|
Welcome to Lance's blog, where I keep a diary of what Lance has been up to and how he is doing. It runs like a normal blog (web log) in that it runs in reverse chronological order... meaning that the most current entries are at the top of the page. His blog has gotten so big that I have broken it up into 2 month pages so that it won't take as long to load. You can navigate through the months by clicking on the numbers in the running giraffe banner at the bottom of each page |
Pup walking, ride on toys, and a new word!! Lance and Mark and I went to Winikinni castle today with our
friends and all of our doggies. We also got to meet 8 week old baby
Fischer.. he is very very cute! Lance fell asleep and spent almost the
whole time sleeping... but it was a good nap! this afternoon he ahs been
having a ton of fun riding on his Thomas train and dump truck. He also said a new purposeful word today! "GO"
he was riding his powered Thomas train around in the kitchen and it
stopped... he looked me square in the eye and said "go!" so I sent
Thomas around the track again.. and when it stopped, again he looked at
me and said "go" we made at least 10 more laps in the same
fashion... Mark will spin him around in his arms and mark says to lance
"ready... GO!" right before he spins.. so I figure that is where
he picked it up. Yay Lance! He has also been doing this silly lizard face for the
last week... very funny! He is riding on his ride on dump truck
that he got for his birthday from his friend Sean :)
November 15th 2008 - 12 months, 3
weeks, 3 days
New toys! Lance got a new shopping cart and a ride on toy today from
his auntie Bif :) He likes to put totally random things in the cart and
push them around! He also got to spend the afternoon with Mark while I
went out with my friends for my birthday dinner and movie :)
November 14th 2008 - 12 months, 3
weeks, 2 days
|
New Mum's group meet up at Amazement Lance and I went to our first Haverhill Mum's group meet up today, it was at the Amazement center in Bradford. We met lots of other new Mums and their children from the surrounding area. It was a great time, and we look forward to going to the next meetup! Lance also had fun playing on his Thomas train!! |
|
*
|
|
My Mum's birthday dinner Lance and I went to Katie's house today for my Mum's birthday dinner. He had a fun time playing with all him cousins and seeing his grandparents and his great grammy! |
|
Chipped tooth Lance slipped in the tub and chipped his front tooth today... it was worse for me than him... he got over it in about 30 seconds... I have been upset ever since. Lance went to the doctor's office to have his ears checked, they look much much better... and then he went to the pediatric dentist to have the chip looked at. The dentist decided that it was best to smooth out the chip with her drill. And she warned me that there might be unseen damage to the tooth that could take even years to show up... but hopefully not. Lance happily sat in the dentist's chair and looked around at all the colorful things in the office. The dentist was so kind and patent with him. He let her look at all his teeth and was a very good boy, but when it came time to use the drill, he had to be held down.. it was so hard for me... the dentist held his little head while I had to hold his arms and torso still. He did not like it at all.. he shed real tears. Oh, it was so hard for me.... but the instant it was over and I scooped him up into a hug, he stopped crying and even had a little smile for the dentist and the assistant who were doing their best to distract him. My little guy is so tough... today was definitely harder for me than it was for him... |
|
Lance's Birthday Party Lance had his birthday party today! We all had an incredible time. I was thrilled to have the party at my parents home in Rowley, in the house that I grew up in. The party opened up with guests arriving and a hot lunch of chicken divan, and baked mac & cheese. I had Mark driving Lance around so that he would get a good nap, he sleeps best in a moving car. When Lance was still sleeping 30 minutes after the party started, we woke him up so that he could ride pony-back into his party! |
| Lance arrived to his party on ponyback! Thank you Misty and Auntie Bif |
| The bouncy house was tons of fun for everyone! |
| All the little guys loved the sandbox |
| I had lots of help opening Lance's gifts |
| Lance was more interested in the shovel |
| Lance was very delicate about eating the cake.. his favorite parts were the chocolate spikes |
| The ice cream cake was the most popular among the guests |
| The fondant pound cake dragon was really cute |
| Big and little Dragon Marble Cakes |
| are four cakes too many?... noooo.. |
| Tubby time!! |
| don't miss the video of the happy birthday song and Lance eating his cake! |
|
