a few firsts

Logan has had many firsts over the last month, many of which happened while on vacation and I can't forget them.

• Met the Atlantic ocean


• Played with sea shells


• Played Corn hole with cousins


• Cut his first 2 year molar


• Started calling his daddy by his first name (really funny, but B hates it! lol)


• Slept in his new room in the basement without getting upset or waking up once.


• Had TWO nights sleeping over with his grandparents, the longest we've been without each other.


• Stuck his feet in the river near our new home


• TOOK A BATH AND HAD FUN!!


• Ran through the sprinklers


• Told Amy he loves her (his sitter and my BFF)

little big boy

Here is my newborn son at 2 weeks old, fast asleep in the swing his Lolly and Pop gave him. He loved his swing as a baby and as he grew, he grew out of it. When we moved, we packed it into the shed, saving it for out next child.

A month ago, a dear friend asked if I'd watch her son on Saturdays. I was elated! He's 3 months old and the perfect way for me to get my newborn fix. He enjoys his swing at home so we brought out the swing and cleaned it up. Logan, had other plans:

Wow. Big boy loves his swing! I think the fact that he's still below 30 pounds allows him to enjoy it without the fear of breaking it. He loves playing with the buttons for the music and changing the speeds. I love watching him enjoy something that started out as his bed. It was the only way we could get him to sleep at night for the first few weeks which meant we did not get much sleep ourselves.

As a two year old, Logan has grown and changed so much in the last few months. I've been terrible at documenting some of those milestones, so here are just a few:

• Flew a kite all by himself the day before Easter (and LOVED it!)


• Peed in the potty--twice!


• Drinks out of a cup well (but not regularly)


• Puts 2-3 words together (juice mama please)


• knows opposites (up/down, on/off, in/out, hot/cold)


• counts to 3


• learning his colors (gets red right just about every time)


• learning A,B,Cs


• mastered going down the slide without fear


• got a haircut by his auntie m

Some things he's not so fond of:

• His bath....ugh this makes me so sad! He HATES taking a bath now and I have no idea why.


• Doing anything we ask him not to do (aka: NO NO NO!)


• Going to bed by himself. We've never co-slept and suddenly Logan has become very upset at night if I don't lay down with him. I obliged two times (TWO!) and now I started a habit he becomes desperate for.


• Having things put into his nose. We went to the ENT last week and they stuck a camera up his nose to see his adenoids. It was miserable for both of us.


• Waiting for anything. Period.


• Not being in my arms 99% of the time. Okay, 80% but it is exhausting! I love this little man so much but I can barely get the dishes done without him pulling on my leg.

This summer is going to be wonderful. We're going on a family vacation in June and as Logan learns more and more, he becomes more fun. More difficult, too, but it all balances itself out. He's a true blessing!

Bully

This movie is coming out soon and just from watching the trailer, I get mad. I have always been a very empathetic person and cannot imagine treating others in such a cruel way, in such a way that they feel like they no longer deserve to live and start believing the lies the bullies are telling them. There is something so poignant about this, especially as a parent, that makes you take a step back and start to pray for your child's well-being before they're even in grade school.

I would like to say that growing up, I was never bullied, but alas I was one of those kids. Honestly, who wasn't bullied? I know I've been the victim, but I've also been the bully. On very rare occasions did I stoop to that level and make someone feel less to make me feel better. Of course, I was a teenager who certainly knew better and chose to hurt someone. I'm ashamed to admit it.

Growing up I was a social, but quite kid. I was independent and preferred to work on school projects alone. I had a hand full of friends, but never fell into any one specific group. I wasn't athletic and only played volleyball for a few years in middle school. I danced for a few years and, while I loved it, there were some girls who showed off so much so that I felt too insecure to keep at it. I wasn't into acting, band or choir. I enjoyed arts, crafts and home ec the most. Despite how much I tried to be my own person and stay out of the drama and cliques, I was still bullied on a few occasions which I've not forgotten.

In 4th grade I got glasses. There is no better way to draw attention to yourself as a child than to walk in one day with four eyes and a butch hair cut. Until my hair grew out, I didn't hear the end of it. I avoided the bullies and chased the boys on the playground.

When I was in 5th grade, on the last day of school, we were doing an outside activity with wooden planks over buckets, trying to cross to the other side without falling off. One of the girls, Katie R., was a loner for the most part but decided to leave her mark, literally, before the day was over. She was behind me and had one of those old, plastic jump ropes. I suppose I wasn't moving fast enough for her so she took that jump rope and whipped it across the back of my legs. I instantly fell off and began to cry. The teacher wasn't paying attention and I didn't want to be a snitch so I just laid there a minute until I could put the tears away. Worst way to end a school year!

