Today was Halloween. Ivan went to his first Halloween party. It was a party of his Sunday neighborhood playground group (about which I must blog; it's on my must-blog-about list) hosted by one of the moms. It was fun. All moms and dads were there. Most of his little friends were there--Bella, Janey (both of these girls are so cute and so determined and extroverted), Mateo (whose mom hosted), Seger and Robbie. A few other kids/parents came who were friends of the hosts, including a little toddler girl named Klara. (Why are Klaras suddenly coming out of the woodwork! It is my name, I say!)
Ivan was dressed as a lion--in his Dora's hand-me down suit, which was a bit too snug and couldn't be "onesied" over his crotch since it was for 12-18 month old; the other option was skunk--except he adamantly refused all our attempts to put his hat (mane) on, and I was rather unsuccessful in trying to draw some whiskers with my eye shadow. He ended up with random smudges on his face and his lion belly full of color.
He had fun. All kids played with toys, etc...and somewhat interacted. They are all a few months too young to really play with one another. They tend to be in interested in the same things (if one goes for the box of toys, then they all follow) but not necessarily play.) It also seems they all have an agenda and move to their own drum....
At first, Ivan was standing by the side, seriously observing all other kids haggling over toys. Eventually he join. And after a while, he was roaming around the house from one room to another (it's a small house, luckily) pursuing his own what-ever agenda, completely not interested in where we were and what we were doing. It was almost as if we could've left and he would've not noticed.
There were a ton of trick or treaters coming to the door...so eventually Ivan went to check them out. Then he discovered a huge basket filled with chocolates and candy. And he was hooked. Not on the chocolates but on the basket. I don't think he realized (really knew) that the shiny silvery wrappers contain chocolate. He just liked the abundance of shiney "pebbles." He (and Bella and Janey) kept taking the candy and giving it to people, hoarding it, taking it out and putting it back in.
It was really funny.
For dinner he had some pizza. Then the desert came out--a place of four mini chocolate and chocolate covered bundt cakes. And he was glued to the serving table, wouldn't budge, ran straight back to it if I relocated him to Andy's side. Eventually, I broke down and took a little piece for us to eat. But he wasn't satisfied, he went back for more, gluing himself to the table. It was a struggle to divert his attention. What I want to know is how does he know that those were chocolatey deserts. He's never seen a bundt cake with or without chocolate!
We got back to our house about 8:30.....we only had two trick-or-treaters after that. I hope that Andy wasn't dissappointed. He wanted to start a family tradition of a big Halloween night, like the previous two years when he and Mariposa hung outside and we played old records. He was initially upset when I agreed to the tot party. But I think in retrospect, it was the best decision. Had we stayed home waiting for trick-or-treaters who wouldn't come, I think all of us would've been disappointed.
Butler's Orchard
Last Sunday, we finally went to the pumpkin patch. We went to Butler's Orchard in Damascus (up to Rt. 270) for the Pumpkin Festival. It was awesome. The day was a perfect warm fall day (which was a surprise considering it pour the day before and the entire week after).
I think all of Washington with kids under five was there. All three of us had so much fun.
In addition to the requisite hayride to the pumpkin patch, they had all these activities for tots and young children: slides, a corn maize, haybarn (who knew hay was so slippery), trains to sit in, etc....
Before leaving, we stopped at the farm's store, where they had homepage apple cider slushies. I got a cup for myself, which, of course, Ivan pried from my hands and would not let go. He drank the entire cider, leaving the slushy ice behind. I was afraid it would be too much sugar for him and that he would be bouncing off the falls, but luckily it was a small cup and he fell a sleep as soon as we got into the car. At least, I saw that he knows how to drink from a straw. I wasn't sure if he knew--he only has one straw sippy cup which we don't use often--and apparently drinking from a straw is an acquired skill.
This is definitely a family tradition in the making!
(Before going to the festival, we had breakfast at Parkway Deli....pumpkin pancakes, etc....)
Friday, October 31, 2008
But It Was My Name
I had a Sex and the City Charlotte moment today. I went to visit a friend who's due to deliver a girl on Saturday. I casually asked her whether they've picked out a name. They had three names in the running. One of them was Clara (or Klara). My eyes fell out and my jaw dropped because that was my name!
When I got pregnant with Ivan, I was convinced it would be a girl--I always thought I'd have a girl, I always wanted a girl (never, ever considered the possibility of having a boy, actually) and I was convinced I was pregnant with a girl (because of a dream I had early on, during the wacky pregnancy dream phase).
As soon as I got pregnant, Andy and I drew up a list of girls name, which we winnowed down to three-Klara, Silva and Emma. (For boys, we couldn't come up with a top list we both agreed on. We finally settled on Ivan's name when I had to fill out the birth certificate documents before I was leaving the hospital, two days after his birth.)
But I never gave up on the name Klara. If I do have a girl (when I get pregnant again hopefully this month, keep my fingers crossed), Klara is THE top contender.
So when my friend said Clara today, I was shocked. It's not a common and popular name right now, like Emma or Sophia is, so where did she come up with it? They said they were looking for older names......but what are the odds that off all the girls names in the world (and there are much more cooler names to pick from for girls than boys) that they would pick Clara!
When I got pregnant with Ivan, I was convinced it would be a girl--I always thought I'd have a girl, I always wanted a girl (never, ever considered the possibility of having a boy, actually) and I was convinced I was pregnant with a girl (because of a dream I had early on, during the wacky pregnancy dream phase).
As soon as I got pregnant, Andy and I drew up a list of girls name, which we winnowed down to three-Klara, Silva and Emma. (For boys, we couldn't come up with a top list we both agreed on. We finally settled on Ivan's name when I had to fill out the birth certificate documents before I was leaving the hospital, two days after his birth.)
But I never gave up on the name Klara. If I do have a girl (when I get pregnant again hopefully this month, keep my fingers crossed), Klara is THE top contender.
So when my friend said Clara today, I was shocked. It's not a common and popular name right now, like Emma or Sophia is, so where did she come up with it? They said they were looking for older names......but what are the odds that off all the girls names in the world (and there are much more cooler names to pick from for girls than boys) that they would pick Clara!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Swig of Chocolate
I've realized that every time I spend a whole day alone with Ivan, I indulge in surreptitious at-the-cupboard eating of chocolate through those unpredictable tempter tantrum outbursts of not wanting to put pants on or take off, absolutely refusing to let me change poopy diapers, and the likes. Square by square I can finish the entire large 1 lbs of Trader Joe's chocolate in two days.
Some people take on-the-go swigs of vodka or other alcohol to get them through long, intense days, I have my own on-the-go swigs of chocolate.
As Andy says, if that's my only addiction and vice--chocolate eating--why not indulge it in.
Except tell that to my vanishing waist-line.
Some people take on-the-go swigs of vodka or other alcohol to get them through long, intense days, I have my own on-the-go swigs of chocolate.
