1st Birthday Recap - Petting Zoo

(handmade by me)

My baby is 1!!! Can you believe it? I sure can't. 

July 30 was his actually birthday but on Saturday August 1 we had Kingston's first birthday party. 

(via)

CT and I knew that we weren't going to spend money on gifts for Kingston so we used that money towards a party that we knew all the kids could enjoy. After seeing how much Kingston enjoyed the animals at a graduation party, we knew it was exactly what we wanted to do for his birthday - have a petting zoo in our backyard! 

(Kingston watching them get set up)

4 Points Ranch & Petting Zoo provided one of a kind entertainment for everyone. It was a 2:00pm party in the middle of July - so they set up tents for everyone to hang out under. All of the animals were either tied up around the yard or put in open cages where you could have easy access to them. You could pet them, feed them, brush them and lead them around the yard. We had the animals reserved for an hour and it was the perfect amount of time. 

They brought:

Donkey

Miniature Horse

Miniature Cow

Pig (that sat on command)

Alpaca 

Llama

Goat

Turkey

Baby Chicks 

 Scout and Kingston

(Shirt via // shorts via // moccs via)

Jade and Kingston

We had popsicles and water for the first hour while outside and then we came in and ate cookies and cupcakes, sang happy birthday and opened gifts! 

(Bib via)

It was a short and sweet party but plenty of time for everyone to have fun! 

Kingston: 12 Months

Can't believe I already have a 1 year old!!!

As of 7.30.15

24 lbs
30.5" 
Blonde Hair
Hazel Eyes
5 Teeth

Clothes: 12-18 months.

Diapers: Size 5. We are also on the largest rise setting in cloth diapers but no change with the waist snaps.

Shoes: He wears some 4c hard soled shoes and in moccs he can still fit his 0-6 months or 6-12 months. 

  

Eating

Anything and everything. And if he sees someone else eating - he will sign please for your food.
He LOVES: bananas, M&M's, milk, grapes, gold fish, meat loaf, spaghetti, all drinks. 
He dislikes: soft baby food and some meats with weird textures. 

Since bottles are no longer allowed at daycare in the toddler room - I've stopped pumping at work and we've transitioned into Whole Milk in sippy cups. Kingston still nurses in the morning and before bed and I'm still trying the think of how we are going to break this habit. I know's it's going to be a tough one.

Sleeping 

This month he has transitioned from 3 naps to 1 at daycare. He usually wakes up about 630a, naps from noon to 2-3 and then is in bed by 730p.  The first week of daycare was extremely brutal to say the least. We had a super grumpy baby that all he wanted to do was sleep. Now that he's in a routine - things are much better. 

He also now sleeps like a big boy on a floor mat.

Milestones

Started crawling at 8.5 months, walking at 9.5 months and running (striding out) at 10.5 months.

He claps at the right moments.

He waves -- ALL the time and to everyone. 

Gives kisses and hugs. 

He high fives.
He turns off the lights.

He knows his name.
He signs more and please.

He has 5 teeth (two top, 3 bottom) - with a gap and an underbite. 

He now runs as much as he walks.
He throws balls with both hands and with pretty good form. 
Knows where your eyes and mouth are. 
Knows what a cow, monkey, pig and horse say.
He 'pounds it'. 
He knows how to work a cell phone better then a 1 year old should.
He does push ups and high knees. 
He dances better than I do. 

Likes

FOOD!
People.
Footballs.

The TV remote.

All sports - in person or on tv. 

Bath time or being in the pool. 

Playing with balls.
Reading books - 'Dog wants to play.'

Music and DANCING to any and every beat. The whip nae nae calms him down immediately. 

Being outside. 

Women. Especially Asian women. And Aynslee.
Face timing his G-dub. 
Playing in the toilets and dog bowl.

Dislikes

Being in his carseat. 
Being told no - he growls back at us. 

Sounds/Words
Da-Da - all the time

Ma-Ma but will maybe say it once to every 300 Da-Das. 

Hi.

Baby. 

Eye. 

Ball. 

Lilly.

Go. 

Car. 

Ky - Kyla. 

Teta - Tessa. 

Nana - for banana. 

M&M's - gibberish though.
Cracker.
Cookie. 
Baloo - Balloon.
Tatha - Tasha his teacher. 
Gabi - girl in his class.

Lots of repeating!

Activities

Dancing.

Playing in the water.
Walking.
Reading books. 
Throwing balls. 

Misc.

Kingston's Aunt Kyla has moved in with us and he has such a good time playing with her, dancing with her and laughing with her. They takes lots of walks to the park and she is always playing dress up in his closet. 

We also celebrated Kingston's birthday this past month with a bunch of his friends and 10 different animals. He had such a good time walking around like a big boy - going from person to person, animal to animal without any help! The kid has no fear and it's scary. 

