Boyd - 11 months

In just a few short weeks I'll be the mother of a 1-year old. Sometimes I look at Boyd and wonder how we got so lucky to have such a beautiful, healthy, and inquisitive baby.

• Boyd has been waving when we say "hi" or "bye-bye." Sometimes he'll even just do it out of the blue or with two hands. I'm sure we look like idiots waving to him all of the time, but hey, when a baby interacts waves at you - you wave back.
• Likes shaking his head back and forth, like he's saying "no." I'm not sure he knows what it means, but it's still funny to see him do it with a smile on his face. 
• This cracks us up too, but it's hard to explain - Boyd will scrunch up his face and breathe in and out really quickly through his nose. Somehow he gets us all to do it and then we're all laughing hysterically. Where do babies get this stuff?
• He says "dada" a lot. Constantly and every day. I say "mama" to him and he sweetly replies "dada!" He uses varying inflections, depending on the situation. Really happy? Screams it. Mellow? Says it like he's talking about a mythical creature.
• I dread diaper changing time now. The best analogy I can offer is it's like wrestling an octopus - a writhing mass of arms and legs. Especially if an octopus shrieks and screams in the process, and tries to roll over on the changing table with a diaper full of poop.
• Has been all over the dog lately. He will crawl up to Drift to pet him, taste his fur (yuck), or hug him. Boyd will also do this thing where he'll use Drift's body as leverage to get into a standing position. The other day he did this and then promptly tumbled over Drift.
• Yes, our baby has been standing BY HIMSELF for a few seconds at a time. I'm not sure we're ready for our Tasmanian Devil to start walking yet. We just put up baby gates to block off his access to both sets of stairs. He is quite the fast crawler and moves faster than I thought possible.
• Another thing he loves to do is a baby-modified version of the Captain Morgan pose (crouching with one knee up).
• My mom works with him on vocabulary when she watches him, and at home D and I explain things to him so we think he's picking up a wide range of language skills.
• He absolutely is a music fan. Likes to do his version of dancing - sitting on his knees and bouncing up and down. We'll say, "let's play music" and he'll hit the music player's buttons. 
• How exactly do you discipline an 11-month old? Anything we tell him not to touch (e.g. the stand-alone radiator in his room, the pet water bowl, etc.) he of course touches and gets a big smile on his face. I know it's a big game to him but I'm getting tired of pulling him away from this stuff.
• We're pretty thankful that he loves food - all and any types. He's still drinking breastmilk, although less than before, and when he turns 1 we'll start supplementing with whole cow's milk. Or I've heard goat's milk is really beneficial (it's most like human milk) but I'm not sure where to get that in Anchorage. 
• This week there were a couple challenging evenings when he we would wake up about 40 minutes after bedtime and couldn't soothe himself back to sleep. I'm thinking he has too much excitement about learning new skills (like he can't turn his brain off). So I would have to go in to calm him down, which mainly consists of singing songs (which he loves) and holding him. He still goes down sleepy but awake for naps and bedtime. We're on a fairly consistent schedule for sleep (most days). Nap times are around 9:45 a.m. (takes about 15 minutes to fall asleep) and 2:30 p.m. (15 mins to sleep).
  At night we start the bedtime routine at 6:45 p.m. (diaper, jammies, nursing/milk, books and songs, then sleep.)

Super cute outfit my friend Stephanie bought Boyd for Christmas!

Even has flap on the butt - adorbs!

Hanging around outside during the warm days earlier this month.

I love his little off-center hair swirl. 

Broccoli, cauliflower and cheese.

Video: Crab fest - 10.75 months

My mom's birthday was earlier this month so D, Boyd and I took her out to a really nice Asian buffet here in town. The restaurant features crab at dinner time so my mom loaded up and even shared with Boyd, who apparently loves shellfish too.

Video: New shoes - 10.75 months

Why can't they make baby socks that actually stay on feet? I've started putting shoes on Boyd when we go out because those darn socks always fall off. Now he likes pulling off his socks AND shoes. These shoes were a gift from my boss - very cute!

Video: Reaching out - 10.5 months

Daddy teases Boyd using a tape measure.

Ski day

The snow finally arrived and we were outside ASAP on Saturday! Because it was our first time pulling Boyd in the Chariot, I wanted somewhere fairly flat with no creek crossings to ski on this day. We ended up choosing the Campbell Airstrip, which isn't too far from our house in the Campbell Tract BLM - except for the fact that the gate nearest our house (less than a mile) was closed. Was very surprised about that since it was the first weekend day after a big snow - didn't they think people would want to use the trails?

