Monday, September 13, 2010

13 Month Update!

I really have been a bad blogger recently, and I hope to do better this fall!  We've had some computer and internet problems, but my techy hubby seems to have us back up and running so hopefully more posts will come soon.  I miss blogging when I don't get to write!!  I really use it as a way to process my feelings/thoughts, and I think I would still do it even if no one read or commented (although I heart my readers-thank you for putting up with my silly posts!!).  But enough about me and blogging...time to catch up on mr. hen hen.  This month I've witnessed him grow from a baby to a toddler.  It is such a fun age, but a little sad for me as I'm really having a tough time with not having a baby anymore.  I think this is mainly because he is my first, and I'm also scared that it could be years before I have another baby.  As I pack up baby blankets and bibs, I can't help but question whether I'm going to need them at all in the near future.  I didn't really get too upset around his birthday and this past month because he was still a baby to me.  But now he is 13 months, and he is walking all over the place/wearing shoes/drinking from a big sippy/stinking like a boy when he gets hot...he is definitely a toddler.  I'm excited though about this year and this new stage!  I've found that one of things I love most about being a mom is teaching Henry.  As we move into the toddler stage, I can already see many more opportunities for learning together.  There is so much to explore and see!

Size:  22 lbs at 12 mo checkup 31 inches (75th percentile in height and weight)

Walking:  Henry started officially walking on August 26th and has gotten increasingly faster over the past few weeks.  The monkey crawl that everyone loved is fading away, and I expect in the next few weeks that it will be gone.  It is so crazy to see him walking all over the house...practically running already!!  Watch out world...here Henry comes!

Baby Signs:  new signs--banana, book, bath, please and we are working on war eagle :) (go auburn!!).  He has about 18 signs now, and he uses most of them daily along with trying to say the word.  I need to get a baby signs book at the library to learn a few more because I'm not really teaching him any new signs...i've run out of ideas!

Words:  Henry has really surprised us this month with how much he is saying and what he is trying to say.  A lot of the words he says now started as baby signs so I'm glad that we did signs with him. 
Dada, mama, book, bird, frog (not very clear but he says it every time he sees a frog), banana (baboo), bye, hey, juice, baby (baba or babee), boy, apple, ball, diaper, poo poo (ha!), elmo (mo), oh (for uh oh when he falls).   There are several more words that I think he is saying like truck and bus, but he has only said them a few times so we will see if he adds them this month.

Sounds:  I'm not going to be able to remember all of the sounds that he makes because he looooves to make sound effects (such a boy!).  But his favorite new sounds to make are for a lion (roooooar--which he says very loud), and he LOVES owls (whooo whooo)...I don't know why owls but every time we see one in a book...he just wants to stay and look at them and make the sound.  So funny!!

Book- Henry's favorite book this month is "The Noisy Jungle" and "B is for Bear" (if you have a one year old...you have to get this book!!)

Breastfeeding- Still breastfeeding!  I'm going to be sad about stopping, but I'm kinda getting ready at the same time.  This past year of bfeeding has been so sweet.  I'm going to write a post about it soon along with the first year of parenting post.  I'm attempting to wean this month if Henry can tolerate goat's milk.  I mentioned last month that Henry is allergic to cow's milk.  I really would prefer not to give him soy milk so we are trying goat's milk first.  There are two different types of milk proteins.  One is in just cow's milk and the other is in both cow and goat so it is possible that Henry will be allergic to goat's milk as well.  I'm hoping he will be okay with goat's milk although it is expensive!!

Sleeping- Attachment parenting readers might want to stop reading now.
We are sleep training for naps and going down at night.  It got way out of control way longer than it should, and I finally have become strong enough to do what it takes.  Believe me!!  It is not easy.  But my sweet Henry was/is making my days extremely hard/emotional because he fought sleep every time, which ISN'T what is best for him either.  So I've had to start not going back in his room at all.  He actually hasn't cried for that long which I'm grateful for but it still hasn't been easy.  Really not interested in hearing any negative comments about this so just know that your comment will be deleted if it is negative.

 So overall a fun and busy month (and obviously difficult at times too :).  Looking forward to a cool fall with lots of new things for my little buddy like pumpkins, fall leaves, and afternoon naps :). 

Pic uploader is being slow so just a few pics...

Signing "hat" at a bday party



Henry's fav place to be

In deep thought in a museum :)
Loves the splash park...so sad it is abut to end!