Anatomy of a cry...

Here is a shot-by-shot series of pics of JPA being all mad because he couldn't get the lid off a box…

 

 

 

See, all that fuss for nothing…

BIG changes in the Alander house!

So... after MUCH MUCH MUCH consideration, thought, etc, I have decided to go back to Plymouth and get my MEd in Elementary Education and FINALLY be a teacher... Which is what I've been wanting to do for a while now.  I am hoping to start in December, if I can pull all my stuff together... We'll see.. But in the meantime, I've put in notice for my current position and am working on getting some part-time stuff lined up... I have one pt job until December.  I'd like to get a waitress job (nights) so I will pursue that avenue in a week or so... 

Just thought I'd let blogland know!

JPA's development...

On September 10th, I brought JPA into work so that the staff could complete a developmental evaluation on JPA as a learning exercise... I thought I'd just post the results here... The eval we do at work is the Infant/Toddler Developmental Assessment (IDA).  At the time of this eval he was one day shy of being 10 months...  The IDA assesses 8 developmental domains... 

Gross Motor - 10 months

Fine Motor - 11.5-13 months

Relationship to Inanimate Objects- 15-18 months 

Language/Communication- 10-11.5  months with some skills in the 13 month range

Self-Help - 13-18 month range

Relationship to Persons - 11.5-13 with some skills in the 13

-18 month range

Emotions and Feelings 11.5-13 months

Coping Behavior - 11.5-13

Baby's Can Learn to Sign...

So, at about five months of age, I started using some pretty basic sign with JPA... I use the sign for milk (which looks like you're milking a cow), more, all done and change (but this one is pretty hit-or-miss).  He has milk down, has had it for a while.  Just this past week he has really been signing 'more.'  I got it on tape to show you all... It's really quite cute... 

Tonight...

So, who would have thought that due to the humidity on September 5th, I'd have to run our AC so JPA could sleep.  After placing him in our bed tonight with the AC and the fan going, he passed right out sleeping on his back.  This was at 8:15 tonight.  I thought I'd move JPA to his crib a little after ten o'clock.  As I opened our bedroom door I let out a very audible gasp and an 'oh my god' as sitting on the bed, looking out the door was JPA, with his legs crossed, eyes wide open and sucking on his pacifier.  The poor boy scared the crap out of me!

It was the weirdest and freakiest thing yet to happen with JPA... Since, he never has really rolled over (he isn't a big fan of rolling) I have no idea how he got into the sitting position nor how long he had been just hanging out, sitting in our bed... 

Nathan and I got 5 good minutes of hard laughing in!

Just thought I'd share!!!!

JPA Well Child Visit...

JPA had a well child check two weeks ago and here are his stats... The comparisions are from his last WCC three months ago... 

• Weight 15.75 pounds to 17.50
• Length 24 inches to 26
• Head Circum 16 inches to 18 inches
• Silly percentage growth chart meant to foster and encourage comparisions while tossing out the notion that each child is an individual... anyways.  JPA was at 3% but is at 10% now... So there is positive growth...

So, here's the theory Dr. Badger came up with because this level of growth is quite large.  With his weight issues early on, Badger is considering his weight, right now, three months behind.  So, then at this appointment he was about 6.5 months and he's right on track!  

Below is first attempt at including video... Hope you enjoy it... If it works!

Hide and Seek...

So, what is Easter without an Easter egg hunt?  This past Easter Nathans dad was responsible for hiding the eggs.  We counted and knew how many we had.  After a very through search and were one short.  Thinking that 1.  either we miscounted or 2. we would find it later the MIA egg was out of our minds.  During Old Home Week in Madison, BaBa (JPA's great grandmother Barbara), Gramma and Grampa were up and as I was getting some tea for BaBa I discovered the MIA Easter egg.  Needless to say, no one cracked it open and it was swiftly composted.  But not without getting a photo-op with the egg hider himself!

JPA's new hobby

As you may know, I am big into photos. I love taking photos, scrapbooking and everything else re: photos. I like digital and the good ol' 35 mm film photos. Last weekend JPA started showing interest in the digital camera so I let him take a couple of photos....

Here they are... Gotta admire his 'unique' perspecitve...

Pot Banging & Gas Prices...

In Bartlett Village, the locals gather once a week on Route 302  at 7:00 pm and bang pots for energy independence... for lower gas prices... for a reason to drink beer...  I'm not really sure. 

We were actually in Bartlett when this was going on, so we decided to join in the fun.  Not every one can say that they've spent a Friday night on a busy road banging pots with wooden spoons with about 15 other people... Community activism begins by... pot banging??? Hey, gotta start somewhere... 
Nathan, Hannah and Keith banging away!

Visit w/ Mimi and Uncle Paul...

The other weekend, we met Mimi and Uncle Paul in Concord, about half way for each of us and had lunch. This was JPA's first time in a restaurant where he was especially chatty. Nathan, automatically asked where his pacifier was. It was funny because he was really just chatting away. We met then halfway because JPA is just very unhappy with the full trip down to Brattleboro and back. The arch of the car seat drives him CRAZY.... Here are some pics from the trip! Dada, JPA & Uncle Paul

Mimi, JPA & Mama

Uncle Paul, JPA & Mimi

JPA's menu...

