.."aT" .. "eOw"

Starting last week, whenever we are outside, Andrew is crawling on hands and feet instead of his knees when he's outside. I guess he figures it is still faster than just walking upright.

He is fighting us about going to bed at night. One of us is having to sit and hold him longer or hold him down in the crib until he relaxes. Otherwise he stands up and screeaaaams to the point of gagging and then screams some more until I go in and just hold him until he falls asleep.

During our family study, we were covering a chapter in the Family Happiness book about the importance of cleanliness, and the benefits of cleanliness. In one particular paragraph it mentioned the negative effects of smoking. Andrew made a funny noise and I interrupted myself to say, "thats right, that's what you would sound like if you smoked." He leaned his body toward daddy and daddy pretended to cough and hack. So for the next minute Andrew was making all sorts of noises like a smoker cough and hack. It was humorous given the lesson.

Sunday during the meeting he sat in his own seat again, although he was more fussy this meeting. At one point he was looking through one of his books. I used my fingers to cover up all the words in one sentence except for "cats" and then waited. He started saying, "aT" ... "eow"  lol. (He emphasizes the T) He read that word himself.. I never said it.  Then during the family study Monday night, he got down and started chasing Tripod and saying "aT, eow. aT, eow."

Before starting to make dinner, I gave Ted a big hug. Andrew walked over and pulled on my pant leg. So I picked him up and we very excitedly gave him a couple of "group hug!" squeezes. He got a kick out it. But then as I was holding him, he looked at daddy and just leaned his head into Ted's shoulder with a big smile. Then he did it again. Then he looked up at me and leaned his head into my shoulder and looked up at me with a smile. I think that was his version of hugs. So sweet.

He is walking a lot now. Today he walked from one side of his room to the other, from one side of the kitchen to the other, and from the bathroom to the couch. Of course smaller steps in there too.

Ted gets a kick out of saying "da da da daaaa" and having Andrew repeat it. He'll even do it really fast if Ted does.

Since he is 12 months now, it was time to add another line in his doorway to mark how tall he is. He grew half an inch over last month. Ted said Andrew is now about 2 feet, 6-3/4 inches tall. We just weighed him (of course it is after dinner) and he weighed in at 23.5 pounds on our digital scale. So somewhere in that vicinity. I'd say it's safe to say he is 23 pounds.

Andrew holding his "Green Juice". It's raw organic whole food, fruits and veggies in a powder that I mix with water and apple juice for him to get lots of nutrients.

Forgot a picture

He found some stickers last Friday morning and was trying to eat them. So I took them all off and stuck them to him to see what he'd do. 

Walking!

Andrew is finally figuring out in his head that he can walk. It isn't a mindless accident anymore. He will walk only holding onto one hand now although he still prefers two. He walks a few steps on his own several times a day. At one point today he took about 10-15 steps, and I also just saw him turn in a circle standing up and not holding onto anything. He's getting it!

His teeth seem to really be bugging him lately, but he is doing so well dealing with it! Anytime he seems to be chewing on things excessively - be it books, toys, or toilet paper, I know he's either teething or hungry. It is easy to narrow down from there.

He impressed me the other night. I made a cajun 16 bean chili. He actually ate several mouthfuls! I was worried what would come after though so I put some activated charcoal in with his milk to help ward off any gas. I guess it worked.

Now that he is a year, milk should only be supplemental to his solid foods. But... with his teething, sometimes I think he just prefers drinking his meals. But I'm not putting much formula in any bottles. I have been mixing several milks together.. rice, unsweetened almond (which is gross by the way.. never buy unsweetened), organic cows milk, goat milk, and even coconut milk. He doesn't seem to care. I find that amazing.. I am picky about milk myself.  At the same time, I know he can't possibly be getting his daily nutrition from any of those milks.. so on days he wont eat much solid food, I'm in limbo as to what to give him in his bottle. Last night I gave him a smoothie that had all sorts of wierd stuff in it. It definitely needed sugar.. but he drank it. Poor kid. :-P

He seems to know some body parts.. but only occasionally will show you when you ask. He knows eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, nose, ears, feet, and hair. The funny thing is when you ask for nose, he sticks his finger up it rather than just touch his nose. 

