Although we had taken Jonas to Victoria several times before, it seems that this past weekend was his first 'real' time. All the other times were BW (before walking). Now it feels as if he has a new conciousness; he has the ability to really get around and check things out all on his own. BW he sat back for the ride abit more.
Jonas visited cousin Taagen this past weekend - Taagen is 11 months older than Jonas and is a total superstar talker. It was soooo cute to watch them interacting with each other. They (of course) played trucks, did art, danced to music and ate together. It was very special.
Two new advancements in Jonas's 14 months is that he can now use a spoon really well and he is really beginning to socialize with other tots. When once Jonas wouldn't really care or notice when other tots came up close and communicated or took his toy, he now appears to be trying to communicate and will get realllly angry if other child attempts to take away his toy. I really noticed it when Taagen was struggling to understand how to share his toys with Jonas - Jonas would cry out in anger if anything was taken away from him in mid play.
Another learning aspect for Jord and I is teaching Jonas not to throw....sometimes. Since the beginning we cheered on Jonas's throwing. Now we have realized that Jonas needs to learn when and where it is appropriate to throw something. At first I thought that maybe I would have to put an end to all throwing but I have since revised this idea and am now explaining to Jonas about throwing. It is my goal that he will soon understand what things are appropriate to throw, such as a ball and not his lunch. I hope that he soon understands that throwing sand and rocks around other people is also a big no no. So far he is listening to me and seems to understand.
ANyhow, I am out of time. Later aligator from the mumma-ship.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
14 Months
It's probably been about two or thee weeks since Jonas and I spent the afternoon indoors. Seriously.
Today we went to parents and tots at the community center and spent the morning singing songs, playing in sand, sharing turns on the slide and sharing snacks. Jonas is so busy all morning that he usually falls asleep on the way home. He just plays so hard - and he has this thing with those little flinstone-like cars; he can sit right inside and scoot around - he LOoves those cars. I try and encourage him to check out other stuff but he always goes back to the cars.
This afternoon, after his 2 hour nap, Jonas didn't seem like his usual happy energetic self so I decided that we would chill out indoors for a change. We did some crayon drawings, washed the floors and some other random activities. It was actually a nice change.
Our house has gotten quite dirty and messy over these past few weeks. Most days we are outside getting the yard ready for summer. Our garden this year is the biggest yet - so far we have planted lettuce, kale, spinach, chard, cauliflower, bush beans, broccoli, pole beans, radishes, cucumbers, kiwi, peas. The strawberry patch, blueberry bushes and raspberry bushes are growing beautifully-I am hoping we have as many strawberries as we did last year! Also, I am hoping that we get some peaches - so far our beautiful peach tree hasn't produced anything - but this year there are just so many pink blossoms so I am hoping... We also have apple, pear and cherry trees to plant asap. So you can see we are crazy busy at the moment - not to mention the new native garden we have put together among other already established gardens that needed some work as well. There are just so many, too many projects that I want to complete in the next month, so we'll see.
Jonas, of course, spends his time with us in the garden and around the yard, forever exploring. I am completely lenient as far as his explorations into mud, puddles, weed piles, rock piles and soil piles. He gets very very dirty every single day and maybe thats why our house is so dirty with sawdust and random dirt and sticks all over, but really, I do love to see him having a great time exploring everything.
On a typical day Jonas will wake up at 7ish. He still sleeps between us in our bed and although he still nurses two or three times a night I seem to be quite well rested lately. I still have an occassional nap with Jonas at his nap time, but I have noticed my energy levels are quite high - I am able to get alot of stuff done in a day whereas 6 months ago I might have been exhausted!
Since Jonas gets alot of milk in the early morning, he is never very hungry until late morning. Jord and I have some coffee together and watch Jonas race around the house and entertain us. Neither of us can imagine anything better than being entertained in our own living room by our little guy first thing in the morning! Then we usually walk Jord over to work, say hello to the horses and chickens, maybe grab a few eggs, check out any trucks or excavators or dump trucks that may be nearby and then we head to one of the gardens to check out any new growth...And our day begins!
Other things that Jonas enjoys lately is rearranging all of our drawers, getting his own snacks out of his snack cuppboard, getting his own cups and bowls out of his utensil drawer, he likes to be with other kids, he loves grooving to music in his bedroom, he likes the library and the grocery stores, he absolutely lOVEs to visit his grandparents and Autie and cousins. He loves his animals. He loves MANY books now. His favourite foods seem to be beans, almond butter on wraps, sprouts and olives. But really, if he is hungry he eats everything on his plate including spicey dishes.
