Better late than never: Halloween

I'm sorry it's taken me a few days to post these.  (A special sorry to Mom and Mary, who have both subtly and not so subtly mentioned this.) Starting Halloween night, Austin came down with a nasty cold and a blocked ear tube which lead to an ear infection.  Needless to say, he's been kind of cranky.

Anyway.  We had planned on taking both kids out for a few houses, then bringing Austin home.  It was pouring rain and 40 degrees.  So, Abby and Daddy went out with a neighbor, while Austin and I stayed home to hand out candy.  (Austin lasted for exactly one trick-or-treater before climbing the stairs yelling, "Ni-Ni!")

After a few trips around the block, our Sleeping Beauty was Soaking Beauty, but she had a blast.  She changed into warm clothes, and was excited to hand out candy to the kids that came to the door.  Since Halloween, she has been slowly working her way through her candy.*  So far, she does not like anything chocolate except for peanut butter cups and M&Ms.  Though, if you told her there was chocolate in them, she would probably declare them "yuck" as well.  She's stubborn like that.

I apologize for the lack of photos.  Mickey Mouse was none to pleased with his outfit or hat.  Sleeping Beauty just wanted to get going, not pose for pictures.

* I am not one of those Mom's who throw/give the candy away.  At least as of now.  She's pretty good at following the 2 pieces after nap and 2 pieces after dinner rule.  We'll see what happens as the amount of candy and her desire to eat it all increases.  

Oh, Boy.

I thought I had a few more years before this started, but no.  My daughter (who, remember, will be 4 next month) has a boyfriend.

It all started a few weeks ago at a birthday party for two girls in Abby's class.  The theme was princesses and pirates, and my daughter (shocker!) was dressed as a princess.  Things started out normally.  She was playing with her girl friends from school, running all over the playground.  I was chatting with Mom friends and taking care of Austin, so I had half an eye on Abby.  Just enough to make sure she was safe, but not really paying close attention to what she was doing.*   When I did start watching Abby, I noticed she was playing with a little boy from her class, Flynn.**

It was unusual to Abby playing with only boys, so I decided to watch for a bit.  They danced together.  They chased each other.  They went down the side-by-side slide together.  Abby was telling Flynn what to do, and he was happily chasing behind her.

As the party was wrapping up and we were getting ready to leave, Abby stopped suddenly.  Then she looked at me and said:

"Wait, mom!  I have to go find Flynn.  I can't leave without hugging my prince!"

And off she ran.  Laughing I followed her, to share this cuteness with Flynn's parents.  I told them what she said, and they looked at me with a surprised look and said not only did Abby hug Flynn, she also kissed him.

Kissed him!

When I asked Abby about it later, the conversation went like this:

"Abby, did you kiss Flynn?"

shyly "Yes."

"Was that the first time you kissed a boy?"

"No, I kiss my Daddy."

"Was that the first time you kissed a boy that was not family?"

"Yeah." shoulder shrug "It was kinda special."

In the car, I asked if she liked Flynn.  She thought for a minute and said, "Well.  I kinda love him."

So this continued for a few weeks,  (Thankfully there was no hugging or hand holding at school.)  At the fall festival (which was at the same playground) they were inseparable  They held hands as the went down the slide and ran across the playground.  She played with his hood; he messed with her hair.  He left before we did, so Abby did not give another kiss.*** 

Fast forward to this morning.  She's again in her costume (for show and tell) and on the way to school when she sighs and says, "Mom.  I really hope that Flynn thinks I look pretty in my dress."

I thought I had a few more years til this started.  But no.  My daughter is full on boy crazy.****

If she is starting this early, what in the world will she be like in her teen years ?!?




*Before your judge: we were at an enclosed playground that she was very familiar with.  The only people there were parents and kids from the party.  She was fine. 
** Obviously, his name is not really Flynn.  I don't really know his parents, and don't know how they'd feel about their kid being talked about publicly..So, I'll refer to him by the name of Abby's other crush, Flynn Ryder.  
***She was upset by this.  She kept asking why Flynn left before she could kiss him goodbye.
****I haven't even told you about the time she told her doctor he was handsome or the 8 year old boy she was flirting with on a family walk.

