A little update

I have my own domain name!  I'm excited about this. We've been talking about it for at least a year, and finally sat down and did it.  I'm working on getting the blog ready to move and installing things. I came across a post last week that made me know it's time to host my own blog. I'd never really thought about the issue of ownership much, but really google owns my blog. So having full ownership over the content and photos makes me happy.  This moving is happening.  Unveiling soon.

But the unveiling is second to finishing this semester. I gave a final presentation this afternoon.  I have one more to do next week. And then I am essentially done with coursework. I still have to finish an independent study by the end of the summer, but that is so different than going to class.  Tomorrow I teach, then all I have left is to give the final exam (and finish grades). I am so ready to move to the summer schedule.

The biggest news of the week is that my second year research paper has been signed off on and submitted for publication to a big name academic journal. There is a good chance it'll get rejected, but there is an ok chance that it'll get a "revise and resubmit" (or slim chance of the holy grail "accept"). This paper that I've been talking about for the last 18 months, it's done. I can also use this as an en route master's thesis. Double dip where you can...

Simon is ten months old today. Ten months! (monthly post coming soon) I can hardly believe it. He's started to balance stand and is getting pretty good at it. He can manipulate a toy or clap while standing. And today he took steps. Actual steps. Only one or two at a time then sit. I'm guessing walking in the next two weeks. Oh boy. Actually that might be the biggest news of the week. It's hard to compare kid milestones and school milestones both are so epic.

Easter

Simon is a bit young for an egg hunt, but that doesn't mean he can't have an Easter basket.  I got this adorable custom bucket from Chloe Tate on Etsy. And since Simon doesn't eat candy I filled it with some other goodies: bath toys, a baby language DVD, a mini tambourine and two mini cups that match the ones Rob got me last year. Grandma Connie sent the plush bunny and Grandma Val the basket with books and the sock monkey-bunny. Mostly Simon just looked super cute. Even with all the snot.

9 months

 Another month down and quickly closing in on one year. Another month of new developments too.

At the nine month appointment Simon weighed in at 16 lbs. 14 oz., a skinny little squirt, but 28 inches long!

 Crawling is getting fast, we really have to pay attention because only the living room is really baby proofed, and if you turn for a second he's in another room.  This month Simon discovered the bathroom and the toilet.  I'm waiting for him to pull down the shower curtain while I'm spraying diapers.  Mostly I keep the bathroom door closed.  Same for his bedroom which also houses Rob's computer.  We talked about moving it out, but if the computer is in the living room it's that much more accessible.  Watching Simon crawl is funny because he's started switching from his knees to feet for a few crawls.

 Pulling up an cruising are the preferred method of mobility.  Our living room (and the room at daycare) are set up with lots of things that Simon can grab to go from item to item. When he gets to a spot where he can't reach the next thing, he will yell until we come help, or crawl, but mostly yell.

This month climbing was mastered.  First at the playground and at a couple of houses that have stairs.  Rob takes Simon to the playground two or three nights a week before bed time.  Simon climbs the stairs and crawls to the slide.  Down he goes then around and climbs again.  It's a pretty good workout for the little guy.  Simon also got some new shoes that have rubber pads on the bottom so he can climb outside and not slip. He has tiny little feet, about a size 2.5.

He's also getting pretty good at walking by holding on to our hands.

Just before his 9 month birthday (which was last Monday the 9th by the way) Simon mastered clapping.  Yay Simon!!!  At first it was mostly mimicking, but now he claps when he's happy and laughs while he's doing it.

Still only 2 teeth, but eating most everything.  Veggie chips are a huge hit. I know they probably aren't great for him, lots of salt, but he loves them and if he's fussing a couple will usually calm him down.  My favorite part is that Simon decided he likes bottles.  The second half of this month he averaged 10-12 ounces a day.  This is huge! And he's sleeping better.  8:30 - 5:45 multiple nights in a row. It's not perfect, but I'll take it.  Naps are still hit or miss though. My guess is that the eating and sleeping are connected.

Lot's of babbling still.  Mamama, dadada, bababa. He knows his name and will respond when he wants too. He knows that "not for you" is what we say when he's doing something he shouldn't.  He'll look at you and then do it anyway.  But he checks first if you're watching, like he's trying to get away with something. I *think* he may be saying "mama" with meaning some of the time.  When I get home he'll usually start babbling mama, and reaching for me. I still don't know that I would call it a first work though.  He won't mimic with babbling, but he will with yelling "Hi / Ha" and with "Rawr."

