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Christmas 2015
TODD’S SECOND CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 23 – 27, 2015
Note– I was going to include this stuff in my “Todd the Toddler’s 17th Month” post (soon to be completed), but that post started getting too long. So here is a separate post just about Christmas 2015. (I know, I know…it’s February now and Christmas is OVER! Sorry!)
Over the river and through the woods – December 23, 2015
On December 23rd, we drove to Bend, OR for the Christmas holiday. We got a later start than usual because we waited until after Todd woke up (at 7:15 AM) to get on the road. I figured the days away from home would be pretty busy so I didn’t want to cheat him out of any sleep by waking him up.
Unfortunately it took much longer than usual to get there because we were stopped on the snowy highway just down from Mt Hood due to an accident closure. Despite the long car ride, Todd did quite well because he had the opportunity to get out of his car seat and explore the car for a while.
It was dinner time by the time we rolled into Bend. My sister picked us up some take-out from Spork (yum).
Stopped on the highway near Mt Hood – December 23, 2015
We stayed with my sister, brother-in-law, niece & nephew. During the visit, we also spent time with my parents (“Grandma” & “Grandpa”), my aunt & uncle, and my brother-in-law’s parents (“Nana” & “Grampy”).
On Christmas eve, my mom & aunt babysat Todd while we did some x-country skiing with my sister’s family at Virginia Meissner Sno-park. Todd napped for 2.5 hours in his Pack ‘n Play travel bed, which was awesome!
X-country skiing at Virginia Meissner Sno-park – December 24, 2015
That evening, we celebrated my dad’s birthday (12/24) like we always do, by having drinks and a lasagna dinner. After dinner, dad opened his presents and we all watched “The Muppet Family Christmas.” This year the celebration was at Nana & Grampy’s house.
Me, my sister & parents – December 24, 2015
Todd stayed out of trouble in the new surroundings, and he had fun being bounced on a yoga ball and dragged along the carpet by his cousins. He even found a “gar” to play with.
Having fun with Todd’s cousins – December 24, 2015
Playing with a car on Christmas Eve 2015
Christmas morning was overwhelming for Todd, so he preferred playing a little further away from the action. He liked hanging out on the stair landing, above the Christmas tree.
Christmas 2015
The stuffed frog “Relaximal” from my mom was an immediate hit. He loves pillows and big stuffed animals. On Christmas Todd gave me lots of kisses, and he kissed his cousin Ashley and his Grandma, too!
Pillow frog from Grandma – Christmas 2015
Later in the day, Todd was dressed in his snow gear to try out his new snow sled in the yard (also from his Grandma). I watched from inside, but he seemed to do okay!
Eric & Todd – Christmas 2015
Todd napped for 2.5 hours after having such a stimulating morning. Christmas dinner was at my parents’ house, with my aunt and uncle. We always get a kick out of this singing doggy…
The day after Christmas included a short walk in the snow near my sister’s house. In general, Todd hasn’t spent much time in baby carriers, but when he does get a ride in the Ergo carrier, he seems to enjoy it.
Elisa & Todd – December 26, 2015
In the evening of December 26th, we all gathered again for our “traditional” Christmas dinner, vegan of course! We always have Field Roast’s Hazelnut Cranberry Roast En Croute. That meal was at my sister’s house.
Cousins – December 26, 2015
We listened to festive music and Todd showed off his dance moves to Chuck Berry’s “Run, Rudolph, Run.”
Todd took an interest in Kaiser the cat during this trip. One time Todd got a little too close for Kaiser’s comfort which resulted in Todd receiving a small scratch. For the most part, though, Todd followed our instructions to be “soft and gentle.”
Eric, Todd & Kaiser cat – December 26, 2015
By the end of our trip, Todd got somewhat confident walking down the stairs unsupported. Before that, he first learned how to safely descend them by crawling backward and by walking down with support from one railing or a helping hand.
On one set of just 2 steps (into the play room), Todd accidentally did a somersault down one step. I caught him as he rolled out of it. At first he looked surprised and little scared, but wouldn’t you know…he soon tried to repeat it on purpose!
On December 27th, we drove back home. We made 2 food stops (Baja Fresh & Starbucks). Todd pooped 3 times…haha! Pooping while riding in the car is definitely out of the ordinary for him.
Headed back home –
December 27, 2015
When I opened the mail at home, I felt so happy to read this lovely card from one very special lady. I hadn’t heard from her in a while, and it was like getting a big hug! I love her.
