Election Day

I hope you go and vote.

Critter Endorsed Barack Obama a year ago.
He has a board book about him that he constantly "reads". He knows his name, where he lives and his children's names. For a while, he insisted on taking the book with him everywhere we went.

This video was taken June 2012 in Chicago. I am sure I have an earlier video of Critter "reading" the book, but I don't want to waste lots of time looking for it. It was from May 2012, we were on the train and Critter wanted the book and he's screaming very loudly  "I want Barack Obama. I want Barack Obama."

Talking Head

"He's vocabulary is amazing." She said, referring to Critter.
"Wow, he's talking. How old is he?" Another mother asked when Critter was a year and 7 months.

Critter was an early talker. He started babbling very early. He had distinct 'M' sounds for things.He'd see a dog and say mmmmmmmm. He'd see a car and say mmmmmmm, he'd want milk and say mmmmmm, but all with a different intonation. Hubby and I knew exactly what he was saying. His first 'real' word was Dada, and Hubby reminds me ALL the time. Next came 'Mama' and 'More', then 'Stop'. By one year old he knew about a dozen or so words. Ka = car - Yeah I know, I felt like he was from Boston, Da = Dog, Ta = Truck, Up, Dow  = Down. By one year and 3 months (that's 15 months) old, he was saying about 70 words.

To put it in perspective an average 2 year old knows 50 words.
Granted he wasn't using all 70 words all the time, but when he saw something, he'd point to it and say the name.
He also started putting words together in mini sentences, earlier than the average. And he now is up to 7 word sentences.

"You must spend a lot of time teaching him." Another woman once said to me.
Actually, I (and Hubby) didn't spent any 'structured' time 'teaching' him words and sentences. We didn't consciously sit down with him in front of a blackboard and flashcards and drilled words into him. I spoke (and still speak) to him all the time. Since the day he was born (and before), I talked to him, telling him things, what we're doing, where we're going, what's going on.

I started doing it since day one. I remember the first night in the hospital, when all the visitors were gone and I was laying in bed with him, I held him and started telling him how precious he is and telling him about his home and all the people in his family, etc.
When we got home from the hospital, I was talking to him constantly.  After Hubby went to work, I felt so isolated at home. The first couple of months can be very overwhelming, stressful and hectic and I guess to keep my sanity I talked (non-stop) to Critter. I also sang to him alot, which calmed him when he was irritable. Many times I would sing my phrases instead of saying them.
We got a few ditties out of it. Like when taking him to the bedroom to change his diaper "Whooooo did it? Whoooooooo did it? Who did the poo poo in the diiiiiiiaper?"

Maybe all my talking (singing) to Critter from day one and beyond (before) attributed to his early speech. I don't know. All I know, Critter is a jabber mouth.

You can have a full conversation with Critter. Um, just be prepared to talk about trucks (construction, fire, garbage, etc.), cars, bugs, airplanes, etc.

Oh, and my favorite thing is when he mispronounces words. Oh, my gosh, it's the cutest thing. My favorite word that he muddles is Street sweeper. He says it, sheep sheep stir

I'll try to put up a video of him talking.

Disco Queen

I LOOOOOVE Donna Summer!

Happy Mother's Day

I know a day late, but I didn't have time yesterday, being MY day.

"What do you want for Mother's Day?" Hubby asked a week before the big day.
"I don't want anything." I replied. "I have the best gift ever." I said, holding Critter and kissing him.

I know it's corny, but it's true. I don't need/want anything materialistic. My son is the greatest gift.

Since the day he was born, he has given me so much.
He has filled my life with lots of love.
Everyday, everything he does gives me joy and happiness.
Every time he smiles, I melt. Every giggle and laugh, I rejoice.
He has given me the best days of my life. There is nothing more I want or need than my child.

"What do you want to do on Mother's Day?" Hubby asked
"Nothing special really." I said. "Just enjoy the day, like we always do."

Again, I know it's corny, but the truth is, I have the best time with Critter, just hanging around. His favorite thing to do is go "Outsigh" (outside), "go park". I love seeing him have fun and he always has fun, no matter where we are and what we're doing. He just loves being outdoors and walking/running on the sidewalks, touching trees, smelling flowers (yes, he sees flowers and stops and smells them), looking at cars, trucks, airplanes. He has the best reactions to everything, saying "Oh WOOOOW." and  "Look at that."

 I love seeing him enjoying life. It's the small things that make him happy. I love seeing his expression and reactions to things. I love watching him explore and play and smile and laugh and discover and learn.

