Gizmo Update

Ok....second post within the week. I'm getting better already!

I felt like I should do a series of updates on each of the boys, since my last post was all about me and my whiny pregnancies. (Seriously, the hubs told me that I focused on everything that has been going wrong. To which I say, "Well, duh! That's what happens when you combine depression with the first half of pregnancy, and put it all on a blog with the word 'lamentations' in the title!" But, I'll try to do a little better now.)

I chose to do Gizmo first, because he's going to be the poor, poor middle child soon.

Gizmo turned 2 back in August. OOOOH.....two! He reminds me a lot of Bug at the same age, mainly because he also likes to run around naked-butt. You'd think potty training would be going better. Oh well. He often strips himself. Then he will actually put his clothes in the hamper...diaper and all, sometimes. Just a couple of weeks ago, I missed a diaper while sorting the clothes for washing, and it ended up in the machine. Of course, I had no idea until I opened the lid and found that all my clothes had magically turned into high-tech water crystals! Luckily, my parents were in town visiting, and my mom was able to help me laugh about the whole thing. I'm sure that if I had found that mess alone, I would have crumpled into a sobbing heap of misery on the floor. We shook out all the clothes, making a huge mess. Put all the clothes in the dryer. Ran an empty wash cycle to clear out the washing machine. Cleaned up the floor (made jokes about diaper filling snowballs). Then I'm pretty sure we had hot chocolate. And I didn't rewash that load....it came out of the dryer looking just fine. I'm a lazy mom.

Gizmo's vocabulary has just exploded in the past few months! He and Bug always have adorable little conversations....you know, before they end up fighting. Gizmo is constantly asking "Why, Mommy?" Which turns into the verbal equivalent of a Matryoshka doll, with me answering each "why" and having him again ask "why".

"Please get off the counter, Gizmo."
"Why, Mommy?"
"Because, you always grab a knife when you're up there, and I don't want you to have a knife!"
"Why, Mommy?"
"Because, knives are sharp. And I don't want you to hurt yourself."
"Why, Mommy?"
"Because, I love you, and it would make me sad to see you get hurt. [Plus, I don't want to have to take care of any ridiculously self-inflicted wounds!]"
"Why, Mommy?"
"Ugh....just....BECAUSE!"
"Why, Mommy?"

Obviously, he is just helping me develop my logic skills.

Blessedly, Gizmo has started sleeping in his own bed throughout the whole night! We had a few setbacks, with the usual winter illnesses running their courses. And he always seems to wake up between 6-7am, which stinks. But at least he isn't digging his feet into my thighs anymore. And I'm getting a nice break before sharing with the new baby in a few months!

Gizmo is pretty physical, stubborn, and has a bit of a violent streak. I don't know whether to blame that on him being a redhead...or him being a toddler. Gizmo hits, pinches, scratches, bites, spits and kicks. Bug wasn't nearly so bad. Of course, Bug didn't have to compete with a brother, so that might have something to do with it. It's distressing, as a parent, though! I hope he doesn't act as poorly during disagreements in the church nursery as he does at home!

Regardless of his bad behavior, Gizmo can be a pretty cool kid! He plays video games better than I do. And he likes to sing and dance. Plus, he is sooo daggone cute. And he definitely uses that to his advantage...the little stinker!

Simple (and exciting) updates...and a rant about announcing pregnancy

The entertainment factor in my family has been at a peak during the past few days. Bug's developing speech (which, for a while there, I thought he would never be able to speak in complete sentences) has been creating moments of laughter for months now. I wish there was some way to capture and share every little thing that he says (and also the manner in which he says them). But, I'm afraid there really is no way to really share my own personal show of "Bug says the darnedest things!"

Gizmo has also started testing out his vocal abilities. Mostly to yell "no" at everybody, and to say "Meeeeee!" when he wants something. (He also says crazy stuff like, "vitamin" and...uhm...ok, maybe that is the biggest, most crazy word in his vocabulary right now.) Gizmo also likes to wander around the house singing his own little made up song, "Hap-py. Hap-py. Hap-py. Happy! Happy!! Happy!!!" It's very adorable. (Until he escalates into a demonic, screeching form of the same song. Then it sounds like something from a horror movie.)

