Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween!

This Halloween, I thought it would be extra scary to let Milo help with decorating the pumpkin. A toddler wielding a carving knife is probably the most frightening thing I can imagine, but I didn't let things get that scary. Instead, I allowed Milo to unleash the fury of finger paints -- on himself and the innocent pumpkin. (With a nod to Parenting.com's safety tips)

The artist at work

Deep in concentration

Proud of himself

Spooky!
Here's hoping your Halloween is fun and safe and full of sweet treats.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Daddy Talk: Picture Day

Man what fun. Today we spent some time with a professional photographer. At least it's with somebody who took money to take our pictures. I make light. It was very fun -- unexpectedly so.

Lots of pictures and the boy had so much fun even with all the kid wrangling. Throwing around pine cones and getting tired. That little boy of mine is so photogenic and he knows how to have fun until it's no more fun.

I really am looking forward to seeing how the pictures turned out. If she got half of what was happening, there are a lot of candid shots that will be well worth remembering.

I really miss my family album. We haven't been able to find any of the other albums that were at my parent's house. It really is unfortunate and makes me sad that I won't be able to show my son the pictures of me growing up. Luckily I have found some pictures through friends and family but it's not nearly enough. There are so many pictures of people in my life that are just gone now. I will do the best that I can and show him what I can.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

18 months

Dear Milo,

You are a year and a half old now. Can you believe it? In just the past couple of days, you have been acting like such a big boy. Maybe it's because your Great-Aunt Dianna is here to visit you. Maybe it's because you really are a big boy now. Whatever the reason, you have started surprising me by doing things like repeating words when I ask you to. You are saying new things almost daily. Just today you said "apple" and tried to say "whistle." I still can't get you to say "mommy" though.


You are doing things at The Little Gym that we've been trying to get you to do for a long time. All of a sudden, you are hanging from the bars. You are climbing on things and balancing. You are doing those things and others without prompting and without help. I'm so proud of you sometimes I almost cry. And not just because of what you do at The Little Gym.

You are so much fun to be around. You love getting out and doing things. You are practically fearless, and that can be scary for Mommy. Today, you climbed the jungle gym and went down the slide with almost no help at all.


There are some things that I'm not thrilled with -- you biting me the other night is one. But I do love when you grab me and give me big hugs. And I love when you kiss me. You can be so sweet. Most of the time. You're less consistent with your napping right now and sometimes you get cranky from lack of sleep. And you have a whole bunch of molars coming in, so I guess you're allowed to be a little angry once in awhile.

You can be quite demanding when you want something, including wanting Daddy and me to dance with you when a favorite song comes on. But it's worth it to see you smile and hear you laugh. Your laugh is the absolute best. I wish I could bottle it to use when I'm having a bad day.


Even when you're testing limits and my patience, you amaze me. You thrill me daily. Some days, I still can't believe I'm your mom.  I know you're not technically a baby anymore, but you'll always be my baby. You make me so happy. I love you like crazy, little man.

Love,
Mommy

Friday, October 12, 2012

Friday Flashback

A boy and his dog, then and now



Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Mommy cooks

Ever since Milo has been old enough to eat people food, I've experimented with recipes from "Cooking for Baby: Wholesome, Homemade, Delicious Foods for 6 to 18 Months". Some are not so much recipes as how-tos -- how to make pureed fruits and vegetables. Recently, though, I've tried a few of the "real meal" recipes toward the back of the book. Milo is fast approaching 18 months!

The three I've tried have been quite tasty: beef stew, macaroni and cheese, and fish fingers. And Milo has absolutely refused to try them. Scratch that, he did eat the mac and cheese but not as greedily as he eats the kind from a box. (And really, homemade is only a tiny bit more work). I know toddlers can be picky eaters. I know -- from many accounts and experts -- that it can take up to 15 attempts to get a toddler to accept a new food. But I don't really like to cook. And I don't really enjoy spending a lot of time on a recipe that is going to be rejected out of hand.

Still, the S.O. and I did enjoy the food, and the recipes weren't that complicated. At least I didn't spend all afternoon creating something just for the boy to have him scream about trying it. And at least he will eat lots of other things. I'll just have to keep trying.

The book is very informative and, as I said, the recipes are tasty. I'd recommend this book for moms-to-be and/or moms of little ones.

Now, where did I put those oven mitts?

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Daddy Talk

When I was a kid it was kind of a big deal to get a gift -- a little RC car, or train or squirt gun. They cost my parents real dollars but I'm pretty sure I didn't treat them with much reverence past the first week or so.

I remember getting my first computer when I was around 12. It was an Apple compatible -- so not really an Apple -- and could do 90 percent of what other Apples could do. It just couldn't do that last bit. Anyway, it helped me through Junior high school and was actually pretty great. It also cost a good deal of money for my parents. I remember dusting it every day and generally treating it pretty well. It was portable -- in that it had a carry handle and weighed 20 pounds.

I bring this up because I see parents on a regular basis handing over these marvelous little computers to their kids, cell phones and tablet computers. Usually they come free or cost a little bit so it may not seem like much, but in some cases when you break one of these guys and have to replace them, it's a bit of a shock as the replacement cost for these phones is sometimes $400 dollars. An iPad can cost upwards of $600. It's pretty nuts when you sit and really think about. You are handing over these little dynamo computers to kids, babies even. I know. I've handed over my iPhone to my 1-year-old to watch "Timmy Time" so that the adults could talk during dinner.

On the face of it, I worry about the kid chucking it out the window and having to replace it, but on the other hand, I really worry about when my kid gets old enough to appreciate or not appreciate things. Will it matter to him or will he be like a lot of kids who just have them replaced regardless of what happens? I suppose that depends on us and how we deal with him.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012