Christmas card from Lillian
Almost 13 months old – September 14, 2015
THIRTEENTH MONTH
AUGUST 21 – SEPTEMBER 21 (2015)
THIRTEENTH MONTH “FIRSTS”
- 1st birthday! (8/21)
- 1st time clapping hands together (8/26)
- 1st time saying “car” (8/26)
- 1st time stepping up a curb (legs only) (8/30)
- 1st time stepping down a curb (legs only) (9/2)
- 1st “play date” (9/8)
- 1st birthday party (9/13)
- 1st & 2nd full days with Eric while I worked (9/19 & 9/20)
1st birthday party – September 13, 2015
WORDS
- car (sounds like “gah”)
- he says car for real cars, toy cars, cars in books and on TV
- ball (sounds like “bah”)
- he says ball for real balls, balls in books and on TV
1st full day with dada – September 19, 2015
OTHER SPEECH/LANGUAGE
- new sounds: “um bucka bucka”/”a buckum buckum”
- he makes a “nam” sound when it’s time to eat
- he directly addressed one of the kids (“Emil”) we’d just met at the park by name (8/30)
- he might have said his name (9/5)
- he might have said “I love you” (he said to both Eric & I separately)
- he knows what “pillow blanket” means and will look for it (same goes for balls)
FOLLOWING COMMANDS
- “clap your hands” (no gestural cues) (9/1)
- “stomp your feet” (9/2)
- “high five” (9/3)
- “brush my hair” (9/7)
- “take your bib off” (he also does on his own) (9/10)
- “skinny cat” (which means raise arms to help having shirt removed)
- “throw it” (either a ball or something “yucky” that he picks up outside)
- “down dog” (9/15)
- “where’s your ball/pillow blanket?” (he’ll go looking)
MISC MOTOR
- he walked backward repeatedly with his Little Tikes car (8/25)
- he stepped over the couch armrest (from the coffee table) using just his legs (8/31)
- he steps up & down curbs (with & without help)
- sitting on his Little Tikes car, he “drove” it forward with feet by leaning way forward (9/10)
- he climbed into a kitchen cupboard (9/16)
- possible right hand dominance (i.e. when eating)
- he started doing “down dog” yoga pose before I realized that’s what he was doing (he sees me doing it regularly)
- he doesn’t just walk, he runs!
- he trips less frequently
- he rarely hits his head when falling backward because his abdominal strength is so good
Climbing into a cupboard – September 16, 2015
FUN TIMES AT HOME
- “dancing”
- making us laugh doing his funny “shaky thing”
- throwing/bouncing balls
- making “baskets” in the basketball hoop & Pack ‘n Play
- driving his little cars across the floor (or walls)
- turning pages of books
- he laughs hysterically while chasing & being chased, then falls into pillows
- I cut 1 panel out of a Pack ‘n Play to make him a “fort”
- putting blocks in container & trying to close lid (9/8)
- play date with Piper (9/8)
- watching Sesame Street, Mister Rogers
- he gets very interested in music documentaries (stops to listen and/or dance)
- 1st birthday party (9/13)
HE LOVES GOING OUTSIDE!
- outdoor “roaming” the yard
- running down the sidewalk (9/9)
- visiting & petting the neighbor’s dogs
- 1st mud puddle (9/17)
- rides in the stroller (walking, rollerblading)
- hot tub “swim”
- sitting on the skateboard for rides with Eric
Petting the neighbor’s dogs – September 9, 2015
GOING PLACES
- playing at Imagine Children’s Museum for his birthday (8/21)
- looking at the animals at Petco (9/2)
- hiking (with Ergo carrier) at the Pilchuck Tree Farm (9/5)
- dining at The Shire Cafe (9/5)
- “Touch A Truck” (9/12)
- we started Kindermusik (9/15)
- he loves shopping cart rides at stores
Touch A Truck – September 12, 2015
HEALTH
- he had a runny nose and sneezing that lasted ~2 days (8/24-25)
- 12 month pediatrician visit (8/25)
- Weight = 19 lbs at 12 months
- he got his MMR & Hep A vaccines, but I declined the chickenpox vaccine (9/2)
New clothes from Todd’s Great Aunt – August 22, 2015
ORAL HAPPENINGS
- he kept handing his spoon back to me after taking bites (instead of resisting letting go like usual) (8/23)
- he started gnawing on crib rails (so I covered them!)
- he has a strong tendency for “chewing” (i.e. he’s destructive to board books)
- we try to brush his teeth daily but it can be almost impossible!
BBQ tempeh – August 30, 2015
RANDOM STUFF
- he put his pillow blanket in the kitchen drawer, then closed the drawer (and repeated it) (9/1)
- he sometimes claps for himself (9/4)
- he tried to put the dish towel back on fridge, and tried to pull open fridge door (9/14)
- he tries to put rose petals back, after he pulls them off
Hiking at the Pilchuck Tree Farm – September 5, 2015
BEING ONE
- he protests when he can’t have something
- increasingly distracted sitting in my glider chair in the morning and before naps
- he resists being picked up by raising arms and arching head and body waaaay back
He carried that step stool up there all by himself – September 17, 2015
FORMULA & BOTTLE WEANING
- started formula weaning (8/27)
- started using Green Sprouts Glass Sip ‘n Straw Cup instead of bottles (8/31)
- initially his organic soy formula was mixed with a little hemp milk (3:1 ratio)
- homemade cashew rice milk was added in (9/2)
- I started making cashew oat milk instead of cashew rice milk
- at month’s end he gets a blend of (equal parts): formula, hemp milk, cashew oat milk and soy milk
- at month’s end we’re half way through formula can #71
- he had ~2.5 cans of formula this month which is half as much as last month
Green Sprouts sippy & “pillow blanket” & Seahawks fuzzy slippers – September 14, 2015
SLEEP
- best sleep month to date!
- he woke up at night only twice (one was a “rough” night because he stayed awake/restless from 1:30 – 3:30 AM)
- 1x he woke up at 4:30 AM so I had him sleep in my bed with me for another hour before we got up
- fell asleep on floor 45 min before bed (9/9)
- shortest nap: 30 minutes
- longest nap: 2.75 hours
- average nap: 1.75 hours
- wears size 18 month sleepers
Asleep on the floor – September 9, 2015
POTTY TALK
- more solid food = more poop!
- he poops about twice per day
- 33 poops were done on the toilet
- 32 poops were “misses”
- while sitting on the toilet, he reaches as far down into the toilet as he can
- increasingly resists staying on the toilet seat (twists to get off)
Outside roaming – September 8, 2015
All for now!
Freeheel Vegan 