12th Month - Your First Word!

 

Dear Teo, 

I'm going to post about your birthday itself soon, but I wanted to write a little about your 12th month, first.  You are a real walker, now, and that's not all . . . You sometimes run, which scares the heck out of me.  You can also OPEN THE FRONT DOOR!  

Once you get the door open, there are four places you generally go - to grammy's house, to the watering can and garden hose (you do water play just about every day), to the garden to pick cherry tomatoes which you like to squish the juice out of and then feed to me, or to the end of the driveway to look for trucks and buses going by on the street.  

Which leads me to the other awesome development this month - you are officially talking.  Your first word (besides mama, bapa and bye-bye) is TRUCK, pronounced "chrck" and said with awe and urgency.  There was road construction outside our house a couple of weeks ago, and you were fascinated.  Even now, when you wake up in the morning, you lead me outside first thing trying to spot a "chrck" or a "bu" (bus). 

Transportation seems to be the theme these days.  Your favorite things to play with are grammy's matchbox cars and your Thomas the Train stuff.  

Your other great interest is . . . cleaning!  Really.  You just go around cleaning things.  You like to pick up leaves off the driveway and throw them into the flower bed (usually with an enthusiastic "Yaaa!" sound, as though you are heroically vanquishing the foe of messiness).  When you are done eating, you like to wipe your high chair with a wash cloth.  I took you to a picnic today, and you diligently picked up napkins and threw them into the trash can (not my suggestion, at all.  I didn't even show you where the trash can was.).  Seriously, this love of cleaning must be genetic, and you didn't get it from my side!  :0)

I love you once, I love you twice,

I love you more than beans and rice,

I love you more then earth or sun,

Te amo, bebe, little one!

-Lisa Wheeler

A few photos from your 12th month: 

 

With Auntie Sarah (Ra-ra)

Driving the tractor at Thistledown Farm.

Dancin' in your underwear. 

Eating a "grammy cracker" with your Grammy.

Sink bath (why haven't I been bathing you this way all along?  So easy!).

Summer Vacation, Part II - Rancho La Lomita

After leaving Kansas City, we headed south to Hugo, Oklahoma, where your Opapa and his wife, Mary Louise live on their ranch.  What a beautiful place this is - peaceful, quiet except for the steady drone of the cicadas.  It was over 100 degrees each day, so we didn't spend a lot of time outside, but we did take walks when it cooled off in the evening, looking for fireflies and rarely seeing a car. 

You warmed up to Opapa and Mary Louise right away.   Opapa gave you some of his Native American artifacts, including some arrowheads, a ceremonial fan he made himself, and some sticks used for a children's ball game.  He let you pick out a fetish, and you chose this little bear. 

When he gave you these things, he mentioned that this is the Native American way.  We carry things with us for a while, and then we pass them on.  Opapa also gave you a book he put together with documents and photos of your ancestors, and a family tree.  I think as you grow, he will have a lot of wisdom to share with you.

Mary Louise shared her gift of cooking with us, serving a wonderful Thanksgiving style meal one night, and filling us up with rich delicious food at every meal.  She also gave me some cooking lessons.  She has a very kind and gentle spirit. 

You enjoyed the animals on the ranch, especially Opapa's dog, Blue.  You liked watching the two miniature donkeys, Osito and Little Joe, although when we set you on Osito, you seemed a little skeptical.  These guys were nothing compared to the two longhorn bulls, Boris and Igor . . . they were truly intimidating (unless you are Mary Louise, and then they are pets). 

You also got to meet your Uncle Dan and your Great Aunt and Uncle, Jane and Jimmy.  I think everyone really enjoyed getting to know you.  When it was time to leave, Opapa and Mary Louise joked that they wanted to just keep you there and buy you a pony.  Maybe the next time we make it out there to visit, they really will have a pony for you to ride!

Summer Vacation, Part 1

Dear Teo,

Ok, here is part one of my "What did you do for your summer vacation" essay!  We spent 12 hours driving, flying, shuttling and walking through airports, to get to Kansas City to visit Uncle Levi and his family.

You did so well traveling, and I must say, I pushed myself to new limits finding ways to entertain you.  Your favorite distraction was riding up and down the airport escalator with me singing, "Upity, upity, up-up-up!" and "Downity, downity down-down-down."  

The visit with Levi and family was great.  We took you and your cousins to a place called Wonderscope, an awesome discovery center for kids.  It an old school building with each room was set up with a different theme - like the farm room, water-play room, doctor room, and a room with elaborate lego constructions of sea animals and a submarine to play in.  You were fascinated by it all.

