Big Boy Room

This past weekend we volunteered for The Trustees of Reservations' Ride for Green. Riders rode 130 miles across Massachusetts, and Joel, little Joel and I, along with Pat, Keri and Britt and Brian, Lauren and Declan made the after party. We cooked all the burgers, did the set up, monitored the beer and the ice cream sundae station, had a blast. It was extra-helpful that the babies all decided to take about a hour and a half nap in their strollers mid-event!
Other news this weekend - Joel has moved into his big boy room! His nursery is basically connected to our master suite. And despite the fact that it is still quite far, he hears everything (only one door comes between us). So, it was time to put him in his big boy room down the hall. The room has carpeting, so it will be better all around I think. He already loves it! It is the same shape and size of his last room, all the same furniture, just different closet set up and color on the walls. I am not sure he notices. Though, when I was setting up his room, moving things from one to the other, he was kind of annoyed. I think he wondered what I was doing with all of his things.
Notice the custom closets done by Joel, Sr. He has a second career in the works here! Joel Andrew is a big fan as well. Joel Sr. wants me to take the doors of the closet hinges... Can you imagine, baby clothes all over!?!?!?!

Bago Lake!

We had another fun weekend at Sebago Lake! Maddy and her parents joined us for the great time. Kiddo was oscillating between having the best time ever, and having the worst time ever. Are we totally in the tantrum stage?
Friday at the beach he had a great time, kept himself busy with the sand. Walked into the water. Played while Kim and I chatted. Then, Saturday at the beach when Maddy was around (she was napping on Friday), constant crying. Nothing we could do made him stop. He was not hungry, not thirsty. I am still not sure what to do in this situation.
Then we went on the boat. The last time we went on the boat it was a massive disaster. We went with Nana and Pa and despite the snack and sippy cup trying to distract him, he was not having it. This time, he loved the boat! Snacks of course helped too, but both he and Maddy (who also had previous aversions to boat rides) were taking turns playing "King/Queen of the World" at the bow of the boat.
We are still trying to figure out how to fill the day. Our toys get a little boring after a while. We have a ton of crayons, finger paints, etc waiting in the wings, but I think he is still a little too young for that. We are also in the process of moving him into the "big boy" room! No longer will he be in the room right in our Master Suite, he will be down the hall, which will allow me to watch tv at night. Just in time for Fall programming!

Way NoBo Day - Imajine That

Today we had a nice trip around, north of Boston. We spent most of the day in Lawrence, MA. We met up with Lauren and Declan in one of the old restored mills, which has been transformed into restaurant and office space. First, lunch at Sal's, then playtime at Imajine That.
Lunch worked out pretty well. The boys were entertained with the snacks both Lauren and I brought. I swear the kiddo will eat anything at the start of lunch. He is always so hungry, I can put something he has thrown on the floor twenty times in front of him but because he is starving he will eat it in twenty seconds. We also preoccupied them with "touchdown" - which Joel has learned this week. Declan took to it right away to the delight of his mommy. Brian will be psyched tonight. All in all, a great lunch - but if you get the picatta, make sure to specify you do not want marinara on your pasta. Yuck!
Then we went to Imajine That. A play place for kiddos. Imagine an entire warehouse floor stocked with toys. There was an inflatable bouncy thing (which we did not take part in), and infant room, a reading room, a "supermarket," and art room, a music room, and an entire adult-sized gym with slides and all sorts of things to climb on. It was helpful that it was adult sized because I got to go in with my man who immediately climbed up to the slide. He loves the slide! His mouth goes wide open with excitement from the second he sees it, until a few minutes after the fun.
He also seemed to enjoy the art room. Look at him using the chalk. He only tried to eat it once! All in all, a great resource about 25 minutes from my house. Lauren's family had a membership so we got in for free, but I think it is $8.75 per child, $1 per adult. I think in the winter when we need a break we will be doing this a few times. They have monthly memberships too, $20 for the first child, $10 more for any additional child.
On our way home J and I also stopped at Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury. We saw chickens, turkeys, goats and sheep and bought some delicious food. All in all, a very fun, very exhausting day!

Tantrums, Dog Bowls and "arydit"

I think we have officially entered the toddler zone. Mom is no longer toting the camera, so hence the lack of pictures in this post. But, I felt the need to update you on my son, and his wonderful (sarcasm) new tendencies.

