Geddy does lots of signs on his own now. Cat, hat, dad, eat, milk. He imitates tons of other signs. But he only says a few words, mum mum, nana, dada, mama

Baby playing the drums

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving dinner was great. It was at Sheryl's house. She made a delicious turkey, and had traditional sides, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and jello salad. Oh an d you can't forget the gravy, and bread. Yum. And Geddy had a fun time getting lots of attention from everyone. We watched football all day, except for during dinner.

Today, we had a fun time, since we decided to go to the Mentor Graphics gym. It was the first time I've worked out for maybe 2 years. Merrill, Geddy and I went. I ran for 10 min and did weights for 10 min, while Merrill and Geddy were in the gymnasium. Merrill shot hoops, and Geddy played with his balls that we brought for him. And then I came into the gymnasium, and practiced volleyball and also played ball with Geddy. He was very cute and had lots of fun. I think that we'll try to do that every weekend in the morning now. It's a good chance for Geddy to play, and we can avoid the rain without being stuck at home. Also, the mall play area is kind of crazy, with lots of older kids jumping, so I don't feel comfortable bringing Geddy there unless it's quiet. So now he can roam around in the gym and I don't have to worry about other kids jumping on him.
 
We got Geddy a new car seat, a Graco Myride 65. It's rear facing until 40 lbs, and then you can switch it to forward facing until 65 lbs. A strange but useful feature is that it has cupholders. Isn't that funny?

me volleyball. Geddy had a blast.

Merrill geddy and I went to the mentor gym today and had a blast. I worked out for 20 min and geddy and merrill played in the gymnasium. Then I played so

Geddy can whistle backward while inhaling. Quirky skill for a baby to have!

Sign Language

Geddy is starting to do a lot more sign language now. He still doesn't really initialize any signing except milk, but he can imitate a lot of signs now, and I think that he understands what they are. But he still doesn't understand that instead of whining, he can just sign something and communicate. The signs that he imitates and I think he understands are milk, eat, all done, dog, drink, bird, and more. But they are quite off from what a proper sign would look like. But he is trying, and it's super cute to see.

He went down super easy tonight, awesome! Bath at 7:30, asleep at 8:25. He's starting to get into lala his giraffe, and also a felt bear. Napped for 2 1/2 hrs today in his carrier.

Only woke up twice

Last night, I tried putting Geddy to sleep earlier because I though he was tired but he fell asleep at 8:45 as usual. So our bedtime ended up being like an hour and a half or something. I was in the room with him, and he just kept on getting up, walking around, looking at books, etc. He woke up once at 12:30 and I fed him then, and he woke up at 4:30, and we didn't feed him, but Merrill rubbed his back. It did take him a while to go back to sleep though, around half an hour. He woke up late, around 8:10 am.

 

Merrill co-slept with him overnight.

 

Overnight sleep time: 11 hrs

Nap time: 1 1/2 hrs

Potluck dinner

Today, I hosted a potluck dinner for a mother's meetup group. I think Geddy was a bit stunned at first with all the kids, but he didn't have a meltdown or anything, so that was good. He seemed cranky, so I put him to bed early, but he ended up falling asleep at exactly the same time as always, 8:45 pm. He had one nap today, in the car, on our way back from a nice but short hike. And on the hike, I ran into a fellow CDC mom, Jody, who has a son Benjy. She was hiking with her 3 boys and husband, and it was cool to meet her in the forest. Her son Benjy was super cute, 3 yrs old, walking very slowly, picking up leaves and whatnot. I can see that in Geddy's future.

Better day

Today went much better. He fell asleep at 8:15 pm, by himself. We re-arranged his room, took the dresser and bookcase out, and he can now sleep on the mattress. The room is completely babyproof. It's cute how he falls asleep. He'll drink water, walk around, look at his stuffed animals, lie down for a bit, walk around again, etc, until he eventually goes to sleep. No crying involved.

He took one nap today, for around 1 1/2 hrs. Merrill had to drum him to sleep.

Awake at 7:10.

Asleep at 9:15, on the mattress on the floor, without cuddling with me.

Merrill's first night sleep training

Last night, our goal was to completely night wean Geddy. So we put a mattress down in Geddy's room, and Merrill spent the entire night with him. We started our bedtime routine at 7:45, with me giving him a bath, and putting on his PJs. I then nursed him, then we turned on his star nightlight and I read to him. Merrill then came into the room, and we both laid down on the mattress with Geddy between us, and we rubbed his belly until he fell asleep at 8:45 pm. Merrill moved him to his crib after 5 min.

At 11 pm, he woke up, and Merrill was able to get him back to sleep in his crib by rubbing his belly. But he kept on waking up every 10 min or so. Between 11 and midnight, he woke up 3 times. He wouldn't drink any water. He finally fell asleep with Merrill on the mattress.

He also woke up at 3:30 and 5:30, and woke for the day at 6:50 am.