Anyway, we drove to the east side of town for the other access point, a trailhead in Far North Bicentennial Park. D estimates that just the airstrip portion was about 3/4 of a mile and we ended up skiing that 4 times, so total for the day was somewhere around 4 miles. We would have gone longer but Boyd started to get fussy after he awoke from a nap - our outdoor adventures are much shorter now that we have a baby!

The Chariot isn't heavy, per se, but it's definitely a workout to pull it with a little one inside. The ski attachment worked perfectly and the harness was pretty comfortable. I pulled it for about a mile until I got tired - D did the rest. Boyd weighs about 23 pounds now, so it's only going to get heavier as time goes on.

Chariots are very common around here, so we only received a few comments on our setup. We unscrewed the stroller wheels, removed the back wheels and popped on the skis. All very easy and quick.

We put Boyd in all of his layers plus the down snowsuit, and then popped him a warm bunting bag. I put Vaseline on his face (especially those cheeks!) to protect his fair skin. Definitely got the fair skin from his father.

From the looks of it, many people were happy to get out into the snow. We saw people walking with dogs, running, skiing (classic, like us, and skate skiing), and skijoring (skiing while a dog in harness pulls you).

Topsy-turvey weather

It's currently snowing now (YES!!!) but for almost a week we were dealing with the fallout from a warm front, chinook winds and rain. Yes, rain in Alaska in January. Most of our wonderful snow melted and then refroze into sheets of slick ice.

The photo below is no joke - even our neighborhood street looked just like this. School and many businesses closed down on Monday - even D got the day off! I made sure to put my ice cleats on my shoes so I wouldn't take a nasty fall with Boyd in my arms.

So far we've received a couple inches of snow at our house and I am itching to go x-c skiing this weekend with my boys!

Snowshoe adventure #2

I'm so bummed about our lack of snow so far this winter! Last year was the snowiest winter ever (we smashed a previous record) with a total precipitation count of 133.6 inches - that's 11 feet of snow. Last year my doctor wouldn't let me ski because of the pregnancy and I was so looking forward to it this year. Alas, most of the snow we did get has melted into ice and hard, crusty layers.

Hopefully soon we'll get another snow dump and will finally be able to test out our new Chariot with the little peanut safely nestled inside. In the meantime, D and I took Boyd out for his second snowshoe outing since he was born. It was a lovely way to celebrate New Year's Day, 2013.

The trail was very icy in some places, so I'm glad we had our snowshoes to better grip the slippery surface. Boyd got to hang out in a comfy hiking backpack that D found on Craigslist for cheap. It worked pretty well and Boyd even fell asleep at one point!

A trail on the east side of town.

Sleepy baby.

That is pure ICE under our snowshoes.

Abandoned beaver hut. It was HUGE!

Overcast day, but fairly warm - around 20 degrees, I think? Pretty view of the Chugach Range.

Some sort of animal track, I forgot to ask D what kind. Maybe moose?

Close up of the tracks encased in ice near the creek.

Thought it was interesting how a hole in the ice opened up for this plant.

Little waterway that hasn't frozen over.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Colicky blues

I'll be honest, I'm not sure if I can handle having another child. And to clarify, it's not pregnancy or physically birthing the baby or even the day to day details of raising a kid. That stuff can be difficult at times but I am TERRIFIED of having another colicky baby. I almost lost my mind with Boyd and I'm sure that having a mild form of postpartum depression didn't help the situation.Or maybe his colic played into the baby blues, either way it was tough.

Not having help with hard too. That wasn't anyone's fault - D had to take the job that was offered and it just happened to be out of town. My mom wasn't able to be up here when she had planned on it, my sister had her own job and life to deal with, and my friends were busy. But I absolutely won't have another child unless I have a strong support system in place. Not having anyone to turn to after 4 straight days in baby isolation with constant crying, no sleep and crazy hormones is not healthy. I remember watching D's truck pull away on Monday morning as he drove to Cooper Landing for the week and feeling the rising panic in my chest that I would try to dampen. Knowing that Friday was a very long way away.

I read this article and was like, yes, someone gets it! http://www.babble.com/baby/colic-dealing-with-crying-baby-harm-to-parents/  This paragraph sums up where D and I are now very succinctly:

"We’re also still more cautious than other parents we know. For months, we’d both get jumpy from just a little normal “I’m hungry” or “I’m tired” crying. It was weeks after colic was over before we started taking the baby out with friends. We still plan our lives around naps or bedtimes, and I’m sure our friends think we’re overprotective."

I am SO protective of Boyd's sleep! If we go out to eat, I make my family meet up no later than 5:30 so we can finish up and be home by 7 p.m. for Boyd's bedtime. I won't sacrifice naps for fun activities, it's just not worth it.