I can't believe a year has already came and went.
It's been the faster and best year of my life! 

Kingston: 9,10 and 11 Months

Forgive me for my tardiness but I've skipped a few updates so hopefully this post gets me back on track with Kingston's monthly updates. One one remains!

As of 7.8.15

9 months - 21 lbs (75%) 29 3/4" (95%) 

10 months - skipped = bad mom! 

11 months - 23 lbs and 31" - growing like a weed! 

These days his hair is a very light brown that sometimes looks blonde. It flips out in the back, flows in the wind on the sides and is lacking on top. He has a gorgeous light brown tan and the prettiest hazel eyes. He also has 4 teeth with a gap in the middle top and a slight underbite. 

Clothes: 12-18 months.

Diapers: Over these past 3 months - King has transitioned from a size 3 into a size 5. We are also on the largest rise setting in cloth diapers but no change with the waist snaps.

Shoes: He wears some 4c hard soled shoes and in moccs he can still fit his 0-6 months or 6-12 months. 

  

Eating

This kid is into eating any and everything - and as of today - no longer wants anything to do with 'soft' food. His schedule: 630a - nurse, 830a breakfast (yogurt and fruit), 1130a lunch (meat,cheese, fruit or veggie) 6oz bottle, 330p 6oz bottle, 600p dinner (meat,cheese, fruit or veggie) with bites of our food and then 730p nurse. 

For snack - he loves 'cookies' - the lemon cookies, vanilla wafers or vanilla biscuits. He also really likes the gerber fruit bars. 

I would say he LOVES: yogurt, all meats and anything CT and I are eating.

I would say he HATES: peas, plain avocados and any fruits with a outer 'shell' - cherries or grapes.

I'm still pumping at work but I've cut back to one to two times a day - usually getting 7oz or so. I also pump one side in the morning and get about 3 oz.  So between weekend pumps and during the week - I almost always have enough for his two 6 oz bottles during the day. My goal was to strictly bf for a year and I'm only a few weeks away. My goal is to continue the bed time nursing session for a while and mix breastmilk with whole milk for the next few months. 

Sleeping 

This boy loves to go down at night - usually between 730p-800p and wakes about 600a-700a. Depending on what time he wakes to nurse - he will usually go back to sleep for an additional hour or 2. 

He still takes 2-3 naps a day - one mid morning, one after lunch and depending on his fussiness one around 4. Since moving into our new house and his own room - we have invested in blackout curtains and a box fan and he sleeps like a baby (pun intended!) 

It's the sweetest thing when he wakes up from any sleep - he crawls to the corner of his bed, starts talking and just stares at the door until we come and get him. We are always greeted with the sweetest smile and sometimes a kiss. 

Milestones

Started crawling at 8.5 months, walking at 9.5 months and running (striding out) at 10.5 months.

He claps at the right moments.

He waves -- ALL the time and to everyone. 

Gives kisses and hugs. 

He high fives.
He turns off the lights.

He knows his name.
He signs more (his version is a clap but he knows the correct way) and he signs please (but instead of rubbing his chest he rubs an open mouth) -- too funny!

He has 4 teeth - with an underbite. 

He has also started to run from us when he has something he shouldn't. 
He throws balls with both hands and with pretty good form. 
Knows where your eyes and mouth are. 
Knows what a cow, monkey and horse say.

Likes

FOOD!

The TV remote.

All sports - in person or on tv. 

Bath time or being in the pool. 

People watching. He is such the awesome shopping partner sitting in the cart waving at anyone.

Playing with balls.
Reading books - hundreds of times a day. 

Music and DANCING to any and every beat. LOVES to 'flick his wrist.' 

Being outside. 

Women. Especially Asian women. And Aynslee.
His G-dub. 

Dislikes

Being in his carseat. 
Going down for naps.
Being told no - he growls back at us. 

Sounds/Words
Da-Da - all the time
Ma-Ma but will maybe say it once to every 300 Da-Das. 
Eye. 
Ball. 
Lilly.
Go. 

Lots of extra gibberish. 

Activities

Dancing.

Playing in the water.
Walking.
Reading books. 
Throwing balls. 

Misc.

I know I'm leaving out so much that has happened over these past 3 months - but he is a totally a new baby. Really, he's not so much a baby any more but a little toddler. He's ornery and mischievous and 100% boy. 

CT and I have also learned so much these past 3 months. We've learned that wooden floors and learning to walk do not go well together. I think Kingston has hit his head more then a dozen times. We've learned to ignore his fake gags. We've learned to find the dog poo first or it becomes smashed and the best version of play-doh. We've learned that we are going to need a lot of patience and a whole lot of prayers to parent this strong willed/independent boy.

It's so crazy to think that we are 3 weeks away from his first birthday! 

PTL People - We Have Internet

What a doozie it has been without internet in our house. 60 days to be exact.