As Andy says, if that's my only addiction and vice--chocolate eating--why not indulge it in.
Except tell that to my vanishing waist-line.
I love this sentence from Baby Center's weekly email to me, which was sent for 16-month, 4-week olds.
"Toddlers live large — they love large, they play all out, and they have big, passionate feelings."
So true.
"Toddlers live large — they love large, they play all out, and they have big, passionate feelings."
So true.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A Little Silver Radio, the New Best Friend
The year-plus long fascination with the vacuum cleaner has finally abated.
Yes, when I bring out the vacuum cleaner he will still explore it and "play" it. Although I've noticed he's not that thrilled when I actually run it. Every time the vacuum cleaner is turned on, he runs to the kitchen to pull the cord out of the socket. Obviously, not a safe thing to do. As a result, the last few times I've vacuumed, I had to carry him in one arm, while I vacuumed with the other. Kind of difficult and heavy to do.
But I digress. Ivan's new best appliance friend is a little silver radio. It's a little radio/casette player we bought a few years ago to take to the beach with us. It was stil fun of sand and it still had working batteries in it. As we discovered, the radio runs on batteries if its wire is unplugged from the radio. If it's plugged in, then it overrides the batteries and it doesn't work. It a really little radio, with a cassette player and one speaker. We probably bought it for 20 bucks some 6 years ago. That radio, if you could even buy it today, would probably retail for less that Ivan's Fridge DJ radio.
When we painted the bathroom about a month or two ago, we took the radiof off its perch on the cabinet shelf, and brough it to the bedroom. It's been Ivan's best friend ever since. First thing in the morning he goes to get the radio and plays with it. As soon as the evening bath is over, he runs to get his "me, me" (i.e. milk) and the radio.
It's an endless source of fascination. There's the antenna. There's the volume dial. There are the stations AM and FM dials. Then there is the casette part, with its play, fast forward and stop buttons. And then there is the cord that attaches. Fascinating.
And the radio does something: music and talking come out of it. And when Mr. Meh hears a song he likes, he bobs his head and upper body according to the rhytm. It's adorable.
He's already managed to take of the part that controls the volume, the plastic front with the radio channels/bars written out and disabled the the dial bar, which moves as you turn the dial. But not a big deal. The radio still works. And to control the volume, we just need to put something sharp the volume slot to turn the inner part of the dial---something sharp includes the bottoms of Mr. Meh diaper rash creams. He's seen how I turn the volume with the diaper rash cream, so now he can do it too.
Yes, when I bring out the vacuum cleaner he will still explore it and "play" it. Although I've noticed he's not that thrilled when I actually run it. Every time the vacuum cleaner is turned on, he runs to the kitchen to pull the cord out of the socket. Obviously, not a safe thing to do. As a result, the last few times I've vacuumed, I had to carry him in one arm, while I vacuumed with the other. Kind of difficult and heavy to do.
But I digress. Ivan's new best appliance friend is a little silver radio. It's a little radio/casette player we bought a few years ago to take to the beach with us. It was stil fun of sand and it still had working batteries in it. As we discovered, the radio runs on batteries if its wire is unplugged from the radio. If it's plugged in, then it overrides the batteries and it doesn't work. It a really little radio, with a cassette player and one speaker. We probably bought it for 20 bucks some 6 years ago. That radio, if you could even buy it today, would probably retail for less that Ivan's Fridge DJ radio.
When we painted the bathroom about a month or two ago, we took the radiof off its perch on the cabinet shelf, and brough it to the bedroom. It's been Ivan's best friend ever since. First thing in the morning he goes to get the radio and plays with it. As soon as the evening bath is over, he runs to get his "me, me" (i.e. milk) and the radio.
It's an endless source of fascination. There's the antenna. There's the volume dial. There are the stations AM and FM dials. Then there is the casette part, with its play, fast forward and stop buttons. And then there is the cord that attaches. Fascinating.
And the radio does something: music and talking come out of it. And when Mr. Meh hears a song he likes, he bobs his head and upper body according to the rhytm. It's adorable.
He's already managed to take of the part that controls the volume, the plastic front with the radio channels/bars written out and disabled the the dial bar, which moves as you turn the dial. But not a big deal. The radio still works. And to control the volume, we just need to put something sharp the volume slot to turn the inner part of the dial---something sharp includes the bottoms of Mr. Meh diaper rash creams. He's seen how I turn the volume with the diaper rash cream, so now he can do it too.
Ivan Says Bye to All, Including Toys
This pas week, Ivan has started to wave at everyone and say bye to people, which is really cute.
Today we were playing with a number of his toys, including the steering wheel toy. So, as all the electronic toys do, the toy said "...bye" after awhile when we stopped playing with it.
Ivan, who was busy playing with something else, without skipping a beat turned toward the steering wheel toy, said "bye" and continued playing.
It was just too funny.
Today we were playing with a number of his toys, including the steering wheel toy. So, as all the electronic toys do, the toy said "...bye" after awhile when we stopped playing with it.
Ivan, who was busy playing with something else, without skipping a beat turned toward the steering wheel toy, said "bye" and continued playing.
It was just too funny.
The Crib Escape and other Climbing Feats
The day we've been dreading for quite some time now has finally come to pass. Ivan has figured out how to climb out of the crib.
I'm not sure how or when he did it, but after he woke up from a mid-day nap and started crying/whining in his regular "come and get me" voice, I went upstairs. He was in the hallway, holding on to the gate. At that first split second, I though nothing of it (since I was groggy from taking a nap myself), when my eyes widened and I realized "Oh shit, he's not in his crib."
I retrospect I wonder whether he even napped. Considering that I don't recall hearing any tumbling noises right before he called for me, I suspect he climbed out of the crib some time earlier. ) About half an hour earlier, I thought I heard him wake up and make bouncy noises in his crib: he likes to lie in his crib, kick his legs up and then slam them against the bed. So originally, I dismissed those noises and assumed he fell back a sleep. But now, I suspect that was when he got out of the crib. I also believe it's possible that he climbed up on our bed or the spare bed and slept there. But this is just a hypothesis, (although a viable one).
This new development is really bad. Now we have no place to put him for him to be safe, if one of us is home alone with him, if we want to take a shower, which is exactly what I did today and what I do on all other days when I'm alone with him.
I put him in his crib around 8:30 a.m. today, not thinking he would fall asleep because it was so early in the day, but just as a quick milk/rest break while I take a quick shower. Surprisingly enough, he didn't object and soon I realized he fell asleep. So I decided to squeeze in a nap as well before showering. In retrospect, I was lucky he slept, because this would've been a prime opportunity for him to attempt the climb out of the crib.
Andy said that soon we'll have to convert the crib into a toddler bed. But I'm apprehensive about doing that yet because Ivan doesn't sleep peacefully, facing one direction all night long, but tends to make circles in his crib and often wakes himself on the opposite side of the crib or is sleeping sideways. And I've watched him sit up in his sleep and just throw himself/let himself fall in the opposite direction.