I look at this face and thank our lucky stars that Boyd is here, but it was a rough road.

Merry Christmas!

We had a lovely, low-key holiday here in Alaska. On Christmas Eve, we ran a few errands early in the morning and then pretty much took it easy the rest of the day. D made jambalaya (which was delicious) and then we spent a short time at my mom's house in the evening.

The next day was spent opening presents and while Boyd wasn't too interested in this activity, I'm sure he'll be into it next year. He received a few toys and some great new clothes from his grandparents. His great aunt Barbara and great uncle Jim sent a peekaboo monkey that he LOVES! And the outfit he's wearing below is from Grandma Mim and Grandpa Don - the perfect ensemble for a little elf on Christmas Day.

Later on we joined Risha and Gabe at my mom's for a king crab leg feast. I haven't eaten that much crab EVER in my whole life. It was the best. Overall, a really nice holiday, especially since the temperature warmed up to the twenties and we received snow on Christmas Day. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Video: Playtime - 10.25 months

Boyd is always on the go - I'm surprised when I see him sitting quietly, playing with toys!

Randoms

Just a few photos from the last couple weeks...

My friend Susan took this while we were at her house for a play date. We were all laughing because Boyd was CHEESING it up once he figured out she was taking his photo. What a ham!

Another installment of "Grumpy Dog and the Baby."

"YUM, I love puppies! Nom, nom, nom."

"Heehee."

It's clear and ridiculously cold at our house. Almost 14 degrees BELOW zero.

I will give this kid almost anything to play with if it means keeping him happy during a diaper change.

Boyd - 10 months

Baby Boyd is growing up so quickly before our eyes...

• His 9 month appointment ended up being closer to 10 months, but his growth is right on track. I'll post the stats once I find the note that they're scribbled on - most likely it's at the bottom of the diaper bag.  No scheduled immunizations but I opted for him to receive a flu vaccine. He'll get the second booster next month. 
• This kid is all about movement. He is walking like a champ (still with support) and finally has CRAWLED! We were all blown away because it seemed like he was going to pass that stage. Everyday he goes a little bit further and faster.
• Just today Boyd crawled to the bathroom where I was getting ready, got up on his knees and reached up to clutch my calves. Then he switched to holding onto my skirt, all while balancing on his knees. I was impressed!
• He has started to stick his tongue out a lot and will even play around to imitate us when we stick ours out. I was holding Boyd and talking to D at the same time, when I saw out of the corner of my eye that Boyd was leaning over to try and get my attention. He had his tongue out and when I stuck mine out, he gave me a huge smile.
• Did I mention that earlier this year I won a BOB Revolution stroller through a Facebook contest? It was basically just like the one my mom bought us from REI. I ended up selling it to my friend at a low price since she watched Boyd for a few days when I first went back to work. Anyway, I entered another contest and was just notified that I am the winner of an ErgoBaby Organic carrier! We have one that I bought months ago and absolutely love, so I'll probably keep this one and stash it in the car for hikes and grocery store/mall trips. 
• Pushing limits and testing boundaries are par for the course at this age, I've heard, and Boyd is definitely there. For example, he will crawl over to the heater in his room and get super close before looking over to see if I'm watching. Then he'll put a hand out and I'll say "no touch." And he'll sort of move towards it again.
• He just got over a nasty cold and I suspect he got it from a play date friend. Lots of sneezing, trouble sleeping, runny noise, decreased appetite, and general irritability. Luckily it seems to be a short illness - just a couple days.
• We had a fun play date a few Sundays ago with my friends Sara and Susan. Their kids are John (6 months) and Claira (19 months). We all made something for brunch and then ate and played with our kiddos. See that pile of stuff in the photo below - bags, outerwear, presents - that was just what Boyd and I brought! Sometimes I feel like a bag lady with all of the baggage I schlep around.

Play date with friends. We plan on doing these mama brunches once a month.

Boyd loved playing with new toys at a friend's house. This is also how he picked up a bad cold too!

Due to lack of snow and ground insulation, the hydrant in front of our house sprung a leak. The city water utility came out and spent over an hour fixing and replacing the pipe. 

Fun at Costco.

They sell little Mini Coopers at Costco! So adorable and I love that it looks like the one my dad used to own. He loved that little car. I seriously thought about buying this for Boyd and holding onto it for a couple years until he could use it. Then I realized: 1) we don't have space for it, 2) my husband would kill me, and 3) it cost over $200.

Happy kid in the back seat! We still have to install the big new car seat.

Still loves bath time like nobody's business. Seriously, he can happily sit in the tub for 30-45 minutes.

