The fact that I missed last month’s update speaks volumes. What hasn’t been going on lately?!
These past two months Lincoln’s been busier than ever between teething (finally!) crawling, standing, cruising, eating, dancing, waving, and hi-fiving. Oh, and being obsessed with dogs. More on that in a minute. Here’s what’s on My Mommy Mind this month!
As a child who was interested in reading above anything else, I couldn’t be happier that Lincoln is showing real interest in books these days. Prior to 10 months, sitting down and reading wasn’t high on his list of priorities, with the exception of bedtime when there’s no other distractions. Now he loves turning pages and especially loves pulling flaps on peekaboo books. Don’t even get me started on books that have pictures of real animals, particularly puppies. He thinks they are hilarious.Â
While we’re on the topic, it’s strange to me that even babies at this age shows preference over seemingly-similar books. For instance, he has no patience for The Best Mouse Cookie but is obsessed with anything by Sandra Boynton (Pajama Time, anyone?) which are both small and illustrated. Riddle me that?
Want to know what I’m doing everyday at 9am? Crawling around our coffee table in circles. Over and over and over. That is to say, games like hide and seek and follow the leader are a couple of our favorite ways to play everyday.
We’ve been hard at work learning tricks! High-fives, “so-big”, and waving hi and bye are now in his little repertoire of talents. Lincoln and I love sending Ben off to work in the morning with a wave and greeting him the same way in the evening coupled with a shriek of joy when his car pulls into the driveway. Lincoln gets real excited too. Kidding! Seriously though, he sure loves his Dada!
I’d heard 9-12 months is a clingy stage and boy we’re feelin’ it. Little man attaches himself to my leg like a koala and does NOT want me to leave his sights. I love feeling needed but it’s a stark difference from the independence he had from 6-8 months. It makes sense – he’s more aware of his surroundings than ever before.
One of my favorite parts of the night is when Lincoln gets a little bit silly. It’s not so fun when it happens at meal time, ahem, but just after is hilarious. Ben and I sit and watch him crack himself up. Which cracks us up!
Speaking of mealtime, eating is going great. Despite his tiny size, homeboy must have a hollow leg or something because he really packs it in. We’ve had to cut him off a few times because he’d get a stomachache! Current faves include spaghetti, jam bread (bread misted with extra virgin olive oil and spread with a wee bit of jam,) peas, sweet potatoes, Cheerios (my God does that child love Cheerios,) lentil soup, black bean soup, deli turkey and chicken (I like Applegate Farms brand,) and ALL THE FRUIT.
I can’t wait to get clearance from my doc to feed him peanut butter. I asked a few months ago if I could start and she said she’d like to wait until he’s a year because treating a reaction on a 1 year old is easier than a 9 or 10 month old, which I understand. I know this is a hot button topic, and to each their own!
I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around weaning in the next few months. I’m still nursing 4 times a day, and in reality could drop one or maybe even both daytime feedings, but the bigger issue is the sippy cup. We use a bottle at bedtime maybe 3 times a week when it’s Ben’s night to put him to bed so I’m thinking he’s not going to be thrilled to switch from nursing/bottle to full time sippy cup – which he kind of hates anyway.
Furthermore, our bedtime routine is bath/PJs/books/nurse or bottle/bed, so do we just switch the nurse/bottle feeding to a sippy cup or do we switch the order of the routine so he drinks his milk first, perhaps even downstairs? It just seems weird to have him drink out of a sippy cup minutes before going to sleep. Maybe it’s just because I’m not used to him drinking a bottle.
Like I told a friend recently, I’m SURE I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill here but since he’s nursed almost exclusively, this is a huge step for us. Going to grill my doctor at our one year check up and see what she thinks.
Speaking of…T minus 2-1/2 weeks until our sweet little peanut turns ONE! How in the world did this happen? I’ve gotten as far as sending out invitations for his party and still need to figure out the menu, gifts, outfit, and cake. I’m so far behind! Luckily we are keeping it very, very low key. Ben and I were joking the other day that our early year birthday parties were held at McDonalds or Burger King and there’s like, 1 photo to document the whole thing. We’re skipping the fast food location but channeling its simple and sweet nature – old-school party hats and all. I really hope Lincoln will wear one of those cone birthday hats. I think I would die of happiness!