Halloween Lance had his first, second holiday today! Mark made it out of work in time to go trick or treating with us around the same route that I took as a little girl! my sisters and the cousins were all there too! Lance loved getting to pick out his own candy from the baskets... it was funny that he almost always picked a silver wrapper if one was available.. he got lots of 3 musketeers bars. at one house that was giving out full sized bars, he grabbed, with one hand, a 3 musketeers and starburst.. both full sized bars! the nice man was so impressed that Lance got to keep them both! |
|
Second Halloween party Lance and I went to our breastfeeding mum's group today.. it was the annual Halloween party... the first time I have done something for the second year in a row! wow... it seems like last week I was there and I had Lance in his giraffe costume! it was great to see the other babies.. there were even a few that were there a year ago too! I also put a photo of the mini cupcakes that I made for the party today and Lance's personal dragon cake for his party on Saturday! |
| Lance's personal dragon cake |
|
BBQ Lance and I went to work again today and then we went and spent the afternoon with my Mum and Dad :) we had a great dinner at The American BBQ restaurant right down the street from my parent's house... Lance had a great time walking around the restaurant.. there were only 2 other people there because we were there so early for dinner.. and they did not mind lance carousing around chattering at everything... but what he wanted most of all was to go through the door to the kitchen! It was a swinging door.. and there were all kinds of cool looking shinning things on the other side! He also enjoyed unrolling the paper towel rolls at the ends of all the tables... Lance has been playing peek-a-boo a lot lately... be sure to watch today's video of him in the car seat |
|
Chuck E. Cheese Lance and I went to work today with auntie Lacey and then to Chuck E Cheese's! Lance loved climbing the big stairs to the slide! |
|
12 month Doctor Visit! Lance had his one year doctor visit today! He is 32 1/4 inches tall! the doctor had to recheck twice.. he could not believe it... that is really really tall for a one year old. Neked he was 24 pounds and 12 ounces. He has been so super active lately that he is burning off some weight and slimming out a little bit. His ears are still sick, but the doctor thinks they will be ok by next week. Dr Su says that he is very advanced in his motor and speech... pretty much cross the board he is above his age in development... I am very proud of my little man :) No shots time time on account of his ears... he will have to catch up next time. After the visit, we went to spend a few hours with Alex, while Katie went to work. Lance slept for 2 hours! Almost the whole time... Lance never takes a 2 hour nap! And then on the way home, we stopped at Ingaldsby farm to get some honeycrisp apples (my favorite! and are only available for a few short months). We could not resist playing in the yard a bit before we left! he was so cute when he saw this green ball.. he chattered and said "a ball!" and ran/fast toddled over to it and picked it up.. so cute :) He also really liked the big tire... he did not mind being confined to it... *ponders getting one in lieu of a playpen* |
|
Playground fun Lance got another family day today! We took him to Winnikinni castle, but we skipped the costume party, and headed right for the playground, because all the excitement might have been too much.. his little ears are still bothering him. |
|
Daddy Time! Lance was suppose to have his party today, but he was not feeling up to it on account of his ear infections. So we moved it to next weekend. He got to spend the whole morning with his daddy! So that Lance could get in some really good sleep, Mark took him to Nashua to pick up a finch that I had driven up from Florida while I had my surprise birthday present from Elisabeth :) I got a pedicure! Lucky me *grins* it was so much fun to be girlie for a day :) Below is a photo of him watching the introduction song to Sesame Street. He loves it! It is the only time all day that he sits still unless he is sleeping... too bad the introduction only last a few minutes! |
|
The Big 1!!! Lance turned one today at 8 minutes past noon... the fastest year of my life.. and yet it seems like Lance has always been with me. Because Lance is not feeling well, we have put off his party until next weekend, instead we went to Brooksby farm in Danvers today with my Mum. Lance's favorite part was going up and down the hill there and playing with the leaves. After that, the whole family headed down to the Rowley town common for a walk around the costume festival to see all the other kids as they ran around waiting for the costume contest. We left before the contest because it was a bit chilly out for Lance as the sun gone down. We enjoyed a hot chicken pot pie dinner afterwards back at my parent's house. |
|