In 7th grade, I had some awesome "friends". They were so awesome, in fact, that they were the fake-nice bully. Y0u know, the girls who pretended to like you, pretended to be your friend and then the minute you didn't do something they wanted you were black-listed. At our school if you found money and turned it in, you'd get a box of Gobstoppers. I'd found some cash and quickly turned it in. Please note: I have the biggest conscience you could imagine. My moral compass has almost always been straight and narrow. These girl "friends" wanted me to share my Gobstoppers and so I passed a few around, smiling for winning some brownie points (or so I thought). The girls asked for more and I politely declined. I got up and headed back inside, but not before they tackled me and pinned me behind the door. I was wedged between the door and the brick wall of the school. It was a hot day and the bricks stung my skin. I tried to play along for a minute, trying not to become terrified of what might happen. I threw the box of Gobstoppers at them and they let me go. I ran inside to the counselor and had a good cry. I don't know if they ever got in trouble for what they did, but I never got my Gobstoppers back and they never apologized. In fact, they continued to be my fake friend.

Over the years, I've learned pretty quickly if someone is fake or not. It's sad, really, that those people are still out there even as adults. I've tried to be my genuine self and give a little trust here and there, only to find that they're not really my friend and I let it go. It doesn't hurt anymore. It just sucks.

I'm not sure how I will deal with bullies as a parent. From what I can tell, Logan is a very social child who is friendly with everyone. We get praising reports from his daycare teachers and he's never been in trouble to earn a time out. He's never bitten a kid and as far as I know, he's never hit one either. I hope is that he is not the bully or the bullied. But I can't control that. And that also sucks.

always remember (part 2)

• On Thursday night it was warm enough for us to take our 2nd family bike ride together. You protested wearing your helmet but as soon as you were in your seat you settled down. I will remember how peaceful you are, how you just soak in the breeze, sounds, and everything around us. The way you wave at everyone we pass and smile with your most beautiful toothy grin. I will remember the way your eyes light up at the sound of going to the park, the way you run around and climb up the steps to the slide and bravely go down the slide over and over again.


• How you eat waffles every single morning while watching Cat in the Hat, how you sing along to the song and really emphasize "go go go!"


• How you've grown out of all your 18-24 month clothes and how you can drink from a grown up cup with little assistance, even if you spill sometimes.


• How you wake up asking to play bubbles outside, how it's the first thing you think about and how much joy bursts from you when we go outside to play with the bubbles.


• The way we say our prayers every night. You, sitting on my lap facing me, heads together and your hands pressed. I say our prayers and you say "Amen" and then "again!" and we say a few more prayers until you feel we're done. You open and close the prayer box around my next, being sure to capture every prayer we say.


• How you lean against your daddy while you two read books, how you point out all the lights, dogs, balloons and much more on every page.


• How your language has absolutly exploded over the last few months, especially how you say "thank you mommy" or "I love you Mommy". Melts my heart!

I love you so much Logan. Thank you for making my life rich.

bye bye babyness

I started writing this on December 8th...

Today, my squishy little boy is 22 months old. That's only 2 months away from being, you guessed it, TWO YEARS OLD!! Every parent from across the world will never EVER stop saying things like "I can't believe how fast time goes," or "I can't believe he's turning two!" or "They grow up so fast," and so on. Seriously, two years of my life has never gone faster since I've had Logan in my life. I mentioned to my mom the other night how when I was 22 months old she had my brother. I cannot imagine already having gone through 9 months of pregnancy again AND having a new baby right now...I know God blesses each of us with what he knows we can handle. I'm glad He knows I would go crazy!! However, that is not to say we are done having children-at all...just not yet.

I have mixed feelings about Logan's babyness fading away. I love watching him learn and grow up into an actual person with a personality, likes and dislikes, wants and needs...all of which make him more of a toddler and less of a baby. And yet I miss his infant stage, the frequent naps, nursing him, and experiencing all those new baby firsts. His firsts now are involve new words and new independence.

Last night I could not find his paci. We left the sitter, who doesn't even give him a paci, and the first thing he starts talking about in the car is "bapie! bapie!" so I tell him we're going home and we'll get it then. On our drive I kept thinking, you know...I hope we can't find a paci and in the same breath I realized I was wishing away one of the last baby-ish things about Logan. He no longer sleeps in a crib, uses a bottle, wakes up every two hours, rather he uses words to express himself, says "toot toot" when he farts, and plays hide and seek around the corners. The paci has never been something that B and I have liked, but it certainly saved us countless times from uncomfortable car rides and wakeful nights. Getting rid of the paci has been one of those things we started to fret about a year ago. We wondered if taking it away sooner rather than later would make the transition easier. In fact, it made it worse! Not two months ago he started needing not one, but TWO pacis to go to bed. He was carrying one around with him everywhere we went and without taking the paci out of his mouth he'd be asking for a 2nd. His talking through his paci was a huge problem to me. We don't want anything to interfere with his language developement or his teeth and we knew the longer we kept the paci around the harder it would be to get rid of it.

So when we got home and after I turned up every couch cushion, searched through his toys, all our secret hiding places and even out in the car again and I still could not find a paci I said "that's it! No more paci!". Well, not out loud like that. But as Logan sat on the floor crying for bis "bapie" I gently told him that there was no more paci. He paused a moment and said it again. I said, "Logan, you bapie had to go and be with another baby. Your bapie went bye-bye." He stared at me for a few seconds before throwing himself on the floor, where he stayed screaming for the next 20 minutes. I tried offering him comfort and he refused my efforts. I let him mourn his paci. It broke my heart to see him so sad about his bapie, but I knew this had to be a "cold turkey" type of thing.