I must say that Jonas has a really great life; living close to family, living in nature and spending everyday exploring freely. We will be living in the city for about 3 years starting in Sept, actually we will be living right on campus in family housing at SFU. Its gonna be a great adventure for all three of us and although we won't be living in the beauty we live in now, the city will have so much to offer us and I plan on taking in as much as I can while I am there!
Today we went to parents and tots at the community center and spent the morning singing songs, playing in sand, sharing turns on the slide and sharing snacks. Jonas is so busy all morning that he usually falls asleep on the way home. He just plays so hard - and he has this thing with those little flinstone-like cars; he can sit right inside and scoot around - he LOoves those cars. I try and encourage him to check out other stuff but he always goes back to the cars.
This afternoon, after his 2 hour nap, Jonas didn't seem like his usual happy energetic self so I decided that we would chill out indoors for a change. We did some crayon drawings, washed the floors and some other random activities. It was actually a nice change.
Our house has gotten quite dirty and messy over these past few weeks. Most days we are outside getting the yard ready for summer. Our garden this year is the biggest yet - so far we have planted lettuce, kale, spinach, chard, cauliflower, bush beans, broccoli, pole beans, radishes, cucumbers, kiwi, peas. The strawberry patch, blueberry bushes and raspberry bushes are growing beautifully-I am hoping we have as many strawberries as we did last year! Also, I am hoping that we get some peaches - so far our beautiful peach tree hasn't produced anything - but this year there are just so many pink blossoms so I am hoping... We also have apple, pear and cherry trees to plant asap. So you can see we are crazy busy at the moment - not to mention the new native garden we have put together among other already established gardens that needed some work as well. There are just so many, too many projects that I want to complete in the next month, so we'll see.
Jonas, of course, spends his time with us in the garden and around the yard, forever exploring. I am completely lenient as far as his explorations into mud, puddles, weed piles, rock piles and soil piles. He gets very very dirty every single day and maybe thats why our house is so dirty with sawdust and random dirt and sticks all over, but really, I do love to see him having a great time exploring everything.
On a typical day Jonas will wake up at 7ish. He still sleeps between us in our bed and although he still nurses two or three times a night I seem to be quite well rested lately. I still have an occassional nap with Jonas at his nap time, but I have noticed my energy levels are quite high - I am able to get alot of stuff done in a day whereas 6 months ago I might have been exhausted!
Since Jonas gets alot of milk in the early morning, he is never very hungry until late morning. Jord and I have some coffee together and watch Jonas race around the house and entertain us. Neither of us can imagine anything better than being entertained in our own living room by our little guy first thing in the morning! Then we usually walk Jord over to work, say hello to the horses and chickens, maybe grab a few eggs, check out any trucks or excavators or dump trucks that may be nearby and then we head to one of the gardens to check out any new growth...And our day begins!
Other things that Jonas enjoys lately is rearranging all of our drawers, getting his own snacks out of his snack cuppboard, getting his own cups and bowls out of his utensil drawer, he likes to be with other kids, he loves grooving to music in his bedroom, he likes the library and the grocery stores, he absolutely lOVEs to visit his grandparents and Autie and cousins. He loves his animals. He loves MANY books now. His favourite foods seem to be beans, almond butter on wraps, sprouts and olives. But really, if he is hungry he eats everything on his plate including spicey dishes.
I must say that Jonas has a really great life; living close to family, living in nature and spending everyday exploring freely. We will be living in the city for about 3 years starting in Sept, actually we will be living right on campus in family housing at SFU. Its gonna be a great adventure for all three of us and although we won't be living in the beauty we live in now, the city will have so much to offer us and I plan on taking in as much as I can while I am there!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
13 Months
Do all toddlers make up their own sound effects? Is it a boy thing only or what? Jonas is just so funny, for a few months now he will push his tractor walker around and make these grunt like growls. Now, with the Tonka truck he received from his Uncle, he makes more sound effects...the other day someone gave him these little cars and again he is pushing them around the house with such focus and of course making all these sound effects. I didn't teach him the sounds. And the only thing he really watches on TV are nature shows - you know the ones with the narrator...he loves those!
We spend alot of time outside in the garden or at the ocean. The other day Jonas went and 'helped' Grandpa J plant some trees; he also helped Grandpa J bring a big log to the mill on the excavator - helping with Jill's cabin! Jonas was not afraid in the least, in fact, he was totally excited!
Jonas still loves to have many books read to him and reread each day. We do word books and shape books and also longer story books which he can usually sit through. We try to get to the library every other week to pick out new books in the children's section. Everyone just loves to see his big smile and babble talk as he walks around the library. We still have our own favourite books and I am patting myself on the shoulder for buying so many kids books at garage sales before Jonas was born. We are slowly making our way through them and probably will be for years and years to come.