I'm just hoping that this crib hopping was an abberation.
This entire day today he's schedule was off. First he woke up shortly before 5 a.m. and would not go back to sleep, milk or no milk. And since Andy got up to go to work at 5 anyway, Ivan just took that to mean, OK time to get up.
We went to the living room to play. He seemed intent on running around and climbing onto the furniture, which was unusual for him because he's not really a climber. First he sat and then stood up on the bench at the table for me to give him food (yeah for asking for breakfast, nay for standing up on the bench). Throughout the day, he kept trying to climb onto the table.
Then, while I must have closed my eyes for a second although I was desperately trying to stay awake, I opened my eyes to find him standing on the arm of the leather sofa, ready to throw himself onto the sofa. Considering that we have wood floors and that a huge planter was right behind/beside him, this freaked me out more than the subsequent crib incident. He invinted a new game. He put his plastic red chair to the edge of the sofa, so he can step onto the chair and then step onto the arm of the sofa and then throw himself onto the sofa. He thought this game was really funny. It was really innocous, as long as I was alert and awake and supervising him so he doesn't fall of the sofa. Then a conflict arose. Mariposa decided to wake up from the chaise lounge and check out what we were doing. In other words, hop up and a settle herself right in the middle of the leather sofa-- because that was center stage where all the action was. This, of course, annoyed Ivan who now no longer had the length of the sofa to throw himself on....
Yesterday, while I was in the kitchen for a minute, thinking he's playing in the living room, like he always does, I found him sitting on the glass desk. He usually likes to sit up on the chair that's at the desk but this was the first time he climbed onto the desk itself.
I guess it's time to sign up for Gymboree.
Today overall:
Ivan's schedule was completely thrown off for some reason today. We missed the music class today because of his first nap of the day. We never made it out of the house today. I was hoping to take him to the mall today but he absolutely refused to let me put socks and shoes on, so I eventually gave up on the mall idea. (It was too rainy and cold to go out to the playground.) Then he took his second nap, otherwise known as the great crib escape. Then he fell asleep between 4:30 and 6:40, which was really strange because it was so late in the day. Finally we put his to bed by 8:30 or so. He couldn't fall sleep but called for me to come and cuddle him. So he and I laid on the spare bed while he fell sleep. I love my cuddly time with him.
I'm not sure how or when he did it, but after he woke up from a mid-day nap and started crying/whining in his regular "come and get me" voice, I went upstairs. He was in the hallway, holding on to the gate. At that first split second, I though nothing of it (since I was groggy from taking a nap myself), when my eyes widened and I realized "Oh shit, he's not in his crib."
I retrospect I wonder whether he even napped. Considering that I don't recall hearing any tumbling noises right before he called for me, I suspect he climbed out of the crib some time earlier. ) About half an hour earlier, I thought I heard him wake up and make bouncy noises in his crib: he likes to lie in his crib, kick his legs up and then slam them against the bed. So originally, I dismissed those noises and assumed he fell back a sleep. But now, I suspect that was when he got out of the crib. I also believe it's possible that he climbed up on our bed or the spare bed and slept there. But this is just a hypothesis, (although a viable one).
This new development is really bad. Now we have no place to put him for him to be safe, if one of us is home alone with him, if we want to take a shower, which is exactly what I did today and what I do on all other days when I'm alone with him.
I put him in his crib around 8:30 a.m. today, not thinking he would fall asleep because it was so early in the day, but just as a quick milk/rest break while I take a quick shower. Surprisingly enough, he didn't object and soon I realized he fell asleep. So I decided to squeeze in a nap as well before showering. In retrospect, I was lucky he slept, because this would've been a prime opportunity for him to attempt the climb out of the crib.
Andy said that soon we'll have to convert the crib into a toddler bed. But I'm apprehensive about doing that yet because Ivan doesn't sleep peacefully, facing one direction all night long, but tends to make circles in his crib and often wakes himself on the opposite side of the crib or is sleeping sideways. And I've watched him sit up in his sleep and just throw himself/let himself fall in the opposite direction.
I'm just hoping that this crib hopping was an abberation.
This entire day today he's schedule was off. First he woke up shortly before 5 a.m. and would not go back to sleep, milk or no milk. And since Andy got up to go to work at 5 anyway, Ivan just took that to mean, OK time to get up.
We went to the living room to play. He seemed intent on running around and climbing onto the furniture, which was unusual for him because he's not really a climber. First he sat and then stood up on the bench at the table for me to give him food (yeah for asking for breakfast, nay for standing up on the bench). Throughout the day, he kept trying to climb onto the table.
Then, while I must have closed my eyes for a second although I was desperately trying to stay awake, I opened my eyes to find him standing on the arm of the leather sofa, ready to throw himself onto the sofa. Considering that we have wood floors and that a huge planter was right behind/beside him, this freaked me out more than the subsequent crib incident. He invinted a new game. He put his plastic red chair to the edge of the sofa, so he can step onto the chair and then step onto the arm of the sofa and then throw himself onto the sofa. He thought this game was really funny. It was really innocous, as long as I was alert and awake and supervising him so he doesn't fall of the sofa. Then a conflict arose. Mariposa decided to wake up from the chaise lounge and check out what we were doing. In other words, hop up and a settle herself right in the middle of the leather sofa-- because that was center stage where all the action was. This, of course, annoyed Ivan who now no longer had the length of the sofa to throw himself on....
Yesterday, while I was in the kitchen for a minute, thinking he's playing in the living room, like he always does, I found him sitting on the glass desk. He usually likes to sit up on the chair that's at the desk but this was the first time he climbed onto the desk itself.
I guess it's time to sign up for Gymboree.
Today overall:
Ivan's schedule was completely thrown off for some reason today. We missed the music class today because of his first nap of the day. We never made it out of the house today. I was hoping to take him to the mall today but he absolutely refused to let me put socks and shoes on, so I eventually gave up on the mall idea. (It was too rainy and cold to go out to the playground.) Then he took his second nap, otherwise known as the great crib escape. Then he fell asleep between 4:30 and 6:40, which was really strange because it was so late in the day. Finally we put his to bed by 8:30 or so. He couldn't fall sleep but called for me to come and cuddle him. So he and I laid on the spare bed while he fell sleep. I love my cuddly time with him.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The milk bottle, "was it all a dream?"; baby-bottling industry
This morning Ivan got his regular Born Free bottle and nipple (with milk gushing out of it). He drank it without a problem. I wondered if he remembered the "real" bottle I gave him last night, or whether the memory of that is fuzzy, like it was part of a cozy "me, me" (his word for milk) dream, where a milk dream fairy appeared with the bottle.
All day today, however, he did cry for "me, me," "me, me." The child should probably eat more and drink less, but we still haven't found a way to force that change.