Breakfast at the Salgado house

A glimpse into a typical morning in our house....

"Abby, what would you like for breakfast?"

"I don't WAAANNT breakfast."

"Abby, what would you like for breakfast? Waffles, toast, toaster strudel, yogurt....?"

"FINE!  Just yogurt.  ONLY yogurt."

I put her yogurt on the table.


"Mom!  I WAAANNNT waffles!"

I give her the look.


"Please can I have waffles with my yogurt?"

I fix waffles and put them on the table.


"I DON'T WAAANNNT waffles.  I am NOT going to eat them!"

I feed Austin the waffles.  He happily eats them.


The End.

Austin: 1 year

Austin,

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

I can hardly believe you are a year old today.  It seems this year has gone by way too fast, but it has been amazing.  You have brought so much joy into this family; no matter what else was going on, you were always smiling.  It's hard to have a bad day when you look at us with those big blue eyes and wide smile.  Even your sister has a hard time resisting your laughter and we are truly a more complete package with you around.

As this day approached, your baby-ness has been slowly fading.  While you're still not quite walking, you are a very fast crawler and cruiser.  In this last month, you've even started trying to stand without holding on to anything.  So far your only able to last a second or two before grabbing something or falling on your bottom, but it's a step in the right direction!

When you're not trying to walk, one of your favorite things to do while standing is to dance.  Anytime you hear music, you stand up and start to bounce.  Even when there's no music, you something start to "sing" and dance to your own beat.  It is quite adorable.

Last month we introduced whole milk, and you took to it like a champ.  Once you mastered your sippy cup (which only took a few days) you were drinking as much as we would give you and never looked back.  As a result, our weaning process went a little quicker than expected.  It was hard for me, but you were ready.  We had a few tantrums in the beginning, but once you figured out what was going on you were fine.  In order to still get my snuggles in, we've altered our bedtime routine a bit and added a few songs.

In addition to the milk, you've tried all kinds of new foods this month.  So far, you like pretty much everything. Except for Grandma's macaroni and cheese.  We'll keep trying on that one though, I have a feeling you'll grow to like it just as much as I do.  Tonight we gave you your first slice of pizza to celebrate your big day.  Thankfully, you loved it!  (Had you not, we might have had to check your DNA.  We're a big pizza family.)

Another big change this month has been your speech.  Recently you learned, "uh-oh!"  Not only do you love to say it when you drop something on accident, you love to say it as you throw something.  As cute as this is, it makes the "throw things so Mommy picks them up" game a much more lengthy process.  You also say it when you just wake up.  I love watching you in the monitor as you wake up, stand up, throw your paci out of the crib, and then yell, "UH-OH!" over and over until I come get you.

This past weekend, we had your birthday party.  It was a small get-together of close friends and family, but you hammed it up as usual.  Though you weren't sure what to thing in the beginning, you quickly dove into your cake and make a giant mess.  You also loved all your presents and happily played with all of them right away.  It was overall a wonderful day.

I've been a little emotional these past few days, anticipating your birthday.  I thought for sure I'd be a mess today.  However, this morning I woke up to, "Ma-ma-ma" and when I went in the room, you gave me one of your big smiles, raised your arms are said, "MaMa!"  I melted.  You were in such a happy mood today, I couldn't help but match the enthusiasm.  You have become such a wonderful little boy.  I have truly loved every minute of this last year, and cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

Happy birthday my sweet, sweet boy!
Love,
Mommy

Austin: 11 months

Austin,

This is my second to last letter.  Next month, you will be one.  Please excuse me for a minute while I go cry...

