23 Months: A Letter

That's it. Twenty-three months. I just fell over dead from having to type that. What? Where on earth does the time go? 

I can't believe it's almost here. Again, it's almost August. Your birth month!

{this picture is why Mommy never gets any strawberries anymore. Someone eats them all before they even make it into the house!}

You are currently wearing 18-24 month clothes and some 2T tops. 2T is generally big on you, and the pants only fit if there is a working drawstring. You are wearing size 5 diaper and size 5 shoe. In your shoes that you wear socks with, they are starting to get a little tight. Just another sign that you are continuing to grow, grow, grow!

You seem to be sleeping less and less. Either that, or you are wanting to fight going to bed more than normal. We still manage to get you down around 8, but sleeping in hardly happens anymore. You are usually up by 6 or so, we should be so lucky for you to sleep til 7. You are still napping well, 2-3 hour naps.

You have had a busy month, playing outside, seeing fireworks and learning to swim ON. YOUR. OWN. Who said that was allowed? Your Daddy and I kept looking at each other and saying "He looks so big". Because swimming in that pool with your little floaty suit, refusing help from anyone else? Made you look like you were starting Kindergarten next week. Feel free to tone it down mister.

You continue to be a "free spirit", which is the nice way of saying you are strong willed, independent little guy. We are working on getting you to use your words when upset, instead of throwing a tantrum. It's pretty funny to hear you get frustrated and demand "that way" when you want to do something exactly opposite of what Mommy and Daddy are attempting to accomplish. You will be a little go getter that's for sure! 

You met little baby Kinley for the first time, and as soon as you saw her you were quick to point out "baby". You saw Mommy pat the baby, so you decided to as well. Mommy and Daddy startled, worried you wouldn't have your 'gentle hands' on, but you surprised us and were sweet and gentle as you mimicked my actions. Hopefully that is a good sign for your future brother or sister.

You are pottying more on the potty, they even started taking you some at school. It's a work in progress, and hopefully before too long you will get the hang of it. Right now, you really don't seem to care either way, but you don't have a problem going on the potty if we ask you to. I guess it's getting you to ask to go is the key!

 

The above two pictures were taken at a Birthday Party at BounceU. You LOVE it there. You can now say the word "bounce" and you just run and slide and climb like crazy. You love cake so much, that it might be a new favorite word. The top picture is because they said "put your hand on your head if you want a cupcake". You didn't want to take any chances so you put BOTH hands on your head, and you waited patiently for your cupcake! We went back a second time two weeks later and they said "raise your hand" if you want a piece of cake. And? You raised both while asking "cake? cake?". You are pretty darn cute, I must say.

You continue to love helicopters and airplanes. The above two pictures are of you signing airplane and you can now semi-accurately sign helicopter. It's pretty cute to watch how excited you get about them. You still use your signs, and it's helps when you sign and talk so others kind of know what you are saying. You still sign milk, more, thank you, please, all done and sorry. 

You continue to have little bow legs that I can't decide what to do with. Chiropractor? Bone specialist? I continue to think the problem is actually NOT in your hips, but from the knees down. You trip over yourself all the time, just yesterday after church at chickfila you tripped and fell and hit your nose on the ground, then afterwards at home you were running to the Elmo potty and cut your turn too short through a door frame and banged your ear/side of your face on the doorframe. That last one we can't blame on your legs, we can only blame on you inheriting Mommy's clumsiness. But back to the legs, you even have part of one of your two front teeth that is a little chipped. I can only guess you got that from tripping. :)

We still can't believe you are almost two, and are shocked at how big you seem to be getting every day. 

We love you to the moon and back!

Mommy

22 Months.

Dearest little one who is not so little anymore,

 

How did you get to be so big? I can't believe you are less than two months away from being TWO! You are so big now. You are now 22 months, you were born on the 22nd, and 22 is my lucky number. I hope that means we are in for a great month! 

 

This past month I feel like you have continued to spurt up in all of your milestones. You are running all over the place, all the time. You are starting to string two and three word sentences together more and more. The other day I went to pick you up from school and I swear you said "open the door please" and I about fell over. Since when did you talk like that? We are continuing to work on your please and thank you, as well as your tendency to flail around when you are upset. Fit throwing happens pretty often nowadays, but we are trying to teach you how to communicate through them. 

