Monday, April 30, 2012

Garden Update

 So far things are going very well in the garden.  Our grass is coming in.

 Peas are coming up.
 We have an herb garden : lots of basil, mint, cilantro, sage, rosemary, oregano and fennel.
 Carrots are sprouting.
 Leeks are coming up too. 
 We have collards coming up.
 Broccoli sprouts are coming up too.
 Spinach is starting to grow like crazy.
And here is lettuce too.

Really happy with how it is going so far.  Summer squash will be planted soon, quickly followed by beans, tomatoes and winter squash.   I am hoping we will have lots of extra to freeze this summer. 

We also recently planted lots of marigolds to help with pest control.  We need to fertilize the new sprouts and mulch them to control the weeds.

The most difficult part is keeping Leland out of the sprouts.  He wants to help with everything and copy what we do.  When I use the shovel, he has to come try it as well.  He loves playing in the dirt, eating the dirt and eating the mulch.  I am having to teach him how to be nice to plants as well.  Similar to how we have to be nice to kitties.  He can be a bit aggressive at times.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Best decision

A favorite quote from this weekend or all time

Jeff "I think the best decision you made was wanting to have a kid"

That's all I have for now, it was a good weekend.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Friday Footage v. 5

Leland is a bit obsessed with the vacuum.  He will follow Jeff around the whole house to watch him.


This was Leland's favorite birthday card.  Thank you Uncle Jeff.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Leland 365

So I may have taken a photo of Leland every single day for a year.  Then I created a book, which is on its way to me as we speak.  (and yes Grandmas there is a copy for you coming as well.)

Here is the slideshow of the book.


The inscription in the beginning of the book:
I decided to take on this project after realizing I took a photo each day for the first month of your life.  I figured, why not continue it for the next 11 months?  Somedays I almost forgot, but there was always a photo taken (even if it was at 10 p.m.). 

It has been amazing to watch you grow.  This book documents your first year very well.

Love you,
Momma


Enjoy.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

toddler

Leland has started to be more consistent with his walking, meaning he did it on a day besides Sunday.
But he still prefers to crawl and you have to try and coax him to walk.

We finally caught it on tape.

I guess we officially have a toddler.

Monday, April 23, 2012

let 'im eat cake.

Here are a couple of videos from Leland's birthday and party.




His party was great!  It was very low key and relaxed.  I didn't take too many pictures which is both good and bad.  The company and food were great too!  We made veggie burgers, caprese salad, veggies with hummus and ranch, fruit salad and of course- cupcakes!  We also provided beer, but for some reason everyone was being lame and not drinking.
 Leland's cupcake with chocolate chips.  He is obsessed with them.  He knows what the bag looks like and when he sees it in the fridge he either grabs it or points and signs milk (he does this when ever he wants something, particularly food).  I think them being on his cupcake made him more interested than he would have been.

 His super cute outfit.  His shirt said Leland and had the number 1 on it.

The water table was a hit with all the kids.  That first shot is awesome because you can see the water being sprayed.


Family photos!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday Footage v.4






Have a great weekend!

Leland will be having some friends over the weekend to celebrate his birthday and eat a cupcake!

( I am personally excited to get down on some cupcakes.  I made orange vanilla cupcakes and chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.  The worst part is I have to decide which kind to have.)

Thursday, April 19, 2012

growning-up and a birthday

Besides the sleeping in the crib trait, Leland also now insists on using utensils to eat with, and using bowls to eat out of or plates to eat off of.

He understands request from me, such as 'please give me your binkie'.  He babbles a lot.  But no clear understandable words yet, besides hi.  He is really into waving at people right now.  If he is in the stroller he will have at people a block away.  He really hates it when people ignore this.  He also like to throw fits when food is not given to him fast enough.  

He also took a couple of steps, toward my phone.  But then got embarrassed by it and crawled to his room. He has refused to re-attempt this feat thus far.   Well he seems to only attempt to walk on Sundays.  The other days of the week are for crawling.  I think he just wants to wait until he feels more stable.  He can stand on his own and will shuffle his feet a bit, and then go down to crawl.  But I am not complaining since crawling is easier to contain than walking. 

I told him he can take his time because all this growing up is too much for me.  One step at a time, literally. 

But now he is one, ONE!  This year has flown, but I also feel that time without him doesn't exist.

It is crazy to look back at photos a couple of months ago and see a baby face.  He already looked so much older.  My baby is slowly disappearing and it is crazy.

I have been ignoring this day as much as possible.  I know if I think about it too much I will start crying.  Thankfully I have been busy and there is very little time to dwell.  But randomly this week I will get a moment of anxiousness and I think it is related to Leland turning one.  Really I have no idea why I am feeling this way, but it is my best guess.  

Happy Birthday Leland, looking forward to the many years to come.
p.s.this is my 400th post!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

death

Jeff had a previous co-worker that passed away over the weekend.  For some reason it has really caught me off guard.  I didn't even really know him, besides him being my cashier.  Maybe it is because he is my age or maybe because I haven't had to deal with death in a while.

As a kid I went to numerous funerals.  That is what happens when you had a lot of great aunts and uncles.  For a while I had a habit of attaching to who ever would die next.  I don't think it was intentional but that is how it seemed to happen to me.  After going to so many funerals, I associate flowers with dead people.  I am not a fan of flowers.

The worst was when my grandpa died.  I can still imagine that day and his funeral.  It still gets me to cry at any moment. 

I have had a break in the numerous funerals.  I am trying to think about the last one I went to and I believe it was a for a friend that died in Afghanistan.

