Iditarod 2013

Although we are in Boyd's 2nd year, I feel like he is really getting to experience things this time around. A couple weekends ago, D and I bundled Boyd up to watch the Iditarod teams run through town. Our house is very close to the Campbell Creek Science Center, which serves as the end point for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod.

It's a little over a mile to the CCSC and we started out late because of a wonky nap schedule. It was a lovely day though - blue skies and sunshine. We arrived and took a spot next to the trail to watch the teams breeze through. Those dogs live to run - don't let anyone tell you otherwise - and love pulling sleds. We managed to see 3 teams before a man on a very old snowmachine rode down the trail with a flag saying, "Race is Over." LOL - we arrived at the very end!

It was still fun - I've seen the official start downtown a couple times and there is an amazing energy in the air. I'd like to take Boyd down there next year.

Boyd - 13 months

My sweet boy is 13 months old.

I had a dream last night that someone was threatening Boyd and I totally went into crazy protective mode. Like have you ever seen a mama moose stomp something in order to defend her offspring? That's how I felt during this dream. And that's how I feel in real life. If someone or something ever tried to hurt Boyd, I would lose it. I'm like that with Risha too. Years ago, some guy yelled at her when we were in a bar - I got up in his face and yelled right back. The look on his face was priceless. I'm pretty easy going and sweet, but get on my bad side and suffer the consequences.

Anyways, the updates...

• Boyd is walking a few steps by himself. Very wobbly but we're practicing. And he's so excited to walk! Lots of giggles and laughs when stumbling into our arms. I also love seeing him slowly make his way along the coffee table or kitchen wall - one or both hands providing balance.
• Loves sledding and is very good about wearing his sunglasses - possibly because he knows it means we're going outside? Did you know that most of the sun damage to eyes happens when we are kids? So I'm glad he's patient with wearing eye protection. 
• He'll place items into containers when I ask him to. Would much prefer to knock things over and drop them on the ground though.
• A couple times per week he's been napping only once per day. I wonder if he's moving towards dropping one nap. On one-nap days, he is exhausted by 6:15 or 6:30 p.m. (bedtime usually begins at 7 p.m., with sleep by 7:25). On the whole, nighttime sleep is excellent.
• We all make sure to say "please" and "thank you" to Boyd so he learns good manners.
• His stranger danger is diminishing but still prefers women to men. 
• We continue to name things and increase his comprehension of objects. He knows certain words really well, e.g. book, feet, mama, dada, grandma, kitty, puppy, etc. - all the basics. 
• Two baby molars have arrived. He's starting to bite me again at the end of nursing sessions.
• We called the doctor this weekend after noticing a quarter-sized red spot and little raised bump on Boyd's thigh. It is going away and the doc says it was most likely a localized reaction to the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine.
• I read books every night to Boyd before bed and he has taken to holding the books himself and flipping through the pages.
• On Monday, Boyd and I will attend a Music Together demo class with Risha and one of the girls she nannys for. It's a local music program that offers 6-8 week classes for children. It's great that they offer these demos to figure out if it's something that will work for your kid, especially since the package runs something like $150. 

I'm experimenting with a new iPhone app - PicFrame - which lets me consolidate similar photos into one frame and add captions. I'm liking it so far...

This weekend was absolutely breathtaking - blue skies, warm temperatures, minimal wind. I went out twice with Boyd to stroll around our neighborhood. He's wearing a new hat from the Gap, warm layers, a snowsuit and a Tuffo Muddy Buddy. The Muddy Buddy is waterproof so I don't have to worry about snow melting all over him.

We had to go through security at some place last weekend and D placed Boyd in one of the bins after we gathered our stuff. The security guards were so nice and didn't even mind when we took a few moments to take photos.

Baby loves bath time.