Logan went to bed surprisingly easy and slept through the night

As of today, Logan is nearly paci-free. The few times we've pulled it out is at night or early in the morning to help him get back to sleep and the minute he is up we take it away. If he asks for it during the day we just remind him that he gave it away to another baby. He seems to understand this and accept it without issue. The second night he did have a full on meltdown in which we did not cave, although we were tempted! While Logan mourned his paci, I mourned his babyness.

Dear Logan

My sweet boy,

You are 20 months old. I told myself that once you were 18 months I'd stop referring to your age in months but I just can't help it. You're over a year and a half and wow are you a busy guy! You make our hearts swell with pride in all the new things you learn and say every day. Your dad and I could not have asked for a more amazing kiddo.

Over the last few months your speech has increased dramatically. You try to repeat just about everything we say. Not all of it comes out clear, but your attempt is adorable! You have trouble with R, P, T, Y and L words, which is totally normal for your age. In fact, I cannot believe how much you talk now. I never expected to have a conversation with you on the phone at this age! I call your daddy at night while I'm working and he puts you on the phone. I ask you questions and you almost always answer with "uh-huh" as you have not yet said "yes". It would take me all day to write down the number of words you say which we can understand.

Your favorite word  is "light". Oh my stars! You are OBSESSED with the lights. Every where we go you have to turn lights on and off, point at street lights, constantly with your gaze upward. Your admiration with the lights is so humbling to your father and me. We take lights for granted and you, Logan, your entire body gets excited in the morning when we walk around the house and turn all the lights on. The smile on your face is palpable. Daddy and I talked about how the light is symbolic of Jesus' light and love for us. You are teaching us so much and we see Him working in you every day.

You no longer walk. You run. Everywhere. The only thing I can see slowing you down is the snow, which we just received over night nearly 10 inches of the white fluff. I want to start a tradition with you for the First Snow. I'm thinking hot chocolate and a movie of your choice. Of course, this can come after an hour outside!

You broke 25 pounds! I was not sure this would happen before you turned two since you're such tall, lean little man. You wear mostly 18-24 month clothes for both tops and pants. You're in a size 6-7 shoe and you have big hands. We call them your "mitts". You're still in a size 4 diaper and we're hoping to start some potty training with you soon. So far, you have no interested in the toilet and we're okay with that. We'll wait until you're ready.

You have a cough right now and kid, when you get a cold that cough hangs on for what seems like months. You don't seem too bothered by it.

Things you love right now: lights, talking, eating chicken nuggets, watch Sesame Street and Yo Gabba Gabba, playing with the dogs, reading Where The Wild Things Are, playing in water, running around naked, getting "chased" by us, playing in your cardboard house, sleeping on a big boy bed, and alas, your paci, which you now call your "bapie".

Things you hate: taking showers (which we find odd because you love water), most veggies (read: anything green), having your diaper changed, listening to us when you're doing something you shouldn't, and pooping.

You're an amazing kid, Logan, and we don't want you to ever think differently. You are so smart and learn things so quickly. I know those skills will follow you throughout your life. Your daddy and I will always love you, no matter what, and support you. Thank you for being the most incredible blessing we could have ever hoped for.

Love,

Mama

18 months old-lotsa pictures!

oh.my.stars.



(playing with Butte-kid has an arm on him)

Logan turned 18 months old on Monday. Is this for real?? My squishy little newborn baby is now a toddling, tail-pulling, tantrum-throwing, hug-giving, self-feeding, nearly-talking little boy who just so happens to have the most heart-melting smile in the world.

Notice anything different? Why yes, Logan got a hair cut by none other than yours truly. I just buzzed it and he did great! Didn't cry and was very patient with me. Shorter hair makes him look even OLDER and more like a toddler. What a little ham, though. His eyes just pop and OMG he has the longest eyelashes. Yes, I am totally bragging about my kid.

(lovies with mama)

Life with a toddler only gets better, really. I know that it *may*get worse (hear the optimism in my voice here people) and that's okay. He's learning how to be a person and that is such an amazing thing to witness, even if it means thrashing and hitting and constantly pulling him off the TV stand. He'll get it.

(water color painting-very artistic just like daddy!)

The last month has been a little chaiotic but we are settling into our new home nicely and we know Logan loves his back yard. He takes chalk and marks it all over himself, the dogs, the chairs, the siding of the house, and of course the sidewalk. He throws sticks at the dogs and thinks squirting Butte in the face with a squirt gun is the funniest thing known to man. His belly laugh just about kills me. I love it.



(monkey shots)

Daycare is going great. He rarely ever cries when we drop him off. A few things we've noticed that help this transition is to let him walk into the classroom holding our hand. He feels like he has more control of the situation and welcomes it more easily. Also if the kids are sitting down for breakfast I'm pretty much forgotten. He immediatly sits in his chair and waits patiently for the teachers to bring him his food. When we pick him up he RUNS to us, giggling the whole way into our arms. The excitement makes our hearts burst. We missed him just as much as he missed us. Logan has been going 3 days a week which has worked out well for us financially and we LOVE the social, creative, and developmental things he is learning as well.

Sleep has been wonderful. He sleeps 10-12 hours a night and even in the mix of cutting his very last 1 year molar he has only cried out once or twice and soothes himself back to sleep quickly.

