It finally happened! October 14th will go down in (our family) history as the day George walked for the first time! We were sitting in his room skyping with David's parents and George just took off! It happened moments after David told his parents that he didn't think George would walk before his 1st birthday! He certainly loves to keep us guessing. Find precious toddling videos below.
Today is October 23rd, and since last week he has continued to take countless steps. Does this mean that we officially have a toddler??
A few recent George-isms:
He loves to raise our shirts and touch our belly buttons while we change his diaper.
He eats his cheerios with one finger and finds it hilarious.
He has started loving on/hugging his stuffed animals, us, and even another baby he plays with! See video below.
He is able to recognize about 100 objects around the house by name (we've been keeping a list). Of course, he can't say them yet, but when we ask him where _____ is, he responds by pointing to it.
He loves to dance... the boy certainly feels the beat when music is on.
He is very interested in dogs. We don't have a dog, but when we see them on our walks he flips out. Our neighbor has a dog that George can see from his bedroom window, too.
Since we've started feeding only table food (plus 3 breastfeeding sessions a day), he has really fattened up! He is starting to wear 12-18 month clothes and size 4 diapers.
(Warning: Gratuitous videos below of the cutest little baby boy around... that's what the blog is for, right?)
The weather was perfect during Columbus Day weekend so David surprised me by taking me and George to NYC for the weekend. He arranged for me to go out with some girlfriends from high school and we stayed with our friends, Katie and Elliott, in Brooklyn. We took George strolling in Central Park, David and I went to the Met, and I was able to catch up with old friends.
This week has been amazing! George and I have discovered weekly storytime at the library (for babies!), a little park, a play group, and have met lots of moms and kids. What a blessing!
George enjoying the swings
He really loved it!
So happy.
This is the door to George's room. When we leave him in there alone, he is quick to throw out everything he can find (in this case, foam letters from his floor). I guess it is his passive agressive way of communicating that he wants us to come back and play. The longer we're away the bigger the pile gets.
George (finally) graduated to the big tub. He does great and enjoys crawling around in the water. We just need to get him some bath toys to play with!
Its been awhile. Our life has dramatically changed in the past few months! I'll do my best to catch you up on our life.
We moved from Lubbock, TX to upstate NY (over 2,200 miles!!!) during the first two weeks of August. David finished his coursework for his PhD at Texas Tech and is now teaching at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. His teaching appointment at Colgate is only for 9 months so we will only be here that long. Our house in Lubbock was under contract to be sold when we left, but after we arrived in NY we found out that the buyer backed out in the 11th hour. We still DESPERATELY need to sell or rent it.
Here are a few photos from our voyage from TX to NY. We drove a 23 ft. Penske truck with our car in tow. The three of us were in the bench seat in the truck. George did SO well. He only had a few meltdowns. We were able to stay with our families along the way and spread out the trip over a few weeks. We even got to introduce George to our old stomping grounds in Charlottesville.
Our truck in Little Rock
Visiting Grandma
Visiting Grand-Betsy and Dada
Visiting Grandpa
Hanging out with Dada
Little Rock
Meeting up with Bethany and Avalynn in Memphis
Watching sports in Chattanooga
Lookouts game in Chattanooga
George and Grandaddy
George with Aunt Julie and Mimi
UVA grounds
Charlottesville Downtown Mall with George
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We live in a little town called Earlville which is 5 miles south of Hamilton. We have downsized to a 2br apartment in the downstairs of a Victorian house built circa 1820. It has lots of character, but totally different from anywhere we've lived before. Luckily, the apartment above ours is empty and will remain vacant since our landlord uses it as a retreat and seldom visits. Our friend Evan was so sweet to visit us from Brooklyn to help us unload our truck. We were surprised to learn that we don't have air conditioning! We've only had a few truly hot days, so it's really not that bad. Our heat is a bit strange (to us). We have a huge fuel oil tank in the basement and it's a little scary. I am learning to live without a disposal and dishwasher. Also, our washing machine flooded our first night here! It's certainly an adventure. The neighbors are super friendly and have told us that they're really into snow mobiling. I'm so excited to introduce George to snow and drag him around on a sled. They don't pick up trash or deliver mail here either (so weird!). However, George and I enjoy our daily trek to the post office which is just around the corner from our house. We usually stop by the library and play with hand puppets and puzzles. The church situation is very different from Texas. We don't know of any churches in our area that have childcare or have attendance over 50 or so. I'm so eager to meet other women and moms, I just don't know where to start if we don't get plugged into a church. I've asked around about playgroups, but haven't heard of anything. My mom visited us last week and helped us out so much. David and I were even able to go out on a date to Utica! We saw Contagion and really enjoyed it. My mom dyed my hair (verrrry) dark brown and I really like it! We went to the Farmer's Market, explored surrounding towns, went to H&M and Target in Utica, cooked (PW's fried chicken), and baked. What a blessing it was having her around!