 

You take after your hard headed daddy in so many ways. You like to be independent, and even though I have tried to teach you the word 'help', it's like you are determined to NOT use it. You are constantly swiping our hands away or saying "no" or "move" when you want to be left alone to figure things out for yourself. We've always known you were strong willed, and boy you are really showing it!

This past month you managed to injure yourself pretty impressively. You pulled a heavy lawn chair across your toe, causing your toenail to bend back and bleed. You cried pretty hard, and finally after three weeks your toenail came off. Now you just have a cavernous hole that looks like a toenail is there, but upon inspection you can see that this isn't the case. You also managed to fall off of said lawn chair and bruise your head, as well as fall out of the car at the same time. You continue to trip over your feet daily, they are so pigeon toed I can't say I blame you. If they were my feet, I'd be doing the same! You got another ear infection, your second with tubes. I'll count it as the second because the first was a result of a clogged tube after putting them in back in September. That means we were clear for 8 months. I'll take an ear infection any day with tubes, because this means that they don't hurt as bad and I know what the problem is as soon as I see drainage. You didn't seem to be too bothered besides a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep.

 

Speaking of sleep, I feel like you are sleeping less and less these days. You will occasionally take a 45 minute power nap at church, and that usually means that you will refuse your nap that day. Also, you are going to bed later and later and hardly sleeping in. I'm not a fan because I think sleep is so important, but I can't force you to sleep! Also, regarding sleep, you tend to be waking at night and I think that your ear was the main reason. You popped out of bed Monday morning at 4 am, didn't make a sound or cry, and next thing your Dad and I hear is the pat-pat-pat of your little feet running down a dark hallway. Dazed we both sat up in bed trying to figure out what just happened, and that's when we saw your door wide open and knew you had jumped ship. Your Daddy found you in the living room with Scout, the teddy bear that sings songs. You fought going back to bed, but finally gave in.

 

You are loving swim time at Grandma's, but you are so picky about it. You prefer to play on the edges with your toys, or spend your time filling up water bottles and then dumping them in the skimmer. You repeat this process over and over. And over. And you don't like to be interrupted to go play in the water unless you ask for it! You are such a goof.

 

I feel like your appetite isn't as huge as it has been in the past, lots of times I swear you only get a little fruit and a lot of milk for your dinner. I do think you could live entirely on fruit snacks and milk if needed. You can wolf down a packet of fruit snacks that grandma gives you for the car ride home before we are completely out of the neighborhood.

 

You love visiting Grandpa after school when we pick up Pearl.You love watching him do his 'magic' tricks where he pulls a ribbon out of your ear or your belly button, and you enjoy doing art with him. You are quick to climb up in his lap now for a snack and to draw a picture, it's pretty stinkin' cute.

 

Your favorite shows continue to be Bubble Guppies and you like to watch "Mick-mee woom" after bathtime. Lately you've even started saying "Mick Mouse" or "Mick-mee Mouse". It's pretty darn adorable.

You are wearing most 18-24 month clothes, some stuff as big as 2T. Your Daddy is in denial that you can wear 2T shirts, he still doesn't dress you in them that much. You are wearing a size 5 shoe, and a size 5 diaper that is big on you. You weigh approximately 25.4 pounds, and you can officially stand on the scale and get weighed at the pediatrician. It's been like that for a while, but it's still a shock to Momma. You got weighed a mere four days before this posting, so that's pretty accurate to this posting. (darn those ear infections)

 

We are working on doing 'light' potty training. When I say 'light', it's that we aren't doing anything serious. We usually take your diaper off you before bathtime and have you sit on "Melmo" (its an Elmo potty seat). You know that if you have success and potty you get an "EM n EM" and you'll be for one even if you aren't successful.  I think you could possibly be the youngest kid ever to get a hernia with the way you sit on the pot. You want and M&M so bad that you push, and when you do you turn red and shake, and you'll work SO hard for those two little drips of pee that earn you a piece of chocolate. Who knew chocolate could be so rewarding? The other night you sat down on you potty and pushed so hard you got a one and a two. Daddy was in charge of pottying at the time and lets just say he was less than thrilled. I found it hilarious! :)

You are not biting as much now that your teeth are through, and we are reading your new favorite book "Teeth Are Not for Biting" thanks to Aunt Marcie. You did have another instance where you got bit at school, come to find out you didn't retaliate (yay!) but you started it by shoving the other kid (boo). Can't win 'em all I suppose!

