Baby's Walking --Sorta

I vaguely remember that days you we could just put you down where ever and you actually STAYED STILL.
But of course, we know that tummy time is important and you did very well in the stage.

You graduated to sitting up on your own and we were happy. Please can you stay in that stage? Nope! you started pulling yourself up and getting into things we trained Hailey to not touch.

And you started crawling and nothing was safe.

But mommy's arms are getting tired of carrying you. You have heavy. So we working on walking.

Then you went through this crazy stage you where you would squat. (I wish I could do that!) From that position you would stand up all by yourself. Way to go!!!

I think you just like the attention, so you wouldn't let go of our fingers while you walked.

Finally you graduated and are now walking all by yourself. You're such a big boy. While learning to walk you are still in a strange crawling stage where you use one leg and drag the left one behind you.

(This is a video so for those who are getting the emails, go to my blog's website to see the video play.)

However, your story doesn't stop there. You only walk half the time and for the past three days you hardly walk at all. I'm not sure why. It could be the bruise on your big toe but how did it get there?

Hailey didn't walk all the time until she was 13 months. So, baby, you only have three weeks left to figure this walking thing out completely. Do you really want to be passed up by a girl?

Robert's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Baby!!!!
Here's the yummy chocolate cake that mommy made and decorated with blue frosting and sprinkles.
And your friend Brian came to celebrate. (Of course he brought his parents too, Nick and Jessie) Brian's 1st birthday was just a couple of weeks ago.

The newly weds (Darlene and Wayne) also wanted to eat your cake and spend time with you.

Okay baby, it's time to appreciate all the work mommy put into this. But you really don't care about how it looks you just want to know why everyone is singing and looking at you.

So I put the first first piece on your tray and in seconds it was gone. You are a get eater. You dug right in. However you were pretty disgusting when you were done so we had to pause everything to quickly give you a bath. **Side note at the bottom to explain the band-aid.

Here is a great pose by all your presents. You are a lucky boy.Big sister needed to help you a little. It's a little hard to understand what to do on your first birthday but don't worry next year you can do it all by yourself.
Yeah it's Pooh Bear!!!
Mommy got you a fun toy with animals and a slide, but you just like sitting on it.

Yeah you finally were able to tear some of the wrapping paper.

So here is your big loot of the day, baby. You have tons of clothes now that you're bigger and a few good toys. Happy Birthday my sweet baby boy.

**Side note: Even though your birthday was on the 22nd we celebrated it on Tuesday. You also had a doctor's appointment the same day. First they weighed (18lbs 8oz) and measured (28 1/2in) you. Then you got an iron test in your toe. The doctor came in and you just didn't like him. He kept poking at you and made you stay still which is one thing you HATE. Then the nurse came back to give you two shots in your legs. Finally I had to put clothes back on you. (You hate clothes) However, the thing that bugged you the most that you kept screaming about was the band-aid on your toe. Everything was better when I took it off.

One Year of Lessons

Now that it's been a whole year there are a few things that I learned from him in addition to what I gained from Hailey.

To start, off his name is: Baby! Even though Robert is one years old now we still call him Baby or Baby Robert. Only when he needs to listen and do what I say right now do I call him Robert. (So far there is no shortening of his name)

1) Second baby's pregnancy, labor, birth and recovery is easier and quicker.

2) Nursing is a special time and he was a happier baby when he was nursing. (It seems like he has been sick ever since he quit at 10 months. Currently he has a sore throat and two major boo-boos.)

3) Boys are in constant motion and hates to be pinned down for diaper or clothes change.

4) Robert would go naked all day everyday if it was up to him.

5) To fix a yeast infection use Lotrimin (the fungus foot cream) and put diaper rash cream on top.

6) Medicine and Robert just doesn't work out (He had an ear infection for 4 weeks, tried two different medicines and got horrible diaper rashes with both. It was a very trying time for us)

7) Even though I love both my kids it is a challenge to give attention to both.

8) Robert loves books especially the Book of Mormon (he loves turning the pages and hates when we take it away from him)

9) Robert is a very happy boy and laughs easily.

10) Robert's loves special attention and loves to cuddle especially when he doesn't feel good.

11) Robert is a mom's boy.

12) Robert is a better and a messier eater.

13) Don't rush him!!! He will go play on his own time. If he is pushed then he will scream bloody murder.

14) His favorite game is peek-a-boo and he favorite places to play is in Hailey's crib, Tub, and in the tunnel at the mall.

15) The most important thing I've learned is that Robert is a very special, sweet boy and is a blessing to this family.

Sibling Love

It has been a big adjustment for Hailey since Robert was born. I find it hard to balance my attention between them. Hailey is more fussy because she sees that when Robert cries he gets attention. Unless Robert is taking her toys she pretty much ignores him.