He loves to play with soft things. He has Lamby, Puppy, Bunny, & Bot. He likes to lay on his monkey mat and will snuggle and "talk" to it's face. The stacking rings are an old classic and a huge hit along with the shape sorter toy.  We also have a little basketball goal that he loves to climb on and play with the balls. There is a lever that when the ball goes through the hoop causes the toy to cheer.  Mostly Simon just stands and sticks his fist on the lever.  Funny kid. 

This little guy just keeps getting better and better.

Lab Rat

Since Simon was five months old we've been going to the Child Development Lab at the campus I work on to participate in infant research. The research is about infant locomotion and cognitive development.  We are doing a diary study, where I've been filling out a daily checklist of motor and language activities since December and will continue until about 18 months.

We also did a reaching study, and today we rode the bus for the second of five visits for an "A not B" study.  We left early and took the subway to the Express Bus.  Simon got his own seat before deciding to take a nap on my lap.

Then when we got to the lab he was in his best mood of the entire day. I'm so glad he used it up for the study. First he crawled to me down the paths. After five tries down path A, I moved to path B and he came right to me. Rob and I love this "thinking" face; he started it a couple of weeks ago and the pout is priceless.

After the paths we moved on to tunnels.  Five tries on tunnel A, then I moved to tunnel B. He didn't even look to see where I was and just zoomed down tunnel A. Then when I wasn't at the end he was a little confused until he saw me.  Then he came to get the new toys.

Oh how he loves to play with new toys.  We'll go back again when he can take 10 steps by himself. I've got myself a little Lab Rat.

Little Climber

I drove down to Philly for the weekend to meet my mom and Chip who were in for a conference. It was mostly cold and rainy, what gives? But we had a couple of nice meals and were able to get in a little sightseeing. We took a trolly tour and they let us stop off for a few minutes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Simon took a stab at the stairs.

*Please ignore my voice in the background...

Eight Months! With Video!

Wow! again. Every month just seems to fly by now.  Six months was the big half a year milestone. But eight? This feels like one year is just around the corner.

This month has been even crazier in how much mobility we've gained. Last month you just started belly / army crawling. Then crawling on your hands & knees, and longer distances.  When your barefoot you do and elephant walk on your hands & feet. And now you are pulling up to stand. And cruising on the ottoman or Monkey's cage. Crawling is the fastest transportation and is FAST. You can get into trouble very quickly if we aren't watching.

Walking is the new black, you can't get enough of it. I'm betting you will take your first steps by ten months. But with walking comes falling. If you don't fall you won't learn... You've taken a couple of bad spills, but usually a quick cuddle is all you need to be on your way.  You are getting in to everything you shouldn't.  The cords under the desk, the vacuum, the trash/recycling, the rabbit's food. You're newest thing is dumping the hay box. We have to be fast to stop you, but we are at 3+ times a day. We are exploring new options.

The pulling up necessitated lowering the crib, so you are halfway to a big boy bed. This also meant a reorganization of storage space. And I finally packed up and put away the bassinet. You know, the one that hasn't been used since nine weeks.  This month your bedtime has gotten much better but overnight sleep is hit or miss. We are working on getting back to waking up once around 4 or 5 and then 7 or 8. We get into a groove then teething or sick happens. We are co-sleeping the second half the night.  It mostly works. I've been tired, so it's nice not to have to get up. The better bedtime routine though, means that the nursery / office share is coming to an end.  The desk will be moving out soon and the room will be all yours.  Napping doesn't always happen.  But nap time does, some days it is called quiet time rather than napping.  This is what I found when peeking in on you.

Two bottom teeth, that's it. I think a top one will come through soon. "Brushing" your teeth is a highlight of the bedtime routine.

Food hasn't changed much, you eat well at daycare and are getting better with bottles. You eat pretty much anything we give you. And the pincer grasp is coming along, so you are getting better at feeding yourself.

No words yet, but lots of babbling. Mostly MaMaMa, but Da, Ba, and Pa make it in occasionally.

I am still loving this stage. Even with the ninja like moving that is happening. And just for fun - this is what happens when the baby tries to be all wily and get around the barrier of toys. Totally deserved.

Adventures in Eating: Tacos

Photo Dump: Visiting with Tyrone

From January 29

 

 

Photo Dump: Learning to Crawl

*From January 29*