 SO much has happened since April 17, 2015. 

We moved into our first home.

I purchased 6 rugs, returned two, and then purchased another. 

I turned a shower curtain into a massive piece of artwork - now hanging in our living room.

I painted, painted and painted some more. 

I hosted my first event - my sister-in-laws baby shower. 

Kingston started walking. 

Kingston received his first black eye. 

Kingston rode a pony.

Kingston puked 5 times - just today. 

As you can see life is busy and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. 

Stayed tuned for some fun new posts on life's best things! 

Kingston: 8 months

As of 3.30.15

20 lbs -  (taken at home)

29.5" - (we didn't take height this month - this is from last month)

Blue/green/grey eyes. Light brown hair. Chubby cheeks. 2 teeth. 

Clothes: 9 -12 months onesie/tops and 12 month pants.

Diapers: Size 3 disposable diapers and the middle rise snap on cloth. Moving to 4's next purchase.

Shoes: He has the chubbiest little feet - but still fitting in size small or 0. 

  

Eating

Same ol same ol this month. He usually nurses first thing in the morning around 430am,  fruit + 6oz bottle around 830a, veggie + 6oz around noon, 6oz at 300p, veggie or fruit + nurse at 530p, nurse at bedtime. Only difference is he LOVES our food. Whatever we are eating - he thinks he needs to eat it too. 

So far he's tried 'real' foods in this order:

oatmeal cereal, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, turnips, avocados, bananas, apples, peaches, pears, squash, prunes, sweet corn, blueberries, turkey, mangos, blueberries, chicken, mac and cheese with veggies.  -- We've also given him bites of whatever we are having = cheese, guac, pizza, rice, ice-cream, yogurt, tomato sauce. He also snacks on puffs and yogurt bites and loves them!

I would say he LOVES: fresh avocados with lemon juice, all his fruits, and anything that mama and daddy are eating.

I would say he HATES: the kid doesn't dislike much in the food department. Maybe peas?

I'm still pumping at work - always 2 times a day but most of the times 3 times a day. I average about 12oz a day which is enough and I still have 60-70 ounces in the freezer. It's dwindling slowly .. but I love that I'm able to produce enough throughout the day for him to have the next day at daycare. 

Sleeping 

Last month was rough with eliminating the swaddle, paci and adding crying it out. I can say though that it was the best thing for him. We were able to get all of the hard stuff out of the way in one weekend and he now puts himself to sleep without any 'crutches'. He has also found out that he loves sleeping on his tummy - which is the cutest thing ever. 

730p-430a then 445a-645a is his normal schedule. 

Napping at daycare is still hit or miss. Usually he has a 45 minute nap in the morning and an 1-2.5 nap after lunch. If we are lucky he will also take a 45-1.5 hour nap when he gets home from school with CT but since he's been going to football practice with him - it's disrupted his flow.

Milestones

Rolls over.

Sits.

He claps.

He waves. 

He feeds himself - it's the cutest thing to see his little pointer finger work with his thumb.

Gives kisses and hugs. 

Working on high fives, turning on/off light switches and the sign for more.

He knows his name.

He has 2 teeth.

Shakes his head no - especially if he's asking if he's ready for a nap.

Likes

FOOD!

The TV remote.

All sports - in person or on tv. 

Bath time. 

People watching. He is such the awesome shopping partner. He will just sit in the cart and stare at people. 

Playing with balls.

Music and DANCING to any and every beat. 

Being outside. 

Watching Bentley.

Playing with his little man parts. 

Dislikes

When we take food away from him. 

When we don't feed him fast enough.

Being held 'like a baby.'

Sounds/Words
ah-goo

grr

He gargles his spit in the back of his throat and blows spit bubbles by vibrating his lips.

Da-Da 

Whoaaa

Ba-Ba 

Something that sounds like hi in a high pitch.

Ma-Ma 

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Screams

Nigh-Nigh

Loves to make noises with his lips and tongue on top of his mouth.

Activities

Dancing.

Walking in his walker.

Playing catch.

Going on walks.

Misc.

This past month Kingston had his first overnight trip to KC in which we stayed in a hotel. He did awesome in the car and even more awesome sleeping in a pack and play away from his normal. Bentley still stays away and I don't see that changing anytime soon. With the addition of two tiny teeth - have come nibbles and pops on the mouth from his mean mama. He also spent a week home with CT during Spring Break and only fell off the couch and bed a couple times. The kid literally hops all barricades when he fights his naps. He enjoys tummy time much more these days, tries to stand whenever possible and I'm sure this next month he will become fully mobile. Scary!

Not much has changed this month besides his little personality shining through.

 He is 100% boy - crazy, wild, loud, active, loving, and happy. 

And I still love being his mama. 