Before I begin, I should also note that he continues to do actual wonderful things constantly, he is not a terror, and he is a very happy boy. Everyone has their moments, and my son is no exception - so I thought I would share some of these moments with you.

Tantrums

Does your child freak out each time you leave the room? Mine does. I have seen other children do this and always thought, "Isn't that so nice, she really loves her Mommy." Nope, it really isn't that nice. The entire time in Montana, I could not leave the room for a minute without him freaking out. The moms were pretty tough, and would try to wade it out, but after fifteen minutes they inevitably searched me out and handed me my crying-whiny-baby boy... Come to find out, he does similar things in Maine when left with Nana and Pa and sometimes even Dad! I guess I should be flattered. The flip side, when I come into a room I get the biggest running-smile-hugs ever, which is pretty much the best thing on earth.

Another reason for tantrums, taking something away. Like a cord. The kid loves to find, and chew on cords. I should qualify this as saying they are not plugged in, we have managed to child proof all of those. But for some reason husband has randomly stashed cords all over the house - to recharge phones, or computers - and though I could not find them if I wanted one, the child finds it immediately since his new favorite past time is opening and closing drawers. Can I really put the magnetic locking device on all drawers in my house? (also, I am not a terrible parent, I almost always find the cord as he is pulling it out...).

Dog Bowls

But, the latest in a line of freak-outs includes his constant desire to stick his hands in the dog bowl. For weeks we have been trying to get him to like water play. He seems not to be a fan. Even the bathtub is tentative happiness. We have an awesome baby pool set, we have freaking Sebago Lake, and the kid only wants to play with the dog bowl. What do people do with kids and pets? It isn't like we can lock the bowls away, right?

"Arydit" or something like that

He was doing so well for a while, saying Angus (An-GUS!) and Otter (Odd-err). But, those words have since fallen off and now everything is "Arydit." I am not sure if that means "What's that?" "Water" or anything he wants to say at any given time. I wish he would start saying things! I am trying to get him to say "All Done" after he eats, I wonder if it is that since it is the only thing I am really working on now.

I feel like we are on the edge- of more words, of learning things like where's your nose, of doing the hubba hubba dance. Friends in Montana taught their 16 month old to do this awesome dance when they say "hubba hubba." Naturally, we are jealous and want to teach him tricks right away!

I thought I would close with some recent highlights:

- He dances now. But, as Pa says, it is dancing like a white guy.

- Most of the time, the drawers he opens, he closes.

- He cleans up if you ask him to!

- Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is still his favorite show. Though in Montana we tried to introduce him to Blue's Clues. Not a fan. He also is not yet into Thomas the Train. But I hear that comes inevitably.

Year 2

As year 2 begins I am in search of a new photo session to do monthly. For the entire first year we took "carpet photos" with both Joel (big) and my favorite stuffed animals. Angus, our french bulldog was also involved. But now I feel we are past the carpet photos (plus it is really hard to get him to stay in one place!), so it is time for a new place to take our monthly shot. Here are some attempts. Nothing is my favorite yet. I am guessing we might go with an outdoor photo with the neighbor's barn. Then, we can enjoy the seasons as they change?
He is doing really well, though I think all of the back teeth coming in are giving him a run for his money. He has a random cough now and then, and fever now and then, and crankiness now and then. And, yesterday a nose bleed to boot! But, beyond that he is a generally happy guy.
We have noticed a lot lately he is getting to be a bit of a Momma's boy. Tugging at my legs, and crying if I walk out of the room and leave him with anyone else but Dad. At least, this was noticeable in Montana. I am wondering if some more play groups are in order to help this along.
The food thing continues to be a battle (in my mind at least). I tried to drop the bottle, but the only way he will drink milk is if it is in the bottle, with a little bit of formula. We are about to run out of formula, so I need advice, quick! My Dr. said try the OJ with added calcium, but even he does not love that either. He will drink from his sippy all day if it is water or a mixture of apple juice and water, but not for anything else, advice?
Also, when does the picky food stage end? He continues to hate chicken, now most veggies - and only eats eggs on Mondays... I hope this ends!

Other than that we are (gasp!) looking forward to the end of summer and some sort of schedule. We have been running around, traveling from state to state and I am ready to be in one spot for a bit of time. Also, evening TV is getting really boring! I can't believe all of the back to school things all over the place already... Is there a school for 1 year olds?