Happy birthday little guy!

Since this blog has turned into Oscar’s baby book, I thought I might as well engage in the ritual list marking his first birthday:

Motor Development

  • Has been using a pincer grasp for three months now and can grab almost anything and manage to get it into his mouth
  • Loves to use this ability to pinch on my face
  • First rolled over at 7 months, 2 days after our G&R; could pull himself to a standing position on my lap holding my hands the next day; learned to clap the day after that
  • First sat up at 8 months
  • Started crawling almost immediately after we arrived home from Vietnam in April; at the same time, started pulling himself up on everything he could find and even using our moving boxes as a makeshift walker
  • Spent about a week recently leaping up from the floor to stand and then sitting down after about a minute when he tired
  • Has taken a step unassisted, but only one

Verbal development

  • Jabbers all the time, and is able to say mama in reference to me and refers to his bottle as “bob”
  • Has the sweetest laugh and giggle
Physical development

  • Still small by American standards, but seems like he’s getting pretty tall
  • Still can fit into size 6-12, but also wears a lot of 12-18 month clothes  
  • 4 teeth on top and 4 on the bottom – has started clenching his jaw very tight and grinding his teeth – awful

Sleeping

  • Thankfully, the night terrors have become far less frequent
  • Goes to bed between 7 and 8 pm with a bottle.  Nanny Norma can get him to fall asleep in his crib, but it’s not happening when I put him down.  He’ll awaken at some point between 11 pm and 4 am for bob and then get up around 6 am (if I’m lucky)
  • Usually goes down for a nap 3 hours after he wakes up.  If put down in his crib, he’ll only sleep about 20 minutes; if he lies down with me, he’s out for 1-2 hours.  Same process in the afternoon, though, he balks at sleeping in the crib at all then 

Eating

  • Usually a great eater.  Loves French toast, ricotta cheese with raspberries (or apples), fish, chicken, basmati rice, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, macaroni & cheese, strawberry and banana yogurt (plain or with blueberries, raspberries or cheerios mixed in), bananas, cantaloupe, watermelon, guava, lemons, grapes, bread and chocolate malts (I know – bad mom).  Oh, and bob

Fun facts

  • HATES his carseat and being in the car generally
  • Loves music and dancing – he dances to the dishwasher’s noises
  • Is fascinated by the front loading washing machine – has been known to dance to this, too
  • Favorite song is “Watermelon Man”
  • Big fan of peek-a-boo and itsy bitsy spider
  • Will watch “Meet the Robinsons” over and over again from start to finish
  • Has a crush on June from “Little Einsteins” – stares at her picture on the disc cover
  • If screaming, will stop immediately (like within the first two notes) of hearing the theme song of “Little Einsteins” or “Phineas and Ferb” – this came in handy in VN on several occasions
  • Is sort of freakishly strong
  • Loves to be in a swimming pool
  • Likes to show people how he can put his face into the water and blow bubbles in the tub
  • Will now touch sand, although still refuses to touch grass
  • Thinks bubbles are amazing
  • Is very ticklish 
  • Loves to have his feet massaged
  • Has been in five countries already – Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and the United States
  • Favorite chew toy is my iPhone

July 23, 2008 Posted by | Birthdays, Cake, Parenting | , | 2 Comments

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July 23, 2008 Posted by | Adoption, Parenting, working mothers | , , , | Enter your password to view comments.

Identity Crisis

It’s occurred to me recently that I really am no longer just single and paper pregnant.  I’m a mom now, so that reference simply doesn’t work so well for me now.  And, this blog isn’t just about my journey to adopt.  I mean, that is a huge part of what I’m going through on a daily basis, but let’s face it, most of my day is about Oscar.  Because of that, I think it’s time for me to change the name of my blog to reflect the reality of my life. So, farewell Single and Paper Pregnant, and hello Malodorous Messes.

As an aside, when I went to make sure I wasn’t making up the term “malodorous” at the Free Dictionary, here’s what I found.  Am I the only one troubled by the placement of the included ads?  Ew.

malodorous 

     0.12 sec.
Ads by GoogleLearn About Your Vagina
Answers to common questions about the female reproductive system.
RevolutionHealth.com
Wholesale Scrubbers
Russell Equipment: Huge Selection of Used Sweepers & Scrubbers.
www.RussellEquipment.com
mal·o·dor·ous  (ml-dr-s)   

adj.   

Having a bad odor; foul.

mal·odor·ous·ly adv.
mal·odor·ous·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


malodorous [mal-lode-or-uss]   

Adjective
having an unpleasant smell: the malodorous sludge of Boston harbour

July 23, 2008 Posted by | blogging, name change | , , , | Leave a Comment

My favorite photo today

July 23, 2008 Posted by | Wordless Wednesdays | , | 1 Comment

   

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