This week, we have been able to have the Hubby home from work (until Friday), thanks to Labor Day on Monday, and then DNC is in Charlotte this year for the rest of the week. (For security reasons, especially since the Hubs works so close to the convention center, a lot of people have been asked to work from home.) I have a suspicion, though, that the Hubby isn't really cut out for working from home. You know, with all the noise and chaos going on with two young hooligans. I finally asked if he would mind shutting himself up in our room to get his work done, so he didn't ruin our fun down in the living room. Maybe he'll gain a bit more appreciation to the crazy that I am, now that he knows the conditions I find myself in every day!! (Or maybe not, it's just as likely that he'll be more solidly convinced that we have awful, rotten children...but it's nice to think about!)

 In other news, I am pleased to announce that I am expecting our third child this coming May! It's been a long time coming, as we have been trying to have another baby for over six months! Perhaps I need to readjust my expectations about -when- my body is ready and able to have another baby. You may recall (depending on how long you have been reading my blog) a post I wrote and posted around the time I found out I was pregnant with Gizmo: Hope during Infertility. I'm not really sure if I have ever really and truly qualified as being "infertile", but having a strong desire to have another baby, and not being able to actually achieve that, can be very disheartening. It is especially discouraging when you are charting your cycles, and you can clearly see that you are ovulating, but things just aren't working.

I am obviously very early in my pregnancy still. And I have not hesitated to share my news with anyone. Because of that, I have received some questioning comments (that bordered on ridicule) about why I have shared the news already. My younger sister asked me, "Don't most women wait until about 12 weeks to tell people that they are pregnant?" Yes, that is true. Most women wait, because miscarriage is most likely in the first trimester. And I guess they don't want to share news of a pregnancy and then also a miscarriage.

However, I find that reasoning interesting and sad. Most women have a network, however small or large, of friends and family (other women) that are willing to offer love and support during both emotional highs and lows. That is the nature of humans...we have other humans to offer social support. Discovering a pregnancy is (usually) an emotional high. It brings excitement, and a desire to share the news! A miscarriage is an emotional low. It often brings a desire to retreat and mourn. But if we have a friend in mourning, don't we want to offer help, love, support, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a loaf of bread? How can we receive social support in our trials (such as miscarriage), if we don't let our friends know. And in the case of miscarriage, it makes sense to let our friends know that we were first pregnant! (Unless, of course, you would prefer to have privacy to grieve during the event of a miscarriage. In which case, it makes sense to wait the socially acceptable 12 or so weeks.)

Another sentiment I have perceived is that there is a time that is "too early" to tell people about a pregnancy. Which I don't understand at all. Is there ever a time (past a known conception) when you are not pregnant enough? Of course not! And women find out about their pregnancies at all different times. Most over the counter pregnancies tests can detect a pregnancy around 14 days past ovulation, which is usually the earliest a pregnancy can be detected (by urine pregnancy tests). According to a 40 week pregnancy, a woman 14 days past ovulation is 4 weeks pregnant. But she is only two weeks conceived. If a woman is charting her cycles, and knows her usually luteal phase, she could detect a pregnancy by that alone. And depending on how long her cycles normally are, and according to her last menstrual cycle, a doctor may estimate her pregnancy to be farther (or not as far) along than she really is. For myself, announcing a baby due in May, could indicate I am anywhere from not even pregnant yet (which would mean I would have no pregnancy to announce), to nearly 7 weeks (according to the standard 40 week pregnancy) depending on when exactly my due date is in the month of May, as well as the other factors that I have mentioned.

