Liora 8 Months

I guess I forgot to post them last month...9 month post coming up tomorrow :P

 

Liora 3 Months

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2 months

We are getting more smiles every day. I love it! Liora went yesterday for her 2 month check-up and first set of shots.  I predicted how she would react. She seems to be a little diva. I remember with Mateo he screamed (duh), but was fine a few minutes later. Little missy whimpered for about 20 minutes until I finally ended up feeding her. 

She is 5,780 kg/12.74 lb and 58 cm/22.84 in at 9 weeks.

We have been trying to get her to take a bottle and are not having success. I am convinced she knows that if she drinks it, she will have to go to a babysitter (hubby's work party is next week, but I think I am going to have to skip the event).

Liora seems to have mellowed out since the first month. No more random, unexplained crying. She is pretty easy to take out and about.

She has reached the 3 main 'points' for her ages. 1. Moves arms and legs 2. Follows with her eyes 3. Makes sounds

Until next week when Mateo turns 2.5 years!

37 weeks PHOTOS

I am being lazy. I admit it. I don't feel like cleaning up my messes. It is cold. I 'needed' some 37 week photos. Who knows. Maybe there won't be any more week photos? I need to look if we have a remote for the camera and if so, I should get batteries (a little late to be thinking of it, huh?).  Here I am today. Wearing a favorite skirt. One I will be kind of sad to stop wearing. The sweater vest is one of the very few things I bought for this pregnancy. I hope I can wear it after! Maybe take in the sides some and wear the belt lower?

PHOTOSHOOT

Once again, I am sharing another Shutterfly creation. When I dropped Mateo off to get babysat with Stephanie, she mentioned she might take a few shots. Wow! What a surprise I had when saw the photos a few days ago. I LOVE how she captured Mateo's personality. Since Shutterfly is having a special until Wednesday (free 8x8 book with code SUMMERFUN), I HAD to make a book ASAP for his grandma. Stephanie is most likely coming to my part of the world next month. If you are interested in booking a session, let me or her know! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Steiner-Photography/167995713294134

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22 Months

Once again, another month FLEW by! I am going to post this a day early, because tomorrow I work, then the next day/night we have a visitor for Mateo.  Baby Eva. I think of her as his cousin, but technically she is my husband's half cousin, so that makes her Mateo's 2nd half cousin? (that is why her mom thinks they can marry each other).

Last time I we babysat

Our little man makes us laugh all the time! I have said before how he copies everything we say/do, but I could never get him to say sorry. Stubborn guy. He threw his plate on the ground a few days ago, so stuck him in his high chair in the entry way. He scooted his way over and opened the door. He looked so proud that he did it, but he had to go back. I was frustrated and told him, 'You are sitting here until you say, 'Sorry.' I know you can say it!' So I shut the the door again and let him sit there about a minute, opened the door and he yelled, 'Sawwy!' Woah, we were laughing. Now to get him to repeat it at appropriate times.

In case you can't read Dutch on my other blog...#2!

Mateo has added several more words to his vocabulary. Ook (also), Op (all done), Open, Hot, Apple/appel, Baba (bottle), Nigh, nigh (good night/sleep), Hot, pipi, poo poo, Ouwie, Uh, Oh and he continues to say/recognize ff-ff as HOT!

Saturday night, so exhausted from the camp that he fell asleep in our bed and let me take out his pacifier!

I think we have an athlete on our hands. A few weeks ago he went and did a perfect summer sault in front of us. I know neither of us have ever taught him it, so it is something he picked up most likely from his cousins.

He LOVES his balls and plays with them or balloons all day. I think he also saw kids playing basketball on the weekend, because he keeps trying to bounce his ball. Everyone (well, anyone who can actually play soccer) comments at how unbelieveably well he can kick a ball.

My handsome little man taking it all in at the kids' camp. May 19th

Mateo shared some exciting news on Mother's Day.

13 weeks

Today I am 13 weeks. One site says this is the start of the 2nd trimester and another one says it starts when you hit 14 weeks. Either ways, I am feeling good! I think the little bit of morning sickness (that should have been called resting sickness) is gone. Someone guessed that I was pregnant, because she said I looked it, but I am still convinced that I don't look it, but hubby said I do. So here are a few self-portraits from Friday. I always have a bit of a tummy, so it looks normal to me. Mateo also wanted in on the photo fun.

