Thanksgiving & New Teeth

It has been a long time since I posted. We have been really busy and lots of stuff has happened. You have adjusted well finally to sleeping in the toddler bed. It took awhile because you liked the new freedom of being able to get out of the bed on your own. And because you knew how to open the doors in the house already, it was really easy for you to go wherever you wanted. We fixed that by putting a baby gate in front of your bedroom door. That worked for about 3 days, before you decided to hop over it and crash down on the other side. So finally, we decided to tie a 40 pound dumbbell to your doorknob. That worked pretty well! I think you got the idea that when I lay you down in your bed and give you your blankie and binkie, that it is easier just to go to sleep. But that wasn't before quit a few nights of mommy sleeping on the floor of your room with you.

You have regressed with the potty training. I was a little inconsistent with taking you for a little while because of my schedule. And now you don't want anything to do with the potty. We are going to try to start going more often now.

We moved into our new house in Rocklin a couple of weeks ago now. You are adjusting a lot better than daddy and I.

You are also cutting all four of your canine teeth. The top ones came in about a week ago, and now the bottom ones are starting too. You definitely have been a little bit crankier than usual. And you are constantly chewing one everything and tugging at your ears. I can tell that you are uncomfortable. I wish I could do more to help you, but the only thing that seems to help is the teething tablets.

Finally, yesterday was Thanksgiving. It was nice to see the family. We stopped by Grammy & Grandpa Vanderzanden's house. Not everyone was there yet, but we were able to see Great Nana and Auntie Debbie. We had to leave early to go down to the Bright Thanksgiving. This year we ate at Great Nani & Bompa's house. We even got to see Auntie Val, Uncle Steve, Stephanie and Scott. You were a handful though! You ran back and forth around the house and I had to keep chasing you down so you didn't break anything. Then when dinner was over and the dishes were being washed, you decided to take all the silverware out of the dishwasher and put them in the old metal truck. At least it kept you busy for a little while, and it was super cute.

Love Always,
Mommy

Our Little Adventurer

We have always known that you were a little adventurist. You were always the baby that would climb up bookshelves or jump into the baby pool (or water table). In fact, you were climbing up and down your highchair and our bed before you could even walk. I guess you take after your Daddy in that respect. About a month ago you were waking up from a nap and I was watching you on the video monitor. When all of a sudden you started to climb out of your crib. I ran into your room and found you sitting on the top rail of the crib. I figured that once you do something once, you usually repeat it the next time you get. But you didn't. I have not noticed you even attempt it again, until last weekend when we were at the cabin. I was trying to put you to bed in the pack-n-play, but you were not very happy about it. Luckily, we brought the baby monitor with us because I barely made it down the stairs to check the monitor and you were climbing over the side of the pack-n-play. I ran back up the stairs because I thought you were going to fall, and you were hanging off the side. Needless to say, you got to sleep in bed with us for the rest of the trip.

Now that we have been back home, you hadn't tried it again, until the day before yesterday. In the last day, you figured out to successfully (and silently) climb out of your crib. The first time you did it was after your nap. You woke up and were not crying, so we were going to give you a couple of minutes to wake up. Then I heard the side of the crib knocking. I looked over and you weren't in the crib. We couldn't believe it.

Then, yesterday morning when you woke up you did it again. I was already awake and heard you rolling around on the monitor. I wanted to watch and see if I could catch you in the act...and I did! You barely woke up, and you immediately swung your leg over the side of the crib and silently climbed down onto your rocking chair. You then promptly walked over to your bedroom door, opened it, and walked out of your room like a big girl. So I guess its time to convert your crib into a toddler bed.

Love always,
Mommy

Potty Time

I started the slow process of potty training about a month ago. We started out by teaching you the sign for potty, then taking you to sit on your potty once a day. At first you sat on the potty with your clothes on. But I just recently started taking your diaper off when you sit on the potty. At this age, its really hard to keep you in one place for more than two seconds. So while you sit on the potty, you read your Elmo Potty book. You really like it. It is one of those books with sound buttons, which is pretty much the only thing you do with the book.

Anyway, today you were starting to go potty in your diaper (which is really obvious because you crouch down and start grunting). So I quickly said "Let's go potty", and you ran to the bathroom with me. I took off your diaper and sat you on the potty. You already had gone a little in your diaper, but you sat down anyway. Then after a little waiting...you did it! You went #2 in the potty for the first time. I don't think you really understood what I was cheering about, but I think you started to get it when you saw the poop in the potty. YAY, great job Lexi! I'm very proud of you.

