11 Months (Almost)

Old news saved in my drafts from a week ago...Neko Neko Neko. I have him all to myself today while Keller is visiting his Bee Bee (Trav's Mom). Since last night was the first night with Keller in his bed, we had a really early morning, which meant early nap for Neko (like 8:15) and he gave me 2 and a half hours of a quiet house all to myself this morning:) Thank you little boy. And so what did I do with my time? Uploaded pictures to FB. Printed a couple of pictures for my mom and dad. Posted a couple of things on Craigs List and Ebay. Laundry, dishes, and now feeding the little monster:) I got the computer during this feeding time because I was reminded to post because Neko is now consistently signing "more" rather than just whining/crying. He is also saying "Ma" and I think he means it. He was doing the Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma kind of thing for awhile, but over the past few days, I've felt like he's finally talking about me:) For example, this morning, 5am, went into his room to change Keller's sheets. Lights are out and Neko is sitting up in his "new" crib just watching and says, "Ma"---unfortunately, I couldn't respond so as to not encourage continued wakefulness but I smiled to myself thinking that he officially knows who I am:) This morning he's called me/named me plenty:) He's also an expert at the "no" head nod, the throw it off the highchair so mommy picks it up game, and as demonstrated in yesterday's FB post--throw it out of the crib so Keller picks it up game. Trouble.

And new news...What else? Neko is on the go with crawling all around everywhere, content to be exploring on his own. He pulls up and has just begun a little cruising. Yesterday he pushed one of the little chairs across the living room floor while walking with it:) Very cute. He's very curious about what his brother is up to although his brother is not always very glad for this. Keller grabs things from Neko regularly and hides them (including Trav's slipper the other morning which was hidden behind a pillow on a chair because "Neko was trying to get it...") So yes, big brother in full effect over here! "No Neko, you can't have that--it's painted in China" is a favorite line of his...don't know where he might have heard that one! So Neko is a Carb Monster. He LOVES his O's and signs and signs and signs More More More for them. And actually the sign More seems to refer specifically to O's since he can have a tray full of food but no O's...Bananas are a big one, too and of course any fruity baby food. Today he had his first hummus sandwich (in bits) which was a big hit, too. He loves to eat! And his "More" sign sometimes is more like a clap so you hear his chubby little hands going "splat, splat, splat" so yummy!

Neko loves to play in the sandbox and today his big brother dumped a shovel-ful of sand right onto his head. Nice. Luckily none went in his eyes, but sandy hair is kind of annoying. Just got an invitation to my cousin's kids' first birthday party who were born (twins) a week before Neko so I gotta get on that party planning thing. We've talked about it but now I need to jump on it and get it going.

Better post this now...thought I already posted it but alas, seems to have lost my previous changes and pictures...I'll try pictures again...

Mr. Two-And-A-Half

Keller is officially in the "Why?" "No!" "I-don't-want-to" phase. Quite possibly my least favorite phase thus far;) It hasn't helped that he's been sick for awhile now, either. First was Neko's cold-turned-ear-infection. Then of course Keller picked it up and I knew it wasn't getting better on its own after all of the time he spent crying, whining, and rolling on the floor. Poor kid...We were back at the doctor yesterday for Keller's two and a half years old physical, which was also Neko's two-weeks follow-up and Keller's 5 days later follow up. Keller's ear is still pretty bad apparently and I'm hoping that's partially why he's so challenging...

He impresses the doctor regularly so she wasn't surprised that he was able to tell her his address (minus the number, but the street, city and state he has down:) and the color of our house (I made up a bedtime song awhile back about it and it stuck:) He is officially in the 10th percentile for height, which is a big improvement from being so far below the chart that he was last time! He's almost ready for 2T pants!! (Actually, he's still in some 18 months pants from Children's Place). And it's been predicted that he has an expensive mouth, so start saving!