Almost ONE!!! Lance will turn ONE tomorrow... wow how time flies when we are having fun. I am very sad that he is very sick with a very yucky cold and 3rd degree ear infections in both ears. He was suppose to go to Coco Keys resort tomorrow for his actual birthday.... but that will have to be put off.. as is his party on Saturday. We are moving everything back a week in hopes that he will feel better and won't share this yuckyness with his guests. I am happy that he does not realize it is his birthday.. what a crappy way to spend your first birthday! home sick :( I have given him Tylenol, Motrin, and some really expensive prescription ear numbing drops. Today he woke up sad after a very rough night with not too much sleep, then to make him feel better we got in the tub and I nursed him and he fell asleep.. I wrapped him in a towel and placed him in his crib where he slept for an hour! After that, He has spent this whole morning crying, while I carried him around and called everyone to let them know about the party changes and he has finally fallen asleep in my arms at I type.. I have not typed in an entry with him asleep in my lap for months and months... I have missed it... I am sad that he is so sick, but I do love him to sleep in my arms. He is going to the doctor again today at 3pm, hopefully we will get some kind of good news. *update* Well, we went to see Dr Su. and he felt that Lance was worse than he was 48 hrs ago, and thought that maybe there was some pneumonia in the bottom of his left lung... and Lance was way to interested in the pulse-oximeter (measures blood oxygen levels) to hold still with his finger in it long enough to get a proper reading. So Dr Su sent us to the hospital for further evaluation. It turns out that Lance's lungs are all clear.. he just needed to cough up some of the funk. he ended up falling asleep in Mark's arms after being admitted, and Lance finally held still long enough to have his oxygen measured. Turns out he will most likely be ok.. he just needs to stay on Motrin every 6 hours for at least the next few days while his antibiotics do their work. The Anna Jaques hospital staff were all really nice to Lance, the guy that admitted him even gave him an adorable little teddy bear, you can see it in the photo of him sleeping in Mark's arms. So the highlights of Lance's day today were walking around the hospital for 30 minutes while waiting to be evaluated and discovering the automatic doors and how much fun they are, and getting to open a birthday present a day early! He got a cool book from our neighbors!
|
|
YMCA Lance went to the Ipswich ymca with auntie Katie, Alex and I today! He totally loved it :) the water was colder than he or I wanted it to be, he likes really warm water like I do, but we still had a great time :) |
|
The light Dawns on Muma and Dr's visit I had an epiphany of sorts today... haha! As lance was headed towards an exposed electrical outlet with an extended finger today I realized that the noise that I made to correct him (the same noise I have always made for animal training also) sounded just like the chattering that he makes when he is excited about something.... hmmm... so all this time as I say to him.. "ah ah ah don't touch" he has been associating that sound with exciting things... it all makes sense now.... how silly it has taken me all this time to make the connection. I was the one chattering at him first! I took Lance back to Dr Su today because he still seems to have pain in his ears and general not acting himself. He does indeed still have ear infections but now only slightly improved... we changed antibiotics to something stronger, so hopefully this will work. |
|
Halloween party at Daddy's work and signing! Lance and I went Meet Mark at Cell Signaling for the Halloween party they had there.. Lance's favorite part was walking back and forth over the bridge they had there! Be sure to check out the video of him on the bridge with a few of the other kids.. way cute. Today he also signed to me "all done" (a crossing arm wave) when he was finished with his meal. When I realized that he was signing to me and not just waving his arms around... I asked him "all done?" and it was like this wave came over him.. he totally lit up and chattered at me as if to say "Yay! you understand what I am signing to you" it was a wonderful moment for both of us :) |
|
Connors farm, and another word! Lance and I went to Connors Farm today during Lunch. He had a great time playing in the mini maze they had made with straw bails. He is really into pushing around trucks lately, and it was lots of fun for him to watch the older boys that were there because they could push the trucks really fast! Lance has also learned another word... "good" hehe.. I always tell him "good" "good job" when he practices going down stairs and getting off my bed by sliding on his belly. He now says "good" when he is doing more challenging things! |
|
Mill pond Lance and I went to Mill Pond in West Newbury today.. it was my first time back sine he was first born... it does not seem at all like a whole year has gone by! I took a few photos in the same spot that I took right before he was born and when he was brand new! We had a fun time walking around the trails and playing in the leaves. |
| same spot almost a year ago! |
|
