I wasn't sure I was going to do a blog post for 21 months... but I've been thinking about some stuff I want to write down for future!Alex, so I thought I'd do a quick update.
We're back to wintertime sickness, unfortunately. Thad and I have both already had pneumonia, though he's fared better than me (I also had two strains of the flu, and can't seem to shake my cough). His winter-daycare-cough has taken hold and he's doing really well with his nebulizer when we decide to do it. We've been lucky so far, and I hope a mild winter helps out with the sick kids not being so sick.
Other than that, life's been good! T's becoming more and more independent and more and more opinionated. Last night there was a meltdown because he REALLY wanted the dustpan and I wouldn't let him have it, but he could have the Swiffer! Nope. Didn't work. Learning how to handle him when he just starts screaming has been tough. Sometimes I just leave the room and laugh because, "He's shedding actual tears for that??" but there's a lot of sitting on the floor and hugging and explaining why I did what I did. "Buddy, a third pack of fruit snacks is not a good breakfast. And we're out of donuts."
He's getting a well-balanced diet.
(Kind of. Thanks to daycare.)
Slowly, Thad seems to becoming a little less shy, a little more comfortable with life. He spent all day in the 2-year-old room at daycare a week ago and barely cried at all. Compared with a month ago when he cried the WHOLE time he was in there, didn't eat lunch, and passed out before naptime. It broke my heart to check in and see that, so I'm glad he's getting more comfortable. He's still wary of strangers but will wave and hand things to them now. He still doesn't like us leaving him with any other adults outside of daycare. Makes going on dates hard (but so does having a husband in grad school.) but we're managing.
I'm so excited it's December. He's still a little young to completely get Christmas, but I know it'll get better every year. We're getting our tree this weekend, and he and I like walking through the Christmas section at Target. I'm excited for the lights and cuddles and Christmas music and movies. Cute Christmas-y things from daycare. (Speaking of daycare, I won't go into it again, but I'm so glad he is where he is. His teachers are such fantastic women and love him so much. And we love them. Very thankful. Oh, and the center is putting on a Christmas show on the 18th, if anyone wants to go! Let me know.)
There are little things now that I wish I could have told myself a year and a half ago. I spent so much time google searching and reading mom blogs and forums for little things. And some of the information was really, really helpful. But at the same time, I wish I could have told me, "Do what works! It'll be okay! He's not going to need a pacifier in college!" Thad's not a great sleeper. Never has been. I was all excited when he didn't have his nights and days mixed up as a newborn, but the actual sleeping? Ha. Sometimes he just doesn't want to. And I read all of this about cry-it-out, put him down awake, etc etc. I learned early that cry-it-out wouldn't work - he's way too anxious. I had to rock him to sleep until he was over a year old. And you know what? That's okay with me. I work all day, and he's only awake for 3 hours after I pick him up. That cuddle time at bedtime is one of my favorite things.
Even now, with his toddler bed. (Sidenote - he's doing great in his toddler bed and I love it.) I sit at the end of his bed while he goes to sleep. Sometimes he comes and lays on me, and how can I say no to cuddles? Other nights I just sit beside his bed. At this point, I could probably leave him alone, but... it's still my time with him.
So, Future!Alex... don't worry so much about the small stuff with the next baby. It'll all work out. Do what works for you and the fam. People are going to judge you regardless of what you do. But there will also be supportive people. Look to them.
Speaking of. SO many cute tiny newborns around. I've gone from thinking, "hahahHAHAH NO" to "I mean, it wasn't THAT bad, was it?" And then Thad takes his chex and dumps them all over the floor and I'm set with kids for awhile again.
- I have no idea about height. He weight 28 pounds the last visit to the doctor. I'm guessing 35 inches. Ish.
- Wears 2T, more and more 3T shirts. 2T pants.
- HATES VEGETABLES. And meat, unless it's mixed in real well. Or unless he's at daycare. I don't understand that.
- I have created a sugar monster. Unfortunately. All you sugar-free, low-sugar, super healthy parents, hats off to you. I can't eat that way, I guess I can't expect Thad to either. He'll survive.
- I complained about sleep, but he is sleeping through the night more. There is always something... teething, growing, whatever. But overall it's better. Even if he wakes up at 5:45 am.
- Got a whole bunch of teeth at once. Close to 15 now? Waiting on a bottom molar to come in.
- He's also starting to use more words... I think he's over 20 now, with the newest one being "spill", if that says anything about what he likes to do. Still won't use two or more words together, but he will sign one and say one.
- He has a new obsession with Paw Patrol. Turn it off, feel his wrath.
- I've learned I'm a total pushover to his sad voice. "Paw? Paaaw? *sad lip* *signs please*" I CAN'T.
- Our new thing is his matching card game from one of my good friends. He'll match the colored monsters, and numbers.
- Favorite word is definitely "No". He doesn't like me dancing. Is really good at telling me what he doesn't want to eat. Good thing he's cute.
- Loves taking lids off things. Unfortunately.
- Also loves dumping things from one bowl to another. Our living room is a constant mess of food because of it. He usually doesn't miss, but when he does he crunches things with his hands or feet.
- Ornery. So. Ornery.
- This morning he refused to let me feed him any of his oatmeal AND he got his pajamas almost all the way off without my help.
Really, I just feel lucky that he's mine and I get to keep him forever. Watching him grow is just so awesome. I can't believe he'll be TWO in 3 months. Yikes. Help.
