1 year and 1 month!

Here are some pictures of our family at the park. We have to go there often because Doodle Bug loves it! And, we love the extra long nap that follows ;o)

Below is a picture of Doodle Bug at Grandma's house next to her pond. He liked watching the enormous Koi swim around.

Over the weekend, we went down to South Florida to wish Aunt Christina a happy Birthday. Since she lives on the beach, we had to take a moment to let Doodles play in the sand.

Of course, he's waving to the girls laying out in the sun!

Mesmerized by the water and his sinking feet!

Playing at the Park

Doodles is still cruising along. He will take just a few steps on his own then leans far forward, begins to topple over, and hopes that you're there to catch him! So I thought I would take him to the park to watch others kids walk, run, and play. Plus the flooring at the park is real mushy and soft, so if he fell, it wouldn't hurt too bad. Naturally, my little climber headed straight for the rock climbing wall. He just kind of stood there and walked along side the base of the "mountain". Then two boys went barreling up the side of it and I thought Doodles' eyes were going to pop out of his head. You could actually see the wheels turning inside his head. He kept lifting his leg up and trying to get up the side. With Mom's help, he made it to the top!





Next, Doodle Bug saw some boys playing by a wheel. So holding onto to Mom's hands he made his way over to them and said, "Uuuuhhhh". Must be his way of saying "hi". The boys stared at each other for a while, then Doodles let go of my hand and reached for the wheel, as if to say, I don't need you, Mom! The other boys took off to climb up the slide, but Doodle Bug LOVED steering the big wheel!

Overall, Doodle Bug enjoyed his time at the park and did a great job practicing his walking! I, on the other hand, was busy counting the GAZILLION germs that Doodles had touched. I kept looking at the other Moms wondering why they didn't have the same grossed out look on their faces when their kids touch everything. One little boy actually picked up some smashed goldfish off the ground and ate it. The mom never even got up, she just said, "Ewww, don't do that again!". Then went back to her iPhone. I wanted so badly to take out my Clorox wipes and sanitize the whole playground, but I knew I'd get a bunch of looks. So, instead, I made sure nothing went in Doodle Bug's mouth and when we made it back to the car, I glopped on the hand sanitizer. As soon as we made it home, I plunked him in a bubble bath! Funny, because I remember going to the park, then eating a snack while there, and I never washed or sanitized my hands. How did I survive?

Pictures of the past week!

So little time to blog these days! Here are some pictures to catch you up on this past week of our life. Enjoy!


Drinking milk and relaxing on the couch. Life doesn't get any better than this!


My new tent! I love playing in here!

Is this how we sit on the couch?

Doodle Bug eating his all beef, nitrate free, hot dogs :o) I watch him so carefully because I'm so afraid he'll choke. However, as you can see in the picture, I cut up the dog into such tiny pieces, that I think he'll be just fine!

This was just a good photo op. in front of Mimi's Cafe!

Finger Painting

I've been wanting to do a finger painting project with Doodle Bug for a while now. So, on Tuesday, I finally was brave enough to attempt this. I had visions of him sticking his hand in green paint and dabbing it on the construction paper to make grass. Then using one finger to create a flower stem with leaves. Dipping a clean hand in red paint and using his hand print as the tulip. And finishing with a yellow hand print as the sun. I put a little glob of green paint on a paper plate and was ready to begin. Ha!! Doodle Bug had another idea!

Doodles decided he wanted to play peek-a-boo with the plate!


After several sessions of peek-a-boo, and a quick face clean-up, I finally got Doodle Bug to put his hands on the construction paper. I planned on guiding his hand to show him where to make the grass. He decided to show me where he wanted the grass to be!

After a few seconds he grew tired of the construction paper and wanted the plate back.

As you can see by the expression on his face, he LOVED his first arts and crafts session! Below is the finished product (with a little of Mom's help)

So much for my vision! Although, I must say, his way was a lot more fun ;o)

Doctor visit and Learning time!

Well, it seems hard to find the time to blog. Doodle Bug has been keeping me busy lately!

Last Monday, August 24, Doodles went to the pediatrician for his one year check-up. He weighs 18 lbs. 10 oz. which keeps him in the less than 5%ile for weight, but he grew in length to 29 in and that puts him in the 25%ile for height. So, I think he will just be tall and skinny :o) The doctor said not to worry that he is growing just as he should he's just a little peanut. He got his chicken pox vaccine and I was told to keep an eye on him for rash or fever for the next month. She also said we could finally get off formula and begin transitioning him to rice milk. Every 3 days I add an ounce more of rice milk and an ounce less of formula. Today, we are at 4 oz of rice milk to 2 oz of formula. Just a couple more days and he'll be off formula!!! My wallet will thank him!!!!!

The doctor also said it's time to start introducing milk and see if he still reacts to it. Since he is used to eating milk/soy free waffles in the morning, I bought him waffles from Publix that contains small amounts of milk in it. He ate them yesterday and today for breakfast. So far the only side effect I've noticed is that he is a bit more gassier. So we'll see how it goes. Below is a picture of him eating his waffles.

His 12 month picture. He's learning how to play baseball!



Now he's running away from me because he doesn't want to pose for any more pictures!

He's really at a fun age where I can teach him things. A family friend gave us a stack of these educational learning books (thanks D). So last Friday, I got the color book out and decided to work on colors. He's not interested in color names, but he loves the puzzle pieces. I spent all day on Friday showing him how to pull the puzzle piece out. I learned something new about my son. He became frustrated very easily and would cry if he couldn't get the puzzle piece out after just 2 tries! So I would rub his back and, "say you can do it keep trying", and finally, just before Dad got home from work, Doodles mastered the skill and was able to show his Daddy!!! Here is a video of his work!

All weekend he kept playing with the puzzle book and he even took it to church with him. Although he was still a terror at church this past Sunday...but that's another story!

Yesterday, I decided to get the legos out. It was one of his birthday gifts. At first, Doodles just wanted to throw them and clink them together, but after I showed him how to push them together, he caught on quickly. Here is another video of lego time!