This afternoon I went to buy new bottle nipples, that is sippy cup tops to replace the ones where the holes have gotten too big. I went to Whole Food of all places. It was the closest store I knew would have the nipples, unlike the two local CVSs which are so poorly stocked (meaning, not stocked at all) with all prerequisite Born Free baby paraphenalia.
So I overpaid for the nipples, a package of two for $6.99. But the new nipples, not yet broken in with the widened holes, worked like a charm when the bed time came.
Baby stuff ain't cheap.
This got me thinking. The whole baby industry--pacifiers, bottles, nipples, sippy cups and the variety of items in between--is quite an industry. I wonder how big and how competitive it is. How many billions of dollars is it worth? (Maybe this is something I should consider buying stock in now that we have some spare extra cash that we could put toward such financial adventures. After all, there is always bound to be some desperate sleep-deprived overworked first-time sucker mom praying to find that perfect product to calm and quiet the baby down, while ensuring his proper physiological and psychological development.)
There are so many "must have" products out there, a 100% sure way to put your baby to sleep, the newest sippy cup with advanced sucking action and spill-proof mechanism built it. I wonder who spends time thinking and developing them.
Someone does, someone with an engineering background, I presume, considering how complex these bottle mechanisms are. ("Yes, I got my mechanical engineering degree from MIT and now I work for Advent, where I develop better and improved baby bottles." Sounds like every budding engineer's dream job.)
Every time I buy a new bottle (sippy cup, sippy cup with a straw, you name it), I've had to read instructions very carefully to figure out how to handle, disassemble and reassamble the bottle considering how many parts the bottle comes in. (And these bottle assembling instructions are on par with Ikea's furniture assembling instructions).
I actually just end up posting "assembly" instructions to the fridge so that we all--Andy and my parents--remember how to assemble the bottle (and still on occasion someone can't remember or forgets to put together all the parts in proper order.)
How many parts does it really take to create a perfect bottle? Does it really make a difference?
But more importantly, how did generations of mothers survive infanthood without all these modern plastic marvels? What did babies suck on to soothe themselves to sleep--a twig or a wooden pacifier--before the plastics industry took off? How did they go to sleep without their prerequisite milk bottle?
I really do wonder about this because it's one of those things that do change with the passage of time but probably no one thinks to record it because it's such a mundate thing (along the lines of how did mothers survive without disposable diapers or how did women get through the month before the advent of sanitary napkins.)
I assume poor mothers and women in developing world still largely go without these must have plastic inventions. I assume their babies grow up just fine.
All day today, however, he did cry for "me, me," "me, me." The child should probably eat more and drink less, but we still haven't found a way to force that change.
This afternoon I went to buy new bottle nipples, that is sippy cup tops to replace the ones where the holes have gotten too big. I went to Whole Food of all places. It was the closest store I knew would have the nipples, unlike the two local CVSs which are so poorly stocked (meaning, not stocked at all) with all prerequisite Born Free baby paraphenalia.
So I overpaid for the nipples, a package of two for $6.99. But the new nipples, not yet broken in with the widened holes, worked like a charm when the bed time came.
Baby stuff ain't cheap.
This got me thinking. The whole baby industry--pacifiers, bottles, nipples, sippy cups and the variety of items in between--is quite an industry. I wonder how big and how competitive it is. How many billions of dollars is it worth? (Maybe this is something I should consider buying stock in now that we have some spare extra cash that we could put toward such financial adventures. After all, there is always bound to be some desperate sleep-deprived overworked first-time sucker mom praying to find that perfect product to calm and quiet the baby down, while ensuring his proper physiological and psychological development.)
There are so many "must have" products out there, a 100% sure way to put your baby to sleep, the newest sippy cup with advanced sucking action and spill-proof mechanism built it. I wonder who spends time thinking and developing them.
Someone does, someone with an engineering background, I presume, considering how complex these bottle mechanisms are. ("Yes, I got my mechanical engineering degree from MIT and now I work for Advent, where I develop better and improved baby bottles." Sounds like every budding engineer's dream job.)
Every time I buy a new bottle (sippy cup, sippy cup with a straw, you name it), I've had to read instructions very carefully to figure out how to handle, disassemble and reassamble the bottle considering how many parts the bottle comes in. (And these bottle assembling instructions are on par with Ikea's furniture assembling instructions).
I actually just end up posting "assembly" instructions to the fridge so that we all--Andy and my parents--remember how to assemble the bottle (and still on occasion someone can't remember or forgets to put together all the parts in proper order.)
How many parts does it really take to create a perfect bottle? Does it really make a difference?
But more importantly, how did generations of mothers survive infanthood without all these modern plastic marvels? What did babies suck on to soothe themselves to sleep--a twig or a wooden pacifier--before the plastics industry took off? How did they go to sleep without their prerequisite milk bottle?
I really do wonder about this because it's one of those things that do change with the passage of time but probably no one thinks to record it because it's such a mundate thing (along the lines of how did mothers survive without disposable diapers or how did women get through the month before the advent of sanitary napkins.)
I assume poor mothers and women in developing world still largely go without these must have plastic inventions. I assume their babies grow up just fine.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
...will regret this in the morning
I brought out the bottle again. It wasn't really that desperate times called for desperate measures, but I wanted to cut down on how much milk I give Ivan each night to help him fall sleep because too much milk results in oversoaked diapers and wet jammies in the morning.
The problem is that the opening on the nipple/sippy cup top (or whatever) on the Born Free bottle widens rather fast. What starts off as a small pin-size hole soon becomes rather big and results in milk dripping out freely. Ivan ends up chugging his milk instead of nursing it. I can't even give him the bottle before I put him to bed because he'll drink it by the time I lay him down.
So today after he chugged down the first 6 oz and continued crying, I decided to try the bottle again. (I probably should've thrown them away by now, but for whatever sentimental reasons I've kept them.)
He was really funny. After I calmed him down (he was first pushing me and the bottle away in anger), I laid him back to bed and handed him the bottle. He immediately realized something was different and before putting the bottle in his mouth, he thoroughly examined the nipple and said "ohoohoh." I guess he remembered the bottle and was exicted that he got it again. I'm surprised. I didn't think he would remember that far back.
I know I'll probably regret this bottle re-introduction in the morning but oh well.
The problem is that the opening on the nipple/sippy cup top (or whatever) on the Born Free bottle widens rather fast. What starts off as a small pin-size hole soon becomes rather big and results in milk dripping out freely. Ivan ends up chugging his milk instead of nursing it. I can't even give him the bottle before I put him to bed because he'll drink it by the time I lay him down.
So today after he chugged down the first 6 oz and continued crying, I decided to try the bottle again. (I probably should've thrown them away by now, but for whatever sentimental reasons I've kept them.)