The top one is the best, the doctor said the legs were crossed.

I had planned to announce the news last week, but now I feel like waiting longer, hopefully until Mother's Day. Last time we told when we got back from America and I was around 12 weeks. Speaking of America. I checked how much I weighed at this point, last time around. I was already 10 pounds heavier! We were away for a month in America, so that was not good for my weight. I am happy that I am doing better so far than last time, but our 5 week vacation is coming up. I rreeeallly gotta watch it.

20 Months

This has been a good month. The others have also been good, but this one seems extra good!

In his outfit from his auntie

Mateo in his tux from Grandma

Mateo finally seems to not be hurting himself as much as before. He is more crazy, but somehow he is pretty good at what he does. His antics are very scary for his mommy, but I only can run and look so many places at once. Another good thing about this month is that he seems to be throwing less. Maybe we have learned how to deescalate the situation before he feels the need to throw? Fewer things ruined this month...

Mateo is growing even stronger. Physically and mentally. It takes the 2 of us to brush his teeth each night. One to restrain (using lots of muscles) and another to brush the teeth. Tonight was the best it has ever gone. Mateo was having fun putting a toy in daddy's mouth. We will try the trick again! I finally was able to count his teeth without him biting me. There are more than the last count. Last time I counted he had 16. Now I felt 2 coming in, so I figured it would make it 18. Once I started counting I saw on the bottom 5 teeth in each direction and on the top 5 on one side and 4 on the other! I think 2 are poking through, is that possible? Nope. I just looked, hehe. He should have 20 teeth. So what I thought is a tooth coming through was nothing. He has 19 and the last one is working its way out. Could that be why he has had some restless nights?

Mateo was sick this month. He ate almost nothing. I don't have a problem that he doesn't eat, but I got highly frustrated of making food for him to try. He would take one or two bites and the rest I would throw away. Even things that he always would eat. This week he is making up for it. He stood on the scale tonight and it said 12.2 kg/26.89 lb.

Little man seems to be doing fine with our new schedule. He is supposed to sleep earlier on Sunday and Wednesdays, because we need to leave around 7:30 the following mornings. He has had a few emotional mornings when I dropped him at his aunt's, but normally he doesn't cry once I leave. Normally when I go to pick him up he doesn't want to leave! He loves seeing his cousins, playing outside there and playing with new toys. The nice thing is that when we get home he is excited to play with his toys that he hasn't seen for a while.

There is lots of chattering going on, but not very many new words. What do we have so far? Baby, baba, mama, da da, bye bye, kijk, uh-oh, nee, ja, die, Ee (for Eva), plus lots of sounds and imitations.

I reintroduced his puzzles. He is enjoying the fishing magnet one and a wooden one with pegs. He plays every day with his balls, cars and Little People.

What Mateo does right now that is very cute is that he knocks on the window to get attention of people walking past and he loves knocking on doors.

19 months on THE day

Mateo is 19 months. I just told someone he was turning 17 months. I mixed up in my head that 6 months was half a year, so it made sense that 10 (months in a year?)+6+1=17.

I even snapped a photo of him today. Right now he loves getting his picture taken and then he wants to see it on the preview on my camera.

This has been a busy month. Mateo is busy. Poor guy gets bored being home alone with mommy. He wants to have visitors, go out or see friends (of any age).

He has learned to open doors, which spices life up. Now mommy can't shut him in the living room to run upstairs or let him play in his room while I throw in a load of laundry. It means I carry him up and down the stairs more, since I can't trust him anywhere alone. Thankfully he can't open the gate upstairs yet!

Mr. Mateo is an observant fellow. He watches everything to learn how to do it. It is so cute. One of my favorite things about him right now! BUT, challenging. Example: I cut a thread. No big deal. 1 minute later I heard *snip*snip* Little guffer saw where I put the scissors and had already snatched them out of the drawer and had cut into his pants (one of the VERY few that I actually bough myself!) It is one of our games; we make actions and see how he imitates them.

He is also imitating sounds. His new word is "Baby." He said "Amen" a few weeks ago. Today he kept saying "Ek-e" for "Lekker" (yummy).