Since last month, you've gotten even faster with your crawling and you've also started cruising.  You typically pull up on something (the table, couch, me, even the tv) and try to take a few steps while holding on.  Then, you realize crawling is much more effective and drop to your hands and knees.  You hustle to wherever it is you want to be and stand again.  It is tiresome just to watch, let alone try to keep up with you!  Whenever you do "walk" a bit using a push toy or our hands for support, you seem quite proud of yourself; so I'm torn between thinking you'll be walking any day now and thinking it will take you a while longer.*

Now that you can get anywhere faster than I can keep up, you have discovered the stairs.  You usually get stuck after climbing 2 stairs, but you have no fear in diving back down.  Rest assured, gates are being installed  any day now.  Usually, you head for the stairs when Daddy is upstairs (and then you crawl while yelling "DaDa!") or when you hear Abby waking up (then you yell "Ay-yah!").

Speaking of speaking...your vocabulary has really increased since last month.  Added to Dada, Ay-ya (Abby) and MaMa, you now consistently say Ni-Ni (night, night), mum (yum or food), and my personal favorite a-da! (all done).  You use that last one quite frequently: diaper changes, meal time, when we've been in the car too long, or shopping.

I think one of the main reasons for the increase in talking/babbling** is that your ears are no longer bothering you.  After one too many ear infections, we took you in for tubes.  You did marvelously.  The hardest part of the whole thing was keeping you entertained in a hospital bed for 1 1/2 hours.***  I think the best part of the tubes (aside from you not being sick anymore) is that you sleep now.  YOU SLEEP.  THROUGH THE WHOLE NIGHT!!  You get up at 5AM most mornings, but still.  THERE IS NO SCREAMING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!! It's about time.  Thank you SO much.****

Since you were in the middle of one of those pesky ear infections last month, we hadn't experimented much with food.  This month, however, you are a pro.  Gone is the baby food.  Now, we feed you from the table and I love it.  I still give you the "toddler" snacks/puffs, but for the most part you eat what we do.  I shouldn't be surprised, but so far you like just about everything.  You're not too sold on bananas, but will eat them if there is no other fruit option.  Just tonight we discovered your love of broccoli after your stuffed every last bit in your mouth without throwing anything on the floor.*****

With the food, also came the milk.  I started introducing whole milk in a sippy cup a week or so ago, and you seemed to do pretty well with it.  I've been increasing the amounts slowly and tonight you drank almost the whole cup.  So, as of tomorrow we are starting to wean.  You're only nursing three times a day right now, but I am officially cutting out the middle one.  I'm conflicted.  You were not the easiest child to nurse, but I still love it.  I'm going to miss those baby blues staring into mine while I hold you.  However, I will not miss the squirming, kicking, pinching and biting.

So.  Eleven months.  Next month you will be one.  My baby is almost no longer a baby.  As I mourn the loss of your babyhood, I also cherish each new skill and moment with you.

I love you so much,
Mommy

*Because of the whole speed crawling thing.  By the way, have I mentioned you crawl like a bulldog?  You turn your hands inward and move then with such purpose and force.  It is adorable.
**The last few days you've making making a sound kinda like "tuck"  I have no idea what it means (I don't think it's the obvious "truck") but you love the sound and keep making it.
***Why?  Why must hospitals insist on giving us the first slot of the day, and still make us sit there forever?!?
****I totally just jinxed myself, didn't I?
*****We could feed a small African nation with the amount of food you throw on the floor.  

Austin: 10 months

Austin,

Well kid, you've officially existed outside of my belly for longer than you were in there.  10 months! Where has the time gone?!?

Last month you'd figured out the whole crawling thing, but this month you've mastered it.  You are quite fast and are able to move around anywhere you want (which usually means you are bee-lining for whatever cord or outlet you can find).  I am thrilled with your progress, but man, am I exhausted.  I always laughed at celebrities who said they kept fit by chasing around their little ones.  While I still think they're full of it, I can see what they mean:  I have lost 3lbs since I've had to start running after you!

Along with making sure those pesky cords are out of your eyesight, I've also had to start making sure tables and couches are clear because you can pull up on just about anything now.  Sometimes you get stuck on your knees, but you are happy to reach and bounce around anyway.  You have even tried to stand while crawling, without the aid of something to hold onto.  Usually you get up on your hands and toes (think downward dog) before you realize it's not quite going to work yet.  I'm sure it's just a matter of time before your running around.

