Independence

TT is slowly growing in his abilities and independence.  Everyday he seems more like a kid than a baby.  And then he has a when-did-Satan-poses-my-son-grade-temper-tantrum and we remember he's 2.  Ok, we remember he's 2 all the time because he still wants us to carry him every where, all nearly 35 lbs. of him.

The one place and time he insists on walking is teeth brushing time.  This time of day, every day, is his mark of independence and growing up.

I tell him "teethy time" and he runs from his room down the hall to the bathroom.  He pulls his stool up to the sink, climbs up and has the water on and tooth brush in hand by the time I get there.  I give him some toothpaste and he brushes on his own for a bit before I do a deep-clean.  Then he has some water, rinses his brush, puts it away, turns off the sink and I tell him "go find Daddy" and he runs back down the hallway to his bedroom.

That dear reader is the sign of a little boy who is growing up, who is learning to do things on his own; but still very much needs his Mommy and Daddy.

Silent Saturday

Found this under his crib... apparently he's part hamster.

For Giggles

Breastfeeding makes me happy.  You know this if you're read my blog before.

But not just my breastfeeding experience makes me happy.  I get happy when I hear about others doing the same, and I really enjoy seeing breastfeeding messages in day to day living.  I love that Lois breastfeeds Stewie, and I laugh out loud (for real, not an LOL) when I read Baby Blues in the Sunday paper and the comic strips features a breastfeeding joke.  Sometimes those jokes almost seem like inside jokes, something that only breastfeeding parents can relate to.

Yesterday while poking around on the big ol' world wide web I came across Baby Blues World Breastfeeding Week 2009 (I said I was poking around) tribute.  You can find the whole thing here, but I wanted to take some time and share with you some of my favorites.

You'll need to click on them to enlarge.  My comments are attached to each.  Enjoy!!!

Or in the church parking lot hoping you don't flash Monsignor.
Or in the parking lot at the grocery store, with your winter jacket as a nursing pillow.
You get the idea.  Monkey loves nursing in the car because I let him play with the steering wheel when he's done.

I actually sing Monkey this song while nursing him.  Turkey likes to come in and chat during these times.
Usually to tell me he wants something (to eat, play with, TV time, or to buy).
Monkey does not like to be interrupted during these times and will sit up and stare at him until he leaves.

Yeah, especially now that he has a tooth.

Silent(ish) Saturday

Finally a" mostly tooth-less" grin from Turkey.  All of his other teeth have fallen out only after the adult tooth was firmly in place.

Nearly 13 Months

Dear Monkey,

You are nearly 13 months old, and it's been a while since I update everyone on you; so I figured today was a good day to do so.

You are a very soft and snuggley baby, that is when you let us snuggle you.  You do not like being snuggled, or held back, when you see there is much playing to be done.  You also do not like snuggling when you are grouchy, you prefer to crawl around and whine.

Speaking of crawling, you are becoming quiet a pro at crawling and venture all over the house when given a chance.  You are now just starting to crawl on top of or over things; but you are pulling up like a champ and cruising along furniture.

Your favorite word to say is "ya", and you also say "dada" and "ma".  You sign "more" all the time, especially when you are told you are "all done".  We are working on learning how to sigh "yes", "no" and "drink".

You are super ticklish, and love being tickled and have the cutest little laugh.

Speaking of love, you love all of your toys - especially your jumper and anything that lets you put things in and take things out.  At night you sleep with your baby and your seahorse.  When you nurse you fiddle with your baby's ears.  And for some reason you've taken to wanting to nurse on your changing table - this I cannot explain but it makes you very happy.

As I mentioned you are still nursing; but you LOVE food.  I said you loved to play, and love your toys; but this I really mean you LOVE.  Food makes you so excited, to the point where you stretch out your arms and legs and shake while waiting for food.  We've yet to find a food you don't like; and you are a very adventurous eater.  I don't think I could pick anyone food as your favorite, as you will eat and enjoy anything.  I keep telling your daddy that we're in trouble once you get teeth.

That's right, you're nearly 13 months old and have no teeth.  You are "this close" to getting your first tooth; I am beyond excited for this.

You are also "this close" to getting your first hair cut.  I did give you a little trim a few weeks ago, but it's really getting to be time to properly get it cut.

Your clothing size is 18 to 24 months, but that's just because you are so tall.  If it wasn't for your cloth diapers all of your pants would be falling off your hips.

So Monkey, that's you in a nutshell at nearly 13 months.

Mama Love You!!!

PS I think I may actually finish your nursery in the next few weeks.

Tooth Anxiety

The time: 1:09am, Tuesday

The place: my upstairs - bedroom and bathroom

There is a creak from the door followed by a little voice: Mom, my grown tooth is loose and it's going to fall out.

Muffled voice from the bed: No it isn't go back to bed.

Voice from the door now in a panic: It is... my grown-up tooth is going to fall out.