It is awful seeing people your age die, it makes you realize shit can happen at anytime.

All I want to do is hold Leland tight and never let him go or get hurt.  

Sorry for the depressing post, but I had to get it out so I get past it. It doesn't help that I am already nostalgic about Leland turning one but I am trying to ignore it for now.  I am sure tomorrow will have another sad post because I will have to face the fact that I have a one year old.  Good God.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

TAT: Schedule

I posted awhile back about our daily routine.  Now that Leland has gotten older it is more of a set schedule with some flexibility depending on wake up time and the mood of the day.



7 am: (or often earlier) He wakes up and I beg him to keep sleeping.  He crawls out of bed and plays around the room until I manage to open my eyes.
Then we go into his room and change his diaper. I go and get breakfast ready.
8 am: breakfast (which must include yogurt and a fruit for him, coffee and a waffle for me) and then clean-up/play time/book time
 Hello Alton, How are you today?

9:30 am: Leland begins to either have a fit from being tired or starts biting my shoulder for milk.  So it is off to bed.

11 am: Leland is either up by this time or I wake him up by this time to go out.  We run errands at this time, visit the library or go to play group.

12 pm or 1 pm: Lunch (which usually involves cheese of some form)

Then more play time

He is really into pointing right now, as well as giving the goofy open mouth smile.  He also has to try and give you everything, he is a great sharer.  

2:30 pm to 3 pm: He again has a fit or bites my shoulder for milk, meaning nap time.

5 pm: Leland is up by this time or again woken up.  He usually has to have a snack at this time.  So I have to find something in the fridge to snack on like a muffin or some granola. 

Then it is time to get dinner ready, maybe go outside if he wakes up before 5 pm.

6 pm: Dinner

After dinner Leland showers with me or takes a bath.

Then it is giggle time in our room and on our bed. Or laying on the floor while brushing teeth.

7:30 pm Book time with Daddy

Then off for milk again and bed.

And then momma gets some down time on the computer or homework time.

Nothing too exciting, but it is our life.

Monday, April 16, 2012

water table

Another early birthday gift, he enjoys it quite a bit. 
Water tables are the best.
Look ma, no hands.  He does this a lot without realizing it.

Friday, April 13, 2012

outside


This boy loves to be outside. 
And eating fistfuls of dirt.

Or standing at the window looking outside.

All very cute traits, well maybe not the eating mud one. 

Thesis defense is later this morning.  Hopefully Leland cooperates with the babysitter, first non-family one.  But it is a friend with a baby his age, so hopefully that helps.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

sleeping in his crib


I can't remember if I already posted about Leland sleeping in his crib and I am a bit too lazy to check right now, so recap.

For naps and bedtime I use to nurse Leland to sleep in our bed, but then someone smartened up and realized he could get off the bed.  So he stopped nursing to sleep and would crawl off the bed when he was finished nursing.

To win this battle I would just nurse him and then put him in his crib.  Which he was fine with, he went to bed without crying.  

Naps are great, no problemo.

My issue is nighttime.  He use to wake up about an hour after being in the crib and then we would transfer him to our bed at this time.  Or he would wake up around 10 wanting to nurse again, so he would be transitioned to our bed.

This past week he has been sleeping longer in his crib, like 11 or 12 or so.  I am struggling with this.  I should be happy that he is progressing toward sleeping through the night but I don't have an issue with walking up 1-2 times a night.  I am pretty use to it now. 

Also I have to have him nurse for me to fall asleep.  I am a junky for the hormones released while nursing.  I will lie in bed for hours until he wakes up and nurses. 

Also I want him in the bed with me, it feels so empty without him there.  I laid in bed last night crying because he was in his crib sleeping and here I was not able to sleep. 

Why do these babies have to grow up?  It is so not fair. 

I know I crazy for thinking this way.  Most people are excited for their kid sleeping int heir own bed and longer stretches.  But I am not at all.  Why does independence have to sting so much?

So there will be no celebration here when he sleeps through the night in his own crib, just tear stains on my pillow.  (Dramatic I know)

Monday, April 9, 2012

Garden- summer 2012

 The plans: We have big plans for the garden this year.  Our old garden area will now become a grassy area for Leland to play in.  While the rest of the backyard will be the garden.  We are doing a lot of new items this year which is exciting and scary, because you never know what will work. 
 The seeds: We went through a seed exchange this year, which is exciting. 
The book: Every question we have, we look for the answer in this book. 

We will also get some items as plants once it is time, such as tomatoes and herbs.
I hope we have enough excess produce to freeze or can as well, we will see.  

Jeff has already planted peas, kale, broccoli, carrots and leeks.  We have lots of pea sprouts coming up now! 

Does anyone else have big plans this year?

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Teeth

I recently snapped a couple of photos where L's teeth are actually visible.  He has four now!  I think he is working on more since he keeps chewing on his finger a lot, but it is impossible to take a peek in there. 





Also a doctor update: Leland is all good, just a virus.  No sounds in his lungs and as of right now he doesn't have an ear infection.  He weighs 20 lbs too.  I think he is starting to feel better since he had so much energy tonight he couldn't wind down for an hour.

BTW- I love our pediatrician.  She said L had one ear that looked red but she didn't want to put him on antibiotics until it actually became an ear infection.  He has had a red ear before and it didn't turn into an ear infection, so I am pretty sure this one will be fine as well.  I am glad that she isn't pen happy with writing prescriptions when they aren't necessary.  While antibiotics can do great things, they are also very dangerous when not needed, since they kill everything.  I am just really glad we are on the same page about this.