Things we're working on:

• The Paci: We had been doing really well there for awhile and then I got sick and it just wiggled it's way out of the drawer. Dang it.


• The Bottle: We have not been very pushy about this with Logan. He only gets it for his am and pm milk and uses a sippy for the rest of the day. However, I noticed that at night he is still picky about having his milk in a bottle, not the sippy.


• The Potty: Ever so slowly am I starting to introduce the idea to Logan. I have been sitting him on the toilet for a minute, or as long as he will sit there, before and after his bath. It does not seem to scare him which is great and all I am trying to do is get him used to the idea. We don't expect anything yet and know it's going to be a long process.


• Talking: Logan has really started to say more, even through signing. He can sign more than he can say but new words this month were "duck" and "out" for outside. Go figure.

(exactly 1 year ago)

Most recently we have started to let Logan feed the dogs in the morning and evening. He LOVES having a job. The kid practly jumps out of his skin he is so excited to help mama out. I fill the cup and he carries it over to the bowl. If he spills a little he picks them up and puts the pieces in the bowl, rather than eating it (which he was doing). Then he puts the cup away and claps for a job well done. I love it.



(1 year old with monkey)

I've decided that after this month I will no longer refer to his age in months. I will say "he's a year and a half" or "almost two". Saying in this manner makes him seem so much older, as if referring to months actually makes it still seem like he's a baby. It's a growing process for both of us. I cannot believe that he is more than half way to two now.

This age is so fun. SO FUN!

Milestones

>It is amazing to think that one year ago this is what Logan looked like:

His blue eyes were still a deep, dark ocean and his hair was still new and soft. He was still suffering from baby acne and as you can see he swam in his 0-3 month clothing. He wasn't rolling over and was just learning how to smile. Amazing that this is what he looks like now:

Handsome as ever, chewing on a pen. His hair is still soft, although food ends up in it on a daily basis and his eyes now have a greenish tint to them. No more baby acne and even before he is 14 months old he is in mostly 18 month clothing. What a ham. I am so proud to be his mother, though each day can bring along trying moments. All those frustrating moments disappear the moment he smiles at me and says "Mama".

A friend over at Butterflies wrote a beautiful post today. Most of you may even know her. Baby Scarlett, Brandi's beautiful daughter, was diagnosed just before turning 3 months old with brain cancer. While this might be the most devastating news a parent could hear (next to the WORST news, of course), she has kept her chin up as a mother and Scarlett is growing like a weed now. Here are her words from today's post:

I don't know if it is a universal thing, but I find that modern parenting in very milestone-focused.  We are constantly looking for what physical or developmental milestones our children are hitting, and use it as bragging rights among other parents when they are even slightly ahead of the curve.  The October baby message board that I am a member of is overwhelmingly full of moms boasting about their child's latest progress, so eager for their babies to be done with babyhood faster than their neighbors.  There are countless calenders and schedules for when babies should hit each mark, week-by-week points that we feel we should match. I have seen this as a teacher, too, as people push their kids to be more physically, emotionally or intellectually advanced than others, and don't understand why other kids can't do what theirs can.  This puts a huge amount of pressure on those whose kids don't fit the same schedule.

Brandi did such a great job putting into words something I so often thing about. All children, even without a medical issue, meet milestones at different stages. As a new parent, you're constantly worried if there might be something wrong with your child because he's not saying the same things that another child is saying who is the same age. Logan meets all his milestones, but not necessarily when other children his age are. For example, the normal age for children to begin to walk is anywhere between 9 and 18 months, but when my child is 14 months and most of his friends his age are walking it makes that stat seem out of whack. But it's not. Logan is right on track and while I would love to see him toddle across the room I am in no rush for him to walk. He's not ready yet. He's also not really talking either. The only things he says are "Mama" and "Dada". That's it. Everything else is babble. I would love to hear other words clearly roll of his tongue but he's just not there yet.

My point is that I am learning to be okay with where Logan is at, even if he's not doing what other children his age are doing. He is so smart. He can mimic just about anything you do with your face or head. He understands the things we say and he is quite the charmer. I would not want him any other way. My prayer for all of us moms out there is that we stop worrying about what our child should be doing and rather that we praise what they are doing. 

12 Months Old

>

Now that Logan has been one year old for a little over a week now it is easier to believe that he is growing up. I was thinking today how it seems like it's going to fast but when I think of my friends who have children who are in kindergarten I am taken back because really, it's not going too fast at all. The pace, right now, is just right. Here is what my little wolverine is up to:

Says "mama" with conviction, but that's it

Knows what a cow "oooooo" and a rooster "eeeeeee" say

Almost fully weaned onto organic whole milk, still mixing about 1/4 formula for iron

Walking around furniture and standing alone for 3 very short seconds, but nothing else (I'm okay with him not walking yet!)

Eating almost everything and has a very public love affair with fruit: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon

Wearing mostly 12 month clothes, although his arms are growing longer and so the sleeves are shorter so 18 month clothes here we come!

In a size 4 diaper (no more cloth!)

Size 4-5 shoe depending on the style, the kid has FAT feet!

