So much activity...

The kids had their birthday parties. The baby's been walking for about 3 months and is now running. A few days ago he started clapping and will now clap at various times, which is very cute and funny. His big sister has really enjoyed her swim classes and is home with us for summer vacation until school-camp starts next week. 

Here are some photos from this month's activities...

Baby's been talking

Here's the latest (of what I can remember off hand):

Dak or tak oo (thanks, thank you)

Buh buh or buh eye (bye-bye with hand waving)

Papa (papa)

Mah mah (mama)

Na (Carolina, no, or no no)

Gah-pop or pop (Grandpop)

Dah or dat (that, that thing there)

Bak or Bak pak (backpack)

Boo (book)

Duh-p (diaper)

Uh-la (¡hola!)

Aw duh (All done)

Flowers

Dear School Director,

I've no idea how your daffodils ended up with cream cheese on them. 

Love,
Me

My papa is a superhero!!

Another child's mom told me that my daughter and her son were arguing over whose dad was stronger. My kid insisted that her papa was stronger "because he does exercises." (When I later asked her if the little boy's father does exercises, she first very confidently said, "No!" and when I asked if she was sure, she hesitated and then took a drink of apple juice and then said, "He doesn't do exercises.")

Eventually this back-and-forth argument escalated until she told him that her papa was very strong, like a superhero.

So, reading Superman Family Adventures and Tiny Titans comics has clearly left an impression.

My husband, the superhero :)

He's walking!

Now, I realize I've announced this before but tonight, for the first time, he went tone by himself in the kids' room and started walking across the room. He didn't realize we were watching him.

And why I say "he's walking" is that for the first day, he's walked and then falls or gets down to crawl and also gets back up to walk again. Usually he'll stay down to crawl. He was also carrying things in his hands as if to transport them somewhere. It was first, a Minnie Mouse purse, and then later a magazine and then a plastic bag.

So, we'll see tomorrow if he keeps it up. Last night he got up just once and slept until 5.45am, but the night before he slept from 6.30pm until 5.30am. I would have left him until 6, since he was talking quietly and not crying. BUT! He was talking to his sister and I wanted to let her sleep.

We'll have to figure out some kind of curtain system in their new room.

In other news, my girl has been very supportive and loving with her brother. She's really like a little mommy by encouraging him to walk and allowing him to borrow her toys so readily. I'm very proud of her.

They're both much happier to go to the part every afternoon since it's finally warm enough now. Phew! Spring made it?

Walking around, talking and getting up a lot

For anyone who has ever had a baby or is involved with a baby, you'll know that it wasn't a surprise that the baby didn't continue to sleep through the night after that first, wonderful night. And then a few days later he got a cold (new tooth runny/stuffy nose!) and couldn't sleep through the night since he couldn't breathe. And now he isn't sleeping through the night because he's hungry or wants to be held or pooped. Getting up twice to have a bottle and sometimes an extra time for a burning poop. And sometimes it's up for the day at 5am and sometimes 6am. It isn't a regular schedule so I know it's not going to stick. Honestly, I'm just holding my breath for this to end. I just have to trust the baby that he knows what he needs and it'll go back to the path of an older baby, soon.

In other news, the kids are sharing their room nicely. Poor Carolina is being disturbed by these  wakings and is tired. So her naps are daily and at least 2 hours. She's actually being really great about sharing the room. I'm hoping that we can do some nice changes to their new room so that they are both happy and feel like it's each theirs.

So, he's been walking a lot more and talking up a storm.

 Walking:

 Talking:



He's even gotten even more indignant about wanting what he wants when he wants it. It started about 2 weeks ago and it's both funny and frustrating from my point of view. I remember this from Carolina, it's similar but different and, luckily, like Carolina you can distract him fairly easily still.

First conversation and first night without waking up

To be completely frank, yesterday was a big day in Ismael's life thus far.

First, he took his nap and went to bed without me having to hold him or wait until he fell asleep. In fact, he clearly was not interested in me holding him after his bottle. He just laid there and fell asleep. He even slept through the night. He was very tired and I tried to get him down by about 5.30pm but couldn't and so he was asleep around 6pm. He didn't wake up until 5.45am this morning and he clearly only woke up because he pooped. He wasn't all that interested in being awake. He didn't cry out, he didn't need a bottle. He just slept. I think he just graduated from baby to toddler.

Second, last night at dinner he was very chatty and so was Carolina. She wasn't happy I gave her homemade chicken nuggets for dinner, she had expected the store bought popcorn chicken when I said "chicken nuggets". Since she wasn't going to eat much of it, I cut them up into smaller pieces and put them on the baby's tray. He ate them up happily. I gave Carolina a lot of strawberries for dinner and she was happier. (She had just eaten nearly a whole apple on the way home from the park so I wasn't surprised she wasn't very hungry. I did get her to eat a few small pieces of chicken, too.) I then cut up some elbow pasta for the baby and some broccoli, too. He ate all of it. Then while I was talking to Carolina I noticed that the baby was playing more with this food rather than eating it and had slowed down putting food into his mouth.

I asked him, "Do you want more?"
He just smiled
I asked him and with sign language, "More? Do you want More? or All Done? All Done?"
He says, "Duh."
I smiled and asked again (also with sign language), "All done or More?"
He says, "Ah duh. Duh."

I cleaned off his face and hands and picked him up and he seemed very pleased with himself. I was so excited he just spoke with recognizable words that I had to call his papa immediately.

After yesterday, which was his 11 month "birthday", I have to say, it was a good day.

Today is Carolina's school picture day, and she was excited about. We'll have a nice photo of her (I hope) to share soon.