muffins

I made healthy muffins for IJG. I think he likes them.

Also note his awesome new haircut. This look was acquired by using a 1 inch guard on the sides and back of his head while leaving the front, upper portion longer and just trimming it a bit.



He looks to the right and waves in that direction because the dogs are in the backyard.

how i found my baby at school this afternoon

Teetering on the edge of his cot, fast asleep, while all the other kids were awake and snacking. He's been sleeping 2.5 hours + at school but ONLY 30 minutes at home during nap time. Also, his teacher said today that she put him down on his cot and he fell right to sleep on his own...wtf?

Today was IJG's first day at what I feel and hope will be a better school. Sunday was open house and we were able to meet his teachers, see the classroom, and ask questions.

His teachers are on the far left and in the purple shirt.



His class has a dolphin theme. All the kids are between 11 and 13 months right now.



He has his first cubby (and these dolphins appear to have two heads).



He sits in a regular chair at meal and snack time. Parents send lunches but snacks are provided. I requested that he not be fed anything other than what I send and am including a snack in his bag. The school is kosher so parents are not allowed to mix meat and dairy or include pork or shellfish in the lunches sent from home, and if they purchase treats to share with the class for birthdays or holidays they must be kosher. A list of kosher stores and bakeries was included in the parent handbook. Even at IJG's age, cupcakes and sweets are allowed at celebrations. I've made it clear he is not to have anything I don't send, but I'd like to speak with the director about creating healthier school food policies. All Jewish holidays are observed and letters are sent home to explain the meaning of each holiday and suggested ways to celebrate. We started with Rosh Hashanah. They also have a Challah Club in which your child can bring home challah every Friday.


8.22.10

Here he is this morning ready to leave for his first day. Outfit courtesy auntie S. New shoes courtesy mama and daddy.



As we approached his classroom this morning I could hear several toddlers crying. I was worried they would make IJG more likely to get upset. But, when we arrived, his eyed lit up at the sight of the ROOM FULL OF NEW TOYS and he never looked at me again. I proceeded to put his lunch in the fridge and put other items in his cubby, speak with his teacher, take pictures...and he never looked away from the toys. I left worried that he would realize eventually that I was gone and he was in a new place. When I picked him up his teacher said he never cried and just played all day. I find this crazy, especially since he started crying when I leave him at the old school lately.



And this is how he gets around at school. How freakin cute! This school is part of a community center, so the kids have access to a pool, splash pad, and playground. At this age they use the splash pad but in preschool they use the pool.


8.24.10

Check out my awesome, new...

...handmade purse from Japan. Thoughtfully gifted to me by C & N while on honeymoon, along with a bazillion other little gifties.





and somebody loves his new whale



thank you C & N!

is this normal?

He never once fell while we took photos of him hanging. I'd like to try it again when I have a real camera (not just a phone).




8.15.10

granola bars

homemade granola bars went over well at our first attachment parenting playgroup today.

he's such a looker

8.14.10

getting better at walking

hermann park

Each weekday morning I have off I try to take IJG on a walk and to a park. By 9:00 am it's sweltering, so we go as early as possible, which is rarely before 8:00 am.

We've started visiting Hermann Park again. I think it's my favorite, although I wouldn't be comfortable going without Yoji on a weekday when it's not full of people. He is our protector. We pass many men who are obviously frightened by him.

I let Yoji get in the shallow end of the pond to cool off even though it's not allowed.



IJG wanted to play in the water. Once he can walk I'll let him.



We seesawed.



And when daddy came home from work that evening. IJG drove him into the garage.


8.13.10

bialys in Houston!!!

We went to Three Brothers Bakery. They have the goods. We got bialys and shared a cookie. We'll be back for more.

IJG is 13 months old!

IJG still likes climbing up stairs, pointing and clapping. He likes playing hide and seek with his blanket or in the curtains in the kitchen. He started walking a few days ago, but hasn’t since! I’m glad I have the video evidence because otherwise I would question if it actually happened. He understands a lot. He will point to his books if I ask him where they are, he knows what I’m saying if I ask if he’s hungry. He has started dancing when we play music, and now points at the radio when it is off and starts dancing. I assume this is his way of asking me to turn it on.

He is working on 5 new teeth all at once. He currently has the front 8. His lower left molar is coming in and all 4 canines. The four molars generally appear next, so it is a little out of order for him to get the canines in first.

I gave him his first haircut this month. First I just trimmed around his ears and neck, but recently I took some off the front because it was getting in his eyes.

For the first time ever he is crying when I leave him at school. He has done this every day for the last 2 weeks. As soon as they take him from me he starts screaming and tries to turn back to stay with me.

IJG’s schedule has remained the same this month. He has finally started eating finger foods other than cheerios (organic Os actually). I’ve tried for quite a while and he wasn’t into it, then one day he just started eating everything I put in front of him. I still spoon feed him breakfast, but he feeds himself lunch, which consists of a couple types of veg, a grain, and a vegetarian protein (beans or chickpeas so far). He has Os and fruit for his snack and then dinner is either similar to lunch or I spoon feed him a mix of things. New foods he’s had this month are grapes, figs, apricots (fresh), plums, great northern beans, whole wheat bread and pasta, and brown rice. He eats orange veg, especially sweet potato, like it’s candy and can’t get enough. I’ve started supplementing with soy milk because I’ve had major milk supply issues. I am still breastfeeding 4-5 times a day though, but add soy to his food and to the breast milk he takes to school if needed.

IJG was sick once this month. He had a cold that was short lived and didn’t seem to affect him very much. One week later he had his scheduled myringotomy and ear tube placement. The surgeon said his right ear was full of puss and fluid and the left ear wasn’t quite as bad. The surgery was over in about 8 minutes and I was able to breastfeed him in the recovery room, and feed him once we got home. He had a 4 hour nap that afternoon but otherwise acted fairly normal. He is doing well so far. We will see how he fares with future colds and illnesses. Since some of you are likely to question our decision to have this procedure done, but on the other hand are unlikely to voice your concerns directly to us, I will state my reasoning here. I believe my child was suffering. We tried many forms of “natural” remedies and treatments. I strongly believe in trying natural remedies before more invasive or higher risk ones, but I do not believe in causing or supporting unnecessary suffering when natural remedies fail to produce improvement after a reasonable period of time and there are alternative treatments available.

Here he is pre and post surgery.



Here is a video of IJG feeding himself some mixed veg. Notice how he eats all his peas first...like a good boy.

long overdue: NJ video

Notice how IJG is eating a piece of mulch on the beach. His daddy is videotaping and doesn't even notice this!

walking!!!

This evening IJG suddenly decided he could take more than one step before falling. It came on very suddenly. After the initial few weeks of attempting to step he had completely stopped trying to walk once he let go of surfaces. I guess he didn't want to do it until he could do it well!