Hi, baby

We have words! Well only two words, hi and baby. He also makes a kissing noise and just today started puckering up for kisses (a big improvement over the open mouth tongue out technique he has usually).

We went out for pizza today and he said "hi" to a group of grumpy men who wouldn't acknowledge him and to a young woman who was kind enough to say "hi" back. Baby isn't consistent, but Ms. T is always telling the other kids to be careful of him because he is the baby. So, he has picked it up. He is also walking EVERYWHERE, which made the pizza dinner very, um, busy. We won't be going out again anytime soon.

He also just popped two new teeth. The teething is consistent and constant. Poor kid. Luckily the sleeping hasn't suffered too much (*knocking on wood*).

Our kitchen is undergoing major renovations next week so I will post before, during, and after pictures. My dad will be doing the work, so at least we can trust the contractor...

Before, after, and mobility

Don has been doing lots of work in the "yard" out front. I must admit that I was a naysayer, I really didn't think he had a plan for the plants. I knew he was excited to do stuff, so I thought he was going forward with the planting a bit hastily (is that a word?). I was wrong, he did a great job.

Front before...



Front after...







I only helped a little, so I can take no credit for the transformation. Except I did suggest using the red mulch to differentiate the space up top. So yay me for that one.

In Hoagie news, he started walking on Thursday. The evidence is below.

Hoo Hoo

We were reading Mr. Brown Can Moo tonight and when we got to the page with the owl (He can sound like an owl... Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo), Logan let out his own little hoo hoo. It was so darn cute, and, quite frankly, the first verbal communication we have seen that indicated he could put words to comprehension. It made his mama happy.

A couple of other things:

Yogurt=vomit
Alphabet bus=happiness
outdoors=heaven
teething=insanely slow

He is so close to walking, but won't stand if we let go. I refuse to predict when it will happen anymore since he clearly doesn't like the pressure.

Pictures tomorrow, as it has been forever since I posted any. You may have forgotten what he looks like by now...

And, Hoagie wishes his great grampa a very very happy birthday! We all wish we could be there to celebrate with you. Hugs and kisses from the west coast!

Weaned

Logan has self-weaned. He nursed for the last time at the doctor's office on Monday. It had always been a tough, hard earned relationship, but it got so much better the last few months. He was never the type of kid who asked to nurse, ever. I feel lucky, proud, and frankly amazed that we got to this point, but also sad that it is over. Last week I was forcing the night nursing (I know, I'm crazy) then realized I was doing it for me and not for him. *sigh* Being a mom is so hard sometimes.

Also sad is how quickly my boobs returned to their former (minuscule) size. Blah.

A small recap:

• Nurse at NICU with little tube attached to a syringe and nipple shield
• Visit lactation consultants and ditch the finger feeding
• Wash those stupid shields with limited hot water due to pipe issue at condo
• Lived through nursing a squirmy reflux baby
• Ditched the shield and nursing goes smoothly (ah, short-lived bliss)
• Nursing becomes possible only when I am not talking and we are bounding on the exercise ball
• Nursing possible only when no one is talking, white noise on, bouncing on the ball, and Logan is sleepy
• Keep this routine up for 6 months
• Stop pumping
• Start using impressive (if I do say so myself) frozen stash of breastmilk with regularity
• Nursing dwindles and so does stash
• Logan nurses for the last time and stash depleted almost simultaneously
• Don unplugs deep freezer and I cry

Backyard

We have one! And we worked on it this weekend. I trimmed branches and Don put bamboo up around the gnarly fences. We bought a new patio set and put it together (and oiled it) without a single argument. Amazing!

Hoagie very much enjoyed himself in the yard, managing to find small things to put in his mouth everywhere. Sunshine also had a great time, she is in heaven.

On the inside, we got the bedroom, bathrooms, kitchen, and spare bedroom cleaned up. We are t-i-r-e-d.

Happy belated birthday to my mom, we wish we could have been there to celebrate with you!