We've been cross country skiing together a few times this year - I pulled Jonas around on the sled whereas Jordan had him in the backpack. We are planning to do some snow camping in the next month or so.
Until Jonas started taking his first steps at 11.5 months, we had been easily successful with alot of diaper free days (cloth for outings and plastic at night). But then Jonas started getting really upset on his little potty so my reaction was to put it away and not let him get too worked up over it. After a month or so we bought a toilet insert and instead of saying 'potty' we said 'toilet'. It worked a few times and then, again, he straightened his legs and got mad. And then after rereading the diaper free book again (certain parts) I decided to take his little potty out of storage and just put it in the living room instead of the bathroom. I thought maybe the bathroom was upsetting him... So here we are now having him pee (sometimes) in the potty in the living room. He still gets mad at times and I have to distract him by reading to him. If he continues to get mad I guess I will have to stop again and try again later. It will be easier in the summer when he can be outside more and bottomless. Any suggestions?
I have slowed down abit with my Physiology and Anatomy course. Its a huge amount of information to take in and I have decided to take the course in the prescribed 10 month part time format. That's a little more do able. But at the same time I have moved ahead with working toward my Doula certification in order to build up on labour and postpartum experience before I go to UBC.
I don't know if any of you have read either of Ina May's books, Spiritual Midwifery or Guide to Childbirth, but after reading these books again, now that I have had the experience of childbirth, I can really understand the books and all they encompass. I had no idea before having Jonas, how truly awesome and liberating and empowering giving birth can be. Its amazing. Its been 13 months since I had Jonas and when I go through the whole labour in my minds eye, I am still able to see some things so clearly, but the most clear of all is my feelings of the whole event and just being so deep inside of myself and working with my body. And then all the laughter that erupted from me the moment that Jonas came out, that feeling is still so close and so clear. I think that all of this is coming up because of all the studying I am doing in prep for the Doula course coming up. At my birth I had 2 midwives and a student midwife. It was perfect in that I felt supported and well taken care of.
I think that I would definitely have a doula the next time I give birth, unless, of course, there is another student. The midwives main concern is the health of the baby and mother and then of course they are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. Whereas the father is there to support the mother and to witness the birth of his child. When the midwives are busy with the clinical aspects of the labour, or the father is away on the phone, in the bathroom or eating or else in a position of fatigue or not knowing what to do while the mother is having a particularly hard contraction, the doula can support the father and or mother. She can share knowledge, help with massage or just anything that is needed for the mother or father in any aspect except clinical and decision making. She is the rock that is there to see the mother and father through to the birth and beyond. The doula will also write a birth story as well. I have all the notes that the midwives took during labour and delivery and I have my fragmented memory and Jordan's as well, but its just not the same as a full run down of events from clinical to emotional. And it is definitely an event that I would never want to forget!
We spend alot of time outside in the garden or at the ocean. The other day Jonas went and 'helped' Grandpa J plant some trees; he also helped Grandpa J bring a big log to the mill on the excavator - helping with Jill's cabin! Jonas was not afraid in the least, in fact, he was totally excited!
Jonas still loves to have many books read to him and reread each day. We do word books and shape books and also longer story books which he can usually sit through. We try to get to the library every other week to pick out new books in the children's section. Everyone just loves to see his big smile and babble talk as he walks around the library. We still have our own favourite books and I am patting myself on the shoulder for buying so many kids books at garage sales before Jonas was born. We are slowly making our way through them and probably will be for years and years to come.
We've been cross country skiing together a few times this year - I pulled Jonas around on the sled whereas Jordan had him in the backpack. We are planning to do some snow camping in the next month or so.
Until Jonas started taking his first steps at 11.5 months, we had been easily successful with alot of diaper free days (cloth for outings and plastic at night). But then Jonas started getting really upset on his little potty so my reaction was to put it away and not let him get too worked up over it. After a month or so we bought a toilet insert and instead of saying 'potty' we said 'toilet'. It worked a few times and then, again, he straightened his legs and got mad. And then after rereading the diaper free book again (certain parts) I decided to take his little potty out of storage and just put it in the living room instead of the bathroom. I thought maybe the bathroom was upsetting him... So here we are now having him pee (sometimes) in the potty in the living room. He still gets mad at times and I have to distract him by reading to him. If he continues to get mad I guess I will have to stop again and try again later. It will be easier in the summer when he can be outside more and bottomless. Any suggestions?
