Originally uploaded by karijean
Sunday, I went over to my parents' sort of early and ate some deliciousness involving the berries that they bought from their fruit-selling neighbor. Then we went on an excursion to Home Depot together, and then Dad and I came over to my house and tinkered while Teo and Mom went to visit my grandma. Mateo was cheerful and back this normal self; he gabbed and chatted most of the day. It was so nice to see Happy Teo again.
It was just relaxing and happy and good.
Well that month just whizzed by, didn't it? You went from baby to toddler in an afternoon, and now you are doing the talking-walking-laughing thing like a pro. We have had some ups and downs, what with the sick and the teeth and the sick again, but you are still the cutest ever.
Plus, you're letting me sleep through the night now, so I am more open to appreciating the cute.
You've also gotten so much more interactive, saying, "Up!" when you want me to pick you up. Or, "Nay nay nay!" when you don't want me to put you down. You are very clear about foods you like and dislike, and you let everybody know when you feel like being a clown. This evening, leaving Grandma's house, you and her kissed one another on the cheek over and over and over again. You thought it was the funnest thing. I want to keep that precious memory in my pocket, just to carry it around with me whenever I get sad.
You spend most of your time walking around the house/outside/wherever we are, commenting on anything and everything at varying volumes, so I saw it fitting to post a video of you walking. I have had several friends request such a thing, and I can't blame them. It's so damn cute. Your little butt just wiggling around as you so proudly strut your stuff.
Walker man! from odessa on Vimeo.
This next month is going to be big one. You're going to have surgery on year ears. Ten days later, we're going to a wedding in Wisconsin. Somewhere in there, you'll meet your Aunt Kara. These are all Big Important Events. Big events for a big man.
The Tater fell and hit his face today. Just... boom. He was walking and walking and gaining speed and then broke the fall with his face on my bed frame. Very fast.
Poor guy has a huge bump between his eyes. It is purple.
He was fine all day, but every time I looked at him, I got an icky feeling in my belly. I just don't like seeing him bruised. It's funny that I am the one suffering more from his injury. Oh... but it's sooo sad to look at.
Meanwhile, we are working on sleeping through the night. One of these days, we will make it.
Mateo slept through the night ok at three months old. And then, never again. It dawned on me that I never relax 100% when he goes to sleep, because I know he'll cry for me some time in the night. It's been ok, and even useful as he has been sick and so forth, but he is getting older and we need to establish a better rhythm. Plus, what happens if I ever bring a man into my life? I also thought about how I wouldn't feel right leaving Teo with my family overnight (or late night), because he would start to cry about 11:00. This needs to change, and we are on our third night of "training." So far, so good, but keep your fingers crossed.
Also: I got teary-eyed today when I told Mateo how much I love him as he fell asleep in my arms. Sometimes I am just blown away.
We are late as usual, but things have been so busy that I can hardly keep up. You are changing and growing so fast, little man -- happy 12 months all the same!
So the category for this portion of your life has changed, appropriately, from LittleTeo to ToddlingTeo, as you have figured out the walking thing now. After taking a few steps on your own each day since just before your first birthday, last night you really wowed the crowds by walking back and forth from person to person in grandma and grandpa's new living room. What a way to welcome them to their new home!
It is so exciting to me that you can walk, even though it means things are going to get crazy from here on out. Your doctor says that temper tantrums will start soon (we've already had a few), as will some downright stubbornness when it comes to food, sleep schedules, and other things that help keep you human. I can already tell you're a bit... um... strong-willed. So this year should be interesting.
Still, my goodness, you are more and more fun each day. For example, her is some Teo cuteness:
Animals! from odessa on Vimeo.
You are ten times more interactive than just a month or two ago, and I can see your development expand daily. It's so exciting! To date, you can say the following words:
Mama
Car
Bottle (even though you are off the bottle, you call cups bottles sometimes)
Dog (which you say "God" but we know what you mean)
and my personal favorite: Bird!
You also know how to sing along to "Wheels on the bus" -- not the singing part but all the motions. It's so cute and so fun. I actually discovered you had learned them on day care by accident, just singing the song to you one day.
As I type this with my left hand, you are nestled on my right shoulder, having just woken up. We've had a tough couple of day, with your ear infections acting up again. Let's hope this year that happens less.
I love you Buster Brown. I can't wait to watch you grow over the next 12 months.
Read more »Tickle Me Elmo tried to kill me today. In French. I am not sure how my parents got us -- er, um, Mateo -- a French-speaking Elmo, but there you have it.
Our near-death experience was as follows: The Tater and I had finished story time and were making our calm and collected way towards his bedroom when Elmo JUMPED OUT and tripped me. Mateo would have had to leap from my arms, and I would have had to brace myself for the brutal fall, had it not been for my uber strong mama reflexes. I saved us both from a near-fatal Elmo-related injury, and cursed the red-furried freak en route.
Too bad the little dude is like crack to Mateo. OH MY GOD he is fascinated. Did you know that Tickle Me Elmo flops around and spins and stuff?
Ok, so I am a little fascinated too.
Shut up.
Side note: I got off work early today and picked up Mateo a good 20 mins earlier than usual. Oh how I love walking in on him while he is going about his usual day care activities. Today, when I showed up, Teo and his friends were having a roundtable discussion about saltines. Upon seeing me, Mateo adjourned the meeting and quickly stood up from his baby-sized chair, clapping and hollering. I think his friends were a bit annoyed by the gesture, as they just continued jabbering away, but Teo was simply too ecstatic to continue with the day's business. Warmed my little icy heart, I tell you.
Also, this evening we sang "The Wheels on The Bus." The grandparents had bought him a book of it for his first birthday, but this evening was the first real official singing of the song in our household. Amazingly, Mateo filled in the movements as I sang -- clearly movements he had learned at day care -- and I got the first whiff of what it will be like when he comes home from school, ready to show me his new skillz. Wheels on the bus go round, wipers go swish, baby goes wah, parents go shh - each has its defined gesture and Teo was completely up to snuff as to what went where. I was mesmerized. I think we sang that song five times in a row. His teachers have been telling me that he is the most enthusiastic participant during group singing time, but I have now seen the proof. Damn, it's cute.