He was really funny. After I calmed him down (he was first pushing me and the bottle away in anger), I laid him back to bed and handed him the bottle. He immediately realized something was different and before putting the bottle in his mouth, he thoroughly examined the nipple and said "ohoohoh." I guess he remembered the bottle and was exicted that he got it again. I'm surprised. I didn't think he would remember that far back.
I know I'll probably regret this bottle re-introduction in the morning but oh well.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Twinkle Toes
Andy and I have been joking for months that Ivan seems to be developing a "theater" side to him.
What do we precisely mean by that?
Well, for months now he loves to check himself out in the full length mirror in his room (which was there before we moved in and way before that room was designated to be the baby room. Besides, it's the only full length mirror in the house.) I've read that this constant mirror checking is rather typical toddler (at least for those with access to a full length mirror) but it's really funny.
Then this summer, when he added his clothing preference, it just got funnier. On several occasions he's pulled out specific shirts from his dresser for me (or Andy) to put on him to wear (on some occasions even several shirts for that completely uncoordinated layered look) and then he'd promply run to the mirror to check himself out.
Then on Sunday when we went up to Pennsylvania, we noticed that every time he got really excited and happy about something he'd start marching in place really fast, like a little jazz step. Twinkle toes, Andy called it.
It's really funny. Now he keeps doing it every time he's excited about something. Maybe he's trying to dance or move to some rhythm (which maybe he picked up in the music class, but more about that tomorrow).
The other night when I got home from work and he was already in bed but wide awake standing up with the light turned on, I went upstairs to play with him. When he saw me, he did the "twinkle toes" step with a full 360 turn. He must have been extra excited to see me.
He's so cute when he does that. I need to record it (except every time I turn the camcorder on, he gets intrigued about the camera and tries to touch it and take it from me. In other words, he stops doing what I was trying to record.)
What do we precisely mean by that?
Well, for months now he loves to check himself out in the full length mirror in his room (which was there before we moved in and way before that room was designated to be the baby room. Besides, it's the only full length mirror in the house.) I've read that this constant mirror checking is rather typical toddler (at least for those with access to a full length mirror) but it's really funny.
Then this summer, when he added his clothing preference, it just got funnier. On several occasions he's pulled out specific shirts from his dresser for me (or Andy) to put on him to wear (on some occasions even several shirts for that completely uncoordinated layered look) and then he'd promply run to the mirror to check himself out.
Then on Sunday when we went up to Pennsylvania, we noticed that every time he got really excited and happy about something he'd start marching in place really fast, like a little jazz step. Twinkle toes, Andy called it.
It's really funny. Now he keeps doing it every time he's excited about something. Maybe he's trying to dance or move to some rhythm (which maybe he picked up in the music class, but more about that tomorrow).
The other night when I got home from work and he was already in bed but wide awake standing up with the light turned on, I went upstairs to play with him. When he saw me, he did the "twinkle toes" step with a full 360 turn. He must have been extra excited to see me.
He's so cute when he does that. I need to record it (except every time I turn the camcorder on, he gets intrigued about the camera and tries to touch it and take it from me. In other words, he stops doing what I was trying to record.)
Great Grandmas Think Alike
...about socks.
Andy's mom had bought Ivan a bunch of clothes while he was with them the other week. I must admit her clothing selection has been rather good. She's been buying him some nice pieces--granted they are from Target, nothing fancy, I then again I buy him clothes from Target as well. Nice colors, nice shapes, no obnoxious oversized sports or other emblems paraphenalia.
So this last time, Mimi bought Ivan clothes, I was pleasantly surprised. Pleasantly--because I liked the clothes and it was exactly the clothes he needed. Surprised--because I didn't expect her or hinted to her to buy him anything. But, like all good grandmas, she gets a kick out of it.
I kept everything except the socks. The socks she bought are these socks that have little rubber shapes on the bottom that say 12-24 months, that are supposed to prevent the child from sliding and slipping. Except they don't work (I know because back in the spring I received a such pair of socks). They don't have enough of the rubber stuff to really work. All this rubber sole does is make the sock much thicker to put in the shoe. Also, the top of these socks are rather loose, so they actually keep sliding off Ivan's feet so that he ends up walking on the heel part of the sock with extra loose socks sticking in front of his toes. This, of course, just contributes to falling.
Luckily, Andy's mom, knowing that I'm a rather picky person, kept the receipt for me to exchange anything, if need be. So earlier in the week while Ivan was at my parents, I went to return the socks (yes, all $5 worth of them at Target.) It wasn't the money, it was just that I don't want stuff that I know I won't use lying around the house.
Then yesterday, when Ivan returned from my parents, he returned with some additional new items (such as a bottle scrubber brush, diapers, etc) and an identical pair of light beige rubberized socks that I just returned. Except my mom, being the clean freak she is, took the tag off and actually washed them.
I guess there is no way of getting around these beige rubber socks. I'll have to be upfront with them and tell them "no more rubberized socks."
Andy's mom had bought Ivan a bunch of clothes while he was with them the other week. I must admit her clothing selection has been rather good. She's been buying him some nice pieces--granted they are from Target, nothing fancy, I then again I buy him clothes from Target as well. Nice colors, nice shapes, no obnoxious oversized sports or other emblems paraphenalia.
So this last time, Mimi bought Ivan clothes, I was pleasantly surprised. Pleasantly--because I liked the clothes and it was exactly the clothes he needed. Surprised--because I didn't expect her or hinted to her to buy him anything. But, like all good grandmas, she gets a kick out of it.
I kept everything except the socks. The socks she bought are these socks that have little rubber shapes on the bottom that say 12-24 months, that are supposed to prevent the child from sliding and slipping. Except they don't work (I know because back in the spring I received a such pair of socks). They don't have enough of the rubber stuff to really work. All this rubber sole does is make the sock much thicker to put in the shoe. Also, the top of these socks are rather loose, so they actually keep sliding off Ivan's feet so that he ends up walking on the heel part of the sock with extra loose socks sticking in front of his toes. This, of course, just contributes to falling.
Luckily, Andy's mom, knowing that I'm a rather picky person, kept the receipt for me to exchange anything, if need be. So earlier in the week while Ivan was at my parents, I went to return the socks (yes, all $5 worth of them at Target.) It wasn't the money, it was just that I don't want stuff that I know I won't use lying around the house.
Then yesterday, when Ivan returned from my parents, he returned with some additional new items (such as a bottle scrubber brush, diapers, etc) and an identical pair of light beige rubberized socks that I just returned. Except my mom, being the clean freak she is, took the tag off and actually washed them.
I guess there is no way of getting around these beige rubber socks. I'll have to be upfront with them and tell them "no more rubberized socks."
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Mr. Meh got back from Grandma/Grandpas; the last month of Mr. Meh
Ivan was at my parents from Monday afternoon until today when they brough him back. He was apparently very tired today because he didn't really take a nap and was ready to go to bed by 6 p.m. or so. Both my dad and Andy said that he looked so tired that he was barely standing up. However by the time, I got home around 6:30-7 he was in bed but wide awake crying with the light turned on and milk spilled on the sheets.