Until next month – the big O-N-E!
margaret 08.06.2014
would love to see a post about meals you feed lincoln. I think that is a common mommy issue… getting bored and in a rut with baby/toddler meal times!
my little guy is almost 13 months, and I am so confused about the night time too. he seems to be weaning himself and not really nursing for calories at the moment. I’m in the “don’t offer, don’t refuse” camp, so we will see how it goes.
lindsey 08.04.2014
That boy is seriously so so so cute!It’s nice to hear a mommy appreciate the clingy phase!! I love my little velcro baby! Wondering if you’d do a post on how y’all keep yourselves busy during the day? My 16 mo old seems to enjoy very similar activities daily, and we mix it up very rarely because of this! It’d be nice to get other ideas maybe ? :) also, you have perfect teeth and look SO HAPPY!
Jess 07.26.2014
If you’re not ready to wean, don’t rush it. My little guy will be one in a few weeks and we’re not even considering it. I nursed my daughter for 22 months including the first six months of my pregnancy with my son. I only weaned her because I had incredible pregnancy induced nipple pain when she nursed.
Best advice, slowly (once every week or two) dip the day time feedings, then morning. Bed time should be last as it’s typically just as much for comfort as it is for the milk.
Congratulations for almost getting trough the first year of motherhood!
Lindsay 07.24.2014
You have the cutest baby I have EVER seen. And I am not the type of person to say that to every mom I know. Seriously. OUT OF THIS WORLD CUTE.
Jade 07.24.2014
Our daughter just turned 6 months today and we had her dr’s appointment yesterday. I actually asked the doctor about sippy cups, and my doctor said he’s not a fan. He said there’s really no difference between the bottle and the sippy cup. So I don’t know exactly what we will do when we get to that point, but I found that interesting. We have barely started solids at this point so she is definitely getting her fill from BM for the foreseeable future. Good luck in your transition Lincoln is adorable.
AmberLynn Pappas 07.23.2014
When my first son was about 9 months he switched to a cup and not a bottle at all. I was still nursing him, but whenever DaDee had to give him the breastmilk it was in a cup. By the time he was a year old he was down to just one or two nursing sessions a day unless he had a fall or some other reason that he wanted to comfort nurse. He was easy to wean by 14 months with the introduction of whole milk mixed with stored breast milk. I stopped at that age mostly because of outside pressures and the fact that he had all of his teeth minus the 2 year molars.
My little one is now 13 1/2 months old and not anywhere close to being weaned. He won’t take anything out of a sippy cup unless it’s water. He won’t even drink breast milk out of a bottle any more. I haven’t traveled in a few months and I’m wondering how it’s going to go in August when I’m gone from him for a few days again and grandma and grandpa have to try and feed him. He was sleeping 6-8 hours straight through the night a few weeks ago, but he’s a serious homebody and we traveled as a family the last two weekends. Now he’s up 3x a night wanting to nurse. He now both signs and says milk and asks for it a lot. I think he’s rebelling from weaning. We even tried whole milk mixed with breast milk and whole milk on its own. He’s not taking it either way in any kind of cup (sippy, straw, regular).
I think every child is different and maybe you and Lincoln will figure it out when you’re both ready to be done. A lot of my friends have nursed to 18 months and beyond. Plus, milk might not always be the answer. My oldest announced to us at almost 3 that he will no longer drink cow’s milk and has since switched to almond milk, but still revels in cheese and yogurt. Go figure. Best of luck!
PS-The nighttime weaning was the last to go at our house. We just got to the point where DaDee was reading the story and Mama held him without nursing. That way the routine didn’t change, just one element did. He became more interested in the stories that way too.
Joanna Gehrke 07.22.2014
Oh my, time has flown! I must say, Lincoln is one of the cutest little boys I ever did see! :) And he sure does love his mama and dada! I love those kissy pictures! Love that he is eating tons of food. My oldest was that way, and now my youngest who is 15 months I am struggling with as far as food goes. It has been hard for me!
I am a nursing mama too. I weaned Henry at 18 months and I cried! Hudson is still nursing at 15 months so we shall see how long this one lasts! I can’t see it going past 2, maybe earlier! But I have always thought 12 months is so soon! Most babies (and mamas) are not ready at that point! Best of luck with whatever you decide! Thank you for letting us be a part of Lincolns first year! XO
Regan 07.20.2014
Lincoln is so so cute…your selfies of the two of you are awesome!!…. He’ll pick up on the sippy…in due time..I promise!
Lacey 07.20.2014
You know there is no real reason to wean right now if you don’t want to right? World Health Organization actually recommend breastmilk until 2. It is whatver you and your lil man are comfortable with. I know lots of mamas who nurse after in dsm :)