Love Always,
Mommy

Molars...

So I was right...you have had the redness on your chin for what seems like 3 months straight. As soon as it looks like its getting better, your finger nails get a little too long and you scratch it like crazy and it bleeds and scabs up. Last week I found out for sure why you were drooling so much to cause the chin problem...MOLARS! Last Tuesday both of the 1 year molars on the right side of you mouth broke through the skin. Then two days later, the other two on the left side broke through. You were getting all 4 molars at once! Yikes, no wonder you were so cranky and drooly and didn't want to sleep by yourself.

Cranky & Drooling...Must be Teething

You have been very cranky and drooling everywhere for nearly a month now. You have been drooling so much that you flared up your eczema on your chin again and it looks like you took a header off the counter or something. This can only mean one thing...you are teething again! And sure enough, I looked in your mouth last Thursday, and you got your fourth tooth on the bottom row (8th total). I also think you are getting 3 molars right now too. I have been trying to feel back there when I brush your teeth, but its kind of hard to tell with you constantly biting me. But I think I feel 3 bumps in the back.

At your doctor appointment today, I asked the doctor to check your molars. He said that there were two on your left side that were ready to pop out, and one on the right that is a little slower. Also, you gained about 3.5 ounces last months. So you are still growing better.

And finally, just like I thought. It only took about 2 days of walking before you were sprinting across the room. And now I have to chase you all over the house. Dang, you're fast!

Love Always,
Mommy

You Did It!!!

You finally did it. Two days after we went to the physical therapy class, you decided it was time to walk. I was doing the dishes before dinner, and since you like to sit on the door of the dishwasher and splash in the water daddy was in charge of keeping you occupied while I finished the dishes. He was having you walk with him, when he let go of you...and you started walking. You took 6 whole steps and then fell on your butt and said "ut-ooohhhh". Then you got up and took 6 more steps. It only took 14 and a half months, but we are so proud of you!

Love Always,
Mommy

Get Me Movin'

We just got back from a physical therapy class called "Get Me Moving". I have been worried recently that you still aren't walking, and now all the kids that are 3 months younger than you are. Well, this class was pretty much a big waste of time. There were 9 month old triplets that were just learning how to sit up and two other 14 month olds that weren't even crawling or pulling themselves up yet. You were crawling circles around these kids. I guess that I am glad that we went because I got to see how great you are actually doing. The physical therapist was convinced that you are fully capable of walking, but just deciding not to walk. She also said that when kids are developing quickly in other areas (like verbally), they tend to develop slower in gross motor skills. But once they feel like they have mastered the one that they were most interested in, they tend to catch up quickly in the other. I think this is totally the case with you. You have said about 8 words by now and are constantly babbling something. You also know a few signs, which leads to verbal skills. So, I have a feeling that you are going to be a Chatty Cathy when you get older.

I definitely think it has a lot to do with how stubborn you are too. I guess you get that from me. And the temper tantrums have started full force now too. There has been at least two times now that we took something away from you and you threw a huge fit (with real tears and screaming/kicking legs). I hope that doesn't go on for too long.

Love Always,
Mommy

14 Months

You are 14 months old today and you continue to crack me up everyday. You still aren't walking. But you have turned standing up into a game that you think is hilarious. You like to sit in a crouching position, then daddy or I will crouch down and say "stand up". Then you will imitate us standing up and laugh your head off. You also like to climb on everything. You learned how to climb into your shopping cart all by yourself and now you are a pro at it. You also climb in and out of your highchair on your own. And right now, you are climbing up my legs to sit in my lap (while making kissing noises). And you have learned how to rappel off of my bed. You know how to get off the end on the foot stool, but that wasn't good enough. So you send your feet off the side of the bed and slowly lower yourself down by the comforter.

You got your 7th tooth about a week ago. But it wasn't a molar like I thought you were getting, it was another bottom tooth. You are eating all kinds of real food now too. And you are even starting to learn to use utensils. You really love try to use a fork.

The cutest thing you have learned to do in the last month is blow kisses. I think Grammy taught you how to do it, because I know I didn't. I can't wait to see what you are going to do next.

Love Always,
Mommy

You Stood Up!