I'm not sure what else to include. He is such a happy kid. We feel so lucky to have him in our lives and he makes us laugh and smile all the time. It's a true blessing to be a parent. I LOVE IT!!

11 Months Old--I'm already tearing up!

>Before I dive into this post, I want everyone to know that something great has happened. Our child care worries are OVER!! I was able to chat with my boss and a few coworkers and we were able to switch my schedule around so that I now have EVERY DAY FREE WITH HIM!! I work at 3pm until 11pm, except on Mondays and Fridays. It's like being a full time stay at home mom while still working. I am SO happy!!

*****

Ohmigawd. I cannot believe I am already writing Logan's 11 month update. This is so surreal. Every time I think about him turning one I get teary-eyed...it can't be so! This little baby of mine is growing up into a toddler wayyyyyy to freaking fast. He continues to steal our hearts with his smiles, giggles and new discoveries. Watching him figure out new things is one of the most awe-inspiring things about being a mother. Seeing him become frustrated with himself because he can't quite figure out how to stand alone is hilarious and adorable all at once. So here is what he's been up to:

• Food: Logan continues to eat just about everything. He loves his fruits and veggies. He especially loves fresh green beans, avocado, blue berries, pineapple, and sweet potatoes. We have been giving him a lot more meat lately and he loves chicken. He is still unsure about ground beef. If it is in very small amounts mixed with something like mashed potatoes he'll eat it. But he won't eat it alone. Now that he is nearing the 1 year mark which opens a few more doors in the way of foods, we are holding off on several things. B has a huge allergy to all fish and because of this, Logan has a high risk of having allergies in general. So we are delaying cows milk, fish, eggs, honey, and peanuts until he is at least 18 months.
• Motor skills: It is no surprise that our kiddo likes to get around, and fast! He is speed crawling everywhere. He plays the "I'm gonna get you!" game and crawls so fast from us as we chase him down the hall. He is pulling up and walking around just about anything he can, even walls. He can grip our fingers and walk along with us, sometimes on his tippy toes. He is still not confident in his balance to stand alone, which he may skip all together because his walking is getting so good.
• Fine motor skills: Logan got an Alphabet Train for Christmas and there are small blocks with letters on them. You can put a block in the engine and then it slips through to the caboose and sings a song. This is quite the fine motor skill and Logan has it down pat now! He stands over his train and puts block after block into the engine. He giggles and claps fully knowing how proud of him we are that he learn such a great skill so quickly! This has also enhanced his ability to put things just about anywhere. He puts blocks and his paci in the oddest places.
• Reading: Okay I know he is not actually reading yet, but over the last month Logan has taken an interest in books that has just floored us! He began to just play around with the pages. Now he sits there and stares at each page. Colors and faces really make him smile and he will actually sit in my lap for 2-3 books at a time now. I am SO PROUD!! Being that he was born into a very strongly influenced house of readers we know he will love to read as much as we do.
• Sizes: Logan is growing so much!! He has not been to the doctor for a few weeks. B tried weighing him with clothes on at the docs the other day when I was there and it said 20 pounds even. I would be so happy if he finally broke the 20 pound mark! He has always been such a peanut, though very tall. I am guessing he is at least 32" tall now. When he is not in a cloth diaper, he is wearing size 4s, which we still mostly do at night. I am on the hunt for new cloth diapers. The gDiapers are not working out as well as they used to. Lots more leaks, etc and the weight limit on them goes to 28 pounds so I am thinking that because of his length they are just not fitting him right. Logan wears mostly 12 month clothes and size 4 shoes. He has fat, big feet! Most 12 month pants are great in length but too lose around the waist. 
• Transportation: I have been wearing Logan a lot more lately and it has me wanting an Ergo carrier. Those things are expensive!! So maybe for his birthday??? Either way, the homemade moby wrap I made is working out well. I used youtube to try some new wraps now that he is bigger. I love the hug hold on my hip. He snuggles in and is so happy! He also loves his new stroller which I have been using more and more as we are out and about. Logan only rides in a convertible car seat now and will remain rear facing for as long as possible.
• Words: Still none. He babbles and has been discovering different pitches. He has been squealing a lot more lately. But no words. Not even mama or dada. He just babbles on and I am not too worried.

It is so hard to believe that in less than a month I will be celebrating one year of Logan's life with all his family and friends. Fast does not even come close to how I would describe it, because there are times that I recall not being so fast. Like the first 6 weeks, which for us, were our hardest weeks. It is true that things get easier, however there are other undiscovered territories that I am sure will pose challenges. We welcome them all! Happy Monday!

10 Months Old: Letter to Logan

>Dear Logan,

The last ten months with you in our lives has been nothing short of beautiful. Your daily smiles and babble fill our hearts with so much joy we had no idea there would ever be enough room for it, but our hearts have grown and with you in our lives, they continue to burst. As each day passes and as you learn new skills, we become even more engrossed in you as you turn into a little person. I would hardly consider you a baby anymore, however, you will always be my sweet cheeked, milky breathed baby.