Not only do you love to pull up, but you LOVE to climb.  Whenever I sit on the floor, you hustle on over to try and climb over my lap.  When you get to the other side, you laugh and climb back over again.  You've even tried to climb the stairs- which means I really need to get my butt in gear and get gates up!

This month we took our annual vacation to the Outer Banks, and introduced you to the beach.  Like your Momma, you preferred the pool.  I think the heat and sun on the beach was just a bit much for you, as you only lasted 15-20 minutes before you started to get really fussy and sleepy.  Regardless, you tested the ocean (and cried) and ate some sand.  Pretty typical for baby's first beach trip.

Last month you tried bread, and we really haven't moved much past that.  You had a pretty bad ear infection that hindered your table food for a few days and we haven't wanted to push the table foods too much.  You've tried grilled cheese (eh.), bananas (yuck), various types of bread (yum), puffs (yum on most, yuck on banana puffs), and pasta (threw it all on the floor).  However, you're favorite food by far is peanut butter sandwiches.  You can down an entire 1/2 sandwich in no time, and do so everyday for lunch.  We'll continue to try more foods as we go, and hopefully we can expand your palate!*

You continue to amaze me with your development, and I love watching you learn everyday.  The other day we had a family playdate with some friends, and you had a blast playing!  The little boy is 14months, but you were chasing him and copying every step of the way.  It must be a boy-thing, but you both sat there and rammed cars into each other and threw things.  It was so cute!

I only have two more of these letters to write and I cannot believe you are almost one.  You are such a sweet, loving, fun little boy!

I love you, Buddy,
Mommy

*Your sister has always been a good eater.  However, I get the impression you are more like your Daddy and are going to drive me nuts food-wise.  

Austin: 9 Months

Austin,

I almost forgot this month's letter, but I have a valid excuse.  We moved this past weekend, and for the first time since you've been born, you have a new room that is only yours.  You don't have to share it with Mommy, Daddy or a computer and a TV.  It is blue, it has enough room for your dresser, crib and glider, and it is AWESOME.  Now, if you'd just sleep through the night in it, we'd be golden*

Where you had an uneventful month last month, this one was filled with new adventures.  You have been babbling up a storm, working on all kinds of new sounds.  In fact, after nap one day you looked at your Daddy and said "DaDa."  You then smiled and reached for him.**

Another new trick this month is crawling (OMG your mobile! OH, NO!)  You've been working on rolling/scooting backwards/shifting all month and had gotten pretty good at maneuvering yourself around.  Then, this morning you crawled 2 feet to get a hold of the tv remote.  You were so excited and have repeated your trick many times since.  Before long, I'll be chasing you everywhere!

You've also started to try pulling yourself up.  Your gigantic tree stump legs have made things a little difficult, but I assume you'll have it down in no time! 

Speaking of your size, you're still a big boy but are starting to level out a a little bit.  (At least that's what the doctor said at your 9 month check.  26lbs 11oz sounds like a gigantic baby, but it means there's more to squeeze.)  I thought for sure I'd get a lecture, but the doctor actually told me it's time for table food and a sippy cup.  You tried a little bit of bread tonight and really liked it, so I'm sure I'll have some good stories next month. 

Since this is the 9 month mark, I asked the doctor (again) about your eyes.  As expected, he confirmed your baby blues are there to stay. :)  You have one happy Momma.  Especially since your eyes are known to stop passerby in the grocery store and Target. 

It has been such a fun month, but a busy one.  I can't wait to see how you do with all the new space we have in the new house.  I'm off to unpack more toys!

Love,
Mommy.
*You're currently working on your top two teeth and I think they are giving you quite a bit of trouble.  That and all the changes this week have made for a lot of clinginess.  However, that means lots of hugs for Mommy, so I can deal..

** DaDa was your sister's first word too.  While, I love hearing you speak (I missed it with Abby), I would love to hear Mama at some point soon.  You are such a Mommy's boy, and you say DaDa first?!?