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George! He is growing so quickly. He is 10 months old and so active. George has been saying "Dada" for awhile, but TODAY he said "Mama"!!! My mom bought him an early birthday gift and gave him a walker. He is "walking" all over the house in it and it is so funny seeing his independence. He has been standing unassisted for awhile, but lately he has improved his duration and even flirted with taking a step. We are so in love with this little man.
These videos were taken today:
Latest Georgeisms:
He is really into pointing at object around the house, us, and pictures in books.
He can identify us by pointing and say our names.
He is still obsessed with ceiling fans and can spot them a mile away.
He gives us the biggest, sweetest, wettest kisses.
He is a good little waver and even waves at strangers.
He eats table food and stage 3 baby food.
He is wearing 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers.
He has 6 teeth (4 on top and 2 on the bottom)
He typically sleeps from 8pm-6am without waking up (this a very big deal!)
I still breastfeed him 3 times a day (mid morning, mid afternoon, and bedtime)
A few recent photos:
David and George strolling on Colgate's campus
George and I hiking near the Chittenango Falls
View from David's office
We have really enjoyed exploring surrounding towns. They are all very unique and charming. It is so fun to shop and eat in Syracuse, which is an hour away. We love Dinosaur BBQ and have eaten there twice already. David really loves his job and has had lots of time to write. I am enjoying being a stay at home mommy and spending time with my little man. David will be applying to poetry teaching positions and fellowships this fall for jobs starting next fall.
To sum it up, we're enjoying upstate NY and are finally feeling settled! Sorry for the long update. It's been a wild ride!
Since we're moving on Aug. 5, we'll be on the road during George's 9-month milestone on Aug. 6. We went today for his 9-month well baby visit. He didn't get any shots, but he did have to have his blood drawn from his little arm (see bandage in photo below). It was no fun for either of us.
He is progressing well and the doctor gave us the green light to give him table foods. He now weighs 21 lbs and is in the 58th percentile for weight. He is in the 68th percentile for height and 67th for head circumference. He is still wearing size 3 diapers and 6-9 month clothes. He is still in his infant carrier, but we'll have to get a big boy car seat soon since the weight limit is 22 lbs for his current carrier!
He is teething again... when will it ever end? The two teeth on either side of his top front teeth are trying to break through. We've been battling fever, crankiness, and sleep deprivation for their sake. Thank goodness for baby tylenol! It's the only thing that brings him relief.
I'm still breastfeeding him about 4x per day. He's tried all kinds of foods, but his favorites are blueberry yo baby yogurt, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, bananas, and anything with cinnamon. We gave him some pasta from our plates tonight for supper and he enjoyed that too. It's hard to believe that he will soon be outgrowing baby food. He drinks water and apple juice from a sippy cup and feeds himself with finger foods.
He only recently starting squealing and squeaking. He still says "baa-baa", "ma-ma", "da-da", "ya-ya", and "ga-ga". We're working with him on associating mama and dada with us.
He is crawling and climbing everywhere! He is an expert at finding the one thing in our house that isn't baby-proofed. He's recently starting "cruising" where he takes steps while holding on to furniture.