A woman should be able to announce a pregnancy whenever it makes her feel comfortable, without any social stigma attached to the announcement. She should be able to announce a miscarriage without feeling ashamed, and she should have the support she needs to recover from her grief. And she shouldn't feel the need to justify her due date, or share intimate details about her pregnancy (including how far along in her pregnancy she is), unless she wants to share those things. Pregnancy is exciting, and if you have a hard time feeling excited for the pregnant woman....then ignore the announcement! (/rant)

Bug sings the ABCs

Bug has been learning his ABCs. And he loves to sing them. Except....he's really not that great at it. It usually goes something like this:

"A, B, S, 9, 10, 18, a wunney, A, B, S, O, P, orange, X, Y, Z....."

Over and over and over again. I haven't quite figured out how his alphabet seems to have WAY more letters in it than mine does (and it also has way more numbers, colors, and made up words that resemble real words). Sometimes he starts out singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star" and it turns into his alphabet. Which, you can't blame him for that, since it's the same melody. It's actually all unbearably cute, though. So cute that my little sister recorded it on her phone for her ring tone.

I just have to keep telling myself that someday, he will be a genius and all this hassle of learning numbers, letters, shapes, colors, animals, etc. will get sorted out!

Thank you for everything! And you're welcome, too!

My two year old is growing up. In fact, he's almost three.

And he is showing that he is growing up. Last week, he asked to help change Gizmo's poopy diaper. (And, remember, we know that when Bug says, "I hep you!" it really means, "Let me do it!") It was quite funny to watch Bug trying to wipe the baby's butt clean.

He also has started saying prayers. All by himself!! Ok...well, I do have to prompt him a little bit, after he's gone on and on and on saying the same things. ("Thank you. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. Blue's Clues. Thank you. Play. Thank you."  "You need to bless the food." "Food. Thank you.")

The first prayer he said by himself, he kept pausing after every word, wanting me to repeat it. I don't know if that is because that's how we taught him how to pray. Or if he wanted to make sure that I actually understood what he was saying.

Bug is also learning how to count on his fingers. He has been (kind of) counting to 10 for several months now. ("One, two, three, eight, nine, two"). But now he is learning to hold up his fingers. And...just weeks before his third birthday, we taught him how to hold up two fingers and tell people his age. Usually, when people ask him what his name is, he'll hold up his fingers and say, "TWO!".

Hopefully, if we make a big deal about his birthday, he'll transition easily to holding up three fingers!

Finally February

January this year has been particularly exhausting to me. Recovering from the holiday madness, dabbling in potty training, and a full week of sickness has made blogging the last thing that I get around to. On the bright side, however, I have been getting really good at keeping the house mostly clean, keeping the laundry in check, and cooking dinner. The hubs usually cooks dinner...he's just better at it...but the week he was sick, I had to do the cooking. And I haven't stopped yet. Someday, maybe I'll be completely domestic, scrapbook and all.

Bug has finally been shooting forward in the language department. Most of the time, I know what he is saying. Most of the time. Unfortunately, he uses the "f" sound a lot. He doesn't say his t's or sh's. He replaces them with an "f", and it sounds like he is swearing more often that I wish it did! He loves putting his books on the floor to build a "fwain fwack" and he loves watching the movie "Fwek".

Gizmo is getting so big. His gums are bumping up where his little teeth are trying to push through. He is drooling buckets and buckets of spit daily. And he is trying so hard to sit up. And he wants to eat food. Gizmo really knows how to make me feel bad when I'm eating in front of him. He stares at my food and reaches for it. And stares. And stares. And stares. We'll be having fun with eating banana and avocado later this month, for sure! Yesterday, he had a huge poopy blowout diaper, and as I was undressing him, I ended up getting poop everywhere. I was trying to wipe him off the best I could before I gave him a bath, and he was laughing the whole time. He might be less hyperactive than Bug, but he is still a boy!

The Hubs and I finally got a kid-free date this year (our last one was mid-December). We ended up just running errands after going to dinner. The Hubs says that he doesn't consider that a very good date. But I think it's great! Going to the grocery store with my husband, without towing along two kids, feeling accomplished for getting something important done, and having my hair and makeup done while doing it....yeah...that's a pretty good date!