No more Cuties before bed - I think the acid upset his stomach a bit.

A one-sided love affair.

Snow day

It was chilly this afternoon (4 degrees) but I bundled up Boyd to try out his infant sled. We walked up and down our driveway and neighborhood street. Afterwards I set him in the snow and he seemed pretty interested in the white stuff. From the photos he looks less than enthused though!

On a super cold day like today, I dress Boyd in his Patagonia layers, cover his hands and feet with my wool socks, and then put him in a down bunting.

Schedule

I am so incredibly thankful that Boyd's sleep has improved. My quality of life has improved as well - I can actually sit and enjoy most of my evenings (after chores) instead of spending 4+ hours putting my baby to sleep every night. I look back on his first 8 months and think, "INSANITY!"

• On an average day, Boyd wakes himself at around 6:45 a.m. I usually wake 10-15 minutes before he does and flip on the baby monitor to see how he's doing. I get out of bed and scoop him out of the crib for good morning kisses. (D gets up at 4:50 a.m. and leaves the house for work at 5:40 a.m.) I never used to be a morning person, but my early wake up call doesn't bother me now that I'm getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night as opposed to a few 2-3 hour segments. It's amazing what some perspective will do for your outlook! 
• Boyd nurses right away, since he has gone all night (12 hours) without eating. I cherish these early morning feeding sessions - Boyd is still sleepy and usually pretty quiet while eating. I get to stroke his sweet little head and relax for a few minutes. Then he gets a new diaper and outfit for the day. We spend a little while looking out of his bedroom window and saying good morning to everything. I also use this time to restock diapers and wipes, change his sheets, and sometimes get his laundry started. 
• We head back to the master bedroom, where Boyd gets to play with toys while I take a shower. I manage to get dressed and maybe put on makeup before he starts getting bored and/or has his first poop of the day. Another diaper change and I try to dry my hair before we head downstairs.  
• On a work day, my mom arrives around 8:15 a.m. and she feeds Boyd breakfast (oatmeal plus baby yogurt or fruit). I finish getting ready and scoot off to work to arrive by 9 a.m.
• If it's a Monday (my "Mom"day!") or weekend, I feed Boyd breakfast and eat something light myself. Afterwards he has floor playtime while I tidy the kitchen, start laundry, take out the garbage, or do other light chores. By this time it's around 9 a.m. and he's usually starting to get tired. We do a mini version of his bedtime routine: new diaper, books, kisses, down in the crib and then lights out. He goes down sleepy but awake. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes to fall asleep and other times it's more like 15.
  
• Once he is asleep I do more chores. If it's a Monday, I look over my shopping list for the grocery store and Costco. On Mondays I make a more elaborate meal for dinner since I have more time to prep and cook. This week I made spinach and black bear manicotti. It was awesome.
  
• Boyd normally takes a 35-45 minute nap and once he's up, I nurse and change him. We get bundled up and zoom off for shopping. He's a big boy now and sits in the shopping cart, taking in the sights and sounds. People love him and he receives a lot of attention.
  
• Once we get home I lug all of the groceries into the house and try to put them away before feeding Boyd lunch, usually a meat/protein, veggies and fruit for dessert. After a little while he is ready for an afternoon nap.
  
• I take this time to prep dinner and switch over laundry. Once Boyd wakes he nurses and then we practice walking around (and crawling now too!) Sometimes we'll hang out downstairs in the laundry room while I fold clothes and he puts various things in his mouth and slobbers on them.
  
• If my mom is watching him for the day, he usually gets a bath sometime during the day. I like to do it in the afternoon when I'm home. He is not a happy camper if we pull him out of the bath too early!
  
• On weekends our schedule varies a bit during the day depending on activities we leave the house for. During the week, D and I return home after work and my mom gets to go home. She usually feeds him solids for dinner before leaving and then we have playtime with Boyd. D and I take turns making dinner, depending on who got home first or has a menu planned.  
• By 6:30 or 6:45, Boyd starts to get fussy and tired. His evening routine starts with goodnight kisses for everyone before heading upstairs to his room. He is put into a nighttime diaper and his fleece sleep sack before we  get one last nursing session in. After he's full, I turn on the noise machine and his battery-powered candles (nightlights). We read books until he's tired, which takes about 10-15 minutes at the most. Sometimes he wakes after 30-40 minutes but very rarely do we have to go up and help him back to sleep.

Did I mention earlier that my reduced schedule was approved? It's been fabulous to spend an extra day with my boy. We usually spend it cleaning, grocery shopping and prepping a nice dinner - things I don't usually have time for during a regular week.