He is better about being gentle petting the cat.. although yesterday he grabbed the tail and pulled Flash across the floor. Flash didnt seem to care. Flash comes running and collapses at Andrew's feet sometimes just to get attention.

He loves to play on our bed. He throws himself onto the pillows and bounces and rolls all over. Today he was even standing up all by himself and then throwing himself down! 

The other day he got into the toilet paper, big time. He hadn't for a while: 

Here he is laying on the couch watching his video. I love that I dont have to worry about him getting down - he does just fine on his own.

Here is his messy hair after a bath:

Pictures outside. In one he is putting a leaf back on the tree. Another he is walking toward me.:

Another one of him watching his reading video but he is holding the remote too which is funny.

My One Year Old

   Friday, my sweet boy officially turned one. It was that day that I changed his schedule. I pushed his morning nap out later, and hoped to have a later afternoon nap to get him through the early evening hours before bed. I was tired, but also wanted to get some pictures of him out at the family farm. So I let him sleep in the car on the way out there. Put him in jeans and no shirt. I couldn't get both shoes on so he went barefoot. It was so hot out already by the time we got there just before 11am. I let him sit on my lap as we drove the car to the barn (so I wouldn't have to carry everything) and I dragged him out in the field with an old red rocking chair and tried to get him to play. It was too hard for me to try and entertain and take pictures so he is a bit solemn looking in his pictures. Still a handsome little boy though.  You can see my favorites here.  When I was done with him, I put him in the front passenger seat and drove back up to the house. I guess since he is used to facing backward in his seat, as soon as the car started to move he held on for dear life. We hung out and played for a bit, and Andrew took 5 solid steps before getting back on his knees at one point. He does fine as long as he doesn't think about it. (here are just a couple to see, but if you click on the link above, you can see more)

   Then his cousins Katara and Kaleb came up for pictures. So Dianna took Andrew with her up to Carrie's house to be with Dawson while Carrie went to get Dylan from school. I hear he had a blast up there with Dylan and Dianna. Dawson didn't take to him.  But then once I was done with pictures, Kaleb and Andrew played really well together. At one point, they were racing back and forth from the doorway to the dog bed in the living room. I guess I was in the way at one point because Andrew tried to push my legs away, and then turned to Kaleb and I swear it sounded like he said, "c'mon" and crawled fast back to the dog bed with Kaleb in hot pursuit on his knees too. They were so cute.

  Saturday we went out in the ministry for the morning and he did really well for that as usual. Then Andrew and I took a nap before heading out to the farm again. It was family picture day. I took pictures of each of my brother's families, and then we tried to get one group picture of the 15 of us. THAT was an adventure. I was hoping to get pictures of the cousins together, but that never happened. I was also hoping to get some good pictures of Ted and Andrew, and also us as a family but it was too complicated. I might have to hire another professional photographer to get some good ones.

   I have been so blessed to have such a great little boy. Every day he surprises me at just how smart he is and how much he understands. Sunday - he impressed the whole congregation. We have adjusted his nap schedule and he woke up about an hour before we had to leave for meeting. I knew he wouldn't be tired and fussy for the meeting - but I wasn't sure what to really expect, possibly fussy because he wouldn't want to sit still so long.  This particular meeting, we decided to put him in the chair between us. He did amazingly well!  Andrew sat in his own seat for the entire meeting!! We rotated through a couple of books, and a rag he played with and chewed on, and a teether. He tried to turn around and look at everyone (we sit in the second row from the front) and I would say, "you see how everyone is sitting in their seats, we need to turn around and face the front too."  I'd help him turn around and he'd sit there being his well-behaved little self. I am still in awe of how well he did.

