Signs that actually mean something

Last week at ECFE we discussed signing with your child. We of course have been diligently using about 5 signs with Dylan for many months and I was starting to feel like it was a waste of time. Then on Wednesday we were having lunch and there it was....more, more, more. Dylan was making the sign for more. Once he realized how happy it made me it did it a lot for the rest of the meal. So now I feel like I should add a couple more signs that would make our life just a little bit easier until he can tell me for himself what he wants.

Later in the week I discovered that Dylan also knows the sign for milk. He doesn't come to me and make the sign but he did make it while nursing in bed on Saturday morning and then he made it for Daddy while eating breakfast on Monday morning. So in light of this we will continue to make the signs and be delighted whenever Dylan learns a new one.

First Molar!

Monday morning we had our first music class of the winter. Dylan's friends Tasman and Elena are also signed up for the same class. I thought it was nice that he would see some familiar faces. Of course it appeared that Dylan was oblivious to his little buddies, he spent the whole time cruising around the room checking things out (and this is a space that he has been to before). He had fun though so I am not complaining. It is a shame that we will not be able to hang out with his buddies after class due to the "race" home for nap time.

Well we raced home for the nap. Dylan did not fall asleep on the way home but there was no nap. He cried and so we tried some food and then we tried to nap again. We played some more and tried again....and then gave up. Matt and I had been discussing the drool situation and so while I was on Skype with my Mum I tipped Dylan over and had a little look in that mouth......one shiny white molar just peeking out. And just to prove that he was not happy the afternoon nap was all of 30 minutes. What a day. Fortunately the napping situation hasn't gotten any worse since then and as of Wednesday night he seems to be doing okay.

First of the First Birthdays

Saturday was the first of the First Birthdays. Dylan's friend Tasman turned 1 on Friday (the same day as his Mom) and we were lucky to celebrate this occasion with him on Saturday. Unfortunately the birthday boy was less than excited to be sharing his toys with all of his little friends. All the guests had a great time. Dylan was treated with a Wizard wand and I ate the candy.

Night 3 of Sleep Training

Last night was almost a "one wake" night. Dylan woke at about 3.30am and reluctantly drank the 4oz from the bottle. He would have much preferred fresh warm milk but he was not having any. I then had to give him his lovey at about 4.15am...but then he sleep until 7am. Yay!!!

Having gotten up early I expected him to nap early. So at about 8.45 we were in the nursery reading stories. After two books Dylan pointed at the crib so I put him in there and he rewarded me by messing around in his crib for the next half an hour. Eventually asleep he went down for a good nap.

The boy is turning into a book junkie, after his afternoon nap we read four books. I cut it off at that by moving us to another room.

Sleep Training - Another Round

So last night was the second night of our latest round of sleep training.

On the first night Dylan was awake early (around 1am) looking for some food. I gave him 4oz and put him back in his crib. He was awake again at 3:30am and we listened to him cry on and off (enough crying that you don't get any sleep) until 5am when I fed the starving babe.

Night number two..Dylan woke at about 4am. Progress I suppose. I tried to feed him the bottle and he kept breaking off and pointing at my boobs. In the end I decided he wasn't that hungry and I put him back in the crib. More crying until 5am when I fed him. He then slept until 7.45am.

Fingers crossed for the rest of the week and maybe we will get back that baby that slept through the night before we went to New Zealand.

A New Year

2010 was an amazing year for us. Our family grew many times, first with the birth of Dylan in February, then with the marriage of Sarah and Rod in September and then with the marriage of Donna and Brendon in November. We were so lucky to be able to attend all of these events and share the love that was present.

It has been a year of exhaustion, amazement, smiles, laughter, glee and love (I could probably go on here). It is wonderful to look back at pictures of the tiny little being that came home from the hospital with us and then look at the babbling boy pushing his clicky-clacky crocodile walker down the hallway. Everyone tells you it goes so fast and it certainly does.

We are looking forward to an even more amazing year than the last. My aim is not to get so caught up in what is coming that I miss out on enjoying what is happening right now. I want to savor every moment of the coming year like expensive chocolate melting slowly in your mouth.