 

Love you to the moon and back!

Mommy

21 Months: A Letter

Dear Camden,

As we draw ever closer to 2 years, I'm amazed at how big you have gotten every day. This month it seems like we can't teach you enough to satisfy you. You are learning new body parts and words by the minute, and jabbering up a storm. 

You are wearing 18 month clothes, and 18-24 month pants. You are wearing a size five shoe, and your adorable giraffe Toms are starting to fit better and they are RIDICULOUS. Sometimes I can't take the cuteness. You are wearing a size five diaper, still cloth diapering on the nights when I can start laundry as soon as you wake. (it stiiiiinks).

You had a doctors appointment on the 10th and you weighed in at 25.2 lbs, (28%), height was 32.6 inches (32%--there's no way this could be accurate with the way you fight having to lay down at the doctors office. Laying down=shots, so I don't blame you). Head was 47.4 cm (29%). 

You are sleeping from about 8 until 5:30 in the morning and napping 2-3 hours. You have a new bedtime routine. We set your room up and you have to say night night to Curious George, your new wall painting. You then say goodnight to your animals, good night to your cars. Then you proceed to holler for BEARRRLLL and she comes trotting in. I have to pick her up and you kiss her goodnight, give Mommy a kiss, Daddy a kiss and you lay down. Some nights you talk yourself to sleep, other nights you go willingly.

Speaking of Pearl, your relationship with her is adorable. You yell for her all the time, look for her when you wake up. You like to bring her toys, trying to get her to play with YOUR favorite toys for her. You think it's funny when she takes her toys from you, laughing and grinning. You will pet her and kiss her, and listening to you yell for her is just adorable.

You are learning new words by the minute. You are getting better at stringing words together, we are making you say "more milk please mom" and things like that. We usually have to walk you through that many words, but you're getting there. You hate being told 'no', but are getting much better at dealing with it. You say thank you all the time without being prompted. I can't express how sweet that is! I want that to last forever. 

Your new room at school is going well! You adjusted right in with your new teachers, and you LOVE getting to see your favorites on the playground. They say that you always go to play with them on the playground, not your new teachers. Silly boy. You are napping well over there, eating well and enjoying crafts. You are mostly playing well, but after 9 days in the new room you got a little mouthy. And by mouthy, I mean that you bit a friend. And not tired to bite, you connected. And you were unprovoked. Unfortunately, you still have a bottom molar that just won't break through. It is taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r, and we seem to think that your frustration with the pain associated with teething makes you a little bite-y. So my little crocodile, we are hoping that comes through soon! 

You graduated swimming lessons with two more ribbons. I'm so proud of you and your comfort levels in the water. You were fussy your last few swim lessons, wanting to do what you wanted and not what we were instructing you to do. So strong willed! By the last one you were able to row with you hands, and kick with your feet. Not at the same time, but we will get there. You can 'dive' underwater, you can jump in, and float on your back with assist. We are officially ready for swim season!

Your favorite thing this month has been watering and mowing. You are LOVING all of Daddy's outside chores. As soon as we get home from anywhere you ask to 'mow mow' and will run over to the mower and start pointing at it, the weed eater and the blower and just jabber away. If it's not a mow day, you will gladly help us water. You have three different watering cans and you love to get them filled and water the plants we point you to. You cry when it's time to stop and go in. Such a little helper! 

We made your second trip to the zoo and you seemed to throughly enjoy it. You know most of the animals we saw, so it was fun to really see them in person. Mommy and Daddy decided to buy a year membership. It was only 65 bucks and will pay for itself after two or three more trips, and it's good til May of '13 and its a tax write off. After showering or bathing you always ask for "mick-me woom". That's because you want to watch Mickey in your room. Such a silly kid you are. We try to get you to watch Veggie Tales but nothing else seems to catch on right now. You will cry as soon as we switch over. One of these days it'll catch! :)

Little Crocodile, we love you so much. Keep learning!