I have slowed down abit with my Physiology and Anatomy course. Its a huge amount of information to take in and I have decided to take the course in the prescribed 10 month part time format. That's a little more do able. But at the same time I have moved ahead with working toward my Doula certification in order to build up on labour and postpartum experience before I go to UBC.
I don't know if any of you have read either of Ina May's books, Spiritual Midwifery or Guide to Childbirth, but after reading these books again, now that I have had the experience of childbirth, I can really understand the books and all they encompass. I had no idea before having Jonas, how truly awesome and liberating and empowering giving birth can be. Its amazing. Its been 13 months since I had Jonas and when I go through the whole labour in my minds eye, I am still able to see some things so clearly, but the most clear of all is my feelings of the whole event and just being so deep inside of myself and working with my body. And then all the laughter that erupted from me the moment that Jonas came out, that feeling is still so close and so clear. I think that all of this is coming up because of all the studying I am doing in prep for the Doula course coming up. At my birth I had 2 midwives and a student midwife. It was perfect in that I felt supported and well taken care of.
I think that I would definitely have a doula the next time I give birth, unless, of course, there is another student. The midwives main concern is the health of the baby and mother and then of course they are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. Whereas the father is there to support the mother and to witness the birth of his child. When the midwives are busy with the clinical aspects of the labour, or the father is away on the phone, in the bathroom or eating or else in a position of fatigue or not knowing what to do while the mother is having a particularly hard contraction, the doula can support the father and or mother. She can share knowledge, help with massage or just anything that is needed for the mother or father in any aspect except clinical and decision making. She is the rock that is there to see the mother and father through to the birth and beyond. The doula will also write a birth story as well. I have all the notes that the midwives took during labour and delivery and I have my fragmented memory and Jordan's as well, but its just not the same as a full run down of events from clinical to emotional. And it is definitely an event that I would never want to forget!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
And Labour started exactly a year ago today....
It was a year ago today that I sat at my computer, blogging in the morning, when I became uncomfortable in my chair. I took a bath to ease the discomfort but by then I was having contractions that were already 3 minutes apart. I remember so well how giddy and excited I became when I was trying to decide if it was real contractions or not. I talked to my sister, my mom and my mom in law on the phone to figure out what to do next. I was just sooo excited! I had to take the ferry over to town, so I drove myself over and Janet met me. It was so very exciting....I remember writing the note for Jordan, who was at that moment wondering around the woodlot with his dad, doing some map work. Of course it was the one day I could not reach him by cell phone!
And I can't believe its almost been a whole year since Jonas became a physical part of our lives. I could not imagine my life without Jonas. He has added so much depth and joy to each and everyday. Not a moment of any part of any day is wasted. It is always full and busy; especially now that he is so mobile and interesting. I must admit he was cute in his first few months, but once he hit that 6 month age, he really became alot of fun! And now that he is a few hours short of being a year old he is non stop excitement.
I know that I haven't written about this yet, but he is now taking steps. He has been taking steps for about 2 weeks now, but its hard to say that he is WALKING because its only 4-9 steps at a time. So its been a very gradual process. I am not sure if these personality traits will stay with Jonas his entire life, but at this point I can say that he is very focused, methodical, strong and careful. He listens well. He sits and stacks his blocks and gets really focused in his play. He loves visiting family and loves playing with his cousins. He loves to watch Livia dance and he loves to dance while she dances. I loves to carefully examine Camerons bionicle toys. He loves going for walks with Dad in the big backpack. He still has all of his baths with mom or dad or mom and dad. He still sleeps between mom and dad all night. He goes to sleep each night quite easily. He still breastfeeds every three hours throughout the night and only 3 times during the day. He helps to put his toys away into their baskets and knows where certain things belong, like his brush and comb in front of his mirror in his bedroom. He has all of his naps on his futon on the floor of his bedroom where more often than not mom or dad will nap with him. He naps twice a day. Jonas enjoys trips to the library, grocery store and parents and tots which is our new outing each week.
His new love is also finger painting....
....and body painting.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
My sweet little boy...
Monday, January 21, 2008
Dad is now SAHD
(stay at home dad) For the next 6 weeks anyway. I have embarked onto a journey into the world of anatomy and physiology, a 6 credit course meant to be taken over 10 months, a course I hope to complete in 6 weeks. phew.
Isn't life already hectic you may wonder. Well, it is and that's why I haven't found any time to sit down, gather my thoughts and update this blog. Also I haven't been here because the Christmas season, our fave festivity, was jammed packed with family, baking, eating, friends and a whole whack of activities.
