Random Stuff

Gabriel is having a fussy day/week .  His mommy has a headache.  And since he is finally taking a nap I thought a little post was in order.  I don't know what to do about his sleep situation.  He still naps in the  morning and in the afternoon.  I guess I figured that when he was ready to "drop" one of these naps that it would be the morning one. I figured he'd just start staying up until closer to lunch and then eventually he'd just need a nap in the afternoon.  For the last week he is taking a really long time to fall asleep for his afternoon nap and then he's not falling asleep for the night until much too late.  So, it would seem that the logical conclusion would be that he's getting too much sleep during the day, BUT he just can't stay up in the morning.  I was in the car with him at 10:15 yesterday and out he went.  I tried to keep him up this morning and it was torture for both of us by 10:45.  If he only were to nap in the morning though he would need to go to bed super early.  I just hate it that it's taking him so long to fall asleep for his afternoon nap, but I can't wait and have him nap at 5 pm, nor do I want to put him to bed for the night at that time.  Ugh.  I don't know what to do.

 

On a happier note, it's getting warmer and that means we can go to the park or walk around outside more.  Hooray for slides, swings, and tromping in the grass!  Gabriel discovered rocks yesterday morning and kept trying to feed them to me.  Yummy.

Chillin' in a chair at the library

Gabriel has been sick twice in the last 2 weeks.  The first time it was some kind of viral thing that lasted most of the week.  I don't like taking him to the doctor (for one thing it's money, and mostly I know that most things are viral and therefore just need to run their course).  But, after a fever for 3 days something just didn't seem right.  The doctor said his throat looked like he could have strep.  They swabbed it (poor guy) and it was negative.  It finally got better at the end of the week.  He did loose 2 pounds in the process though. Then last weekend he got a fever again and had some GI issues.  I'm not sure if it's that he's getting more teeth or what but he still seems uncomfortable and incredibly whiny.

And if that wasn't enough yesterday morning he smacked his face on something at the park.  He barely cried and got right up and started playing, but by the time we were headed home he had a nice black eye show up.  I guess if I'd been sick, was getting teeth, and kept bonking my head I might not be in the best mood either.

 

We did have some visitors last weekend and Gabriel always likes to have some new playmates.  Here he is with his slightly older twin at Cracker Barrel.

And since I don't have a lot of pictures to post, here are some pictures of Gabriel's "Favorite Things" as of today. . .

Stickers and markers.  I was surprised how quickly he latched onto putting stickers on paper.  Thankfully I have lots of those leftover from years ago when I worked at the scrapbook store.

Books, books, books

Puzzles.  Especially these 2 animal ones.  When you hold up the chicken
piece he makes a "bawk bawk" noise at it.  So cute. 

               

DVDs.  But still not just for watching.  He "reads" the back of the cases, he "reads" the little books inside the front cover, he takes the paper out of the jacket.  So many fun projects.  Every once in a while though I ask him if he wants to watch a video.  He always gets one of the above (thanks Aunt Tiffany!).  And while we may only watch 15 minutes before I turn it off, it's a welcome change from Baby Einstein (although he still really likes the animal videos, especially since he can name some of the animals too).

And while he's saying many things now, the most recent funny thing is that he has come to think that "Up" = "Please".  He was wanting to get on the couch a lot the last week and whenever he did we said "Up, please." Now when he needs something he says "Up!" It's really cute.  He wanted more milk yesterday and he brought me his cup and said "Up!"  Funny kid :)

Who could be cooler than this guy?

                                                 

15 Months - Another Installment Directly From the Source

Ok, here we go again!  I had my 15 month appointment at the doctor today so that means it's time for another post.  Come with me and I'll take you for a ride. . .

We'll get going as soon as I start this thing.  Mom, can I have some more quarters?

The doctor today said that I made "a leap" on my growth curve.  Apparently gaining 3 pounds in 3 months really impressed her (moving me from the 9th to the 24th percentile).  I was 22 pounds, 15 ounces, was 31 inches tall (41st percentile), and my head was 19 inches (77th percentile).  Hooray!  Besides that good news they also made me take off my clothes again and then get a couple shots.  Those people are just plain mean.  I don't think we should visit them anymore, but I think Daddy and Mommy might keep dragging me there.  At least they gave me a free book about frogs.  Still didn't make it worth it if you ask me. . .

I've been sick a couple times over the last few months.  Nothing too major though.  I did have a pretty high fever and do nothing but sleep for about a day, but after that I felt fine.  Luckily Grandma was here then and liked holding me.  I'm also in the process of cutting 2 more teeth on the bottom (which will give me a grand total of 8).  It's no fun.  I keep bringing Mommy my Tylenol but she only gives it to me every so often.  I just LOVE that stuff.  It tastes so good.  I'm also pretty accident prone.  I'm just in such a hurry to get everywhere.  I'm afraid I might miss something!  I bonk my head a lot and get bruises.  Oh well.

I'm also starting to learn how to do artsy stuff.  Sometime I finger paint, or throw crayons on the floor, or put stickers on Mommy's face.  I really love it when I can get the top off of Mommy's stuff she puts around her eyes and draw cool things on my face.  I think I do it better than she does.

 At the doctor today she said that kids my age usually have about 6 words.  I'm not sure how many I have.  I'm saying things pretty much constantly but Dad and Mom don't seem to understand much of it.  They need more practice.  Almost every animal I see is a "dog" or occasionally a "cat."  I really love to read "books" (especially Dr. Seuss and SkippyJon Jones).  I repeat random things Dad and Mom say in an attempt to make them excited (the other day I repeated "bug" and "cow" and Mom for some reason thought that was awesome).  I am started to understand a lot more of what they're saying though.  I guess I need to learn their language if I ever hope to let them know what I want.  I know what it means when when they say that have milk for me, or I know that when they say "nap" they're about to put me in my crib.  Most importantly though, I know that when they say "snack" or "breakfast" or "lunch" or "dinner" that it's time to chow down!!!  Now I shall share some pictures of me eating. . .

I LOVE GRAPES!   I like to just keep stuffing them in until my cheeks are full.  Then I can save them for later

I still like vegetables ok, but not as much as I used to.  I'd rather eat fruit or dairy (yogurt, cheese, oranges, pears, or GRAPES preferably.  Did I mention that I like grapes?)

Hmmm.  Oat-bran muffin. You want some?  I often try to share my food with Mommy and Daddy but they don't always want it. I just figure that if I taste it and don't like it that I should just take it out of my mouth and offer it to them.  No sense in wasting it.  That's just silly

Daddy decided that I should have a doughnut after my shots today.  Man was it good stuff. I've never had one of those all to myself before.

And here are a couple shots of me at Romp and Roll playing with this weird thing with wheels.  Some days I love going to play there and other days not so much.  I really just want to go outside and walk around.  I love doing that.  Mommy said after my nap today that we can go to the park because it's pretty warm outside. Yip! Yippee! Yippito! (as SkippyJon would say)

And for our final shot, here is me sitting on my friend the cow.  Some really nice people at church gave this to me because their kids don't want to sit on him anymore.  I'm a cowboy! Later taters!