Baby

No More Crib

~ Julie

And that’s it.

I no longer have a crib in my house. It’s been converted into a toddler bed. And don’t think for a second that I‘m the only sentimental sap around here. To honor this important milestone last night, Lola put on the bedsheets Jaz used to sleep on, picked out one of Miss C’s old baby blankets as the cover, and tucked in one of her Care Bears next to Junior’s favorite pajamas, which she laid out so nicely for him.

“Something from all the toddlers who slept here,“ she explained.

And then she crawled up next to him and read his bedtime book right there with him, because, you know, rocking chairs are for babies, and he ain‘t a baby any more. 

Cheering Squad

~ Julie

At some point, he’s going to learn that most humans do NOT have cheering squads applaud and praise their every move. But that wasn’t happening last night.

This was his reaction when we all cheered his ability to eat dinner with a fork.

TBT: Little Bitty Baby

~ Julie

We celebrate an important birthday this weekend, so today’s Throwback Thursday photo is from November 2008, taken when my Lola was just a few days old. She was a dream come true: my very own living baby doll who looked just like me. When they held up Lola over the curtain for that first glance, my immediate thought was, “She looks JUST LIKE ME! She is MINE!”

I can’t believe she’s hitting the double digits now! Thank goodness she still lets me squish her face every now and then.

My Last One

~ Julie

How many late nights have I paced the room with a baby on my shoulder? This one — my last one — is getting heavier and heavier. I’m going to miss this when I can no longer pick him up.

Morning Sunshine

~ Julie

In the blurry morning sunlight, I see a baby who is very pleased with himself for not even needing an alarm clock to wake at 6 a.m. He just spent the past hour poking our faces, singing in our ears, and flopping his body over our limbs and heads.

All the Babies

~ Julie

I added our new selfie stick to this week’s Saturday morning pile-on, and captured this accurate depiction of motherhood at this stage of my life.

In other news, since Germans don’t do closets, we converted the smallest bedroom (which is right next to our bedroom) into “die Ankleide” or dressing room.

Martin just installed the last bit of shelving this evening. Ohhhh, I’m so excited to hang up all my clothes again!!!

 

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Language Development

~ Julie

They say just before 10 months of age, the expression of emotions becomes more complex. And he’s beginning to understand language, but can’t yet use the words himself. Nevertheless, he makes himself quite clear.

(He wants another corn puff.)