Sunday morning Ted pulled out some of his reading cards to review. Andrew demonstrated that he knew the words... mouth: he opened and closed his mouth. Teeth: he clinked his teeth together. The animals he made sounds for. I dont know what other words he showed but I know Ted was just ready to fall out of his chair he was so impressed.  Oh and the other day, when I'd posted about his saying Moo a lot... Ted was in the kitchen that night and asked Andrew what a cat says, and very clearly he said, "Meeoow". Ted's jaw dropped! I didn't know he knew that either!  His meow changes when you ask him... sometimes it's really clear, other times its more drawn out. Still so cute.

He is signing so much more now which is great. I can't say what it'd be like if we hadn't taught him signs and words so early. He rarely seems frustrated in trying to communicate to get what he wants.. in fact, I dont remember the last time he seemed frustrated in trying to tell us something we weren't figuring out fast enough!  He hasn't signed "more" for me, but he says "moah" when he wants more food. His meals yesterday consisted of Boar's Head turkey pieces, green peas, apple chunks, watermelon, and a corn tortilla with hummus. I have to let him eat other things before I can put cheese on his tray - or he'll only eat the cheese. But when he'd eaten enough other things, I put some cheese slices on his tray. He gobbled them up and then said, "moah?"  I told him he had to finish everything else first.. and he almost did. And by then he'd forgotten about the cheese I think.

I forgot to mention sometime last week: He sees me do my T-Tapp workout almost every morning. He watches the screen, and he watches me. Occasionally he will play with toys instead.  One morning he came over and sat a couple of feet away from me and started waving his arms in imitation of what he saw me doing, but he was staring at the tv screen. SO cute! My little boy is working out with me! lol

Oh.. and he flushed the toilet all by himself today! 

So Smart and Full of Teeth

Andrew's latest things are that he:
brings you toys to play with
will take your hands and pull to get you up to play
will offer you food to feed you
will shake his head no when he does not want something you offer
will sign for milk more often when asked if he wants it
he is fascinated with buttons and snaps on my clothing
loves to give you the spray bottle and have you squirt water in his mouth

Andrew took 2-3 steps like it was nothing on the 13th to bring me his sippy cup. He thinks its funny when I pretend to drink out of it.  On the Wednesday the 15th - he took 4 steps toward me like he'd been walking all along! He was bringing me a toy we'd been playing with. I've been trying to walk with him holding one hand, but I barely hold the wrist of his other hand so he gets the idea that he doesn't have to hold onto something. He panics sometimes when he thinks about it, and other times I almost completely let go and he doesn't notice and walks just fine. It is definitely a mental thing.

He has discovered he can take the vent cover out of the floor in his room. And guess what goes in the hole? toys! I pulled a book and an animal bowling pin out of the vent. I dont think anything else has gone down.. yet.

He has learned to mooo like a cow. Most of the day on the 15th, he was saying "Oww.. Moooo"  which I think in translation means "Cow.. Moo" because you can ask him what a cow says and he says "Mooo". Its so cute.

He also knows the number one. I asked him what One was at dinner to see if he'd show daddy. He made an O shape with his mouth and said "Ou" and held up his pointer finger.  I have counted to three with him in English, Spanish, and French, and also with my fingers each time I've changed him and had snaps on his onesies since he was probably 3 months old. We count the snaps. I'm kind of getting away from that since he doesn't have very many onesies anymore, but I can only guess that is where he picked it up.

Yesterday he kept chasing Flash around. He thinks the bare pink skin of Flash's backside is a button or something I guess and keeps trying to poke it. Twice he leaned in with his face but I was able to stop that before he made contact. Poor Flash. I let him outside out of pity since Andrew wouldn't leave him alone.

I love that he understands so much. It really is amazing how much they learn the first year if given the opportunity. I can say, "let's go read your words" and he'll follow me to his chair so I can set up his reading video. I can ask, "Do you want to go for a walk?" and he'll crawl toward the door. He'll also get impatient and concerned if I'm not already ready when I ask.The same goes for when we tell him we are going to go somewhere in the car. If you pick him up like you're going to head for the door, and have to put him down because you forgot something - he bursts into tears. Or if you walk toward the door and turn around to go turn the light off he starts to complain. You have to mean what you say for sure!  And like I mentioned already, I can ask him if he wants something and he'll shake his head no. I know he understands most of the signs I use even if he doesn't use them all back, and that is nice.