Even when we didn't leave the house, you were surrounded by opportunities for discovery.  Your three cousins were entertainment enough, but there was also the cow, the bull, the chickens, the Saint Bernard dog, the two cats, the chinchilla, the play structure (built by Uncle Levi), and lots of big kid toys to try out.  Really, who needs Disneyland?

All the time we were there, Levi cooked delicious food for us.  I loved the raw cow's milk from their cow, and the cheese, yogurt, sour cream and ice cream that he makes from it.  We had eggs from their chickens and vegetables from their garden.

I helped out in the kitchen at times, which led to a minor disaster one morning.  I went to put the tea kettle on, and I didn't realize that it was a special kind that goes on its own hot plate.  I put it on the stove, and when I turned around it was on fire.

Adrienne turned the burner off and when she lifted it up, the plastic bottom had melted to the burner. We had to evacuate because toxic smoke had filled the house.  I was outside with the kids, lamenting that I had ruined the teapot and the burner.  Sweet Indigo said, "Well, just remember, it's okay and you learn from your mistakes."

There were many moments that I found myself appreciating Indigo and Jaden's gentle sensitivity as they nurtured and watched out for and included you in their play.  River, when the mood struck him, also protected you by taking away things you might choke on and saying, "Can't have that.  That's choke-able."  As I watched your cousins together, I admired the energy, creativity and wisdom it must take to guide, protect, and simply keep up with three kids.

Jaden giving you a snuggle.

River showing telling me all about the animals in the encyclopedia.

We spent one evening watching Indigo and Jaden at their gymnastics practice.  It was fun to watch them do things that I have never learned to do, like cartwheels and handstands!

You were a little frustrated because you couldn't join them, so Papa and I took you next door to a playground and you were able to swing and climb to your heart's delight.  Swinging with you on my lap is such a good feeling.  You totally relax against me, unless we slow down, and then you wave your hand to let me know to get moving again.

One day, you and I played Ring-Around-the-Rosie with Indigo and Jaden, going very slow for one round and then very fast for the next (when River joined us, it was pretty much fast every round).  Now you love playing endless rounds of this game.  I think you learned a lot from watching your cousins.  I wish we lived closer to them so you could play with them a lot more. 

Jaden, Indigo and King Michael.

 Indigo feeding a calf at the Discovery Center.

Indigo feeding a calf at home.

 You playing with the incredible marble track that Uncle Levi built.

11 Months - Garden Sprite

Little Teo, 

On the day you turned 11 months old, you really walked for the first time, about 5 steps across the living room.  We have a push toy that you like to walk with.  You do tricks, like pushing it with one hand, and then you get a big grin on your face.  The other day, I was helping you push it, and you brushed my hand away, like "I got this, Mom.  I can do it myself!"

You aren't saying any words (other than mama, bapa, and bye-bye), but you understand so much now. . . like, "go outside" "can mama have a bite?" "throw the ball" "turn off the light" and "put the paper in the potty" and your favorite: "go see grammy." 

Whenever I say those words, "go see grammy," you make a silly little chuckle, like you just can't contain your excitement.  At grammy's house, you like to play with her pots and pans or your tool bench.  Most of all, you like it when Oceana is there with her 4 week old kitten. 

The big event of the summer was our trip to Kansas and Oklahoma to visit Uncle Levi and his family and Opapa and Mary Louise.  I'll post a separate entry about our trip. 

Here are a few photos of you being your cute, funny, sweet self.


Love you!
Mama

Garden Sprite

Very Scary Garden Sprite

A Magic Bean

A Tired Little Monkey

I will be your home,
I will be your guide,
I will be your friend,
always on your side.

Sleep now in your room,
quiet of the night,
surrounded by the moon,
till you see the light.

By: Renee Stahl and Jeremy Toback

Teo at Thistledown Farm

Ten Months - Using Sign Language and Almost Walking!

Dear Teo,

You are ten months old!  Your biggest feat this month was learning to stand on your own.  You can also walk just holding on with one hand.  Full-on toddling is just around the corner, and then watch out world!

You still love being outside.  Papa made an octagon-shaped, redwood sandbox for you, and Grammy got you a swimming pool.  You also like playing in the sprinkler and in your playhouse.  

You love going to Grammy's to play.  You almost always start dancing when you go over there, which is her cue to put on some kids' music.  Sometimes you play your instruments, and you seem to have pretty good rhythm!

Maybe you get your musical talent from Grammy. 