Man can he make himself clear! I talk to him all day and ask lots of questions. He has mastered shaking and nodding his head. I thought at first it was coincidence, but he means what he does! If I ask "Do you want a yogurt?" it is always a nod. When I offer other things to him he viciously shakes his head and said "neeeee!." (No!)

Last Sunday he go this first haircut! Daddy did such a good job. I was sleeping, but heard that Mateo sat very nicely (shocking).

I am always surprised how well Mateo can play. He loves Little People. He always matches up the people in the cars or sticks them into their house. Any other toys that are around the same size he puts into the house as well. This morning he played a good half an hour with Polly Pockets. He thought it was fun to carry them around, open them all up, shut them, carry them to a different table and open them all up. His car and truck he can drive around are possibly his favorite toys. Or balls? Hard to say.

His arms seem to have grown (or the sleeves on everything shrunk). His legs and truck seem the same, but almost every t-shirt I put on looks too small. I just throw a sweatshirt over and no one else notices.

Posing for me (pre-haircut, see how fluffy it is in the back)

Showing off his trick (emptying the wet wipes)

19 months, showing off for the camera.

Mateo has been a little sick this week. He loves playing with his inhailers.

Until next month!

Never Seen Before

I just scanned in all Mateo's portraits for his photobook. Here is one we had done in November.

17 months

Mateo turned 17 months right before Christmas, so his post is once again delayed.

He received this t-shirt from his Canadian relatives. I love it! He was singing and later I gave him daddy's microphone, but I didn't get a photo of that. This is a typical face of his. He loves to 'sing' when he hears music and when he knows we are watching him. We are his biggest fans of course.

Words
Mama, baba (papa), dag (day/bye in Dutch), kijk (look), uh-oh

He responds very well to "num-num" and "bye-bye." The first he will go to his high chair or come from whatever he is doing and the 2nd he will head to the door and try to find his shoes and jacket.

Eating
He is still a good eater. Not a fan of cheese, but he eats it sometimes. Mandarines are his favorite. I wonder how many he would eat if I let him have as many as he wants. Thankfully they are small and healthy. I think he eats about 4 a day. 

He is doing very well feeding himself. We are getting to the point where he prefers to do it alone, rather than me doing it.

Something we are having a little problem with is that he likes to throw his things and as soon as he is done or not getting enough attention he starts throwing his food/spoon/dish, whatever he can find.

Throwing
I figuring this should be a paragraph to itself, because it is something we deal with all day. Maybe he will be in the MLB some day and I will remember these times. Whenever he is frustrated, he picks up the first things his hand finds and he hurls it across the room. He broke a vase at our aunts this way and a few dishes at home.

He also likes to throw for fun. If he sees us toss something in the laundry basket, he wants to toss something also.

This means he is a fan of balls. Daddy likes to play with him inside with balls, but it is hard to teach him what is ok to throw and what not. Today Mateo was throwing his ball at my frames and cheering when he hit one. Of course, if I say more, the more he wants to do it...

Sleeping
That wonderful morning nap is almost over. I think 5/7 days he just has 1 nap,  which means evenings are more challenging. He normally sleeps 12 hours a night and normally sleeps through (besides the past 4 days of course).

Other
What I love to watch/hear is Mateo imitating what he sees or hears. It is so cute! I love watching him hang out with his cousins, because he learns so much and tries so hard to do what they do. I think he will be like his daddy and good with music/languages, because it seems that he is pretty good at mimicking sounds.

16 months

We had special visitors for Mateo's 16th monthday. My aunt and uncle! She took these lovely photos.

Mateo happened to have the night before this photoshoot one of his worst nights ever. He didn't fall asleep until after 3am. Mommy and daddy were NOT happy about this. The week before he was up for 2 hours in the night and November 2 he was up many times in the night. I said that was his 2nd worst night, but now he has had 3 of those in a month. The rest of the time he has slept through and had 2 long naps in the day. Hard to know the causes for those restless nights.

He is a climber. Today he discovered how to get on the kitchen table chairs. Next step is on the table I am sure.

The little man says something that sounds like 'dag' (bye) when he waves. I think he says something like 'dada' or 'baba' for 'papa.' It isn't clear what he says, but he has a certain sound for his daddy. Particularly loud when he sees daddy coming off the platform at church.