Mommy

1 year stats

{Please pardon the crappy cell phone pic}

So apparently my baby with the BIG belly (Seriously. If he were to run into a wall his gut would hit first) is only in the 9th percentile for weight. What? I had the nurse double check. She said 50% is 22lbs. Who knew? So basically, lil C is short and fat. Also, pay no attention to the fact that his one year appointment was almost a month late. Oops.

He was so cute at the doctor's office. He ran up to the pediatrician and put his arms up, wanting to be picked up. So the doctor picked him up and then Camden laid his little head down on the doctor's shoulder. So-o adorable. He's not shy at all! The funniest part was shots. Let me explain, because I don't mean it was funny to watch my baby get his shots. While we were waiting on the nurse to come shoot us, he started to get fussy. The toy drawer in the room wasn't cutting it anymore so I busted out the handy cheerios. He was happily munching (gumming - since he still only has two teeth) on the cheerios when she came in. She decided to go ahead and do the shots even though there was still cheerios in his mouth and hand. He was not thrilled at ALL with the process and began to holler. I picked him up as soon as possible so he wouldn't choke on his gummy cheerios that were rolling around in his mouth as he was screaming. Once I sat him up? The kid stopped screaming and immediately began shoving the cheerios left in his hand, into his mouth. He's definitely all boy. Who knew Cheerios were better than a kiss on an owie? I will definitely be bringing those to our next appointment!

{My boys. And Camden with his bandaids after his shots. Poor thing}

Nine Month Stats

Today was Camden's 9 month check up at 9 months, 1 week and 2 days.

Little mister has been under the weather, I think it has been the nasty allergies because this spring has been super harsh in this area. He woke up two days ago looking like he had been in a major fight and lost. He had circles under his eyes and was warm to the touch and VERY fussy with a constant cough and a drippy nose. Add that to the drooly mess that he is and it was just not fun. His cough has lightened up a bit and he checked out fine at the doctor, which meant that he still got his shot and his 9 month finger prick.

The dreaded finger prick was first. OH MY WORD did I feel bad for him. He HATED it. Initially it was a bit of a delayed reaction...And then he screamed. He screamed bloody murder LOUDLY and then when she squeezed his finger to get the blood out of it, he continued to wail even louder. I feel like such a mean Mom as I find his wailing almost comical sometimes. He's so animated when upset and even the cute squeaky duck that the shot nurse brought in as a distraction did NOTHING for him.

The finger prick is to check hemoglobin to make sure they are getting enough iron since he will be switching to milk soon. Camden was at 11.4 and 11 is the low end of the range so we passed, but barely!

She bandaided him up and left him to try and figure out how to get that bandaid off of his finger while I held his leg down so he could get his one shot that was required. This time he cried again but it was such a delay, she already had the bandaid on before he let out his short five second yell, and then was over it. Nothing like the 45 second meltdown from the finger prick. I think the bandaid had something to do with it. He sucked and chewed on that finger until we got to the car when he had managed to have the bandaid in his mouth. Thank you bandaid for serving your purpose to distract my little one from his shot!

Then he came home, played with his CiCi, ate dinner, went on a walk and passed out early. Here's to hoping tomorrow is a better day for everyone!!

{At the doctors office before shots}

{passed out after shots!}

Here's the breakdown:

Height: 28 inches (50%)
Weight: 18 lbs 2.5 ounces (10-25%)
Head: 44.5cm (25%)

I was sure he was going to be heavier as he has all of those adorable yummy rolls, but it turns out he's on the lower end there. Length wise, I can't believe how tall he's getting. I know he's not really all that tall but Husband and I were looking in his crib the night before last and couldn't help but comment how long he was looking laying across his crib. Our little boy is getting so big!

Camden: 7 month stats

We went to the pediatrician for our six month shots at seven months and almost a week. We were a little off on the timing, but that's what happens when you are sick.

Here are our stats:
Height: 27 inches (50th percentile)
Weight: 17.6 and a half ounces (almost 50th percentile)
Head: 43cm (25th percentile)

All was looking well despite some extra snot in our nose, so we went ahead an got our shots. Camden took them like a champ. As soon as he had the squeaky frog toy and was sitting back upright the crying stopped. The tears still lingered though. :(

I can't believe how fast he is growing every day, my sweet boy is getting bigger and bigger!