All of that makes this video very special. Nathan told Hailey to help Robert walk. She she took his hand and they walked around the kitchen. Of course, I didn't get to my camera in time and it took some persuading to have her do it again.

I think she wanted to play ring around the rosies with him which is why she fell down. She wanted to look at the video after we took it and just laughs and laughs when they fall down.

Silly Hailey

I love my baby girl and sometimes she says very funny things or has an entertaining logic.
My sister-in-law, Kim made pretty towels for Hailey and Robert. I love these towels because she used the matching hand towel and sewed on a hood for it. It makes it a lot easier to have the kids keep the towel on.

Hailey apparently likes them too and whenever she has it on she says "Like Mary". (As a big family we acted out the story of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. Click here to see pictures.) Hailey thinks she looks like Mary in her towel. Also Hailey would say that Robert is "Like Joseph" in his towel.

I was trying to take a good picture of her playing with Robert in the bookshelf and this is what I got instead. Silly Hailey.

We were running errand this day and we had Chloe with us all day, so Hailey didn't get her nap. She also had a little running nose and wasn't feeling her best. After Chloe's dad came and took Chloe home, Hailey wanted to read on the couch with a blanket and a pillow.

Poor Girl was asleep in seconds.

Funny Hailey Conversions:

Crying: I'm driving home from the gym and Hailey is non-stop whining. So after five minutes I used my best mommy voice and called her name to convey that she should stop.

Hailey: Mommy no. Mommy no.

(I turned off the radio to hear what she's saying)

Mom: Mommy no what, Hailey?

Hailey: Mommy no cry. He-He cry now. He-He cry a lot.

Mom: What? (not sure if I heard her) Hailey cry now?

Hailey: He-He cry now. He-He cry a lot.

(trying to think fast about how to get the desired response)

Mom: How about Hailey cry in crib. That's where we cry, in our cribs.

Hailey: No! He-HE cry car. He-He cry car!

And she continued to cry the whole way home.

I also hit a bird on this trip back to the house. Lucky the only thing left on my car from the bird is a white streak on the windshield and hood. (I don't know what I would do if the bird was stuck on my car.)

Nap Time Story:

Today (March 10th) I put the kids down at 12:15, right after lunch, for their naps. I expect them to be in there until 3:00pm since that's when Chloe comes. Robert is generally good about sleeping the whole time and Hailey plays for the first hour then sleeps the rest of the time. However, today they just didn't sleep.

I heard them talking or fussy every now and then. Around 2:00pm they are just laughing and laughing. So I just chuckled at the situation and continued what I was doing. There was no way I was going to get them out, they were happy. About 20 minutes later, I hear their door open and Robert whining got louder. Oh no! If I go up to shut the door, then their nap time was definitely over. So I decided to ignore it since I was in the middle of something. Then I heard the door shut. Well, that was odd. Their door does not stay partial open it's either all the way open or completely shut. (I think the door is at a slight angle which causes that to happen). Then I hear little pitter-patter upstairs since the boards squeak. Okay, it was time to figure out what was going on. So I go to the stairs and Hailey is at the very top.

Hailey: "I did it myself"

Mom: "You're out of bed"

Hailey "Did it myself, myself" "Rocking chair. Out of crib. Myself!"

She is just beaming on her accomplishment and Robert is screaming because he was left alone. So I went upstairs to meet her and I discover that she needs a diaper change. While I changed her she keeps telling me how she's a big girl and did it all by herself by using the rocking chair and falling on her head. (the back of the rocking chair was next to her crib, so she must have fallen on her head in the seat part of the rocking chair.) When we came downstairs, she also decided that she deserves candy for all that she did.

Also I go over our schedule most days with Hailey to encourage her to eat or nap. We (1)eat lunch, (2)take nap, (3)Chloe comes. Hailey repeats this to me every time she's done with her nap or she jumps up and down in her crib saying "Chloe's here! Chloe's here!"

Pretty Tutus

For Christmas, my sister Kerstin made her nieces pretty blue tutus.
Here's a quick video of the girls (mainly Kyra and Addy but Hailey's twirls in for a little bit) twirling with their dad (my brother Ryan)

But of course the only time they sat still for a picture was with the TV on.
Here's Hailey cheesing for the camera.

With the extra tulle that Kerstin had, she made lamby a tutu also.

Thank you Kerstin! Hailey enjoys dressing up and nothing is complete without lamby.

Hailey's Kitchen

This is Hailey's Kitchen. She loves playing with it and giving food to everyone. For Christmas she got a toaster and a hand mixer to add to her kitchen.
The beloved lamby is ready for her lunch that Hailey made for her.

Hailey covered the cupcake with a bowl and then took it off to show lamby.

Hailey also has a chef's hat which she calls her goofy hat. We recently added some play food to her collection which has been a big hit.