Learning to Spell

Bug has been absolutely blooming in the language department as of lately. He is saying so many more words, and they are easier to understand...although most people still look at me and ask, "Do you know what he's saying?" Erm...sometimes I do.

Bug wowed the family about a month ago by showing off his counting skills. He can count to ten on his own about 80% of the time.

Recently, he has started "spelling" words. Whenever he sees letters (on Gizmo's shirt, in his books, on Crayola markers, etc.) he points to the letters and says "E, O, E, O, E, O..." Sometimes he uses "A" and "S". Sometimes it is "B" and "O"...which makes me giggle.

Today, Bug was standing behind me, pointing to the letters on the back of my shirt. And this time, he was saying "B, S, B, S, B, S..."

I love how innocently hilarious he can be!

Single Mother Diaries: In the Middle

I am now officially half way done with the single mom gig. Yesterday, I went over to my parents' house. Both boys were asleep when I got there. I chose to carry in the baby first, I dumped him on the couch with my sister and went back out into the cold for Bug. When I got Bug laying down in a bed, I came back to the living room and flopped down on the couch. I felt that things had finally caught up to me, and I was EXHAUSTED!

Of course, that was kind of part of my plan. I wanted to go go go and do do do the whole time that Hubby was gone. Really, I only had to choices: stay as busy as a one legged River dancer (I've been dying to use that saying!), or sit around the house all depressed-like while eating massive amounts of sugar. I chose River dancer.

And my schedule doesn't really let up over the next 5 days. But, hey, the past 5 days, I've gone to Relief Society, had a play date, made wool booties for Gizmo, done screen printing shirts for the boys, worked for HOURS with my sister on a felt Nativity, read 10 chapters in the Book of Mormon, written 5 entries in a journal for the Hubs, done laundry, done dishes, made meals, made a pie, wrapped gifts, paid bills, watched 15 episodes of Backyardigans, skyped with Hubby, showered (4 times, I think), done hair and makeup 4 times, written blog posts, finished the program for church, straightened up the living room, gone grocery shopping...twice, made recycled wool sweater leg warmers, filled up the gas tank, played a few card games with my family, changed over 50 diapers, and nursed over 60 times.

And I don't even think that is all! Is it worth it? To have the Hubs gone (not like we've had much choice if we want him to have such wonderful employment) and keep myself busy? I'm telling myself "yes", and here is why (in a short story):

Before the Hubs left, we decided together on a strict NO PHONE CALLS rule. Because, international calls are really expensive, and we have other means of communication (Skype, email). We were to only call each other in a dire emergency. Let me repeat: DIRE EMERGENCY. I'm thinking that means dying in a Latin American alley, lost limb, plane going down, broken neck, blood transfusion. You know...dire emergency.

So, yesterday evening, I was sitting in the living room floor at my parents' house, sewing away at my recycled sweater leg warmers, when I hear my phone ringing. I run to get it....missed the call. And who was it? The Hubs. *duh duh duh duuuunnnnnnnn*

I could feel my heart rate rising, my palms starting to sweat. Was he attacked by some Ecuadorian thug, lying in a dark alley in only his underwear (and somehow his phone), bleeding, dying, calling his wife to say "I love you" one last time? (My sister later told me that I have an overactive imagination. She can be so insensitive.) I was in a quandary, was it really an emergency, and I needed to call him back? Did he mis-dial, and not even mean to call me at all? I figured a single text would be cheaper than a possibly long international call. "Did you just call for an emergency? What going on?"

Five minutes later...while my imagination is definitely being overactive...I get a reply. "No. I just needed your size."

WHA'!?!? Here I am, thinking he's dying, and he's strolling the marketplace looking for wearable souvenirs for me.

But, back to the purpose of me telling this story: is it worth it? I say, "YES!" But, only because one thing: a hand-woven, Alpaca rebozo (I think they actually call it an ikat macana in Ecuador) from Ecuador....FTW!

