Adam is 1!!!!

Wow, Adam is now 1!!!

Awesome cake that Oma made

Adam and Keira enjoying their books that Aunt Judy made 

I think someone likes cake

Grampy Hank and Grammy Sue love Adam

Thank you Pinterest

Balloon wreath

Monthly photos in an awkward 1 shape

I made the Adam portion

Money shot of the M&Ms

Coming home outfit, 3 month outfit, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months

Outside Perspective

Sometimes an outside perspective really helps.

This week we've been on vacation in Kiawah. Adam is crawling ALL over the house. He's even pulling up and using the wooden walker and going for short jaunts around the house. He loves having tons of space to explore. We've had lots of fun riding bikes with Adam in the infant seat. The weather has been really nice so far, we spend lots of time outside. Bike rides, runs, walks, kayak trips, and meals outside. We are really enjoying spring time!

And Adam is his usual mostly happy self. He smiles A LOT, he especially likes to smile at women. He is such a lady's man. And he also has a few quirks. He does eat some table food, he chews it but he usually spits it out. And he's on the smaller side now, for height and weight. I'm a parent, of course I worry about these things. Is Adam eating enough? Is he getting too skinny? Is there anything else I should be doing for him? Can I help him learn to walk? How can I help him eat better? Should I try to help him less? What the heck is the right thing to do?!

My friend Liz joined us in Kiawah a few days ago. Liz doesn't see Adam's quirks, she sees a happy and healthy little boy. And you know what else, she thinks Jeff and I are amazing parents. The kind of parents she thinks other people aspire to be. So you know what, I'm going to take the credit. Jeff is a great dad and I'm a great mom. I spend lots of time worrying if I'm a good enough mom, especially seeing what other moms do on Facebook, blogs, and Pinterest. You have a constant feeling of not doing enough for your child. Not doing enough creative projects, not teaching him enough, not doing something enough. But at least for tonight, I'll put those fears aside. Because it turns out, I'm a great mom.

11 Months

Wow, time keeps flying by!  I know some parents get sad that their babies are growing up when they turn 1, but I'm not. Adam is such a happy and inquisitive guy, and he has only gotten more and more fun with time. For example, he has a super cheesy grin that he just started using, especially when he sees me. It's like, "yeah, I know I'm cute". And he's started imitating Jeff and I more. He smiles when we smile, he claps when we clap, and he mirrors us in other ways too. Speaking of mirrors, this kid LOVES to look at himself in the mirror. He smiles at himself, grins, laughs, and tries to give himself a high five.

Adam started scooting on his butt at about 10 months, but he didn't get very far. He's gotten better at the butt scooting this past month and he has also started crawling! Not your typical crawl either, leave that to the unimaginative babies. This kid uses both hands, a knee, and a foot. Not sure how he developed that kind of crawl, but it works for him. It's very easy for him to switch from butt scooting to crawling and back to sitting.

Adam is also exceptionally affectionate. He LOVES his cousin Keira. Last weekend he scooted over to her every chance he got and tried to a lay a big wet kiss on her. His entire face lit up every time he saw her. His daycare teachers have also told us that Adam is affectionate with his classmates. He likes to give out hugs and kisses to his friends. My little love bug!

But it's not all sunshine and buttercups over here. Adam is turning into a picky eater. We try and offer a variety of different foods when we sit down to eat together as a family. We are trying to have Adam eat more table foods. Adam likes chicken, meatballs, and cheerios. And other than that, he prefers to eat purees. He really has no interest in toast, pasta, eggs, cooked or steamed veggies or fruit. We just keep offering in hopes that with more exposure, he will develop new tastes.

Mum-Mum and Da-Da

Wow, we haven't posted in a long time!

Let's see what's new. Adam is still not crawling. He does lean and reach waaaaaay forward. He also spins around on his butt and scoots his butt forward. He looooves to pull up to a standing position.  He has started to get a little more adventurous and will stand while holding on to the sofa or holding onto a person with one hand. He loves to get into a standing position so much that he sits down on his butt every few seconds to stand up again.  And Adam has 2 teeth!  He has 2 bottom teeth that came in a few weeks ago.

The most exciting thing that Adam has done lately is that he is calling Jeff and I by name!  He calls me Mum-Mum and he calls Jeff Da-Da.

Jeff and I have started to discuss cloth diapering pros and cons. Some days it just seems like cloth diapering is so much work. Adam constantly pees through his diaper when he naps and needs a full outfit change. Plus it's a lot of laundry. To keep things smelling fresh, we wash the cloth diapers every other day. On the other hand, we've already paid for all of our cloth diapers, so when we buy disposables, well, that's an extra cost. And I actually don't like disposables either. I think they smell terribly, like chemicals.  Did I mention they cost money? The only solution is to toilet train early.  You know, if that's my biggest internal debate then I think we are doing pretty well overall.

Remember awhile ago when I wrote that we were weaning the 10:30pm nursing session?  I'll be honest; we tried for a week and Adam did not do well with it. So after a week we went right back to nursing at 10:30pm. And you know what?  We are all sleeping better with it.

However, we did start daytime weaning. Around 1 year old, I plan to have Adam weaned from nursing. Not completely and not exactly at one year, but the time has come when he turns one that he will get the majority of his nutrition from food. It's a slow process and it will take a few months, but I can't believe we've come so far. Nursing has been the MOST challenging thing (remember I've run 2 marathons) and also the MOST rewarding thing I've ever done.

Big Pats fan here!

Cousin love

Notice Adam's 2 teeth!

 Having fun at daycare

Adam is 10 months old and does NOT want to pose!

Visiting Nana and PopPop

Someone loves Cheerios

This is what handsome looks like

Typical day at work for me

Winter Blahs

Trying to fight the winter blahs.  I think some photos will help :)

I feel like winter just kind of drags on. It stinks to get to work before the sun rises and also leave work after the sun has gone down.  Work has been extra long hours too. But at least on my days off I get to hang out with a really cute lil guy.

Someone loves the remote

Sleepy boy

Getting ready for a walk outside

The CUTEST lil boy in overalls

Enjoying dinner

Cousin play time!

Having fun

Learning how to high five

Merry Christmas

Adam had a wonderful first Christmas.  I had 5 days off, so we headed to the Sonneborn's on Thursday and stayed for the weekend.  Adam was a big hit at the Seacoast Cancer Center Christmas party at Henry and Suzanne's home.

Adam turned 9 months on the 22nd.  That owl is getting smaller and smaller!

Adam and Mom for the "nine months in, nine months out" photo

Uncle Steve made a surprise visit to West Hartford and met Adam for the first time.  Steve roasted a ribeye with a port-wine reduction and made wild mushroom risotto for Jeff and I.  We also enjoyed some of Steve's home-brewed beer.  What a delicious meal!  Adam was happy to make a new friend!

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas at the Martens.  Adam was again spoiled with gifts, including a covered wagon, and his own remote control and cell phone.  He loved petting and giggling with the dogs.