Gone for 15 Months

In just 6 days the hubby and I are going away. We are going to be separated from Mateo for the first time! What a change that will be! I comfort myself with the thought that it will be rougher for us, than for him. He is going to love having 2 older sisters for a week and then staying with Oma for the remaining few days.

We will be away when he turns 15 months, so I thought I would most a few photos from today. I would love to take him to a pumpkin patch and take adorable photos like I see friends doing, but, helaas, there are no patches around here. Next best thing? The 3 pumpkins from my SIL's garden.

I had some cute ideas, but Mateo was totally uncooperative.

Mateo is not only walking, but running and CLIMBING! He pushes his truck to the coffee table, balances on the car, then steps onto the table and jumps onto the couch.

He has mastered waving. Whenever he hears "bye" he starts waving. It is so precious. He also is starting to do kisses. If you make kissing sounds or say "kiss," if he is in the mood he will make the sounds or come maul my face.

14 Months

25 Lbs/11.3Kgs-I haven't measured his height.

Mateo is still our happy, smiley guy! He likes to make people smile. He knows when he is getting attention or now. Right now it is ok, but later may be a problem. If he is not getting attention, he tries hard to get it. Going to church is very exciting for Mateo. He thinks everyone is there for him. We can't stay long in the service, because he is making people laugh or he is laughing at the kids.

Another side we are starting to see is how stubborn a 1 year old can be. He knows what he wants and will push until he (or I) gets it. If he can’t get what he wants, there is a likely chance of some screaming. In tired cases, it is face on the floor and some kicking. Thankfully he is still pretty easily distracted.  He is not saying many words, but can COMMUNICATE. Lots of pointing, grunting, screaming and then happy sounds and clapping.

Little man is a brave fellow. He gets into everything and climbs in/out/up/down just about anything.  Even though he seems pretty fearless, there is a super sensitive side! He knows when people are laughing at him for a 'bad' reason. Then he gets this sad, offended look and cries and hugs mommy.

He is very tough as far as falling and getting bumps, but he doesn't like abrupt, loud sounds or screaming...

Changing diapers is an awful thing around here. I have complained about it and had the feeling no one believed me, until THEY had to try it! It often takes 2 people to get the job done or one mom chasing around a half naked little boy trying to do one step at a time.

Mateo is NOT a cuddler. Let's just say that is how we knew he was sick 2 weeks ago. When he just sat still on our laps.

Until next month...

13 months-oops

A few weeks later...I loved the outfit Mateo was wearing for this! One of the FEW things I have bought for him. Old Navy shorts for 1.99 and a Children's Place shirt for 2.99. Sad that he can't wear it next year.

 

It was nearly impossible to take any photos. Mateo didn't want to cooperate. He didn't want the sign this time, he wanted the CAMERA. I gave him a bobin to play with, I thought it was little and you wouldn't see it in the photo. *eh* wrong!

Mateo isn't walking yet. He takes some steps, but just doesn't feel like putting in the effort. He can climb on the couch and climb over the end of it onto the other one and then fall off it onto the guitar. He also knows how to climb stairs and get out of the bathtub alone (don't ask how I know).

Like most kids, water and sand are favorites! Dirt, leaves and grass are also lots of fun.

As of last week Mateo is weaned. I didn't set a stopping date. I decided I would know after that it was the last time. Save any sad emotions. He is doing fine without. I think he was ready for it.

Mateo had the "6th sickness" (roseola) in the weekend. Maybe he had it before, but we discovered it early Sunday morning at Oma's when he was burning up. It was the first time he had a fever.

More to come about the little man in his 14 month post.

Baby Belgium is 1

Look who had his birthday! We had his party a few weeks early, but it was still a special day.

I feel like I should be posting about what our year has been like, but it is late and we need to sleep.

I don't feel like anything came much as a shock. I guess I had read enough to know what to expect.

What is still difficult for me is how long it takes ready to get out the door. Trying to remember everything that may be necessary. Yikes! It can take an hour to get to the grocery store...

Mateo went for his shots today. His measurments are 23 lbs (10.88kg) and 31.25 in (79.5cm).  He is a super crawler and stood yesterday for the first time alone. I think he is lazy in the walking department, but that is fine with me. He has 16 teeth-yes, you read that right. All the growth from his head went to his teeth instead of hair.

