Donovan is 6 months old. Where did the time go? Half a year!
My little man has gotten so big and can do so much! He is sitting strongly and confidently. That said, he toppled backwards during his 6 month photo shoot, and the floor wasn't exactly soft, so that was unfortunate (but he's a champ, so he's fine). But at home, he does great! We don't usually let him sit completely on his own - we usually at least stick the boppy or a pillow behind him. That way, if he does topple backwards, he won't smack his head.
Today, he started trying to stand! Well, he has tried this a bit over the past few weeks. But he worked really hard it at today. And he figured out about grabbing my hands and pulling up. He even tried to stand without holding my hands. I was sitting on the floor cross-legged, and he was sitting on my shins, so his butt was already higher than his feet, which were planted on the ground. So he hoisted himself forward, and face-planted onto the carpet. Poor boo! But it didn't stop him from trying again! He even grabbed onto the coffee table to hold himself up. And he can take a few steps while holding my hands.
He has been a champ with the solid food. I don't recall where I last left off - I know he had tried at least rice and carrots before he hit the 5 month mark. He has since tried green beans (loved them), peas (loved them, but they did not love him back!) and sweet potatoes (so so about them). So far everything has been packaged. I figured I didn't want to make a big batch of anything that might end up disagreeing with him. Hopefully I can make a big batch of carrots this weekend.
Poor boo has been sick lately, though. He had a virus that was pretty rough. He had a fever two weekends ago. We had the doctor see him when we had Jocelyn in for her 2 year appointment. They said it was just a virus and there was nothing that could be done about it. He is pretty much feeling better, but still coughs some. Of course, coughs last a long time. So we shouldn't be too concerned. The illness did throw of his sleep, though. He had stopped sleeping through the night. I think his diminished appetite made him take smaller meals, so he would get hungry in the night. Also, the coughing and congestion would wake him. But the past two nights have been filled with good sleep, and hopefully tonight will be the same.
He does have little teeth trying to break through. I know that hurts. He's a champ about it, but I can tell he gets uncomfortable. He chews on everything - although he seems partial to my fingers. And sometimes he seems to be unhappy when he is nursing. I could tell that he is hungry, but he won't stay latched on. And then there are the times when he chomps on my nipples. I'm sure it makes his gums feel nice, but YEEOUCH for me!
Donovan has started noticing the world around him more and more. He has taken an interest in the cats. Sadly, they are rather disinterested in him. Oh well. Hopefully he continues to be gentle with them and not pull their tails (so far so good, but the adult supervision is very close thus far).
Through all of this, he is a smiley, happy little guy. He laughs so much, and his laugh is absolutely infectious. He has a ticklish tummy, and laughs out loud with belly tickles. He thinks that Jocelyn is hilarious. When she runs by he cracks up. I could tell that he is going to be an adventurer - he loves shin flights, getting bounced in the air, and anything that is a bit rough and tumble. It looks like I am going to have two rough and tumble kids.
I just can't believe how quickly it all happens. I am not chronicling nearly as well as I need to be. Pictures are a few months behind, and obviously blogging is nearly non-existent. But I do love my chunky monkey, so I guess that's the most important thing.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Happy Second Birthday, Jocelyn!
My baby girl is two! TWO! It's amazing how quickly this past year went. Of course, I did have a whole baby in that time. It's pretty funny, because we announced my pregnancy with Donovan during Jocelyn's birthday party, so everybody was asking what the big announcement would be this year :-P. I'm happy to report that there are no announcements to make.
Before I started writing this, I reread my post from Jocelyn's first birthday. And it's amazing how much she has changed. She only had a few words at her first birthday. Nohttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=103478114587038880#editor/target=post;postID=2817864046925414552w she has a whole vocabulary! There is pretty much nothing she can't say. And she understands what every basic, everyday object is. She can count to 3 with confidence and understanding of what the numbers mean. She can count to 5 and get the numbers right in order, but I suspect she is just reciting. And she knows her numbers through 11, but sometimes she messes up the order. They are just words to her at this point.
But she gets language so well. She understands about plural - one book, two books. She understands pronouns - I, me, you, etc. She knows what everything in our house is called. She really understands possession - especially when things are hers, but also when things belong to somebody else. When we tell her that something belongs to somebody else, she complies with not trying to take it. She even brings Donovan his toys, and points out that they are his - Donovan's Snoopy, Donovan's blanket, Donovan's giraffe. That being said, she will still often prefer his toys over hers, even when she has her own Snoopy, giraffe, etc. There was a day that she had a tea party with all Donovan's animals. It was hillarious.
In biggest news, she is using the potty quite a bit. She is far from potty trained. But today, at her birthday party, she had her first poop in the potty! She started peeing in it about a week ago (I really need to update this more!). Again, it's not even every day, and there are lots of false alarms, and we have her in diapers all the time, but she uses the potty sometimes and that's awesome.
