dreamsofbaby

07:58 pm: Learning to stand
Last night Darwin was holding the end table with just one hand and taking steps. Well he got as far as he could go without letting go and he stopped and let go. He stood for a second and then leaned over and caught the ground with his hands with his legs squatting. He then lifted his hands and stood right back up without grabbing anything! Of course, he fell right over after that, but he's done it again several times today! He stands at most maybe 2 seconds before chickening out, but it's progress! He also took TWO steps toward me without holding anything before dropping to his knees today! He's getting closer!

10:41 pm: CD 5 - Soy Cycle
I am on cycle day 5 after a cycle that lasted 68 days. It was long and grueling because not only was it a long cycle (which I'm used to), but it was my FIRST really long cycle since I started cycling again after D's birth. So it was difficult being forced to accept that my cycles really are returning to their former irregularity once again. Anyway, I'm trying kind of an alternative therapy this month. I'm taking soy isoflavones 200mg once a day at 9:30pm on cycle days 4-8. I've read some research that shows that it may help with ovulation if taken for only 5 days at the beginning of a cycle like Clomid. I have no idea if it will work or not, but I figure I have nothing to lose. I was supposed to go to the gyno on Monday, but whether or not I will go entirely depends on if I'm still on my period or not. I don't want to go if I'm on af because I was supposed to get an annual, but I might go regardless since I can start treatment next cycle if I see a doc this cycle. We'll see. Anyway, I'm hoping this soy stuff works and I plan on taking opk's to see if it does.

10:39 pm: Waving - TOO CUTE!
Today my dad had a heart cath at the hospital. I don't really want to talk about that, but I do just want to mention that Darwin was there with me from 6am until almost 6pm and he was SO GOOD all day long! He didn't all-out cry even once! He took two naps, ate his meals on time, had his snacks, we went for walks in the stroller around the halls, and he was just such a good little guy! He waved at EVERYONE! He was waving hi, waving bye, waving at Dad, at Alexis, at perfect strangers... It was SO ADORABLE!

09:49 am: Bear crawl
Darwin has started bear crawling the past few days and this past Sunday at Leroy and Irene's he stood unsupported for about 2 or 3 whole seconds before he realized he wasn't holding on and dropped to his knees! He is getting closer to walking, I think! The bear crawling is so cute and he's really fast at it. I don't know if this is a step toward walking or not, but it makes sense that it would be because it shows he's wanting to be on his feet and he's mastered the one-foot-in-front-of-the-other concept. I'm so excited to see his first steps!

12:25 pm: Speech development
I want to do a post about Darwin's speech because he is learning so fast I can't keep track! So before I forget what he says and where he's at, here is the list of Darwin's first words...

Darwin's Vocabulary

Kitty (1st word)
Dada (2nd word)
Mama
Bite (sounds like buy)
Light (sounds like eye)
Fan (sounds like buh but always is accompanied by a point at the fan)
Bath (sounds like bap)
Hi/Hey
Done (sounds like duh but in context of done eating)
Down (sounds like owwwwn) - only said a hand full of times, but in context
Owwww
Drink (sounds like dink) - not consistent yet
Num Num (for yummy food)
That (sounds like dat)
Ball (sounds like buh or sometimes bow)
More (sounds like mmmmmmmmmm or sometimes mo)
Dill (sounds like duh)
Colby (sounds like oh-lee) - this one isn't consistent yet
Banana (sounds like nana or sometimes buhbuhbuh)
Bye bye (sounds like buh buh or duh duh) WITH A WAVE!
Good
Dog - this one isn't consistent yet, only in repitition
Uh Oh - he will only repeat this, doesn't say it on his own yet
Hungry (sounds like huh-guh) - this one is new, only in repetition
Snack (sounds like nah) - this one is new, only in repetition

Last night for the first time ever he said nuh nuh for night night. I don't know if that will be a consistent thing yet or not.

He also shakes his head "no" when you ask him if he's saying "no"!

He also coughs, clears his throat and laughs when you do said action first!

That's all I can think of right now! I'll add more if I think of them, but I think this is a pretty complete list.