One more thing: last night, while playing cards with my family, Bug counted to ten with very, very, very little help. I was a little in shock! When did he learn how to do that!?! But, one thing is for sure, I have one smart little two year old!

Bug-isms

[All posts this week have been scheduled. I am on "vacation" (accompanying my husband on a business trip) right now in the Dallas, TX area. Probably dying of heat. I will, hopefully, blog all about the trip when we get back. Including the insanely long drive, the insanely hot heat, the insanely boring days, etc.]

Life gets infinitely more exciting with a toddler when that toddler starts to talk. Or at least tries to talk. Back in March, I did a post about Bug's expanding vocabulary. He is definitely improving. Here are some more of the things that Bug says now:

"Da da do?" -Where did it go? Usually said while playing a game. But often said after he is caught with something he shouldn't have. If mommy tells him to "give it to mommy", he hides it behind his back and asks, "da da do?" Too bad mommy is smarter than that!

"Na na no." -I don't know. If we ask him where something is, he will either go get it, or just plain tell us that he has no idea!

"Yeah!" -self explanatory, a form of "yes", but oh-so-cute coming from a two year old. We usually prompt him with a question that will get an enthusiastic "yeah!" answer, to get him to stop a tantrum. As his grandma said recently, "Boy, that kid can turn it on and off quickly!" To which we reply, "Yeah!"

"Doctor" -lobster, seen in the tank at the grocery store. This makes me wonder if he will end up calling doctors lobsters?

"Buh-buh-bubble" -bubble...nearly always said with a stutter! If he doesn't want to take a shower, I ask him instead if he wants to play with bubbles. What two year old can resist?

"Dars" -Cars, the movie. This is Bug's favorite movie. And while I am completely exhausted from my pregnancy, he gets to watch it quite often. (Shame on mommy!)

"Douche" -shoes. I promise. I think Bug has some form of dyslexia of speech. He tends to swap the hard sounds of words, or end his word with the most prominent sound of the word he is trying to say. It definitely makes for some pretty humorous mess ups!

In the Alphabet Book

Several months ago, we bought Bug some alphabet books. I have been wanting some cute books to help me teach him all those things that mothers are supposed to teach their toddlers (ABC's, colors, shapes, etc.) The pack of alphabet books we got contained 26 books. One book for each letter of the alphabet. And in each book, there are three, easy-to-turn-by-toddler-fingers cardboard pages. Each page has a picture of something that begins with the letter that the book is dedicated to. Cute, fun, easy.

Bug will bring me a pile of the books and have me read each one to him several times, while he points and tries to repeat everything I say. Except, Bug doesn't need to repeat everything after me, because already knows some of the words for the pictures. I am always excited when Bug shows some new bit of knowledge, without excessive prompting from mom or dad!

I think Bug's favorite alphabet book is the "F" book. Why? Because he knows all the words for the pictures on his own! The "F" book pictures include a fish, a flower and a foot. Bug brings the book over to me and climbs and wiggles his way onto my steadily vanishing lap. Then he opens the book to the first page. There is a picture of a fish. Bug points and says, "fsh".

"That's right!" I praise my son, as he gazes up at me with a smug little expression on his face. Then, he turns the page. There is a picture of a flower. Bug points and says, "fower".

"Yep, that's a flower!" I confirm that he is correct. Bug is so proud of himself for knowing words without any help from mommy. He turns to the last page, the picture of a foot. He points at the foot and looks toward me, ready to impress me once again. He is sure that he knows this word, too.

Without a single pause of uncertainty, Bug declares the name of the foot, "Ew!"

What's that Word?

Last week, I got an email from a popular pregnancy/parenting website that told me some of the developmental feats that my 22 month old should be getting ready for. It talked about how many 22 month old children begin trying to jump off the bottom stair or hop with both feet. But, of course, don't worry if it takes another month or two before YOUR toddler does this.

