John pretty much eats whatever we eat for meals, with a few exceptions. However, I do not really eat a "healthy" lunch every day, and sometimes our dinners are either too spicy or too hard for him to chew and eat (still working on those back teeth).
So, I am search of some quick healthy meals that can be standbys when needed. Some things I already keep in the pantry for these types times:
- those prepared Gerber "healthy meals"
- beans of some sort - he loves with sour cream or ricotta cheese
- frozen chicken fingers
- grilled cheese sandwiches
- quesadilla
If you guys have any other suggestions - hand 'em over by way of comment! :)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
16 months
During our 16th month:
- New words: Knee, Buckle, glasses, keys, tickle, bug, spoon, stick, balloon (note: no "L" sounds in any of these)
- Sign language explosion
- (crossing fingers) He still does not throw 'fits' like I read or hear about, and as far as I am concerned does not need time outs. I am not opposed to time outs at this age, but he just does not have any behaviors that warrant them?!?!?!?
- 1 of his back teeth popped through and from what I can tell, 2 are on their way. And there is NO mistaking it this time, as you can see how swollen his gums are, it looks like little marbles are underneath his skin. :(
- Had another little cold this month that lasted a long time, but never got too bad.
- Uses a spoon to a degree, but still far from using it on his own
- At least one time during each meal, he will close his eyes and try to eat or drink blindly?!?!
- FINALLY will let me brush his teeth without a fight
- I stopped pureeing his food
- Went to a size 5 diaper (this is outragous to me, as I remember when Brendan was here and John was a tiny baby, I bought B some size 5 diapers to keep here, and I thought they were HUGE and it was hard to imagine that I would have a baby in size 5 diapers!)
- When he is around other kids, he is very complacent, he just watches them when they cry or scream. He also does not play as hard or intensly as he usually does. He just sort of stands back and takes it all in, he seems sort of private (but not dependent) - he must get this from his Daddy!
- Will play on his own for quite some time while I get chores done around the house (for the most part), but when he is ready for me to play, he is VERY insistent!
- Still cuddles with me for a long time! In fact, as long as there is a favorite PBS show on, he will lay there until I MAKE him get up!
- New words: Knee, Buckle, glasses, keys, tickle, bug, spoon, stick, balloon (note: no "L" sounds in any of these)
- Sign language explosion
- (crossing fingers) He still does not throw 'fits' like I read or hear about, and as far as I am concerned does not need time outs. I am not opposed to time outs at this age, but he just does not have any behaviors that warrant them?!?!?!?
- 1 of his back teeth popped through and from what I can tell, 2 are on their way. And there is NO mistaking it this time, as you can see how swollen his gums are, it looks like little marbles are underneath his skin. :(
- Had another little cold this month that lasted a long time, but never got too bad.
- Uses a spoon to a degree, but still far from using it on his own
- At least one time during each meal, he will close his eyes and try to eat or drink blindly?!?!
- FINALLY will let me brush his teeth without a fight
- I stopped pureeing his food
- Went to a size 5 diaper (this is outragous to me, as I remember when Brendan was here and John was a tiny baby, I bought B some size 5 diapers to keep here, and I thought they were HUGE and it was hard to imagine that I would have a baby in size 5 diapers!)
- When he is around other kids, he is very complacent, he just watches them when they cry or scream. He also does not play as hard or intensly as he usually does. He just sort of stands back and takes it all in, he seems sort of private (but not dependent) - he must get this from his Daddy!
- Will play on his own for quite some time while I get chores done around the house (for the most part), but when he is ready for me to play, he is VERY insistent!
- Still cuddles with me for a long time! In fact, as long as there is a favorite PBS show on, he will lay there until I MAKE him get up!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
John's first "hair cut"
John's hair is long in some places but still filling in on top of his head, so I was putting off the hair cut a long as I could. Well, it seems I gave in. He had a few pieces of hair hanging in his eyes, quite a bit of hair over his ears (Daddy's pet peeve) and the back was starting to resemble a mullet again..so off we went...
Carl said I scared the lady and she did not want to cut it, so she just trimmed a little bit here and there and just charged us for a bang trim! It does not even look like he got a hair cut! I am not sure how to tell them what I want, because I am not sure what I want his hair to look like just yet. I think we should wait until it fills in more and see what it does naturally before giving it a "style". Apparently I am getting my way. :)
Nonetheless, John did great, they had all sorts of distractions and Daddy held a sucker in his mouth (first time) and he was pretty content. It only took all of 2 minutes for our "hair cut".
See pics below.