Communicating with you has become one of the most fun things we share each day. You are using your mouth to make all kinds of vowel and constant sounds. You especially enjoy the sound "o" makes and when you do your lips purse and the expression on your face is priceless. You're speaking to us in all seriousness and we cannot help but giggle at your efforts to do so. You are clearly understanding a number of things, including your name, "no", "eat", "outside", and "nap". You can wave, clinching your fingers in a claw formation to say "hello" or "bye-bye". Not to mention the set of lungs to have to clearly express your distaste, sadness, pain, and frustration with us. You are not a fan of your changing table, being redirected from things you want, or waiting for your food. Ha, sounds like your momma. ;)

Your motor skills improve everyday. You are a champion crawler. There are times I find myself racing you to the kitchen gate to get it shut before you clobber your way to the dog dishes. You can sit and stand with ease with the help of the couch, chair, or coffee table. You can walk with your car walker or with the help of our fingers. You are also moving around furniture and even balancing with one had at times. These skills baffle us and we cannot wipe the grin of our faces when you look at us for approval and we clap with positive reinforcement.

Your fine motor skills are developing nicely. Your pincer grasp (fore-finger and thumb) is almost perfect. You eat cherrios with ease. You can turn pages in a book, press buttons on some of your toys, and get your paci in your mouth just right no matter what position you happen to start out in.

Ahh, your paci. If I was not around, I am sure that your love addiction with your paci would suffice. You are so attached to it that I am sure it is a sin now if we happen to walk out the door without it. You also sleep with your lovie (a monkey/blankie) and a blanket. You love being all snuggled in and now that the weather is much colder, you are soaking up all the comforts we provide you.

You have a very new fasination with doors. You like to swing them shut and only on two occasions has this ended badly. You caught your fingers once and another time, you nearly trapped yourself in your room behind the door and I could not get in because you were blocking the door! Silly man. Although, you were not happy about that one bit!

We have transitioned you into a convertable carseat. You are so much more comfortable in it! We are taking your longest road trip (In Colorado) this weekend to visit our friends. I cannot wait for them to meet you!

Your eyes are still blue. This is also very surprising as neigher momma or daddy have blue eyes. Lately, we have noticed a hint of green and I truly hope they don't get greener! You get the most compliments on your big blue eyes and bright blonde hair.

You are exclusivly in 12 month clothes now. I am not certain of your height, but I am sure you are pushing 31", nearly 11" taller than the day you were born! And weight wise you are just under 20 pounds. Still my little peanut!

Meal time is always enjoyable. You seem to like whatever is put on your plate and usually have no problem finishing and even having seconds. Just the other night you ate 3/4 of a gormet mac & cheese dish from Rustic Oven. We were so proud!

Amazment does not come close to the word I would chose to describe how the last 10 months has been with you in our lives and watching you grow and change into your own person has been the number one greatest gift God has ever blessed us with. We are so in love with you and cannot wait to see what you'll accomplish in the next month!

Loads of Love,

Momma & Daddy

9 Months Old

>

(me, a YEAR ago!!)

The new man in my life is growing up so fast! Tomorrow he will be 9 months old and I CANNOT believe that we have been parents for almost a year. I think that when my bump was that size I was feeling pretty good. Then I just got HUGE!

So what is Logan up to?

1. Speed crawling all over the place

2. Pulling himself up on everything

3. Lowering himself from places with ease and few bonks

4. Taking a few steps around the furniture

5. Saying "Mama & Baba"

6. Waves "hello" and "goodbye"

7. Nods head "yes" and "no"

8. Signs "more"

9. Gets mad when he can't have something he wants (ie: to touch the fireplace)

10. Showing an awareness of things (ie: fear of water in bath, fear of being in the arms of someone he does not know, knowing when we have left the room)

11. Extremely independent

12. In size 3 diapers--usually cloth

13. In mostly 9-12 month clothes and some 12-18 month sleepers

14. Weighs 17.12oz and is 29.5 inches long

15. Eats cereal with a fruit for breakfast, stage 3 food with fruit and graham crackers for lunch, and whatever we eat for dinner--he has no aversions to anything

16. Thinks cats are the funniest thing on this green (browning) earth

17. Gives hugs and plays peek a boo

18. Hates having his nails trimmed, being inside for too long, having his boogers sucked out, and waiting for his meal to be made

19. Loves going outside, swinging, seeing the dogs chase each other

20. Drinking juice or water from a sippy cup

21. Sleeping 8-10 hours a night

22. Has one tooth all the way through

23. Just had his first real cold

24. Climbs stairs

Things we are looking forward to:

1. Trying cows milk

2. Pushing toys to practice walking

3. Signing more words

4. Saying more words

5. Walking

6. Logan's first holiday season: Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favs!

This month blazed by. I cannot believe it has been an entire month since we were in Michigan. And in that time, Logan has learned so much! I have decided that once he turns one, I will be going to part time and get two more days a week with my boy. I cannot wait! Just in time for school to start. Happy Monday!

7 is such a lovely month

>

7 Months Old

>Yesterday, Logan turned 7 months old and all I could think was, "wow...have you really had a fever almost every day for 3 months now?" Super negative, I know. Our Labor Day weekend was lovely. We spent time in Denver with family and it was nice to just get away from all of the doctors and poking and prodding. Logan's little arms were so bruised from his blood draws, I was in tears. He did not seem to notice, though, once all the poking was over with.