Sick Lance and I went to the doctor today because we are still sick and getting worse again. Lance has a double inner ear infection and I have a sinus infection. Yuck! the doctor gave us both antibiotics, so hopefully we are on the road to recovery finally after over 2 weeks of feeling crappy. On a more positive note, we got to enjoy some of the beautiful New England fall weather we are having. We walked down the road to visit with our neighbors and their son Jack. Lance had a lot of fun playing in the leaves with Jack. |
|
Fair comes to an end Lance, Mark, Elisabeth and I went to the fair again today. Today was the last day and we helped close everything up and take down the exhibits after closing time. We were actually there yesterday also to work in the building. Lance had a great time welcoming the fairgoers to the building by waving and chattering at them while we strolled around the building. He also helped arrange the folding chairs and move the signs & plants around. He really loved watching the marionette show! He was mesmerized by the puppets. We watched the performance 3 times! Lance has really enjoyed seeing all the animals at the fair... you can see him here pondering Barbara the cow after she let out a very loud MOOOO!!! |
|
Fair again! Lance and I went to the fair again today with my sisters and the cousins. I am still a bit under the weather, but Lance is going stir crazy in the house... We had a fun time seeing the animals and exhibits. Lance got to ride the camel and a pony today! He squealed and waved his arms the whole pony ride. He LOVED it I am really looking forward to his party (there will be pony rides). He also got to pet a 2 foot long baby alligator and a de-scented skunk! He really liked the feel of the alligator's scales. |
|
Sick I have come down with a yucky head cold... but Lance has managed to fight it off... all the antibodies that he gets from his milk have spared him. as much as I hate being sick.. I am glad it is me and not him! We have been enjoying some quieter time at home playing with his toys and in the back yard... Lance has been practicing climbing on everything he can he loves to climb up on the little table and through his tunnel! |
|
Horse show Lance and I went to the 4H stick horse show at the Topsfield Fair with Elisabeth, my mom, sister and Alex. The kids had a great time and did great in the ribbons! Lance took 4th place in toddler stick horse barrel racing, and I took first in the adult division! ha-ha! Afterwards we walked around the fair a bit and rode the elephant!! Lance and I are fighting off a yucky cold today... we are both a bit green! |
| You can tell Lance is just about to fall asleep here... and I am fighting off a cold! We look pretty rough! |
|
Zac's Birthday party Lance, Mark and I drove up to my friend Kendra's house for her son's first birthday party! We had a lot of fun! It was Lance's first over night trip, he did pretty well... we are all fighting colds right now, so it made it tricky, but we had a great time nonetheless!! |
|
Rodger Williams Zoo trip Lance and I took Elisabeth to the Rodger Williams Park Zoo in Providence for her birthday today we had an awesome time! lance slept the whole way there and back.. it was totally awesome.. he has never napped like that ever!!! |
| A video of Lance feeding the sheep.. way cute! |
|
Apple! Lance has learned the word "apple" he has used it after picking up an apple on numerous occasions! cool another word!!! |
|
Hooters! Mark and I took Lance to the new Hooters restaurant in Saugus today! The place was totally packed!! |
|
Passport Mark got home from a week in San Francisco today. We all went together to apply for Lance's very own passport! And then we went to Whole Foods market and out to lunch at the Shawshene restaurant for lunch! |
|
Thursday Lance and I had a good day lazy together. We walked all around downtown Newburyport, visited Lacey's new house and played with cousins Jade and Orren, went to Tendercrop Farm, and at the end of the day, Lance got his very first ice cream cone all to himself! He had apple ice cream, and ate the whole thing! |
|
11 Months old! Lance is 11 months old!! And he is all toddler now, preferring to walk rather than crawl. I reminisce about when he was brand new... I look back through his baby blog frequently. The time of having a baby has flown by, but I know that I have savored every second of it... and will treasure the memories forever. So an update... every time I thinks to myself.. wow I just did this... but so many changes a single month brings.. amazing.. I love it... Lance is 25 pounds and 31.5 inches tall. He is wearing size 18m - 2T clothing and size 6 shoes. I just today got a box of size 5 diapers, although I should have a while ago. He is at the very top of the growth chart for height and about 75% for weight. Lance is still a very happy, smiling guy. He is super curious about everything and does not miss a beat! I can't get anything past him... gone are the days that I could distract him away from something or take away something and hide it... he does not forget! He will pitch a foot stomping fit if I take away something that he is examining... and he likes to examine everything.. especially bits of paper, leaves, rocks, anything that remotely resembles food (in his opinion of course) His exams always include a taste test for edibility.. he now knows how to fight of a finger swipe pretty well... he is getting tricky! He has his own language, in which he is fully fluent... he is constantly babbling. I just wish it included more English so that I could understand. His English words so far that have seemed to have a purpose (he has said tons of unintentional words) are; "Dog"- his favorite, "Duck", "Look", and "Ball" but I am not convinced that "ball" is purposeful yet. He has been repeating the first part of words that I say quite a bit. I think it is so cute. *** update!