Weekend in Clarion

We went to see Gula, Pop-Pop, and Aunt Erika this weekend! William has always loved all of them, of course, but on this visit was having more fun than ever. He pointed to everyone as we named them, and was having a ball playing, running around, reading books, and exploring. He particularly loved the Grandfather clock and its pretty chimes. He would speed over to it, especially on the hour, to hear the "bells."

Here he's showing Pop-Pop his special "My Favorite Pets" DVD. It's the only thing he's allowed to watch, and he waves to the animals, identifies some of them with their sounds or names (a fish is a mouth opening and closing, a bird is "BUH!"). They're also simulataneously reading GOODNIGHT MOON, which is one of his favorites. Lately we've been on an Eric Carle kick (especially BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? and TEN LITTLE RUBBER DUCKS). Those two and GOODNIGHT MOON are always the first he grabs. He's now able to listen when I say "William, go pick out a book! Bring it to Mommy to read to you." He toddles across the room, sorts through his book baskets, makes his selection, brings it to me, and plops down in my lap. I can't believe it!

We all had such a nice time relaxing, enjoying good food and wine, and each other's company. Can't wait to see you again soon, McC's!

Um, William?

You've got a little... oh, nevermind.

:)

Poor baby!

Oh, little William - you scared us this weekend! You had a low grade temperature of 100.4 to 100.8 (your first fever EVER! We have been so lucky up until now!) and were very stuffy. You weren't quite acting like yourself on Friday night, and all day Saturday. You were very lethargic, would just lay on us and cuddle, and your eyes looked red and "sad." You just looked sick.


Sunday was really bad. You refused to eat or drink anything! We were so worried about you. We gave you Tylenol whenever the time limit would allow, and tried constantly to get something in you. You did NOT want milk, water, juice, anything! Not from a bottle, not from a cup... it was awful. I felt so badly for you!

Finally in the evening it had been almost 24 hours since you'd had a normal drink. You'd only had about 2 ounces of liquid in a whole day and that is NOT good, especially for a little guy.

We took you to the ER. Sounds like an overreaction, but on a Sunday night, that's really the only option. As soon as the nurse checked you, she said you were dehydrated (we knew that!), and as soon as the Dr. peeked into your mouth, he said "Well, I don't even have to look any further. It's strep."

No wonder you didn't want to swallow anything. Poor little William! We found a pharmacy that was open (made it by about 10 minutes! phew!) and you got some antibiotics.

You were still feeling awful, but you were such a good boy. You had your first taste of Jell-o (weird texture, Mommy!) to get some liquid into you, and went to bed.

I am so thankful and so relieved to have you "back" today! You're smiling again, moving around, "asking" to turn on music, and up to your usual antics. Thank goodness! And thank goodness Nanna and Grandpa were here to help you (and Mommy and Daddy!) feel better.


I am VERY happy to report that after the photos taken this weekend (above), this is what you look like today!


One of the worst technical photos I've taken lately - and couldn't be happier about it, because it means you are on the mend and back to being your wonderful little self. I completely missed focus because you were moving all over the place, you've got a milk mustache because you're eating and drinking again, and I don't mind one little bit! Who would?! Look at that smile.

:)

Just the usual.

You know, hanging out in my PJs, doing my "morning march."

Let me jump in here and explain the "morning march." W does this every day. The photos above were taken at 7:21 a.m. on Sunday morning.

After we get him out of his crib and change him, we bring W out to the living room, where he walks around for 5 or 10 minutes. He's pretty aimless, just toddling (literally - very cute and wobbly when he's just waking up) to and fro. He checks out his kitchen, walks over to the windows, peeks outside, then does a few laps. It really cracks us up. Lately he's taken to carrying his dogs ("duh"s) around with him. He looks so grown up to me, despite the cute little PJ feet and skinny baby legs.

14 month photos

Reminds me of a song on a CD we listen to in the car, One Little Monkey Jumping on the Bed.

14 months old

I want to go out there! (Your first time seeing falling snow at home)

My big boy! Happy 14 months (yesterday).

You are such a little pleasure. You beam at me in the morning when I scoop you out of your crib, and you play happily all day. You get frustrated when we block off the hallway with the gate, or when you are told you're not allowed to open the battery drawer and investigate the AA and AAA stash. You say "brrr!" when we go outside into the cold, and when I say "Would you like to go for a ride in the car?" You say, "vroooom!"

You're sad when Mommy or Daddy walk out of sight, which makes us feel good :) You are starting to be able to (with help!) gently pet your dog, Georgia, and she's starting to allow you to get a little closer. You're usually way more interested in what we're eating than what's on your own tray. You prefer that we feed you... when you pick up your own food, you take about 2 bites before you get distracted and realize it's MUCH more fun to smear mushed strawberries everywhere, or to joyfully throw sliced melon into the air like sticky confetti. You still love bathtime. You're intrigued by daily household things like the printer, the washing machine and water coming out of the kitchen faucet.

Busted! Stuck in the corner, turning on the printer.

You LOVE music. You stop what you're doing, start to slowly sway, or smile and bounce, depending on the rhythm and tempo. It is the cutest thing we've ever seen!

