He likes 'em, He really likes 'em!

At nine months old, it wouldn't be unusual for you to find LMA surrounded with books and him flipping through every single one of them. I know children can be difference as night and day, I was prepared for that. I was really hoping that this love of books would be the same for BBZ.

He's ten months old now and could really care less about books, except maybe to chew on them. I think it's my fault. After BBZ was born, we continued our night time routine of reading books to LMA. Even with BBZ in hand. We even made BBZ wait until after we were done with books before I would give him his last feeding of the night. Sometimes he was so outraged, that Pop-pop just fed him anyway while I was reading books to LMA.

We finally found a book that he enjoys. Picked up at the library, so I may have buy one. I'm sure it's more to do with flipping through the pages and turning them one by one that has intrigued him, but that's definitely a start. In these pictures, he was so enthralled with this book, "Baby: Bathtime" that he could have cared less that big brother was loving on him, that Mommy was trying to get his 10 month picture with his elephant, or that I was making TONS of animal noises to get him to look up.





I don't care. As long as he likes books.

He loves his books

Last week, for whatever reason, I decided to give LMA a book to read while in bed winding down for "quiet time". We started calling it "quiet time" several months ago when he started stating he wasn't tired for "nap time". I knew he still needed a nap because when he would eventually fall asleep I still have to wake him up at 4:30pm. There have been times when I fell asleep myself and he was still sleeping at 5pm.

Unfortunately, this plan has snowballed on me. Not only did he read the book that I gave him, but he also proceeded to get out of bed and retrieve more books to read. At some point he even turned on the light to read since his curtains were semi-closed.

When I went up to wake him up, this is what I found:




Notice the books stacked around his bed? At least he was quiet right? Which is why I didn't say anything. But I could tell he read his books for awhile because he didn't move once while I was taking pics and having the flash go off for 15 minutes.

And then, to really make you smile, he tried that again at night after we turned the lights off. That I did say something to him about.

A joyful move??

My parents are on the move again. Last year this time, they were traveling across country from New York to California with, believe it or not, only half of their worldly possessions. This year, they finished that trek. Only this time, they are traveling the northern route to drop off goods to my beloved youngest brother who decided to uproot to Seattle, Washington for only three months. Why do they do this you ask?? Because they are our parents.

My parents have been moving us, or at least helping us in some sort of way, since I have been moving back and forth to college. Fortunately for them and for me, I now have the military to move my household goods.

While searching the internet and trying not to fall asleep while Little Man was taking his nap, I stumbled across a new blog, Misplaced City Girl. I found this website via The Dirty Shirt, which I've found has had some excellent giveaways. Anyways, the entry from Misplaced City Girl really caught my attention: "The Joyful Organizer's Guide to a Joyful Move".

Seriously?? What part of moving is joyful? Even moving with the military can be stressful, especially when you have either pets, children, or worse, both to worry about during the move.

Apparently the author, Bonnie Joy Dewkett, knows a few things or two about moving and is sharing her expert advice in this book.

Maybe my parents should have purchased this book last year. It could have helped them. Maybe a little.

Christmas gift ideas

Part of Cookie magazine's Top 100 list was an idea of what to get the parent who has everything therefore their kids have everything. These books are coffee table worthy titles that kids will enjoy as well, in order of age. Check them out.

Newborn: The First Picture Book, by Edward Steichen and John Updike (Fotofolio)

Ages 1-2: The New Alphabet of Animals, by Christopher Wormell (Running Press)

Ages 2-4: I Am a Little Giraffe, by Francois Crozat (Barron's)

Ages 4-6: Martin Pebble, by Jacques Sempe (Phaidon)

Ages 4 & Up: A Balloon for a Blunderbuss, by Alastair Reid and Bob Gill (Phaidon)


All of these books can be found at Amazon.com or even half.com, but there may be limited availability.

Nothing Better to do... actually I do.