Jocelyn is growing into such an amazing person. She is getting to where she could have a conversation with you. She very clearly tells you what she needs, wants, doesn't want, etc. She can tell you if something hurts. She can tell you if she is hungry and what she wants to eat - which is often candy (which we answer with 'no'). She is sweet and loving and likes to give Donovan hugs when he cries. She is also far too charming - doing cute things when she is in 'trouble.' She is the funniest person I know. Sometimes it's on purpose - she will do something silly, like climb up me. Other times it is not on purpose at all - like requesting candy for dinner, or asking for her crud back after Mike takes junk from her hands.
She is still a dare-devil. She isn't afraid of anything. She will climb right up the slide, hang from the bar and swing, slide all by herself. She wants to swim by herself - even though she can't swim! She loves splash day and gymnastics day at daycare. But she is also a care-giver, often putting her stuffed animals to bed and making sure that Donovan has what he needs. She has a great imagination, playing tea party with her little friends (stuffed animals) and also coloring with them. She has, in the past, 'ridden' her Clifford stuffed animal, the same way Emily Elizabeth does it in the books.
She is also a creature of habit. Since Mike typically gets her in the mornings, she wants him to get her in the mornings. If I go, she sends me away. She sleeps in her big girl bed, but still asks for her crib. If I pick just her up from daycare (like if we are going to the doctor, or Donovan is already home with Mike), she is concerned that I don't have him with me. I need to help her brush her teeth and read her bedtime stories. Then Mike needs to do a post-lights-out diaper change.
I know I have said this before, but every day my love for my children grows and grows. Being a parent has taught me the vastness of my patience and the depth of my love. Having a second child did not diminish any of the love for my first. The heart just grows and allows for more love to form. It's pretty amazing how that works.
Jocelyn, thank you for teaching me so much about myself, and for choosing me to be your mommy. I love you more and more with each passing day, and I am always fascinated to learn more about you. You are becoming such a lovely person, and I enjoy your company immensely.
Before I started writing this, I reread my post from Jocelyn's first birthday. And it's amazing how much she has changed. She only had a few words at her first birthday. Nohttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=103478114587038880#editor/target=post;postID=2817864046925414552w she has a whole vocabulary! There is pretty much nothing she can't say. And she understands what every basic, everyday object is. She can count to 3 with confidence and understanding of what the numbers mean. She can count to 5 and get the numbers right in order, but I suspect she is just reciting. And she knows her numbers through 11, but sometimes she messes up the order. They are just words to her at this point.
But she gets language so well. She understands about plural - one book, two books. She understands pronouns - I, me, you, etc. She knows what everything in our house is called. She really understands possession - especially when things are hers, but also when things belong to somebody else. When we tell her that something belongs to somebody else, she complies with not trying to take it. She even brings Donovan his toys, and points out that they are his - Donovan's Snoopy, Donovan's blanket, Donovan's giraffe. That being said, she will still often prefer his toys over hers, even when she has her own Snoopy, giraffe, etc. There was a day that she had a tea party with all Donovan's animals. It was hillarious.
In biggest news, she is using the potty quite a bit. She is far from potty trained. But today, at her birthday party, she had her first poop in the potty! She started peeing in it about a week ago (I really need to update this more!). Again, it's not even every day, and there are lots of false alarms, and we have her in diapers all the time, but she uses the potty sometimes and that's awesome.
Jocelyn is growing into such an amazing person. She is getting to where she could have a conversation with you. She very clearly tells you what she needs, wants, doesn't want, etc. She can tell you if something hurts. She can tell you if she is hungry and what she wants to eat - which is often candy (which we answer with 'no'). She is sweet and loving and likes to give Donovan hugs when he cries. She is also far too charming - doing cute things when she is in 'trouble.' She is the funniest person I know. Sometimes it's on purpose - she will do something silly, like climb up me. Other times it is not on purpose at all - like requesting candy for dinner, or asking for her crud back after Mike takes junk from her hands.
She is still a dare-devil. She isn't afraid of anything. She will climb right up the slide, hang from the bar and swing, slide all by herself. She wants to swim by herself - even though she can't swim! She loves splash day and gymnastics day at daycare. But she is also a care-giver, often putting her stuffed animals to bed and making sure that Donovan has what he needs. She has a great imagination, playing tea party with her little friends (stuffed animals) and also coloring with them. She has, in the past, 'ridden' her Clifford stuffed animal, the same way Emily Elizabeth does it in the books.
She is also a creature of habit. Since Mike typically gets her in the mornings, she wants him to get her in the mornings. If I go, she sends me away. She sleeps in her big girl bed, but still asks for her crib. If I pick just her up from daycare (like if we are going to the doctor, or Donovan is already home with Mike), she is concerned that I don't have him with me. I need to help her brush her teeth and read her bedtime stories. Then Mike needs to do a post-lights-out diaper change.
I know I have said this before, but every day my love for my children grows and grows. Being a parent has taught me the vastness of my patience and the depth of my love. Having a second child did not diminish any of the love for my first. The heart just grows and allows for more love to form. It's pretty amazing how that works.
Jocelyn, thank you for teaching me so much about myself, and for choosing me to be your mommy. I love you more and more with each passing day, and I am always fascinated to learn more about you. You are becoming such a lovely person, and I enjoy your company immensely.
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