Milestones: W is understanding A LOT of things that we say now. He is starting to be able to follow simple instructions (i.e. "Can you please give Mommy the Cheerio?" and he will hand it to me, or even better - really share, and put it in my mouth!). He seems to really be trying to communicate. He will drop something from his high chair and look at us, hold one hand up, with his palm upwards, and say, "Uh? Uh? Uh?" until we pick it up. You can really see the wheels turning in his head when you read to him, and he learns new words daily. Lately we've been working on animal sounds. He says "Ssssss" for snakes, "Weowww" for cats (ha!) and makes a very silly little high-pitched sound for a dog's bark. This month he also mastered standing up on his own. He can walk around for minutes on end without falling (but when distracted is still unsteady!), see a toy on the floor, squat to pick it up, and use those little leg muscles to stand back up. Impressive for someone who was born just a few days ago... right?!

Starting to: Show a bit of a temper! When W opens the TV stand drawers, takes out Daddy's DVDs or touches Mommy's camera, and is told "No," he either immediately bursts into crocodile tears, or throws his head back and becomes limp. What a little rascal. We knew that toddlerhood was coming, but it is a challenge!

Words: Has the same few "words" as last month. He definitely babbles and talks to himself more. He'll walk around the living room jabbering away. I'd love to know what he thinks he's saying!

Favorite Foods: I spoke too soon last month, as lately he is not as "into" lima beans. He is a fruit FIEND, and would survive only on fruit and yogurt if we let him. He loves berries of all kinds (as it happens, that is also a word that he knows... he loved our Christmas berry garlands and still looks for them every day).

Favorite Toys: We rearranged a bit in our living room and made the little recessed area his toy nook.


Since Christmas, he has some new favorites! His kitchen, of course, is incredible and he comes back to it over and over again. He could open and close the doors for hours. He is tickled by his new toy remote, and toy cell phone, which shows a cute little picture of "who" is calling - it's either a dog, cat, or mouse. It cracks him up when we pretend to answer, chat for a minute with Mr. Mouse or his counterparts, and tell W that it's for him. We also cannot LIVE without our new best friend, "Buddy" (the huge stuffed dog). He begs for us to take him out, and whenever he spots him, flops down, laying on top of him, to give him a "hug." I am not exaggerating at all when I say that Buddy probably gets 10-15 cuddles a day. He is a huge hit! W also still absolutely loves books. He will sit by himself and page through certain ones, and is completely rapt every night at bedtime when Daddy reads to him. His favorite book is Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and sometimes we read it 5 times in a row. He is starting to be able to point out the animals as we name them.

Lovin' Buddy.

Hello? Mr. Cat?

Hmm. While I like my toy version, Mommy and Daddy's real phones are the BEST!

Very busy making something... plastic.

Dislikes: We battle every day at breakfast. I like to give him baby cereal made with whole milk, with applesauce mixed in. It has lots of vitamins packed in, and he's a pretty light eater, so I worry about his intake. I think he's sick of it, but it's good for him, so sadly, he'll have to deal :)

Wee! My very first time sledding!

We love you, little man. We'll take your 14 month photos today and post them for all to see. Thank you for being the best thing in our lives.

Dear William (on a very cold winter's day)

Dear Little One,

You're really not so little any more. You'll be 14 months old in a few days (WHAT?!). Let's ignore that fact for a moment, and talk about some of the things that 2011 will bring for you.

I should have made this post on the 1st, but oh, well.

I was reminded of a poem I love today. I haven't thought of it in years. It seems perfect for the New Year. It's called The Summer Day by Mary Oliver, and the last lines are:

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I'm not feeling up to tackling everything I want to do with my life today (ha!), but this got me thinking about what I'd like to do this year. Of course, it revolves around you. The first thing that came to mind as I daydreamed stemmed, I am guessing, directly from The Summer Day.

I want to take you to the beach for the first time. The beach means a lot to me - my family vacations with your Grandpa and Nanna, Uncles Andrew and David, are some of the very best memories I have of my childhood.

I want to see your face when you toddle over a sand dune for the first time and see the big, wide ocean.

I want to watch you run across the sand and stick your little toes in the cool water.

I want to see you with a good old-fashioned plastic bucket and shovel, playing in a warm tide pool.

I want to see you hold an ice cream cone as it melts down your hand and arm.

I can't wait.

Of course there are a million other little wishes like this, but for today, that's my daydream!

I love you so much,

Mommy

Happy New Year! a.k.a. William vs the Snowman

We had a nice, quiet New Year's together in Macungie. On New Year's Eve, we had crab au gratin and other goodies, watched a movie, had champagne, and watched the ball drop.

William slept peacefully through the midnight hour, and woke up happy and ready for the new year on January 1st. It was 50 degrees out, so we went to the park in the morning to get outside for a bit. There was still some snow on the ground, so Daddy and W built his first snowman!

William was not too sure what he thought about this terrifying (albeit baby-sized) new thing.

Hmm. I'll just keep my distance.

Um... what IS this?

Frantically waving "bye-bye" to him!

Stare-down

Save me, Mommy!

To redeem ourselves, he did have fun, he just wasn't thrilled about the abominable snowman.


After this encounter, we watched the PSU game at home (yikes!) and had the traditional pork chops, potatoes, and sauerkraut for dinner.


William learned to politely give Georgia (who stood still like a statue - what a good girl) a bite of his grilled cheese sandwich. She's starting to slowly come around to him - sits still for a minute to let him pet her; it's pretty cute.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy year in 2011!