I played with him a bit, changed the sheet and got him more milk, but he wouldn't quiet down. We let him cry a bit, because
Andy was advising me that "we need to stick to his schedule; let him cry, he'll fall asleep." But after a few minutes I couldn't take it any more and went upstairs to get him. I walked him around a bit to calm down (it breaks my heart when I hug him and he's still sighing those deep full-body sighs while he's calming down). Then we laid on the spare bed to look at the moonlight (more about that further down). He quickly scurried off to get his milk and then climbed back onto the bed to cuddle and giggle with me. He kept giving me his feet, because I always tickle and kiss them. Then he wedged himself close to me, laid on his stomach while holding his bottle and drifted into sleep while I was whispering to him and petting his back.
So, all that crying because he wanted some cuddles by mama. I guess he really missed me these last few days, although he had a fabulous time at grandma's and had no trouble falling asleep.
Tomorrow is my Friday off from work and I'm looking so much to spending all my time with Ivan. I've been feeling so guilty because three weeks ago, he spent a few days at Andy's parents 'cause my dad was in Croatia. Then he was with us last week until this past Monday but I since I had to work all weekend I really didn't spent any time with him. And to make things worse, I was trying to work while he was clinging onto me to pay attention to him. So for ignoring him, I feel extra guilty.
(While I was on my work computer in the kitchen, Ivan climbed on the chair to reach this computer which was on the desk. He turned it on and ''type" on it, eventually dislocating the left shift key, which now doesn't work.)
This past weekend on Saturday, Andy and Ivan went back up to Pennsyvlania since I was at work all day. On Sunday, Andy took Ivan and Mariposa to the trail for some 4 hours. They came back all dirty--they were throwing rocks in the water. On Monday, my dad came to hang with Ivan and me. I had to work most of the day, but we--my dad, Ivan, Mariposa and I--did go for a walk to the playground during the day, before my dad took Ivan to their house.
Two weeks ago, I guess three weeks ago, we went up to PA on that Sunday for Andy's grandfather's 94th birthday. The plan was to leave him with Andy's parents for a week (while my dad was away). We left him with Andy's parents once before in July and he had done well. He had a great time and didn't seem to miss us. But this time, as soon as we got to up there, Ivan seemed much more clingy to me than I had seen him before. I don't know whether it was his age (they get more clingy and shy as they approach toddlerhood) or whether he sensed we were going to leave him there. But during the day he became his normal gleeful self. He had a hard time settling down for sleep that night (and the idea was that we tuck him to bed and then leave) that I wasn't sure whether he was overly tired (he hadn't slept the whole day) or whether he sensed that we were going to leave him. But eventually, with lots of milk help, he fell asleep. He was there until Thursday night. Andy's mom said he was wonderful and that he had a great time, although he'd go around asking "mama, mama."
That Thursday evening we drove up after work to pick him up. We took Mariposa with us so that she wouldn't be home alone all day. We got there at 8 p.m. on the dot. Ivan was already a sleep. When we got ready to leave, I gently roused him and picked him up. I remember thinking "wow, this is a boy a baby." He woke up groggy, and much to my surprise, instead of crying, he looked at me and smiled. He smiled at both of us. By the time we buckled him in the car, he was wide awake, babbling and smiling. Every time I'd look back at him, he'd smile and laugh at me. It warmed my heart. Eventually, the hum of the music and car lulled him back to sleep. (This was the night of the vice presidential debate. We opted not to listen to it in the car because he feared that the voices will prevent Ivan from falling asleep.) He slightly woke up again when we were transporting him from the car to his bed, but it was nothing major, nothing that a bit of milk couldn't solve.
So during that week he was with us (the week sandwiched between the grandparents' time) his sleeping patterns changed: the first part of the week, he kept going to bed by 6:30 (it wouldn've been just too brutal to keep him up any longer) and waking up at 4:30. We tried bribing him with milk in the morning to sleep longer but he's become like an addict: he requires more milk in more frequent dosages. Giving him a morning 4 oz of milk used to lull him back to sleep for about one hour, so he'd be up at 6. But now, it's about 4-6 oz which last about half an hour.
Then that Wednesday (October 8)--which was Andy's birthday and for which I worked too late so that Andy and my parents and Ivan and Mariposa celebrated with cake in my absence--he was up until 9. Whether it was his natural schedule shift or whether it was induced by too much cake--is up for debate. He would not calm down and go to bed.
Then he did the same thing on Thursday. We finally laid down with him on the bed and we pretended to sleep (well we probably did doze off) while he was climbing over us. Then he quieted down as he was looking out the window. It was a beautiful clear crisp night with a big bright silvery moon. He was starring at the moonlight. Then I realized that must have been the first time that he's actually seen the moonlight in his entire life. He's usually asleep by the time the moon comes up and besides the moon is not visible from his room--it's on the wrong side of the house and thick curtains cover the windows.
This is all I can remember of these last few weeks while I was too busy and tired to blog.
Other things to address: playgroup, music class, toy packaging and bottle industry.
I played with him a bit, changed the sheet and got him more milk, but he wouldn't quiet down. We let him cry a bit, because
Andy was advising me that "we need to stick to his schedule; let him cry, he'll fall asleep." But after a few minutes I couldn't take it any more and went upstairs to get him. I walked him around a bit to calm down (it breaks my heart when I hug him and he's still sighing those deep full-body sighs while he's calming down). Then we laid on the spare bed to look at the moonlight (more about that further down). He quickly scurried off to get his milk and then climbed back onto the bed to cuddle and giggle with me. He kept giving me his feet, because I always tickle and kiss them. Then he wedged himself close to me, laid on his stomach while holding his bottle and drifted into sleep while I was whispering to him and petting his back.
So, all that crying because he wanted some cuddles by mama. I guess he really missed me these last few days, although he had a fabulous time at grandma's and had no trouble falling asleep.
Tomorrow is my Friday off from work and I'm looking so much to spending all my time with Ivan. I've been feeling so guilty because three weeks ago, he spent a few days at Andy's parents 'cause my dad was in Croatia. Then he was with us last week until this past Monday but I since I had to work all weekend I really didn't spent any time with him. And to make things worse, I was trying to work while he was clinging onto me to pay attention to him. So for ignoring him, I feel extra guilty.
(While I was on my work computer in the kitchen, Ivan climbed on the chair to reach this computer which was on the desk. He turned it on and ''type" on it, eventually dislocating the left shift key, which now doesn't work.)
This past weekend on Saturday, Andy and Ivan went back up to Pennsyvlania since I was at work all day. On Sunday, Andy took Ivan and Mariposa to the trail for some 4 hours. They came back all dirty--they were throwing rocks in the water. On Monday, my dad came to hang with Ivan and me. I had to work most of the day, but we--my dad, Ivan, Mariposa and I--did go for a walk to the playground during the day, before my dad took Ivan to their house.