And because life has been just so busy this past while, whenever I do have a moment to myself, I try to run, hike, ski and most recently get to a Bikram Yoga class. Wow, when I went to my first class over the holidays I was so invigorated by working so hard I kind of got addicted. Too bad its all the way in Courtenay...
And OF course the main reason life is busy busy busy is because my little Jonas is becoming an intense little toddler.
Its as if over these past few weeks his personality has really began to shine through. He is such a fast crawler, he is sooo mobile! And strong. He pushes whatever furniture he can across the floor-his high chair, chairs, books, balls...anything he can budge into motion. He enjoys to play pass with the ball and he loves to play tag crawling style. I am not sure when he will actually walk because he is such a mobile crawler, but it could be anytime really.
A couple of weeks ago we all got the flu and Jonas got sick with strep throat again. The only time he has ever been sick was with strep throat in Sept; at which time, if I remember correctly, he began, while sick, to sooth himself with his thumb. Since then he has soothed himself back to sleep each night (usually) with his thumb. Until this second time he has had strep throat and all the sudden its as if he forgot his thumb and he hasn't used it since! Strange! Now he is back to nursing more frequently throughout the night.
He also seems to have formed abit of separation anxiety - when once we could leave him alone with one of the grandparents for a few hours, he has begun to get angry when we both leave. He is fine with either one of us alone, but lately when we have gone out together he has become quite upset with alot of tears. So, at the moment we keep him close and I go along with his frequent nursing throughout the night. Its just a phase I am sure. Jordan figures it is just something in his development at the moment - maybe getting ready to walk or maybe teething.
Jonas still loves to eat, but doesn't like the pureed food as much as before. He likes the real thing - so we give him lots of veggies, smoothies, crackers with almond butter, beans etc... Its funny that he won't really take pureed fruits/veggies anymore, but he can never get enough of the green smoothies I share with him...
Yesterday we took Jonas up to the mountains and skied around while pulling him around in a special sled. It was beautiful and I can't wait to go again. I can't wait to put him on some skis when he is abit bigger. haha.
And by the way - I have been keeping up with all you mom bloggers out there-good for you to keep the updates coming even though I am sure you have about as much free time as I do these days!!!
And Lisa, I am sooo excited for you!!!!!!
Isn't life already hectic you may wonder. Well, it is and that's why I haven't found any time to sit down, gather my thoughts and update this blog. Also I haven't been here because the Christmas season, our fave festivity, was jammed packed with family, baking, eating, friends and a whole whack of activities.
And because life has been just so busy this past while, whenever I do have a moment to myself, I try to run, hike, ski and most recently get to a Bikram Yoga class. Wow, when I went to my first class over the holidays I was so invigorated by working so hard I kind of got addicted. Too bad its all the way in Courtenay...
And OF course the main reason life is busy busy busy is because my little Jonas is becoming an intense little toddler.
Its as if over these past few weeks his personality has really began to shine through. He is such a fast crawler, he is sooo mobile! And strong. He pushes whatever furniture he can across the floor-his high chair, chairs, books, balls...anything he can budge into motion. He enjoys to play pass with the ball and he loves to play tag crawling style. I am not sure when he will actually walk because he is such a mobile crawler, but it could be anytime really.
A couple of weeks ago we all got the flu and Jonas got sick with strep throat again. The only time he has ever been sick was with strep throat in Sept; at which time, if I remember correctly, he began, while sick, to sooth himself with his thumb. Since then he has soothed himself back to sleep each night (usually) with his thumb. Until this second time he has had strep throat and all the sudden its as if he forgot his thumb and he hasn't used it since! Strange! Now he is back to nursing more frequently throughout the night.
He also seems to have formed abit of separation anxiety - when once we could leave him alone with one of the grandparents for a few hours, he has begun to get angry when we both leave. He is fine with either one of us alone, but lately when we have gone out together he has become quite upset with alot of tears. So, at the moment we keep him close and I go along with his frequent nursing throughout the night. Its just a phase I am sure. Jordan figures it is just something in his development at the moment - maybe getting ready to walk or maybe teething.
Jonas still loves to eat, but doesn't like the pureed food as much as before. He likes the real thing - so we give him lots of veggies, smoothies, crackers with almond butter, beans etc... Its funny that he won't really take pureed fruits/veggies anymore, but he can never get enough of the green smoothies I share with him...
Yesterday we took Jonas up to the mountains and skied around while pulling him around in a special sled. It was beautiful and I can't wait to go again. I can't wait to put him on some skis when he is abit bigger. haha.
And by the way - I have been keeping up with all you mom bloggers out there-good for you to keep the updates coming even though I am sure you have about as much free time as I do these days!!!
And Lisa, I am sooo excited for you!!!!!!
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