*** He started saying Muma with a purpose at 11 months and one day :) awww how cute :) he held his arms up to me and said Muma! oh how it melts my heart! As for his sleeping... He is now taking 2 naps a day, sometimes 3, if they are shorter ones. He goes to bed at night after diner, tubby, stories and nursing between 7:30 and 8. And he is up between 7 and 7:30 in the morning. Since he started taking the added Maalox, he has only been waking up 2 times over night and I am thrilled! he gets up the first time when I go to bed, and then once more around 3-4 am, but he still goes right back down. I don't mind the waking up because I love the snuggle time that I get with him.. it is the only time I get to cuddle him, he is always so busy! He no longer takes naps on my lap.. oh how I miss that so much... he will however nap in the ergo carrier and I can occasionally sit down after he has fallen asleep and he will stay sleeping, but usually it wakes him up when I stop moving... he does that when he falls asleep in the car, he almost always wakes up the second I turn the key off! He is still happily nursing about 6-9 times a day depending on the day's level of activity... he is not a huge fan of solid foods yet, he still prefers nursing. He gets 2 sit down meals a day (lunch and dinner) , Cheerios in the living room for breakfast, and snacks through out the day. Lately he has been having more fun playing with his food than eating it.. he is totally into using forks now.. spoons are too boring... he stabs at the food and then tastes it or just picks it off with the other hand. His favorite foods lately are apples, deli ham, Vienna finger cookies, mum mum vegetable crackers, and V8 fusion juices. He likes to drink from a cup now, but he does not get too much into him... he sometimes sucks at the water/juice too fast still and coughs a bit... silly Lance. He loves to feel the drink with his hands.. and sometimes dip his food in there too. Since Lance started walking, he has needed more reassuring from me... he has started coming to me for hugs more when he is ding new things. He is still a very outgoing guy... and I just this past month saw him actually frightened for the first time. I put on a painted face mask that liked like a realistic man's face and talked to him through it... the look on his face! I felt terrible... he did not like that at all! Other than that one event.. he is fearless... I mean totally fearless.. he will climb anything that he can.. or crawl right off the edge of the bed if I would let him.. you can scoop him up and hang him upside down, or spin him around and he laughs in delight... no fear what so ever.. a little scary for me! Lance now rides in the car for the most part really well! Halleluiah! It is a miracle. I thought it would never happen! He plays with his toys or has a rice cracker snack... the singing farm toy is STILL his favorite car toy... I can't believe it.. he has loved that toy since he has been in his bigger car seat! I save it for the car only. He loves toys. Toys that were originally intended as such and anything else that he can move! He loves doors of all kinds, balls, sticks of all shapes and sizes, things that roll or can be pushed around, things that make noise. He does not much care for, or ever has for that matter, soft/stuffed things He loves my things... keys, phone, computer keyboard and mouse. Anything that he sees me using he wants too.. although you can't trust him with important things... last week he put my keys in the big toy box! I would have never found them if it weren't for the beeper attached to them. When we check out at the store, he begs for the credit card.. I usually let him hold the library card... he can't yet tell the difference. and my computer mouse! It is a laser mouse.. and totally cool in Lance's opinion. he always wants to hold it and click the buttons along with the keybord.. very cool things. ok it is late.. I am off to bed.. I might write more later... I few photos of him playing this evening with one of his sticks (Actually a basting brush.. the mate to the one we gave Lacey yesterday) and pushing around his school bus toy - a new favorite . And a photo of his look that he gives me when he needs s hug... who could resist that face!!. |
|