You have been such a stubborn princess. You still to this day do not hold your own bottle. You are perfectly capable, because you hold it once you are done eating. But you refuse to hold your bottle while you are eating. You also refuse to stand up on your own or walk by yourself. You have been standing up on things and walking along the couch since the day after you learned how to crawl (about 4 months ago). But you will not stand up without touching something. You even throw a fit when daddy or I try to make you stand up. You will immediately fold your legs and throw your head back so that we either have to put you back on the ground or pick you up.

But today after your nap, I decided that I would try to make you walk over to your toys while holding my hands. You took a couple labored steps (which you have done before), and slowly lowered yourself to the ground. This is pretty typical, we know you have the coordination and strength to stand because you lower yourself from standing very slowly and precisely. But today, when you crawled over to your toys you picked up your tambourine and shaka-shaka egg and then with both toys in your hands, you stood up on your own! I couldn't believe what I was seeing at first. You stood there for about 5 seconds, then lowered yourself very slowly again. I bet that you will start walking pretty soon. I am pretty sure that you are just waiting until you can sprint before you start walking.

Love Always,
Mommy

Where is your nose?

You just did the coolest thing. You were playing with Zeus, and I came over to watch. You kept grabbing his face and putting your hand in his mouth. I thought it would be a good time to name parts of the face. So I was naming Zeus' mouth, teeth, eyes, ears and nose. Then I named your nose. Then I pointed to my nose and said, "nose". Then you pointed to Zeus' nose all by yourself! You were so proud of yourself. I was pretty proud too!

Love Always,
Mommy

1 Year Doctor Appointment

We went to the doctor on Monday for your 1 year Well Baby appointment. I knew that your weight would be a topic of concern considering your recent weigh ins (that kinda sounds like you are a boxer or something). But I thought that you would have gained tons of weight. You have been eating like crazy. I have even been infusing your baby good with butter to increase your calories. But when you were weighed, you were still in the 4th percentile for your age. The doctor now suggests that we give you 8 oz of Pediasure everyday. This is going to be quite a task, because you shouldn't drink it from the bottle and you are still resisting the sippy cup.

The good news is that your head size went up from 5th percentile to 15th! So your brain must be where you are gaining all your weight. And your height is pretty much the same percentile that is was when you were born.

Love Always,
Mommy

Happy Birthday!

One year ago today, you were born. I can't believe it! This past year has gone by so fast. At this time last year, I was trying to go to sleep in a hospital room that was like 100 degrees because we were worried that you were going to get too cold. I was so nervous that I would roll over on you or that you weren't nursing enough. I definitely did not get much sleep that night.

We had your birthday party this weekend. There were tons of people there. You are so loved by everyone. You had lots of fun playing with your friends. You were so great, even when you were dead tired you did not cry. You just kept playing and rubbing your eyes, trying desperately to stay awake.

This has been the best year of my life. You have made me smile each and every day. I am so lucky to be your mom!

Love Always,
Mommy

Nutrition Class

We went to the infant nutrition class last Thursday. As I expected, I did not learn anything I didn't already know. You are already eating the amount of food that they recommend for your age. Something that was kind of interesting was that they suggested that we mix in butter, cooking oil, sour cream, cream cheese, or salad dressing into your baby food to increase the number of calories that you are eating. I'm not so sure if I like that idea. I don't want to get you used to eating lots of extra calories. I think the doctors are focusing too much on statistics and not taking the individual situation into account.

Love Always,
Mommy

Pound-ally Challenged

At your 9 Month Well Baby appointment, your doctor said that she was concerned but not worried yet about your weight. When you were born you were just over 7 pounds. And at that appointment you had just broken 16 pounds (5th percentile). Most of the babies in the Mommy and Me Group pass you up in weight by the time they are 6 months old. But it is not like you don't eat. You generally drink a 9 oz bottle every 4 to 5 hours plus baby food and snacks. So at this appointment the doctor suggested that you keep drinking the same amount of formula and eat baby food 3 times a day. She also wanted us to come back in a month for a weight check.

So last Thursday we went in for the weight check. At this point you were eating everything that she wanted you to eat (36 oz of formula and 3 meals for baby food (4 oz each) plus snacks). Except you were sick the two weeks before we went in and did not eat very much during that time. So when you were weighed, you were only 16.1 pounds (4th percentile). You actually lost .1 of a pound from last month. So now your doctor has referred us to an infant nutrition class. But I don't think we could possibly fit any more food in the little belly of yours.