My son will be one year old on Friday... and guess how many teeth he has. Sixteen! SIXTEEN!? I know one year olds who have zero, most have 4 to 6 by now, and I have a two year old friend who has sixteen.  He got 8 teeth in about 4 weeks. I'm glad they come in so fast when they come, not just one here and one there. Bring 'em! He's such a champ too... rarely fussy and disagreeable. I forget sometimes that he is teething and when he gets clingy and is asking for something it makes him so happy when I figure out he just wants some teething tablets.

This morning I was standing in the kitchen eating the last few bites of my bagel and hummus, and he came over and started tugging on my pants.  I reached down with my hands and he took a hand in each of his and started pulling and walking backwards. I dont think he knew where he was taking me though. He did that yesterday or the day before too - just took my hands and pulled me as he walked backward.

I've just been told that he did the sign for 'finished' when he finished his milk. A few minutes later he said, "more" and Nana made another bottle for him and he's happily drinking it. yeay! Then they went to the bathroom and sat him on the toilet (we have a kid potty seat that fits into the adult seat) and when he was done he did the sign for 'finished' again! Wow.. what an amazing kid I have.

He is reading! Today, Nana let him get his flashcards out, and without even saying anything, she'd show him a card and wait. When he saw Elephant, he said, "Eh". He saw Cat, and he made a "T" sound (when you say Cat and emphasize the T - that is where he is getting it.)  He saw Dog and made the D sound like he was starting to say Dog. He usually says Dog without the g. Or he barks. I have already forgotten the others.  And Flash was just up here bugging me and crying and Nana said that Andrew heard Flash crying and said "At" and assumed he is saying Cat.

Last night at meeting Joy asked him where his nose was. He got his pointer finger ready and tried to get my nose.  Today when he saw the word Nose on his cards, he tried to get his own nose and nearly poked his eye.  This morning when I was walking with him, I mentioned his toes and he picked a foot up and pointed at his toes and ran his finger across them. He sure loves to learn!

I forgot to mention that the other day we were coming in the back door and he saw all the magnets on the side of the fridge. He was not interested in all the picture character ones, but went for the magnet that had only words on it.


 video of daddy squirting water in his mouth:


Video of Andrew jumping in the crib.. its black for the first 8 seconds because I'm opening his bedroom door and have to turn on the light.

Andrew 0-11 months

Click here to view this photo book larger

Sharing

My sweet boy shared his dinner tonight with daddy. He offered daddy his one piece of celery, and then took great delight in feeding daddy a chunk of cheese (which is usually the first thing to be eaten entirely!). What a sweetie pie. Daddy thinks Andrew was just trying to pawn it off so he didn't have to eat it himself. That very well may be true. When he doesn't want something anymore, he will casually do a sweep across the tray to push the food over the edge. He gets reprimanded and told that he doesn't have to eat it, but food stays on the tray or goes in his mouth. Other times he doesn't even break eye contact and with a straight face takes an unwanted piece of food and slowly takes it over to the edge and drops it to the floor. Again, reprimanded and reminded where food belongs. Then... when he is in a stubborn mood, he will just take the unwanted food and plant it in the seat with him. lol. Where does he get these ideas?! Its hilarious. Too bad for him we don't have a dog.

I can't remember if I mentioned this or not, but he loves to throw toys down the stairs. He will take a toy even from his room, keep tossing it down the hallway as he scoots himself, continues through the living room... and then gets to the doorway where the stairs go down into the laundry room, and hurls the toy down the stairs. Today he put his leg over the threshold to also go down the stairs but for some reason didn't go. 

He also is really good at getting off your lap or off the couch all by himself. He just turns around and slowly glides his little toes to the floor sliding off the couch. He can do it without us even holding onto him or touching him.