He already has a strong, but sensative personality. He is a very happy and social little man.

His first word was "pretty." He regularly says "yay" and something that sounds like "Leah." He is starting to imitate our words. So far only English ones <insert big smile>. We have heard him say "mommy," "my head," "all done" and "baaa."

Anything else you'd like to know? Just ask <wink>

10 months

 What a photo session it was! Most were IN this playpen. And...my little secret...I put Twinkle, Twinkle on for him.

 Mateo is such a joy to have around! He always wakes up happy and ready to go. (takes after me-hehe)

His sleeping habits are slightly worse than past months, but we can still handle this. He has been waking up again at night, sometimes to eat, other times daddy can deal with him. Going to bed has become a challenge, since he learned to pull himself up. It is a big joke to have us come in and try to lay him back down. Today I decided to just let him play in his crib and eventually he'll fall asleep. I can hear if he's crying.

He crawls all over, chatting away. Now comes the fun part of starting to pull up on everything. #9 tooth came in and I see 2 more almost popping out. Good to eat the food he loves so much!

Mateo is 10.5kg/23lb and 76cm/29in.

Next 'monthday' is a special one. His grandparents will be here!

9 Months

Our "little" man turned 9 month a few weeks ago. We did the photos on the day, but I forgot to blog. I am in awe of these photos that I see of kids who are sitting nice on their chair. I wonder how long it took for them to get that shot!

I read my post from 8 months and can almost repeat the part about his weight. He's still the same and you can see (even more now) that his stomach is flatter and his face is thinner.

Mateo is a very active boy. He now crawls all over. No boundaries. He is an explorer. Open the doors, grab the dangling keys, pull things off shelves and out of the cabinets, crawl under the tables and chairs, pull apart the play mat, eat the shoes.

His sleeping habits are pretty good. No complaints for me in that area. Normally he goes to bed around 9 and is up at 9 the next morning, then a 1 hour morning nap and 2 hour afternoon nap and an evening nap.

Mateo is quite sensitive to loud, sudden sounds. Often in church he begins to cry when we begin to clap. He is very scared of the vacuum and doesn't like the blender. Also yelling makes him cry.

He still loves his baths and dislikes getting dressed. My rule is that he wears whatever I put on him. If it is too big or too small, he just has to wear it that day. We both don't have the energy to change him again.

Favorite toys include his telephone, this lovely item that sings and has a million buttons and sounds, a magna doodle (he just likes to eat the pen and drag it around)

As you can see in this photo, M is beginning to pull himself up. We have since lowered the playpen, so there is no risk of falling. Now it looks like a jail.

He has 8 teeth and one looks like it has been coming for 3 weeks. It looked infected, but the doctor said it was fine.

His hair is slllllooowly starting to grow. When he wakes up I see little tuffs sticking out.

I started giving him most food that we eat. He loves it all. Spaghetti, scrambled eggs, FRIES (good, little Belgian), vol-a-vont, yogurt, quiche, lalala

AND he has a voice and likes to use it.

8 Months

Today the little man is 8 months. I actually took his photos on the day. He was not a happy camper, so I fed him after a few. Then he wanted to eat the pieces from the calendar and sit on it.
He still is weighing 10kg (22lb). I am *sort of* worried that I am not feeding him enough. I know that sounds crazy, but now that he eats more 'real' food and drinks less, I just don't know how much he should have. I could probably look it up, but I know he always eats everything I give him. This week we introduced yogurt and eggs. Both were a success, although he did prefer scrambled eggs to hard-boiled.
Today is about 20 degress (68) or possibly more! I just had to share that wonderful fact. I feel like I just wrote about what a dear Mateo was for playing for about an hour alone. It has all dramatically changed! Yes, he is still a dear, but I must be by him. He has a bad case of the separation anxiety. At home, I can't leave the room without him going hysterical. Sometimes if someone else is in the room he is ok.

Thankfully he is sleeping enough that I can get my stuff done when he is sleeping (if I am disciplined). He also went 3 nights without waking up for his pacifier! It was the first night in MONTHS I didn't get out of bed at night.

The little man is quite strong and I won't be surprised if he's an early walker, since he's been early with the rest.