Just thought you'd all like to know what JPA's diet is... I make his food (the store stuff freaks me out... peas are supposed to be bright green not that dull brown-green you see in the grocery shelves). Making food is wicked easy... I have a great baby cookbook from Williams Sonoma that is fantastic. In fact this cookbook has acutally opened up some of my palate to lentils and more.

Making it is super easy... I just steam or roast the veggie/fruit (including broccoli, califlower, parsnips, peas, red lentils, brown lentils, brown rice, asperagus, sweet potatoes, carrots, yougurt, apricot, blueberries, and more), make it to the texture of what it is --smooth, chunky, whole -- and freeze it in ice cube trays. When we need to feed him, we just take out 1, 2 or 3 cubes ( 1 ounce each) and just defrost them. Easy peasy.

Below are peas, butternut squash, chickpeas and blueberries.

Serious & Regimented Baby...

With JPA being almost nine months, his personality is really showing.

• Astute people watcher
• Regimented in routines (eats same time and let you know if you've missed a feeding or are late)
• Doesn't like disruptions in his schedule. If he's with Elizabeth (school) and Gramma or Grampa come and pick him up, he's typically not a happy camper.
  
• Not a picky eater (except for apples)
• Loves it when people are silly with him
• Not a fan of typical 'baby talk'
• LOVES all types of music. We were at old home week event tonight and he LOVED the folk band playing. On Sunday, at the lake he was dancing to the 50's and 60's music the DJ was playing
• Very mechanical in his motions. Doesn't just move to move. Every action needs to have a purpose. (which is limiting his desire to move--crawl/roll-- because if something is out of his reach, he'll just have fun with something else.
  

Random Picutures...

As always, click on the picture to enlarge!

First, a big ol' smile...
Then one of Mama and JPA...
JPA showing off his mad skills with the sippy cup (yes, I know they are a glorified bottle, but one step at a time)...
And before you all panic, this was a brand new mop. But it's still wicked funny!
JPA and Daddy in the pool!

Oddly enough, this is only one of the very few pics I have of JPA crying... He was crying cause he didn't eat right when he wanted to... **He's still wicked cute though!**

jpa development...

As of today, here is a snippet of what JPA is up to lately. I know it's been a while for a post, but with Summer flying by it's hard to find 15 minutes to sit in front of the computer after sitting in front of one all day...

• JPA is almost 9 months (on the 9th he'll be 9 months). Developmentally he's doing great. He's still teeny tiny (almost 17 pounds naked--we have a well-child check coming up in August and I'll post the update then). And he's 25.5 inches. It's weird cause I know babies that are his age that are HUGE and then a 5 month old that weighs 20 pounds... JPA's doing great for all of his issues we had early on, he's just a tiny bugger...
  
• He feeds himself with a spoon/fork and he finger feeds
• Using a neat pincher grasp to pick up an object
• Getting ready to crawl.
  
• Laying on his stomach and will turn 360 degrees on his tummy
• Starting to pissed off to the fact that he is unable to move on his own
• Eating EVERYTHING
• Vocalizing everything--mmmm, mama, dada, nnnnnn, thhhhh, and of course screeching with excitement!!!

Baby Industry...

You never realize the power that a certain 'event' has until you immerse yourself in or are surrounded by it.

Weddings are a billion dollar industry. Even a small, backyard wedding adds up fast. Hell, Nathan and I eloped and that added up as well. It really is quite amazing a

With the baby industry, if you're looking for information and you don't have ability to trust your own instincts, it would be easy to be sucked into it. "Formula is best." "Use diaper rash creams." The incredibly long lists of the 'bare minimums' necessary to raise your child best. Even docs are in on it... You child needs this toy, or this piece of equipment to this medical test.

From video baby monitors, to a hand-held computer to help new moms remember which side they last nursed on and what them the last diaper change was. I am serious believer that if new parents just shut out the world and listened to instincts, the baby industry would not be rivaling that of the wedding industry.

As a side note, It's absolutely ridiculous that celebs need to spend $10 million dollars on a nursery for twins... Why not donate that money to a good cause instead???

Just my random thoughts this evening...

Lovey Shot...

Chilling and napping in the Bermuda Hammock in the backyard!!!

Medical Update...

JPA had a well-child check last week (it was supposed to be for 6 months, but we're a month behind due to scheduling issues). Here are the highlights...

• Weight = 15.75 pounds
• Length = 27 inches
• Head Circumference = 18 inches

My goal was to have him in the double-digits for the stupid growth chart & yes, our doc uses the one for breastfeed babies, but his combined score is only 3% for weight and length.

GOOD NEWS... His head score is 70%....

So, in other words, he may be tiny, but he's got a big head full of brains!!! And what does a Northern NH boy need to cover his big head full of brains??? M2... Otherwise known as a Mohawk and mullet!!!!

Political Baby...