Apple Picking at Russel Orchards Lance and I went to Russel Orchards today with Katie, Alex, and Orren with Alex's preschool. Alex loved getting to hold lance's hand and walk him around the barn "Look! I am helping Lance walk!" he said enthusiactally... so totally adorable.. Alex has the biggest heart. Lance also loved seeing the animals.. he really loved the pig and fussed when I tried to walk away. I really got a kick out of the look he gave me when I showed him the ducks... he has recentally learned the word "Duck" and believes it to mean bright yellow, plastic, squeaky toy in the tubby... not a quacking, live, feathered animal at the farm! |
|
Busy day! Lance and I had a big day today. We started the day off at work cleaning.. you can see Lance "helping" me dust in today's photos. then we went to my friend Brenda's farm to see the animals, play in the dirt and ride the tractor. Then.. back home for a tubby and a nap then to my parent's house for auntie Lacey's birthday party, I made her fancy butterfly cupcakes and pie. Lance picked her out a funky basting brush as her gift from him. He really did pick it out on his own.. although I ended up getting him his own because he decided wanted it for himself. And to finish the day off, he spent a few hours with my parents while I went to the fair grounds for some more volunteer work for the 4H in prep for the fair. |
|
Ball Pit Lance got a ball pit today! I was so excited to find it off craig's list. I have not blown it up yet.. I might save that part for his birthday party.. but I dumped some of the balls into his turtle pool for him to play with because he saw the balls through the bag and really wanted them, he was ripping at the bag... so who was I to say he had to wait a month for them? He had a great time crawling in and out of the pool.. he would almost dive into them.. it was very cute.. I was sad that I was not able to find my video camera at the time.. darn my disorganized tendencies. |
|
Walking the doggies Lance & I had a great day today. We started the day taking the doggies for a walk at the castle. And Lance got in a bit of swimming at Plug pond. Then we went to the 4H building to do to judge some of the kid's artwork for the upcoming Topsfield fair.. and then we met Katie, Jay, Alex and Jade at the Fall Harvest Festival at Green Meadow Farm. Lance had a great time listening to the band and watching all the kids and chickens running around everywhere, it was packed! He also had fun pushing the stroller around.. a new favorite activity!! |
|
Apple picking & Rice Peanuts in a Turtle Pool?! Lance & I went apple picking today at Smolack farm with Lacey and her kiddos :) We had a great time seeing the animals and playing in the orchard. Lance loved tasting the apples and pushing the stroller around the grass field. Also today he enjoyed pushing his walker down our road and back. It was the first time I took it outside :) he was happy to not have to stop every time he got to a wall in the living room. He loves pushing things around lately. Mark got a large package in the mail today and Lance & I had fun peeling off the stickers and tape... another of Lance's favorite things lately...but to his delight, he found that the box was full of wonderful rice peanuts! he climbed right into the box... which he barely fit in... so I took in his big turtle from the yard and dumped the peanuts for him! He had a total blast! Be sure to watch the video! To wrap up our night, we took a walk with Mark down to Daly's for dinner and ice cream. Fun day today!! I am also hoping that tooth #8 will get there soon... Lance is really unhappy about it :( |
| Orren in the Pumpkins |
| Jade picking apples |
| Video of Lance playing in the turtle pool |
|
Great Walking, climbing, and SLEEPING!!! Lance had been spending a lot of time working on his walking and climbing skills. He can walk all the way across the room without falling now! And he loves to climb up stairs and onto the couch and ottomans, he can hardly get enough of it! Today we had our usual lazy Thursday going to the grocery and breastfeeding Mum's group. I have been really happy with his sleeping :) Last night he only woke up twice!! That is the best ever!! And for his morning nap he has slept for a hour and a half two days in a row!!! The Maalox has seemed to make a huge difference for him, I am so pleased :) :). |
|
Shoe Shopping Lance and I went shoe shopping today with Elisabeth.. (thank god for Elisabeth's help... it was a very squirmy endeavor!!) Now that he is a walker, he needs to wear shoes when we are out. He got a pair of Robeez all leather soft shoes with monsters on them for inside and a pair of Stride Rites solid soled shoes for outside walking. He has size 5.5/6 extra wide feet.. the lady at the store said "wow he has wide feet!" when she was measuring him. We also bought the next size up for soft and solid soled shoes because they were on sale... too bad the sizes he needs now weren't. He got crabby Robeez and a classy looking pair of pair of Umi shoes.. he will probably be wearing them in a month... I am at the beginning of a very long line of shoes... Here is a video of him walking and saying "Look". |
|