We will need a new stroller soon I think. Several times lately, he sits forward and sticks his feet on the wheels while I'm pushing him in our morning walk. I have to stop, scoot him back and be mindful of where his toes go. He's like me.. he wraps his feet around the legs of the chair he is sitting in - and he does the same in the stroller. I dont think one of us can sit in a chair properly.. lol.

First Steps!

Andrew officially took his first steps today!  They were completely of his own initiative. He took two solid steps from the loveseat to the sofa all on his own without holding onto anything. And my mom, dad, and I all saw it.  Good job Andrew!

Oh, and at meeting tonight, I got to see MORE teeth coming in! He is a tooth machine! Looks like the bottom canine's will be emerging before the top. I think both will break through within the next day or two. I'm actually getting thoroughly confused about which teeth are in, and which are just about to come in. There are definitely a bunch working their way out.

Just an update

Andrew is such a fast learner. The day we went to the zoo so many months ago - Ted taught Andrew how to give a 'high-five' within just a couple of minutes.  Friday, Andrew learned how to give a knuckle bump within a minute. He points at everything he touches. Ted was trying to teach him the knuckle bump and Andrew was pointing at Ted's knuckle.. so I pushed Andrew's finger down and then tapped his knuckles to daddys. And voila! He now knows how to do it.  You have to do a high-five first or he'll do the pointing thing again.. but if you let him give you a high five and then ask for a knuckle bump - he gets it.

He has yet another tooth coming in. If I could see correctly (and I could be totally wrong since I can't see in his mouth for very long if at all), his two bottom front molars, and his two top back molars are what have been coming through, and now it looks like his top right fang is working its way out. Its really strange for me to see his molars when he opens his mouth.. just as its strange to go back through his baby album and see him with no teeth! Its just been so long that he's had teeth, and then it seemed like so long that he didn't teethe at all. Now all of a sudden a bunch are coming in. So crazy how all that works. I am glad they dont all come in one at a time though.

He's been practically standing on his head lately. With his palms on the floor, and on his toes, he sticks his behind in the air and  looks through his legs upside down. Its really cute. I stood over him one day and stuck my head upside down and peered back at him through his legs and he just about fell over laughing.

He is still too cautious to start taking steps. I've tried a few times to just get him to walk holding onto one hand instead of both. He'll take maybe one step and then either fall and get startled and upset, or deliberately fall because he's uncertain. No hurry from me though. I'm sure he'll enjoy it so much more than crawling though when he tries.

His nap schedule has been compleeetely disrupted numerous times lately. He is a little more easy to upset when he is not getting proper naps - but still, overall he does so well. I just feel really bad for him when I know he's so tired. Gosh.. I want to fall to the floor and cry sometimes when I'm so tired and don't get to go to bed and nap! I'm amazed at just how wonderful he is.

I think it was on Sunday the 5th that he started clapping. I was pushing the stroller for our morning walk and  I see him hold out his right hand palm up, and then start smacking his left palm to it. I told him he was clapping and commended him. Then later, I asked, "Andrew, can you clap?"   And he did!
He will clap and wave on request now along with his high fives. He loves to give high fives.

Wave-Clap


On Monday the 6th we went to the Chihuly exhibit at Cheekwood.

Oh, and Friday the 3rd, we were at the mall for something and saw the carousel. So of course we had to let Andrew get on it. He was tired, but a good sport.

And this is what you see a lot lately:

On monday after getting home from Cheekwood, I pulled out some fingerpaint and paper. I stripped Andrew down to nothing and then went to get into clothes I could get dirty. Figures... he's had naked baby time before but never had any 'accidents.' This time he did both!!  But at one point, after he'd already gone on the floor, he was sitting down and started peeing again and this time played in the stream he was making by running his hand through it like he was trying to catch it. It was so cute!
He didn't know what to think of the fingerpaint. Of course.. he was beyond tired too. I got a couple of hand prints and foot prints out of it.. and then let him play on his splash pad. Then he got a bath .. and was sound asleep before he even finished his bedtime bottle. Poor munchkin had a long day!