We ate a ton of food, went to the zoo, went to a bar...it was all very fun. The night we went to the bar we walked there from my mother in laws house. Now, before you go asking, the answer is yes, I was intoxicated. The other answer is yes, it would have happened regardless as to whether or not I had been drinking. Seriously, bare with me here.

As we trecked our way to the bar through a field we were all unfamiliar with, I managed to step off the road to head down a hill only to find myself 6 feet deep in a ditch. It was dark and there was very little lighting so that is why this could have happened to anyone. Did I get hurt? Yes. My entire right thigh is scrapped and bruised up. I banged the heck out of my left shin and ankle and over the last few days, my right shoulder muscle has been giving me hell. Not to mention that only two days later I slipped on the kitchen floor at work and fell flat on my ass. OMG. I need a bubble.

Logan loved the zoo. He loved seeing all the people and animals, sights and sounds. We bought him a super cute bucket hat with zoo animals on it. The Denver Zoo has several new babies, including three tiger tubs, two baby giraffs, cheetah cubs, and much more.

So what is Mr. Logan up to these days?

• Army crawling all over the place
• Sitting himself up on his own
• Repositioning himself while sitting
• Demonstrates excellent balance
• Props himself up on his feet (as if to stand up)
• Stomps feet in excitement
• Kicks legs in bath
• Shakes toys in his hands as if to wave
• Plays Peek-a-Boo
• Claps
• Babbles and mimics sounds we make
• Has no teeth yet
• Size 3 diapers
• 6-9 clothes, however, we will be moving up in the next week or so
• Eats 3 meals a day and loves everything except peas
• Eating more people food like breads, spaghetti, fruits and veggies
• Sleeps 10-12 hours a night, rarely waking if only once around 4am
• Wants anything and everything he can't have
• Wants to be wherever he's not (he's on the floor and wants to be in our laps, etc..)
• Loves car rides
• Favorite book is Oh the Thinks you can Think by Dr. Seus
• Loves dancing and listening to music. I play classical music when we are playing together

WOW! Can you believe it? There is much more, but not really worth mentioning here. We are still using cloth diapers and I recently replenished my supply of the disposable liners and OMG what a difference in taking care of poopy diapers has that made! I mean, I had them up for sale on craigslist and now I am glad I never sold them.

We are gearing up for our first family vacation to Michigan in October. It will be Logan's first plane ride and I can't wait!

As for everything else going on with him right now, we are still waiting for a scheduled appointment at National Jewish in Denver to see another Immunologist. He has been having some other tests just to rule things out and so far, he is still a mystery. This is very hard for us, knowing that something is not quite right and even all the professionals he has seen so far are stumpped too. I just pray we get some answers soon.

5 Months Old

>July 8, 2010

Dear Logan,

Today you are 5 months old. You smile, laugh and have a serious pair of lungs on you. Nopneumothorax is stopping you now! Logan, the depth of our love for you has grown beyond the boundries of what our hearts could have ever imagined possible. Your smile and deep voice stretch our smiles and love for you across the lines on our faces. Nothing in the world comes close to how incredible it is to call you our son and to be your parents.

My most favorite thing is to listen to you in the early mornings talking to yourself. You tell long stories about what I am assuming is your love for us, the dogs, your exersaucer, car rides, bath time, and snuggling. You have a “lovie”, a monkey with a rattle in the head attached to a soft blankie. You grip it with your cubby hands and shove it into your mouth. You’ll yank it out quickly and look at me like, “Look what I can do, Mom!”

You have started eating solids, which is something I am still debating about whether or not this is a good thing, but per the recommendation of your doctor AND your intense interest in watching us eat our food, you have taken to avocado, banana, sweat potato, and squash like a champ. You refuse to swallow a bite of cereal, a true sign that you are indeed my stuborn son. I have begun to freeze small slices of banana to put into a mesh teether-eater and you looooooovvve sucking on that wholesome goodness. And I’m sure the cold, tough texture feels great on those gums.

Speaking of gums, you are in full-blown teething mode and it is painful for all of us. We’re going on 5 days of pure discomfort that just breaks my heart to see you have to go through pain which we all experienced at one time, but can’t even remember. This too shall pass, my son. I am doing my best as your mommy to make you as comfortable as possible, giving you frozen wash cloths to gnaw on, teething rings, a watermellon rind and even my fingers. I invested in some teething tablets which you tried tonight and seemed to relieve your discomfort rather quickly, on top of some tyenol. This road is only beginning and they have not even popped through yet! So your daddy and I are praying that those little buggers will make an appearance any day now. We will all sleep much better, to say the least. (This, dear readers, is why there is no picture yet. Getting a happy face on camera is hard these days)

You are the most playful little man I know. You love standing and have recently discovered how to jump and “dance.” Your jumping has caused you to go wild in your exersaucer and jumparoo, two things you cannot seem to get enough of. You hate laying on your back, even while sleeping. You sleep almost excuslivly on your stomach and you roll yourself into that position easily now. You can push yourself up on your hands almost completely and you are really trying to sit up on your own. Until then, you sit assisted on the floor and are deeply in love with Butte. She lays next to you and licks your feet and you become wildly twitterpated by such a thing.