The muffled voice stumbles out of bed and guides the little voice into the bathroom, while falling into the walls along the way.

The light in the bathroom is flicked on, and is blindingly bright.  Muffled voice sits little voice on the toilet: Ok, let me see.

Muffled voice can't see anything, the light in the bathroom is too bright.  The whole scene seems like a bad to her, but she reassures little voice that the loose tooth is the baby one that is about to fall out.

Little voice shrieks, restating his position that it is in-deed a grown-up tooth.  

Muffled voice tells him he needs to go back to bed.

Little voice assures her he cannot as his tooth will surely fall out and the dentist is closed.  

Muffled voice asks him if he wants to sleep in her bed with her and Husband.  

In the middle? Little voice asks.

Little voice falls fast asleep as soon as he gets in the middle.  Muffled voice drifts off to sleep, certain the preceding events were a dream, only to be reminded by little voices arm and legs hitting her through-out that night that it was night.

Oh and if you're wondering about the tooth, it was in fact the baby one muffled voice reassured little voice about and it fell out shortly before dinner.

Whipping It Up

The other day Turkey came home from school, and I offered him a snack.  First I offered some cinnamon sugar toast.  He declined.

The I offered a slice of apple pie, or a piece of fruit.  Both of which he declined.

So I offered him the giant cookie we bought him at the library bake sale.  Again, he declined.

Then he turns around and says "I'll just whip something up."  Intrigued and concerned I followed him into the kitchen to see what he was going to "whip up".  His first creation involved peanut butter, a peppermint candy, honey and the microwave.  I am sure you can imagine how this turned out and where it ended up.

Then his moment of genius struck, and he proclaimed he had a new plan.  At that time the baby started crying so I went to go tend to him.  When I came back into the kitchen he showed me his creation:

The giant cookie, whip cream and sprinkles.

In Turkey's book everything is better with sprinkles.  (And no he didn't finish it.  He has the croup this week and his appetite has been less than stellar from it add to that a loose front tooth; and you know...)

And it's gone....

The tooth that is.

And it was such an itty bitty thing.  Who would have guessed it would have been such an ordeal to get it out.

I had noticed while we were shopping for a new baby swaddler (need to share this story with you) and the second Whimpy Kid book (also need to share this one) that Turkey's tooth was wicked loose.  And yes, I can say wicked... I am such an east coaster, I have clam chowda' coming out of my ears.  

Turkey is leaving on vacation in two days and I was getting worried about it falling out then (and maybe getting lost in the ocean), so at bedtime I brought up pulling it. (Ok, I admit I was afraid I would miss this first with him and really wanted to be around when it happened.)

He wouldn't let me near it, but he was all about Husband pulling it.  

And after almost 30 minutes of trying to distract him, hugging him while husband wiggled it, countless drinks of water, three fits screaming on the top of his lungs, and an incident with OralGel that involved him yelling "it's too spicy, it's too spicy, get it out, get it out, I'm going to kill you"... the tooth came out!!!!

Not that you can tell because the adult tooth is already there... but still.

So now the tooth fairy is poised and ready to go, waiting for him to be sleeping soundly.  The original bounty was $1 (in the form of a gold coin), but it has been upped to $2.

Shark Tooth

4 weeks ago today, Memorial Day, I noticed Turkey had a "shark tooth", his adult tooth had grown in behind his baby tooth.  Of course I did what I always warn others of doing and did a Google search on the topic (come on, cut me some slack the dentist was closed), and I got mixed results.  Some web-pages said don't worry, other's said it'll get pulled, and some even said he was doomed to have all of his teeth pulled.

Then I posted this news on Facebook, and I got stories of those that had been through it. Almost everyone commented his tooth would need to be pulled.

The following day I called the dentist, and I was told if his baby tooth wasn't out in a week to come in and get it checked.

Fast forward a week, no sign of the tooth coming out, so I pack him up and off we go.  The dentist looks at it for about half a second, concludes it is so loose it will fall out in no time.  He tells me he will pull it if I want, but really Turkey should just wiggle it and it will be out in no time. (Thankfully he said some of my favorite words "no charge for today.")

So here I am all excited my "baby" is going to loose his first tooth at nearly seven and half.  I can't wait to be the Tooth Fairy, I go to the bank and get some of those gold $1 coins, I plan about leaving the money, and I wait, and I wait.

I am still waiting.  It's been 3 weeks since we were told it would be out in no time.  I just want to pull it for him, but I am too squeamish.  

It's been a long time since we've had adventures in teeth in this house, I want some action.  Turkey got his first tooth late at 10 months and 3 days (yes, I looked that up in his baby book). And while Monkey is teething like crazy he has no sign of teeth.  Come on boys, mama needs so excitement.  

Turkey has a dentist appointment coming up in about 2 weeks, I wonder if the tooth is out by then.