Now I'm "continuing" my draft (above) about a week or so later...We're heading back to the doc this morning for our next ear infection follow up and it's perfect timing because Keller is not feeling so great lately. I think he's got allergies. He's been a runny nosed, cranky kind of guy perfectly coinciding with all of the "high pollen count" days. Poor kid. Neko has been a runny nosed, runny eyed kid too, which is weird because neither Travis or I have any known allergies. Kids!

Got Keller a tricycle the other day. Love consignment stores...$200 Kettler for $35. He doesn't pedal yet but he's gettin' there! And big news, well not for anyone who reads Facebook. But Keller has been sleeping in his new toddler bed. The other night we awoke to a big "clunk"--I sat up in bed trying to figure out what it could be. Trav says, "He fell out of the bed." I say, "what?" and again he says, "He fell out of the bed." Still just sitting there. Then I jump out of bed after everything registered and ran to their room where my little boy just started crying and walking to the door. Poor kid. It's low to the ground and all, but it sounded like he probably went head first onto the hardwood. :( The rail on the side of it is only like a foot long right up top by his head. That's helpful. So now we've been putting a big couch pillow on the floor until he's a pro. Actually, I pick up his bedding set today so maybe when he's tucked in under a sheet he won't squirm so much! Also along with the bed transition, we stopped putting him in diapers at night. Okay so most nights we've been up to change sheets and jammies. This all kind of has gone along with him not feeling great so who knows how much that's to blame...Last night was a victory, only because Trav got Keller up at 1 and took him to pee. Who knows if this will be "it" or if he's just not ready. As Trav said when I asked if I should get pull-ups for bedtime, "I'm not ready to give up yet." So we'll see:)

Gifts

I'm at a loss. I don't know what to do about gifting people anymore. Important people. People that I want to give something nice to. People that are good to me and are thoughtful and I love. People who love me and my husband and my children. Namely, my parents. Their birthdays come and go, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and I always try and try to think of something thoughtful and meaningful. It was much easier as a kid or even teenager because you could always ask "the other" parent what the other "needed"/wanted. And there was always something that truly was needed...socks, handkerchiefs, slippers, a wok;) But now, it seems like "needs" are less. They are at the point that when they need something, they get it, which is where Travis is too so he gets no gifts anymore, either;) So, important events come and go. For example, Christmas this year...nothing. I didn't get them a gift. I had been getting them a restaurant gift certificate but how many of those do you keep giving someone? Sure, I had a little something for them, but I told myself I would keep my eyes peeled for a good idea to come along, concert or theater tickets or something like that. Nothing came along and I forgot. I'm just out of the loop anyway so I don't even know when something they might enjoy does come around. Dad's birthday was the day after Easter. When we saw him on Easter, Keller was able to hand him a gift bag with candy from the neighbor that we didn't want in the house. I told him when Keller wasn't around that that wasn't "really" a gift. Keller also put one of his toy cars in there, too because "it's nice to give someone a gift when it's their birthday." But I'm still stuck. Last night I looked at the calendars of a bunch of music venues and found nothing of interest. And I'm seeing my parents on Saturday. I'd like to be all caught up on my "gifting" then...not that it's even something that I should feel obligated to "catch up" on even. It's the gesture. It's the thought. My thoughts are just non-existent or way to expensive. I need to relax about it. I need to take a few minutes of time and pick out a nice card. Buy some flowers. Isn't that what FTD was invented for? This reminds me of a woman on my soccer team who I made the mistake of asking what her "work" was. Some online greeting card company. She spoke from her heart in a very business-like manner about how she loved her work because she had the honor of sharing "heartfelt greetings" with others. With allowing others to share their own personal "heartfelt greetings" with people that are important to them. Man, I should probably just go to her website and I could be avoiding this whole conundrum altogether. But anyway. Keep it simple, Lisa. It's the acknowledgement of appreciation and love that matters most. Any good ideas out there (besides See's chocolates, Mrs. Fox;)...