Winikinni Castle & tooth #7 Lance and I spent the day with Mark. We went treasure hunting this morning and found Lance a very cool water and sand table, and then this afternoon, we went for a long walk at Winnekenni Castle and then played on the playground there. It was a beautiful day! Lance also finally got his 2nd lower left incisor tooth.. it has been a tough one.. like all of them I suppose. |
|
Dragon cake test run! I finished up a test run of Lance's Birthday cake tonight... I am really happy with the results! it was my very first fondant (sugar paste) attempt, and I was pretty nervous, but it went really well! I watch the show "ace of cakes" all the time.. and I actually learned something. I think that the cake is too small to serve everyone.. so Lance will probably get his own dragon cake, and I will make another for everyone else... or maybe an ice cream cake! yum! |
|
Stone Zoo Lance and I went to the Stone Zoo today with my parents. We had an awesome time! Lance really loved the bears and the cougars, They both came right up to the glass to check him out! We also go to see the baby jaguar that just went on exhibit 3 weeks ago (he was sleeping though).. there were lots of cool animals to see, we will definitely go back! We did not get to see the otters because they were napping, maybe next time!! Don't miss the video of Lance playing with the bear at the end! |
| Video of Lance "playing" with bubba the bear! |
|
Costume photos I got to take some photos today of lance in his Halloween costume! so cute! We also went to the store today to get the supplies to do a test run for Lance's birthday cake!!! I am being a bit ambitious... so I am going to practice beforehand! I am so excited for his birthday party... it is going to be a medieval knight and dragon themed party:) |
|
Smolak Farm Lance and I went to Smolak Farm today with my sister Lacey and her son and my friend Danielle and her little girl. We had a great time looking at all the animals.. Lance saw his first llama and peacocks & peahens! The boys had fun herding the baby guinea hens around .. there were over 20 of them.. it was so funny! I took a video.. I will try and get in uploaded soon. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch outside in the perfect weather (with cider doughnuts for desert yum!) Lance and I also got to pick a pint of red and golden fall raspberries, what a treat! Tonight we went with Mark to babies R us to get more baby proofing stuff and Lance's Halloween costume!!! he had to get it in 18 month size.. He is so adorable in it! pictures soon! we also stopped at chuck e cheese's quick ... Mark had not been there as an adult, he got to play on the rides with Lance.. they were pretty cute!! :) |
| Lance "helped" me pick raspberries from the ergo baby carrier. |
| He loved the tractor tire.. He chattered and poked at it for over 10 minutes! |
| Guinea hen wrangling |
| His first llama meeting |
|
Library Trip Lance and I went to the Haverhill library after work today.. he loved playing with the new bead toy and pushing a book around! The videos are of him climbing stairs for the first time and pushing the book around trying to put it away possibly... |
| video of Lance climbing his first flight of stairs |
| video of lance pushing a book around the whole library |
|
A walk in the park and toys! Lance and I went for a walk at riverside park today, we had a great time playing on the swings and with the sand and sticks. Afterwards, lance fell asleep in the stroller and we went grocery shopping... he slept until I was almost done and then woke just in time to get his cookie from the bakery! We came home and had some fun with his toys and then outside in the yard! Fun day today! you can see in the black and white photo that lance has started trying to climb everything!! He will be a great climber someday! He is walking in the first photo!!! My baby is an official toddler!!! How time flies when you are having fun! |
| this must be his angry face.. he is just biting the rope.. not actually angry.. |
| He got up there himself |
| He looks so innocent... he just bit off a piece of the leaf..something he loves to do... I am forever fishing pieces out of his mouth... |
|
More walking and sleeping better! Lance has been getting better every day at taking steps! Tonight he took 8 steps without falling! I have and official toddler now! How bitter sweet it is! On another exciting note, the Maalox has made a huge difference in Lance's sleeping... he is still waking up some, but he puts himself back to sleep within about 10-30 seconds.. faster then it takes me to get up the stairs to him.. I am so proud. He is no longer screeching and sitting right up when he wakes like he was... I feel so bad for him that his belly hurts him like that! He is still getting a midnight snack and another around 3 or 4... but I don't mind.. I truly love the cuddle time that I get since it is the only time he will cuddle... he no longer will sit still during meals during the day. We also went to stiles pond again today and afterwards we went to the farm for peach picking, goat and donkey petting and cider doughnuts YUM! :) |
|
