Wow, I haven't blogged in so long. I haven't been keeping up with Knox's milestones, with his ups and downs, with his first words, with anything basically. I can't believe how busy I've been and how I am letting life slip me by without documenting it. As we approach Knox's first birthday (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?) I figured I really need to make a conscious effort to be better at this. So that is my goal. I did do an Easter post of Knox on my professional blog so it's not like I haven't done anything. You can stop laughing now.
Where to begin? I don't even know.
So I'll start here .... Knox's first word was "dada." Granted I don't think he registered what it meant (and I'm still not sure he does), but that was the first "word" he said. And when did this happen? See, this is where I feel like a horrible mother. Because I didn't take note when it first happened. I think I may have posted something on Facebook at the time, but it's too hard to scroll back through. What sticks out in my mind is sitting around my parent's dining room table in Pensacola, him saying "dada" or something awfully close and all of us clapping and cheering him on. So based on that recollection, I'm going to go with the rough estimate that his first word came in the beginning of June when he was 8 months old. Since then he babbles A LOT, but nothing coherent ever comes out and the only recognizeable word has been dada. Until yesterday. And then I heard the sweetest word ever. "Mama." He finally said it!!!! Just shy of 11 months. Again, not 100% positive he's associating me to that word, but I don't care. It melted my heart when he said it.
The other thing that melts my heart? When I go to pick him up from school. He'll be in the room playing, usually with his back to me. I'll show up at the door and his teacher will say "Knox, look who's here!" He'll see me, get this HUGE smile on his face and start flapping his arms. I don't know why he flaps his arms, but he does it anytime he's excited. Jeremy said he'd make a great bat for Halloween because he already does the arm flapping part. :-) I love that he gets so excited when I pick him up. But just this week you know what else he did that sent me over the top of the happiness scale? He actually REACHED out for me when I came to pick him up. Be still my heart.
He still isn't crawling, walking, or pulling himself up on his own. But he loves to stand! And he's pretty good at it. He can't do it completely on his own without at least an ottoman or something to hold on to, but he's pretty stable. Jeremy's mom said that Jeremy never crawled; he just went straight into walking. We'll see what Knox chooses to do. There are times it looks like he might crawl. I sit and hold my breath. And then, plop, back on his tummy he goes. So who knows.
This past weekend (August 20th) Jeremy dropped Knox's crib. I came home from shooting a wedding and went in to give him a kiss like I always do, and he was too low. :-( It made me sad. He's growing up way too fast. But that's a part of life.
And he's gotten so big. SO BIG. I can't believe he's the same boy who was born weighing 3 1/2 pounds. At last checkup he was just under 18 pounds! Granted at his 9 month appointment the doctor still said he was only in the 1% for weight and length, but whatever. To me, he is huge. On the plus side, he was in the 45% for head circumference. I have NO CLUE where he got the big head from seeing as both Jeremy and I have baby heads. Maybe it's something that skips a generation.... As far as clothing size goes, it is so difficult to buy for him. In most shirts, he fits into size 9 month. But for pants/shorts.... that's a whole 'nother story. In fact, he's still fitting into size 3 months! Yes, 3 months. The pants/shorts that are 6 months or, God forbid, 9 months, just slip right off him when you stand him up. He looks so funny because the 3 month ones are way too short on him. Poor kid.
We have finally moved Knox to an umbrella stroller and his other stroller without the car seat attached. He definitely looks so grown up sitting upright in his stroller, toys attached, and still reaching out for anything he can grab at the store.
I can't remember when he first started sitting up on his own unsupported. Yet another milestone I missed documenting. But I think he was somewhere around 9 months. I honestly don't know how this compares to other babies and what is "normal." But I don't care. Plus, always remember we have to adjust two months back for all that he does (until he is two I've been told). But it doesn't matter to me. I don't care if he sat up later than most babies, I don't care that he's not crawling yet, I don't care if he's not saying a lot of words that make sense, I don't care that he still eats mainly pureed foods. He's happy and healthy. And that's all I care about.
Speaking of food, he loves to eat.
I have been making his food (for the most part) and keep trying different recipes. Some are a huge hit, some not so much. One particular meal - sigh - I spent 2 1/2 hours making: beets, squash, and quinoa. It made a ton too! So I used all of my freezer containers and the entire top shelf of our freezer had beets in it. Well, turns out Knox doesn't like beets. At all. Oh we tried more than once. We had granny try. We had day care try. No one could get him to eat the beets. So finally this weekend I tossed it all. No use taking up freezer space (and freezer containers) with something he doesn't like. Another thing he hasn't quite warmed up to? Roasted red pepper hummus. I personally think it tastes pretty good. But the jury's still out on that one. We'll try a couple more times before calling it quits. However, he did love the broccoli & cauliflower. Go figure. That stuff smelled HORRIBLE making. But he liked it. So I have it on the agenda to make again (gag). I also tried coconut milk rice with peaches. He seemed to like that alright. And he definitely likes all the basics: sweet potato, pears, apples, bananas, squash, yogurt...and any combo of those. I made him a squash risotto and he thought that was ok. Basically, I don't think he likes to "work" for his food. So anything that requires chewing, he's only so-so about. Well kiddo needs to buck up because I'm about to introduce him to meat! Oh, we did give him some grits this past weekend and he really liked those! The egg.... he wasn't sure about.
Things he loves?
The pool.
The pool.
Playing with Kai's tail (and taking her toys).
Bouncing.
Going out and about (doesn't matter where, as long as he's the center of attention).
(sorry no pic!)
Monkey blanket (thanks Samantha!)
(sorry no pic!)
(sorry no pic!)
Playing with sushi (thanks Kara!).
And He-Man. Yes, He-Man. Don't ask.
So there you go. Six months (or more) of updates in one post. I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting. But as I remember, I'll try to write. I regret not keeping better track of his milestones, of his life. But in the end, the only thing that truly matters I guess is that I'm there for him and that I love him with my whole heart.
Contemplating what I want for my birthday......
(All photos taken with the iPhone and edited with Instagram).