04:02 pm: Darwin,

I've been having kind of a rough time lately coping and finding motivation and I realized that I think I'm a bit depressed because I'm slowly coming to the realization that I may never have another baby. Today you and I sat on the couch watching a movie and you were munching on your Crunchies leaning against me, perfectly content to sit still with me for a time. You sitting still is an unusual thing, so I took the opportunity to stroke and smell your hair, to kiss your forehead, to look upon you and admire the work of art that you are. And it occurred to me at that moment how full my heart is with love and how content I am with you. We don't take much time to slow down and stop thinking of the things we want and just be grateful for the things we have. But today I did that and I was once again reminded how grateful I am that I have you. I've never wanted anything in my life as much as I wanted you. I waited so long to finally be your mommy and I prayed and sealed all of my hopes in the dream of you. And now I have you and it is the most glorious thing! I am not a religious person, but if anything could make me speculate the possibility of a God that loves me, it's you. Because in you I've found everything I've ever wanted. Because of all the silly wishes I have made in my life that have not come true, somehow the one wish that truly mattered was granted to me - the wish to have you. I hope that you grow always knowing how I love you so very much. You are all that matters in my world and you, dear son, will always be my sweet baby.

Mommy

08:17 am: Quick Darwin update
Darwin's eighth tooth is through! The bottom left incisor popped through two days ago. Darwin has seemed much more cheerful since it came through.

He also started actually pushing his push toys on his feet instead of on his knees yesterday! I'm hoping this is a step (arrrarrrarrr) toward walking! :)

02:47 pm: One year old!
Darwin's birthday party turned out great! It was a little cloudier and breezier than I had hoped, but overall the weather cooperated. Just a few sprinkles toward the end. He got tons of presents and seemed to have a really good time visiting with family. He demolished his individual cake and had quite the sugar buzz, but he woke from his nap later in the day very fussy and I'm pretty sure he had a tummy ache from all the icing. Alexis was such a great help. Paula and Aunt Kris also both pitched in a lot as well as Roni and Staci. I was really happy with the way it went. Everyone we invited came! :) Just shows how much everyone adores little Darwin!

He had his one year checkup this afternoon. He is 24 lbs, 5 oz and 31.5 inches long! I can't believe what a big boy he is! Dr. Lipp said he is definitely going to be around 6' and he's going to be a solidly built guy. He said he can tell because Darwin has a broad chest and shoulders. The doctor also said he will be walking within 6 weeks. He said that some babies are just more careful not to get hurt than others and Darwin is probably one of those babies. He commented that Darwin is a very good natured little guy and seems very easy going and comfortable with strangers. He said he hopes for us that Darwin is always that way. I told him I hope so too, especially through the teens and Dr. Lipp laughed and said he wouldn't count on that! D handled his shots like a little trooper. The nurse made me hold his wrists so he couldn't reach down there because he's so strong, but he didn't fight me at all. He just cried. My poor baby! Anyway, he bucked up pretty much as soon as they were over this time and was totally fine by the time we walked out of the exam room! He's such a tough little man! I am so proud of him!

I get a bit sappy from time to time realizing that my baby isn't really a baby anymore, but a toddler now! He's getting so grown up and I just can't believe it! Today I'm packing away the bottles, binkies, baby spoons, and formula scoops. No more need for those. He slept last night for the first time with no night time bottle and he didn't even seem to miss it! He never ceases to amaze me with how adaptable he is to change and how incredibly easy going he is. He is just such a GOOD boy! I love him so much!

01:47 pm: MY BABY IS A YEAR OLD TOMORROW!
Tomorrow is the big day! This time last year I knew I was having Darwin the next day because I was scheduled for induction at 6am. I was so excited I didn't go to sleep until 10:30 and then woke at midnight in labor! I can't believe it's been nearly a year since I first held him in my arms! I remember those first days so clearly and how I didn't want to be apart from him for a moment. Funny how things change because now I'm grateful for any break I can get! LOL But I love him even more than I did then and I never would have thought that was possible. Being a mommy is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done and I'm so glad I have my little man! :)

Darwin has been calling me "mama" more and more. It's so awesome to FINALLY have him say mama instead of always dada, dada, dada! LOL

Maci and Staci came over yesterday and Maci was SO EXCITED to see Darwin. She kept saying, "Dardo! Dardo!" over and over again. It's so cute!

