Dance Baby, Dance!

I have been trying for forever to get a video of Mr. Monster dancing and I finally got one! It's not the best view since I was on the bed and he wasn't, but it's very clear what he's doing. Apparently all I needed was some Lady Gaga! Please pretend you don't see the mess- it's finals time for me.

Isn't he an excellent dancer?

A Belief Conundrum: Easter

Yesterday was the monster's first Easter... and we didn't do a single thing to celebrate it. Well, Grandma Lori played "Easter Bunny" and got us all one big basket full of socks for Nick and myself and swim gear for Logan- we were all very excited, Nick and I go through/lose socks way too quickly! But that's it. I had planned on taking Logan to church, but he's in his "I'm a toddler now so I don't need naps" phase and there was no way he was going to church. So we drove around for hours, went birthday shopping for his Aunty Hopie (I'm so excited to give her her presents!) and then just hung out at home (Sundays are Nick's sleep-in days.)

I kind of feel bad that Nick and I didn't get Logan anything for Easter, but I don't really know how to approach the subject and he's too young to really care. We plan on being completely open and honest with him in regards to religion and we plan on allowing him to believe in whatever he wants to believe. So the big question is, do we tell him that you get chocolate and eggs on Easter because Jesus died and rose from the dead or because it was originally a fertility holiday (and fertility is kind of a big deal to me)? Or just overwhelm his little brain by telling him that it is both? Since Nick and I believe different things, it's really hard to make a decision and we only have a year to decide (not to mention this upcoming Christmas and the Santa Indecision Crisis.)

I recently read Rousseau's Emile for the second time and it really went a long with what I believe when it comes to educating children- that you shouldn't reason with them until they're old enough to grasp it (or at least that's the idea, I'm certain it will be much harder to do that IRL.) That's what I want to do with religion, but I don't really think it's possible and it's really bothering me. How can I allow my little monster to make up his own mind when the world is full of other people who will be more than happy to fill it with whatever they believe then accuse me for being a bad Christian/mother/person/pagan/whatever?

It really is quite the conundrum.

I do have one picture from yesterday that I will post later today, because my little boy is super cute.

One Year Stats

L had his 12 month checkup today.

He didn't even notice the toe prick, but I'm sure the whole office was aware of his shots.

Poor thing.

He now weights 19 pounds, 11 ounces (around the 25th percentile)

He is 30.5 inches long (50th)

And his noggin is about 45cm (25th).

I'm so relieved that he has put more weight on, we were a little worried for a bit. The doctor says that he looks great and is hitting all of his milestones right on schedule. I'm so proud of my little man!

One

Where did the last year go?

It really does seem like just yesterday that the OB plopped this tiny little boy onto my chest

and now that wonderful little boy is a toddler.

Did I mention that as of 5/11 he has been a walker?

He just got up and walked all of a sudden and has been doing it 90% of the time ever since.

We celebrated his birthday yesterday and had such a blast, though I have to say, hosting birthday parties is exhausting!

Here are some of the highlights:

Playing on his little piano

Too busy walking to let me take his picture

Cake! I'm pleased to say that he didn't get sick afterwards

Applauding himself! He was great!

I am so honored to be little Logan's Mommy and though I am sad that my little boy isn't a baby any more, I am so excited for what this next year has in store for us!

New tricks!

There are so many things I need to update on, but I probably won't until after L's birthday- which is only two short weeks away! When did my baby grow up?

L got to open the present from his Grandpappy early since GPa is on his way back to England now and L absolutely loves his new toy!

10 and 11 months

We are all super worn out and I swear my brain is dead, so I'm going to update on what I can remember and then fill in the blanks during the post about our vacation. Oh yeah... we're going to Milwaukee tomorrow. Yay us!

L can stand all on his own! He doesn't do it very often, but he no longer freaks out when he realizes that he's not holding on to anything (which he did for weeks).

While standing on his own, he took one teeny step and BOTH Nick and I were home to witness it!

By the time we get back from vacation L will have 6 teeth instead of 2 and he is being a champ about having four teeth ripping through his upper gums all at once.

I'm trying to get him to say "Cowabunga"- so far I've gotten Wawawawa in response and I think that's amazing since I'm not really serious about him saying it (he still only says "mum," "dada" and "hey" to Artemis.) I also think he occasionally says "I did it" but I think it's really my brain running away with me.

He's been drinking 3oz of organic cows milk a day for a week now. It's a little early, but since he eats so much yogurt, the doc felt he was ready. We won't replace the rocket fuel completely for a few more months, but it's a start (and oh so much cheaper!)

Sadly, L seems to lost all interest in books. He doesn't want to sit still long enough to be read to and he likes to scream when we just read aloud while he crawls around. He doesn't even chew on them anymore. I really hope it's just a phase because it's breaking my heart a little.

Ok, that's all for now. We haven't packed anything and we have to leave the house by 4 tomorrow morning. But before I run away, here are some recent pictures of our little Monster:

Stats and Stroller

L had his nine month check-up yesterday and I'm pleased to say that he has gained some of the weight he lost from the plague is back but he is only in the 5-10 percentile for weight. Now that he can eat solids again, we're hoping he'll gain more soon. So here are the stats:

17lbs 7oz

28" long

He is currently getting another bottom tooth and his two front teeth in, so we're in for a rough week. I have a feeling that we will have to replace the nipples on his bottles pretty soon.

We finally got a jogging stroller! Its super cool, but super heavy. I'm going to go jogging with it tomorrow and I am so excited about it! I never thought I would say that I'm excited to go running. Isn't it snazzy? L seems to be enjoying the extra fabric on the straps.