Hellobee

Baby Y just turned 14 months! I think I’m going to have to figure out a new name for him, because this “baby” has become a full-fledged toddler. Here’s what he’s been up to:

Walking! Shortly after his one-year update, he began taking a few halting steps here and there. In the past couple of weeks, he has been upping his game! He staggers around like he’s drunk and falls after 10 or so steps, but he’s clearly quite proud of himself. If he’s standing up, he almost always attempts to walk before crawling.

Nursing … and weaning? Baby Y only nurses in the morning and before bed. Weaning his final daytime nursing session wasn’t difficult—we replaced boob with books before his afternoon nap, and I introduced cow’s milk a month ago. In fact, he’s starting to seem less and less interested in the two sessions we have left. Even before bed, he’s not nursing for nearly as long as normal. I’m not sure if this is just a phase or if he’s gradually self-weaning. While part of me would be sad if that’s the case, part of me would be relieved to be getting off the hook that easy.

Post-nap hair or Nick Nolte mugshot? You decide.

Sleep. A week or two after his first birthday, Baby Y finally (finally!) dropped his remaining waking and started sleeping through the night. That’s right: 11 blissful hours of slumber. As for naps, we’re still in that frustrating transition zone between two naps and one. Six days out of seven, he still needs two. As long as I limit the morning nap (45 minutes-1 hour) he generally will take his afternoon nap (90 minutes – 2 hours) without much protest. We have had a handful of days with one super-duper 3-hour nap around 1 p.m.  If that’s what I can look forward to full-time after he’s solidly on one nap, I will be thrilled.

Thought I’d sort your laundry for you, Mom. You’re welcome.

Food. For the most part, Baby Y’s enormous appetite remains intact. Mealtimes aren’t completely unscathed by emerging toddlerhood, though. He occasionally throws food, which never used to happen, and will sometimes refuse a food he previously loved, seemingly at random. He also LOVES to offer us a piece of whatever he’s eating, wait for us to lean in with an open mouth, and then shove the food into his mouth as quickly as possible with an impish grin. What a stinker.

Talk. He still isn’t saying “mama.” Not gonna lie—it makes me a little sad that I’m still answering to “dada.” He also knows “ball,” “yeah,” and “boob.” (Whoops!) Of course, he understands so much more than he can say—he can point to a lot of colors and animals and objects on command, for instance. He likes to point at stuff and yell, “DAH?!?” (I assume this is his way of saying “What’s that?” and answer accordingly.)

Getting to know his second cousin at great-grandma’s 80th birthday shindig.

Play. Books are still Baby Y’s favorite—he’s currently into the “Elephant and Piggie” books by Mo Willems as well as any book that has a lot of stuff he can point out. He is obsessed with balls (ha) and still likes tossing his stacking cups into every nook and cranny. And he finally loves the bath! Up until a month ago, Baby Y hated being in the tub alone, but now he almost claws my eyes out if I turn on the water and don’t get him undressed right that instant. I wouldn’t be surprised if he figures out how to catapult himself into the tub fully clothed one of these days.

Tantrums. Yup … they’ve started. They’re still infrequent and mostly when he’s tired (right after a nap is prime danger zone), but Baby Y definitely lets me know when he isn’t pleased. Triggers: when I take something away (mean, mean mommy) or have the temerity to change his diaper when he would much rather be playing. Changing him is quite the challenge these days—it’s like wrestling a small woodland creature into submission. Sometimes I can distract him with the tub of wipes, and sometimes I manage to change him while he stands and yanks my hair. Either way, ouch.

You exhaust me in the best possible way, kiddo!

Enjoying the charm of simple Midwestern livin’.