BEFORE:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Carl said I scared the lady and she did not want to cut it, so she just trimmed a little bit here and there and just charged us for a bang trim! It does not even look like he got a hair cut! I am not sure how to tell them what I want, because I am not sure what I want his hair to look like just yet. I think we should wait until it fills in more and see what it does naturally before giving it a "style". Apparently I am getting my way. :)
Nonetheless, John did great, they had all sorts of distractions and Daddy held a sucker in his mouth (first time) and he was pretty content. It only took all of 2 minutes for our "hair cut".
See pics below.
BEFORE:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Thursday, June 11, 2009
"More"
As you can see from the picture, John is signing the word "more". It was not hard to capture this picture as he does this ALL THE TIME! I love it - it really cuts down on frustration, but he does wear it out a bit! :) He signs 'more' about 1000 a times a day, some of which you have NO idea what he wants more of.
He uses it most when he is eating; or if you are doing something fun with him and you stop; or when we finish a book; orwhen his songs from the nursery rhyme cd is over. But there are times that he just walks over to you and starts doing it, or when his plate and cup are full and he is still insisting on more....we are still tryig to decipher.
Nonetheless, I love it and I want him to learn more. I really wish I started working with him sooner; I think the 12 month mark would be good, because they can pick it up pretty easily at that point before the parents get frustrated and quit trying (guilty). I know he is right around the corner from talking, but getting a glimpse of communiating with him is too much fun! If any of you Mom's out there had any other key signs that helped you guys, let me know! He has "all done", "eat" (picture below), "more", "milk" and "sleepy".
>
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Comparison Picture (tag)
I am starting this tag, because I think it will be fun:
The task - post a recent picture of your kids or family and then post one from 1 year ago.
May 24th 2009
May 24th 2008
I am tagging anyone who reads this post that has a blog. If you are reading this and have a blog that I do not know about - please let me know, I am an avid blog stocker! :)
The task - post a recent picture of your kids or family and then post one from 1 year ago.
May 24th 2009
May 24th 2008
I am tagging anyone who reads this post that has a blog. If you are reading this and have a blog that I do not know about - please let me know, I am an avid blog stocker! :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Happy Anniversary Carl!
Today marks another anniversary of the start of our marriage - I love you more today than I ever have! I love growing and experiencing parenthood with you; you are our world!
You proposed to me on Valentine's day and we danced to Martina McBride's "Valentine" on our wedding day. The words to that song say it best - you are my valentine all year long! Although they are not my words, I feel them from in the deepest part of my heart....
"If there were no words,
No way to speak
I would still hear you.
If there were no tears
No way to feel inside
I'd still feel for you.
And even if the sun refused to shine
Even in romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time.
You're all I need, my love, my valentine.
All of my life
I have been waiting for you.
All you give to me
You've opened my eyes.
And showed my how to love unselfishly.
I've dreamed of this a thousand times before,
But in my dreams I couldn't love you more.
I will give you my heart
Until the end of time.
You're all I need, my love, my valentine."
I love you! (see slide show at the bottom of page for photo memories of the wedding)
You proposed to me on Valentine's day and we danced to Martina McBride's "Valentine" on our wedding day. The words to that song say it best - you are my valentine all year long! Although they are not my words, I feel them from in the deepest part of my heart....
"If there were no words,
No way to speak
I would still hear you.
If there were no tears
No way to feel inside
I'd still feel for you.
And even if the sun refused to shine
Even in romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time.
You're all I need, my love, my valentine.
All of my life
I have been waiting for you.
All you give to me
You've opened my eyes.
And showed my how to love unselfishly.
I've dreamed of this a thousand times before,
But in my dreams I couldn't love you more.
I will give you my heart
Until the end of time.
You're all I need, my love, my valentine."
I love you! (see slide show at the bottom of page for photo memories of the wedding)
Friday, May 29, 2009
15 months
We went to our 15 month appointment this week. The Dr. said his physical examination was perfect (outside of a bad diaper rash, which he gave us prescription for and it cleared right up).
His stats were as follows:
Height - 32 inches (75%)
Weight - 25 lbs 14 oz (68%)
Head - 19 inches (79%)
You will notice that he has always been above the 90 percentile in height until now. I asked the Dr. about that and he said the first phase of growth is insulin the second stage of growth is thyroid and the this third stage of growth is genes... so I am guessing that he will be right under 6 foot.
Other things this month:
- learned to hold his nose when something is stinky (well at least when I say it is stinky)
- started to jump! so cute - he goes up on his very tippy toes and falls forward
- started drinking from a hard tip sippy cup - only because he learned to manipulate the soft tips ones where he can pour the milk out everywhere.