We spent Mother's Day at the park, Critter playing in a sand pit, and climbing the equipment. We then put a sheet on the grass and played with a ball and tickled Critter and laughed and giggled and smiled and had a wonderful day.

I love every minute I spend with my child. And that is the best gift.

Critter getting a Hug and Kiss from his Mommy

Another Kiss from Mom

And ANOTHER KISS

Getting an Upside Down Tickle

Doing Airplane on Daddy's Legs

Getting Tickled

Time is NOT on My Side

I don't get it. I don't understand how some stay at home mothers (or fathers) are able to do everything. I can barely juggle taking care of Critter, let alone make dinner...and that's on a good day.

I want to do more during the day, but I just don't have the time. The only time I can do something, that doesn't involve Critter, is when he is napping. And he really doesn't have a routine where he naps at a specific time. And when he is napping and if we're home, I end up cooking dinner in that time frame.

Ugh! I wish I had more time to do personal things. People tell me I have to find time. Really?! I say EF you, you have no clue. Do they expect me to ignore my child during the day? When Hubby comes home, we eat dinner, play with Critter and sometimes I can do a few things. But most times I want to be with Critter and Hubby playing.

Hence, dear readers, why the spotting posting. I barely have time to take a breath of air.
Speak of the Critter,  he's waking up from a nap!

Mets Opening Day

Today was Opening Day for the New York Mets. Here's what Critter thought about it.

He wore a Yankees shirt today!!

Please note:

1. Critter has no clue what is on his shirt or what it means......an probably doesn't even care.
2. Critter doesn't know what baseball is. Although, he does have a foam bat and ball that he plays with. It's really cute the way he tries to hit the ball with the bat. 
3. I have no affection or loyalty for either NY baseball team. Make that I have NO affection for ANY team.
4. I'm not particalurly fond of Baseball
5.  I could care less for baseball or any sport for that matter.
6.  I put the shirt on Critter, not in alliance to the Yankees but to piss off my brother-n-law, who is a die hard Mets fan and has dragged me kicking and screaming to numerous Met games. Ok, I wasn't kicking and screaming, but I was bored outta my mind at the games. Thank goodness I had my sense of humor with me. No baseball player and play was spared from my sharp tongue.
7. I was trying to get Critter to chant "Let's Go Yankees" and tape it, so I can further incense my brother-n-law.
8. I DID NOT pay for the shirt. I would NEVER EVER NEVER spend money on a sports related anything!

OH and CONGRATULATIONS to the NY METS! They're in first place.

Spring Day

Yesterday was the first day of Spring.
Listen (closely) to what Critter had to say about the weather.

Everyday as soon as we step out of the building, Critter always makes a comment about the weather. Yesterday, he said it twice and then I asked him again...........he said "Nice out."

Here he is enjoying the day at the park.

We go to this playground often and this was the first time he climbed on those 'things' and wanted to jump. He also slid down the BIG metal slide all by himself for the first time yesterday. No pics or video cause I was on top after climbing up the stairs behind him worrying he doesn't fly off the slide at the bottom, cause the metal was slick.

My baby is growing up!

Spring

It's Spring!!!!




I <3 Donna Summer!

And how can I not include:

Daddy Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 
to Critter's Daddy (Hubby)!


Hubby loves Marilyn Monroe. I guess it's the sexy Blond Bombshell thing. I'm the complete opposite.

Boobie

I'm still nursing Critter. I know! Can you believe after all the stress and hard time I had with breastfeeding early on that I'd still be doing it? Not me. But I'm a pro now at lifting my shirt and Critter sucking. Well, you know what I mean.

Critter is a year and 8 months old. Many people stop nursing at the one year old mark. Some go to much later. Um, I don't want to be one of those women that gets interviewed for a 20/20 segment called "Mothers that go to their Child's Kindergarten Class to Nurse Them". I think about weening him, I'm not sure how or when to do it. I read somewhere that you'll know when a baby is ready to be weened, they'll be signs. Hello! He's a boy. I don't think they ever want to stop having their mouth on a breast.

He nurses in the morning, when he wakes up, and if we're home for the afternoon nap, and at night.Many times I think it's a comfort for him. I do enjoy nursing him. It's our special time. We lay down and I hold him and while he's nursing, I kiss him constantly and tell him how special he is to me and how much I love and adore him.

When Critter is hunger, he wants to be nursed. When he's sick, he wants to be nursed. When he's thristy, he wants....yep, you guessed it.