We have things fairly organized for the party tomorrow. I still need to wash out the coolers so they'll be ready and start the pork roasts here in an hour or so. Oh my goodness, there's so much to do! And Richard's sleeping!

I'm really excited for the party and I hope that it goes really well. I want so much for Darwin to have a great time. I also hope the food goes over well. I've been preparing food non-stop all day. This is my first break and there's still so much left. The cold salads are ready. Now we need to do the roasts, baked beans, and mango salsa. It's just so much! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Darwin has a new fascination with hacking the chair method of blocking the stairs and we keep finding him starting to go up the stairs. We desperately need those gates. Richard's mom I think is going to give us money for them for D's birthday present. I'm just so excited for tomorrow but I have so much to do that I hope today is nice and long!

08:50 am: Prepping for the PAR-TAY!
D's birthday party is on Monday so this weekend is going to be stuffed full of things to get ready. We're doing the shopping today for all the produce and such. I'm so excited, but I'm also sick which is putting a big BUMMER on the whole weekend right now. I don't want to be sick for Darwin's birthday! GRRRR!

08:48 pm: Another tooth!
D's left second incisor popped through yesterday! That's his SEVENTH tooth!

He also got his very first full haircut today! He behaved SO well! I was very impressed. He was curious as to what she was doing and kept turning his head to look, but he was very patient and calm and SUCH A GOOD BOY! He never ceases to make me proud every moment I am with him! We went out to eat at Logan's and everyone was stopping to look at him and commenting on how cute he is. Of course I agree! :)

10:20 am: I forgot to mention that Darwin is in the stage where he LOVES to crawl OVER things. He crawls over me and Richard when we're on the floor. He crawls over the cats (which they aren't loving, but oh well). He crawls OVER the wood plank in the entry to our bedroom. He crawls up and down the front step of our house over and over again. Yesterday I caught him about 4 steps up the stairway in the house! We NEED stair gates ASAP!

08:29 am: Quick update on Ditty D
Darwin now says "done" (duh) when he's finished eating sometimes. Usually he just pulls his bib off and starts throwing food on the floor, though. Crazy kid! He tries to say "light" (ite), "Dill" (duh, but in context with Dill), "banana" (nana), "good" (sounds EXACLY right), "down" (owwwwn), and many more. It's hard to keep track once they get started! He says "NOM NOM" when he's eating, which is SO CUTE!

He will "gimme five" about half the time you ask him to. He just the past two days has started reaching his hand toward things when you ask him where something is.

He gives kisses now (open-mouthed) when you ask for one most of the time. He will also just randomly give me a kiss sometimes even when I don't ask, which melts my heart.

02:39 pm: Darwin sits up on his knees now and also sometimes on one knee and one foot with really great balance. He also will put one foot in front of the other really quickly now when you hold his hands. He still doesn't seem to have the confidence to let go and try standing on his own yet so I think walking may be a while yet. I'm so proud of him, though. He has figured out that falling off the bottom step of the stairs hurts so he will try to get down all carefully and if he can't figure it out he yells for me. It's so cute! He hasn't gotten any more teeth yet.

We took Darwin to the doctor last week and he weighed 23 lbs, 10 oz. He has a mild ear infection but the doc said not to get the antibiotic script filled unless he starts running a fever or pulling at his ears a lot and he hasn't yet so I'm hoping he can kick it himself without meds.

Darwin reliably says "daddy" and "kitty" now. "Kitty" was his first word. It sounds more like "kee-yee" and daddy is "dada", but he says them in context. I think he tries to call Dill by his name. He will repeat "duh" for done when he's finished eating and he occasionally says it on his own with no prompting. He said "pig" and "go" for goat when reading his farm animal book the other day with no prompting, but I haven't been able to get him to say them since so I don't know if it was a coincidence or what. He tries to say "cock-a-doodle-doo" but it comes out "dood doo ca!", but he imitates the vocal inflection while he says it so it's SO PRECIOUS! He says "hi" occasionally, but usually only in the context of "Hi, Dada!" when he sees Richard for the first time in the mornings or when he first gets home from work. He also says "hey" to Aunt Alex every time he sees her!

