you crawled into my lap and did the milky sign. You are starting to do it now more but we aren't that great at picking up on it. And for the record you have been saying Mama as well. Although it's only when you are either desperate for food or sleep and it's more of a whiney "Mamamamamamama." Hey as long as you know you can come to me when in need, I'm happy.
You love to explore now more than ever. This has led to locks on almost everything that can be opened from the refrigerator, to the oven, doors and toilets.
It's your father's worst nightmare. He used to get mad if I would hang something decorative from a doorknob because it would hinder his ability to get to what he needed. Imagine how happy he is having to actually unlock the toilet. I have since had to replace our fancy red dishes that were on display with something a little more baby friendly.
Not quite as asthetically appealing but much more stress free. This has become one of your favorite play areas in the house. We call it your "work shop." Our KitchenAid mixer attachments are some of your favorites. I now can't seem to find the splatter guard and the only conclusion I was able to come to is that you ate it. Now that would be mighty impressive since it's about the same size as you.
You like to cruise up and down these shelves and see how fast you can pull everything off. Not so you can play with it, no your only objective is total destruction.
Solids have been a pretty slow process for us. So far you've had sweet potato, avocado, carrots, broccoli, green beans, pears, apple and banana. You still aren't overly gung ho about any of it but we have noticed if we let you feed yourself the food in their natural form you are more likely to enjoy it. You are too mature for that mashed up baby food you want to manhandle it yourself.
I'm convinced apple and/or carrots are the cause of your excessive spit up days so we're laying off of those. Including me. Aside from that I am now able to eat whatever I want! Can I thank you enough for outgrowing this especially before a year? Let's hope you will be able to eat pretty much anything as well.
We've been going to Mother Goose story time and it has been amazing to watch you come out of your shell and interact with other kids. Today they had a special Saturday event and Papa was able to attend. He had so much fun being a part of one of your favorite activities. After the storytime today they had open play and there were so many kids close to your age, you really enjoyed the playtime. One little boy even gave you a kiss and shared his shoe with you. You were all to happy to immediately stuff it into your mouth.
Each day is better than the last with how fast you are growing and learning. I look forward to each new day with you, I can't wait to see what you will master next or how you will continue to improve our lives yet I never want today to end. I constantly wish I could press the play and pause buttons on your life simultaneously. But some days it feels like it's on fast foward.
to
posted by Julian at 9:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home