A while back, I said to him 'You want boobie', or something like that, and as any parent will tell you, kids are sponges and will pick up and repeat words and phrases. Weeeeeeel, after my saying 'Boobie' once or twice, Critter figured out that Boobie means, well, boobie.

Every time he wants Mama's milk. He says Boobie. And god forbid, I don't whip a Ta Ta out fast enough for him to wrap his mouth around it, he'll say 'Boobie' repeatedly and louder and LOUDER. It doesn't matter where we are. Critter has chanted 'Boobie, Boobie, Boobie....' in stores, on streets, on the subway, and people's homes. He has no shame with his request and won't stop saying 'Boobie' until he's happily suckling.

Sometimes, I'm embarrassed when he's yelling 'Boobie' because it's also accompanied by him tapping on my chest or he's lifting my shirt or sticking his hand down my shirt. What can I say, he's a help yourself kind of guy. He thinks it's a Self Serve Buffet.

One time, we were on a very crowded subway train. We were standing and Hubby was holding Critter. There was an ad for weight loss with before and after photos of a topless man. Critter points at the before picture and very LOUDLY says, "Boobie".

NOTE: didn't proof reead above, so I'm sure many typos and grammatical errors. I'm rushing cause Critter is due to wake up soon and want you know what.

Posts

Everytime I sit down to write, so you, my loyal readers, would have something to read, Critter either wakes up, or I have to cook dinner or clean something or life beckons.

As things are happening in my life, I always think I'd write about it cause it's funny, pathetic and worth sharing. I always know what I want to write and I mentally write it in my head but then I rarely get a chance to.

So sorry and bare with me.
Here's a teaser. Today's topic would have been either about, Critter talking or boobies.

Maybe when Critter naps, I'll get a chance.

Election Year

After Super Tuesday, it's clear whom Critter is voting for.

Food Fight

Critter and I have been having a Food fight for months.
I'm not sure what happened but I went from having a child that ate (almost) everything to one that eats almost nothing....especially VEGETABLES.

When I was pureeing food he gobbled it all up; carrots, pears, apples, spinach, beets, he reluctantly ate peas, but he ate them.
Now, I'm lucky if he'll eat a carrot piece I've hidden under layers and layers of bread.

We're at the stage where he wants to do everything himself so I can't spoon feed him anymore. YEAH! for him being independent. When I was feeding him he'd inspect what I gave him. He'll look at the spoonful of food and if it's something he recognized and was in the mood to eat, he'd open his mouth. Many times he turned his head away, leaving me frustrated. BOOO! for him being picky.

I've searched for ways to get him to eat. I googled, I asked, I cooked (a variety of things).

Many recommend offering a variety of food on a plate, with something you know they will eat and let them feed themselves and hopefully one day they'll surprise you and eat the veggies.Weeeeeeeell, I hate to burst bubbles of the super moms that have claimed this works. It's not working for me! Critter takes the food and piece by piece throws it over the side of the table, creating a nice sea of food on the floor. He has grabbed chunks of food and flung it across the room. I've gotten hit in the line of fire. It's a nightly ritual. We all sit at the dinner table, Critter in his high chair, and hubby and I watch as he pokes his food, pushes it around the plate, and then picks  up a piece of food and as he raises his arm higher and higher my hopes of it going in his mouth are shattered when I see the morsel of food I lovingly cooked torpedo to the floor. Sometimes, he's in a hurry and will  pick up the entire plate and fling it on the floor.

I 've gotten really frustrated BUT after much research, I'm realizing that lots of kids go thru this and hopefully it's just a phase he'll outgrow AND all I can do is put the food on his plate and watch him throw it on the floor.

 If he wasn't so cute I'd get really angry but he really is adorable when flinging food.

In Sickness and in Health

I hate Hate HATE when Critter is sick.

We visited my sister-n-law for President's Day weekend and her 3 year old son was sick. Critter and him played together, sharing cars and balls and germs....and then Critter shared them with us.

Critter started coughing last Tuesday and by Thursday, he also had a fever.
When he's sick he gets so cranky and whiny....and needy....and he doesn't eat.
I don't mind him being needy. I actually like him clinging to me for comfort. I like knowing that being in my arms he feels secure and loved. On Monday, Critter slept most of the day in my arms and wanting comfort. I cherished the moments cause I know one day he won't be my little boy anymore, I wont' be able to hold him like I do now.

Critter is better. Hubby is still coughing. I'm congested and coughing.

What is Love?