I had to snort a little bit. I even mentioned the email to my father, who was visiting that night, as a kind of joke. He chuckled a bit and said, "Bug has been jumping off your coffee table for months!" Yep, he sure has! That kid has no problems, whatsoever, about jumping and hopping...with both feet!

But, the developmental aspect that Bug isn't exactly above and beyond with is speech. Bug has a friend, just a couple months older, who will repeat any word you ask him to...probably even "existentialism" and "discombobulated"! Bug isn't quite there yet. His vocabulary is minimal, but growing...Or, at least I'm putting new meanings to his handful of sounds.

For example: ("Bug's word" - translation)
"no" - no
"no" - yes
"no" - nose
"buh" - bug
"buh" - ball
"buh" - bird
"dah" - dog
"dah" - dinosaur
"dada" - Daddy
"mama" - Mommy
"bebe" - baby

Bug knows several more words that aren't listed here, but he rarely pronounces them quite correctly or uses them quite properly. Bug also has some words that are distinct, always the same, used in proper context...and hilarious! These include "uh-oh", "wow", "whoa", and "wheee"!

Kids all develop in different areas at different times and speeds. Bug will catch up eventually. In the meantime, I will take note and make fun of how cute he is!

One, two, WHEEEE!!!!

Bug is a climber. Seriously, I should encourage him to join the circus when he gets a little bit older. I have no idea how he does it. If the wall has a .002mm indent, he will use it as a foothold and climb. He fears no heights. Actually, he fears nothing. Maybe he would fear not being able to climb? I don't know? The kid is crazy.

And it gets better...after he has climbed (on top of side tables, kitchen tables, computer desk, dresser, coffee table, chairs, step stools, four inch wide headboard...) he likes to jump. And I must admit, I probably encourage this behavior. I can't help it. When Bug gets up to the summit of Mt. Whatever, he turns and looks at me with such pride. And then he holds out his hands.

So, I count. One. T-Bug jumps while I am totally unprepared and I nearly drop him on his head-wo. Three! And Bug enthusiastically calls out, "Tee!" or "Whee!" Sometimes, Bug will climb up, bounce and "count" while he waits for me to outstretch my arms. His counting sounds like this: "Uh, Ooh, TEE!"

If I am within 5 feet of Bug, I must be prepared to catch him. Because he will jump.

The kid is crazy.

Mum's the Word

There is nothing like a parenting book to make you feel like you are screwing your kid up for life. And I'm not even talking about discipline. That is a whole other post! I'm talking about the fact that I can't force Bug to develop exactly how and when I want him to. No matter how many times the book may express that children all learn and grow and develop at their own rates, you have to compare your child with the best. Everybody wants their children to be the best. The most advanced. If one kid out there started talking at one day old, you start looking for a well renowned speech therapist because your kid isn't forming sentences by a week old.

Or maybe this is just how I feel. Please tell me I'm just paranoid, and insecure, and crazy.

Bug is almost fifteen months old, and he still isn't consistently (and correctly) calling me Mama. In fact, I don't think he has ever, purposely, called me Mama. Let alone using any other words. I want him to be on top of his game. He is developing above and beyond physically. That is evident by the number of times he climbs up onto our kitchen table every day. But he doesn't talk. And he doesn't know that when I ask him, "Where's Mommy's nose?" that he isn't supposed to shove his whole hand down my throat.

He babbles away all the time...especially when he has a toy cell phone to his ear. It sounds like he is speaking, and I am just dying to understand what those foreign words mean. Yet, he doesn't say "dog" or "ball". The other day, I nearly exploded with excitement when it sounded like Bug said "buh-bye" in context. I kept asking everyone in hearing range if they heard him and if they thought it sounded like what I thought it sounded like.

Of course, my parents so lovingly remind me that when they are young (especially with your first child) you can't wait for them to walk and talk. However, once they learn how, you just want them to sit down and shut up.

And then I hid under a rock.

