Justin. Handsome. You are now 13 months old. That is crazy; crazy like Charlie Sheen crazy. But, as you get bigger (something you are VERY good at), you simply get more fun. This month has been more difficult for Mama and Daddy, and you, but still - you make us smile and feel blessed every. single. day. Here is what you are up to:
We have spent a little more time outside. It is hard not to when visiting Gammy and Papa. Cousin Annabelle grabs shoes and takes them to their owner, saying 'Ousside', which means she wants a ride on Papa's John Deere Gator. She wins that battle almost every time.
You are dealing with separation anxiety. You scream when we go downstairs to switch laundry or even take Izzers outside. Somedays at daycare you let it be known that you do not approve of us (read: Dada) leaving. I'm talking real tears Dude.
Just after your first birthday, we switched you from formula to whole milk, and *gasp* took away your bottles. Luckily, you did very well with the cold-turkey change. It took you a few days to really "get" the sippy cup, and we did offer you the bottle (with water) once to make sure you were getting enough to drink, but you weren't having it! We are not missing the cost of formula or bottle liners at all. We took away bottle at your pediatrician's recommendation - the thought being that it would be easier to make the connection that milk comes in sippy cups, and milk is what you get. I'm glad it worked so easily - if only everything worked that easily ;)
Football season started and you are again cheering for Iowa. Thank heavens you were asleep for the last half of that ISU debacle - I don't want that monstrosity of a game to haunt your mind. Though it may explain some of your sleeping problems . . . (see last section).
Just in case you someday lack enthusiam about getting in the bath, I have documented your current feelings about the "splish splash". The pictures below demonstrate your dramatic nature when you hear the water running inside the tub.
Your hair has grown by leaps-and-bounds this month and it just does not lay down/lay straight. We are finished trying to contain the curl - it will not have it!
You have started walking in your fourteenth month, but at 13 months you were mostly cruising and taking 2-3 steps at a time. Your first steps came at the doctor's office on August 18. You took 2 steps towards Mama and fell into my arms. :)
Your toys are all over the house, though we wouldn't have it any other way. You still prefer to be pushed on your riding toys and get crabby when we leave you to push on your own.
You give kisses, and the headbutts have reduced in frequency. My nose appreciates that.
You continue to love Izzers, and think that every animal you meet should treat you as Izzers does. You hold your fingers out to cats expecting them to lick your fingers as Iz does, and get confused when they do not. Then you push your fingers into their faces? Oh well, you'll learn. We think he is saying 'Izz'.
And now for the big elephant in the nursery - your sleep, or lack thereof. Right after your first birthday - just a couple days after switching you to whole milk and taking away the bottle, you started waking in the night. But this waking is much different than before. When you awoke previously, you would fuss a little bit, and then either a) put yourself back to sleep, b) take a bottle or something to drink and go right back to sleep, or c) respond to some soothing measure by Dada (typically he gets up as I sleep through about anything) and fall asleep again. But not this - this is screaming fussing. You just fuss and scream. You want picked up - you want put down - you want to be held - you dont want to be held - you aren't wet - you aren't thirsty - you aren't hungry - you aren't too cold - you aren't teething (you did have one tooth pop up this month, but it's nothing I would contribute this much fussiness to). It's like having a colicy baby again in some ways. You will fall asleep with us, but then scream again as soon as we put you in your crib. Most nights you only go back to sleep after sleeping in the rocker with Dada for an hour. And this happens anywhere from 1-3 times a night. It has been very consistent since your first birthday.
Your pediatricians office suggested trying soy milk to rule out a slight lactose intolerance. That didn't work. We have tried letting you cry for a little while, but you only get madder. We have tried food and water when you wake. We have made sure you are getting enough to eat during the day - again, not a problem. The latest idea is that you are having night terrors, or nightmares. Supposedly it is a phase. We'll see. My chiropractor has said he can help with that. I don't love the idea, but I don't love not sleeping, or thinking that he is actually having night terrors. Thus, we have given up letting him cry, though we usually give him a minute or two 'just in case' he can put himself to sleep. We don't want him to get in the habit of calling for us and we come running; but we don't want him scared and alone either. He has a simple, calm bedtime routine, and we put him drowsy, but awake so we know he can put himself to sleep.
Sorry for the novel, but if we ever get caught up on sleep and have another baby, I like having this as a reference! You are taking one nap that lasts about 90 minutes to two hours.
You have seven teeth now! You got 'written up' TWICE at daycare for biting. Bad behavior Justin :(
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