4 Months, 3 weeks, 6 days.

Ha, how do you like that for a title?

Anyhow, the mister went in Jan 3rd for his four month well baby check, and guess what? He was too sick for those shots as you may recall. We scheduled an appointment for two weeks later as the doctor assumed he would be well.

That appointment came on Tuesday, a little over two weeks since our last appointment, and guess what? Camden was STILL sick. Now of course, while we are with the doctor he's kicking his legs like he does in the bathtub, playing/kicking with the the paper on the table making all sorts of racket and trying to eat the paper while laughing and smiling. Basically in the best. mood. ever. The doctor states "well that's one happy baby for being sick, lets do the shots". While waiting for the shots, little mister became extremely fussy. He was almost like a little bipolar patient, he was so labile! Maybe he knew what was coming. We got our shots, and the poor thing had the biggest crocodile tears streaming down his face! Gosh, that part is just so sad to see.

While the doctor was in, he asked how long Lil C had been hanging out with his friend the cough. I said since the beginning of the year and he stated that it was "too long for baby to still have cough" and so he FINALLY gave us some antibiotics. I think he had hoped the problem would resolve itself without the intervention of meds, but it hasn't. Camden gave some nice coughs and some good snotty boogies while the doctor was in the room, and was almost rattling while breathing when the doctor checked his ears. I think the doctor was sold on the antibiotic when I mentioned Camden had spit up the day before and there was green mixed in with the spit. (sorry that was a little graphic).

Yay for finally getting on some antibiotics! We have another check up in two weeks to make sure it nipped everything in the bud. We will have to see if it helps, fingers crossed for sure. I am tired of the sickies and having a fussy baby who doesn't like to eat when sick!

Even though we did stats two weeks earlier, we did them again.

Weight: 15.9 ounces (almost 8 oz in 2 weeks, not bad considering he fusses when eating...)
Height: 26 inches (she said he grew an inch in two weeks. I'm thinkin' she measured wrong!)
Head: 41 cm

Percentiles according to the CDC chart? 50%, 75% and 25% respectively.

And that's where we are at!

Camden 4 Month Stats

We went to our four month appointment yesterday. The little mister was due for some shots, but due to a nasty head cold the doctor recommended we wait two weeks and delay the shots. Poor Lil C has a nasty cough and he sounds horrible, but is still smiling. The doctor said there is nothing in his chest and his ears are fine, and that there is nothing to give him. I am already doing all the things I can do, like elevate the mattress, use nasal saline drops with nose sucker, use a humidifier. There's nothing I can give him because "he's too little" and I have a feeling I better get used to hearing that, at least until he is 2.

Anyway, here are his stats:

Height: 25 inches (50 percentile)
Weight: 15lbs 1.5 ounces (50 percentile)
Head: 41 cm (25 percentile)

He gave us the go ahead for baby foods, so I am excited to start trying that out after we master the rice and oatmeal! :)

Update: Two Month Letter

We went to our doctors appointment the other day. Here is how he measures...

Height: 23 inches (50th Percentile)
Weight: 12lbs 4.5 ounces (50-75th Percentile)
Head: 38.5 cm (25th Percentile).

My boy has a tiny head! :) But it's cute.


Camden, and his adorable cousins...


Comparing baby K's head to Camden's, she is in the 75th Percentile I think! And she is four days older... Camden has some catching up to do! Like I told him, he now has no excuse to not hold his head up!! :)

Update: One Month Letter

Today was our one month appointment, or as they put on the stat sheet 4 weeks and 4 days.

Camden is 21 inches long and in the 25th percentile, he weighs 9 lbs, 12.5 ounces an is in the 25-50 percentile and his head is 36 centimeters which is 10th percentile.

He got his 2nd round of Hepatitis B. After the nurse gave him the shot he immediately drew his leg up. She kept trying to get him to straighten it out so she could band aid it when she said "gosh he is awful strong!" as she could barely get him to cooperate. He cried during the shot, but as soon as I picked him up to comfort him he stopped and was looking around like nothing had happened. Since we have been home he is slightly fussier, but I am still one proud Momma!

In other news, I had my check up with the doctor today. He found a stitch still present which he had to take out! And now everything feels MUCH better.

Well, Fussy McFusserson is waking up, time for a meal!