You are learning to use sign language to tell us "more" and "all done," a useful skill at meal time.  You are eating more foods now, though whenever I have you try something new, you make a disgusted face after the first bite.  Thankfully, you are usually willing to take a second bite, and often you end up liking whatever it is.  

You are still sleeping with us at night.  We put our mattress on the floor so you won't get hurt if you ever crawl off the edge.  Waking up with you is one of the happiest parts of the day.  You are a little grouchy until you nurse, but then you are so sweet and cheerful.  You like to crawl over to Papa and pat him on the head to wake him up.  

You and I took the train up to Seattle last weekend to visit my friends, Natalie and Jamie, and to meet their little girl, Robin.  This photo pretty much exemplifies how you felt about the weekend . . . cautious and a little grumpy.   

I think the highlight of the trip for you was walking up and down the length of the train (we probably walked 5 miles), and making friends.  You really liked the old ladies (maybe because they remind you of Grammy), and you adored a 4 year old girl who sang songs for you. 

In a couple of weeks, we will leave on our big trip to Kansas and Oklahoma to visit Uncle Levi and his family, and your Opapa.  It will be a big adventure with lots of new experiences. 

We love you so much, little buddy. 

Father's Day and Sage's Birthday

Thinking of four special fathers I know . . .  Papa, Opapa, Grandpa Faulkner, and Uncle Levi.

And today (on his birthday), remembering your brother, Sage, with love. . . 

Nine Months Old

Hello, little love.  You are nine months old now.  You are becoming more independent every day, and you seem to really want to be a big boy.  

You would rather push the stroller than ride in it.  You like to brush your teeth when I brush mine.  Papa's tools are far more interesting to you than your toys.  You also have started dropping pieces of toilet paper in the toilet and watching it flush (may this bode well for future potty training!). 

                   We took you to the beach for the first time last weekend.  When we got there, it was gray and cold, but we decided to persevere and have our picnic anyway.  Soon after we arrived, the clouds parted and sun peeked through.  It turned into a beautiful day.  You loved playing in the sand, finding rocks and seaweed, and watching the waves. 

One thing that has changed in the last month, is that Papa and I have decided not to have you go to an outside childcare provider.  Papa works in the evenings and I work in the mornings, so we are able to take care of you at home (with help from Grammy!).

This feels like absolutely the right thing for our family and for you.  You cried every time I took you to childcare and every time I came back to pick you up.  It is so much easier for me to go to work, knowing that you are with Papa or Grammy.  You and Papa are forming such a close bond, and Grammy is definitely your buddy.  And when I come home, you practically jump into my arms with a big smile on your face.

The biggest news for this month is that your Auntie Sarah is pregnant!  Sometime next January, you will have a new little cousin.  Sarah and Oceana just left yesterday for a month-long trip to Spain.  Oce will be staying with her dad's relatives, and Sarah will be making a pilgrimage by foot on el Camino de Santiago with her best childhood friend, Sarah S. 

I am so excited to watch Sarah go through this pregnancy and to meet the lucky little baby who will be her child.

Is Forever Enough?

My dear Teo,

When I wrote my last blog post, I totally forgot to include your 8 month photo.  So here it is!  Usually I take a bunch and choose the best one, but this time, you only sat still for this one shot and then you were crawling all over! 

Your development seems to have taken some major leaps this last month.  Not only did you start crawling, you have stood without help for about 10 seconds at a time, and the other day you actually took a little wobbly step.

AND you are talking.  You now regularly call me "Mama," and you call your papa "Bapa."  You make the sign language sign for milk very clearly.  In fact, once I came home when Grammy was watching you, and you were snuggled up with her and signing milk in your sleep! 

Hearing your little voice say "Mama" fills my heart every time you say it.   

Last night, I was at a Head Start teacher appreciation dinner, and part of the presentation was a slideshow of children from the classrooms set to music.  One of the songs was "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks.  I didn't expect this, but as I listened to the lyrics, I felt tears on my cheeks.  It really moved me, as I thought about both you and Sage.  There is nothing in the world like the love a parent feels for a child.  Sometimes it leaves me totally speechless and in awe.  

Loving you forever,

Mama

"Lullaby"

(listen)

They didn't have you where I come from

Never knew the best was yet to come

Life began when I saw your face

And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough

Cause I'm never, never giving you up

I slip in bed when you're asleep

To hold you close and feel your breath on me

Tomorrow there'll be so much to do

So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough

Cause I'm never, never giving you up

As you wander through this troubled world

In search of all things beautiful

You can close your eyes when you're miles away

And hear my voice like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough, is forever enough

How long do you want to be loved

Is forever enough

Cause I'm never, never giving you up