Darwin claps when he sees us clap every time now and he's trying to learn to wave and "gimme 5". He's making progress, but it's kind of slow going as he doesn't really understand what we're trying to get him to do.

He had hot dog for the first time on Saturday at DJ's second birthday party. He really loved it. He's had them once since then but I'm not going to let him have them very often since they aren't very healthy.

Darwin will be 11 months old this Saturday! Our baby is growing up! I'm planning his birthday party and I have the invitations done and ready to be mailed. I'm so excited and sad at the same time. I thought I would definitely be pregnant again by now, but I'm not. I don't think it's going to happen without help and we can't afford help so I think Darwin may be it. It makes me want to keep him tiny and cuddly forever! But even with him growing up and the possibility of not having any more, I'm so thankful that I have the one perfect baby I have!

09:45 am: MORE TEETH!
I've been feeling for teeth every day because usually they come through in pairs and D had two incomplete pairs so I knew their left/right counterpart would be coming through soon. On Saturday, April 4th, I felt the edge of his right 1st incisor AND his left 2nd incisor! By Sunday, they were both through all the way across! So Darwin has 6 teeth! YAY!

08:15 pm: Darwin found his penis in the bath tub tonight! He kept flicking it with his index finger and laughing. It was so funny! Then he grabbed it and pulled and then started flicking it again! He was totally transfixed staring at it and he seemed to think it was very funny. It was cracking Richard and I up! My son is definitely a little man! Ha!

01:29 pm: Another tooth!
I was feeling for teeth and noticed that D's second incisor on the top right is through! It broke through before the center top right! So he's asymmetrical! How cute!

09:07 am: Darwin is growing so fast!
This morning Darwin walked the whole length of our couch with support! Yesterday he was trying to figure it out and would take one or two steps at a time before getting down (which he figured out getting down from standing FAST) and crawling a few steps and then pulling back up. This morning he just pulled up and took off like he'd been doing it forever! He also stood for maybe two seconds without holding on or leaning on the couch! He's figuring out this upright stuff!

He's wearing one-piece 18m jammies. We bought them yesterday and they looked huge on the rack, but I put them on him and they fit with just a bit of growing room. He's such a hoss of a baby!

Darwin has started actually playing by himself for greater periods of time without fussing for interaction. He's learned to dump his toy box (which for now is still a Pamper's box) and he will fiddle with his toys for a long time. Yesterday he played on his own for nearly 90 minutes before asking for interaction. I just let him play as long as he's happy because I figure he's learning how to manipulate things and that's just going to make him smarter.

D's top tooth is coming in fast and furious! He's constantly rubbing his tongue on it. It looks so funny!

05:09 pm: I have a moment so I thought I would make a more detailed post while I'm thinking about it. Darwin can crawl really fast now and he gets so excited when he gets going! It is precious! He is also getting really good at pulling up and can pull up on just about anything. He falls every once in a while, but for the most part is pretty steady on his feet. He is attempting to move along furniture, but he will take one or two steps and then keep moving his hands while keeping his feet stationary until he's leaning over precariously. We've been out and about a lot the past few days because the weather here has been nice. We went to Columbian Park with Staci and Maci yesterday and he had a great time swinging and playing in the sand pit. He was putting everything in his mouth and soaking up the sunshine. I actually got a hint of a sunburn, but I lathered him in sunblock so he's fine. He really enjoys being outside in the breeze. He sucks the air in and out in a very exaggerated manner when the wind blows in his face. He's smiling the whole time, though, so I know he's enjoying it. I actually got him to smile while swinging yesterday by tapping the bottoms of his shoes every time he'd swing toward me. Usually he is so deadpan you can't tell if he's having fun or not, but yesterday he was definitely having fun. I can't get over the love I have for him. He melts my heart each and every look he gives me. He is such a fabulous little man!

05:08 am: NEW TOOTH!
Darwin has his first upper tooth! It's cut through all the way across! It wasn't there yesterday morning, so it has been doing a lot of growing over the past day! I'm so excited!