- learned to say the word "no" as well as shake his head no - although I am not sure he really knows how to use it just yet.
- Starting to say Bailee and Kallie.
- LOVES his reflection, he will play with himself at the 2 floor mirror we have in the house and his reflection in glass doors.
- Same sleeping habits, I think I am destined for the 1 - 1.5 hour nap, still sleeping in until about 8 or so.
- Dropped the night time bottle with absolutely no problem.
His stats were as follows:
Height - 32 inches (75%)
Weight - 25 lbs 14 oz (68%)
Head - 19 inches (79%)
You will notice that he has always been above the 90 percentile in height until now. I asked the Dr. about that and he said the first phase of growth is insulin the second stage of growth is thyroid and the this third stage of growth is genes... so I am guessing that he will be right under 6 foot.
Other things this month:
- learned to hold his nose when something is stinky (well at least when I say it is stinky)
- started to jump! so cute - he goes up on his very tippy toes and falls forward
- started drinking from a hard tip sippy cup - only because he learned to manipulate the soft tips ones where he can pour the milk out everywhere.
- learned to say the word "no" as well as shake his head no - although I am not sure he really knows how to use it just yet.
- Starting to say Bailee and Kallie.
- LOVES his reflection, he will play with himself at the 2 floor mirror we have in the house and his reflection in glass doors.
- Same sleeping habits, I think I am destined for the 1 - 1.5 hour nap, still sleeping in until about 8 or so.
- Dropped the night time bottle with absolutely no problem.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Spending time with Grandparents
Wanted to post some pictures from our most recent trips to Grandparents houses.
Monday, May 11, 2009
I love these boys!
Being a wife and a mother is the most precious job there is, I thank the Lord every day for these two! 
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Little Gym - Birds
John moved up to the "birds" class at The Little Gym (10 months to 18 months) - and he loves it even more than the "bugs" class. We changed locations to be closer to home and our new teacher, Mr. Forest is great. John really likes him, but he LOVES his guitar!
In this class all of the kids are walking and very curious. Our intro activity normally consists of sitting in a circle, the hello song and playing with bells. Then the kids help put the bells away - John has this down pat - in fact, he puts the bells up before he is has to - I think he thinks it is a game (I am not complaining). Then we do various walking, running, jumping activities. This is the time where the kids normally watch us parents run around and wonder why we are all being so silly.
Then there is exploration time, which is just another word for free time. John likes the balance beams and then really just walking around and rolling on the various mats. But most every time I have to direct his attention somewhere other than the water fountains and the door stops?!?!?
We also have a "skill of the week" where the teacher will demonstrate some sort of bar, mat or beam activity and then the rest of the kid in class take turn doing it. As John is always in every one's business, he is typically right next to Mr. Forest, so John is almost always the demonstrator. He is such a teachers pet!
At the end of every session there is a big trash can of balls that is thrown all over the floor, the kids LOVE this time. Again, John is very helpful when it is time to put the balls away. The bubble machine is then turned on for a few minutes, followed by another circle good-bye song. During the hello and good-bye song the teacher has his guitar and John is standing right next to him touching the guitar and sometimes even plucking the strings. Mr. Forest has to stand up sometimes to finish the song.
We both love it and have a great time!
Nana and Grandpa came to watch a class last week and took some pictures for us.
In this class all of the kids are walking and very curious. Our intro activity normally consists of sitting in a circle, the hello song and playing with bells. Then the kids help put the bells away - John has this down pat - in fact, he puts the bells up before he is has to - I think he thinks it is a game (I am not complaining). Then we do various walking, running, jumping activities. This is the time where the kids normally watch us parents run around and wonder why we are all being so silly.
Then there is exploration time, which is just another word for free time. John likes the balance beams and then really just walking around and rolling on the various mats. But most every time I have to direct his attention somewhere other than the water fountains and the door stops?!?!?
We also have a "skill of the week" where the teacher will demonstrate some sort of bar, mat or beam activity and then the rest of the kid in class take turn doing it. As John is always in every one's business, he is typically right next to Mr. Forest, so John is almost always the demonstrator. He is such a teachers pet!
At the end of every session there is a big trash can of balls that is thrown all over the floor, the kids LOVE this time. Again, John is very helpful when it is time to put the balls away. The bubble machine is then turned on for a few minutes, followed by another circle good-bye song. During the hello and good-bye song the teacher has his guitar and John is standing right next to him touching the guitar and sometimes even plucking the strings. Mr. Forest has to stand up sometimes to finish the song.
We both love it and have a great time!
Nana and Grandpa came to watch a class last week and took some pictures for us.
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