Strangers have started to pop up on your radar as just that, strangers. You know the moment you are no longer in my arms and someone new is holding you. I have always been a strong believer in allowing you to experience everyone and everything. I am your protector, but I need you to learn to trust others as well. However, the simple fact that you know me as mommy and you know daddy as daddy by our faces and voices melt our hearts. You know who we are better than you could ever communicate. In this new discovery, you have mastered a rather excellent display of the bottom lip. As soon as I catch you in action, I will capture a picture to share.

Logan, you have shown your daddy and I a new way to love. A new way to expeience the world. Everything is fresh and special in your eyes, something we forgot to enjoy a long time ago. This new discovery will only get better as you grow and learn. We will be right by your side every step of the way. We want nothing more than for you to become the person you want to be. We will love you forever.

kisses,

Ma and Pa

4 Months Old

>

Dear Logan,

Today you are 4 months old. Four whole months have passed since the day we met and I am pretty sure you and I are more in love with each other now than we ever thought we could be. You daddy is so in love with you, he just can’t stand to go to work at a job he quite literally hates. I have been back to work for a month now and I think it has been quite the change for both of us. At first, you stopped sleeping through the night and then you got a tummy bug. Now that we’ve worked that out, you are sleeping 9-5 every night. You might wake up for a moment because you’ve rolled over in your sleep but if I give you a flip and your paci, you go right back to sleep. No more night feedings!

A few things you’ve learned in the last month:

• You can roll from your back to your tummy, however, you’ve only done this in your sleep so be brave and show mommy and daddy!
• You can laugh! You are just tickled when we give you raspberries in your neck or tummy, when we hold you up over our heads, and when we let you lay in bed with us in the mornings.
• You grab and reach for your toys. You love grabbing my hair and anything that is put into your hands you quickly bring it straight to your mouth.
• You are beginning to tolerate tummy time more. You can support your body on your elbows and raise your head. Such a strong boy!
• You love standing. Your legs are super strong and you kick all the time. We have been putting you in your Johnny Jump Up and you love it! You’re still figuring out how to kick off the floor to jump, but you’ll get it in no time.
• You can raise your head, neck and shoulders off the floor or whatever surface you’re resting on to try and sit up. We’ve been practicing how to sit up and I think you’re just a few weeks away from getting better at it!
• You know who we are. You have for quite some time, but it is very obvious now that you know who your momma is. Whenever you’re upset Daddy tries to calm you down but has very little luck. The moment you’re in my arms, you calm down and go to sleep. Silly boy!
• You weigh 13.5 pounds and are 25” long! You’re in the 95% for height!
• You wear 3-6 month clothes and size 2 diapers, though you are still in cloth diapers about 80% of the day.
• You love being outside more than anything. Your toes have touched the grass and you’re not too sure how you feel about that yet. You’ve been in the pool and loved that experience.
• Baths have become a lot more fun. We spend more time playing and you’ve figured out how to kick your feet to make a splash.
• We’ve taken a few trips to Denver and you do great in the car.
• You don’t like being left alone on the floor, you don’t like going down for a nap, and you don’t like not being held.

Overall, you’re the perfect baby. You’re happy 95% of the day, you love spending time with Gama, you wake up happy in the morning and we could not be more proud to be your parents. Watching you learn and grow has been such a treat. We cannot wait to see what the next month brings!

Lots of love,

Momma and Daddy

6 Months Old

>**pic coming soon**

While Logan is learning how to shove whatever is in his hands into his mouth, roll around in a meaningful pattern, and whine at me to get his way, I am learning how to form barriers so he does not bonk his head, keep his hands free of (too much) dog hair, and ignore his whines. Yeah, I said that. I ignore him when he is blatantly whining at me to do something. The kid is damn smart and while I will come to his every beck and call, I will not be his door mat and no, son, you are not the boss. I am.

Logan is learning and growing so much that just this morning I was watching him stand flat-footed in his exersaucer and it was only a few weeks ago that we adjusted the height on it. I swear he's grown an inch in the last week.

• Eats solids 3x per day and LOVES everything. Textures make him give a funny face, like applesauce, but he loves it regardless. He loves real fruits in his mesh feeder. He loves Puffs and teething biscuits, but the biscuits are a bit too soft so he breaks off too big chunks...still working on that.
• The most determined personality I have ever witnessed in a baby. He sees something and he MUST have it or all hell breaks loose. It's very characteristic of me, in a way, however it is a trait we want to fuel rather than let die as this type of personality will get him so far in life!
• Still no teeth, however I feel like he has been teething half his life now.
• Rolls and army scoots all over the place. He loves being on his belly now, which gives him that freedom to move around.
• Sits unassisted for very long periods of time to play with his toys, eat meals, and just hang out.
• Still loves his car rides and does great on longer trips.
• Obsessed with his paci. The kid can't live without it, although in the last few days he is finding his left thumb and I am sensing a switch coming on...
• Has a sitter 3 days a week and loves it!
• Has a best bud lady friend who's 4 days older than him. They love playing and swimming together.

So much more, I am sure, is what my little man is learning and growing to do right now. He loves the dogs, hanging out in our bed in the mornings and is FINALLY getting onto a

noticeable schedule.

FYI soon to be mommas, feel free to ask me anything anytime!