Love Always,
Mommy

Big Scary Fish

This whole week you have been really sick. I think that you and I ended up getting the flu, even though we both got the flu shot a couple of months ago. The only thing that you want to do all day is sit on my lap and watch movies. Specifically, you decided that Finding Nemo is your new favorite movie. You used to only pay attention to the Baby Einstein movies, but for some reason this week you LOVE Finding Nemo. It is the only thing that can get you to stop crying at some points this week. So in the past 5 days, we have probably seen the movie about 20 times. And I found it very interesting that you were not phased at all by the "scary parts" of the movie (sharks, fish with big teeth, scuba divers, etc). That was until yesterday. For the first time yesterday afternoon, you became visibly scared of the big scary fish with huge teeth. This is the fish that has the light attached to its head to lure in its prey in the dark depths of the ocean.

I'm not sure what changed from the last time that we saw this part (about an hour and a half ago) to now. But you were definitely scarred this time. Your whole body got tense, your eyes got big and you started to whine when the big scary fish was lit up for the first time. Then you actually started to cry when it started chasing Marlin and Dorey. It took me a couple of minutes to calm you down. Then the next time that part came on, you were standing at the back door looking out into the backyard. And you heard this section starting, looked back at the TV and started crying and crawling towards me.

It is very interesting to see you starting to learn social cues. I'm pretty sure that you are not scared of the background music, because the other "scary parts" have scary music but you are not scared of them.

Love Always,
Mommy

"All Done!"

Last night I was feeding you dinner and something cool happened. You were eating Chicken and Rice baby food. You were almost done with the whole jar when I thought you might be thirsty. I have been trying to introduce the sippy cup to you. You seem to like the sippy cups with the soft spout more, because you can bite down on it and the liquid comes out. You don't like the cups that you have to suck on to get stuff to come out. So anyway, I gave you your sippy cup. You took a few sips, then you threw it on the floor and screamed..."ALL DONE!". I couldn't believe it. I asked you, "Lexi, are you all done?" And you shouted again, "ALL DONE!". Both times you did the sign along with the words.

You have been signing "all done" for a couple of weeks now. And I usually sign and ask you if you are all done at the end of each meal. But I did not think that you would pick it up this quickly. I know that you understand the signs for milk, diaper, food, mama and dada because you respond to them when I sign without speaking. But now you are starting to sign back, which is the whole point. And it seems that you are saying more words earlier because of the sign language. Most things are still "dadadada". But you definitely say dada, mama, duck (because of a book we read), hi daddy, and now all done. You have also tried to say doggy many times, but you don't quite have it down yet.

Love Always,
Mommy

My Little Gabber

I knew something big was coming, I just didn't know what or when. You have been irritable, haven't been sleeping normally, and as soon as the doctor says that you need to eat more solids (she said you were too skinny and we needed to fatten you up) you have been refusing to eat. This all adds up to your most recent "cloudy period" and developmental leap. During this "cloudy period", you are supposed to be learning about sequences of events and routines.

You are definitely learning our routines, but the really cool new thing that you did yesterday was you said "hi daddy" without provocation. Daddy was on the computer with his back to you. You were playing on the floor. He turned around and looked at you, and you said "hi daddy" and went back to playing like it was nothing. Daddy and I both looked at each other in amazement. We could not believe what we just heard, but we both heard it. This was the first time that you said two words together. So far you had only said two words total (dada first, then mama).

Then I was reading you a story before bed about a duck and a goose. I pointed to the duck and said "ducky". And you repeated it. I wanted to see if it was just a coincidence, so I said it again. And you repeated it with me 3 times! Before I know it, you are going to be talking up a storm.

Love Always,
Mommy

Your First Tooth!

I finally saw your first tooth today. All of your (younger) friends have been getting teeth left and right, but you did not have any until today. I wasn't about to rush you with this though, I have heard too many horror stories about teeth coming in. It seems like it is really moving fast. Yesterday Grammy looked in your mouth and there wasn't anything. Then this morning I looked in there and I saw a red line on your gums. And now a few hours later, I can see the white of the tooth and I can feel how jagged it is.

You aren't really fussy at all so far. In fact you slept for about 14 hours last night. You haven't been napping all that much recently, but I think that is just because we haven't been home. So you finally have your first tooth at 9 months and 3 weeks old.

Love Always,
Mommy