A day of heart shaped boxes with chocolates inside.
Red Cards with cupid shooting an arrow into someone's heart.
Red roses wrapped in cellophane or in a box.

What is Love? On Valentine's Day everyone is in love, or wants to be loved or is thinking about love.
I finally know what love is. I'm experiencing true love. It's hard to explain or put into words. It's a feeling of happiness and joy when you see that person. When you're with them, the world is just right, everything is perfect. When you're together, nothing else seems to matter.

Critter, my son, is the love of my life. Ever since I first laid eyes on him, I was head over heels for him. He has shown me what unconditional love is, what true affection is. These are feelings beyond words.

I tell him everyday I love him. I tell him so many times a day. I hold me close, smother him with kisses and tell him. And I think he loves me.

I ask him "Does Mommy love you?" and with a grin on his face he taunts me with a "No" and I shriek "WHAAAAT!". He then says "Mommy coming" and scampers away but not too fast so I can catch him to tickle and kiss him and again tell him  I LOVE HIM.

Happy Valentine's Day from Critter. 

He knows when you're in love your heart goes 

Pitter Patter Pitter Patter.

Happy Days

Who's cooler than the Fonz?

My Son!!

Critter rocking a "leather" jacket......

....and a bomber hat.

Bathroom is Occupied

"Can you please take him out of the bathroom?" Hubby yelled. "I'm in here."
"Why? Don't you like sharing the bathroom with Critter." I replied.

Sheesh, all  Critter wanted was to play.....granted Hubby was on the throne.....but still.
Welcome to my world, I told hubby.

Everyday and every time I use the bathroom, when Hubby isn't home, I leave the door open so I can hear what Critter is doing when I can't see him. AND every time, he comes in to the bathroom. He'll stand there, jabbering away, as if there's nothing wrong with having a conversation while someone has their pants around their ankles. Or he'll want to be picked up....um, kinda difficult to pee and hold a kid in your arms. Or he'll open the cabinet under the sink and take out the hairbrush and brush his hair. Or he'll look in the tub, point and talk to his tub toys. Or, he'll try to pick up my pants.

It never fails, I can't pee in peace.

The other day, I was doing my business, and yes Critter came charging in. He opened the under sink cabinet, took out the hairbrush and styled his hair. He then looked at me, well, between my legs and decided that my coif needed styling, and took the hairbrush to my nether region. Okay then! When your year and half old does that, not only do you think he's very perceptive but it's time to take out the weed wacker and trim the lawn.....oh and maybe I should start closing the door while I tinkle.

Sorry NO pics of the toilet, hairbrush or the rug.

But here is a pic of Critter getting his last haircut (his third) on Nov. 11, 2011. He cried the entire time.

New Year Resolutions

My New Year resolutions are:

- to lose this extra baby weight...20 pounds. Jeez, it's been a year and a half since I birthed Critter. I would have been my thin self long ago if I wasn't constantly shoving chocolate and sugary laced things into my mouth. I bought a sequence tank top, striped shorts and I'm ready to Walk it Out, so I know dat I'm a win.



- not to be so bitchy to Hubby. Yes, believe it or not, sweet little ole me can be a total bitch. Surprise! I'm often very short (not just height wise) with Hubby. I seem to have less and less tolerance for him. Well, this year, I'm going to try a different approach. I'm not going to get irked by the stupid things he does; ooooh, and there are plenty (hint, hint, hubby, you can resolve not to do stupid things). I'm going to be nice and sweet when I talk to him. This will be a real test of my tolerance. So far it's been four days of a Bitch free Wife. Do you want to take bets how long this will last?

- To make and save money. I'm not sure I want to go back to work full time. I think about it constantly. I think about leaving Critter and not seeing him for 10 hours a day and it breaks my heart. I'd miss him so much. I also don't want someone else raising my child. But our financial situation, while not dire, could be better. I do look at job listings and have sent out my resume to a few places. But unless the pay is extraordinary, and that is unlikely in Architecture/Design, I'm not going to take a job where 1/2 my salary is going to daycare.
I have to think of something I can do from home, while Critter is sitting on my lap or tearing the apartment apart. Or something I can do in the evenings when Hubby comes home.....besides (not) be bitchy to him.

- to drink more water. I know this should be easy but....I'm still nursing and should drink more water than the average person but yet I'm not. My skin is sooooo dry that it's cracking. My fingers and feet look like a dry cracked desert.

- to change my life. I know this is so vague. I feel like I'm in a rut. More on this later.