Last night, my hubby took me (and Bug) out to dinner at the Cracker Barrel. And, let me tell you what, there is nothing better than stick-to-your-ribs, country cookin' breakfast for dinner! I swear, the sawmill gravy and buttermilk biscuits are to die for! And that hash brown casserole. And the country smoked ham. And pretty much EVERYTHING ELSE, except the grits. Yum!

But, I'm not here to blog about the delish grub.

Of course, yesterday was "one of those days". You know, the kind of day where the baby decides that he's too grown up for regular naps, so he only gets one in the early, early afternoon. The kind of day where he is totally unpredictable. And that's probably why I didn't get dinner ready...thus the meal at Cracker Barrel.

We were sitting there at our table, sipping our water, trying to entertain Bug. (I always hold him in my lap until our food comes, because he doesn't like to sit in the high chair very long.) Then, I decided I would nurse Bug before our food came out, just so there would be a greater chance that I could sit him in the high chair and eat my own meal in peace. So, I got out all my nursing gear (Yep, that's right, I just plopped 'em out there! Actually, I mean, I got out my nursing cover and a burp cloth for the inevitable spraying). And I was struggling with that DOGGONE nursing bra when Bug decided he wasn't going to be patient. He started SCREAMING! You probably would have thought he was being tortured, rather than about to be nursed.

Seriously, I think you are underestimating how loudly he was screaming.

And guess what? THE WHOLE FREAKING RESTAURANT TURNED TO LOOK AT ME!!!! And there I was, struggling with my screaming baby, trying to get my stupid bra unclasped, trying to not flash anyone (though my husband swears some guy walking by the window got a peek), trying to get Bug latched on, my face was hot and flushed, my hair was in my face, and every single person was LOOKING at me.

So, what did I do? I started speaking -loudly- about how rude people are, and how I'm just trying to nurse my baby, people don't need to be so freakin' nosey, go ahead and look you rude people...blah, blah, blah. And my husband, trying not to laugh, smiles and says, "I love you, Honey. You're so spirited."

My Little Monster

There is great excitement that comes with every new achievement...or at least most new achievements!

Bug is my little, daredevil. My little monster. He started walking with a walker. Honestly, it surprised the heck out of me. We were visiting with some friends, and we decided to see how Bug would react with their son's walker. Of course, Bug practically took off running, while I was left behind with his dust collecting in my wide open mouth. I didn't know he could do that!!!

Bug also growls like a little monster. A lot.

And he finally figured out how to use his teeth. He has also acquired another pearly white. He now has three, with the fourth well on its way to making an appearance. He thinks it is GREAT fun to suck and scrape away while nursing. YIPEE DOODLE-EE YOWZA DOG DAY does that hurt! Whenever he does that, I yell a quick, loud, sharp, "NO!" at him. Then, he gets sad. Really sad. And he brings out those precious, puppy dog eyes and that whimpering lip. What mom could resist? I hug him tighter and I offer more nursing so he will be happy again.

The little monster.

mamamamamamamama...

Recently, Bug has learned how to say "Mama". How sweet, right?! The only problem is that he thinks it is the only word in the whole universe. Well, other than "baba", which I'm hoping is "ball", but works for other things, too. And "Megan". That was just a fluke, I'm sure. Or he just really loves his aunt, and can't wait to see her again. Erm...sorry Megs, it was a fluke.

My mother-in-law is convinced that Bug knows what he means when he says "mama", because he said it while he was "distressed". I can't seem to agree, though. Maybe it's because I'm home with Bug all day, and I hear him calling me while he is crawling toward his ball. (I guess "baba" isn't even the word for "ball".) True, he does say it when he is upset. He will crawl up to me, crying and whining in his cute voice, "mama". But, he doesn't stop saying it after I've picked him up. And he continues saying it when he wants me to put him down.

I never thought my baby's first word (and I'm hesitant to even call it that), would make me want to pull my hair out! I have, more or less, come to the conclusion that "mama" means "nap time". For both of us!