December 19, 2006

OK, I know, I know. I'm TERRIBLE. I have been trying to update this darn site for months now and it seems like every time I tried, something disastrous would happen and I would lose everything. You know, like the power going off due to the huge ice storm, and then our computer imploding. However, I believe we're back up and running. So, here we are and Milo is now 1 year old. It's crazy! He has 2 little teeth on the bottom and that's it. But that doesn't seem to deter him from eating. Our latest challenge is that he wants to eat like big people -- with a fork and knife, whole pieces of food instead of little bites. Ah well, at least he likes to eat. Great big handfuls and then wash it down with milk while he's still got a mouthful. Speaking of eating a lot, the Boy weighs 22 lbs, 4 oz now. He's not quite walking, but I think he's close. He cruises a lot, and will even let go of everything and drink from his sippy or hold a toy with both hands until he realizes that he's not holding on to anything, and then he sits down or grabs back on. God bless him, he's still sleeping 11-1/2 to 12 hours every night. It's made a world of difference for all of us. And, I am happy (OK, happy is an understatement) to say that I have retired the pump. Woo-hoo! Luckily, Milo's been SO good during the whole weaning process, it's made it a lot easier for both of us. We're only nursing right before bed, and I hope to cut that right after Christmas. We'll see.

We've had the end of our first holidays now -- Halloween and Thanksgiving were the last of them. Milo was a rock star for Halloween (see the pics) and loved the stuffing and sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. He's not a huge meat fan, but we're working on that. The first birthday party was also a success. It was a music theme, and we had it at Aaron's store, the Music Center of Kirkwood. All the kids had fun, although Milo wasn't TOO sure about all these kids running around everywhere when he couldn't. And, he also wasn't so sure about the cake -- he didn't want to get his hands in it. But then I fed it to him with a fork and got him his own spoon, and it was all over. Literally. All over him, the chair, everything. Until his spoon got too dirty and he wanted a clean one. (Hmmmmm. Whose son is this again?)

So, on to Christmas. We had our Christmas with Gramme and Grandpa (that would be Frank and Jeanie) this weekend. They didn't spoil him TOO terribly -- except for that Elmo TMX doll. Although for Milo, this Tickle Me Elmo is more a Make Me Cry Elmo right now. He's not too happy when Elmo moves toward him -- it kind of freaks him out. But, he'll grow to love him, I'm sure. (And, just as quickly, we'll probably grow to hate Elmo.) We're going to have our Christmas tomorrow night, and then on to Arkansas for the weekend.

Since it has been a year, I thought I'd write a little respective about the things I've learned in the last 365 days. Probably the most important is don't sweat the small stuff. You know, kids are going to get colds or bumps or bruises and there's not a thing you can do to stop it. And, it's not necessarily your fault when they're sick or hurt. The best you can do -- for them and for you -- is just to be there and to comfort. But it is OK if you cry right along with them. ;-) Also, everything is just a phase -- the bad and (unfortunately) the good. When they won't eat their carrots or drink their milk or lay still when you're trying to change their poopy diaper, they will in a week or 2. And, when they are sleeping all night or sitting down in the bath to play instead of running all around, they won't in a week or 2. It's all give and take. Finally, you have to stop and really enjoy the little moments -- the smiles, the looks of wonder, even the fits -- because that's what makes up our lives. If you wait for the big ones, you'll miss a lot.

OK, enough sap. And, yes, I'm sure I learned more than that in one year, but that's the big stuff. There are a TON of new pictures up. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

http://img138.imageshack.us/slideshow/player.php?id=img138/1306/1174330734o79.smil