Miles @ 11 Months

Only one month left until he's a year old and not long until he graduates from a baby to a toddler. At 11 months:

-Miles alternates between a traditional all-fours crawl and a three-legged crawl with the fourth being used as a turbo boost
-loves to eat and is 95% self-fed with his daily yogurt being the only exception. Avocado, blueberries, steak, cheese and goldfish crackers are his favourites.
-loves to crawl into small spaces and then freaks out because he can't get out
-is into everything....I found him with one leg down the vent hole after he had removed the cover.
-loves to do laundry. He pulls everything I just put into the washer out while I quickly shove it in, watches the spin cycle, and throws all the clean laundry from the dryer onto the floor.
-is super stubborn and is throwing little temper tantrums already.
-loves his big brother - I need to get their antics on film. Miles is either trying to mimic Simon or laughing hysterically.
-is half-bottle, half-breast fed
-still wakes at least once in the night to spend some special cuddle time with Daddy
-is starting to be able to follow directions, generally when we're saying "no"
-loves being around other babies and kids. He's at his best in a crowd.
-has started his daycare integration and he's handling it like a champion. No tears, keeping up with his nap schedule and eating with all of the other kids.
-is cruising the furniture and has once crouched independently.
-has seven teeth - thankfully the top middle ones came in quickly so he wasn't a fanged child for long

Quincy Rose

I have another niece! After a three boy streak (Simon, Seamus, Miles), Lynsey had a baby girl, Quincy Rose. Labour was quick and the whole family was back to greet Seamus and a never-ending stream of visitors within 12 hours thanks to a midwife assisted birth. Quincy is much different from brother Seamus already who came out screaming and didn't stop until he could walk :) I see much pink in their future.

UFO

Swimming was a wash tonight - 10 minutes in we heard the dreaded 3 whistles for an unidentifiable floating object and when we went to get the kids dressed, we realized that we had no shirt for Simon. So much for being efficient and getting dressed at home - we should have been late. On the upside, I wasn't in the pool :) on the downside, Matt thinks it might have been Miles who spewed in the pool.

Simonisms

Simon: "Mummy, do you have a penis"
Me: "No I don't Simon"
Simon: "Do you just pee out of your bum then"

Anyone want to come explain it all to him :)

The Flintstones Deception

While Simon was sick, we needed to alternate Tylenol and Advil almost 24 hours a day to keep his fever down. This was no hardship for Simon as he thinks they are candy and is forever claiming sore fingernails, sore tummy, sore legs to get one. Unfortunately, he got used to non-stop "candy" and kept claiming that he didn't feel very well long after his virus had passed. Enter Flintsones vitamins. I had been resisting buying them because I have a slight Flintstone addiction but I figured they are close substitute and since we give him a vitamin anyway..... We haven't let on yet that they are vitamins but did let him know that they help him feel good and he no longer asks for Advil every night. I know it's probably not the best substituting one addiction for another but it makes for an easier bedtime without him making up various ailments. Plus I'm now taking a vitamin nightly :)

Gearing up for monster trucks

Monster trucks are coming to town and we bought some tickets for my monster truck obsessed child. Even though I'm sure he can't hear anything because he says "huh", all...day...long, we figured we should probably be responsible parents and buy some serious ear protection. This ear protection better be serious, since they cost more than the tickets! Here's Miles and Simon trying them out. Miles will not be going since it starts at 7:30pm and he turns into a rotten pumpkin long before then, but he wanted to get in on the action.

Cheer Up Song for Granddad

We tried desperately to get Simon to sing Granddad is the champion during a Skype session before my Dad had surgery to no avail. Well I finally caught it on tape and I thought it would cheer Granddad up while he is is recovery.

Uh Uh Uh

Simon: "Miles, that's my puzzle. You can't play with it."
Miles: continues to grab for Simon's puzzle and frantically shoves the pieces in his mouth.
Simon: "uh, uh, uh"
Me: "Simon, Miles can play with the puzzle because you left it on the floor."
Simon: "No he can't. I said uh, uh, uh".

Miles @ 9 months

We're three-quarters of the way through the year and Miles is no longer content to be a cuddly, still baby. At 9 months, Miles:

-is army crawling everywhere. I need to get him fitted for a Swiffer suit!
-is still sleeping in the vibrating chair, in his crib but he falls asleep no problem on his own.
-is still wearing size 3 diapers and 6-12 month clothing
-puts everything in his mouth. He still hasn't trouble picking up his food but carpet lint is no problem!
-is working on some more teeth but nothing has popped through yet.
-is loving self-feeding, purees are definitely on their way out
-loves yogurt, cheese, meat, peas, Cheerios
-follows a pretty predictable daytime routine with 2 naps and wakes once most nights to feed
-is all about Daddy. He cries when he leaves the room without him.
-is in desperate need of a haircut
-is a major thumb sucker, just like his brother
-hates getting strapped into the carseat
-is starting to take tubs alone (or with Simon) in the big tub
-is able to transition from crawling to sitting
-loves to shake his head in a no gesture
-is starting to get on his brothers nerves now that he is mobile.

Babysitting

Bill and Tara were babysitting for us on Saturday night so we could partake in Debbie's 40th birthday celebration. I was building it up for Simon because he loves having a new audience.

Me: "Simon, Bill and Tara are going to babysit you tonight"
Simon: "I don't want to sit like a baby, I want to stand like a boy"