So, there is no denying it... This family of three (plus a dog, plus a cat) is psyched about OBAMA ... In fact, JPA smiles really big and laughs when you say Ooobaaaaammmaaaa!!!

Seriously though, the country is NOT ready for Bush version three (Senior, Junior, McCain). I don't think my checkbook/budget can take another republican in the oval office. I'm registered as an independent and I have voted republican previously... But not this time. We need someone who is going to effect change. I don't have much hope in regards to either candidate halting the rise in gas prices... They are what they are and I can't ever see them declining enough to make a difference in my weekly paycheck. I am not a partisan person. I tend to vote for the candidate that I believe will actually make a positive difference that I will feel in my life. Obama is that person. He's fresh, new, and I could listen to him give a 36 hour speech on changing a light bulb. He's that great of an orator....

For the past three months, I wanted to buy some Obama gear for JPA... I was afraid if I did it before Hillary dropped out, my somehow trivial purchase would somehow jinx the very momentum of his campaigning (irrational and superstitious, I know)... So... after the last primary, I finally ordered not one, but two pieces of Obama apparel. The first is from the 'official' website. That way, the $$$ at least don't go in someone's pocket; however, the second is my favorite and I HAD to get it... So, stay tuned and hopefully there will be more updates and my JPA's first birthday, we'll be able to celebrate our nation's first minority president!!!!

Da Boys...

What can my two boys do when the sun is hot and it's nearly impossible to move due to the humidity??? Head to Silver Lake. JPA actually fell asleep in the floaty thingy. And hanging out near naked...

1st Silver Lake Trip...

On Memorial Day, the three of us packed a bag and went to Silver Lake. The temp was probably about 70. The H2O wasn't too bad once your limbs became numb... We stayed about 20 minutes. JPA enjoyed eating rocks and just sitting on the shoreline. The first of MANY trips to come..

Green(er) living and a green baby...

Nathan and I have made the conscience decision to try to cut down on superfluous waste at home. We are also trying to approach decisions from a cost-savings perspective. One major decision we made was to use reusable cloth diapers. At first, JPA was WAY to TINY to even think about using the clothes. When he was two month's old, we were able to tightly wrap the diapers around him. If you look, you'll see just how large they truly are. Also, the white cloth that he is laying on is the acutal pre-fold diaper that he is alway wearing in this photo. It's all about the folding baby!
Within the last two-three weeks, we had to actually purchase the next size diaper. I did A LOT of research regarding all of the different types of actual diapers (AIO - all in ones, pre-folds, contours, fitted, flats) and different covers - wool, synthetic, one layer or two layers, should they close with velcro or snaps. Even for this avid researcher, it was a ton of information. We ended up settling on two different styles.

We had been using disposables at night. This was not the best thing as his poor butt was not very happy. So, we ponied up the money and purchased three Fuzzi-Bunz diapers with double inserts. They are completely usable, good to 35 pounds, and he can wear them from 7 at night till 7 in the morning and they don't leak, he very rarely wakes up to have it changed (once only and it was cause his whole timing/schedule was off) and his skin is nice and dry in the am. Worth every penny!We settled on pre-folds with a new, thinner cover. And--they come in colors!!! It will take JPA from the about 15 pounds he is (we'll find out for sure @ Wednesday's WCC) to 35 pounds. Very economical. And if they do get stained (which is really no big deal) we sun bleach them. The sun naturally whitens them! (Currently unable to get photo stay rotated the correct way... I apologize) We have even switched to cloth wipes... JPA's skin really has never looked so good. The cloth wipes are simple and I just mix up an easy solution to get them wet and we place them in a wipes warmer... Easy peasy...

No dada.. Mama only...

Yesterday (Sunday) was an interesting day. JPA has tooth number 3 and 4 coming in. He has the bottom, front two and is working on getting the two adjacent to those. As is typical with a teething infant, he has the teething cold as I call it-- runny nose, sneezing, fever and one of the few, if only, times that he is grumpy. Try as we might, JPA wanted nothing to do with Dada. He only wanted Mama. Every single time I try to 'pass the baby,' JPA was wise and wanted no part of it. When you are holding him, he will actually throw his entire 15.5 pound body over in the direction of whom he wants--which is all that he was doing. Yesterday, it was all Mama. He might not be able to actually speak words right now, but he most certainly can communicate.

We were finally able to have JPA chill with Dada during bath-time, getting his pj's on and for the nightly story. The caveat was that I had to remain out of sight. As long as JPA didn't see me, he was fine.

Luckily, he seems to be over that right now. No new tooth yet, but they are coming, you can see them under the gums... First there was one tooth... then two... and soon there will be four...

Let the blogging begin and the critics be damned...

Hello the few who read/peruse this blog... Up to now, I've been hesitant to truly write what I want to write for fear of... who knows what...

So, here goes and I hope that for some weird reason what I write doesn't offend or people personalize when they shouldn't... It's just thoughts...

So, enjoy... I guess...

Buoy Hunting...

Oh, how Grampa loves him some recycled buoy's...

Family Shots from Samoset...