So it seems over the past week while I have been busy putting a brochure and a business card together, I was tagged. Not once, but twice. First by Kiki like a week ago. Then by Wenderina on Friday.

I could have been a smartalic and posted back that none of the books I've been reading lately even go up to page 123 since they include, but are not limited to, Fred and Ted Go Camping, Peter Rabbit's Happy Easter, Flap Your Wings, and Are you my Mother? But I didn't. Instead, I grabbed the two books on my bedside table that I am going back and forth at night... to help me get to sleep... but it's not working.

So here are the directions:
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people & post a comment here once you post it to your blog, so I can come see.

Book #1:
"Richard Earl Evans," Jacobi announced. "AKA Red, Boomer, Duke. Don't feel insulted if he doesn't stand up and shake hands."

"This is what you thought I meant by no contact?" I said, looking cross but inside delighted that they had brought him in.

From 2nd Chance by James Patterson (part of the Women's Murder Club)


Book #2
Most of the cases of death and injury were caused when a child became entrapped in an area between the mattress on the bed and the attached bed rail, according to the CPSC.

But isn't it dangerous to put a two or three year old in a bed without a rail? No, it isn't.

From Toddler 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown, M.D.


And the following people are tagged:

IsdiHara
Sheri
Catwoman


I only tagged 3 people, because well, the other people on my blog list have already been tagged and it wouldn't be fair to tag them again.

Enjoying the little moments

Since hubby had a long weekend, it's easy to keep Little Man busy. On Friday, since the weather was nicer here, we decided to venture to the park. As did several other families, but this made for some additional entertainment for Little Man. It's just amazing how he can people watch for such a long time. Granted I know it's also the age, but he really does take after his father in this department. Hopefully, this means he won't become a police officer.

Little Man has also taken a real likely to his Legos that Granddad got him for Christmas. I didn't think that he would be ready to play with these, but I've noticed him really improving the skill of snapping the pieces together. Ten minutes into playing with them, he starts to get frustrated and starts throwing them. So he turns to the one thing he really loves...

Books.

Saturday, we had Little Man's 14 month picture taken at a local Picture Me studio in Wal-Mart. I really didn't have the perfect shirt, so we made sure to leave earlier to browse through Wal-mart. Every 18 month shirt that I tried on him was really too big. So instead of purchasing a 12 month shirt (which fit him perfectly)... we borrowed it. Yes, I'm a redneck and put an unpurchased shirt on my child to have his picture taken for 10 minutes and then put it back on the shelf. I know for a fact that hundreds of other people do the exact same thing every day. I can only imagine how many people put the shirt on the child and then walk out the door without paying for the shirt. That I would never do. But let me tell you. Between the shirt, his smile, and the big football in the picture - it's a really cute pose. I'll share that when we get them next month.

Later that afternoon, we hung around in bed watching tv.


This is the way every Saturday should be spent. I can't wait for the days when he crawls into bed while we're still sleeping and just wants to cuddle and watch tv..... not at 4am of course.

Sunday, we traveled to Toys R Us because they have a great sale this week with Fisher-Price toys. Unfortunately, it's actually on their INFANT toys, so we ended up not getting anything for Little Man. I was really bummed that I missed that all important word (infant) because I was really excited about the possibility of finishing Little Man's Christmas/Birthday shopping for this year. I'm trying to be good about presents and have shopping done by this summer. Whether or not it will work, I'll let you know. But I know several people who take advantage of after season sales and really get great deals.

In the afternoon, we had a lesson on how to smell things rather than put them in his mouth. I got out my lotions and perfumes....

It was a nice quiet moment.

Then, to end a great weekend, we had an enjoyable evening with friends on Monday. Little Man shared his toys very nicely and he even let little Bruce borrow his beloved train. We have a back-up so he forgot about the circumstances 5 minutes later. I was also able to finally show them their completed scrapbook, so if she's okay with it, I'll be showing off some of those layouts.

All in all, it was a really good weekend.