Fell asleep at 8:45, on futon in his room, with merrill and I. Merrill will try moving him in 5 min to his crib.

Woke at 1:30, fed him, back in crib. 3:30, brought him to our bed, fed him. Screaming awake at 4:30 and 6. Fed him both times I think. Woke at 7:30.

Asleep at 9:15. Nursed him, tried to put him down awake. Lots of crying, pupd, eventually rocked him to sleep.

11:30. Nursed him then, plus once in the middle of the night.

Slept for 11 hrs last night. Nursed him to sleep, and brought him to bed at 1q

Total disaster

Last night was a total disaster.  The sleep training did not go well at all last night. My main goal was to have him sleep in his crib all night. He always goes to sleep really easily. But he woke up at 11:30. I was able to get him back to sleep in his crib. And he woke at 12:30. I was not able to get him back to sleep. I ended up nursing him on the floor of his room, hoping that he would fall asleep and that I could move him back to his crib. Which I did. But then he woke up screaming at 1:30. He was inconsolable. At that point he came into our bed with us, and spent the night there. Since he woke up at 6:20 I hardly got any sleep, since he also had one other waking, at 3 or 4.

He slept great at daycare, 12-2. And he fell asleep great tonight again, at 8 pm. Hope we have a better night!

Number of hours slept: Overnight, 10, nap, 2.

Geddy took 3 naps today. His first was quite early, at around 9 or so. He took one after lunch in the car, and after visiting Matt, on the way home, he fell asleep again, and Merrill drove him around so that he could get a longer nap in.

Bedtime routine started at 7:50, and he fell asleep at 8:40. Bath, PJs, books, nursing, and I nursed him to sleep even though I didn't intend to. He has his new toddler pillow, he looks so cute snuggled up to it.

Number of hours slept last day

Asleep at 7:10 pm, woke up at 6:20 am, so slept for 11 hrs overnight. But he woke up to eat twice, so subtract 45 min, so we'll say he slept for 10 1/2 hrs.

And he napped only once, for slightly longer than an hour. So his total sleep for the day was 12 hours, not enough for a 12 month old baby.

When he woke up at 11:30 am, I nursed him in the armchair, and then he started falling asleep in my arms. But he never got fully asleep, and when I tried bouncing and walking him, he cried more. So I brought him into our bed. I comfort nursed him, and he fell asleep right away. Then he also woke up at 4 am, and I nursed him then too, and he fell asleep right away.

Goals for sleep training

Okay, I'm tired of waking up in the middle of the night, and giving in to Geddy, both for nursing, and for co-sleeping. So we're starting sleep training tonight!

Goals for sleep training by Dec 1
Sleep in crib all night
Only nurse once a night after 4 am

Strategy for tonight
Same bedtime routine, still nurse him
Make sure he goes in crib awake
Sit in armchair, pick him up if he's crying hard
If he's not crying hard, just pat him on the back
If he's standing up, lay him down. Might have to do this 30 times.

In the middle of the night:
Before 4 am: give him a drink of water, lay him down, if he cries, pick him up.
After 4 am: nurse him

Woke up a couple of times overnight and slept with us, woke at 7:30. Nap at 12.

crib at 8.

Took a nap from 11 to 12:30. Had the party for emily at 4:30, at erin's house. Geddy fell asleep in the car on the way home, at 7, and was asleep in his

I'm super tired today. I want to nurse him less at night. And I want him to sleep in his own crib.

Woke at 12:30, and nursed him. Couldn't get him to sleep in crib, so he slept with us. Nursed a few times more during the night and woke at 7:30.

Bedtime routine at 7:30, asleep at 8:30. Woke at 9:45, and bounced him back to sleep with difficulty.

At daycare, napped from 12:05 to 1:15. Bedtime routine at 7, asleep at 8:15.

Geddy fell asleep at 9, and woke at 7, for 10 hrs total night sleep. Plus he woke up twice to nurse. I think he's teething.

Geddy's 1st year picture compared with Karen

Overnight sleep time: 11 hrs
Nap time: 1 hr

Bath at 8 pm, then went downstairs for a cracker and celery while the rest of the family ate dinner. We ate by candlelight, aww, how romantic. Merrill read him books at 8:30 pm in his room, and I nursed him at 8:40. Asleep by 9 pm.

Naps: took one nap today, while driving home from lunch, so from 1 pm - 2:10. Merrill drove around a bit just to give him some nap time.

Last night, he woke up a lot of times, I think at 11:30, 3, 7, and woke for the day when the alarm went off at 8.

Sleeping

Tonight, Geddy went to sleep at 9 pm. He had a bath at 8 pm, books at 8:10, and nursing at 8:15.

At daycare, he napped for 2 hours in the afternoon on the cot. He fell asleep on his stomach with someone rubbing his back and laying beside him.

Bedtime routine Nov 1

We came home late from dinner for Merrill’s birthday. We arrived home at around 8:30 pm.