Two weeks ago, I guess three weeks ago, we went up to PA on that Sunday for Andy's grandfather's 94th birthday. The plan was to leave him with Andy's parents for a week (while my dad was away). We left him with Andy's parents once before in July and he had done well. He had a great time and didn't seem to miss us. But this time, as soon as we got to up there, Ivan seemed much more clingy to me than I had seen him before. I don't know whether it was his age (they get more clingy and shy as they approach toddlerhood) or whether he sensed we were going to leave him there. But during the day he became his normal gleeful self. He had a hard time settling down for sleep that night (and the idea was that we tuck him to bed and then leave) that I wasn't sure whether he was overly tired (he hadn't slept the whole day) or whether he sensed that we were going to leave him. But eventually, with lots of milk help, he fell asleep. He was there until Thursday night. Andy's mom said he was wonderful and that he had a great time, although he'd go around asking "mama, mama."
That Thursday evening we drove up after work to pick him up. We took Mariposa with us so that she wouldn't be home alone all day. We got there at 8 p.m. on the dot. Ivan was already a sleep. When we got ready to leave, I gently roused him and picked him up. I remember thinking "wow, this is a boy a baby." He woke up groggy, and much to my surprise, instead of crying, he looked at me and smiled. He smiled at both of us. By the time we buckled him in the car, he was wide awake, babbling and smiling. Every time I'd look back at him, he'd smile and laugh at me. It warmed my heart. Eventually, the hum of the music and car lulled him back to sleep. (This was the night of the vice presidential debate. We opted not to listen to it in the car because he feared that the voices will prevent Ivan from falling asleep.) He slightly woke up again when we were transporting him from the car to his bed, but it was nothing major, nothing that a bit of milk couldn't solve.
So during that week he was with us (the week sandwiched between the grandparents' time) his sleeping patterns changed: the first part of the week, he kept going to bed by 6:30 (it wouldn've been just too brutal to keep him up any longer) and waking up at 4:30. We tried bribing him with milk in the morning to sleep longer but he's become like an addict: he requires more milk in more frequent dosages. Giving him a morning 4 oz of milk used to lull him back to sleep for about one hour, so he'd be up at 6. But now, it's about 4-6 oz which last about half an hour.
Then that Wednesday (October 8)--which was Andy's birthday and for which I worked too late so that Andy and my parents and Ivan and Mariposa celebrated with cake in my absence--he was up until 9. Whether it was his natural schedule shift or whether it was induced by too much cake--is up for debate. He would not calm down and go to bed.
Then he did the same thing on Thursday. We finally laid down with him on the bed and we pretended to sleep (well we probably did doze off) while he was climbing over us. Then he quieted down as he was looking out the window. It was a beautiful clear crisp night with a big bright silvery moon. He was starring at the moonlight. Then I realized that must have been the first time that he's actually seen the moonlight in his entire life. He's usually asleep by the time the moon comes up and besides the moon is not visible from his room--it's on the wrong side of the house and thick curtains cover the windows.
This is all I can remember of these last few weeks while I was too busy and tired to blog.
Other things to address: playgroup, music class, toy packaging and bottle industry.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Mr. Meh is back
Yesterday after work we drove up to York to pick up Ivan. We got there at 8 p.m. and he was already asleep. When we were ready to leave, I went to pick him up. He woke up as we were rumbling in the room. Suprisingly enough, he didn't cry (like a baby would). He was a bit groggy but he gave us the sweetest smiles, as in "mamma and dadda are back."
As I was picking him up, I was surprised how big and "mature" he was.
A boy, not a baby.
I guess I need to be away from him for a few days to realize how much he's growing and changing.
He was awake when we got to the car. He babbled a bit and smiled at us. He seemed really happy to see us (or am I projecting). But eventually with Medic in his hand, wrapped in his blanket and nursing some warm milk, he fell asleep again.
He woke up when we arrived home and were carrying him to bed. But again, he was awake and groggy but didn't cry. Nothing that another shot of warm milk couldn't solve.
He woke up at 5:30 a.m. on the dot, with a big cherubby face full of glee.
He didn't skip a beat these days that he was away.
We spent the day at home, hanging out, him and I. I was trying to do work so I didn't want to go out with him.
He went down for a two-hour nap around 9 a.m. and after that he was up.
We had fun although we didn't do anything concrete (and I was a bit frazzled because of work. I thought I would use the two-hour nap time to do work, but instead I spent it on the phone with the IT guy to get set up to get into the system. So I had to do work while Mr. Meh was roaming around me.)
But the best surprise was that Andy came home early today. He was home by 3 p.m.
The four of us--Andy, Ivan, Mariposa and I--went to the park on the playground for about one hour. The day was just beautiful.
Everyone had fun. Andy took Ivan on the big slides. He was giggling so much. Mariposa got all playful. For some reason Andy going down the slide got her all excited and rambuctious. And then she played with a terrier puppy.
When we got home, everyone was exhausted and ready for dinner. We ate gnocchi. At first, it didn't seem that Ivan was going to eat the gnocchi, but he all of them. I actually wished I had more to give him.
But overall, he ate well: crackers and cheese (separately) for breakfast; pea stew and pears for lunch; lots of milk for snack time; and gnocchi in marinara sauce for dinner.
Not bad.
As I was picking him up, I was surprised how big and "mature" he was.
A boy, not a baby.
I guess I need to be away from him for a few days to realize how much he's growing and changing.
He was awake when we got to the car. He babbled a bit and smiled at us. He seemed really happy to see us (or am I projecting). But eventually with Medic in his hand, wrapped in his blanket and nursing some warm milk, he fell asleep again.
He woke up when we arrived home and were carrying him to bed. But again, he was awake and groggy but didn't cry. Nothing that another shot of warm milk couldn't solve.
He woke up at 5:30 a.m. on the dot, with a big cherubby face full of glee.
He didn't skip a beat these days that he was away.
We spent the day at home, hanging out, him and I. I was trying to do work so I didn't want to go out with him.
He went down for a two-hour nap around 9 a.m. and after that he was up.
We had fun although we didn't do anything concrete (and I was a bit frazzled because of work. I thought I would use the two-hour nap time to do work, but instead I spent it on the phone with the IT guy to get set up to get into the system. So I had to do work while Mr. Meh was roaming around me.)
But the best surprise was that Andy came home early today. He was home by 3 p.m.
The four of us--Andy, Ivan, Mariposa and I--went to the park on the playground for about one hour. The day was just beautiful.
Everyone had fun. Andy took Ivan on the big slides. He was giggling so much. Mariposa got all playful. For some reason Andy going down the slide got her all excited and rambuctious. And then she played with a terrier puppy.
When we got home, everyone was exhausted and ready for dinner. We ate gnocchi. At first, it didn't seem that Ivan was going to eat the gnocchi, but he all of them. I actually wished I had more to give him.