Trader Joes Lance and I went to the new Trader Joes store with my parents today. He loves going to stores with lots to look at.. and this one had animals crackers! how cool! afterwards we went to the German store.. and I got some chocolate!! yummy :) He also tried out my sister's antique stroller that my niece Jade had to have at a yard sale.. Lance really liked it too! he has been making the silliest faces lately.. I think it is because of the reaction he gets... he cracks everyone up!) |
|
Trip to Manchester Lance and I drove up to Manchester today to see his pediatric gastroenterologist (Baby tummy doctor) The visit went well, the doctor added Maalox to be taken with his Zantac for his acid reflux at bed time... he also suggested that there was a behavioral component to his night waking (the reason I went to see him) I agreed, but I want to rule out pain before I try to teach him to sleep better on his own. He suggested that I read a book that his friend wrote.. Dr Ferber's book. I will read the book, but I am a bit skeptical, as I don't' like the idea of letting lance cry himself to sleep, something Dr Ferber is known for... but I guess that there is more than that to the book.. so we shall see.. I am hoping that the Maalox helps him. After the visit, we stopped at the Mall of New Hampshire to kill some time until Lance was ready for a nap, so that the ride home would go smoothly. He had a great time seeing all that there was to see at the mall... we even got to ride the carousel together! :) |
|
First real step.. and crazy about dogs! Lance took his first solid step today! He stood up, took a step and didn't fall on his bottom! He was so proud of himself!!! We were at my Mum's house, so she got to see it too! Lance has also been saying the word "dog"... repeatedly and possibly with purpose. *ponders* he has also been copying random sounds that I make.. very cute.. today it was spaceship sounds from the car seat :) |
|
Stiles Pond and a walk to see the horses Lance got to go to stiles pond again today. We had perfect weather all day today. Lance enjoyed playing in the sand and using his floaty in the pond.. he also enjoyed searching for sticks and leaves... very exciting for him! After swimming, we went to Rowley to spend the rest of the day at my parent's house. We had a cookout lunch and played in the sand box. Then we took a walk to go see our friend's horse and ponies. And to end our great day, we went to the micro creamery for some delicious ice cream!! |
|
Chuck E. Cheese and painting! Lance and I went to Chuck E Cheese today.. We had a great time! $2 got us all the fun we could handle! His favorite was a truck ride (pictures below) He has been practicing more standing today.. he can hold a stand for almost a minute, but most of the time he tries to walk off sooner than that.. and only makes it one step before falling... thankfully he has learned how to safely fall on his bottom. I also got him his first set of finger paints. Lance has been "painting" with his food, so I figures that I should get him some paint... I wish I had done it sooner!! |
| A video of Lance's first time painting |
|
He does all his own stunts! Lance has started attempting to take walking steps!! they are very wobbly and he has only managed one small step.. but it is a start! My baby is growing into a toddler... how bitter sweet for me!! Here he is playing with a favorite toy wearing a cute shirt that I got for him this weekend.. it says " I do all my own stunts" and that he does! Learning to stand and walk has been a bumpy ride! |
|
Peach picking Lance and I went peach picking today in Danvers at Connors Farm. oh how I love tree ripened peaches... yum yum yum! |
|
10 Months old Lance is 10 months old today.. I can hardly believe that I am doing another monthly update again! Today, we went to Jay's aquatics to see the fish and to Stiles pond in North Andover while Mark went swimming across the pond and back with his friends for training. there is a video at the bottom of lance splashing around in the water :) very cute :) He weighs about 24 pounds and is 31.5 inches tall. He can stand, but not walk ..yet a few attempts have been made though! Lance is a generally happy guy and is really good about going with the flow of things.. he does not have an hourly schedule that we follow very much. We just try to get in meals, naps and playtimes when we can. He is still happily nursing, and eating more solid foods now.. his favorite foods right now are sliced turkey, prunes, peas, gerber puffs, cherrios, and mum mum crackers. He has little interest in puréed foods now.. he wants things that he can feed himself only.. accept for his favorite foods.. he will "let" me feed him turkey and puffs. He is sleeping in his crib now, well for most naps when we are actually home for them and for the first half of the night.. although the crib is still right next to my bed. He takes about 2 naps a day now... sometimes 3.. and he goes to bed at about 8 pm.. He will not tolerate staying up late anymore... he melts down and it seems to take a full day to recover.. so we had to give up gaming on Sundays for a while because it goes too late. We start our bedtime routine |