His hair is getting a little thicker and darker. It is starting to fall over his ears a little so a little trim may be in his future! His eye color is green-brownish/hazel, just like daddy! :)
He loves to throw the ball and throw just about anything. He often crawls around the house with a toy in his mouth--so funny! His favorite game is peek-a-boo. He is truly sweet natured and gives us the sweetest smiles and kisses.
Where has the time gone? I don't know what happened to my baby! We are blessed beyond belief.
As of July 6, I'm a stay-at-home mommy! This is my dream come true. We have thoroughly enjoyed our days together so far. We go on walks, toss the ball, fold laundry, explore new parts of the house, sing, and dance.
David has started teaching a summer creative writing course at Texas Tech and will sit for his comprehensive exams for his PhD at the end of July. Needless to say he's been incredibly busy.
As of this weekend, poor George has contracted Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. He hasn't been sleeping well and has been just pitiful. We are told that he should get over it in a week or two.
We still have not sold our house. It's looking like we'll have to rent it since we have to be in Hamilton by mid-August.
Our little boy is now 8 months old! He is growing up so very fast. Here are some of his recent accomplishments and discoveries:
He REALLY mobile now. He now crawls around the house and tests our childproofing skills.
He is pulling up on everything. We bought him an activity table (see photo below) for him to pull up on and it has been such a hit!
He is eating stage 2 and 3 foods. He is drinking watered down apple juice and eating puffs. He has learned to self-feed with puffs.
He is able to mimic us when we say "bye bye"... he'll repeat us and say "baa baa"
He has 4 middle teeth: two on top and two below
He is still wearing 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers
He can throw the ball overhanded
He recognizes his name
He knows how to give us big sloppy kisses now
Pooped after playing frisbee golf with Momma and Daddy
Sad boy showing off his 4 teeth
He always stands to greet us when he wakes up!
I just love those sleepy eyes!
Playing with his new activity table
Climbing on EVERYTHING!
Camped out in his high chair waiting for his snack!
Showing off his new Union shirt!
(If you're a Union alum, you should contact them to get this FREE onesie if your kiddo is 2 or younger.)
We're still trying to sell our house. We had two yard sales this month too--whew, what a task!
David is still watching George full time AND preparing for his comprehensive exams for his PhD. He has to read about 2 books a day to prepare for the exam at the end of July. David has also been preparing for the course he's teaching during the Summer II term.
Starting in the spring, David will be the editor of a poetry journal called32 Poems. I'm going to help him as the managing editor which will be lots of fun. We are already planning a trip to Chicago in the spring to represent 32 Poems at AWP.
One of David's poems was just published in a beautiful journal called Willow Springs (issue 68). Check it out!
BIG NEWS! I turned in my notice at work and my last day will be Tuesday, July 5! I'm thrilled to finally stay at home with George and gear up for this move.
I went for my annual physical this month and learned that I have Hypothyroidism. The normal TSH scale is .3-5.1 and mine was 65! I will basically have to be on synthroid for the rest of my life. However, I'm told that I will feel more energetic after being on the medicine awhile. I can always use more energy!
George Highlights:
Our son is officially mobile! Today he crawled across his bedroom to dump out the basket of toys. I hope to post a video soon.
George cried when I left the house for work for the first time last week... broke his momma's heart!
We lowered his crib mattress because we found him sitting up in bed!
After a trip to Urgent Care, the ER at 3am, and the Pediatrician, we learned that George had the Roseola Virus with a secondary strep infection! He was on antibiotics for 10 days. It was quite a challenge getting him to take his medicine. He's finally back to his normal self!
George has tried blueberry yogurt, turkey, sweet potatoes, brown rice, pineapple, avocado, plums, and apricots this month. He loved them all!
George had his first kiss on Saturday! He smooched our friends' 10-month old baby girl, Landri, right on the lips. It was too precious!
George's 3rd tooth has broken through! It's one of his top middle teeth--he's getting so big!
His favorite toys are his books. He chooses them over all of his other toys most of the time.
Recent George photos:
Modest baby losing his drawers
Family naptime
Showing off tooth #1
Playing in the guest room
Trying new foods
Poor baby in the ER
Pulling out his books... definitely his father's son!