But overall, he ate well: crackers and cheese (separately) for breakfast; pea stew and pears for lunch; lots of milk for snack time; and gnocchi in marinara sauce for dinner.
Not bad.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Born Free Sippy Cup--different color?
Ivan has completely accepted the sippy cup, at least the Born Free kind, while I've mourned over the end of the bottle era.
Last weekend I finally went to buy more sippy cup inserts and another bottle so I alternate between the two instead of constsantly washing the one and only bottle.
The first bottle I bough was blue. The one I bough last weekend was orange. As I left the story, it occur to me in passing whether he'll notice the different color and whether he'll accept it, but I didn't really think much of it.
Was I right! I gave him the orange bottle (they're both see through) when he woke up in the morning. He took it in his hands, then laid back down on his stomach holding the bottle in both arms, and then examined it. I feared he'd start fussing. But he didn't. After he examined the bottle (and mine saying "it's the same bottle, except this one is orange), he started drinking from it.
And regarding bottles, I still haven't thrown out the Avent bottles. I'm not sure why. I have no more nipples, just the bottle parts. Am I saving them for baby number 2? Probably not. I will probably buy new ones. So will they ever be used again? Probably not.
I'm not sure why I'm saving them, but I can't get myself to throwh them out. Yet I still have them in my cupboard with other glasses, along with the pacifiers which he hasn't used in over a year.
Last weekend I finally went to buy more sippy cup inserts and another bottle so I alternate between the two instead of constsantly washing the one and only bottle.
The first bottle I bough was blue. The one I bough last weekend was orange. As I left the story, it occur to me in passing whether he'll notice the different color and whether he'll accept it, but I didn't really think much of it.
Was I right! I gave him the orange bottle (they're both see through) when he woke up in the morning. He took it in his hands, then laid back down on his stomach holding the bottle in both arms, and then examined it. I feared he'd start fussing. But he didn't. After he examined the bottle (and mine saying "it's the same bottle, except this one is orange), he started drinking from it.
And regarding bottles, I still haven't thrown out the Avent bottles. I'm not sure why. I have no more nipples, just the bottle parts. Am I saving them for baby number 2? Probably not. I will probably buy new ones. So will they ever be used again? Probably not.
I'm not sure why I'm saving them, but I can't get myself to throwh them out. Yet I still have them in my cupboard with other glasses, along with the pacifiers which he hasn't used in over a year.
At Mimi's and Papi's
On Sunday we went to visit Andy's parents for his grandfather's 94th birthday. We left Mr. Meh with them for the week because my dad's away and there's no one to take care of him this week.
We're going to pick him up tomorrow, Thursday, after work. I can hardly wait. I can't wait to see him. Not having him here at home, I feel like a part of me is missing.
But it seems that he's been having fun over there. I was somewhat apprehensive on Sunday because he seemed more clingy to me than usual. When we arrived there, he was a bit shy, clinging to me before eventually loosening up and exploring the house.
Although, strangely enough, he remembered right away where in the kitchen he needs to stand to ask for a cookie. Eventually on Sunday he had a blast opening and closing drawers, pulling stuff out, and playing with balloons. Andy's mom had gotten a bunch of balloons for the birthday celebration. Ivan had a blast.
In the evening, when it was time to put him to bed, he didn't go down easy. He was fine taking a bath, but not going to bed. I wondered whether it ws because he was too tired or because he knew something was up and didn't want to go to sleep. After a few failed try to put him to bed and repeated plays, I finally left him in the crib to cry and fall asleep. Which he did within 10 minutes or so, which seemed longer than eternity.
Driving back home on Sunday, I felt awful for leaving him. I feared he was going to wake up in the morning and feel like we abandoned him. I could picture him calling out inquisitively, as he always does, "mama?" "dadda?"
But Monday morning he woke up with a big grin on his face and didn't skip a beat. Andy's mom said they had a blast. She took him to a pet store among other places, where he was in awe of the fish tanks (wanted to put his hands in it), recognized turtles (yeah, we have a stuff animal turtle, there is a turtle in a book of his , and there as the back yard tortoise Tatters that resided in our yard for a few weeks this summer), and met a parrot.
There was a parrot in the store that kept saying "hello." Ivan apparently cracked up and was laughing at the parrot, which in turn kept saying more "hellos," which got Ivan to laugh more.
I wish I had been there to see that. I keep trying to picture it and laugh at it.
On Tuesday they went to a creek and today they stayed at home. Andy's mom says he was rather exhausted and slept a lot today.
I can't wait to see him tomorrow.
As both grandmas agree, having him away from home for three nights is really pushing it. Andy's mom noticed that with each passing day, he seems to get a bit more "concerned." She noticed that he misses us.
We're going to pick him up tomorrow, Thursday, after work. I can hardly wait. I can't wait to see him. Not having him here at home, I feel like a part of me is missing.
But it seems that he's been having fun over there. I was somewhat apprehensive on Sunday because he seemed more clingy to me than usual. When we arrived there, he was a bit shy, clinging to me before eventually loosening up and exploring the house.
Although, strangely enough, he remembered right away where in the kitchen he needs to stand to ask for a cookie. Eventually on Sunday he had a blast opening and closing drawers, pulling stuff out, and playing with balloons. Andy's mom had gotten a bunch of balloons for the birthday celebration. Ivan had a blast.
In the evening, when it was time to put him to bed, he didn't go down easy. He was fine taking a bath, but not going to bed. I wondered whether it ws because he was too tired or because he knew something was up and didn't want to go to sleep. After a few failed try to put him to bed and repeated plays, I finally left him in the crib to cry and fall asleep. Which he did within 10 minutes or so, which seemed longer than eternity.
Driving back home on Sunday, I felt awful for leaving him. I feared he was going to wake up in the morning and feel like we abandoned him. I could picture him calling out inquisitively, as he always does, "mama?" "dadda?"
But Monday morning he woke up with a big grin on his face and didn't skip a beat. Andy's mom said they had a blast. She took him to a pet store among other places, where he was in awe of the fish tanks (wanted to put his hands in it), recognized turtles (yeah, we have a stuff animal turtle, there is a turtle in a book of his , and there as the back yard tortoise Tatters that resided in our yard for a few weeks this summer), and met a parrot.
There was a parrot in the store that kept saying "hello." Ivan apparently cracked up and was laughing at the parrot, which in turn kept saying more "hellos," which got Ivan to laugh more.
I wish I had been there to see that. I keep trying to picture it and laugh at it.
On Tuesday they went to a creek and today they stayed at home. Andy's mom says he was rather exhausted and slept a lot today.
I can't wait to see him tomorrow.
As both grandmas agree, having him away from home for three nights is really pushing it. Andy's mom noticed that with each passing day, he seems to get a bit more "concerned." She noticed that he misses us.
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