Kingston: 7 months

As of 3.7.15

19lbs 4oz -  (taken at home)

29.5" - (taken at home)

Blueish green eyes depending on what he wears, rosy chapped chubby cheeks, dark brown thin hair. 

Clothes: 9 -12 months onesie/tops and 12 month pants.

Diapers: Size 3 disposable diapers and the middle rise snap on cloth.

Shoes: Kingston fits best in his size small moccs. 

  

Eating

Nothing really new has changed this past month with Kingston and his eating. He usually nurses first thing in the morning around 430am (this keeps getting earlier and earlier and I'm not sure how to combat it),  fruit + 6oz bottle around 830a, veggie + 6oz around noon, 6oz at 300p, veggie or fruit + nurse at 530p, nurse at bedtime. If I give him orange fruits I try and give him green veggies and vice versa. I know I like variety - so I try and think of that when choosing his foods. 

So far he's tried 'real' foods in this order:

oatmeal cereal, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, turnips, avocados, bananas, apples, peaches, pears, squash. --- This month we have added prunes, sweet corn, blueberries, turkey. His dad might have also given him tastes of lemons and the cheese off of Doritos. I've really enjoyed making most of King's food but even more I like the money I've saved in doing so! 

I would say he LOVES: fresh avocados with lemon juice, all his fruits and carrots.  He still loves to each bananas out of his mesh holder - but it's a beast to clean so it doesn't happen as often as I'd like. I read today that they make a similar version in silicone - which I might have to look into getting. 

I would say he HATES: peas by themselves - but if I mix them with apples/peaches/pears he eats them! 

This past month we introduced those baby food pouches and they are the most amazing thing when we are out and about and on the go. If Kingston sees CT or me eating he needs to eat too, so it's the perfect solution. He essential 'drinks' it and it's quick and mess free. LOVE them!

I still continue to pump at work - always 2 times a day but most of the times 3 times a day. I average about 12oz a day which is enough and I still have quiet a stash in the freezer. 5 more months till my goal of a year! 

Sleeping 

This past month my little man had quiet the change in things. No more swaddle, no more paci and crying it out. He sleeps about 730p-430a - eats then back to bed until 645a. He was becoming too dependent on his paci - waking up 2 and 3 time in the middle of the night just for his paci so we knew we had to change things. He sleeps in a halo sleep sack with his face HAS touching something .. usually smashed right up against the bumper. 

He still is sleeping awful at daycare - maybe a 20-40 min nap in the morning and a 45-rarely 2hr nap after lunch. CT and I both hope that when summer comes and CT is home with him, he can get back on a better schedule and sleep better during the day.  

Milestones

He has mastered both sides of rolling over and thinks he is hott stuff when he does it.

He's also a pro at sitting and this is his most preferred position. 

He claps.

He straight belly laughs.

He turns in circles during his rare minutes of tummy time.

He can feed himself but would prefer if we did it. 

Gives kisses and hugs. 

Getting close to waving and turning on/off light switches. 

He knows his name.

Likes

All sports - in person or on tv. 

Bath time. 

People watching. He is such the awesome shopping partner. He will just sit in the cart and stare at people. 

Mama & daddy's bed.

Books & balls. 

The colors black and white.

Any STL cardinals logo. 

Music and DANCING to any and every beat. 

His bath scoop toy. 

Being outside. 

To cuddle in bed. 

Dislikes

He personality is definitely shining through - he gladly lets us know when he doesn't like something. He has started to cry/fuss with his lips closed. Not sure why he does it .. but it's the funniest thing. 

People with glasses. He cries every time. 

Sounds/Words
ah-goo

grr

He gargles his spit in the back of his throat and blows spit bubbles by vibrating his lips.

Da-Da 

Whoaaa

Ba-Ba 

Something that sounds like hi in a high pitch.

----------------------

Ma-Ma (but I'm certain he doesn't know mama/dada is us)

Activities

Dancing.

Jumping in his door jumper.

Playing with his basketball goal. 

Hanging out with his daddy at the gym. 

Standing whenever he can.

Misc.

This month Kingston was sick yet again. He had to miss 3.5 days because of a fever. The highest it got up to was 102.8. I took him in to the immediate care facility and they just said he caught some type of a virus. I think it was also due to the fact that he is teething hardcore. I'm guessing he will have 2 little teeth on the bottom by the next time I do this update. 

This past month we also got rid of the bath mat and now he has a little more freedom during bath time. He spends time on his back, tummy and sitting up and loves it. 

Kingston also got to experience his first snow this month. He wasn't so sure what to think about it. 

Bentley still stays away and I wish that would change. 

Kingston had his first Valentine's day and brought all the ladies at school roses. He also had 6 month/Valentine's pictures taken and I love how they turned out. 

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I'm still sticking to these being the best days of my life! Not one day is the same. He's growing and changing and learning and it's making me do all of those same things.

I love being his mama.