Bedtime routine:

8:30 pm: bath

8:50 pm: pajamas

9:00 pm: Nursed

He fell asleep, but when I put him in his crib, he woke up. Then, I gave him medicine, and played in his room.

9:30 pm: Read 3 books, played with stuffed animals

9:45 pm: Nurse

10 pm: Asleep in crib

He woke up at 3:30 am, crying hard. I brought him to our bed, I nursed him, and he fell asleep. He started stirring at around 7:50 am, and started nursing him then. Alarm clock at 8 am, and got up for the day. He seemed kind of tired in the morning, so I’m wondering if he will take a morning nap.

I think that spending time in the bedroom with low lights, just reading and playing with stuffed animals, works out well in calming him down. I definitely want to continue that.

For 5 min, then woke up. Asleep at 10, then woke at 11:30, and 3. Brought him to our bed at 3. Fed at 3 and 7:30. Woke at 9.

Asleep at 8 pm.

Went to david and donna's for halloween. They had some friends over, and bob and judy.

and didn't nap.

Napped from 3:30 to 4:30. Tried my new nap routine at 12:30, and tried to have him not fall asleep nursing, but it aggravated him so much that he woke up

Woke up at 8:45, was awake in the middle of the night from 4:30 to 6. Had fever, but this morning seems much happier.

Started bedtime routine at 8, asleep at 9:40.

Nap from 3:15 to 4:15, and this morning from 10 to 11.

Bedtime Routine

Here is Geddy's bedtime routine:

7:30 pm: Bath, brush teeth, pajamas
8 pm: Read 2 books
8:10 pm: Lights out, nursing
8:30 pm: In bed, rub back, sh sh, until asleep

Sleep until 8 am. 12 month olds should sleep 11 1/2 to 12 hrs every night.

Naps should total 2-3 hours.

Fell asleep at 8:30 in the car. Woke up at 7:30.

Had our first non family babysiter. Rich took care of Geddy while Merrill and I went out for sushi.

Went to bed at midnight. Was hyperactive. And woke up at 9.

Just bought the book the no cry sleep solution for toddlers and preschoolers.

Went to the park in West Linn and he had a great time walking on the baseball field which is astroturf.

And he ran this morning! When I was leaving at daycare, he ran after me.

He fell asleep at daycare on a cot, and Trish did it by vibrating the cot.

When geddy fell asleep last night, he only slept for 5 min. Then he was up until midnight. And woke up at 9:15, so I was super late for work.

Geddy walked 21 steps today! I guess he's officially a walker now.

He fell asleep at 8:45 pm. Now I should be doing the dishes, but instead I'm drinking a glass of wine and looking at the internet. Going to look into a 529 and an account for Geddy.

I can't believe how stormy it is right now. It's rained a ton the last 3 days.

Photos from Geddy's birthday

 

d crying for an hour or so. Every time his head hit his crib he would cry.

Had a minor disaster last night. Merrill wanted to give me a break in the middle of the night so went to console him. Total disaster, and he was awake an

I was able to capture geddy walking on video. Yay!

Today, meeting april and hardy for lunch at olive garden.

Geddy went to sleep at 9 pm, and woke at 9 am. But was awake in the middle of the night for an hour or so, from 5:30-6:30.

Went to sleep at 9 pm and woke up at 7:30. I'm tired today, bleh, and it's rainy.

Woke up at 8. Had to give him ibuprofen last night because of fever due to the shots.

Asleep at 8:55 pm, and only had one 30 min nap today.

Today, he decided that he wanted to walk, so practiced a lot. And he discovered how to pick his nose.

Had his 12 month checkup, and weighs 25 lbs and is 30.75 inches long, both 75th percentile.

Had his mmr and variacella shot, so hope he sleeps okay tonight.

He now does 3 signs, milk, all done, and eat. He tries to imitate other signs, but they don't look like the sign at all.

Photos from Silver Falls near Silverton, OR

 

Because he woke up twice in the early evening, ended up cosleeping the entire night. Woke up at 8, feel great.

Asleep at 8:30. Had a hellish day because of my cold, and feeling frustrated because of chores.

He ended up sleeping with us starting at 3:30. Woke up at 7:15. And now I have a killer sore throat. Thanks Geddy.

Woke up again at 10:45.

Woke up at 9:45, but was able to get him back to sleep. It's going to be a long night.

Asleep at 8:45 pm. Only napped 30 min today. I hope he sleeps through the night. He ate a full container of yogurt tonight. Did not like his soup at all

Geddy on the swing set

Geddy was awake for 2 hrs in the middle of the night last night. But today we had a fun time at Atalafi Park.

Bedtime

He went to sleep at 9:50pm. Hopefully he's down for the night, unlike last night, when he woke up at 11, and I couldn't get him back to sleep.

Fell asleep for his first nap of the day at 2 pm.

Going hiking at Silver Falls

He took 10 steps today. And at his checkup yesterday, he weighed 25 lbs 1 oz.

Geddy has pinkeye! Poor baby.